COVID-19 Helpful Resources

I am sure that you (like me) are being inundated with information regarding COVID-19. I can only put-up with hearing this stuff and the apocalyptic comments for so long, and then I start hitting "delete" whenever I see an email that starts with "Coronavirus." Below, I have tried to sort through the clutter and provide resources that you might find helpful:

1) FLORIDA CORONAVIRUS HOTLINE & WEBSITE - 24-hour hotline that is dedicated to answer your questions or concerns. The number is 1-866-779-6121. The call center is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The Florida Health website can be found at https://floridahealthcovid19.gov/

2) SoFlo TESTING SITE LOCATIONS:
A. As of today, 3/20/20, Coronavirus screeing is now available in Pompano Beach. To schedule a time, Broward Health asks that patients first get a written prescription from a physician and then call (954) 320-5730 to register. Those who qualify will be required to present a photo ID, the written prescription and the registration confirmation number
B. In Weston, Cleveland Clinic Florida is scheduling appointments for drive-through testing at their Weston Krupa Center, located at 3250 Meridian Parkway.
C. Community Health of South Florida, Inc. is testing its patients through a drive-through set-up at the Doris Ison Health Center, located at 10300 SW 216 Street, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
D. CB Smith Park in Pembroke Pines, also has a drive-through test site. Testing is limited to healthcare workers & those age 65+ with obvious signs. Be prepared for a wait time of 2 hours and to be asked to exit, if you do not meet the criteria for testing.

3) BAPTIST HEALTH SOUTH FLORIDA
- Baptist Health is making Care on Demand available through a phone app. Download the app and use the the code CARE19 for free access.

4) CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL - CDC Website

5) GRACECHURCHSFL.COM - We will try to keep our website updated whenever useful information is available.

Using Technology to Share the Never Changing Message with an Ever Changing World

Last month, the stock market was enjoy an 11 year bull market, housing prices were trending up, families were planning spring break, workers were considering retirement, workers were enjoying their jobs, and churches were doing business as usual. (I am not implying that "business as usual" is a good thing at any time for any church.) Everyone was enjoying life and saw only blue skies on the horizon... then entered COVID-19 / Coronavirus.

The world changed seemingly overnight; paralyzed with fear due to uncertainty. Where do people go when then are afraid? Often, they seek solace in God and return to the Church. For example, immediately following the attacks of 9-11, church attendance increased drastically. But, this time it is different. We are being told not to gather in groups of more than 10, so where do people go this time to seek God?

The answer is - they go to the Church. The Church has never been a building, although many mistakenly call it such. The Church is a "called out assembly" of those people who have accepted God's gift of salvation through the sacrificial and finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary. The Church spans the globe! It includes people of all nations, tribes, and tongues. We meet at various times, speak different languages, worship according to our culture, and meet in different places. Some services are held outside; others inside. Some in beautiful buildings; some in huts. Some in houses, basements, coffee shops, hotels, public schools, and so forth. The place of gathering does not matter, but obedience to the command found in Hebrews 10:25, "...not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together...;" that does matter!

With the recent precautionary efforts to slow the spread of the Coronavirus, the Church is using a new method to meet - online. This method certainly should not replace the physical gathering of worshipers, after this health threat is over; but it is a good option for now. People will be able to worship together (virtually) from the safety of their own homes, until this pandemic passes. Technology can be a great tool, when used properly.

I can hear the critics now, "Bless God, that's not church!" They are right, the Church is not limited to a service (physical or virtual), the Church is the people... the called out assembly.

For the sake of protecting those in our congregation who are at high risk, as well as, letting our community know that we care about them enough to help protect them; Grace Church is moving our services online-only this week. Our method is changing, BUT our message is NOT! This cutting edge technology will allow us to continue to deliver the message of the Gospel and I am excited about that! We get to proclaim Christ to the nations as quarantined people tune in from around the world. That's exciting! So, if you do not usally attend a worship service, I invite you to join with us this Sunday at 10:45am via Facebook Live. Yep, we're using new technology to worship together, learn from the Scriptures, and introduce people to an "ALL IN" faith in Jesus Christ.

2020 Vision

Have you ever left for a trip and not known your destination? Have you ever tried to put together a jig-saw puzzle without ever having looked at the picture on the box? Have you ever tried to assemble a piece of Sauderwood furniture without glancing at the instructions? Packing for a trip is easier when we know where we are going. Puzzles & projects are easier, when we know what we are assembling. The same is true for the local church.

At Grace, we want people to see the big picture and know where we are going as a church. We've found that people often do not "buy-in," until they understand the goal and objectives. Well, we want total buy-in, so we are repeating and focusing on several specific things this year:

1) Our Mission is to "Exalt the Lord, Equip Believers & Evangelize the World."
2) Our Vision is focused on evangelistic growth. We are not interested in growing our congregation by stealing sheep; rather we want to see people experience new birth through salvation and follow in baptism.
3) Our Strategy is to engage in a variety of efforts to help our people discover forms of evangelism that fit their individual personalities. (i.e. - Hanging info bags on doors, feeding the homeless, participating in crusades, hosting block parties, servant evangelism, special days, hobbies, hanging-out evangelism, and so forth.)

The bottom-line is that we want our church family to engage in the Great Commission! We feel that having a clear understanding of our mission, vision and strategy will draw people together and help us stay on track. We want our church family to know why we exist and where we are going in 2020. We pray that by clarifying and explaining these things, that people will more willingly "buy-in" and embrace the vision. To this point, we are celebrating the response of our church family and what God is doing through them. There is a renewed excitement as individuals are participating and seeing God use them to accomplish HIS purpose.

So, pray for our Grace family as we strive to stay focused on our mission to fulfill the Great Commission this year!

The Gift of Forgiveness at Christmas

Christmas is in the air here in South Florida. It is true that we do not have snow covered roofs, freezing temperatures, or a toboggan on every child’s head. In South Florida, we know it is Christmas time in other ways – the traffic increases as the snowbirds arrive, parking spaces are difficult to find at the malls, the temperatures have fallen into the 70’s, the humidity has decreased, and people are busy wrapping Christmas lights around their palm trees. The chaos will continue to increase as we draw closer to December 25 and people search for those last minute gifts. Every year, in the midst of the chaos, I stop to wonder how many take the time to reflect on a quiet night in Bethlehem... you know... that first Christmas night.

My wife and I just returned from our third trip to Israel. Each time, we have had the privilege of standing in the Shepherd's Field, which is small and very quiet. Standing in that field at night, you see nothing but the dark, star-filled sky... oh, and the lights of Bethlehem in the distance. I cannot even imagine what it would have been like to see and hear the angels announcing the birth of Jesus! I always laugh when I read Luke 2:10, and think of the angel saying, "Do not be afraid..." Yeah, right! Who would not be afraid when an angel appears in the darkness! The good news the angel pronounced was the birth of our Savior!

On that first Christmas night in Bethlehem, we see the greatest Giver was God... the greatest Gift was His Son... and the greatest example was God's act of forgiveness. Jesus did not come to pay the penalty for His sins, but rather to forgive and pay for ours. God gave His Son so that our sin could be forgiven and so that we could be reconciled to Him. Jesus did not do anything wrong, but He willingly laid down His life to pay our sin debt and purchase a place in heaven for us. That is an amazing act of love and forgiveness, which sets an example or us to follow.

Sadly, “churchgoers” are often the most unforgiving of people. I have worked in secular environments where people cuss at each other, lose their temper, and say some rotten things; but those same people let it roll off their backs and the next day they have forgiven each other, reconciled and moved forward. I do not often see that same effort toward forgiveness and reconciliation among those who claim to be “Christians.”

Christmas is a reminder that God forgives our faults and failures, and we should do likewise (Eph. 4:32). "Peace on earth and good will toward men" should start in the church. John 3:16 reminds us of God's position, "For God SO LOVED the world (those who had turned their backs on Him) that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." Eternal life through Jesus Christ is God's gift to all humanity and it reveals His heart of love… His example of forgiveness!

We, too, have the opportunity to claim or share in the gift of forgiveness this Christmas. If you have never confessed your sinful condition before God and personally received His gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ, this Christmas season is a great time to do so. If you are holding a grudge against someone, Christmas is a great time of year to extend forgiveness and initiate the steps toward reconciliation. Being right with God and right with others could make this the greatest Christmas that you have ever experienced! I close by encouraging all Christ-followers to promote peace on earth and good will toward all men by following God’s example of forgiveness.

Remembering the First Thanksgiving

In this day, in which efforts are being made to rewrite history, the real meaning of Thanksgiving is fading quickly. For many, Thanksgiving correlates with nothing more than a day off work, downing a turkey, and watching football. For that reason, I want to start with a brief history of Thanksgiving.

In September 1620, the Mayflower left England, carrying 102 passengers seeking a new home where the Pilgrims could freely practice their faith and find opportunities for prosperity. The difficult journey eventually took them to Plymouth, where winter and disease were so brutal that only half of the original passengers and crew survived.

The Native Americans taught the Pilgrims how to cultivate corn, to extract sap, and to fish. In November 1621, the Pilgrims organized a feast to celebrate their successful harvest and invited their Indian friends to enjoy a meal of celebration with them. This feast is remembered as the “First Thanksgiving.” On October 3, 1863, during the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national day of Thanksgiving to be celebrated each November.

Too many want to act like this event never happened, but a little known national monument, located in Plymouth, Massachusetts, pays a great tribute to our Forefathers, those first English settlers who landed at Plymouth. The 81’ tall solid-granite monument is located in state park at 72 Allerton Street in Plymouth, MA. The cornerstone was laid in 1859 and the monument was completed in 1889. The monument was originally planned to be approx. 150’ tall, but was reduced during the Civil War due to lack of funding.

The placard on the northeast side of the monument reads, “National Monument to the Forefathers. Erected by a grateful people in remembrance of their labors, sacrifices and sufferings for the cause of civil and religious liberty.” The sculptures on the monument represent the virtues that the Pilgrims brought with them when they arrived in 1620. The largest and tallest sculpture is Faith. Other figures include Morality represented by a woman holding a tablet symbolic of the Ten Commandments which reads, “I am the Lord thy God...” Seen in Morality’s throne are references to Prophecy and Evangelism.

On the west side are figures representing Law, Justice and Mercy. On the south side is Education flanked by Wisdom and Youth. On the east side is Liberty flanked by Peace. Along with these figures, the monument also includes smaller sculptures telling the story of the Pilgrims’ leaving England, landing at Plymouth and interacting with Native Americans. The Pilgrims are also honored with a monument in Provincetown, MA that was completed in 1910.

There is no question regarding the Christian faith that the Pilgrims brought with them. Their quest was to find a place where they could worship God freely. In a day when people are rewriting history, let us pause to remember the Pilgrims who risked their lives to pursue religious freedom. Let’s pause to remember their sacrifices, which laid the groundwork for the freedoms we enjoy today.

Sure, eat the turkey, enjoy the family and watch some football this Thanksgiving; but also take time to count your blessings and to thank God for faith, family, friends and freedom!

October is Pastor Appreciation Month

Serving as the pastor of a church is one of the most rewarding and yet one of the most difficult jobs that you could ever imagine. Those who briefly observe pastors feel the job is an easy one. Too often, people misconstrue that a pastor works one day per week, he studies only one Book and he mooches off generous people who host him occasionally for supper. That may be true for a few "so-called" pastors, but that is far from the truth for those pastors who are serving the Lord with their whole heart.

Pastors who truly love people will invest themselves into the lives of their congregation. They will weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice. They sympathize and empathize with those God has entrusted to them. In doing this, many pastors struggle to separate work from personal life. They cannot just leave the office and forget the events of the day. They take the needs of others with them, agonize over them in prayer and wrestle with them through many sleepless nights.

In taking on the needs of others, the pastor carries a heavy burden that can affect him physically, emotionally and yes, even spiritually. It can affect his family and his health. Years of data reveals that 95% of those who enter the pastorate will not retire from it. In fact, the data shows that hundreds of pastors are leaving the ministry every month; many pastors say that ministry has negatively affected their marriage and family; and many pastors admit they would quit, if they had some other career option. The majority of pastors admit to walking a very lonely road that lacks deep friendships and the suicide rate among pastors is rising rapidly.

In 1992, Focus on the Family was instrumental in establishing the month of October as “Pastor Appreciation Month” in an attempt to prompt churches to honor their pastor and staff ministers. They created a specific time to do what we should be doing all year long – offering encouragement and thanking ministers for the wonderful work they do in the life of the church and community. If your church has not participated in Pastor Appreciation Month, consider doing something special for your pastor and staff. I’ve listed some ideas below, but many more can be found through a simple Google search.

Focus on the Family - Clergy Appreciation Month Ideas
http://media.focusonthefamily.com/pastoral/pdf/CAM_Guide_2012.pdf

Pinterest - Pastor Appreciation Month Activities and Gift Ideas
https://www.pinterest.com/rosepublishing/pastor-appreciation-month-activities-gift-ideas/

Things you can do to encourage & show appreciation for your Pastor:

Thank you cards
Public testimonies of appreciation
Bring breakfast to the office
Provide lunch at the office
Make his favorite dessert
Car detailing (wash, wax & vac)
Cut his grass
Clean his office
Present Gift Cards
- Audible book credits
- Gas
- Coffee/Donuts
- Shopping (Walmart, Target, Bass Pro Shop)
- Grocery Stores
- Lowes / Home Depot
- Restaurants
- Amazon
- Oil change / Tire rotation
- Movie tickets
Take him golfing
Buy him a gym membership
Provide a night of Childcare
Let the pastor’s family use your vacation home (beach, mountains, etc.)
Give him game tickets to his favorite sports event
If you are a handyman, offer an hour or two of work to help with some home projects
If you lack creativity, any pastor would appreciate a nice monetary gift or bonus check

Don’t forget something special for the Pastor’s Wife:

Notes or greeting cards expressing appreciation
Manicure/Pedicure
Hair Cut/Color
Massage or Spa Day
Fresh flowers
1x Maid Service
Take her to lunch
Gift cards (Walmart, Clothing stores, Bed, Bath & Beyond, etc.)
Provide the family with supper, so she doesn’t have to cook
Take her children for haircuts, ice-cream or to a park
Help send her to visit family who live out of state
Honor her publicly

These are just a few ideas and there are many, many more. You do not have to spend a lot of money to express gratitude and make someone feel special. The goal is for those in the congregation to be reminded of what their pastor does and to encourage him (and his wife) to keep doing it for God’s glory!

So start planning… October is just one week away!

Skewed Views of Church Ownership

Today’s thoughts are directed to vocational ministers, lay-leaders and members of local churches across all denominations. One of my long-time pet peeves is those who think of and call any ministry “theirs.” Have you ever heard a preacher or lay-person use the phrase “my church?” The verbiage may seem harmless, but that statement is the first step down a very slippery slope!

Jesus clearly claimed the Church as HIS when He said, “I will build MY Church” (Matthew 16:18). The Church is referred to as “Christ’s body, of which He is the Head” (Ephesians 1:22-23). In the same passage, the Apostle Paul declared Christ to be the Bridegroom, Who lovingly and sacrificially chose the Church to be HIS “bride” (Ephesians 5:25-27). Jesus gave Himself up for the Church, “to make her holy, cleansing her with the washing of water by the Word.” In addition, we see that one day there will be a wedding feast held in Heaven called the “Marriage Supper of the Lamb” followed by Christ’s eternal union with His bride (Revelation 19:7-9; 21:1-2).

These passages are very clear and vitally important; because if we ever mistakenly believe the Church is “ours,” that skewed view will result in sinful behavior. During my 35 years of ministry, I have been a witness to pastors, deacons, and lay-people who have been willing to divide or harm a congregation in order to make a point or to get their way. I have seen church members manipulate people and/or circumstances for personal gain. I have seen people attack churches and church leaders through gossip, letter writing, texting and/or phone calling campaigns. I have seen cowards attack ministries using the weapon of a keyboard to post negativity on social media. Such actions clearly reveal those who believe the church belongs to them.

One such illustration is seen in a lady who left a church over five years ago, but still regularly and “religiously” tries to convince members to leave “her” former church and start attending “her” new church. Did you catch that…she wants them to attend “her” church. Such proselytizing only happens when a person has the mindset that the church belongs to them. Attempting to poach for or solicit members from the former church is evidence of a skewed view of church ownership. You might expect such action from a layperson; but sadly, I have witnessed pastors, staff members, Christian School employees, Deacons, and other lay-leaders who have intentionally tried to inflict harm as they left a ministry. No one who understands Scripture and believes the Church belongs to Christ; would ever try to harm, divide, damage, or destroy God’s church – EVER!

The Apostle Paul states in Ephesians 5:25-27 that Christ “gave up His life for her (the church) 26 to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word. 27 He did this to present her to Himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish.” You see, when a person truly understands that Christ died for HIS Church, we realized how much He really loves her! Realizing that, who would dare throw mud on the wedding dress of Christ’s bride? Who would speak ill or maliciously against Christ’s bride? Who would try to cause division within or gossip about Christ’s bride? Answer – only those who do not know or respect the Bridegroom.

The greatest indicator of your belief about church ownership is not seen while attending a specific church; but rather when you leave that church. Serving while attending is easy, but a person’s true character is seen by the manner in which they leave. Some feel the church owes them something because of their tenure, how much money they have given, or how influential they have been. Some take credit for past successes, while hoping for future failure. Some wreak havoc, while others aide in a smooth transition. Some encourage those who remain, while others attempt to proselytize. The bottom-line is that how you treat the Bride (the Church) reveals the level of respect you have for the Bridegroom. This is a great reminder that the Church belongs to Jesus Christ, so let us behave with integrity and treat her accordingly.

Remembering 9/11 and 9/12

Do you remember where you were on September 11, 2001? Some events stick in our minds, as though that moment is just frozen in time. Some of those moments for me include: the attempted assassination of President Ronald Reagan, the explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger, the night the Persian Gulf War started, and the day my wife told me she was pregnant with our first child. Those moments are all as vivid in my mind today, as they were the day they occurred.

Another such day is September 11, 2001. I was working at Berean Baptist Church in West Palm Beach, FL at the time. I remember it was a beautiful, sunny, South Florida day. I had just returned to my office after visiting in the school office. Only a few minutes after returning to my office, I remember our Preschool Director, MaryAnn B., running into the church office hallway and shouting a plane just hit the World Trade Center. People gathered near televisions to see what was happening. I gathered with others in the courtyard area of our Preschool to watch the scene unfold. Before long, the second plane and later the third.

The news reports stirred a panic in the hearts of those on our campus and there was a heightened security alert as parents started showing up to sign their students out from school. Parents just wanted to embrace their children and the magnitude of the event brought families and our country close.

Those who are 23+ years old probably have some recollection of the events of 9/11. For those who are younger, it is a part of history that has been skewed by those who rewrite history with their slant toward political correctness, inclusivity and tolerance. The fact is that America was attacked! We did not go looking for war; the Islamic Extremists brought it to us.

That attack brought Americans together! On 9/12, stores ran out of American flags as people installed them on their houses and attached them to their cars. People were Americans first, before they were upper or lower class; Jewish or Christian; Democrat or Republican; liberal or conservative. People did not care about the color of your skin, whether you had a flag on your T-shirt, or if you ate at Chick-fil-A or shopped at Hobby Lobby. Americans simply cared about one another. People stood tall, shouted the Pledge of Allegiance and sang the National Anthem at the top of their lungs. You did not see ANY American kneeling during the National Anthem and the outcome probably would not have been good if they did. Patriotism was on display as we were united and ready to take-on anyone who would dare attack our nation!

Sadly, it seems as though many have forgotten the tragedy of that day. Today we argue over long TSA lines, securing our borders and homegrown terrorists now attack fellow Americans simply for having differing opinions. Politicians show more zeal for climate change and endangered species than they do for the safety of American citizens. Inexperienced Congressional rookies want to change the Constitution and usher in Socialism. First responders who were then hailed as heroes are now disrespected and doused with water. We built a beautiful tower on Ground Zero to remember the husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers, sons, daughters, grandparents among the nearly 3,000 people who lost their lives on September 11, 2001; but wouldn’t unity, peace and patriotism be a better tribute to those who died in the attacks?

Romans 12:18 tells us “…as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.” Maybe today, September 11, 2019 is a good day to hit the reset button and start being instruments of peace and patriotism. Maybe today is the day we pause to thank God for the privilege of living in the land of the free and home of the brave. Maybe today is the day we realize that America is the greatest nation in the world, as proven by the number of people trying to get here. Maybe today, is the day we reflect on those who died on 9/11, we remember the spirit of Patriotism seen on 9/12, and realize the problem with forgetting the facts of that day.

You Don't Have to be an Idiot

One of my all-time favorite TV shows was “Country Fried Home Videos,” hosted by Bill Engvall. In each episode, people would do things that were unthinkable to a normal person. The most bizarre behavior was rewarded with the “Here’s Your Sign” award. Past winners included a man who got bit as he stuck his hand into the mouth of an alligator, another man who rolled a large piece of slate down a mountainside and right into his vehicle, and another man hanging a large pincher crab on his nipple – ouch! In my opinion, the winners of these awards were idiots!

According to dictionary.com, an idiot is “an utterly foolish or senseless person.” Well, I have come across a few idiots in my day, and so have you. Consider the person who sees a “wet paint” sign and touches it to see if it is really wet. Think about the person who blames a ladder as defective after falling from the top section that clearly states, “Danger: Not a Step.” The worst, I ever heard was the man who ignored the warning labels and tried to trim his hedge by picking up his push lawnmower – he lost fingers on both hands!

Idiots are not only revealed by their bizarre behavior, but also by their bizarre thought processes. Consider the man who gets angry when the woman he had a one-night stand with asks for child support. Consider the person dying with lung cancer or Emphysema who continues to smoke. What about the ninety-year-old man, who refuses to believe that his twenty-year-old girlfriend is only after his money and not his wrinkly old body. These are only a few examples of foolish or idiotic thinking; but there are many, many more.

Foolish behavior is nothing new. Consider Adam & Eve, who lost everything because they believed a serpent and ate the fruit. Consider the people who mocked Noah as he built the ark, and ultimately drowned. Uzzah touched the Ark of the Covenant, after God told him not to, and fell dead. King David had many wives and concubines, but just had to have Bathsheba. Judas saw Jesus’ perform miracles, but chose to betray Him. The crowds chose to crucify Jesus, even though Pilate proclaimed Him to be innocent. People have been making utterly foolish or senseless decisions since the beginning.

Foolish behavior and beliefs continue today. People deny Jesus’ existence, even though His life is documented by historians. People now argue that America was never founded as a Christian nation, although the proof is stamped all over Washington D.C. People refuse to believe the Bible, even though it has been proven by history, science, prophecy and archaeology. People know what God expects, but they choose to live otherwise. Proverbs 14:12 NIV states, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.”

It is easy to prove that people make utterly foolish and senseless decisions every day; but the point is that we do not have to. John 3:16 states, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Realizing this truth, do not be foolish. The Bible states that “it is appointed unto men once to die and after that is the judgment.” So, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved. That is the wisest choice you can ever make!

Over Entertained & Under Challenged

It’s been many years since I first heard Andy Stanley make the statement, “Today’s teenagers are over entertained and under challenged.” His sermon, preached at First Baptist Church of Atlanta, was addressing the way so many churches were approaching student ministry and measuring success by the numbers. Back then cutting-off a tie, swallowing a goldfish, or racing to take Polaroid pictures may have drawn a crowd, but they certainly did not build a church. Andy Stanley's observation was correct over 25 years ago, and it is still correct today. The stunts, styles and activities have changed; but the entertainment mentality in most of today's churches is stronger now than ever.

In a modern church culture that measures success almost solely by numbers, it only makes sense that youth pastors are prone to entertaining students and assembling the masses in order to be viewed as successful. Sadly, the same entertainment mentality is true with adults. Too many adults choose a church based on the length of the services, whether the church has a softball team, how humorous the pastor is, and whether or not they like the worship style. These superficial factors show the shallowness plaguing the Christian church today.

The long-term effects of the entertainment focus in ministry can be seen in the spiritual adolescence prevalent among today’s believers. We are in dire need of discipleship. The effectiveness of discipleship can be measured by whether or not those who call themselves disciples begin to disciple others. In essence, the student should eventually become the teacher. But, how is someone who has been over entertained and under challenged supposed to gain the knowledge necessary to teach? The Apostle Paul describes this dilemma in Hebrews 5:12-14 NIV – “ In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.”

Not only has the focus on entertainment in ministry caused a shallowness of knowledge, but it has also resulted in fewer people being exposed to real ministry opportunities. Churches used to “do“ ministry, go on missions trips, serve their communities, and impact their world. That exposure to ministry often resulted in growing churches and people surrendering to become vocational ministers. Today, fewer people are entering vocational ministry, seminary enrollment has declined nationally, as well as church attendance across denominational lines. The common denominator is that too many church-goers have been and continue to be over entertained and under challenged.

So, which word best describes the church you attend - “entertainment” or “discipleship?” It’s never too late to start challenging others to grow spiritually. Jesus challenged twelve men, and in just three years He prepared them to impact eternity! Think how different the world would have been if He only entertained them. Think how different our world could be, if today’s churches will rise up and challenge those who God has entrusted to us!