Bonus - “Supernatural”: The Baptism of the Spirit

Blog Series Intention Recap: Over October, I want to encourage you to journey alongside the Holy Spirit, understanding His roles as a friend, educator, source of solace, and guiding presence. This exploration involves examining the Holy Spirit's interactions with New Testament believers, contemplating the invaluable gifts He provides, and discerning our appropriate responses. Hopefully, by the end of the series, you will no longer be “Scared of the Ghost.”

This post is part of the series “Scared of the Ghost.” Click here to check out the other posts.

Let’s jump into This Bonus Installment: 

In this installment of “Scared of the Ghost,” I wanted to look at a theological concept the Pentecostal world of my youth wholeheartedly adopted. I grew up in the Assemblies of God, and you can find their position here. Over the years, some of my thought processes about the Baptism of the Holy Spirit have shifted. I still believe in the Baptism of the Holy Spirit as a theological concept. However, we emphasize the gifts instead of the growth of the Fruit of the Spirit. Gifts should empower us, but we need the maturity of the Fruit to keep the gifts from becoming curses that drag us down.

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit, as witnessed in Acts 1:8 and 2:4, holds a place in the early Christian church's history, signifying a pivotal moment of divine empowerment and transformation. In Acts 1:8, Jesus conveys a promise to His disciples, assuring them that they will receive an extraordinary endowment of power when the Holy Spirit descends upon them. This divine power will equip them to serve as Christ's witnesses, spreading His message to the farthest corners of the earth. This promise sets the stage for the extraordinary events in Acts 2:4.

On the day of Pentecost, as recorded in Acts 2:4, the long-awaited promise becomes a stunning reality. In the form of tongues of fire, the Holy Spirit descends upon the gathered believers. A profound infilling of the Spirit marks this divine encounter, and the believers are supernaturally enabled to speak in languages they had never known before. This phenomenon, often described as speaking in tongues, is a miraculous manifestation of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Therefore, the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is characterized by an outpouring of divine power that empowers believers and ushers in a transformative and deeply spiritual experience. This divine indwelling signifies a profound and tangible connection with the Holy Spirit, equipping believers for a life of service and witness to the world. It ignites a fire within the hearts of believers, driving them to boldly share the message of Christ, transcending language and cultural barriers. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is a remarkable manifestation of God's presence and anointing, and it plays a crucial role in the early Christian church's expansion and the ongoing mission of spreading the Gospel.

Yielding to the Holy Spirit plays a significant role in the context of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. This spiritual event, as described in the New Testament, represents an infilling of the Holy Spirit, equipping believers with divine power for service and witnessing. The act of yielding, in this case, refers to a believer's willingness to fully open themselves to the transformative work of the Holy Spirit in the context of this baptism. Here's how yielding and the Baptism of the Holy Spirit are interconnected:

Preparation and Readiness: Yielding to the Holy Spirit involves a heart prepared to receive the fullness of the Spirit. Individuals are encouraged to yield before and during the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, meaning they are open, receptive, and ready to embrace the experience. This preparation involves repentance, surrender, and a desire to be filled with the Spirit.

Empowerment for Witnessing: The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is often associated with empowerment for witnessing, as seen in Acts 1:8. When believers yield to the Spirit during this baptism, they are not merely receiving power for their improvement but for effective witness and service. This yielding means they are willing to be led by the Spirit in boldly sharing Christ’s message.

Manifestation of Spiritual Gifts: Yielding to the Holy Spirit during the Baptism often leads to expressing spiritual gifts, such as speaking in tongues, prophecy, and discernment of spirits. The Spirit gives these gifts for the church’s growth and divine purposes. When believers yield to the Spirit, they allow these gifts to operate in their lives, thereby building up the body of Christ.

Ongoing Relationship: Yielding is not a one-time event but a posture of continuing surrender to the Holy Spirit. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is a powerful encounter, but yielding is a daily practice. It involves maintaining a relationship with the Spirit, seeking His guidance, and continually allowing Him to work in and through the believer's life.

Fruit of the Spirit: Yielding to the Holy Spirit during the Baptism also paves the way for further development of the Fruit of the Spirit, including love, joy, peace, and self-control. The presence of these virtues in a yielded believer's life testifies to the transformative work of the Spirit and influences their interactions with others.

The Fruit reflects a heart open to divine influence and guidance, resulting in empowerment for witnessing, the manifestation of spiritual gifts, and a life characterized by the Fruit of the Spirit. The Baptism is a significant event that marks a believer's empowerment, and yielding ensures an ongoing, fruitful relationship with the Holy Spirit.

GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT

In Scripture, we see an explanation of the different ways the Holy Spirit empowers believers. "Charisma" originates from the Greek word "charis," meaning grace. In spiritual gifts, "charisma" refers to the gifts, abilities, or manifestations of grace that the Holy Spirit bestows upon believers to edify the church and fulfill God's purposes. These gifts, commonly known as the gifts of the Spirit, encompass a diverse range of abilities and empowerments graciously given by God through His Spirit.

The gifts of the Spirit are not natural talents or skills but supernatural endowments intended to build up the body of Christ. Charisma encompasses a broad spectrum of gifts outlined in the New Testament, such as wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discernment of spirits, speaking in tongues, and interpretation of tongues, among others. Each gift is unique, bestowed according to God’s will, and meant to be exercised in love for the common good within the Christian community. The gifts of the Spirit represent the manifold expressions of God's grace at work in the lives of believers, reflecting the richness and diversity of God's provision for His people.

Different theological positions exist when we discuss gifts of the Spirit or Spiritual Gifts. Some believe the manifestations of the Holy Spirit ended with the original twelve apostles - cessationism. Others are convinced they still exist today - non-cessationism. When I look for Spiritual gifts, I look to Romans and I Corinthians passages. I do not include the Ephesians passage.

Here is a list of spiritual gifts as described in the New Testament:

Word of Wisdom: The ability to impart divine wisdom and insight into complex situations and decisions (1 Corinthians 12:8).

Word of Knowledge: The capacity to possess knowledge and understanding beyond human ability, often used to guide and edify others (1 Corinthians 12:8).

Faith: A deep, unwavering trust in God and His promises that can inspire and move mountains (1 Corinthians 12:9).

Healing: The ability to bring about miraculous physical, emotional, or spiritual healing through prayer and faith (1 Corinthians 12:9).

Miracles: The power to perform extraordinary signs and wonders that defy natural laws (1 Corinthians 12:10).

Prophecy: The gift of receiving and conveying divine messages, often related to encouragement, edification, or foretelling of future events (1 Corinthians 12:10).

Discerning of Spirits: The ability to discern and differentiate between spiritual influences, whether they are from God, human, or demonic sources (1 Corinthians 12:10).

Speaking in Tongues: The capacity to speak in unknown languages, often in prayer or worship, with interpretations available (1 Corinthians 12:10).

Interpretation of Tongues: The ability to interpret the meaning of messages spoken in tongues, making them understandable to others (1 Corinthians 12:10).

Administration: The gift of organizing and leading effectively within the church and other ministries (1 Corinthians 12:28).

Teaching: The skill to explain and communicate God's truths, enabling others to understand and apply His Word (Romans 12:7).

Encouragement: The gift of offering comfort, consolation, and support to those in need, often inspiring hope and optimism (Romans 12:8).

Giving: The ability to generously and cheerfully provide material resources and financial support to individuals and causes (Romans 12:8).

Leadership: The aptitude to guide and direct people, demonstrating wisdom, vision, and servant-hearted leadership (Romans 12:8).

Mercy: The gift of demonstrating compassion, kindness, and empathy to those suffering or in distress (Romans 12:8).

Helps: The capacity to provide practical assistance and support to individuals, ministries, and the church (1 Corinthians 12:28).

The Holy Spirit gives these spiritual gifts to believers to build up the church, edify one another, and glorify God. Each individual may have a unique combination of these gifts meant to serve the body of Christ and the broader community.

So, How Does This Help Me Not Be “Scared of the Ghost?”

First, salvation or justification is not dependent on the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. We can reject these gifts but do so at our peril. God weaves and works the tapestry of our lives to bring his plan to fruition in the world. Rejecting the Holy Spirit’s gifts removes the tools necessary to complete the path God lays out in front of us.

Second, according to Scripture, God gives good gifts. Why would we abandon good gifts that advance the kingdom? We can trust God’s goodness and look to our future. He won’t abandon us or make us look stupid.

Week #4 - “Rattling around the Attic”: What does it mean to Abide?

Blog Series Intention Recap: Over October, I want to encourage you to journey alongside the Holy Spirit, understanding His roles as a friend, educator, source of solace, and guiding presence. This exploration involves examining the Holy Spirit's interactions with New Testament believers, contemplating the invaluable gifts He provides, and discerning our appropriate responses. Hopefully, by the end of the series, you will no longer be “Scared of the Ghost.”

This post is part of the series “Scared of the Ghost.” Click here to check out the other posts.

Let’s jump into Week 4: 

In the song “Little Talks” by Of Monsters and Men, it seems there is a conversation between two people. One has died, and the other wanders around the “old and empty house.” The song explores the theme of communication and the complexities of relationships. The "little talks" in the song represent attempts to bridge the gap and communicate their feelings and fears. The song discusses the need for open and honest communication in relationships, mainly when dealing with complex or emotional issues. The catchy melody and upbeat tempo provide a stark contrast to the underlying theme of struggle and longing, making it a poignant and emotionally resonant song. The song reminded me of the concept of something rattling in the attic. We may hear something in the attic, but we don’t know what we hear, nor can we engage with what is making the sound.

Sometimes, my relationship with God feels this way. In this installment of “Scared of the Ghost,” I wanted to explore the connection between abiding in Jesus and what yielding to the Holy Spirit means. These two thoughts allow us to hear God speak, but often, we perceive the voice speaking to us as something rattling in the attic of our brain. We miss what God intends to relate to us, and we seriously feel abandoned. However, if we can figure out how to abide in Jesus and yield to the Holy Spirit, we can feel connected to God and let Him empower us to accomplish the tasks he has for us.

ABIDING

In John 15:1-17, Jesus employs a timeless agricultural metaphor to illuminate the concept of abiding in Him as the vine. He vividly portrays Himself as the true vine and believers as the branches. Just as the vitality and fruitfulness of a branch are entirely dependent on its connection to the vine, our spiritual lives find their abundance and vibrancy when we remain intimately connected to Christ. Abiding in Him is not a one-time decision but an ongoing, intimate relationship that requires nurturing and intentionality.

God forges this connection with us through various means, with prayer and scripture study as starting points. Just as a branch receives nourishment, sustenance, and life from the vine, we, as believers, derive our spiritual nourishment, strength, and vitality from Jesus through prayer, which provides our communion with the Trinity. His Word, the living and transformative truth, becomes our guide, revealing His character and will and shaping our thoughts and actions. The Psalmist references this kind of communication in the Beth Stanza of Psalm 119 when he asks and answers, “How can a young man keep his way pure? .,.. I have stored up your word in my heart.”

The significance of abiding in Jesus is its role as the conduit for the Holy Spirit's transformative work within us. This continual connection and surrender to Jesus brings an opportunity for His life-giving power to flow through us, enabling the development and manifestation of the Fruit of the Spirit. Just as a branch yields fruit when it remains firmly attached to the vine, we, as branches of the true vine, bear the Fruit of the Spirit when we abide in Jesus.

The process of abiding in Jesus focuses on our spiritual maturation. As we remain connected to Him, our desires align with Him, our thoughts reflect His wisdom, and our actions mirror His character. The Fruit of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control – becomes a natural outpouring of this deep connection. Love and joy emanate from a heart that remains in communion with the source of love and joy. Peace becomes the hallmark of a soul anchored in Christ, even amidst life's storms.

Abiding in Jesus is not a choice to be made once but a daily, even hourly, necessity for the Christ follower. This choice serves as the source of our spiritual vitality, strength, and the transformation of our character. In embracing this ongoing relationship, we experience the fulfillment of Christ's promise: "If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you" (John 15:7). Our desires become aligned with His, and our prayers find resonance with His will.

In essence, abiding in Christ becomes a way of life. Abiding in Christ provides the source of spiritual nourishment, the fountain of divine strength, and the key to bearing the Fruit of the Spirit. It represents a continual, intimate relationship with the One who is the source of all virtues. It leads to a life marked by the transformative power of love, joy, peace, and all the other fruits of the Spirit. Through abiding in Christ, we find our lives deeply rooted in the true vine, and the evidence of His presence and character blossoms in and through us.

YIELDING

Where abiding in Jesus focuses on the relational aspect of you and God, yielding to the Holy Spirit connects you and God in activity with others. Abiding involves getting to know God through prayer and scripture. Abiding involves spending time growing your character and who God has developed you to be. Yielding involves taking the developed character and putting it out into the world. Yielding to the Holy Spirit is a partnership with the Trinity, which includes God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is often seen as the divine presence of God within the believer, guiding and empowering them in their Christian walk. Here is what it means to yield to the Holy Spirit

Acknowledging the Presence: Yielding to the Holy Spirit begins with recognizing and acknowledging the presence of the Holy Spirit in one's life. It's an understanding that, as a Christian, you have received the Holy Spirit as a gift from God. The Holy Spirit sealed you. As the Holy Spirit sealed you, your spiritual giftings were put into place for the day you would begin to manifest them.

Surrendering Control: Yielding to the Holy Spirit involves submitting control of one's life to the guidance and influence of the Holy Spirit. This means acknowledging that you can't live a righteous and spiritually fulfilling life on your own and that you need the Holy Spirit's help. In I Corinthians 14, Paul makes it clear the Holy Spirit does not take over our bodies like possession but works through our conscious thoughts and acts (gifts) to accomplish the purpose of God and His Kingdom through us.

Seeking Guidance: Christians who yield to the Holy Spirit seek His guidance in their decisions, actions, and daily life. This guidance can come through prayer, a meditation on the Scriptures, and an openness to the Spirit's leading. The Holy Spirit will sometimes confirm his guidance through other believers.

Fruit of the Spirit: One of the key aspects of yielding to the Holy Spirit is the desire to bear the "fruit of the Spirit," as described in Galatians 5:22-23. This fruit includes love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Yielding to the Holy Spirit means allowing these qualities to develop and manifest in one's life.

Empowerment: The Holy Spirit empowers believers to live out their faith. This empowerment includes the ability to resist sinful behaviors, overcome trials, and serve others in love and compassion. The empowerment also comes in the form of the desire to share the Gospel with people who are far from God.

Gifts and Talents: Christians who yield to the Holy Spirit are often believed to receive spiritual gifts, such as teaching, prophecy, healing, and discernment. These gifts are given for the benefit of the community and should be used to build up the body of believers. They are not to measurements of spiritual maturity or ways we make ourselves famous. Isaiah 26:8 says, “Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your truth, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts.” Our gifts should always be employed with a heart to make God famous, not ourselves.

Life Transformation: Yielding the Holy Spirit leads to personal transformation. The Holy Spirit works within the believer to transform their character, making them more Christlike in their attitudes and behaviors.

Prayer and Worship: Prayer and worship are key ways to yield to the Holy Spirit. Through prayer, Christians can seek the Spirit's guidance and presence, and through worship, they can express their reverence and love for God. Paul describes this when he talks about this phenomenon in Romans 8:26-27. The Holy Spirit can pray through us when we do not know how to pray.

Community and Service: Yielding to the Holy Spirit often leads to a desire to serve others and be part of a faith community. He encourages believers to use their gifts and talents to benefit others and build a strong, supportive Christian community. We are all members of one body through the Holy Spirit (I Corinthians 12).

In essence, yielding to the Holy Spirit is about living a life guided by God's presence to bring the flesh and soul into submission to God’s Spirit. Living in submission to the Holy Spirit involves surrendering control, seeking guidance, and allowing the Spirit to work in and through you to bear fruit and transform your life to be more in line with the teachings of Jesus Christ. This aspect of our faith emphasizes the importance of a dynamic relationship with God through the Holy Spirit.

So, How Does This Help Me Not Be “Scared of the Ghost?”

First, like the early Hebrews, when we look through the lens of Genesis 1, we have a God who wants to spend time with us. The God who transcends time and material space wants us to abide with him in the spiritual dimension. The Holy Spirit makes us aware and helps us. I think this idea explains Paul’s journey transcending time and space to what he refers to as the third heaven (2 Corinthians 12:2-4. God wants to be with us beyond this world and goes to the ends of humanity to destroy death, and the separation from God humanity experiences. These words should comfort us and create in us a desire to abide.

Second, we should be honored God has not only repaired the relationship with us. However, it goes deeper. God wants to empower us to help with the process of improving His relationship with others. Don’t misunderstand me. The work of salvation is accomplished and finished. However, like the heralds of kingdoms, we get to spread the message of this good news (the gospel). God wants to empower and release us into a world. One of my favorite quotes comes from a Trappist Monk named Thomas Merton. While Merton and I may disagree on lots of points of theology, we can agree on this thought:

God utters me like a word containing a partial thought of him. A word will never be able to comprehend the voice that utters it. But if I am true to the concept that God utters in me, if I am true to the thought of Him that I was meant to embody, I shall be full of his actuality and find him everywhere in myself, and find myself nowhere.

- Thomas Merton (2007). “New Seeds of Contemplation”, p.37, New Directions Publishing

Just like John, I can rest in the fact I must decrease, and he must increase. When the Church yields to the power of the Holy Spirit, the world will know who Jesus is and what he has come to do. When we abide in Jesus, we get the capacity to yield in great ways. As the song says, “Greater things are yet to come, Greater things are yet to be done.”

I hope you have enjoyed this series. I plan to post on Halloween a special edition of “Scared of the Ghost.” I want to take some time and unpack the concept of the Baptism of the Spirit. I don’t think any real conversation about the Holy Spirit can be complete without it.

Week #3 - Spirited: The Fruit of the Spirit as the Measure of Discipleship

Blog Series Intention Recap: Over October, I want to encourage you to journey alongside the Holy Spirit, understanding His roles as a friend, educator, source of solace, and guiding presence. This exploration involves examining the Holy Spirit's interactions with New Testament believers, contemplating the invaluable gifts He provides, and discerning our appropriate responses. Hopefully, by the end of the series, you will no longer be “Scared of the Ghost.”

This post is part of the series “Scared of the Ghost.” Click here to check out the other posts.

Let’s jump into Week 3: 

(Read in Movie Voiceover) People who follow Christ should stand out in a world where power is everything. They should work to see a world where the Kingdom comes, not just their kingdoms. They should love one another. People should see their love for one another and know they follow Jesus…

You can switch back to the regular voice in your head…

Jesus commanded Christians, the world’s name - not Jesus’, to be disciples and follow him. Today, we equate spiritual growth with the number of times we read the Bible, the hours we pray, or how many spiritual gifts we have. Others look to pastors they may know and determine the reach of his/her global empire equates to spiritual maturity. During the writing of this blog, I literally heard someone refer to a famous pastor and his private jet. I looked up his net worth, and he is personally listed at over 300 million dollars.

As a pastor for almost thirty years (scary, I know), I believe we misnom what spiritual growth looks like in our lives. The Fruit of the Spirit is derived from Galatians 5:22-23, where the apostle Paul lists nine distinct qualities: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These virtues reflect the character of God and serve as indicators of spiritual maturity.

Have you been to Barnes and Noble lately? I hadn’t. I do most of my book shopping on Amazon. However, I stumbled through the self-improvement section during a recent trip (I was trying to let my wife and daughter shop without me hovering). There were titles like You Are a Bada**, You Are the Mountain, and Get Out of Your Own Way. The Fruit of the Spirit is not just a self-improvement program but a way the Holy Spirit brings life transformation within believers as they yield their lives to Him. This transformation embodies Christ-likeness. Our lives must display love and personal piety. When was the last time you heard someone talk about personal piety (the quality of holding something in reverence)? Probably, in high school, when you talked about the Puritans and the Scarlett Letter.

The Holy Spirit's Role in Cultivating the Fruit

The Holy Spirit is the presence of God who indwells believers, providing the power necessary for spiritual growth (1 Corinthians 3:16). We see the role of the Holy Spirit in sealing the regeneration/justification process. In Ephesians 1:13 ESV, we see “In Him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.” So, Paul encourages believers to "walk by the Spirit" to manifest the Fruit in their lives (Galatians 5:16).

The Holy Spirit convicts believers of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8-11). This conviction leads to sanctification, the process of becoming more like Christ, including the development of the Fruit of the Spirit. So, to grow spiritually, we respond to the conviction of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

One other thing I want to address. The Fruit of the Spirit is not nine distinct fruits. Christ-followers tend to pick and choose which of the fruits they want in their lives. I can take some joy, but I don’t need any self-control. Have you met me? I am so good. The Fruit of the Spirit growing in your life is one fruit with multiple aspects. The apple is crunchy, red, crisp, refreshing, and tastes tart or sweet whether you have a granny smith or a golden delicious. We don’t get to pick and choose which aspects we want. The Holy Spirit wants to grow all of them in your life.

The Role of Love: The Pinnacle of the Fruit

Love is often considered the foundational aspect of the Fruit of the Spirit, the one aspect from which the others flow. This thought comes from Jesus. He points out in John 13:35: “By this, all people will know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another.” Jesus tells his disciples how they loved one another would be the primary way people would know they were his followers. In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul underscores and reinforces the supremacy of love as a motivating force behind all Christian virtues.

Later, CS Lewis would look at the different Greek words for love in his book, The Four Loves. Storge defined the familial or instinctual love we experience. I love someone because it comes naturally. Philia showed the bonds of friendship. We see this love highlighted when a soldier lays down his life. (Band of Brothers by Stephen Ambrose contains these stories as he researched Easy Company of the 501st in WWII.) Eros is romantic love. While we often reduce this love to sex, it encompasses much more.

However, Jesus used a different word: Agape. Agape love is defined as unconditional "God" love. Agape love is selfless, sacrificial love, and the Holy Spirit empowers believers to manifest this love in their lives. Romans 5:5 highlights God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit. Romans 5:8 shows us God loves us with this kind of love even when we don’t love him. Jesus expected us to love one another with this kind of love. He expected our lives to be marked by it so much people would notice.

Joy and Peace: Inner States of the Heart

The Holy Spirit brings joy to believers, even in challenging circumstances (Romans 14:17). This joy is not dependent on external factors but is a deep, abiding contentment. Hebrews 12:2 says that for the joy set before him, Jesus endured the toughest circumstance imaginable in the effects of the cross. Often, we reduce joy to a subjective feeling or emotion of the heart. When we make this reduction the central focus of our lives, we substitute happiness for joy. Jesus modeled for us the idea of making the Joy of the Lord our strength (Neh. 8:10). We can move beyond the subjective and make the objective measurement of joy a sign of spiritual growth.

Peace is another aspect of the Fruit of the Spirit that transcends human understanding (Philippians 4:7). Merriam-Webster defines peace as a state of tranquility or quiet. The Holy Spirit calms our hearts, bringing peace even during turmoil. Peace is much more binary than joy. There is either peace or no peace. In the book written by John, Jesus tells us he would leave his peace with us. The Holy Spirit would be the bringer of that kind of peace. Jesus’ peace would not look like the world’s peace. When we look at culture and how people search for peace, we see ways that numb for a bit of time (drugs, alcohol, etc.) or ways we can lose ourselves, such as hobbies, sports, etc. Humans try to kill the pain. The Holy Spirit provides peace to get through the pain.

Patience, Kindness, and Goodness: Relational Aspects of the Fruit

Relationships are hard. They require people to connect and often prove to be some of the hardest things we do. Marriages end in divorce. Friendships end in brokenness. Family time becomes iPad time or, worse, non-existent. The need for the elements of the relational aspects of the Fruit has never been higher.

Patience is the aspect of the Fruit of the Spirit that reflects forbearance and longsuffering. The Holy Spirit helps believers demonstrate patience in their interactions with others (Ephesians 4:2). How many of us could use this in our lives?

Kindness is an outflow of the Holy Spirit's work, promoting acts of compassion and goodwill. Believers are encouraged to clothe themselves with kindness (Colossians 3:12). We should be friendly and considerate. If we did, our world's parking lots and roads would look so different, and people would look at us like we are crazy.

Goodness reflects moral integrity, honesty, and upright character. The Holy Spirit empowers believers to manifest goodness in their lives (Romans 15:14). From the minor theft from our workplace to the embezzlement of millions of dollars, humans don’t need to be taught how to be wrong. They have to be taught how to be good. We spend time teaching kids and hope they get it by the time they turn 18. I believe the Holy Spirit’s growth of goodness through conviction of ungodly behaviors is our only chance for goodness to grow in our lives.

Faithfulness and Gentleness: Characteristics of Humility

Often, humble people are viewed as someone who will only be taken advantage of by culture. However, faithfulness and gentleness are two of the most essential parts of the Fruit of the Spirit. Faithfulness denotes unwavering trust and loyalty. The Holy Spirit fosters faithfulness, enabling believers to remain steadfast in their commitment to God (2 Timothy 2:13). Gentleness, often translated as meekness, is not weakness but strength under control. The Holy Spirit enables believers to demonstrate gentleness in their interactions with others (Colossians 3:12).

Over the last six years, I have been a father to an offensive linemen. I understand these aspects because I watch my son play football. If you know anything about football, you probably know the name of a quarterback, wide receiver, or running back. Not surprising… The only time an offensive lineman’s name is called is for a penalty or because they got to play defense and got a tackle. They might get called out on an excellent block downfield, but even that is rare. I watch my son play selflessly. He is the loudest cheerleader for his team. He shows up faithfully to make sure his quarterback is protected. As a senior, he has taken sophomores under his wing and tried to help them be better men while being better football players. The Holy Spirit wants us to be gentle with someone while showing them the errors they commit. He does the same for us. He expects the same from us. My son is proof of it.

Self-Control: The Crown of the Fruit

In Financial Peace, Dave Ramsey points out that only babies have no self-control. Self-control is the ability to govern one's actions and desires. Sometimes, maturity brings self-control. I can learn to control my need for food. I can learn to control my breathing and calm myself down. I can learn to hold it on a five-hour drive.

However, the Holy Spirit empowers believers to exercise self-control over their impulses and desires (2 Peter 1:6). Self-control, often regarded as the crown aspect of the Fruit of the Spirit, holds a prominent place among the elements of the Fruit it encompasses. Just as a crown adorns and distinguishes a monarch, self-control distinguishes a person's life transformation, setting them apart with grace and dignity. The pinnacle aspect of the Fruit requires a strong and deliberate mastery over one's desires and impulses, much like a monarch exercises dominion over their realm.

Self-control doesn't signify a mere suppression of desires; instead, it's the art of channeling and directing those desires in ways that align with kingdom principles and values. We serve as stewards of a just and merciful king. Just as a steward of a king wisely governs the kingdom's well-being, self-control rules one's inner kingdom – the realm of one's thoughts, emotions, and behaviors – for the betterment of the kingdom of God in their relationships.

As the divine enabler, the Holy Spirit empowers individuals to don this crown of self-control. It provides the wisdom and strength required to make decisions that honor God and align with His truth. This divine guidance ensures that self-control is not a burden but a noble quality, like a regal crown that bestows honor and authority upon the one who wears it.

In the grand tapestry of the Fruit of the Spirit, self-control acts as the final, masterful stroke, weaving together all the other virtues. With self-control reigning, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and gentleness find their harmonious expression. Just as a crown symbolizes the culmination of a sovereign's rule, self-control signifies the zenith of spiritual maturity and a life governed by the principles of righteousness. It marks a life in which one's desires, impulses, and actions are held in check, ensuring that every aspect of life reflects the character of Christ.

So, How Does This Help Me Not Be “Scared of the Ghost?”

First, this list doesn’t flow from who I am but from who God is. The list isn’t Danny's fruit but the Holy Spirit's fruit. I can find hope and rest in the idea the Spirit grows these aspects of His sealing of my heart. I am responsible for yielding my spirit to His Spirit (more on that next week). The more I yield, the more life transformation happens. The more I open my heart to the Holy Spirit, the more I come to look like Jesus. That’s a positive thing for everyone in my life. My wife. My kids. My friends. My co-workers.

Second, journaling can help you to evaluate how you are growing. Asking questions like, “Do I experience more joy today than yesterday?” As a believer, if I can turn a subjective feeling into an objective measurement, I can evaluate what the Holy Spirit is doing in my life. I can also see, over time, the life transformation in me. This tracking allows me to see how much God is doing through me. I can see the impact of my becoming more Christ-like.

In conclusion, the Fruit of the Spirit is not a result of human effort but a transformation enabled by the Holy Spirit. As believers yield to the Spirit's work, they find their lives marked by love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These virtues reflect the character of Christ and manifest in relational, emotional, and moral aspects of our lives. Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit is a lifelong journey, a continuous growth process empowered by the Holy Spirit. Through the development of these virtues, believers experience an abundantly fruitful life that reflects God's character.

Week #2 - The “Friendly” Holy Ghost

Blog Series Intention Recap: Over October, I want to encourage you to journey alongside the Holy Spirit, understanding His roles as a friend, educator, source of solace, and guiding presence. This exploration involves examining the Holy Spirit's interactions with New Testament believers, contemplating the invaluable gifts He provides, and discerning our appropriate responses. Hopefully, by the end of the series, you will no longer be “Scared of the Ghost.”

Let’s jump into Week 2: 

Often referred to as the Counselor and Paraclete, the Holy Spirit is both God and a person of the Trinity. We discussed this concept in the previous week’s post. We talked about how the Holy Spirit isn’t spooky. Then we spent some time discussing the person of the Holy Spirit and the role of the Holy Spirit in the Trinity. Today, we will take a few moments and look to the Holy Spirit as our trusted friend, helper, and counselor.

First, we explore the role of Holy Spirit as a Counselor and Paraclete.

Let’s define what we mean by "Counselor" and "Paraclete." To fully appreciate the Holy Spirit's role as a Counselor and Paraclete, we must first understand these terms. In Greek, "Paraclete" (παράκλητος) means "one called to the side of another" or "comforter," while "Counselor" signifies a trusted advisor or guide.

Both terms point to the Holy Spirit's role as the divine Helper, Advocate, and Comforter.

Comforter:

One of the primary meanings of "Paraclete" is "Comforter." The Holy Spirit is often described as the Comforter who brings solace, peace, and reassurance to the hearts of believers. In times of distress, grief, or trials, the Paraclete provides a profound sense of comfort and consolation, reminding Christians of God's presence and care.

Advocate:

The term "Paraclete" can also be understood as "Advocate." In this role, the Holy Spirit serves as the divine representative or legal counsel for believers. The Paraclete stands beside them, defending their rights and interests. This advocacy extends to convicting the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8-11), helping individuals recognize their need for salvation and the righteousness found in Christ.

Helper:

As a Helper, the Paraclete comes alongside believers to offer assistance and guidance. In times of uncertainty, decision-making, or spiritual growth, the Holy Spirit acts as a divine Helper. It's like having a trusted companion who provides wisdom, direction, and support throughout life's journey.

The Promise of the Holy Spirit as Counselor

Jesus promised the coming of the Holy Spirit. In John 14:15-18, Jesus promises to send the Holy Spirit as another Counselor who will be with believers forever. He described the Holy Spirit as the Spirit of truth whom the world cannot receive but who will dwell within believers. In John 14:26, Jesus further explains that the Holy Spirit will teach and remind believers of everything He has said to them.

This teaching role is vital for deepening our understanding of our faith. Jesus portrays the Holy Spirit as a Counselor, offering divine wisdom and guidance. Just as a counselor provides advice, insight, and encouragement in various life situations, the Holy Spirit imparts spiritual wisdom and understanding. Believers can turn to the Counselor for guidance in areas such as relationships, decision-making, and understanding God's Word.

The Holy Spirit also serves as our Companion in truth. In a more personal sense, the Holy Spirit can be seen as a divine companion. The term implies closeness and presence, indicating that the Holy Spirit is not a distant or impersonal force but a constant companion in the lives of believers. This divine companion walks with us through the various seasons of life, providing reassurance and guidance. In this, the Holy Spirit provides the unwavering and unchanging support. Regardless of life's circumstances, the Holy Spirit remains a steadfast presence, offering comfort, advocacy, help, and counsel. This understanding underscores the reliability and faithfulness of the Holy Spirit in the lives of Christians.

The Holy Spirit also provides us with a Divine Guide. As the Counselor and Paraclete, the Holy Spirit guides and counsels believers on their spiritual journey. The Spirit provides divine wisdom, insight, and discernment, helping believers navigate life's challenges.

The Work of the Holy Spirit as Counselor and Paraclete

Conviction of Sin and Righteousness

In John 16:8-11, Jesus elaborates on the Holy Spirit's work of convicting the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. The Counselor guides individuals to recognize their need for salvation and righteousness.

Comfort in Times of Trouble

The Holy Spirit provides comfort during times of distress, loss, and difficulty. Like a soothing balm for the soul, the Spirit offers solace and peace (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).

A Personal Relationship with the Holy Spirit

The Indwelling of the Holy Spirit

For believers, the Holy Spirit doesn't merely work from the outside but resides within them. This indwelling is an intimate, personal relationship, reflecting the profound nature of the Counselor.

Prayer and Communication

Building a relationship with the Holy Spirit involves consistent prayer and communication. Believers can actively seek the guidance of the Counselor through prayer, just as one would turn to a trusted friend for advice.

The Fruit of the Spirit

The Transformation of Character

One of the tangible signs of the Holy Spirit's work is the production of the "fruit of the Spirit" (Galatians 5:22-23).

These qualities, such as love, joy, peace, patience, and self-control, reflect the character of God and are nurtured by the Counselor.

Practical Implications and Application

Seeking Wisdom and Guidance

Embracing the Holy Spirit as a Counselor involves seeking wisdom and guidance in all aspects of life. Believers can turn to the Counselor for insight in decision-making, relationships, and daily living.

Confidence and Comfort

The Holy Spirit provides believers with confidence and comfort. In times of uncertainty or trials, believers can find solace in the presence of the Paraclete.

Living by the Spirit

Galatians 5:25 encourages believers to live by the Spirit, walking in step with the Counselor. This involves surrendering to the Holy Spirit and being open to His guidance.

So How Does This Help Me Not Be “Scared of the Ghost?”

First, what does it practically look like to engage with the Holy Spirit? How do I understand messages or words from God?

People don’t care that you pray. They care when you say God answers back. So what do we mean when we hear or get a message from God. For me, these messages have often felt like impressions or certainties in my soul. I have prayed and at just the right time or moment I get an impression or a scripture will pop into my head. Often, I will read a scripture and the Holy Spirit will illuminate in my heart the meaning of the Scripture.

Another way of hearing through the Spirit comes in form of gifts the Spirit empowers through a believer. We will discuss in a later post but the Holy Spirit can bring words of knowledge or wisdom as well as prophecies. The Holy Spirt can empower the believer to understand or know whatever he or she needs in a moment to bring the greatest glory to God.

These belief should remind us of how the infinite cannot be understood by the infinite and how in control God is of our universe. He cares for us and leaves us with the Holy Spirit to lead and guide. We can relax in who God is and what He has done.

Second, the Holy Spirit bring comfort to us in moments of anxiety or fear. In the second letter to Timothy, Paul writes: For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. This Passage show us the Holy Spirit brings to us power, love and a sound mind. We can rest in the role of the Spirit accomplishing those things inside of us, even when the darkeness surrounds us.

In conclusion, the Holy Spirit as Counselor and Paraclete plays a pivotal role in the lives of believers. This Helper, Advisor, and Comforter guides individuals in their spiritual journey, offering wisdom, conviction, and solace. Understanding and embracing the Holy Spirit as the Counselor leads to a deeper relationship with God, transformation of our character, and a source of unwavering support in life's challenges. As believers actively seek the counsel of the Holy Spirit, we can experience the transformative impact of the Counselor in their lives, walking in step with the Paraclete.

Week #1 - The Spirit isn’t Spooky

Blog Series Intention Recap: Over October, I want to encourage you to journey alongside the Holy Spirit, understanding His roles as a friend, educator, source of solace, and guiding presence. This exploration involves examining the Holy Spirit's interactions with New Testament believers, contemplating the invaluable gifts He provides, and discerning our appropriate responses. Hopefully, by the end of the series, you will no longer be “Scared of the Ghost.”

Let’s jump into Week 1: 

As a kid, I grew up in a Pentecostal Denominational Church. For many people, these words bring flashbacks of Jericho marches, being slain in the Spirit, messages in tongues, and all sorts of manifestations of the Spirit… I saw these things as expected. Often, when I would invite my friends, they would look at me freaked out during the manifestations.  They were “scared of the Ghost.”

As we embark on a journey into the roles and significance of the Holy Spirit in the life of believers, I want to be grounded in Scripture. The writers of Scripture refer to the “Holy Spirit” or “Holy Ghost” throughout the Bible. But who is the Holy Spirit and why is his existence vital to me? The concept of the Holy Trinity has been a cornerstone of Christian theology for centuries, yet it remains one of the most mysterious aspects of the faith.

The Holy Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

To comprehend the role of the Holy Spirit in the Trinity, we must first grasp the idea of the Trinity itself. Christians believe in one God who exists in three persons: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit. These three persons are distinct but inseparable, co-eternal, and co-equal, forming the Holy Trinity.

A. God the Father

The Father is the Creator of the universe, the source of all life, and the loving sustainer of His creation. He is often referred to as the "first person" of the Trinity, representing the role of authority within the Godhead.

B. God the Son (Jesus Christ)

Jesus Christ is the incarnate Son of God, who took on human form to redeem humanity from sin. He is the "second person" of the Trinity, the bridge between God and humanity, and the Savior of the world.

The Holy Spirit: The Breath of God

Now, let's turn our attention to the Holy Spirit, the focus of this discussion.

Personhood of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is often described as the "third person" of the Trinity, signifying His distinct identity within the Godhead. It's crucial to recognize the personhood of the Holy Spirit. He is not an impersonal force but a divine person with intellect, emotions, and will. This isn’t Star Wars!

The Holy Spirit's Role in Creation

To understand the Holy Spirit's role in the Trinity, we can begin with His involvement in creation. In Genesis 1:2, the Holy Spirit is described as hovering over the waters during the act of creation. This demonstrates His active role in the formation of the world, illustrating that the Holy Spirit is not a passive entity but an integral part of God's creative power.

The Advocate and Helper

One of the primary roles of the Holy Spirit is to serve as an advocate and helper for believers. In John 14:16-17, Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit to be with His disciples, to guide and comfort them. This "Helper" comes alongside believers, providing guidance, comfort, and support in their journey of faith.

The Holy Spirit's Work in Redemption

The Holy Spirit is instrumental in the process of redemption. Through the Holy Spirit's work, individuals are convicted of sin, come to faith in Christ, and are born again. His regenerative work transforms hearts, making believers new creations in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).

The Triune God in Action: Unity in Diversity

One of the great mysteries of the Trinity is the unity of these three distinct persons within the Godhead. They work in perfect harmony, displaying unity in diversity.

The Father's Sending and the Son's Obedience

The Father sends the Son into the world to accomplish salvation (John 3:16), and the Son willingly obeys. This demonstrates their unity in purpose and mission. In the Garden of Gethsemane, we see Jesus praying to the Father, submitting to His will, and affirming this unity (Luke 22:42).

The Holy Spirit's Role in Glorifying Christ

Jesus affirms that the Holy Spirit's primary mission is to glorify Him (John 16:14). The Spirit testifies about Christ, pointing believers to the Son as the way, the truth, and the life.

The Holy Spirit's Empowering

The unity of the Trinity is evident in the Holy Spirit's role in empowering believers. In Acts 1:8, Jesus promises that the Holy Spirit will come upon His disciples, enabling them to be witnesses to the ends of the earth. This empowerment from the Holy Spirit allows believers to fulfill the Great Commission and spread the gospel.

So How Does This Help Me Not Be “Scared of the Ghost?”

First, I have to be careful in my explanation because of the mystery around how we understand the Trinity. The infinite nature of God cannot be understood completely by the finite nature of the human mind. The “perichoresis” (the indwelling in one another) of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit forces the human mind to places we cannot imagine. This concept should be comforting. As a follower of Christ, the Holy Spirit of God is greater than I am. He is omnipotent and therefore knows way more than I do. I can rest in the knowledge that the Holy Spirit is God.

Second, the Holy Spirit is not spooky. Scripture defines for us the role of the Holy Spirit: to glorify Christ and lead men into the truth of who Jesus is. He brings clarity to the heart of men: Jesus died and rose from the dead due to the plan of the Father. The fruit he grows in each believer helps to transform us to look and be more like Christ. In this, the Holy Spirit teaches me things I do not know and helps me to understand things I cannot comprehend.

I cannot wait for the next installment of “Scared of the Ghost”.

Book of the Month - October 2023

Listen Like You Mean It

Ximena Vengoechea - ISBN: 978-0593087053 - 2021

Author:

Ximena Vengoechea

Ximena Vengoechea is a user researcher, writer, and illustrator whose work on personal and professional development has been published in Inc., The Washington Post, Newsweek, Fast Company, and The Muse. An experienced manager, she previously worked at Pinterest, LinkedIn, and Twitter. She currently lives in San Francisco with her family. Find out more at ximenavengoechea.com.

Taken from Amazon

Brief Synopsis:

For many of us, listening is simply something we do on autopilot. We hear just enough of what others say to get our work done, maintain friendships, and be polite with our neighbors. But we miss crucial opportunities to go deeper—to give and receive honest feedback, to make connections that will endure for the long haul, and to discover who people truly are at their core.

Fortunately, listening can be improved—and Ximena Vengoechea can show you how. In Listen Like You Mean It, she offers an essential listening guide for our times, revealing tried-and-true strategies honed in her own research sessions and drawn from interviews with marriage counselors, podcast hosts, life coaches, journalists, filmmakers, and other listening experts. Through Vengoechea’s set of scripts, key questions, exercises, and illustrations, you’ll learn to:

• Quickly build rapport with strangers
• Ask the right questions to deepen a conversation
• Pause at the right time to encourage vulnerability
• Navigate a conversation that’s gone off the rails

Now more than ever, we need to feel heard, connected and understood in a world that keeps turning up the volume. Warm, funny, and immensely practical, this book shows you how.

Taken from Amazon

Insights:

“There is no quicker way to end a conversation—or a relationship—than to appear distracted.” (p. 32)

“Attempting to finish other people’s sentences may be our way of bidding for attention, but it rarely gets us there.” (p. 57)

“If you can train yourself to stay silent for a hair longer than is comfortable, it’s likely your conversation partner will jump in to fill the void. When they do jump in, it’ll be worth the wait.” (p. 149)

Should I read it or skip it?

Recently, I met with a coach who said to me, “You give too much context and not enough clarity.” I took his point. Too much story people do not care about creates listeners who don’t hear everything you say. While this book is primarly about listening, learning to listen well makes communication better. Alan encouraged me to ask more questions to understand the information that needs to be transmitted. This clarification means you can laser focus instead of trying a shotgun approach when it comes to information. For that reason, I think we all need this book. I will warn you I feel in attempt to keep the book at a certain length, several of the end chapters should have been separated into multiple chapters.

Book of the Month - September 2023

Still Just a Geek

Will Wheaton - ISBN: 978-0063080478 - 2022

Author:

Wil Wheaton

Wil Wheaton is a highly acclaimed producer, narrator, and actor who has appeared in dozens of films and TV series. Most recently, he played a fictionalized version of himself on CBS's The Big Bang Theory, one of the most highly rated and watched sitcoms of the last decade. An accomplished voice actor, Wil has lent his talents to many animated series, including Family Guy, Teen Titans, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Batman: The Brave and the Bold. His audiobook narration of Ernest Cline's Ready Player One debuted at number one on the New York Times bestseller list and was one of Goodreads's 10 of the Best Narrator and Audiobook Pairings of All Time. He has also lent his voice to titles by John Scalzi, Randall Monroe, Andy Weir, and Joe Hill. When he isn't acting, narrating, or podcasting, Wil is writing. A lot. He lives in Los Angeles with his badass, irrepressible wife, Anne; one rescue dog (RIP Seamus); one cat; and two vintage arcade cabinets. If you're not a robot, you can reach him at wil@wilwheaton.net.

Taken from Amazon

Brief Synopsis:

Celebrated actor, personality, and all-around nerd, Wil Wheaton updates his memoir of collected blog posts with all new material and annotations as he reexamines one of the most interesting lives in Hollywood and fandom--and now for the first time in audio, narrated by Wil himself!

From starring in Stand by Me to playing Wesley Crusher on Star Trek: The Next Generation to playing himself, in his second (third?) iconic role of Evil Wil Wheaton in The Big Bang Theory, to becoming a social media supernova, Wil Wheaton has charted a career course unlike anyone else and has emerged as one of the most popular and well-respected names in science fiction, fantasy, and pop culture.

Back in 2001, Wil began blogging on wilwheaton.net. Believing himself to have fallen victim to the curse of the child actor, Wil felt relegated to the convention circuit and didn’t expect many would want to read about his random experiences and personal philosophies.

Yet, much to his surprise, people were reading. He still blogs, and now has an enormous following on social media with well over 3 million followers.

In Still Just a Geek, Wil revisits his 2004 collection of blog posts, Just a Geek, filled with insightful and often laugh-out-loud annotated comments, additional later writings, and all new material written for this publication. The result is an incredibly raw and honest memoir, in which Wil opens up about his life, about falling in love, about coming to grips with his past work, choices, and family, and finding fulfillment in the new phases of his career. From his times on the Enterprise to his struggles with depression to his starting a family and finding his passion--writing--Wil Wheaton is someone whose life is both a cautionary tale and a story of finding one’s true purpose that should resonate with fans and aspiring artists alike.

Taken from Amazon

Insights:

“Two other times in my life I have had revelations this consequential. I’m going to talk about them in more detail later, but they were: (1) accepting that I had a problem with alchohol and had to stop drinking, which let (2) my ability to finally accept that the man who was my father does not love me, abused me, and was enabled by my mother who gaslighted me about it.” - pg 70

“I want to go into even more detail here, just in case me from the past wasn’t clear enough. I spent all this time and energy blaming Star Trek for my unhappiness. I suspect that Star Trek was a safe vessel for all of that, because it couldn’t exactly argue back at me, the way the actual source of my unhappiness could and did.

I have already said, or I’m going to say soon, that I don’t believe in anything supernatural. At all. It’s all hokum that makes people feel better. That’s okay but it’s not real. So all of that said, I could easily write that the Universe (or God, or god), or John Titor, or some version of Wil from the future put this opportunity in front of me that night, and it said, “Hey, kid, I’m giving you something incredibly valuable. It’s a gift, and I hope you are able to accept it.” - pg 71

“I’ve been worried about her the whole time. But, with the whole acting thing, I’ve done a good job at hiding it. But time—it wears you down. And the erosion of my mask (along with the erosion of my cell battery) started to show my true state.” - on caring for his wife, Anne, during a health crisis - pg 238

“If geekdom is about connecting on a common thing—dissecting it and analyzing it and forever being facinated by it (for good or ill)—then living with depression and mental illness can feel familiar to us geeks…except we’re still trying to build that community into one where we’re able to gather and discuss and share our expriences in order to understand that commonality even better.’ - pg 365

Should I read it or skip it?

So, Happy Star Trek Day! Early… See my Star Trek post on Sept. 8th….

First, I feel the need to address the confusion of an Annotated Biography. This update of the Autobiography, Just A Geek, allows Mr. Wheaton to expand or update the areas where he as a person has grown past an opinion or may have rethought a premise. I love the concept and really appreciated how thoughts change. I am now 47 years old and my thoughts have changed over the the years. Mr. Wheaton is about 4 years older than I am. I was an eighth grader when Star Trek: The Next Generation started on television. I still love Star Trek but my views of the TV shows have grown and are much more nuanced than when I was in the eighth grade.

Second, I need to address the difference between the audiobook and the hard copy. Mr. Wheaton works hard to narrate the diffences between the original 2004 text, the new annotations, quotations, etc. However, my ear just couldn’t hear it. I ended up checking the book out from my local library. Once I could visually see the differences between his narration and the text, the audiobook became clearer. However, with a hard copy in hand, I ended up finishing the book with the hard copy.

So should you read it or skip it?

• If you are a Star Trek Fan, read it. I loved hearing about stories on the set. I also feel like you should check out Mr. Wheaton’s work on The Ready Room on Paramount. He loves Star Trek and how he came to love Star Trek really shines through his writing. He also works through his acceptance of his role int he Star Trek Universe. As a young watcher, I couldn’t perceive the turmoil he must have faced within the Star Trek family. He was a young actor boldy going where I wished I could have gone. I didn’t see it for what it might have done to him or how he might have internalized hurts in the process.

• If you have experienced signficant emotional or mental hurts, I think you will be able to appreciate Mr. Wheaton’s story and how he has overcome those moments of pain inflicted on him by anxiety, depression, and other people’s actions. These moments within the book gave me insight into his departure from Star Trek and his growth process. I think we owe him a debt for his vulnerability and his transparency.

• If you are an aspiring actor, director, or writer, this book gives tons of insight into the creative process and how Mr. Wheaton’s voice was developed. He shares the hard times and the good times of being on set but also what it is like to come to a blank page and create. I found those insights valuable as an aspiring author and have used his insights to fuel my own process even I don’t always consider myself a creative.

• Finally, unless you have a commitment in some way, you may find the 435 page book hard to get through. However, if you are willing to be open and transparent, you can find a vulnerable and transparent man who cares deeply for those who he loves and love him. He reignited my passion for writing and opened doors I didn’t expect into my thought process and how it was developed. In reflecting on his own life, Mr. Wheaton allowed me to reflect on my life (lived almost in the same time period). This book allowed me to accept that I am no longer the young leader but the person who takes responsiblity for the young leader (the honesty and openness about how he talks about his sons is amazing).

Book of the Month - August 2023

Pray First

Chris Hodges - ISBN: 978-1400221295 - 2022

Author:

Chris Hodges

Chris Hodges is the founding and senior pastor of the Church of the Highlands. Since it began in 2001, Highlands has grown to have campuses across the state of Alabama, and is known for its life-giving culture and focus on leading people to an intimate relationship with God.

Pastor Chris has a deep passion for developing leaders and planting life-giving churches. He co-founded ARC (Association of Related Churches) in 2001, which has launched hundreds of churches across the United States. He also founded Grow, specializing in training and resourcing pastors and churches to help them break barriers and reach their growth potential. Pastor Chris is also the founder and Chancellor of Highlands College, a ministry training school that trains and launches students into full-time ministry careers.

Pastor Chris and his wife Tammy have five children and live in Birmingham, Alabama, where Church of the Highlands began. He speaks at conferences worldwide and is the author of Fresh Air, Four Cups, The Daniel Dilemma, What’s Next?, Out of the Cave, and Pray First.

Taken from the Church of the Highlands Website.

Brief Synopsis:

Prayer is the lifeblood of the Christian faith--but many followers of Jesus still struggle to make prayer part of their daily lives. In Pray First, bestselling author and pastor Chris Hodges shows us how to make prayer a first response instead of a last resort.

Why is it that so many Christians find it difficult to develop a vibrant and exciting prayer life? Even though prayer is foundational to the Christian life, many are intimidated or uncertain about how to talk to God. Prayer feels quaint and old-fashioned to some, sacred and uncomfortable to others. It's not a lack of inspiration--there's plenty of that. And it's not that we don't realize prayer is important--we know it is. So, what's the issue?

Pastor Chris Hodges has spent years studying the prayers of the Bible and the models of prayer that the scriptures provide for Christians. Now, he shares the teachings and methods he's used to successfully help hundreds of thousands of people understand how to spend time in conversation with God--and enjoy every minute.

Pray First will give you the tools you need to

• Bring the joy back into your time with God

• Take a journey through the prayers of the Bible, which reveal how to make prayer more personal and powerful

• Learn about fasting, an often overlooked but powerful discipline that's a vital companion to prayer

• Follow proven, biblically grounded methods for making prayer a priority, not an afterthought

Written in the personable, relatable, and always biblically based style that has become Hodges's hallmark, Pray First is a revolutionary how-to manual for anyone seeking a more dynamic, intimate prayer life with God.

Taken from Amazon

Insights:

“The importance of prayer in sustaining and strengthening our faith cannot be overestimated. If we define prayer as connecting with God and confronting the Enemy, then prayer ought to be an ongoing conversation with God about every area of our lives. In the Bible prayer is not mentioned occasionally as an option or consideration; prayer is essential to knowing God.” - pg xiii

“As we’ve seen, prayer is not about specific words or methods. Words and methods are a means to an end. Prayer is about communication in the personal relationship you have with the living God.” - pg 61

“No one wants to remain an infant sustained on milk when they can grow and mature and feast on the solid food of the Spirit. It’s important to know where you are spiritually so you can have a starting point. If you’ve been on a diet of spiritual milk for some time, you’re likely ready to take your faith to the next level and experience greater intimacy with God. To do this you need to move past the trap of perpetual sin.” - pg 182

“Fasting is a time for purifying yourself before God. As you empty yourself of your sinful habits, indulgent appetites, and pleasurable distractions, you discover more of God’s presence and make room for more of His goodness in your life.” - pg 196

Should I read it or skip it?

I put this book in August because Church of the Highlands does something they call “21 Days of Prayer” twice a year. The first is in January and the second is in August. The first provides a chance to start the new year with a time of focusing on God and giving Him the first fruits of the new year. The second provides a chance to recenter your year and get ready for the fall rush to holidays focused and ready for what God wants to do with you and through you.

With that said, this book is a great resource to grow your prayer life. Pastor Chris covers topics from prayer to fasting. He breaks down what could be intimidating or difficult topics and makes them simple. Any Christian with a desire to grow in their relationship with God knows they have to communicate with God to grow. This book breaks down the hard work of growing your prayer life into bite-sized chunks. Don’t miss out on this book.

Book of the Month - July 2023

Self Aware Leader

John Maxwell - ISBN: 978-0-7852-6664-8 - 2021

Author:

John Maxwell

John C. Maxwell is a #1 New York Times bestselling author, coach, and speaker who has sold more than 33 million books in fifty languages. He has been identified as the #1 leader in business and the most influential leadership expert in the world. His organizations - the John Maxwell Company, The John Maxwell Team, EQUIP, and the John Maxwell Leadership Foundation - have translated his teachings into seventy languages and used them to train millions of leaders from every country of the world. A recipient of the Horatio Alger Award, as well as the Mother Teresa Prize for Global Peace and Leadership from the Luminary Leadership Network, Dr. Maxwell influences Fortune 500 CEOs, the presidents of nations, and entrepreneurs worldwide. For more information about him visit JohnMaxwell.com.

Taken from Amazon

Brief Synopsis:

Lack of self-awareness is the single greatest obstacle leaders face in their development, effectiveness, and advancement. Dr. John C. Maxwell will help any leader become more self-aware, focused, and confident.

With fifty years of leading and teaching experience, influential leadership expert and speaker John C. Maxwell can help you become your best leadership self.

In The Self-Aware Leader, Maxwell teaches you how to:

• gauge your effectiveness as a leader,

• make better choices that lead to success,

• discover and correct your own mistakes,

• improve your leadership with the team, and

• make the right trades in your career.

Self-awareness is key for new and seasoned leaders who want to avoid micro-managing, handle criticism with grace, and give others the credit they deserve. Maxwell also aims to help current and new managers looking to identify their strengths, become better learners, and improve their listening skills.

When leaders don’t see themselves clearly, understand their strengths and weaknesses, or recognize their negative interactions with their team, they limit their influence and undermine their own effectiveness. What’s the solution? Become a self-aware leader.

Taken from Amazon

Insights:

“Leadership is a trust, not a right. For that reason, we must “fix” ourselves earlier than others may be required to. We must always seek to do what’s right, no matter how high we rise or how powerful we become. It’s a struggle we never outgrow.” - pg. 11

When we hear without really listening, our leadership is bound to suffer—and so will our followers. That’s why my advice to leaders is to listen, learn, and then lead.” - pg. 56

“I realized that success would be mine only if others helped me, and I helped them. Your team will never get ahead until your people are behind you, and that won’t happen if you take all the credit.” - pg. 150

Should I read it or skip it?

At 155 pages, this book is one of John Maxwell’s lighter books. I have read several and always get something out of them when I read them. This book helped me to see things about myself I wouldn’t normally explore. I would suggest reading this book with a group of other leaders so you can get the full benefit of reading and getting feedback from other leaders about how you may or may not exhibit certain behaviors. I would not skip it but I would bring people along for the journey.

Book of the Month - June 2023

Master of One

Jordan Raynor - ISBN: 978-0-7852-6664-8 - 2021

Author:

Jordan Raynor

Jordan Raynor is a leading voice of the faith and work movement.

Through his bestselling books (The Creator in You, Redeeming Your Time, Master of One, and Called to Create), the Mere Christians podcast, and his weekly devotionals, Jordan has helped millions of Christians in every country on earth connect the gospel to their work. 

In addition to his writing, Jordan serves as the Executive Chairman of Threshold 360, a venture-backed tech startup that Jordan previously ran as CEO following a string of successful ventures of his own. 

Jordan has twice been selected as a Google Fellow and served in The White House under President George W. Bush. A sixth-generation Floridian, Jordan lives in Tampa with his wife and their three young daughters. The Raynors are proud members of The Church at Odessa.

Taken from Jordan Raynor's Website

Brief Synopsis:

What is your one thing? The entrepreneur thought leader, and best-selling author of Called to Create offers a refreshing invitation: stop trying to do it all so you can thrive in your unique, God-given work.

Imagine how different your life would be if you spent your time doing the very thing that brings you the greatest joy. It’s possible, but most people spend their days making incremental advances on numerous tasks, competent at many things but exceptional at none. That’s because for too long we’ve believed the lie that more activity, more jobs, and more responsibility equals greater effectiveness. In short, we are becoming a society of “jacks-and-jills-of-all-trades and masters of none.”

But what if you could shift your focus from too many things to one?

In this thought-provoking book, you’ll discover the exponential power of pursuing a singular craft. Through practical principles, Jordan Raynor provides straightforward steps for finding and thriving in your calling. He also highlights more than a dozen real-life examples of high-impact individuals who have chosen to focus on and excel in their unique gifting, including:

• Chronicles of Narnia author C. S. Lewis

• Enron whistle-blower Sherron Watkins

• TV legend Mister Rogers

• Dallas Mavericks CEO Cynthia Marshall

• Reality TV star Chip Gaines

• NFL Hall of Fame coach Tony Dungy

• Biblical figures, a teacher, a pilot, a banker, and world-class entrepreneurs

Too many of us are overwhelmed, overcommitted, and overstressed. This book offers a better way—the path to becoming a master of one!

Taken from Amazon

Insights:

“In other words, we glorify God when we imitate his character of excellence and in doing so “proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” (I Peter 2:9, ESV).” - pg 29

“Clearly, the advice of making our happiness the primary aim of our work isn’t working. For the Christian, this shouldn’t come as a surprise. Why? Because this advice is out of line with Jesus’s example to serve rather than be served.” - pg 18 -19

“As we have seen in the first part of this book, the purpose of mastery in our work is not to accumulate fame and fortune for ourselves or to subsidize our lifestyle. It’s not even primarily a means to earn credibility and power or to share the gospel. The most fundamental purpose of mastery is the same as our purpose in life: to glorify God and love and serve others as ourselves.” - pg 52

Should I read it or skip it?

First, I have mixed feelings about this book. On one hand, I struggle with the concept. Having been encouraged to be a generalist, I struggle with the concept of specialists and the success they seem to have. However, specialists are successful. They achieve and some achieve greatly. However, I don’t think Mr. Raynor is saying to be a specialist at the cost of being good at skills.

Second, for most of my career, I worked under the assumption that in a church, you have to just get good at a lot of things but not really great at one thing. I felt like the senior or lead pastor needed to be good at a lot of things. So for senior or management leadership, I would need to sacrifice one skill for many skills. I was also told I was only good enough to work at churches of a certain size and would not be able to work at larger churches because my skill set was not specialized or “excellent” enough.

When I finished reading it, I knew my children would need to read this book. Their generation currently reaps the fruit of the participation trophy and they sometimes get paralyzed. I felt Mr. Raynor’s process would give them a step-by-step growth process to move forward when they get stuck.

So with all that said, I think this book is a good read for anyone but I am studying it with a small group of young adults (19-29).

Habit #9: Week #2: Have a Mentor

9 Habits for Effective Life Group Leadership
Habit #9: Week #2: Have a Mentor

Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
- 2 Timothy 1:6-7

“A mentor is someone who sees more talent and ability within you, than you see in yourself, and helps bring it out of you.”
— Bob Proctor

"Learning is finding out that you already know. Doing is demonstrating that you know it. Teaching is reminding others that they know just as well as you. You are all learners, doers, and teachers." 
— Richard Bach

Last week, we discussed the need to mentor someone and keep them taking their next steps.  This week, I want to talk about the need to be mentored and keep taking the next steps.  

Effective Life Group leaders know they need to be mentored.  

Paul and Timothy

In the Bible, we have more information written to the church at Ephesus than any other New Testament Church.  Paul writes the letter to the church at Ephesus.  Then the Spirit writes a letter to the church at Ephesus in the book of Revelation.  However, Timothy while serving at Ephesus as pastor receives two letters from his mentor, Paul.  We know Paul considered Timothy a spiritual child.  

Paul describes the type of relationship they have in 2 Timothy 1:6-7:

6 Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

Here are three tips for being mentored to be an Effective Life Group Leader:

1. Be humble - You don’t know everything.  Keep asking the questions you need to move forward. 

2. Find a mentor with more experience in the areas you need mentoring.  - When you know what you don’t know look for someone who can help you find the right answers.  

3. Show appreciation for your mentor by applying their advice early and often.  Lack of influence is the worst feeling for a mentor.  Mentors want to feel useful and not listening to them is a sure way to make sure they don’t want to mentor them again.  

Here are three ways you can be mentored:

1. People from afar - Reading books and listening to podcasts fall into this category. 

2. People who you know but don’t mentor you one-on-one - Pastor Danny speaking at dream team night or these emails 

3. People who are mentoring and coaching you directly - You have an agreed-upon relationship with someone who is ahead of you and who meets with you to help you grow as a leader - then are in this category.  

All are valid and you can use multiple ways at once.  

Being mentored will require openness and humility on your part. However, when utilized mentors become our next step in building the kingdom.  When we make ourselves vulnerable, it makes it easy for people to see me through the lens of Sunday: Everybody's Welcome. Nobody's Perfect.  And with Jesus, Anything Is Possible. 

Habit #9: Week #1: Be a Mentor

9 Habits for Effective Life Group Leadership
Habit #9: Week #1: Be a Mentor

After six days, Jesus took Peter, James, and John, the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 
- Matthew 17:1-2

"My job is not to be easy on people. My job is to take these great people we have and to push them and make them even better." 
— Steve Jobs

"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give." 
— Winston Churchill

“The delicate balance of mentoring someone is not creating them in your own image, but giving them the opportunity to create themselves.” 
— Steven Spielberg

The last habit helps provide more spaces for people to experience what we know to be the way life transformation happens.  Week 1 will focus on being a mentor.  Week 2 will focus on having a mentor.  

An Effective Life Group Leader knows how to mentor someone so a new Life Group can be born.  

I can hear the wheels in your head churning.  When we get to this point every Life Group Leader hears something like this:  We want you to train a leader who can divide or break up your group and keep you from experiencing true fellowship.  This idea could not be further from the truth. 

You have been entrusted with mentoring and growing a new leader so new environments for life transformation can be formed.  THAT IS HUGE!! We want you to be like Jesus.  We want you to see the big picture of what God wants to do here.  

We just came off the biggest non-Easter or Christmas weekend Life Point has ever had.  We had over 1600 on campus over the four services.  We saw God bring our future here.  However, we do not have enough small group space or leaders to help see the life transformation those lives need.  

Jesus trained his 12 disciples and really focused on three to lead the next generation when he was gone.  I can draw a straight line from his lessons and the miracles Jesus performed in the view of his disciples to their actions such as the baptisms the disciples accomplished in the earliest days of their leadership without him. 

Question: How do you baptize 3000 people in one day?   

Answer: The same way you feed five thousand people.  

Jesus took his disciples to places they needed to go to learn the skills they needed to learn to accomplish the good works he had planned for them.  We need to do the same.  Growth Track and Life Group Leader training will only get them so far.  Leading alongside you in your small groups or areas you lead, like in Financial Peace, EHS (Emotionally Healthy Spirituality), or a bible study life group, will prepare them to be the leaders God has called them to be.  

We are all ahead of someone in leading.  Let's find someone to mentor today.  Please begin to look for the person God has placed in your path to mentor.  Please pray for them as they are choosing to walk the path of becoming an Effective Life Group Leader.

Habit #8: F.U.N.

9 Habits for Effective Life Group Leadership
Habit #8: F.U.N.

“On the third day, a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding."
- John 3:1-2

"If you’re not having fun, you’re doing something wrong."
- Groucho Marx, Comedian and Actor

"I like to think I’m a pretty good friend. I love having a good time, and I enjoy being able to share those good times with others."

- Jacob Batalon, Actor

We are in the next set of habits of Effective Life Group Leaders.  During this set, we are focusing on the Life Group Leader.  The healthier you are, the healthier your group can be.  So let's dive into the eighth habit.

An Effective Life Group Leader knows how to have FUN!!!!

I know what you are thinking.  Really.  FUN!  I can be fun...  

But really, how many of us really stop and have fun?  

Let me ask you this question:  How many people would invite you to hang out?   
Better yet:  How many people invite you to the party because they know you will bring the fun? 

It never ceases to amaze me how many people thought this about Jesus.  Let's look at John's telling at the wedding of Cana.

John 3:1-3

On the third day, a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”

First, Jesus and his disciples were invited to the wedding.  According to John, this would be Jesus's first miracle.  So before he became famous for his teachings or for the miracles he did, he was invited to this wedding.  The couple invited Jesus because they simply wanted him there.  

Second, they wanted him there so badly, that they invited all the disciples.  The sentence is structured so that it looks like Jesus and the disciples were invited.  They expected Jesus to bring the fun... By this time, Jesus had chosen twelve disciples which means he probably brought more than just the twelve.  No wonder they ran out of wine.   

Third, the rest of Jesus's family was invited.  Well, at least his mom was invited.  She definitely wasn't famous yet.  Her identity as Mary, the mother of Jesus, was probably still local.  Joseph isn't mentioned and so people think he had passed away by this time.  

We could spend hours talking about the rest of the story.  Was the wine real?  Why did Jesus talk to Mary the way he did? Was it disrespect (Jesus was sinless so was it more of a statement like when he was 12 at the temple)?   

The burning question:  Was Jesus a good dancer?   Could he do the chicken dance? 

But I digress...

So what can we glean about being fun and having fun from this story:

Let's use fun as an acronym:

F - FELLOWSHIP

The old joke goes:
 

Fellowship is a bunch of fellows on the same ship.

An effective Life Group Leader knows the value of fellowship.  When people interact with each other on a regular basis they develop lasting bonds and become comfortable sharing the hard parts of their life.  

Fellowship can be as simple as gathering around coffee at the beginning of the group.  Fellowship can and should take the form of gathering outside the group.  Planning dinner or an event outside your normal group time can accelerate the relationships developed in groups.  

If you really want to accelerate relationships through fellowship, mission trips or serve days are your best bet.   Serving in a situation outside your Life Group meeting allows people to do life together.  Often doing life together proves the key to connections.  This concept can apply to serving on a team together on Sundays but often schedules prevent the group from serving together at the same time.  

U - UPBEAT

I really wanted to use the word, "Whimsical" but I needed a u-word.  Positive and happy people are generally regarded as fun people.  When was the last time anyone invited Eyore to a party?  

We should keep this rhyme in mind: 

Every party needs a pooper that's why we invited you...  Party Pooper!!!

No one wants to hang out with the party pooper.  This doesn't mean you can't be sad but if you are always sad something is wrong.  Whimy, upbeat, positive, happy...  These are traits of people who people enjoy.  

I recognize there is a group of people who struggle with these statements.  They are known as introverts.  I am one.  I enjoy being by myself and I don't need the parties to be happy.  I recognize every room is an escape room when it is filled with people.  Sabbath rest can prepare you for moments of FUN!  Don't let your introversion keep you from godly fellowship and interaction.  I know lots of introverts who can offer a smile and a firm handshake.  

N - NICE

In this case, I equate Nice with Kind.  Finally, kindness attracts people.  Scripture says, "God's kindness leads us to repentance (Rom. 2:4)."  God has been kind to us. He didn't have to send Jesus.  He didn't have to provide a way to connect with him.  He chose kindness and mercy, even to the point of Jesus's death on the cross.  Let's choose to be kind.  Galatians 5 says kindness should grow in us naturally as a result of the fruit of the Spirit growing in us.  If you aren't kind, you need to check your heart. 

When we make these three truths about fun real in our church, it makes it easy to see people through the lens of Sunday: Everybody's Welcome. Nobody's Perfect.  And with Jesus, Anything Is Possible. 

Book of the Month - May 2023

The Princess Diarist

Carrie Fisher - ISBN: 978-0399173592 - 2016

Author:

Carrie Fisher

Carrie Fisher is an author and actress best known for her roles as Princess Leia in the Star Wars franchise. She has appeared in countless other films, including Shampoo and When Harry Met Sally, and is the author of four bestselling novels: Surrender the Pink, Delusions of Grandma, The Best Awful, and Postcards from the Edge as well as the memoirs Shockaholic and Wishful Drinking. Fisher lives in Los Angeles.

• From the jacket of The Princess Diarist

She passed in 2016.

Brief Synopsis:

The Princess Diarist is Carrie Fisher's intimate, hilarious and revealing recollection of what happened behind the scenes on one of the most famous film sets of all time, the first Star Wars movie.

When Carrie Fisher recently discovered the journals she kept during the filming of the first Star Wars movie, she was astonished to see what they had preserved - plaintive love poems, unbridled musings with youthful naiveté, and a vulnerability that she barely recognized. Today, her fame as an author, actress, and pop-culture icon is indisputable, but in 1977, Carrie Fisher was just a teenager with an all-consuming crush on her costar, Harrison Ford. 

With these excerpts from her handwritten notebooks, The Princess Diarist is Fisher's intimate and revealing recollection of what happened on one of the most famous film sets of all time - and what developed behind the scenes. Fisher also ponders the joys and insanity of celebrity, and the absurdity of a life spawned by Hollywood royalty, only to be surpassed by her own outer-space royalty. Laugh-out-loud hilarious and endlessly quotable, The Princess Diarist brims with the candor and introspection of a diary while offering shrewd insight into the type of stardom that few will ever experience. 

Taken from Amazon’s Website

Insights:

“Do not let what you think they think of you make you stop and question everything you are.”

“Someone has to stand still for you to love them. My choices are always on the run.”

“If you look at the person someone chooses to have a relationship with, you’ll see what they think of themselves.”

“I've got to learn something from my mistakes instead of establishing a new record to break.”

“Kidding yourself doesn’t require that you have a sense of humor. But a sense of humor comes in handy for almost everything else.”

Should I read it or skip it?

May the Fourth be with you! I love biographies. In honor of May the 4th, I thought I would bring you a Star War Legend.

This book interested me for lots of reasons. My parents took me to my first movie in the theaters: The Return of the Jedi. From Green Lightsabers to my favorite line, Return of the Jedi captivated my mind.

I love the moment when Princess Leia rescues Han Solo from Carbonite. But I really loved the turn about of the “I love you. I know” moment from Empire Strikes Back.

So to hear stories from the set from one of the Big Three cast members was awesome. However, the realism of the situation was heavy. Two people I admired found themselves in situations they weren’t ready for in life. If I had read this book when I was younger, I may have been really judgmental. However, as a man with a daughter not much younger than Ms. Fisher at the time she filmed Star Wars, I realize the importance of parents who can lead and guide in ways that help mentor young adults.

Her story proves my college kid still needs me. My high school kids still need me. They need our experience to navigate life. I wish someone had been there for Harrison and Carrie.

If you are a fan of Star Wars, read the book. I enjoyed it and highly recommend the audio book read by Ms. Fisher herself.

Habit #7: Teachability

9 Habits for Effective Life Group Leadership
Habit #7: Teachability

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock."

- Jesus, Matthew 7:24

“It's what you learn after you know it all that counts.”

— John Wooden, Hall of Fame Basketball Coach

“Feedback is the breakfast of champions.”

— Ken Blanchard and Spencer Johnson, Authors

We are in the next set of habits of Effective Life Group Leaders. During this set, we are focusing on the Life Group Leader. The healthier you are, the healthier your group can be. So let's dive into the seventh habit.

An Effective Life Group Leader is teachable.  

When David died, there was a scramble to see who would be the one to take his place on the throne. God, through people, guided Solomon to the throne. Now when faced with this daunting task, Solomon encounters God. Let's jump into the story in I Kings chapter 3. 

5 At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.” 6 Solomon answered, “You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day.

7 “Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. 8 Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. 9 So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?”

10 The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this.

Solomon's request was a discerning heart to know right and wrong. However, I would submit Solomon's greatness rested in his knowledge that he didn't know everything. Solomon knew he would need to learn to be able to govern or lead God's people. Solomon knew he didn't know everything.  

God was pleased and ultimately granted Solomon wisdom.  

So what can we glean about availability from this story:

1. The most important question you can ask:

I don't know what I don't know, so what do I not know?

Knowing what you don't know is essential to be an effective life group leader. Without the humility to admit your shortcomings, dependence on God will never come. Once you admit you don't know everything, you can be open to learning the things you need to be a better leader.  

2. Everyone can teach you something. Not everyone should be your teacher.

These two sentences seem at odds so let me explain. 

First, any situation can teach you something. Sometimes, we learn from the positive. Someone teaches us a skill we want to learn. We learn in a great environment and everything goes well. Sometimes, we learn from the negative. Finding ourselves in the midst of a "dumpster fire" can teach us skills and what we don't need to do. Sometimes, we ourselves lit the dumpster. We need the awareness to know this about ourselves. (Somehow I started using this phrase in the last week. I have a five-dollar bill for the first person who comes up and says it to me on Sunday.)

Second, not everyone is qualified to lead you to be a better leader. Among younger believers, a desire to learn often leads them to whoever seems the most spiritual. The qualities you look for in a teacher should be the same as mentioned in Galatians 5:22-23.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things, there is no law.

The fruit of the Spirit should define a good teacher. These qualities show the growth of a person who is following God. Not their spiritual giftings but the fruit. Let those leaders who exhibit the fruit of the spirit in your life lead you and make you a better leader.

When we are teachable, we make these three truths real in our church: Everybody's Welcome. Nobody's Perfect. And with Jesus, Anything Is Possible. 

Habit #6: Availability

9 Habits for Effective Life Group Leadership
Habit #6: Availability

 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”

And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”

- Isaiah 6:8

It's about showing up. And sometimes I don't do it. I almost always regret it, but sometimes I don't do it. Sometimes I walk into a situation where I'm intimidated and I want to be liked and I want to fit in, and I don't choose authenticity. And it's always pretty miserable.

-Brené Brown

We are in the next set of habits of Effective Life Group Leaders. During this set, we are focusing on the Life Group Leader. The healthier you are, the healthier your group can be. So let's dive into the sixth habit.

An Effective Life Group Leader is available. What does it mean to be available? Is God going to call you to go to the freezing cold of the tundra to share the gospel? Or will God ask you to go to the burning desert to minister? Maybe... More likely, God will have you minister in your small group to someone who really needs you to step in as they deal with their habits, hurts, and hang-ups.  

Let's look at I Samuel 3.  

The boy Samuel was serving God under Eli’s direction. This was at a time when the revelation of God was rarely heard or seen. One night Eli was sound asleep (his eyesight was very bad—he could hardly see). It was well before dawn; the sanctuary lamp was still burning. Samuel was still in bed in the Temple of God, where the Chest of God rested.

Then God called out, “Samuel, Samuel!”

Samuel answered, “Yes? I’m here.” Then he ran to Eli saying, “I heard you call. Here I am.”

Eli said, “I didn’t call you. Go back to bed.” And so he did.

God called again, “Samuel, Samuel!”

Samuel got up and went to Eli, “I heard you call. Here I am.”

Again Eli said, “Son, I didn’t call you. Go back to bed.” (This all happened before Samuel knew God for himself. It was before the revelation of God had been given to him personally.)

God called again, “Samuel!”—the third time! Yet again Samuel got up and went to Eli, “Yes? I heard you call me. Here I am.”

That’s when it dawned on Eli that God was calling the boy. So Eli directed Samuel, “Go back and lie down. If the voice calls again, say, ‘Speak, God. I’m your servant, ready to listen.’” Samuel returned to his bed.

Then God came and stood before him exactly as before, calling out, “Samuel! Samuel!”

Samuel answered, “Speak. I’m your servant, ready to listen.”

In the midst of the crazy cycle of the people forgetting God, a little boy began to hear God’s voice. Samuel’s mom had dedicated him to the Lord and he stayed at the Tabernacle with the priests. His life had changed so quickly. I am sure Samuel was a little boy in a daze.  

Then in 1 Samuel 3:4, the Bible says, “The Lord Spoke to Samuel.” This was a rare thing according to the story and Samuel had not heard the Lord’s voice yet. So he jumps up and runs to the high priest’s room and says, “Here I am.” 

God didn't speak often during Samuel's childhood. In fact, hearing God's voice had grown so rare that Eli didn't recognize the situation at first. Eli is a little slow on the uptake. It takes a couple of times of this before he realizes God is trying to speak to Samuel. Samuel had grown up serving God and he had never heard his voice. 

When Eli gets it, he tells Samuel to answer God, “Speak your servant is listening.” God calls Samuel again and the deep relationship between Samuel and God was forged.  

So what can we glean about availability from this story:

• Being available doesn't always happen on our timetable or will always be convenient for us. Samuel was supposed to be sleeping when God called. He had responsibilities and needed his rest. Who hasn't had a Life Group member need you at an inconvenient time? 

• Being available doesn't guarantee comfort. Samuel had to deliver a pretty hard message to Eli. Who hasn't had to help a Life Group member deal with correction?   

• Being available does not require a ton of skill. Samuel was probably between 12-16 years old. Who hasn't felt unqualified to lead their Life Group? 

So, let's wrap up the definition of being available. Being available means opening our calendar and giving God the time needed to use us. Being available to give the people we lead in our Life Groups the time they need to know: Everybody's Welcome. Nobody's Perfect. And with Jesus, Anything Is Possible. 

Book of the Month - April 2023

Didn’t See It Coming

Carey Nieuwhof - ISBN: 978-0-7352-9133-1 - 2018

Author:

Carey Nieuwhof

Carey Nieuwhof is a former lawyer and founding pastor of Connexus Church in Barrie, Ontario, one of the most influential churches in North America. He is a sought-after speaker, podcaster, and thought leader, regularly appearing at major US conferences and events such as Orange, Exponential, ReThink Leadership, and LifeWay Leadership. With millions of listeners regularly tuning in, the Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast features today’s top leadership and cultural influencers. Carey and his wife, Toni, reside near Barrie, Ontario, and have two children.

• From the back cover of Didn’t See It Coming.

Brief Synopsis:

Cynicism. Compromise. Disconnection. Irrelevance. Pride. Burnout. Emptiness. These are things that happen to other people, right? WRONG.

Too often, life begins a slow slide into circumstances that steal your hope and your confidence. Some of these situations might be creeping up on you right now. You have no idea it’s happening, which is precisely how it happens. Everything seems normal... until one day, it doesn’t. Left unchecked these areas will affect—and infect—your relationship with God and poison your relationship with others, especially the people you love most.

Carey Nieuwhof, a former lawyer and founding pastor of one of North America’s most influential churches, wants to make sure these seven critical life issues don’t catch you off guard. Each chapter of Didn’t See It Coming addresses a specific challenge and helps you see the warning signs so you can avoid or - if necessary - overcome these challenges and move forward into a more vibrant and fulfilling future.

These practices will lead you to the place where God’s love regenerates your most important relationships, your way of leadership, and your quality of life. Your past need no longer define your future.

It’s possible not only to predict life’s hardest moments but to actually alter the outcomes by stepping into every situation with newfound confidence, strength, and integrity.

1. You don’t become cynical because you don’t care, but because you do. 

2. Un-compromised character, not competence, determines how far you get in life. 

3. Technology doesn’t create disconnection.  It just amplifies what’s already there.

4. Embracing change and fighting irrelevance helps deepen your impact. 

5. Pride is incredibly damaging but can be mitigated by cultivating humility. 

6. Recovering from burnout requires patience and outside help.  

7. More stuff won’t a feeling of emptiness.  But finding a mission you care about will.  

• From the back cover of Didn’t See It Coming.

Insights:

“The Problem with generalizing—applying one particular situation to all situations—is that the death of trust, hope, and belief is like a virus, infecting everything.” - speaking to Cynicism - pg 20

“Confession is the part of prayer and life where we come before God and one another to admit all that we aren’t: our shortcomings, our intentional sins, and myriad unintentional sins.” - Speaking to Disconnection - pg 73

“You’re ready to change because the pain associated with the status quo just became greater than the pain associated with change... Change is Painful.” - speaking to Irrelevance - pg 100

“Just know this: Of all the lies we tell, the ones we tell ourselves do the most damage.” - speaking to Pride

Should I read it or skip it?

Over my 25ish years in ministry, I have found each and every one of these seven challenges will come your way. They may even come at you from different angles. Carey has a way of approaching seven different topics in one book while not making you feel like you are reading seven different books. This book was a risk and I believe it paid off.

Each of the topics received the right amount of treatment. Each concept has two chapters: one to flesh out the problem and one to flesh out the proposed solution. His solutions were spot on and able to be appropriated by the reader.

I would not skip this book and I would even add it to your multiple-read book.

Habit #5: Faithfulness

9 Habits for Effective Life Group Leadership
Habit #5: Faithfulness

His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’

– Parable of the Talents, Jesus - Matthew 25:23

“Faithfulness is our business; fruitfulness is an issue that we must be content to leave with God.”

– J. I. Packer

The next set of habits of Effective Life Group Leaders will focus on the Life Group Leader. The healthier you are, the healthier your group can be. So let's dive into the fifth habit.

While excellence (last week's email) is often hard to define, faithfulness is not. Faithfulness is so easy to define it is embodied in the title we give dogs, "man's best friend." A dog will meet you at the front door. A dog doesn't judge. 

During the last years of President George H.W. Bush's life, Sully provided comfort and helped the former Commander-in-Chief deal with the symptoms of Parkinsons' disease. The picture above shows Sully's resolve to not leave his master until the final moment.  

While faithfulness can be illustrated by God's creation, what does Jesus have to say about faithfulness?  

In Matthew 25, Jesus tells his disciples a parable. He starts by relating the kingdom of heaven to a boss going away and leaving his employees in charge of parts of his business. The first and second servants immediately begin to employ what they have been given to make more. Out of fear, the third servant buries what he was entrusted with to steward. When the master returns, he commends those who did something. The master also labels the servant who reacted out of fear and did nothing as lazy, takes the talent given to him, and casts the servant out.  

So what can we glean about faithfulness from this story:

• Faithfulness requires action. The two stewards rewarded did something. 

• Faithfulness requires knowledge of the master. The master tells the unfaithful steward: "You know me so you should have done X action."  

• Faithfulness does not require success. From the tone and statement of the master, I believe it is logical to conclude that just doing the bare minimum would have saved the steward. Any action would have kept him on the right side of the master.  

So, let's wrap up the definition of faithfulness. Being faithful means we remain steadfast and loyal to the transformation God wants in our personal lives. Setting an example of faithfulness to those around us and especially those we lead in our Life Groups reminds them that: Everybody's Welcome. Nobody's Perfect. And with Jesus, Anything Is Possible.  

Habit #4: Excellence

9 Habits for Effective Life Group Leadership
Habit #4: Excellence

Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your truth, we eagerly wait for you; your name and renown are the cry of our hearts.

- Isaiah 26:8

"Today I will do what others won't, so tomorrow I can accomplish what others can't." 

–Jerry Rice

The next set of habits of Effective Life Group Leaders will focus on the Life Group Leader. The healthier you are, the healthier your group can be. So let's dive into the fourth habit.

Excellence is often hard to define. When we don’t know how to define something, it is difficult to achieve or reach a goal around it.   

So with this in mind, let's go to Scripture and find the truth about excellence. In Colossians 3, Paul builds a picture of excellence. 

He tells the believers in Colossae to begin by setting their minds on things above. They should take time to think about Jesus and not about earthly things. Doing this resets the believers' expectations of what excellence can be. The best thing on earth pales in comparison to the lowest thing in heaven. 

 Second, he lists all those earthly things. Human emotions and desires (lust, anger, rage, filthy language) are not excellent and do not benefit anyone.  

Next, Paul spells out what heavenly things look like in our lives. He tells the Colossians they should practice kindness, compassion, forgiveness for themselves and others, and learn to bear with each other. The heavenly-focused life happens when we allow the Spirit to work these things through us.  

Finally, Paul points out the benefits of living this way: peace and gratefulness.

Where does excellence play out in all of this? Paul's last command was to do everything in God's name. Paul has illustrated the things associated with God and the things associated with fallen humanity. He wants the Colossians to do things the way Jesus would do them. Jesus would be kind and compassionate. Jesus would be joyful and grateful for the ability to do them. Because I am human, God does not expect me to be perfect but expects me to reset my mind so I can see the best way to do things for His Glory. 

So, let's wrap up the definition of excellence. Excellence is going above and beyond in action and love using the talents and gifts God has equipped us with in the same way Jesus would, which ultimately brings Him glory. When we operate with excellence in our Life Group, we remind the world around us: Everybody's Welcome. Nobody's Perfect. Anything Is Possible. 

Habit #3: Caring for your Life Group

9 Habits for Effective Life Group Leadership
Habit #3: Caring for your Life Group

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this, all people will know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another.
- Jesus, John 13:34-35 

"Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?"
- Martin Luther King Jr.

The third habit of Effective Life Group Leaders is how they care for their group. 

Caring for people can be messy.  Ask any paramedic, nurse, or doctor and they will tell you, "Caring requires a passion for seeing people well."  Sick people range from bloody to poopy to sniffly.  You never know what you are going to get.  They have problems: emotional, physical, financial, etc.  How can you as a Life Group Leader care for people well? 
 

• Listen - Most people need someone to hear them.  They don't need someone to solve their problems.  People typically need someone to help them understand how God solves problems.  As Life Group leaders, we are given the opportunity to meet people where they are, listen and point them to God's word, and see how God helped others in similar circumstances.  

• Give Grace -  We need to encourage people.  We see Jesus dispensing grace freely.  He would meet people where they are and then encourage them to take the next step.  In John 3, Nicodemus comes to Jesus as a teacher from the Pharisees in the middle of the night. Jesus meets with him and helps him to see his next steps. 

• Share Truth - Don't let people off the hook.  We cannot solve their problems.  Returning to the Nicodemus and Jesus story, Jesus didn't make it easy for Nicodemus.  He made statements Nicodemus didn't completely understand.   Jesus asked questions to reveal the truth of Nicodemus' heart.  Nicodemus needed truth as much as he needed grace.  Don't give one without the other.  

• Contact People - As a kid, I remember hoping something in the mail would have my name on the mailing label.  I think people today are no different.  People want to be seen and known. Reaching out to them via text, email or even snail mail
  opens up the opportunity for connection and community. The question is not if I should contact them but how I should contact them.  

• Care Steps for Groups - If someone is in the midst of a situation, they need the support of their group.  They may need a meal train.  They may be in the hospital and need a visit from their Life Group Leader.  They may be facing a birthday of significance and need some people to surround them.  Their family may be far away and they need us to go to their child's football game.  A Life Group cannot be all things to all people, but we can make people feel special and show the love of Jesus to them.

• Refer them to Pastoral Care - We have an amazing pastoral care team here at Life Point.  Please know we do not expect your group to cover every need of someone attending your group.  If you don't know what our Pastoral Care team does, please click here to find out.   From evaluating financial needs to counseling needs, our team can help the members of your Life Group where they are.  

John Maxwell made popular a quote by President Theodore Roosevelt.  People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care.  People assimilate into groups more quickly when we care for them properly.  It reminds them: Everybody's Welcome. Nobody's Perfect.  Anything Is Possible.