Pastor JimB’s Book - Part 2, “Where Do We Go From Here?” at Phoenix Preacher

Pastor JimB’s Book - Part 2, “Where Do We Go From Here?”

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nomans

at January 31, 2009 in General.

119 Responses to “Pastor JimB’s Book - Part 2, “Where Do We Go From Here?””

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1 Solus Christus
Jan 31st, 2009 at 2:13 pm

God bless you, Nomans and Michael
2 JimB
Jan 31st, 2009 at 2:16 pm

Nomans and Michael,

Thank you for the new thread. Nomans, I didn’t know you were a moderator. Cool!!!

Solus,

Thank you for your kind words. I have been truly blessed in the churches that I have attended. I have not experienced the kind of abuse that others here have mentioned. I have learned a lot here about the type of abuse that has been occurring in a lot of other denoms around the country. That has made me even more resolute on providing the safest possible place for people to fellowship and have a church home. We some incredibly loving saints serving here at our fellowship, and truly we are a family here.
3 Nomans
Jan 31st, 2009 at 2:42 pm

My pleasure! I am avoiding these threads because I am not done with the book yet…
I will join in as soon as I can finish the book
4 Solus Christus
Jan 31st, 2009 at 2:50 pm

Nomans,

We look forward to you joining us… anytime, even if you aren’t done reading the book. Thanks you again.

JimB.,

I have been truly blessed also (with one bad experience). I have never been personally abused or hurt, it was more watching a series of events around me and things that were happening in the church and to others (who were deeply hurt). Like you, I have learned the most from those who come here to find comfort, prayer and healing; and it’s very obvious by their posts that they are hurting deeply.

Confession: JimB., I am very surprised by your directness to the church, leaders and pastors in these last couple chapters. I truly believe these words will offer great comfort to those who are hurting, because… you are acknowledging what some do (in pastoral positions/leadership) is very wrong.

Chapter 13 “Where Do We Go From Here?”

I really love and appreciate how you have kept the focus on “the Body of Christ”.
5 Solus Christus
Jan 31st, 2009 at 3:16 pm

Jim wrote, “First of all, the body of Christ is not a religious organization but rather a spirital organism put together by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself and as such it needs to function under His leading.”

Spiritual Organism … The body of Christ is a spiritual organism; it’s living.

“A functioning system of interdependent parts that resembles a living creature.”
—Encarta World English Dictionary

I like this definition because the body of Christ is made up of Believers, followers of Christ who live as servants and worship Christ Jesus. Each person in this body holds special, meaningful gifts (from God)… to share with others (Believers and non-Believers alike). Jim wrote, “put together by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself” . God created this body of Believers. We belong to Him. More importantly are the words: “… and as such it needs to function under His leading.” God’s leading, not man’s. We find these leadings in the Bible, through God’s Word and Jesus’ examples and teachings.
6 JimB
Jan 31st, 2009 at 3:32 pm

Solus,

I learned a tremendous amount about the nature and function of the church from a 24 cassette tape in depth series by Bob Hoekstra called, “The Church: How Jesus Builds It” Bob pastored for about 40 years before he recorded these messages, and he is a man who is absolutely full of wisdom and insight. He has got to be getting pretty elderly now. I listened to the series about 12 years ago. He speaks through me when I talk about the church, but I don’t have real quotes from him because I listened to his messages and didn’t read them. He has a web page here: http://www.livinginchrist.org
7 JimB
Jan 31st, 2009 at 3:50 pm

Nomans,

I know you and others have alluded to your having had a rough time at a church at one point. I am so sorry this has happened in your life. I hope that my book can help you to see that there is another type of church that can exist than the one you have experienced.
8 Solus Christus
Jan 31st, 2009 at 7:07 pm

JimB.,

Thank you for the link.

You wrote, “Second, the body of Christ consists of many interconnected parts each of which are to be led by and respond to the head of the Body (Christ) but also to work together in love, interconnected and interdependent upon one another.”

Like the people in Betty’s home fellowship group, working together in love serving one another’s needs. Listening to God and responding to the needs in this world (even the smallest of needs).
9 JimB
Jan 31st, 2009 at 7:46 pm

Sister Christian,

Are you out there? Phone home SC.
10 Solus Christus
Jan 31st, 2009 at 7:56 pm

We really need to get that girl a watch…
11 Psalm62
Jan 31st, 2009 at 8:21 pm

Pastor Jim, just thot I’d mention that I start every day with Hoekstra’s ‘Day by Day by Grace’
12 JimB
Jan 31st, 2009 at 8:31 pm

PS62,

Cool! Yeah, Hoekstra has another incredible in-depth study on the grace of God. What a treasure for the body of Christ he is.
13 JimB
Jan 31st, 2009 at 8:35 pm

Solus,

What did you think of the pictures? (You don’t have to mention of whom we are talking…)
14 JimB
Jan 31st, 2009 at 8:39 pm

Solus,

SC should be here any minute I predict.
15 JimB
Jan 31st, 2009 at 8:40 pm

Solus,

SC hasn’t read the last two chapters yet.
16 Solus Christus
Jan 31st, 2009 at 8:40 pm

Hello Psalm62,

Hope you are well.

Jim B.,

Thank you for the photographs. Lovely, beautiful and I sincerely appreciate them.
17 Solus Christus
Jan 31st, 2009 at 8:43 pm

JimB.,

She will love the last two chapters. Trust me, she will dig deep into them and scripture (I can’t wait). Especially the Epilogue, I predict.
18 Sister Christian
Jan 31st, 2009 at 8:45 pm

Hi Im here! can only stay for a few minutes
19 Solus Christus
Jan 31st, 2009 at 8:45 pm

JimB.,

I hope we can keep Chapter 13 a separate thread from the Epilogue “Pastor to Pastor: a Pastoral Perspective”. Don’t you agree?

We can always go to the first thread to discuss Sister Christian’s thoughts (and other’s) as they arise. It will be good to revisit the threads.
20 Sister Christian
Jan 31st, 2009 at 8:46 pm

“Those who walk with God will endure fiery trials.”
21 JimB
Jan 31st, 2009 at 8:47 pm

Solus,

I have some more surprizes for you to check out of a similar nature to those pics.
22 Sister Christian
Jan 31st, 2009 at 8:48 pm

Jim, Im sure you can relate much to Gods ways, as you have gone forth to plant a church, to be a pastor, yet sensed that calling years before.

Much like David was annointed to be King years before he ever was
and endured many many trials between the time he was annointed and the time he sat upon the throne
23 JimB
Jan 31st, 2009 at 8:48 pm

SC,

I hope things are going to be OK. I will pray…
24 Solus Christus
Jan 31st, 2009 at 8:49 pm

Hello Sister Christian,

We have missed you… are you okay?
25 JimB
Jan 31st, 2009 at 8:51 pm

SC,

I don’t think I have suffered any trials of the nature that David experienced. But, yes there are huge trials. The Puritan William Gurnall in The Christian In Complete Armor once wrote, “Satan is God’s messenger boy.” God allows Satan to muck with our lives in order to get us to wake up and start waging the kind of warfare that is necessary to survive and be used by and bring God glory in the work you are doing.
26 Solus Christus
Jan 31st, 2009 at 8:51 pm

Sister,

Are you okay?
27 Sister Christian
Jan 31st, 2009 at 8:54 pm

We are okay,,, I think…
The housing market stinks, most of us know that
and Im really mad cause billions went into a black hole,
and it didnt help the economy one bit.

talked to our lender and he agreed that if half of that Billions would have been spent to lower interests for families already in homes and paid for 40% of the loans that are upside down , we wouldnt be in this mess
28 Sister Christian
Jan 31st, 2009 at 8:56 pm

Of all the loans 40% which are upside down
anyways we are here to talk about your book,

and I quoted out of the first paragraph in Chapter 7

Those who walk with God will endure fiery trials
its not unique and we should expect them and not be surprised when we encounter them.
29 JimB
Jan 31st, 2009 at 8:57 pm

SC,

How far have you read?
30 Sister Christian
Jan 31st, 2009 at 8:58 pm

“God allows Satan to muck with our lives in order to get us to wake up and start waging the kind of warfare that is necessary to survive and be used by and bring God glory in the work you are doing.”

thats a very interesting quote.
31 Sister Christian
Jan 31st, 2009 at 8:58 pm

Only to page 77
32 Solus Christus
Jan 31st, 2009 at 8:58 pm

Jim, I look forward to seeing more of your photographs.

Sister,

Have you heard any more about your husband’s employment?

This economy is scary, Sis. It is beginning to effect everyone. Black hole is right. And, these so-called leaders in our government… my husband and I are so upset with most of these ridiculous decisions. A 10 year old could make some better decisions about how to spend money!

Mess… indeed.
33 Sister Christian
Jan 31st, 2009 at 9:01 pm

actually 79..

Where she was feeling better and they bought a house in the country and she was settled after having moved over 20 times with her kids
34 Solus Christus
Jan 31st, 2009 at 9:01 pm

Sister,

It’s okay, take your time (re: Pg. 77). We aren’t in a hurry. I hope these threads gets stretched out and revisited often.

Sister you are going to love Chapter 13 and the Epilogue.

What else is on your mind tonight, Sis?
35 JimB
Jan 31st, 2009 at 9:03 pm

SC,

OK, well you have some catching up to do. We are continuing to discuss the points prior to the last two chapters on the previous thread.
36 Sister Christian
Jan 31st, 2009 at 9:03 pm

how the church came and helped them move…

what nice about that is these are special times of fellowship, helping each other in times like this,,,

so often people think of helping others as a chore, and what it always turns out to be is a blessed time of fellowship
37 Sister Christian
Jan 31st, 2009 at 9:08 pm

I love this quote

“Let your light so shine before men that they will see your good ddeds and glorify your father who is in heaven”

Not to do your deeds to be praised of men( and thus have your reward)
But to do your deeds so that men will see them and glorify God

Just like the woman did who saw the church helping the ferrels move
they see the love exhibted in action, and outward demonstration
38 Sister Christian
Jan 31st, 2009 at 9:10 pm

“The light of Christ, reflected by the church to the world,
is to be so sharp and clear that men cannot help but see the source of the light and love for themselves”
39 Sister Christian
Jan 31st, 2009 at 9:13 pm

Solus Christus,

Thank you…
however, if i shared all that was on my heart and mind right now,
Id be here til midnight, and I have a date

someone is going to serenade me and read to me this evening!
But hes on the phone right now, so i have a few more minutes
40 Solus Christus
Jan 31st, 2009 at 9:14 pm

Sister Christian,

Lucky you, my husband snores me to sleep.
41 Sister Christian
Jan 31st, 2009 at 9:18 pm

Solus Christus,

When Jim B writes of singing the worship songs so loud, that Betty could hear them from her bedroom,

it reminded me when we were having our home group here.
After everyone had eaten (remember we made international meals for the group) they would get settled into worship in the other room, and they sang loud enough that I could hear and worship with them, while I was tidying up in the kitchen, doing dishes… it was always the best blessing!!!
42 Sister Christian
Jan 31st, 2009 at 9:20 pm

Solus Chritus,

Funny you mention that, as that helps me to fall asleep too!
Believe it or not!
43 Solus Christus
Jan 31st, 2009 at 9:21 pm

Sister,

Let’s go over the JimB’s first thread… follow me, Sis.
44 Sister Christian
Jan 31st, 2009 at 9:25 pm

Now looking at Chapter 8:

“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints”

One of the plaques that struck me as we walked the underground burial catacombes in Paris was that inscription in marble in French, written around 200 years ago… it was unmistakable…

and so i think, that we see death as a loss, and it is,

How God sees it as a “precious sheep folded” “a wheat harvested”

” a precious child… brought home”

wow, does that make me long to be home
45 JimB
Jan 31st, 2009 at 9:28 pm

Ladies,

I have to hit the hay, my alarm clock rings in 5 1/2 hours, and then I have a full day. Let me know if you would like to chat after the Superbowl tomorrow night. I should probably be around afterwards. If not, then Monday I suppose. Let me know. Good night and God bless all!!!
46 Solus Christus
Jan 31st, 2009 at 9:31 pm

Jim,

How about during the Superbowl?

just teasin’ …

p.s. Sister, I will probably be here during the Superbowl in between serving snacks to the boys.
47 Solus Christus
Jan 31st, 2009 at 9:33 pm

And, I will not be serving vegetables!

Did you all see that commercial they banned?
48 Sister Christian
Jan 31st, 2009 at 9:37 pm

No super bowl at our house.
Never has been…. I dont see what all the hype is
I dont think i have ever watched one in my life…
dont care to either.

A friend of mine is in China,
and she is grieving at how people worship dead people
I asked her does she grieve when people over here worship living ones?
49 Sister Christian
Jan 31st, 2009 at 9:41 pm

I just got another report from a friend who is ministering in Kenya,
the draught is getting bad over there, more malnutrition,
more deaths on the rise

My friend in Juarez says the violence is escalating.
More people are losing their jobs…

when he delivered Christmas packages to over 30 families this year,
The kids were more excited about the boxes of cornflakes than they were the toys.
50 Sister Christian
Jan 31st, 2009 at 9:44 pm

okay Solus,
i have hit my cerfew..
have to sign out too…
God bless you.

and to Jim,
Gods blessing upon you and as you teach and minister to his people.

Peace and grace to all the Pp family
51 Solus Christus
Jan 31st, 2009 at 9:45 pm

Goodnight Jim.

Sister, my husband loves the Superbowl and it’s a big deal at our house. Dinner, snacks, beverages and family/friends.

There is so much suffering and pain in our world and this economy is not only affecting the U.S. but worldwide.
52 Solus Christus
Jan 31st, 2009 at 9:46 pm

Goodnight Sis.
53 JimB
Feb 1st, 2009 at 4:56 am

Solus and SC,

We have a church get together to watch the Superbowl, and it isn’t at our house either, it is at a house with now wireless internet. So, I won’t be able to participate. Also, since Jim M. is a Phoenix resident and a football fan, I don’t think he’ll miss seeing the Phoenix Cardinals play in the Superbowl. I will check in when I can… God bless!
54 JimB
Feb 1st, 2009 at 4:56 am

That should be: “with no wireless internet”
55 JimB
Feb 2nd, 2009 at 9:56 am

One of the things that I tried to be careful of in the “where do we go from here” chapter, or epilogue, was not introduce too many ideas about the church that were not related to what happened in my story. For me, this chapter was about restating the points I had made in the book about what the church is and how it ought to function, and make those practical for us the church. What do I need to do as a member of the body of Christ could have been the title. I could have talked about a lot of other things relative to the church, but they didn’t really tie into the story, or at least they didn’t seem to me to tie into it at the time of my writing.
56 Solus Christus
Feb 2nd, 2009 at 8:38 pm

Jim,

This is what I particularly love about the book, you keep the focus on the body of Christ.

“Fourth, the greatest blessings in life come from giving and we are to live our life not from a selfish or self-serving perspective but rather to serve God and others as the Lord leads us and the Lord has called us to serve.”
57 Solus Christus
Feb 2nd, 2009 at 8:42 pm

You speak about sacrifice and how to respond to a specific need and not wait for someone else to fill that need. You make many examples of how the body of Christ should function and living as part of a community.

This is so true… “Our enemy, Satan, continually tries to divide God’s people and cause them to be at each other’s throats; we must do our part to thwart his efforts when we see divisiveness arise in the body.”
58 Solus Christus
Feb 2nd, 2009 at 8:53 pm

Jim wrote, “Each of us must take personal responsibility to maintain unity in the bond of peace in the body of Christ.”

You also speak about gossip, which we are all guilty of at time.

“We must continually be about the building up of one another in love for so the body has been designed by the Lord. We must never tear one another down but rather always seek to encourage and build each other up.”

Jim, I agree.
59 Solus Christus
Feb 2nd, 2009 at 9:28 pm

Jim, I agree. Our enemy comes to tear us down. As Christians, we must encourage and love one another as a community.

When we look at our own sins or those of others… when we receive Christ, confess our sins and make God’s Word a part of our lives… we can see how it’s not the sin we focus on but God’s Word in us. Like Betty’s sons, no one stood firm focusing on their colorful lives, but the focus was sharing God’s Word with them, not giving up on them, caring about them and allowing the Holy Spirit to work inside them. After these young men came to receive the Lord and learn and grow in faith… people focused on the goodness in them, not the sin. The sin was washed away by the blood of Christ.

Any person can be built up, forgiven and made new again in Christ Jesus. There is no sin too great where this cannot be accomplished.
60 Solus Christus
Feb 2nd, 2009 at 9:38 pm

Do we place too much focus on sin, rather than on the cross, grace and powerful of God? I wonder about this sometimes.
61 JimB
Feb 3rd, 2009 at 5:13 am

Solus,

It looks like about the time I went to bed you showed up.

When I wrote the second to the last chapter, “Where Do We Go From Here,” I was trying to tie together for application’s sake what Betty’s story had taught us about the body of Christ, and I realized that I had never read a book on the body of Christ that brought out the aspects of the body of Christ being a family, and needing to respond to each other like a family. Every one of us as Christians are responsible for the proper functioning of the body of Christ, and unity and love are things that each of us are responsible to work for and be careful to maintain.

Today, so many people in the church look at the state of the church as being everyone else’s responsibility. They talk about the church and the state of the church from a detached perspective. They think that if things aren’t just right in the church you are attending then there are plenty of others around and you can just decide to go somewhere else.

Many times in the church when the pastor or someone simply teaches or mentions truth that speaks to a person’s life, they leave the church just because they feel a little uncomfortable or don’t particularly want to deal with that issue in their life today. This is one of the reasons that the big churches keep getting bigger. People go to them because they can hide and not have to be confronted with the truth as it pertains to their own life. When Christians have an affair or leave their spouse, they usually end up at the bigger churches where no one will detect what is going on with them or confront them with the truth, or the forsake church attendance altogether.

What I wanted to bring out in the book though is that when you look at the church as being family, and the fact that we are all responsible to love one another and maintain unity (as much as we can without sinning), then you realize what a treasure the church really is. It is often though when people go through some huge difficulty or tragedy and the body of Christ responds as our church did with this family, that they realize the value of the church as a family, and the closest thing to heaven they can experience on earth.
62 JimB
Feb 3rd, 2009 at 5:21 am

Solus,

>>Any person can be built up, forgiven and made new again in Christ Jesus. There is no sin too great where this cannot be accomplished.

Yes, absolutely. The church should be looked at as a hospital and the place where the wounded can be healed. Someone once said, “The church is the only army that shoots its wounded.” At Crescent Heights Fellowship, the name I used for our church, the more I got to know the people in the fellowship the more I learned of the incredible testimonies of God’s people in the body. Just as a for instance, you wouldn’t believe how many people I knew in our body who before coming to Christ had been shot. Many had been drug dealers. Some had been in prison. Yet, the people were some of the most pleasant and loving people you will find in churches, and you would never have guessed their past.

People were being accepted into fellowship, loved, and taught the word of God in a loving environment, and they were being transformed by Christ.
63 Solus Christus
Feb 3rd, 2009 at 8:00 am

Good Morning Jim,

Your two above posts are a blessing to me.

Yes, sometimes we as Christians behave like there are several bodies of Christ, rather than one. ‘If I don’t like it here… I will go down the street to another church.’ Rather than believing and behaving like it is one body.

You wrote above, “Many times in the church when the pastor or someone simply teaches or mentions truth that speaks to a person’s life, they leave the church just because they feel a little uncomfortable or don’t particularly want to deal with that issue in their life today.”

Jim, I’m sure this is true, but it also reminds us (me, anyway) that this is another reason why a church should stay Christ-centered and Cross-focused. When the church and its leaders get off into other things… perhaps not so good.

I like this comment, “Today, so many people in the church look at the state of the church as being everyone else’s responsibility. They talk about the church and the state of the church from a detached perspective.”

If we would focus on what we can do — and stop talking and focusing on the church as “they” … it sort of comes back to building up rather than tearing down…

You wrote above, “It is often though when people go through some huge difficulty or tragedy and the body of Christ responds as our church did with this family, that they realize the value of the church as a family, and the closest thing to heaven they can experience on earth.”

Jim, you wrote “value” of the church as a family… When we acknowledge and value each part of the body, from all walks of life, this shows us the depth of God’s love and power.

I’m sorry to keep returning to Betty’s sons, but many perhaps would have given up on them… the beauty of Christ is He does not show favor, He came for all the world.

I agree with you about the mega church comment, people being able to hide, etc.
64 Solus Christus
Feb 3rd, 2009 at 8:13 am

Jim,

This is my favorite comment (your 5:21 am post)…

Jim, I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit this morning when I read this paragraph. THIS is what I want Nancy and Dusty and others (who have been deeply hurt) to know and read…

The church is a hospital (should be) and a place where the wounded go to be loved and healed (by hearing the Word of God and being loved by His Saints).

We have all been wounded and shot… either by someone else or our own behavior. We are all wounded sinners in one way or another.

Jim, your comment below about some of the people in your fellowship, ‘you would never have guessed their past…’ Exactly, Jim, like Betty’s sons… and many others … you would have never guessed their past.

This is what the “Good News” does to a soul. It changes a person’s heart. God gives us the means of grace to come to this hospital of His where we are taught His Word and we hear how His blood cleansed us of our sins and how He makes us new again. How His precious body surrounds such a person and their (His) love heals them (like being in a hospital). THIS is why, ‘you would have never guessed their past’… because God washes the sin away and makes us new again.

Jim wrote, “People were being accepted into fellowship, loved, and taught the word of God in a loving environment, and they were being transformed by Christ.”

“The church should be looked at as a hospital and the place where the wounded can be healed. Someone once said, “The church is the only army that shoots its wounded.” At Crescent Heights Fellowship, the name I used for our church, the more I got to know the people in the fellowship the more I learned of the incredible testimonies of God’s people in the body. Just as a for instance, you wouldn’t believe how many people I knew in our body who before coming to Christ had been shot. Many had been drug dealers. Some had been in prison. Yet, the people were some of the most pleasant and loving people you will find in churches, and you would never have guessed their past.

People were being accepted into fellowship, loved, and taught the word of God in a loving environment, and they were being transformed by Christ.”
65 Solus Christus
Feb 3rd, 2009 at 8:24 am

Jim wrote, ” Someone once said, “The church is the only army that shoots its wounded.”

Jim, this statement should teach us all a lesson, shouldn’t it?

When we focus on a person’s sin, the negative things about them and their life… their mistakes, speaking ill of them and casting a very negative light on them (even when we as sinners perhaps deserve it) …

As Christians, we are “shooting” our wounded.

We are shooting our own when we tear another human being apart.

Shooting another person is not going to that person in love, privately.

Loving another person is continuing to share God’s Word with them (even though they have sinned, failed in some way, made a mistake, done wrong…) continuing to share God’s Word with them, speaking with them privately, praying for them and never forgetting them… and perhaps, most importantly, is TRUSTING God to do His works in them and standing back to allow His work (but not forgetting the person), but waiting for them so that reconciliation can take place.
66 Solus Christus
Feb 3rd, 2009 at 8:28 am

Jim, the last paragraph in my 8:24… that is what I see CHF-Church doing, the body of Christ. And she is “in all her glory” when the body of Christ loves one another in such a way.
67 Solus Christus
Feb 3rd, 2009 at 8:31 am

It’s important to point out… the “wounded” are the non-Believers, the Believers and anyone in between, right, Jim?
68 Solus Christus
Feb 3rd, 2009 at 8:45 am

Jim, going back to your 5:21 am post again.

God is nudging me to discuss “sin” and “the good news”…

Have you noticed how much we (the church, the world, us, PP, etc.) focus on sin?

Is it human nature to look at the negative or spend time gripping about the bad, negative or gloom and doom than the positive?

Jim, I realize sin is terrible and God hates sin… but…

Let’s take all the wonderful people you spoke about and shared their testimonies, etc…. you mentioned earlier that ‘you would have never guessed their past…’

To me, it’s really, really, really important to point out… CHF-Church didn’t focus on the sins/past of these folks.

Jim, this is the difference… CHF-Church focused on loving one another the way Christ loves us, sharing God’s Word, prayer, making investments in God’s children and never forgetting them, never giving up on those who are in prison or living in sin… when someone needed loving, a hug or a meal or a helping hand… the body of Christ was there… not to judge, but to love.
69 Solus Christus
Feb 3rd, 2009 at 8:55 am

Jim,

This has to be why all God really cared about in the Great Commission is to: ‘go out into the world and make disciples of man (teach: God’s Word so His children would know about His love and His Father’s Kingdom), baptize and love one another.’

This is really all that is important—and everything revolves around His love.
70 Solus Christus
Feb 3rd, 2009 at 9:04 am

Jim wrote (on page 114):

“Each of us must take personal responsibility to maintain unity in the bond of peace in the body of Christ. This requires us to refuse to allow gossip to engage us, in the hearing or the sharing, and always confront the one gossiping by reminding them that this is Christ’ body and it must work in unison if it is to function as a body. By gossip I mean speaking in a less than complimentary way about someone. We must continually be about the building up of one another in love for so the body has been designed by the Lord. We must never tear one another down but rather always seek to encourage and build each other up.”

Father, please forgive me for the times I have gossiped and torn another person down. Father, please make me all about loving one another… make me to live my life to love and never to judge. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
71 Solus Christus
Feb 3rd, 2009 at 9:34 am

Jim,

Your words, “work in unison” are key words (p 114/Gossip/Unity).

We can also see how being “divisive” and having “puff knowledge” and “selfish” motives is so damaging to the body of Christ.

Satan uses these tactics to divide the body of Christ, to take us away from fellowship, loving one another and divert focus from God’s Word to a selfish and self-centered environment… Satan’s desire is to stop us from being transformed by Christ.
72 Solus Christus
Feb 3rd, 2009 at 9:44 am

Father,

There are two brothers in my life that I simply need to love and share Your Word with, directly and in prayer. Father, give me the courage and strength to love then and not judge them, to turn them over to you in prayer (always) and to allow You to work in their hearts.

Father, soften their hearts, humble them the way only You can, show them Your Word and love. Father, allow the body of Christ to embrace them. May they both know that their sins are forgiven, they are loved and cherished and everything can be made new again. Let them know You can heal all things.

In Jesus’ name. Amen.
73 Solus Christus
Feb 3rd, 2009 at 9:45 am

And Father, please wash away their pain, worries and concerns allowing them to find peace and rest with You. Amen.
74 JimB
Feb 3rd, 2009 at 7:33 pm

Solus,

You did a lot of work last night. I wish more would share here, but evidently not many here have read this far in my book.
75 Solus Christus
Feb 4th, 2009 at 8:57 am

Good Morning Jim,

Your book is such a blessing to me. Thank you so much.

It is a little lonely here…
76 Solus Christus
Feb 4th, 2009 at 9:00 am

Jim wrote, “An inward focused body will soon notice each other’s flaws and begin to tear each other apart.” pg 115
77 Solus Christus
Feb 4th, 2009 at 9:06 am

pg 115

Jim wrote, “The church must also never be idle or have the country club mentality that sees the church as something for our own comfort and convenience. Those in the body of Christ must love each other as demonstrated in the stories in this book and we must also exist for a great purpose. Jesus gave to the body of Christ His Great Commission to go into all the world and preach the Gospel and make disciples. What I am going to say next may sound contradictory to what I have said before but if the church’s focus is inward then she will also fail in her mission. An inward focused body will soon notice each other’s flaws and begin to tear each other apart. It is when we see the body of Christ as the mechanism and organism created by God to reach out to the lost world for Christ that we are able to be healthy. It is as we are together fulfilling the commission that God gave us and reaching out to the lost that we are to also love each other, rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep, and in this way act as the body of Christ was intended to function.”
78 Solus Christus
Feb 4th, 2009 at 9:19 am

God commands us to “go out” into the world and preach the Gospel, make disciples, baptize. Not to stay inside the church or fellowship group in our own comfortable, convenient setting. God instructs the body of Christ to reach out to the lost and to love one another; rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep… and share His Word. Allowing God’s Word to come alive in each person God brings onto our path. Not to tell them how wrong they are and how right we are. But to LOVE them, as Christ loves us.
79 Solus Christus
Feb 4th, 2009 at 9:37 am

I really appreciate these comments on a body of Christ in all her glory and a group of narcissistic, self-centered, and self-serving people more interested in fulfilling their own personal desires. (p 117):

“… But I maintain that once you experience the body of Christ the way she was meant to be, experiencing anything less in the church you attend shall never be satisfying.”

When you have experienced a church setting as JimB describes and, then have another experience filled with narcissistic and self-centered tendencies, a person will quickly find they are not being filled and will never be satisfied because that is not the way the body of Christ was intended to be.

Jim wrote, “There are many forces within our modern day culture that have been unleashed in order to destroy the body of Christ and make her ineffective in winning the world for Christ. But I maintain that once you experience the body of Christ the way she was meant to be, experience anything less in the church you attend shall never be satisfying.”
80 Solus Christus
Feb 4th, 2009 at 9:57 am

Jim wrote, “The body of Christ must be viewed by us as something much more satisfying and critically important than the narcissistic, self-centered, and self-serving tendencies of the people of this world (and sadly many today who call themselves Christian). As was mentioned, the Christian life must be lived out in community for we are called to be part of this organism called the body of Christ and it is through Christ’s body that He works and fulfills His purposes.”

Jim briefly shared a few comments (from another author) about the past couple of decades being called the “me decade(s)” … bestsellers … all about me (my words). How people stopped connecting with civic groups, volunteer organizations, etc. Point being: so they could focus on themselves and personal desires.

What comes to my mind is the mega-church mentality (some, not all) where it is a country club setting, meeting all our “me” needs. But, I won’t go far down that road as I desire to stay focused on the body of Christ…

Jim’s word stand out to me: “There are many forces within our modern day culture that have been unleashed in order to destroy the body of Christ and make her ineffective in winning the world for Christ.”
81 Solus Christus
Feb 4th, 2009 at 10:18 am

Keeping the church (the body of Christ) pure and undefiled:

“The church must also be kept pure and undefiled is she is to be all that God created her to be. Therefore, it is important that each of us take to heart the call to be obedient to God’s word in our personal lives. We must be committed to putting into practice what Jesus taught us in Matthew 18 when it is needed. If a brother or a sister is unrepentantly committing some sin then we must be committed to going to them privately and in love and comforting them. Then, if they do not repent, to continue with the steps of church discipline by taking a brother with us and confronting them again, and, if they are still unrepentant, eventually taking them before the church for the discipline of expulsion until such time as they repent. All of this must be done in gentleness and with a view toward the person’s eventual restoration to the body.”

Remember the church being like a hospital and then shooting its own?

The church is not to shoot its own. The church’s primary goal is to restore and keep the church pure. We keep the church pure by being a community of Believers and staying in God’s Word, using His means of grace and using His gifts to remind us of His grace and love.

I also want to say, that the church is not to be made up of a bunch of “busy bodies” snooping around looking for a person who has more sin than his/hers, because every person in the church has sin in his/her own life.

IMHO when a person has fallen (even a high profile pastor or leader), when they repent and take steps to correct their mistakes and truly repent… today, we see churches shooting their own wounded. IMHO a person who is restored back into the body of Christ shows all that much more glory to God and the body of Christ because the body of Christ loved that person (the way God loves us) and the body of Christ didn’t give up on that person (like Christ does not give up on us). A pastor or leader or ministry leader may not be brought back into that position of authority again, but the body of Christ should surely restore them back into the family of Christ with love and respect.
82 Solus Christus
Feb 4th, 2009 at 10:23 am

God’s Word brings about a healing. Love can cleanse an open wound and bring some calm so healing can begin. Love softens a hardened heart. God’s Word bring truth and healing. God brings a gift filled with Grace.
83 Solus Christus
Feb 4th, 2009 at 11:14 am

“In Ephesians 5:25-27, the apostle Paul wrote about how husbands are to love their wives just as Christ loved the church: “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. It is a pure bride of Christ that Jesus will present to Himself; therefore each of us in the body of Christ must be committed to seeing that the church is kept pure. “The body of Christ in all her glory” is a pure bride.”

I understand these verses as we are to continually wash one another with love (His love, the love He teaches us in scripture and from the Holy Spirit). The washing of water with the Word of God. God’s Word is so powerful that when we hear it being spoken, read it and see His light in others that it makes us think about our own sin and our own life… not pointing our finger at others… (and their sin) but the sin in our own lives. To treat others as we would like to be treated with love, respect, kindness, patience, joy, and God does this washing in us and those we treat accordingly by sharing His Word with them.

This has nothing to do with us, how great we are, how right we are, how much we know… it has to do with the living Word, God, His gifts, His love and His Grace to us.
84 Solus Christus
Feb 4th, 2009 at 11:26 am

Jim writes, “We in the church today need to realize that the teaching of the word of God must be central in all the church does for it is God’s word that washes us, equips us, and enables us to grow up into maturity in Christ.”

Amen. Jim.
85 Solus Christus
Feb 4th, 2009 at 11:35 am

JimB.,

The washing takes time for everyone, right?

It’s my understanding that as a person hears (and understands) God’s Word the washing is taking place… like a very dirty sinner taking a long bath. God slowly reveals Himself to us, right?

Isn’t this why it is so very important to love one another (and not judge and be cruel)?
86 JimB
Feb 4th, 2009 at 4:00 pm

Solus,

Wow, you have been working so hard digging out these quotes and pointing out the truth in them, and doing it all alone. I’m sorry I can’t participate during the day due to work.

>>The washing takes time for everyone, right?

>>It’s my understanding that as a person hears (and understands) God’s Word the washing is taking place… like a very dirty sinner taking a long bath. God slowly reveals Himself to us, right?

Solus, it sure did for me. I guess there are a lot of factors that determine how quickly we can dump the baggage we carried into our relationship with Christ, as well as how receptive we are to Him speaking to us. I think that one thing that helps is realizing how much you have to learn and how that the Holy Spirit is our teacher. That hunger for God that we have will determine how much we will grow also. But, most of us are also more than a bit stubborn and full of ourselves. I am speaking of myself here more than anyone. I was saved for almost 21 years before I ever pastored a church as a result.

>>Isn’t this why it is so very important to love one another (and not judge and be cruel)?

This is a good reminder Solus. I think we have to see the potential of a person I think, just as the Lord saw the potential in us and hung with us through the thick and the thin. I need to always remember that if God can change my life that He can change anyone’s life. If it was worth the Lord hanging in there with me through the thick and the thin, it will be worth it for me to hang in there with people. Thanks for this reminder Solus!
87 sarah
Feb 4th, 2009 at 4:14 pm

Solus and Jim…sorry I have not been able to contribute. I have Jim’s book and am hoping to begin reading it in the next week or so. I have a few things I need to work on that need immediate attention…but it has been great to see how Solus has really connected with your book, Jim.
88 Solus Christus
Feb 4th, 2009 at 4:54 pm

>>The washing takes time for everyone, right?

>>It’s my understanding that as a person hears (and understands) God’s Word the washing is taking place… like a very dirty sinner taking a long bath. God slowly reveals Himself to us, right?

Solus, it sure did for me.

Hi Jim, don’t you continually have to be washed of your sin?

Sarah, I am so blessed by this book, you will be too.
89 Solus Christus
Feb 4th, 2009 at 5:10 pm

Jim wrote, “This is a good reminder Solus. I think we have to see the potential of a person I think, just as the Lord saw the potential in us and hung with us through the thick and the thin. I need to always remember that if God can change my life that He can change anyone’s life. If it was worth the Lord hanging in there with me through the thick and the thin, it will be worth it for me to hang in there with people. Thanks for this reminder Solus!”

Yes. There is potential in every soul God created. Every soul is worth us hanging in there with them… I just visioned this black place and a person with a candle is taking another person by the hand leading them out of darkness towards this great light in the distance (Jesus). You just keep loving them and showing them the Truth (God’s Word) in love (getting closer and closer to more light) and eventually, you make it to Him.

How terrible it would be… to let go of the person’s hand.

Worse yet, to never go into the darkness and offer them some light.
90 Solus Christus
Feb 4th, 2009 at 5:34 pm

Romans 6:3-4 (New International Version)

3Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

Daily the old person in us dies (including our sin).

Luther wrote this about Baptism: “It signifies that daily the old person in us with all our sins and evil desires is to be drowned through sorrow for sin and repentance, and that daily a new person is to come forth and rise up to live before God in righteousness and purity forever.”

Jim, in the Epilogue you wrote about the need to die moment by moment to this called self and our sinful nature… which may mean the same thing. I love “die moment by moment to this thing called self.”
91 Solus Christus
Feb 4th, 2009 at 7:33 pm

JimB.,

“The Body of Christ in all her glory” has been such a blessing to me; I would like to finish my thoughts on the Epilogue chapter.

JimB. wrote, “The Christian life that God calls us to live, to be like Jesus and do what Jesus would do, is often completely the opposite of all of our natural inclinations. We end up in many situations as husbands and wives, parents, employees, parishioners, etc. reacting in the flesh (perhaps often just as our parents modeled for us) instead of listening to the small voice of the Holy Spirit who is trying to guide our thoughts and actions. What we Christians need is not to try a little harder or try to improve a little here or a little there. Rather, we need to die moment by moment to this thing called self and the sinful self nature that is still within us. We need to walk filled with the Holy Spirit and that means to be controlled and empowered by Him. We are even commanded to be filled with the Holy Spirit on a moment by moment basis (Eph. 5:18).”

Yes, our flesh (old Adam/Eve) can take over… sin. Like you said earlier, “This process of taking control of our thoughts is a lifelong process which involves destroying the fortresses of the flesh …”

I believe it is a lifelong process of destroying the flesh and a continual washing of sin, washing with the Word of God that lives within us.
92 Solus Christus
Feb 4th, 2009 at 7:45 pm

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”

Yes, living every minute of our day like this.

“We need to acknowledge Him in every situation and learn to be dependent upon Him in all that we do and not think that we can accomplish even one small task without His help and leading.”

“To live like Jesus involves walking in love and loving even as He loved. In John 15:12-13, Jesus gave us the commandment to love others as He has loved us, “This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.

God’s unique quality of love is what is meant by the Greek word “agape” whenever it is used in the New Testament and this love is defined as the highest form of love one could have. It is a love that is made as a choice and commitment to love not because of how lovable one might be. It is a love which primarily places the good of the one loves as the priority with selfish interests and fulfillment set aside. This is really not a feeling although loving feelings may accompany it. Rather, it is demonstrated by one’s actions, by the things we do.”

Jim, “The Body of Christ in all her Glory” has given me a whole new meaning to the word, love. Even the love of Christ. “Agape” the highest form of love.
93 Solus Christus
Feb 4th, 2009 at 8:03 pm

JimB.,

I am convinced, that you are a Shepherd to your flock because in those 21 years prior to being a pastor — you were a Servant first. Pages 124-125 will truly be a blessing to those who have been hurt by a pastor or church leadership. It’s refreshing to know that a pastor is in tune to what is going on in the world of churches/leadership-styles and takes it seriously and doesn’t hesitate to speak the truth. I love both pages… especially, “When people see a pastor washing feet and cleaning toilets, working a secular job because the church can’t support him and doing so without complaint, being willing to give without expecting anything in return, etc., then they will begin to give him genuine respect.”

Another favorite, “Jesus taught what true greatness entails; He said that the one who will be greatest in the kingdom will be “the servant of all.”

“As pastors we are charged to be faithful and to serve others with love. We are to leave whatever fruit is produced from our lives and ministries to the Lord. Producing fruit is His responsibility not ours. We are to focus on serving others and even being the greatest servant of all.”
94 Solus Christus
Feb 4th, 2009 at 8:14 pm

Love Glenn C. Daman’s comments about the biblical model of the pastor… (first he tells us what a pastor is not…) Which we already know…

“… Rather, the biblical mode is that of a shepherd who provides nourishment and care for the flock. The apostle Peter encourages the elders to “be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers.” Jim goes on to write, “(1 Peter 5:2). Peter is not presenting a new model he invented; Peter is merely passing on the model presented to him by Jesus, who challenged him to “feed my lambs” and “take care of my sheep,” (John 21: 15-17″
95 JimB
Feb 4th, 2009 at 8:22 pm

Solus,

I am so blessed that you are being blessed by these last two chapters. I have been told by a few people that the last chapter was their favorite, or the one that they learned the most from.

The last chapter was in the introduction of the book, but a good pastor friend of mine read my book and told me that I should put the stuff in this chapter dispersed into the rest of the book. I ended up just creating a separate chapter for it and then calling it the Pastor’s Perspective.
96 Solus Christus
Feb 4th, 2009 at 8:26 pm

God bless Glenn C. Daman for his pastoral comments.

Oh, Michael, you really need to read this stuff…

Another favorite, “I think there is a tremendous temptation with success in ministry for pastors to take an ever so subtle turn at some point and begin building their own kingdom, rather than Jesus’ kingdom, to orient things so that I, and perhaps my family, end up being huge recipients of the bounty, of the church. Pastors must never have the attitude This is MY church! The church belongs to Christ. Pastors who act and think this way may be surprised one day when Jesus brings a fiery trial of discipline into their lives to show them a dramatic way that the church is really His church. Pastors are just under-shepherds tending to His flock and acting as His representative. They are there to serve not to be served.”

“Many pastors have been told that in order to be successful in the ministry they need to pull away from the people and distance from them, to become isolated. They see many mega-church pastors doing this and think that they should be follow that example for the mega-church is often loked up to as the standard of success. I’m not saying any of these things to be a judge of the mega-church pastors for many of them are doing a great work for the Lord. However, is pulling away from the people and isolating oneself in the ministry really Biblical? Is pulling away fulfilling Jesus’ commandment to love even as He loved us? Does this fulfill the role of a pastor of God’s sheep? Obviously not.”

God bless you, Jim.

We are starting to see here why the Shepherd’s role is so very important to the body of Christ. Why it is so important that focus be on Christ and His Cross.

God bless you, Jim.
97 Solus Christus
Feb 4th, 2009 at 8:29 pm

Hi Jim!!!

I am so blessed. You have no idea how much.

Actually, your book is a very special gift to me (at a very special time in my life). It’s a gift.
98 JimB
Feb 4th, 2009 at 8:32 pm

Solus,

One day a couple of years ago or so I was visiting the local Christian book store, and in the bargain shelves outside of the store they had about eight copies of this book. I really didn’t want to buy the book because it was a book about how to effectively pastor small churches, and I didn’t want to admit that I was pastoring a small church. There was a pride issue.

Normally, pastors want to read books by pastors on how their church exploded in growth. But, I realized that I needed to concentrate on how to be effective as a small church pastor before learning how to be effective pastoring a big church. Jesus said that you have to become faithful in the small things before you can be trusted with bigger things.

So, I ended up reading that book, and it so blessed me that I went back to the bookstore and bought all of the copies they had of the book at the discounted price. I mailed off the copies to a bunch of pastor friends. Some of them have told me that they too were blessed in reading the book.
99 Solus Christus
Feb 4th, 2009 at 8:34 pm

JimB.,

You could write an entire book titled: “Pastor’s Perspective”

Not only for pastors, but for those who have been hurt by pastors and people in church leadership. So those who have been hurt… realize they are not crazy. Seriously. A lot of people would be truly blessed just to hear these words at a very difficult time in their life.
100 Solus Christus
Feb 4th, 2009 at 8:43 pm

Jim,

What do you consider small? 200-300?

Neat story about the book… “I realized that I needed to concentrate on how to be effective as a small church pastor before learning how to be effective pastoring a big church. Jesus said that you have to become faithful in the small things before you can be trusted with bigger things.” Amen.

I don’t know, Jim, anymore, if I hear about a church that “exploded in growth” I would be suspicious. Personally, I really like smaller churches, besides, I spend very little time inside a church building… so kingdom building and sound system do not interest me. My pastor sends us … out into the world!
101 JimB
Feb 4th, 2009 at 8:49 pm

Solus,

Our church today might have 40 people or so if everyone is present, and that includes kids.
102 Solus Christus
Feb 4th, 2009 at 8:49 pm

Jim,

I guess, before I wrote my 8:43 pm post… I should have asked you how big the church you pastor is… lol

Are you going to tell me 5,000-10,000?
103 Solus Christus
Feb 4th, 2009 at 8:52 pm

Jim,

The church you pastor now, is this the church you planted? 40 is a great fellowship, Jim. So glad it’s not a mega-church… you may be angry with me.
104 JimB
Feb 4th, 2009 at 8:55 pm

Solus,

We kind of started over a few years back after a divisive element within our group caused 70% of the people to leave in a matter of a couple of weeks. It was a very discouraging thing to have happen after you have poured your heart into the people for four years. I came very close to closing the doors. But, I remained steadfast. We have had only a small trickel of growth since that time. The big churches get bigger and bigger and the smaller churches struggle here.
105 Solus Christus
Feb 4th, 2009 at 9:06 pm

JimB.,

Please, please… never be discouraged for our Lord God is with you always. You remind me of my pastor from long ago. He was a true Shepherd who loved his flock. This world needs Shepherds like you who focus on Christ and the cross, who teach His flock God’s Word, love one another and are true servants… men who never give up.

What you have taught me about the body of Christ and agape (love)… I can’t even explain to you what God has stirred in my heart from this book. This book makes a person yearn to be “the body of Christ” and understand the true meaning of the word, “Love” and tie all this together with Christ’s Great Commission.

Because you started with Betty, her struggles and concerns, then went into the church, pastoring, teaching and then you showed the true nature of the body of Christ… in this book you showed all these things first; then you closed with these two last chapters … these two last chapters tie the Shepherd and the body of Christ together… with Love. And you stay focused.
106 Psalm62
Feb 4th, 2009 at 9:07 pm

Pastor Jim, perhaps the Lord “distilled” your group
107 JimB
Feb 4th, 2009 at 9:17 pm

PS62,

Greetings! Glad you could join us. Yeah, that is what happened alright. Pastoring is not too much fun sometimes.
108 Solus Christus
Feb 4th, 2009 at 9:19 pm

Hello Psalm62…

HUMILTY: Jim writes, “The humility that esteems others higher than ourselves, that looks out not just for our own interests but also the interests of others; and which empties itself of its own powers and privileges in order to serve others, that is the key for a spiritual leader to emulate It is also a key character attribute for the body of Christ.”

The body of Christ takes their lead and attitude from their Shepherd.
109 JimB
Feb 4th, 2009 at 9:22 pm

Solus and PS62,

I have to hit the hay again tonight. Thanks Solus for all of your hard work. What a blessing it is to see how you have internalized all of these thoughts on the church that I agonized over for such a long time until one day I wrote them down hoping they would bless someone somewhere.

Anyway, God bless and good night folks!
110 Solus Christus
Feb 4th, 2009 at 9:31 pm

This is funny… sort of not,

“A man I know remarked about him one day, “I’ve been around that guy for 20 years and he still doesn’t remember my name?!” I knew what he meant because I had had similar experiences. The pastors I have come to respect and admire most are men who always seem to have all the time in the world for you. They make you feel important when you are around them. You have their full attention. They also tend to remember your name just as the Lord tells us He knows and remembers our name.”

Amen.

“John wrote his gospel and called himself, “The disciple whom Jesus loved,” not “the disciple whose name Jesus could not remember.”

Jim wrote, “We see that love displayed at the last supper when that same disciple was leaning back on Jess’ breast throughout the dinner, much closer to Him than many if not most pastors would feel comfortable allowing of their “peeps” to be with them. John evidently felt comfortable with that kind of close contact and bond with the exalted King of Kings and Lord of Lords, who was not only one hundred percent God but also one hundred percent man. Jesus, whom His disciples called “Lord,” told His disciples before His crucifixion that He no longer called them servants but “friends” because all of the things He had heard from His father He had revealed to them just as friends do. Jesus is the Good Shepherd so He ought to be our pastoral example, since we are shepherds under his authority and following His example we must attempt to be close to those under our care.”

Such good words and so true and important for the body of Christ.
111 Solus Christus
Feb 4th, 2009 at 9:32 pm

I am tired too. Goodnight everyone. God bless.
112 Sister Christian
Feb 4th, 2009 at 9:37 pm

Hi Solus
Hi Jim,

Sorry ive been missing the great conversation here.
as we get closer to the move, Im going to be extremely occupied with all the details here, and visiting with friends before we go takes a worthy portion of that time too!

anyways would like to comment on this:

“Solus,

Our church today might have 40 people or so if everyone is present, and that includes kids.”

having been in large churches for the better part of 20 years and now being in a church of around 40 people more or less on any given Sunday, i realize the tremendous blessing and accountability in being a part of this close knit body of believers. Not to say that larger churches cant have this, But to say how touched we have been in greater measure by this smaller gathering than we ever have been in a larger setting.

Thinking back to Jesus and his church of twelve, and those who gathered with him on a regular basis for three years,
one cannot discount the impact the personal touch has on peoples lives.
113 Solus Christus
Feb 5th, 2009 at 8:39 am

Sister Christian,

Good morning. We just missed each other last night. I retired early. Good points about Jesus and His twelve (along with those who followed Him).

Jim wrote, “Jesus is the Good Shepherd so He ought to be our pastoral example, since we are shepherds under his authority, and following His example we must attempt to be close to those under our care.”
114 Solus Christus
Feb 5th, 2009 at 8:48 am

Jim,

Your paragraph about Peter and Jesus, how Jesus never gave up on Peter. Asking him three times, “Peter, do you love me?” Peter only stated that he “liked” Jesus, “Lord, you know I like you.”

Jim, I wonder if perhaps Peter was the only one of the twelve telling the truth (about love/like). Many people would just answer, yes, if they were asked the question. But, Peter, perhaps this kind of love takes time to grow to “agape” love… just a thought.

Jesus may have been most affected by Peter… for being the only one to tell Him the truth (God knows the heart), and rewarding him for it (without Peter ever realizing).

Jim, I do like the way you point out that Jesus did not give up on Peter. You write, “If pastors don’t love people then they ought to pull out of the ministry because they are part of the problem, not the solution.” Amen.
115 Solus Christus
Feb 5th, 2009 at 8:53 am

Jim,

On pg 131… you discuss loving the ones you minister.

“Following Jesus’ example Paul deeply loved the ones he ministered to and even considered this special relationship as a key to his ministry’s success.”

Jim, imagine, if today the “success” of a church/ministry was based (measured) on how much the Shepherd loves the ones he ministers to and the kind of special relationship he has with them…
116 Solus Christus
Feb 5th, 2009 at 9:07 am

“I wish that I could say that I see in churches today the kind of love that I read about in the book of Acts and the New Testament epistles, the love which existed amongst those in the early church. My challenge to us as Christians and pastors is to try to live our lives by following the example set by the early church and be committed to love even as they loved.

In conclusion, as pastors we should be committed to love those under our wing every bit as much as Jesus loved and loves us. As pastors and Christians we need to understand that the most important thing that we do is to love as Jesus loved. Jesus told His disciples that it would be through the love they show to one another that all men would know His disciples: John 13:35 “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Amen.
117 Solus Christus
Feb 5th, 2009 at 9:11 am

Jim B.,

May God bless you, your wife, family and the body of Christ.

Thank you for this precious gift.

Blessings
118 JimB
Feb 5th, 2009 at 9:56 am

Solus,

Thank you again for digging deep and working hard to uncover these truths from my book. May God bless you greatly as you serve Him!!!

I hope that as others read my book that they too can contribute to this thread, even as it appears to be going quiet here soon.

If anyone who has read my book and enjoyed it could post a brief review of the book on http://www.borders.com, http://www.barnesandnoble.com, and/or http://www.amazon.com it would be greatly appreciated.

My goal has never been to make money on the sales of this book but to see lives changed by reading it.

–Jim