Note to Self…and Others – Page 5

CHARGE #1: Fight for your First Church

2010-04-26T14:11:42+00:00By Sam Ford|Note to Self...and Others, Random Thoughts, Re:Sermon|

I preached the introduction to 1st Timothy yesterday. Written to a young pastor, this letter holds a lot of meaning for me, as it does for anyone who pastors. Unfortunately, the "Pastoral letters" to Timothy and Titus can be a tough sell to those who don't consider themselves "Professional Christians". The letters lend themselves easily to those who wish to use them as a tool to examine whether a, our, or THE church is healthy or sick. In truth, this is what they are intended for and ALL churches should regularly visit these three letters for encouragement, correction, and guidance. I believe that the letters can also be used to pastor our First Church--our home. Just like Ephesus, false truths, demonic "wisdom", and sinful behavior rises up from within. If we don't fight, fight for the wrong things, or allow others to fight in our stead, our first churches will [...]

Jesus’ Cup Check

2010-04-18T15:40:00+00:00By Sam Ford|Note to Self...and Others, Random Thoughts|

I have always enjoyed the older translations of Ephesians 6.14 concerning the armor of God. Usually, the text says something like "GIRD YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH." Such a translation always required greater explanation from the youth pastor because few understand "girding" though we all have a sense of what "loins" are. With or without explanation, I always imagined getting ready for the spiritual battle like Rambo: I'd put my headband on, lace up my military boots tight, fasten my three foot knife to my side, put on my Holy Jockstrap, and charge out to the fight the demons! I've found it helpful to make sure I have my "cup of truth" on before Jesus himself has to give me a quick check. When I don't, and He does, it hurts. All of us need a cup check from Jesus periodically, to make sure that we are being led by the [...]

Buried with Jesus – Easter

2010-04-05T22:26:39+00:00By Sam Ford|Church Plant Lessons 101, Note to Self...and Others, Random Thoughts|

Easter Sunday brings out the best and worst in pastors. Come Monday morning, I often find pastors sharing their "numbers" like their comparing score cards at end of 18 holes. Through blogs, emails, and online networks, pastors throw out attendance at services, the numbers of people who watched on line, reported"conversions", spontaneous baptisms, are shared like men trying to one up one's another's scars. I don't know how many people attended our Sunday gatherings. We didn't "broadcast" live to anyone. And I don't think anyone had a "come to Jesus moment" or, if they did, they didn't tell me. I do know that we baptized eight people...I think. But. no offense the other seven, there was only ONE that really moved me--my second son. Landen James Ford has wanted to get wet with Jesus for over two years, ever since he saw his older brother get buried in Lake Stevens. [...]

Pastor’s DON’T have E.S.P.

2010-03-30T10:10:48+00:00By Sam Ford|Church Plant Lessons 101, Note to Self...and Others, Random Thoughts|

What super-power have you always wanted? Many of us probably remember the League of Justice. These were the comic book heroes that, no offense, were like the white trash of comic books. Every knew that Marvel had better superheroes because the Man of Steel which laser eyes, freezing breath, ability to fly, was just a bit too much. Do you remember the wonder twins? You probably remember their stupid monkey "gleek" which, upon entering high school, I found out was a method of spitting that I could never do. For their power, the wonder twins would touch hands and each could take the form of something. The girl could take the form of any animal and the boy could take the form of anything made of ice. Other than being purpose, the girl's power made some sense-"form of a bear...eagle...dog." The boy, however, never made any sense to me. How [...]

Speaking vs. Preaching

2021-07-04T18:14:46+00:00By Sam Ford|Church Plant Lessons 101, Note to Self...and Others|

SPEAKING: "Jesus loves you." PREACHING: " Jesus loves you; and you wouldn't love Him unless He did. Jesus is King and Lord and Savior. He created this world and everyone on it. Though the world owes him allegiance, obedience, and worship, the world has chosen to sinfully rebel, seeking after their own desires, finding meaning, hope and security in all created things, practicing and affirming all kinds of perversion as proof of their darkened heart's conviction that they can be God... Yet, while we were sinners, Jesus demonstrated His gracious love for us, he willingly died. On the cross, God pours out all his wrath on His Son, a death deserved by me a sinner. He dies for the most heinous sins of his people, that we won't despair. And he dies for the subtlest of disobedience that we might become prideful and cheapen the grace. He frees people from [...]

Loads vs. Burdens

2021-07-04T18:14:59+00:00By Sam Ford|Church Plant Lessons 101, Note to Self...and Others, Theology 101|

As we continue in my "versus" rant, I've linked Driscoll's helpful explanation of the difference between LOADS and BURDENS. It's excellent.http://www.theresurgence.com/concern-responsibility

Godly Grief vs. Worldly Grief

2021-07-04T18:15:28+00:00By Sam Ford|Note to Self...and Others, Re:Sermon, Theology 101|

Are you repentant? Paul describes the nature of true repentance in his 2nd letter to the Corinthian church, chapter 7.5-13. In it, Paul all but apologizes for the previous letter that he wrote. Scholars differ on whether this letter is 1Corithans, whether 1Corinthians is in fact two letters, or if we have it all. Whatever the case, Paul's words were HARD and they were received like a punch on the nose. But Paul does not regret sending the letter, rather, he rejoices over the effect--repentance. In writing this, Paul distinguishes between two kinds of grief, godly and worldly. In other words, tears are not enough.He writes, "For godly grief produces repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. For see what EARNESTNESS this godly grief has produced in you, but also what EAGERNESS to clear yourself, what INDIGNATION, what FEAR, what LONGING, what ZEAL, what PUNISHMENT! [...]

Church Planting Lesson #13: It’s not hard to kill a church

2021-07-04T18:15:15+00:00By Sam Ford|Church Plant Lessons 101, Note to Self...and Others, Re:Sermon, Theology 101|

LESSON #13: IT'S NOT HARD TO KILL A CHURCHThis lesson is very sobering, not mine to write, and hopefully to never experience. Originally posted by Ray Ortlund's Christ is Deeper Still blog 'How to wreck your church in three weeks'Week One: Walk into church today and think about how long you’ve been a member, how much you’ve sacrificed, how under-appreciated you are. Take note of every way you’re dissatisfied with your church now. Take note of every person who displeases you.Meet for coffee this week with another member and “share your heart.” Discuss how your church is changing, how you are being left out. Ask your friend who else in the church has “concerns.” Agree together that you must “pray about it.”Week Two: Send an email to a few other “concerned” members. Inform them that a groundswell of grievance is surfacing in your church. Problems have gone unaddressed for too [...]

Church Planting Lesson #11: Flaming Emails

2021-07-04T18:16:19+00:00By Sam Ford|Church Plant Lessons 101, Note to Self...and Others|

LESSON #11: FLAMING EMAILS BURN PEOPLEI process through writing. When dealing with a conflict or difficult question, I'll often write down a response in 5-10 pages--it's cathartic, kind of like this blog. As our culture has moved more and more into the world of written communication, I have developed a love hate relationship with email. Email can be both good and bad. Like facebook, blogs, or twitter, email alows you to say things that you wouldn't often say in front of others. Granted, expressing opinions, especially negative ones, have been around since we've had the written word. But email has made our comments fly out much quicker, farther, and remain their much longer than many times we would. And, because 90% of our communication is non-verbal (tone, facial expressions, etc.), we often end up communicating things we don't intend to communicate or failing to express what we're really trying to [...]