The birth and growth of a church
Last week, I wrote two posts concerning the start of a church. The first post was called “Hypothetical Situation… what do you think?” The second post was called “More about the hypothetical situation“. In this hypothetical situation, I projected Paul’s first visit to Thessalonika into modern times.
When Paul first went to Thessalonika (Acts 17:1-10), he was only able to spend a few weeks in the city. Several Jews and later some of the Greeks became interested in the Gospel and began following Christ. Paul makes it clear in 1 Thessalonians that the birth of this church was miraculous, because the church was not birthed because of his teaching, but because of the coming of the Holy Spirit. Certainly, the Spirit used Paul and Silas and others, but Paul recognized that the birth and health of the church did not depend upon him, but depended completely on the work of the Spirit.
I’m concerned that we have replaced dependence on the work of God through the Holy Spirit with training, planning, marketing, leadership skills, etc. I’m concerned that some leaders (some, not all) have built something that depends on them and their team, such that, if they left, what they built would crumble.
Now, I want to say something that most people reading this blog will agree with. However, please think carefully about what I’m about to say, and compare it to how the church functions today.
Many groups of belivers today are more dependent upon leadership, training, programs, buildings, finances, etc. than they are dependent upon the work of God through the Holy Spirit. Many believers today are more dependent on good business practices than they are dependent on the Holy Spirit.
If removing leadership or programs or buildings or finances or anything else would cause believers to stop meeting together, stop disciplining one another, stop growing spiritually, then that group of believers is not depending on God.
Yes, I know this is a strong statement, and perhaps many will disagree with me. However, at least one author agrees:
We in the churches seem unable to rise above the fiscal philosophy which rules the business world; so we introduce into our church finances the psychology of the great secular institutions so familiar to us all and judge a church by its financial report much as we judge a bank or a department store.
A look into history will quickly convince any interested person that the true church has almost always suffered more from prosperity than from poverty. Her times of greatest spiritual power have usually coincided with her periods of indigence and rejection; with wealth came weakness and backsliding. If this cannot be explained, neither apparently can it be escaped.
The point I am trying to make here is that while money has a proper place in the total life of the church militant, the tendency is to attach to it an importance that is far greater than is biblically sound or morally right. The average church has so established itself organizationally and financially that God is simply not necessary to it. So entrenched is its authority and so stable are the religious habits of its members that God could withdraw Himself completely from it and it could run on for years on its own momentum. (A.W. Tozer, Tozer on Christian Leadership)
I think that we are currently witnessing the result of the church (for the most part) being run on its own momentum for too long. The momentum (which is not powered by the Holy Spirit) is running down.
Now, we must ask ourselves… are we willing to forego all of the stuff that we think is necessary and rely completely on God and only on God?
Whether we are Baptist or Presbyterians, Institutional or Simple, Emerging or Lutheran, Missional or Attractional, we must all ask ourselves this question: Are we truly relying on God for our health and existence or are we relying on other people or things? And, we can’t just ask ourselves this question once. We must continually examine the way we live, the way we meet, the way we evangelize, the way we serve, the way we lead, everything.
For those of us who are leaders, this is an especially important question. If the church would stop functioning or growing if we disappeared, then there’s a big problem. We are – even if unintentional – building something that depends on us, not on the Holy Spirit.
The church is not the church unless we are following and relying completely on the Holy Spirit. We may birth something on our own, and we may keep something running on our own. But, only the Spirit can birth and grow a church.
1500th Post
This is my 1500th post. I’ve been blogging for just over 3 years. I started slow, but beginning in December 2006, I began writing about 550 posts per year. I don’t know if that’s good or bad – some say write less often, some say write more often.
But, this schedule has worked for me. In the future, it may change. Soon, I will begin writing my dissertation. It’s possible that my blogging will slow down then. But, if I include parts of my dissertation or quotes from books that I’m reading, my blogging may actually increase. Who knows?
For now, I’m grateful to God for the people that he’s brought into my life through this medium called blogging. I’m also grateful to my readers for interacting with me on this blog. I’ve learned alot from you. Something very exciting has started happening recently as a result of this blog.
For the first six months or so that I blogged, my posts garnered very few comments. During the next year, the comments increased, and I was very excited about the interaction. For the next year after that, people started sending me emails, and I was able to interact with people even more personally and directly.
Now, for the last six months or so, I’ve been able to meet with several people who read my blog. Usually, they’ve contacted me through email and asked if we can have lunch together. I’ve been able to meet with a few people several times. Others are just passing through this area, so we only meet for lunch once.
I look forward to meeting more of you and corresponding with more of you through email.
School Update
I started publishing this blog just over three years ago as I was starting the PhD program at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Part of my PhD program ended last week.
I took my last PhD class. So, I’ve completed all the classwork requirements for the PhD. What’s left? Well, sometime in the middle of July – if the timing works out – I’ll take the written and oral comprehensive exams. If I pass my comps, then I’ll have to submit a prospectus of my dissertation. Once my prospectus is accepted, I’ll write my dissertation. When my dissertation is accepted, I’ll have to defend it. Then, I will have completed all the requirements for my PhD.
As of now, the title of my dissertation will be “The Purpose for the Church Gathering in the New Testament: A Study in Biblical Theology”.
Holy Week has been postponed
Because of unforeseen circumstances, Holy Week has been postponed. I know that many of you have been thinking about the cross and the resurrection this week. I apologize for the inconvenience.
Holy Week will now be held next week. That’s right, this Sunday (today) you can think about Jesus coming into Jerusalem to die. On Holy Monday through Thursday of next week, you can think about the acts of Jerusalem leading up to the last supper, such as his anointing at Bethany. On Maundy Thursday of next week, please continue to think about the Last Supper and Jesus’ example of service by washing his disciples’ feet. On next week’s Good Friday, please think about the cross and the death of Jesus. You can even continue to remember Jesus’ death and his time in the tomb next Saturday. Finally, on Easter Sunday – next Sunday – please think about the resurrection of Jesus and its implications for your life.
By the way, after you’ve thought about all of these things again for another week, we will once again postpone Holy Week. Don’t worry, it will do you good to think about these things week after week, instead of just one week out of the year.
My kids are crazy
My children gave me beautifully sweet and thoughtful birthday cards today.
From Jeremy:
Dad, you’re amazing. The way you treated me just like a normal kid when you knew I was a genius all along. Happy Birthday
From Miranda:
Dad, you’ve been a great father despite the setbacks, the disasters, the heartbreaks, and the pain! But enough about my brother, Happy Birthday!
I’m not sure where they get their sense of humor from…
Seminar audio files
The “Developing a Biblical Ecclesiology” seminar went very well last weekend. I’ve posted the audio files and PowerPoint presentations on my “Resources” tab (see the top of my blog). You can download the audio as mp3 files, or you can listen online.
There are three sessions. In the first session, I talked about church as family. In the second session, I talked about how to use Scripture to build our ecclesiology. In the third session, a group of my friends answered questions from the seminar attendees.
Resources
March 2009 – Ecclesiology Seminar
In March 2009, I and some of my friends had the opportunity to present a seminar on the topic of the church at Bethel Hill Baptist Church in Roxboro, NC. We called this seminar “Developing a Biblical Ecclesiology”. There were two sessions and a panel discussion.
Session 1 – The Church as Family
Download audio file: Session 1 – The Church as Family (40 MB mp3)
Download PowerPoint: The Church as Family PowerPoint (150 KB ppt)
Or use the audio player below to listen to the lecture (it may take a few moments for the audio to start):
Session 2 – Understanding the Church from Scripture
Download audio file: Session 2 – Understanding the Church from Scripture (39 MB mp3)
Download PowerPoint: Understanding the Church from Scripture PowerPoint (950 KB ppt)
Or use the audio player below to listen to the lecture (it may take a few moments for the audio to start):
Session 3 – Panel Discussion
Download audio file: Session 3 – Panel Discussion (59 MB mp3)
Or use the audio player below to listen to the lecture (it may take a few moments for the audio to start):
April 2008 – Ecclesiology Lecture
In April 2008, I had the opportunity to present a guest lecture on the topic of the church. I also called this lecture “Developing a Biblical Ecclesiology”. The information in this lecture is similar to the seminar above, but presented in a slightly different format.
Download audio file: Developing a Biblical Ecclesiology (52 MB mp3)
Download outline: Developing a Biblical Ecclesiology (50 KB pdf)
Or use the audio player below to listen to the lecture (it may take a few moments for the audio to start):
Fwee Years Old
Believe it or not, today is not only the date of the “Developing a Biblical Ecclesiology” seminar, it is also the third anniversary of this blog. (See my first blogiversary post and my second blogiversary post.) I wrote two posts that day: “Welcome” and “Questions“.
Why do I continue to write this post? I started writing in order to put into words some of the things that I’m studying (primarily) about the church as I’m working on my Ph.D. As I near the end of coursework for that Ph.D., some have asked if I will continue to blog. My answer? Probably.
Why? Because I’ve that this blog offers something more important than an outlet for my own thoughts. I’m also able to interact with other people as I consider how to live as a child of God in relationship with other brothers and sisters. I’m able to dialog with people from different backgrounds, with different issues and concerns and perspectives, with different strengths and weaknesses, with different giftings and opportunities for service. In this interaction and dialog, I’m learning even more about God, myself, the world, and especially the church.
Also, this blog, along with facebook and (perhaps) twitter, are fast becoming tools to maintain relationships and even begin to build some relationships. I don’t think electronic communications should ever replace face-to-face communication when possible, e-communication can certainly enhance relationships.
Think about this: Even in the first century, Paul kept in contact with people long distances away from him through writing letters. He knew alot about the believers in Rome (Romans 16) even though he had never been there. Shouldn’t we be able to maintain contact with brothers and sisters around the world today?
So, as long as I have time, I will probably continue to blog. And, you, those who choose to read and comment on my blog, will continue to be the most important part of this blog to me.
So… Thank You!
Introduce Yourself
Occasionally, I like to give my readers a chance to introduce themselves. I believe that the interaction that we have with one another on this blog – and other blogs – is very important. The more we know about one another, the more we are able to interact with one another intelligently and intelligibly.
I’ll start. My name is Alan Knox. I’m 41 (soon to be 42) years old. I’m originally from Alabama. I currently live in Youngsville (just north of Raleigh), NC. I work as a web developer and part-time professor. I’m hoping to find a job as a full-time professor soon. I’ve been married to Margaret for 20 years. We have two children and two dogs. I grew up in Southern Baptist churches, and I’m attending a Southern Baptist seminary. I’m currently in the PhD program at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. I have been interested in ecclesiology (the study of the church) for a long time. My interest was piqued a few years ago when I realized that many of the things we believe about the church and do as the church are not found in Scripture, and are, in fact, contrary to Scripture.
So, now it is your turn. Would you be willing to tell us about yourself? (Only as much as you feel comfortable sharing, of course.)
Spring Break finally
Well, Margaret feels better, but Jeremy woke up sick this morning. After talking with Jeremy and Margaret’s father-in-law, we decided to leave for Myrtle Beach anyway. We arrived here around 4:00 and were surprised to find that we have free wi-fi in our condo. So, I’ll be able to keep up with comments on the blog as well as work on a PhD seminar paper in Biblical Theology.