Hello Friends: 11.17.11- Splits Happen
November 17th, 2011
Hello Friends,
This week I want to finish up my extended study of the New Testament character Barnabas. Over the last nine weeks I have been expounding upon nearly every mention of his name in the Book of Acts. You can find a running commentary at http://wsfc.org/connect/blog/.
I sincerely like this guy. I have modeled much of my life after him – he is called the Son of Encouragement (4:36) – and throughout the Book of Acts we find him going from place to place doing just that!
I want the same to be said of my life: “That John Fehlen, he’s a real Son of Encouragement.” (I guess it beats the alternative!).
In Acts 15:36-41 we find the last mention of Barnabas, but this time the context is not so positive.
Or is it? Let’s look…
And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.” Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
This passage of Scripture gives us a helpful response to personal failures and fractured relationships. These things happen. That can’t be avoided. But they can be properly handled.
Quick history lesson:
• John Mark is Barnabas’ cousin (Colossians 4:10).
• John Mark was a part of the 1st Missionary Journey but didn’t want to continue on for some reason. The Bible doesn’t say why. We do know that in Acts 13:13 John Mark hopped off the Holy Ghost Tour bus and returned to Jerusalem.
• At the start of the 2nd Missionary Journey, Barnabas asked if John Mark could rejoin them, and Paul had distinct misgivings. He opted to bring Silas with him, whereas Barnabas partnered up with John Mark (Acts 15:39,40). The remainder of the Book of Acts (as well as the majority of the New Testament) chronicles the activities of Paul and Silas, but very little is said about Barnabas or John Mark.
So, what do we make of all this?
I want to make two points of application:
1. Split Happens.
I know this is a play on words, and I certainly am not wanting to be offensive, but rather, make a memorable point as to the reality of fractured relationships. Splits are a part of life. Not everyone is going to get along all the time. We are not a utopian society in which we all tip-toe through the tulips singing Kum-ba-yah. That’s simply not reality. We are fallen, sinful, and broken. As the saying goes: “Hurt people, hurt people.”
But, having said that, hear me clearly: we CAN be civil and kind. Relationships don’t have to end in anger, gossip, and venomous Facebook posts! We can biblically and rationally handle our issues one to another. This is what I see in Acts 15:36-41.
Paul felt like John Mark had abandoned them at a very important time. In verse 39 we read that Paul and Barnabas had a “sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other.” This was unfortunate, but it’s reality. Split happens. Notice though that it wasn’t mean-spirited or cruel. They didn’t see eye-to-eye on things and they decided to part ways, but we never read about them disparaging one another, speaking out lies or bemoaning their heart, motives or salvation.
Church, why is it that we, within the Body of Christ, have yet to learn this very well? We tend to shoot our wounded. We often push individuals or groups down in order to make ourselves look better? Admittedly, some of the meanest people I’ve ever encountered have been Christians. This ought not be.
2. Seasons Change.
The second observation that I find in the saga of Paul, Barnabas, and John Mark is that after a stretch of time there was a restoration of relationship. Seasons change. Not everything stays the same way forever. Perhaps you had a split happen in a particular relationship, and now is the time for healing and reconnection.
Two passages in the New Testament give us an indication that the seasons of ministry indeed did change for those involved:
Colossians 4:10 – Paul commends the church in Colossea to receive and welcome John Mark.
2 Timothy 4:11 – Paul tells Timothy to send John Mark to him because “he is very useful to me for ministry.”
Did you catch that? There was once a split but now we read of a commendation and reconnection. Paul continued to speak kindly regarding John Mark and as well, discovered that he was helpful and actually useful. In other words: seasons changed. With the changing of seasons we see things clearer and differently. Someone who hurt us in the past may now be an asset OR….wait for it…perhaps a…friend!
Blessings,
John
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Hello Friends: 11.10.11- Servants of the Kingdom
November 10th, 2011
Hello Friends,
Over the last few months I have been tripping through the Book of Acts with the goal of spotlighting a man named Barnabas. It’s natural to think of Paul or Peter in association with the Acts of the Apostles because they’re larger than life and left a huge fingerprint upon the New Testament. But I like to draw attention to an Underdog: Barnabas. He often gets overlooked and/or minimized, but his investment is so impacting. I’ve said it before, but it’s worth repeating: “Without Barnabas, we would not have a Paul.”
Barnabas worked behind the scenes.
Barnabas took a backseat.
Barnabas deferred attention to others.
Barnabas served diligently without applause.
Barnabas is representative of our West Salem Foursquare SERVANTS. We have a wonderful group of people that serve the Kingdom of God wholeheartedly and selflessly. These are the folks that give, pray, build, teach, smile, cook, clean, sing, play, reach, wave and worship with their passions and gifts.
I LOVE our SERVANTS.
Too often a local church is only known by its facility, senior pastor, worship leader, or a particular program or event. These are important and should not be negated; however, I want our church community to be known not for the few, but for the many – those that lay themselves down in big and small ways each and every day.
I see a couple of characteristics of Barnabas in Acts 15 that apply so well to our WSFC Servants:
1. First to Arrive
In chapter 15 we read about a situation in which newly converted Gentiles in Antioch were being required by the religious leaders to perform certain customs, or else put their salvation into jeopardy. This was certainly NOT the heart of the Lord, and Paul and Barnabas were the first to confront it. They were appointed to go to Jerusalem to meet with the council in order to sort the matter out. After an agreement was reached by Peter and others on the council, Barnabas and Paul were then the first to be sent back to Antioch with the verdict.
I love the initiative of these two. They didn’t wait around for “someone else” to do something. Waiting to see if someone else will do it is an easy posture to take in today’s overcommitted culture. Someone else will clean up that mess. Someone else will reach out to the “urban campers.” Someone else will pray for that single mom. Someone else will hold a baby or play with a preschooler. The problem with a “someone else” mentality is that it is alway deferring personal responsibility.
Servants reject a “someone else” mentality. They are the first to arrive, first to say yes (with reasonable balance, of course) and the first to jump in; lending a hand.
They are also the:
2. Last to Leave
After Paul and Barnabas delivered the letter from the Jerusalem Council, and their work was technically done, they “remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord…(vs. 35).” It’s this kind of commitment to the Kingdom that sets them apart. The were the “last to leave.”
Denise and I have always been “last to leave” people. It’s a mentality that we’ve held for as long as we can remember.
I blame it on Pastor Tom.
Tom was my youth pastor growing up in Osceola, Wisconsin. I loved being mentored by him and found any opportunity I could for us to hang out. That often meant staying at the church until he left, and he was always the “last to leave.” Together we would put away chairs, take down posters, wrap up microphone cables, and throw away wrappers and pop cans. During these “last to leave” moments I was unknowingly being discipled into Kingdom ways and means.
First to arrive. Last to leave. Servants with a Barnabas Spirit.
That’s why I LOVE our SERVANTS.
Blessings,
John
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Hello Friends: 11.3.11- Ministry of the Minister
November 3rd, 2011
Hello Friends,
Today I am sitting at a local coffee shop and around me are a number of pastors and leaders “doing their work” (as well as sipping their favorite coffee drinks).
The phrase “doing their work” is an interesting one. The questions I hear from folks (sometimes jokingly) are:
“What does a pastor do?”
“Do they only work a couple of hours on the weekend?”
I giggle when I hear these questions, not only due to the sheer volume of hours I work each week, but also because the pastoral office indeed operates with a level of mystery as it deals with matters of the heart and soul.
“Doing their work” could very well mean a number of things to a number of people. For some, it’s pastoral counseling with a parishioner or preparation for a sermon. For others it could be thoughtful mediation or reflective study. For me today, my “work” involves reading my Bible, writing, brainstorming for upcoming teachings, and vision-casting for our leadership team (not to mention all the nods and greetings to folks from around our fair city)!
I think often about my pastoral role. I am consistently musing on what “doing my work” means. I write whitepapers and blog about it often, but much of what I write is rarely shared with our congregation. Pastoring can be like making sausage. We like sausage but not everyone wants to see how it’s made!
However, based upon my reading of Acts 14:19-23 (and it’s focus upon Barnabas), I want to expound a bit upon the “Ministry of the Minister.”
Over the last few months I have been spotlighting the New Testament character of Barnabas. He is an underdog. He is lesser known than his buddy Paul, which is why I like him so much. I am focusing upon Barnabas for this week’s study of the “Ministry of the Minister.”
Acts 14:19-23 (ESV) But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe. When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
Go back and reread the passage and notice the bolded phrases. These phrases constitute a very clear, and progressive mission of pastoral leadership: the ministry of the minister.
1. Preach the Gospel
2. Make many disciples
3. Strengthen the souls of the disciples
4. Encourage disciples to continue in the faith
5. Prayerfully appoint leadership
Undoubtedly, pastors do so much more than these five things…I know I do! Sadly, I often liken myself to a cruise director, like Julie McCoy on The Love Boat, running around trying to keep everybody happy and smiling. But the problem with the ‘cruise director’ concept is that it turns The Church into a pleasure craft complete with every creature comfort; a spiritual smorgasbord or hedonistic hideaway of sorts.
That, however, is NOT the purpose of The Church.
Instead, we are to be a lifeboat or a battleship. We have a huge and honorable mission. The pastoral calling is to serve The Church in this clear and compelling mission:
• To preach the Gospel: The Apostle Paul told the church in Galatia that he was “entrusted with the Gospel” (Gal. 2:7) and then to the church in Corinth, “Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel!” (1 Cor. 9:16). Pastoral leaders must preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, crucified and risen again. That is our mandate.
• Make many disciples: The result of the preaching of the Gospel is not just that people would have heard, but that they would believe and obey. The Great Commission in Matthew 28 is that we would “make disciples of all nations, baptizing them…teaching them to observe all that I [Jesus] have commanded you.” Our clear and compelling mission at West Salem Foursquare is aligned to the Great Commission: Making More and Maturing Disciples.
• Strengthen the souls of the disciples: I have a wonderful friend and spiritual mentor that would often ask me: “How is it with your soul?” This is a good question that gets right to the heart of the matter: our souls. Pastoral leaders concern themselves with the soul and seek to see it strengthened in the Lord.
• Encourage disciples to continue in the faith: Life is hard. God is good. The task of pastoral leadership is to connect the two: Life and God. We serve as a Barnabas, whose name means ‘Son of Encouragement’, to disciples that are sojourning together in Christ. The ministry of the minister is to encourage (which means to put courage into) believers to continue in the faith. In other words: don’t give up. Finish well!
• Prayerfully appoint leadership: Paul and Barnabas were going from city to city appointing elders in the churches. The word elder is interchangeable with overseer, bishop and pastor. With prayer and fasting, they would recognize and release key people to lead and govern the ministry of the local church. This is the role of modern day pastors as well. We still are to recognize and release people into leadership ministry. Ephesians 4:12,13 tells us that we are to “prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”
There it is again. Our clear and compelling mission: Making More and Maturing Disciples.
Blessings,
Pastor John
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Hello Friends: 10.28.11- Crave
October 28th, 2011
Hello Friends,
Recently I co-lead a group of students and pastors on a tour of the Footsteps of Paul in Athens, Corinth, Ephesus, Patmos, Crete and Rome. It was an amazing time with much to learn and see. It’s powerful to walk in the places which the New Testament Scriptures were originated and to visit the cities in which the Apostle Paul planted churches and established the work of the Lord.
Simply put: The Bible comes alive.
But there is also a sad element to it as well. Everywhere you look there are statues, auditoriums, idols and places of worship established for Greek gods and goddesses. Zeus, Apollos, and Dionysus, to name a few. The City of Ephesus, for example, was dedicated to the worship of the goddess of fertility, Artemis.
Here is what I concluded: People crave something to worship.
We see this happening in Acts 14:8-15. This portion of Scripture is the next in a series of texts that spotlights Barnabas. Barnabas was a linchpin. He was a catalyst. I have been devoting a handful of these email devotionals to Barnabas – a guy that is peppered throughout the Book of Acts, and had a considerable impact on the trajectory of the church.
Take a moment to read Acts 14:8-15. Do you see what happens? Paul and Barnabas were involved in the healing of a man that was crippled since birth. Undoubtedly, the Lord is the Healer, but he used two willing vessels to extend that healing to the hurting. When the crowds witnessed the healing they shouted: “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!” They gave Barnabas the name Zeus. Paul they called Hermes. Temple priests we’re poised to offer sacrifices to Paul and Barnabas. It was getting pretty crazy.
How did they get to this point?
Well…the answer is that people crave something to worship.
As you walk the Footsteps of Paul you’ll note something interesting. The worship of Greek gods and goddesses is obviously not as pervasive as it once was but now you see in their place other statues, religious icons, of folks such as Peter, Paul and Mary (sorry, I had to do it). One focal point of worship has been replaced with another. Visit Rome and you’ll see what I’m talking about.
Bottom line: People crave something to worship.
Denise and I watched a powerful movie yesterday. It’s called “The Way” starring Martin Sheen. It’s about pilgrims walking the Camino de Santiago, also known as The Way of Saint James. It was a deeply impacting film with a number of spiritual implications. It had us pondering and talking long after leaving the theater. Our common synopsis was that people are longing to worship…something…anything. Unfortunately, folks all too often miss the mark. They worship wrongly. They venerate people and things. They elevate human accomplishment and honor good deeds. They seek out experiential and relational connection and call it spiritual.
To combat this, Paul and Barnabas ran into the crowd and tore their garments, and in essence said: “Why are you doing this? Don’t worship us! Worship the Living God!”
What I observe about Paul and Barnabas is that they were good “Deflectors of Glory.” Rather than receiving honor (as wonderful as that would be) they deflected it to the one who made the heavens and the earth. That’s where our worship should be directed.
Question: Are you a good deflector of glory? Do you point people to Jesus?
People all over the world are craving something to worship. There is a God-shaped hole in everyone’s heart. Will you point people to the ONLY ONE that can properly fill that void?
Blessings!
John
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Hello Friends: 10.20.11- Speak Up
October 20th, 2011
Hello Friends,
How are you? Good? Bad? Ugly?
Feel free to shout it out right now. I’m listening…
Go ahead. Yell it out…
…I can’t hear you. You gotta speak up…
:)
This week in my “Hello Friends” I want to write about “Speaking Up” from the perspective of Barnabas. For a number of weeks we have been spotlighting an aspect of the life of Barnabas (one of my favorite characters in the Bible). This week’s focus is upon Acts 14.
Acts 14:1-3 “At Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue. There they spoke in such a way that a great number of Jews and Gentiles believed. But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to do miraculous signs and wonders.”
Paul and Barnabas spoke “in such a way” that people believed in the Lord Jesus Christ. Don’t you want to speak in such a way? The remainder of this passage gives us some clues as to the way they spoke.
1. With Strength.
The Scripture tells us that they spoke boldly for the Lord. There was a weight to their words. The last sentence in the Book of Acts tells us that Paul finished his life in a Roman prison “proclaiming the Kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.” And a number of New Testament passages refer to Jesus as someone who spoke with authority (Matthew 7:29; Mark 1:22, 27; Luke 4:32, 36).
Barnabas. Paul. Jesus. Three examples of people that spoke with strength. I want to be on this list. Don’t you?
2. With Signs
Not only was the word spoken boldly but it was accompanied by miraculous signs and wonders of the Lord. Now that’s a one/two punch!
Not only is Missouri the Show-Me State. I think people all over the world want to see the Gospel in action and not just hear it spoken. So many Christians would do well to not only speak about the Lord, but to accompany those words with Spirit-infused signs and wonders. Imagine non-believers hearing AND seeing the grace of God in action.
The Great Commission in Mark 16:20 says “they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.” Another one/two punch.
This reminds me of Ephesians 4:15 that challenges us to “speak the truth in love.” Words (truth) are to be paired up with actions (love). Again, another great one/two punch.
Strength.
Signs.
Truth.
Love.
Let’s speak up…in such a way…that a great number of people will believe! Amen? Amen.
Blessings,
John
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