There’s a Discipleship Crisis in the Church Today

by Jonathan Dodson

In the US, this year 3,500 churches will close, this month 1500 pastors will leave the ministry, and today approximately 7,575 people will move on from church. Of those who move on, some never affiliate with a religion again saying they just “gradually drifted away from the religion.” America is experiencing, not only economic decline, but also church decay. Why?

Although there is no single reason for the collapse of the church, one has to wonder what would have happened if the pastors were not responsible for most of the ministry in these churches? What if the people who left, moved on equipped and committed to discipling others in the faith? What if these churches acted more like a community of disciples and less like consumers of spiritual goods and services? Wouldn’t the outcome be different? Churches would be more resilient and people would be less prone to drift. The church collapse is, in part, the result of a discipleship crisis.

The Discipleship Crisis

To rebuild the church, everyday people, leaders, and pastors must be taught and equipped to re-think and re-live Christianity. A “Christian” needs to be re-conceived as a person who shares their life and the gospel with others. The meaning of “church” has to be restored as the people of God on the mission of Christ—a people who posses an obligation of love to one another instead of a duty to a religious service. The role of “leader” needs to be reconfigured around discipling people not exerting influence. “Pastor” needs to be rebooted around the identity of disciple not the role of preacher. Christians, leaders, and pastors need to recover their fundamental identity as disciples of Jesus in order to renew their churches.

Rebuilding the church will require repentance on all levels. We need to turn away from finding our worth in our (important) roles and return to our (eternal) identity as disciples of Jesus. We desperately need to come back to being and making disciples of Jesus.

“Without the driving force of the gospel, discipleship devolves into self-help religiosity motivated by conservative pietism.”

Why Discipleship Isn’t the Answer

Yet, contrary to what some might think, discipleship is not the engine of the church. The gospel is. Without the gospel, both discipleship and church fail. Without the driving force of the gospel, discipleship devolves into self-help religiosity motivated by conservative pietism. The church is reduced to a glorified non-profit in which people lose interest. But the gospel reactivates both church and discipleship!

The good news that Jesus has defeated sin, death, and evil through his own death and resurrection and is making all things new, even us, changes everything! In the gospel, God in Christ welcomes sinners and sends out disciples. The gospel, not discipleship, is central to the church. If we make discipleship the engine of the church, we’ll run quickly out of gas. But when the gospel is central, the church gets traction and disciples get depth.

Gospel-Centered Discipleship

While all disciples of Jesus believe the gospel is central to Christianity, we often live differently. A gospel-centered disciple returns to the gospel over and over again though, to receive, apply, and spread God’s grace and wisdom into every aspect of life. One of my goals is to help make, mature, and multiply disciples of Jesus by restoring the gospel to the center of discipleship, and one of the ways I’m striving to do this is through Gospel-centered Discipleship.

Our hope is that the gospel can transform disciples, and disciples living in communities on mission can renew churches, and churches can renew their neighborhoods, suburbs, and cities.

“MicrOsCoPe oR TeLEsCope “

            This Morning, i just remember the time when i had a season of wearing Eyeglasses during my college days, but i’m not comfortable wearing it so decided to put it off. I can also remember the time when i got interested with lenses such as Microscopes and TelescOpes. After having thaT In the midst of my ReflectiNg , i realized who am i, a man that he is mindful of me, us his creation. It’s as if God in the world (earth) with a Microscope, that even though we’re so small and all that insignificant He is omnipresent and God could still make time for us and take time to listen our prayers and spend time with us.

         Then i asked myself how should i respond to that, I decided to see God as if i’m looking in Telescope, but it dawn on me that God not that far, that we are to look for Him because He is everywhere we are, in big things and even small stuff, huge problems or all blessings we must be reminded to look unto God, not just in his hands but his face. to be after Him than His blessings etc.

             Instead i decided to have a “Magnifying Glass” i wanna magnify God, His goodness, greatness, who He is and Who he has been and the things that he can and are about to do. above all the things that are coming our way i encourage us all to always Magnify Him!

Christian Ongtangco

PASSION TO WORSHIP HIM!

PASSION TO WORSHIP HIM!

Passionate worship doesn’t define your voice, your songs, your skills to play an instrument…or listening to a praise and worship music.

 

it defines the desire and the fire that your heart have in desperately longing to glorify God.

music is just an expression of our overwhelming love to the only One.

a passionate heart is the key of a passionate worship and God is well pleased not to hear a beautiful voice or a wonderfull song, but pleased to see a burning heart who yearns to honor and praise His Name.

worship is a lifestyle. it’s a desire. it’s the fire that’s burning your heart.

it’s the passion that drives you to live for Him.

Come On! Let’s give it Up for JC! We will continue to give GOD our best WORSHIP

I LOVE TO WORSHIP HIM!

Do we need the church ?

Hold on with me for this is quite long one, my longest blog so far. I just thought of writing a blog regarding church and here it is… I believe we all have to be committed to a church, driven not only by our love for the gospel, God’s people, and God’s Word, but also by the fact that “church” is our Family. Spiritual Family.

 We are all given the chance to spend our energy, gifts, and time being involved with and serving GOd in a particular local church, for me it’s Victory New Manila Church, We never God could lead me also to another church to serve Him there, God is in control above all… (i allow myself to be open for such possibilities) Wherever God would lead me… China, Africa, Pioneer or Mindanao. So, as I write this post, I remembered some of my friends whom God called to go to nations and places.

 To work their and have their living.Some would like to help in what God is doing in that specific place.They received a “word” from God, God is leading them to some mission, and it was the instruction they had from God. At first, Its kinda’ hard to for me to accept yet as time goes by i get to understand the reasons why.

It was the move of God, It was not a healthy for a church to be just confined in a single place and be contented about, yet there are certain people called to really stay to a church all their lives. but there are some who are called by God to move out and take part in further advancing His Kingdom, as a tentmaker, missionary, church planting team and to help in a church that is newly born or maybe very mature one already.

There are some people i’ve known for years, whose parents recently accepted the Lord in a church nearer their house and is also a Victory church, so that friend of mine decided to join them and serve in that local church. Some reasons could also be “distant-wise” from their house or work/office.

And i will definitely miss them though there will times that some of them will be visiting us from time to time. The very thing that i am thankful for is that they are not “out-of-church”, they are still part of a Victory Church, after all we’re one “Big Family”. Called children of God, in One Big Spiritual Family , We are His Church, His Body and His Bride.

If I simply decided to not show up on one Sunday morning, i would definitely miss the people, the fellowship, worship time, the kids in the Kid’s Church and will find myself doing some phone calls, texting,finding out hows everyone doing, making “Kamusta?” greetings. I just love doing it, i’ve grown up with then and they have been dear to me.

 I recognize that we all have various challenges, the challenges of juggling job, relationships, and church commitment. I respect and really appreciate those people in my church who do this very well, Astig talaga kayo, Of course we also recognize those who are tirelessly serving the Lord the extra mile, and those who have devoted their whole lives in serving God in full-time capacity. I remembered a friend of mine who just came from a night-shift duty (graveyard) and went straight not just to attend the service but to serve in the Kids’ Church. I also remember someone who managed to get to the service to lead the worship on that sunday. Some teachers who came from an all-day lecture/class but still managed to be in prayer meetings.

I am really amazed with these people (Astig talaga!), They just can’t help but give God their best. They may not involved full-time in the ministry but they are serving the Lord full-time with their excellent service in their jobs/workplaces, generous hearts,their uncompromised lifestyle and their undying commitment to a ministry in the church. They managed to do that! Truly i call them modern heroes! With that i thought of a question What are some reasons concerning why some people aren’t committed to a local church.

Why do some of them are to contended just attending or visiting church every Sunday mornings? Has the church has been a kinda’ like “out of this world”? Why do some of them just didn’t like doing so? Below is a list of these top three reasons, a brief exploration of the assumptions that I believe underlie each, and the questions I ask to help people critique/re-think these reasons, as I’ve found asking questions to be the best way to bring about a restored relationship between twentysomethings and the church.

Reason #1: “I’m too busy” “I’m too busy.” This is the most common reason I hear for why twentysomethings aren’t committed to a local church. Have you ever used this reason, whether for a season of life or a single Sunday morning? Do you have Christian friends who currently employ this as a reason for not going to church? I have many friends and acquaintances who’ve been saying this for years:

“I’m too busy to be involved in a church… I’m too busy to go to church today…I’m too busy to join a community group.” What’s the assumption underneath this?

Here’s one set of assumptions that might underlie this,

“I have more important things going on…more important things to do…more important priorities that I’m committed to.” Perhaps you’re letting other things, good things, crowd out the priority of the local church. Or maybe even not-so-good things.. I’ve found that I can best serve my own heart and people I know by asking them questions that expose and challenge what’s really important to them. So here are some questions to ask…

Questions: You say you’re too busy right now to be involved in church, when do you think this might change, when might your circumstances clear up and give you more time for church?

Do you really think you’ll be less busy in your thirties than you are right now in your twenties?

 What would you say are the 3-5 main commitments that make you so busy, that you devote most of your time to on a weekly basis?

You have 168 hours in a week, minus the 56 hours a week you spend sleeping and the 50 or so hours you spend working, what are the important commitments that fill up the other 62 hours?

 Reason #2: “I don’t need to be a part of a church to be a Christian” “I don’t need to be a part of a church to be a Christian.” This was my favorite reason for skipping church as a high school student. This remains a popular excuse today. This is the second most common reason I hear or, more often, observe, from twentysomethings as to why they’re not involved in a local church. Some people articulate this excuse.

They’re not afraid to voice it to me. Others, though shy about verbally stating their belief in church-less Christianity, are outgoing in hinting at and practicing their I-don’t-need-to-be-a-part-of-a-church-to-be-a-Christian-Christianity. What’s the assumption underneath this? Beneath the surface of this excuse is the unstated assumption,

 “I’m resourceful enough, adequate enough, and strong enough to live the Christian life by myself.” This is a big topic but fortunately I don’t have to address everything here, I can refer you to some great resources. My favorite would be “Stop dating the Church” by Joshua Harris. Here are some questions to ask yourself or ask a friend.

Questions: If you had to narrow it down to 2-3 reasons, why exactly do you believe you don’t need to be a part of a church to be a Christian? If hundreds of thousands of other young people across the globe feel that they must be a part of a local church in order to live the Christian life… are you different from them?

How would you explain how your take on the church jives with what the New Testament (most of which is composed of letters written to local churches) says about the local church? Matthew 16 makes it plain that Jesus died for the church,how can you square such a passage with your belief that you don’t need to be a part of a church to be a Christian?

Reason #3: “I haven’t found a church I really like, a church that fits me right” “I haven’t found a church I really like, a church that fits me right.” This is the third most common phrase I hear from young people (twentysomethings), either students or single (professional) as to why they haven’t committed to a local church. I’m beginning to encounter this more and more.

 What’s the assumption underneath this? Beneath the surface is the unstated assumption, “Church involvement is dependent upon my personal likes and dislikes…church involvement is dependent upon my preferences and tastes…basically, church is about me.” This is a 21st century excuse i believe. We live in an age of unprecedented individualism and consumerism. Our culture is one of endless options, one that teaches many to keep their options open, endlessly open, so as not to miss out on that better opportunity that just might lurk around the next corner. Past generations would’ve frowned on our modern phrases: “church shopping,” “church hopping.”

 I’ve found that a few probing questions can help prompt a shift in both thought and behavior towards the church.

Questions: What is it that you haven’t liked, that hasn’t fit, about the churches you’ve visited? Explain to me in detail, what would it take for you to really like a church, to feel like there’s a fit? [Do you think such a church exists, and if it did, do you think other people would want to be a part of it?]

 Where in the Bible do you see the words “like,” “fit,” “preference,” or “taste” held up as criteria for choosing a church?

What do you think about this idea, that part of God’s brilliant design for the local church is for it to be a community where our personal likes and preferences are broken down, refined, and sanctified so that we can experience a community unlike anything the world offers? Ask these questions (of course with love).

Pray for and with them. Trust that the Holy Spirit can use these questions to open people’s eyes to the importance of the local church. We need the church, and the church needs us also. After the Church is not the building, the place, the facility, programs or series of activities, Its each and everyone of Us.

We need one another’s encouragement, strengthen, correct, rebuke, inspire, help, support and stand with one another with our walk with God. “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, bet let us encourage one another- and all the more as you see the Day approaching” (Heb 10:25).

I still meet up with some of my friends , although they are already attending a different local church, we know that we are all part of a one big church, one big family and that no matter what, our relationship is will still be there.

We’re still sibling to one another. What matters most is that we are still connected and “in love” with our Lord Jesus Christ! And we love one another!

That goes to state that God’s kingdom is advancing. The Church is the “Bride” of Christ, We are His People, His beloved!

Worship Leading

Worship Leading
          I remember the first time i was able to attend a worship service, at first a thought it was some kinda’ concert in a Christian/semi-religious setting, but as i continue to stand at the back and have myself sight of all the people, i started to see most of them raising up their hands, some would close their eyes, and they started singing, some would just stand and some would sing and cry out loud on the top of their voices.  I think i’ve placed myself in a strange and very awkward position ” where am i?” some of them would kneel, sit , jump, dance, while fast and slow songs we’re being played.

                                                   

        All of a sudden i started my attention was caught by a young blondie guy ( i believe Hip-hop and RnB was his genre of music), who was leading all the people in the room in singing , later to find, it’s what you call ” Worship”. I’ll never forget that time, i had a real encounter with God, i felt the presence of this greater being above me and found myself caught up in it, the glory of the Lord is in that room. Then i asked a friend of mine who sits beside me ” Who’s that guy? “, ” He’s the Worship Leader!” was his glad reply. Last week i was able to read P.Steve’s link to Worship Leading resources/site i believe it would be of big help to every worship leader ( whether you’re singing or playing the instruments or sounds), I learned a lot , one of that is not closing my eyes the entire worship time he3! btw here they are;

“A Message to Worship Leaders” – Pastor Steve Murrell

“Worship Week with P.Neli, Tony and Rhonda” – Stefan Suarez

” Christian Songs and Techniques” – Beldiaz

   Looking back seven years ago, i just said to myself “If given the chance, i hope to do that, serving God through Worship Leading and it took that long ’til now that i’m now a part it. Yes indeed it is a great, privilege , responsibility yet it’s a very big responsibility, i could just imagine the first time i was plunged into it. Good thing God is always there and that He resides in the praises of His people. I hope to grow more in this gift and in a sense responsibilty i count to be a great honor and privilege. As we (Worship Team Members) desire for an upright heart, skillful should also be in our prayers, desire, goals and disciplines…  

Praise Yeshua! =)

Links: “Worship Leader” 

“Leading Vs, Performance”      

“Making the Connection”

Thanks to all the bloggers i’ve listed in this post! Thanks this will really help a lot!

All honor and glory and power belongs to Him!

Planning to plan?

      
Like what seems to be an ordinary regular class day as i thought it would be , my mp3 ran out of battery so i rode my way to my class without music which made me kept on thinking and thinking, while on the MRT standing inside, i remember the things God has done and what not, how God has been faithful to me, to us…

        Surprising because as got out from the jeepney, its like clouds of thoughts went after me. so took my handheld out and started recording and writing them (i had a new melody for the song im working with and had a stanza for a poem which could possibly turn out to be a song). I think i could “record” ‘em here some day.

        I also started thinking about this new year and was reminded of the coming 7 Prayer and Fasting we will be having by tomorrow. we had our Praise and Worship and Max shared a word during our devotion it was in Psalm 37:5 it says there ” Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this….”

     As we head on for the next 357 days of this year, participate with our 7 days Prayer and Fasting, having had our faith goals and plans, its just the great time to wait and listen, ask of God about what would He want for our lives, Lord let your good , pleasing and perfect will be done , Let your plans be my plans…. Let me be sensitive to your voice and to your leading as i ask of your wisdom, grace and favor and let my life be blessed so i be your channel of blessing and the very blessing to others as well, may your name be honored and glorified….

Where is the Mission Field?

world map

Nowadays , when we hear the word “mission field”, instinctively to our mind come thoughts of tropical jungles and barren deserts where unreached nomadic people wander aimlessly.

There’s quite a lot of people who either doesn’t know or confused about it.
However, the fact of the matter is, the mission field is Not somewhere
“overseas”, it is all about us. it doesn’t necessarily means going far away from home.
All of us Christian are living on the mission field.

As we all know, the Philippines was once called a “Christian nation” (in
Asia). But there’s still a lot of works to be done. God is shaking up
the nations of this world. He is bringing the peoples of the world to
us for us to minister to.

There are a vast areas of need within our own culture and nation that must also be ministered to. None of us can claim that our nation or culture is fully reached with the gospel.
Daily within our neighborhood people die without knowing Christ. Our
neighborhood is as much a mission field as someone in India or Cambodia.
The mission field is all about us. Some of us maybe called to go overseas and serve in another nation, others of us may be called to stay at home and serve in our own land. I believe both are noble callings and we should not consider ourselves some kind of “sub-missionary” if we are called to serve at home.

It’s not necessarily that location that makes a missionary, but a heart ready and willing to serve God in doing whatever He asks us to do, and being wherever He asks us to be. The calling must outweigh locations.

God will bless you abundantly in the land of your inheritance, your mission field where God has specifically called you to go! Go mighty Missionary of God!

Top ten reasons why young people quit chur*ch

I just want to make a re-post of one of my favorite blog from Pastor Steve thinking this could be of help to anyone/someone.

Note to pastors and youth ministers who choose to live in denial:
the following stats do not apply to YOU and YOUR chur*ch,
only to other chur*ches and other youth groups that are not as spiritual, strategic, relevant, cool,
committed or emerging as you are.

The American chur*ch loses 70% of its 18 and 22 year olds. SEVENTY PER CENT! That’s scary.
Think about your youth group – the teens in your chur*ch and in your family
- by the time they are 22 years old – 70% will no longer go to chur*ch. this is so true.. i think this is so true!

According to a research here are the top 10 reasons young people (mostly Americans) quit chur*ch.

10. I was only going to chur*ch to please others.
The #1 reason young Americans quit chur*ch is tragic – “I wanted a break from chur*ch.”

9. I want to spend more time with my friends.

8. I disagreed with the chur*ch’s stance on political or social issues.

7. I didn’t feel connected with the people in my chur*ch.

6. I became too busy.

5. I moved too far away.

4. My work responsibilities prevented me from attending.

3. I started college and stopped chur*ch.

2. Chur*ch members seemed too judgmental or hypocritical.

1. I simply wanted a break from chur*ch.

But why do they want a break? I think maybe #2 causes #1.
Did you ever dropout? Why?
What made you go back sunday after sunday?

What about other nations?