Rob Prince's Blog, page 12

Revival Is Coming! I can’t wait!

Spiritual Renewal is something that every believer should want. The Lord’s mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:23), who wouldn’t want a new mercy every morning?  Who wouldn’t want to be renewed in his/her spirit each day? This isn’t a conservative or liberal thing. Who doesn’t want to be revived?  

Those who might say “revivals” or periods of spiritual renewal in a church are not effective these days. They aren’t like the “good old days” when folks didn’t have anything better to do, had three TV channels from which to choose; and came out to anything the church offered. It’s true there are more things to do and more things that (we feel) must be done. Look at social media. Walked through a high school. Noticed the direction of our country. Think of the defeat/discouragement within families.  Hear the angst and the lonely cries of people all around. We need revival. More than ever, we need spiritual renewal.

Who doesn’t need: More encouragement? More strength? More wisdom? More spirit infused courage? We all need more of Jesus these days not less. Those who say, “I don’t need spiritual renewal” or “I’m too busy for revival” or offer some other excuse—are more than likely the ones most in need of spiritual renewal.  We all need it (pastors included).

Everyone can grow stale. No one is immune. Spiritual renewal is the antidote.

To combat the prevailing forces and pressures in our ever-compromising culture, we must slow down, focus on Jesus and plead to grow deeper in our walk. It might involve openness, honesty, confession, vulnerability and stepping out of one’s comfort zone. It might cost us something. Growth usually does.

Clearing calendars is inconvenient. Of course, there are commitments that have to be kept (revival week or not). There are some things a person can’t get out of doing—but there are plenty of things that we can get off our plate for a four-day immersion in soul renewing. It might involve asking to re-arrange a work schedule; cancelling a regular appointment; or asking to be excused from a class. If we claim that our soul care is the most important thing in our lives (and it should be), then, for this four-day period, we need to act like it. 

Once a year (generally the first week or two of October), Central Church sets aside four days, Sunday through Wednesday to intentionally focus on our soul reviving. This year, October 8-11, Dr. Tim Green, dean of the Millard Reed School of Theology & Christian Ministry at Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville, Tennessee will be our speaker. We make every effort to eliminate excuses. A free dinner is served Monday through Wednesday. Our Discovery Area (nurseries and pre-school) are fully staffed. Our children’s ministry (grade 1-5) also have special speakers and workers. We prioritize this week in our budget and in our efforts. 

We put forth the energy because we believe God wants to revive our souls, improve our outlook; strengthen our families; refocus our attention and ready us for whatever the future might bring. We’ve got a couple of weeks to shuffle our duties and clear our responsibilities to enable full participation. Spiritual renewal is worth it. Revival is coming! I can’t wait!

Headline reads: “Rapture Tomorrow” (My Tip: Make your car payment)

According the picture that was on my social media time line, the rapture is happening tomorrow. Apparently, whoever made this “theological calculation” forgot Jesus’ words, “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (Matthew 24:36). In other words, make your car payment.

For argument’s sake, let’s say it was true. 

In 24 hours, the world is about to change… 

What would you do? 
Who would you call?  
What would you tell them? 
What if they didn’t believe you?
Would you take their “you’re crazy,” comment and drop the whole conversation?
Would you be persistent?

Are their people to whom you would need to make apologies?
Are there wrongs that need to be righted?
Are their people you’d want to thank?
Would you cancel your Saturday plans?
Would you be sad that you won’t be able to watch football this weekend?
(I’d be happy to be entering the sweet by-and-by in my fifties, not in my 60’s like a certain wife of a preacher that I know. I’d have all eternity to rub in that lil’ fact… snicker snicker).

Paul wrote this nearly 2000 years ago: 
Understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Romans 13:11-12

If the Apostle Paul said, “the night is nearly over; the day is almost here,” doesn’t it make sense that two millennia later, we are a whole lot closer to that Day (yes, I capitalized it on purpose) than ever?  Are we slumbering on this news? Have we put on the “armor of light”? (Read: Are we shining for Jesus?).  Jesus indicated we need to be prepare today for all eternity when He said, “And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?” (Mark 8:36). We are going to spend a whole lot more time in the next life than we are in this old life, so we need to be ready. For the procrastinators in the crowd remember the words of Proverbs 27:1: Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.

I’m not suggesting that the rapture is happening tomorrow. I am saying, I could get in a car wreck tomorrow. You too (sorry for the Debby Downer wakeup call). Fact is, there are no guarantees in this life. If you’ve been in a car with me, you know that, statistically, there is a much greater likelihood of me blowing through a stop sign than Gabriel blowing his trumpet. Reality Check: Am I prepared to see Jesus, whatever my tomorrow may bring?

With apologies to the know-it-all, social media post, “the End” might not come tomorrow, so pay your mortgage and your tithe (hee hee)! Even more important, pay attention to the wellness of your soul.

Proof that the Old Preacher is Old

Proof #128 that I am old: I constantly find myself saying, “it was much easier pastoring in “the good old days.” I feel like a curmudgeon to say it, but it’s true. 

Pastoring is hard. 
Harder now than ever.
People are angrier. 
Social media is brutal. 
Less people go to church, and 
those that are church go-ers, “comparison shop” more than ever.
An old preacher once told me, “once the sheep start to wander, they never stop.” We’ve got a generation of sheep wanderers, drifters and dropper-outers. That’s Baaaaa-d! (Terrible puns? Proof #129 that I am old.)

Regular attenders are less “regular.”
I’m told that there are more reasons to miss church now (I don’t really think there are more reasons to miss. There have always been plenty of reasons to miss church. It’s just these days people are more apt to miss). 
It is easier to miss church (thank you live streaming). 
The only “live streaming” in the old days was if the water fountain in the church foyer got stuck (Church foyer jokes: Proof #130 that I am old).

Growing up, we went to church. If the doors were open, we, Princes, were there. A little tummy trouble wasn’t a good enough reason to miss church. You had to have a foot in the grave and the other foot on spilled communion juice to miss. (Bad Communion jokes: Proof #131). Not so these days. 

People are less forgiving.
They draw conclusions much quicker.
Authority, respect and kindness have seemed to take a backseat to personal liberties where every behavior under the sun is validated and if you think otherwise, the “Kibosh!” will be on you!! (Use of the word, “Kibosh”: Proof #132)

Often in a vacuum (thanks again social media); non-Christians only hear the voices of like-minded people, and (not shockingly) those in the world are not favorable to the things of Christ. Proof #133: Every fiber in me, wants to make a joke how Hoovers’ aren’t the only vacuums that suck, but I’m not.

Moreover, there are “believers” who likewise are critical of the Church, pile on at any bits of trouble and regurgitate all of the Church’s flaws. Knowing the actual facts seems to be optional. Of course, accountability is needed. Errors and sins should be exposed. Flawed, sinful leaders should be expelled. I’m not talking about that. I’m referring to the ad nauseam criticism and vitriol speech from those who claim Christ. They have no problem slinging mud on the Bride of Christ’s gown. Heaven forbid, if a pastor-type should tell the aforementioned “believer” that their negativity is not helping the cause of Christ. An avalanche condemnation and denigration will fall upon the poor preacher. 

Did I say pastoring is harder now? It is.

What’s my answer to this current state of church life and pastoring? I’m going to try even harder. I am going to work to get others to join me. I’m going to preach and pray and call and visit and love and work some more until Jesus comes. I’m also going to pray for young leaders who are strong, courageous, faithful, loving, truthful, and kind. God is calling them. I’m praying these young leaders will be listening and not get discouraged. The closer I get to the finish line, the more I long to hear, “Well done my good and faithful servant.” A grumpy generation is not going to stop me.

Now, get off my lawn.

(The previous comment is Proof #134 reason that I am old).

Hey Nazarenes, We Need More Good News!

I like good news. Who doesn’t?  The Gospel of Jesus Christ, of course, is the ultimate Good News. We always want to share it–as often as possible. But I also like hearing the good things that are happening in my tribe, the Church of the Nazarene. I especially want to know what’s happening in the USA/Canada region where I live and work. It seems Captain was right in Cool Hand Luke: “We have a failure to communicate.” 

There is news coming from various Nazarene entities. Nazarene Compassionate Ministries post on social media from time to time how Nazarene are helping to alleviate the world’s suffering. That’s good news. The NCM Magazine likewise provides good stories from around the world. Nazarene Missions sends an emailed prayer reminder on Wednesdays about different countries in the world. That’s good too. Nazarene News on Friday’s sends an email about what is happening here and there throughout the world. There is an obituary section (mostly USA/Canada clergy) and a once-a-month notice of the moving ministers (also mostly in USA/Canada). Nazarene News has a slight social media presence (emphasis on “slight”). Holiness Today offers good articles, but isn’t really a disseminator of news from around USA/Canada. There are probably a few other outlets of which I am unaware. Those sources are fine in what they do, but I need more good news. 

Just like the traditional news outlets, where ‘bad news sells,” social media seems to swirl around the negative. There’s bickering on all sides ad nauseam. Paul said our struggle isn’t against flesh and blood, but it sure seems like we are making it out to be. Our Enemy is the same since Eden. So why are we making it so personal against one another? (Cue: the comments about “standing for truth” or the need to “love unconditionally”). 

I’m not a Pollyanna. Bad things happen. When they do, those bad things need to be exposed. Confession, repentance, sorrow, lament and grief are legitimate responses to those bad things. They should never be swept under the rug or the bad things will keep happening. I get all of that. Still Paul said, “Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say, rejoice!” We act (and post on social media) like Paul wrote “Keep hounding on the terrible things, again I say puke it out more and more.” Can’t we rejoice a little more than we currently seem to be? Do we have to be so negative? Our brothers and sisters might differ on some issues, but they are still our brothers and sisters. There need not be a feud in the family of God.

The truth is: Good things are happening. They are happening in my corner of the world (probably in yours too). Lots of good things. A lake-full of people getting baptized last month; the grand opening of Central Park; plenty of new folks at Pastor’s Chat and a great youth fall kickoff yesterday; and a medical team leaving for Panama on Saturday (our third team to Panama this year)—good things are happening at Flint Central Church. But I want to hear about God’s working across the country too.  

Listen in an age of angst and anger, we need to hear about the power of God at work among us. We need to be encouraged. We need reports of the good things of God. I’m not a “world’s going to H-E (well, you know the rest) in a handbasket” guy. I’m convinced that God is still at work in America. I just want to hear about it more and more.

All Alone in a Crowd of 76,416 (and sin has nothing to do with it)

My sons and I will be at the Kansas City Chiefs vs. Detroit Lions football game tomorrow at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. Alex and Ben will be wearing Chiefs’ shirts. I will be wearing the Honolulu Blue and Silver of the Detroit Lions (I have failed as a father. Two sons. Zero Lions’ fans. But I digress.). We will be at the game along with 76,416 others in the stadium. Probably 76,415 will be cheering for the Chiefs. Hopefully, there will be two or three other Lions’ fans representing the Motor City Kitties.  

If you are not a football aficionado, I will remind you that that Chiefs won the Super Bowl last year. In fact, the Chiefs have been in the AFC championship game for the last five years, and have won two Super Bowls. The Detroit Lions, on the other hand, have never been to a Super Bowl; have won exactly one playoff game in my lifetime (you read that correctly. ONE!); and despite greater expectations for upcoming season, the Lions are not predicted to win this game.

If watching the game on TV, in a sea of red jerseys, look for a guy in the nosebleed section in the north end zone wearing blue with his hands over his ears. Arrowhead Stadium has the Guinness World record for the loudest stadium, when Chiefs’ fans’ screaming one time hit 142.2 decibels. I tend to get migraines with a little extra noise in the sanctuary. It could be a long night. If ever I felt all alone in a big crowd, Thursday might be my night. 

Sometimes one can feel like you’re wearing blue in a stadium filled with red.

Recently, a church leader wrote the following on social media: “Loneliness and isolation is (sic) the result of solitude without Jesus.” I get what he was trying to say– “you are never alone with Jesus.” It’s the “Just Jesus and me on the Jericho road” theme of the old hymn. He’s not wrong about Jesus always being with us. Jesus said, “Lo, I am with you always.” Jesus meant it. Moreover, personal sin can lead us to a lonely place as we isolate ourselves from God. My problem is with the mistaken notion that loneliness is always the result of a lack of connection to Jesus. Loneliness might have nothing to do with one’s standing with Jesus. 

Biblical heroes like David, Jeremiah and Paul all had bouts of loneliness and it wasn’t the result of a lack of faith in God almighty. Feelings of loneliness can be the result of grief, friendship changes, mental health issues, singleness, chronic pain, even the lonely servant of the Lord. None of those examples are necessarily a lack of faith and to suggest otherwise, only heaps needless guilt onto the lonely sufferer.

A remedy for loneliness is rarely a simple answer. It involves some or all of the following: acknowledging one’s situation; allowing God’s word to penetrate the soul; being proactive in cultivating Christian friendships; having fellow Christians perceptive to one’s circumstance; and ultimately allowing God to be one’s provision. 

Paul words to the Corinthian church are the beginning of the remedy: 

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

In other words, the remedy for loneliness is not “just Jesus and me on the Jericho road.” It’s Jesus and me and you and other believers too on every road of life. Rueben Welch said, “It isn’t Jesus and me, it’s Jesus and we.”* It’s being comforted by God, then passing that blessed comfort onto others. When loneliness attacks, in its finest hour, the family of God moves into action. When God’s people circle the wagons of love around an individual, loneliness’ grip begins to lessen. 

Hopefully, there will be some kind-hearted Chief’s fans sitting nearby that will have compassion on this lonely Lions’ fan too. 

*Welch, We really do need each other, p. 73. 

Ready

Last Sunday, in my sermon I spoke of how we have this life to determine our eternal accommodations. Like I often say in funerals, there are no make-up exams, no do-overs and (if you are a golfer) no mulligans.  My friend, John Faulconbridge, was in the service.

Less than 24 hours later, John had a massive heart attack; shortly after John was, like the Salvation Army would say, “promoted to Glory.” That euphemism for our passing is appropriate for my friend, John. He was a West Point graduate, a very proud veteran, and most importantly a follower of Jesus.

John’s funeral service is tomorrow at the church. His burial will be at a later time at the Oklahoma Veteran’s Cemetery. John just recently took the buy-out General Motors offered their salaried employees. He and Becky had plenty of plans for these years. He was 67 years old.

When I was younger, 67 years old seemed very far away and very old. It doesn’t now. It seems young(ish). I want to put the adverb “only” in front of the number “67.” People are supposed to live a lot longer than 67 years these days. My brother-in-law ran a marathon for his 70th birthday. 70 is the new 50. 

Whenever someone passes away suddenly, I am shocked once more into the reality of our need to be ready. No one is guaranteed any days. We all have an expiration date, but unlike milk jugs we don’t know when that date is. My point: Be ready. This week was a familiar, yet stark reminder. 

Part of my job as pastor (or as my friend Steve Hack refers to me, “shepherd”) is to do all I can to make sure that the flock is ready for the greener pastures in Glory. It’s remembering that all who call upon the name of the Lord will be saved (Romans 10:13). We still need to accept that invitation. It’s free. It’s available to all. But we need to accept and then live into this calling of following Jesus. This sounds a little too transactional: Say a prayer; Get your fire insurance; and bingo, you’re good to go. I don’t mean it that way. Being ready is about encountering Jesus, then formed by Jesus to be a part of the mission of Jesus in the world. John lived into that Jesus calling. There may not be a West Point to be in the Lord’s Army, but John answered the call and wholeheartedly served Jesus.  

As a Shepherd/pastor, I hope to always have the same confidence about the departed loved one as I will have tomorrow when I step behind the pulpit to officiate John’s funeral. He loved Jesus and wanted to serve Him. John was ready for his unknown and unexpected expiration date. I hope you are too.

Central Park: You “gotta” Play With Them

40 years ago (has it been 40 years? Yikes!), when I was a summer intern from Olivet Nazarene University at the Alanson Church of the Nazarene in Northern Michigan, Pastor John Carr, told me, “You’ve got to play with them to pray with them.” He meant that a pastor (or any believer) has to earn the right (via showing that one cares) before people will trust you to talk to them about spiritual matters.

He was right, of course. He’s more right now. (Can one be “more right”?). There may have been a time when cold calling on people by knocking on their front door; spewing out the Four Spiritual Laws or the Romans Road or some other evangelism plan; led to people trusting in Jesus. It might have worked then, not now. Knock on a stranger’s door these days, and you might be greeted with a Glock 44 instead of a crock of honey and crackers. 

These days you need to “play” with them first.

This was proven last Friday as we opened Central Park. Our neighbors nearly outnumbered Central folks with the arrival of the first official day of the park. Kids were sliding on the slides; swinging on the swings; and seeing how fast the merry-go-round could move. Several of the parents talked to me about our church; thanked us for building the park and talked about their intention to “try the church out.” 

You’ve got to play with them (literally). I told one neighbor one of our key commitments at Central Church is “to be the best neighbor.” His response, “You are!” Of course, that’s what we want to hear. 

It’s not 1990. In 2023, people want to know you care. They are more suspicious than ever. Many have been hurt before in their religious experiences. They have seen and heard of too many faith based organizations that have broken the trust of those they were so-called serving. The news of Christians is not always positive. 

The way to combat such thinking is to show folks a deeply religious experience can be different. Caring for the spirit, soul and body seems like a positively wonderful Christian thing to do. Paul wrote (in the verse all good Nazarene’s have memorized): May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Thessalonians 5:23). 

That’s exactly what Central Park is hoping to accomplish! Through our efforts to care for the spirit, soul and bodies of our neighbors, we will have opportunity to share with them the sanctifying and peace infusing work of God!

Preaching isn’t always Easy

Every year, since my Bad Axe preaching early years, I get away for four or five days for reading, research and prayer as I plan out the following year’s sermon calendar. I have found that I need a map for my upcoming preaching calendar to be balanced and well thought; and I need to seek the Lord and study to accomplish that goal.

I take this responsibility extremely serious. I believe Paul was writing to me (along with Timothy) when he wrote: Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. (2 Timothy 4:2). Paul’s instruction to Titus applies to my pastoral responsibility too: Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives (Titus 3:14). Moreover, I hope to accomplish what Solomon spoke of in Proverbs 9: Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning (Proverbs 9:9). 

Here’s your pastoring 101 lesson: Preaching isn’t easy in the 20th century. I suppose that’s why so many pastors are throwing in the towel, and why young women and men aren’t heeding the call as eagerly as they once were. It’s hard. People are more fearful, angry and can be downright mean. The divisiveness in our country is rampant (election years are the worst, by the way). Sometimes it seeps into the church. People often want their way, their message, and their agenda preached. Paul’s stand in Galatians 1:10 is mine too. He wrote: Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ. In the end, the preacher is responsible for what is proclaimed from the platform. Andy Stanley correctly stated, “The cross is our invitation to live for the approval of One, not everyone.” Jesus must be preached and He is to whom preachers must answer. 

I’m thankful for the time to get away and listen to the Lord. I’m looking forward to a great year of preaching in 2024!

The 21st Century Needs Discipleaders (yes, that’s a new term)

“Everything rises and falls with discipleship,” I wrote in response to John Maxwell’s old teaching that “Everything rises and falls with leadership.” Making disciples is what Jesus calls us to do (See Matthew 28:20) — not build churches, platforms, big budgets or ministries. Make Disciples. Period. But that doesn’t mean, John Maxwell was totally wrong. Leadership does matter. We need disciple making leaders. To that end, I have created a new term “Discipleaders.” The word placement is important. It’s not leaders making disciples, but disciple-makers with leadership qualities is the need for the 21st century. 

What does a Discipleader look like?

A Discipleader is a person first committed to growing spiritually themselves. You can’t teach what you “ain’t” got. Discipleaders are seeking God for themselves, then teach from the overflow. As such, a Discipleader is prayerful, in the Word, a seeker holiness in heart and life and generous. 

A Discipleader is on the lookout for those who also want to grow in the Lord. Young Christians need to be invited to be mentored and discipled. Not all are ready, not all have the desire. Discipleaders are looking for those longing to be taught the ways of Jesus.

A Discipleader is patient. By definition new believers are not immersed in the ways of Christ. They potentially make mistakes, fail, and sin. A discipleader doesn’t quit on people very easily. Discipleaders are persistent.

A Discipleader is humble. It’s learning from the initial, rookie discipleaders, as Jesus reminded them, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all” (Mark 9:35).

A Discipleader is relevant. They are moldable. They are not static but look for new ways to teach age old truths. Not always will the disciples-in-training be younger than the discipleader, but frequently they will be. A discipleleader must stay somewhat current (admittedly, I am a fuddy-duddy, and my use of the word “fuddy-duddy” proves it). 

A Discipleader can communicate truth in love. It’s the “John 1:14 Model.” Jesus was full of grace and full of truth. Truth means I’m going to be honest no matter what. Grace means I’m going to love you no matter what. 

A Discipleader duplicates her/himself. A church with one discipleader may grow a little. A church full of discipleleaders will grow exponentially. 

A Discipleader cares about one number and it has nothing to do with attendance and budgets (Jesus didn’t tell us to get hung up on those things). Its baptisms. Discipleaders are baptizing folks and then following up with a discipleship path that leads to more discipleaders.

Are you a Discipleader?

Have American Christians Missed the Boat?

Forgive my nautical lingo (I just returned from an Alaskan Cruise), but have Christians in America missed the boat?  Not “missed the boat” regarding heretical tangents (although a case could be made that in some corners of “evangelicalism” – even the name itself—has turned heretical). Have we blown off-course (again the nautical language) regarding our main emphasis?  

It was John Maxwell, the leadership guru of the 80’s and 90’s, who famously said, “Everything rises and falls on leadership.”  Maxwell made the point to thousands of pastors and church leaders (and made himself wealthy) by touting this message in multiple books and even more conferences. But was he right? Is leadership the determining factor for the rise or fall of the church and in effect Christianity in USA/Canada?

From the title of this blog, you can probably guess my response. The rise and fall of the church in the last century was determined not by leadership, but by another “ship”: Disciple-ship. Sadly, that “ship” hit the icebergs of consumerism, church growth strategies and, not a little bit of pride and arrogance. 

Jesus gave us our sailing orders. He commissioned the church (see Matthew 28:20) to make disciples. Not make leaders. Not build churches. Not even to “make” Christians (that’s His territory). Our mission is to make disciples. We are to teach people to obey all the things of Christ and to baptized them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. That’s it. 

Name your pet peeve about the modern church: Too Materialistic? Too Nationalistic? Too Political? Too Misogynistic? Too Racist? Not Biblical enough? Not committed. Not loyal. Not caring or compassionate? Bottom line: Not Christ-like.

All of those ills are remedied not by leadership alone, but by discipleship. We haven’t taught people how to be disciples of Jesus Christ. We have (you guessed it) missed the boat.

The big question: Is it too late to get on board the disciple-ship? With Christ as the Commander-in-Chief (see what I did there), it’s never too late. The church must take an inventory and recognize its current reality. We have done an extremely poor job in discipling people. If nothing else, Covid exposed this. The massive decline in church attendance; lukewarm churches; those feeling the need to “deconstruct” their faith; the disconnect many experience in the church; young adults leaving and not returning to church; pastors quitting at a record pace; the politicization of the church (and many other ills) are not the result of poor leadership (although admittedly we’ve had poor leadership too), but the result of leaders not emphasizing discipleship.

Years ago, Willow Creek church did a study of their people and determined that their church was a mile wide and a millimeter deep. Seeker sensitive worship experience built a crowd, but not many disciples. (Reminder: Jesus didn’t commission us to build a crowd). The church in America has the same malaise—seeker sensitive or not. The ship is sinking because we didn’t follow the orders. We built crowds, churches, programs and platforms—just not many disciples.

What’s needed? A return to the basics. Emphasis on the age old Christian practices: Prayer, Bible reading/teaching, fasting, and the fellowship of the believers (see Acts 2:42). It’s confessing we’ve blown it (not a difficult assessment given our current reality) and praying that the ship hasn’t already sailed– leaving us high and dry. 

The Christian fleet needs Leader-ship, Fellow-ship, Partner-ship, Friend-ship, Steward-ship and Wor-ship but without the flagship of Disciple-ship, we’re sunk.