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 The life and times of an
ORDINARY MISSionary

 My ambition has always been to preach the Good News where the
 name of Christ has never been heard, rather than where a church
 has already been started by someone else. I have been following
​ the plan spoken of in the Scriptures, where it says,“Those who have
 never been told about him will see, and those who have never heard
​ of him will understand.”


Romans 15:20,21

Where there is No Vision, Families Perish

1/2/2021

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Your family will perish if you have no vision. (Proverbs 29:18)

What I mean is you are going to get what you get if you continue to do what you do with no plan.   We will continue to wander in the wilderness expecting the same results by doing the same things.

How is it that we have a vision for our churches and our businesses, but no vision for our families?

Years ago, our family was transformed when went through Family iD by Gregg Gunn. It gave me handles as a father and a husband in attempting to lead my family spiritually.

Again, this last week, we are renewing our vision for 2021 asking the Lord how He would have us live and serve. So we are asking us and our church these questions:
1. What is your vision for 2021? Dream about what you would like your family to look like spiritually at the end of 2021. What steps need to be pursued to accomplish that goal.
2. What is your mission for 2021? Where is God calling us to serve outside the walls of the church to advance the kingdom?
3. What scripture will be your theme for 2021 that encompasses your goal as a family?
4. What song will you adopt for 2021 as your anthem?

Families fail because there is no intentionality. There is no intentionality to pursue Christ (other than attend church). There is no intentionality to work on our marriages. There is no intentionality to parent our kids towards godliness.

How is it we are more intentional in our businesses and churches, but we “live aloof” in our homes.

Some mistake it as legalism. Some don’t see eternity hanging in the balance. Some just see it as too much work.

If we are better at accomplishing goals and agendas in our businesses and churches more than our families, we will perish and the worries of the world will create one of three seeds found in Mark 4:

1. Road seeds: they are just hearers of the Word or Sunday morning only seeds. They forget it once they cross over the threshhold of the church to the world.

2. Shallow seeds-they immediately receive it with joy, endure for a little while and when trouble or persecution comes because of the Word, they stumble and fall away.

These are caused sometimes by camp or big events. (Please hear me: I am not against camp or big events...it’s an unfortunate reality and reminds us of the desperate need for accountability and discipleship-and this can’t be put squarely on the shoulders of pastors/youth pastors/children’s pastors.). It’s our fault as parents and as the church(older men and women in the church who should be discipling but are still drinking milk) that we have not come alongside you—the youth pastor and children’s pastors.

3. Seeds planted among thorns-they have heard the Word but the worries and cares and wealth and fame of this world causes them to choke out the word of God/ignore God. This happens when God becomes an extracurricular activity rather than a lifestyle.

Seeds planted among thorns have turned Christianity into a form of Hinduism or turns God into a friend with benefits. They only come to God when they need something.

Planting our kids in good soil is our goal: they hear the Word, accept it and bear fruit-they live it out. Christianity is not an extracurricular activity but a lifestyle.

AND..... This takes effort.

Be intentional in praying over our families. Be intentional in establishing Bible reading in your family (don’t just leave it up to your pastor, children’s pastor or youth pastor)

One resource we use to help us plant our seeds (our kids) in good soil is Leaders in Training. It’s a resource that helps establish a love for the Word of God and establishes a desire for the Mission of God. Check out leadersintraining.com.

Also check out Family ID with Greg Gunn to help you pursue purpose for your family.

As you consider this, know that we as a family haven’t arrived or figured it out. We have the same struggles as you do.

There are times we struggle.

There are weeks we miss international family time.

There are times when I Simply don’t want to lead my family spiritually-there is a great battle between my flesh and His Spirit.

There are times I feel that I am not adequate.

There are times I feel like I suck at being a spiritual leader.

There are times when I just want to leave it up to the church to do my responsibility.

There will be dozens of other ways the enemy will attack you, but know your home is your first mission field. God has given you arrows to shape (Psalm 127).

The God of the universe has entrusted us (how scary) to intentionally love, lead and disciple our family!

Let’s Go!
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Take the Read the Bible DAILY Challenge

1/1/2021

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"How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!"
Psalm 119:103


The Word...the very words of God.

To think that the Creator of the universe left us with His Word.  Why would I not want that?  Why would I not want to read word for word?

I remember when Sarah and I were dating.  I was living Edmond and she was living in Mounds, OK.  This was before cell phones and texting and internet.  Each week, we would write letters to one another and mail them off.  I remember when I would receive one of her letters, I would smell the letter to see if there was a hint of of her perfume (that's what we did back then).  I would read the letter and then I would re-read the letter, and then I would re-read the letter.  Later that day or the next, I would re-read it.  It was fuel for my day knowing that there was someone that adored me just as much as I adored her.  I would wait anxiously each week for her letter to arrive.

Man, what if I responded to God's Word in a similar fashion.  As a reminder, He is the groom and I am His bride.  He has given me a letter not just weekly but minute by minute and day by day.  It speaks of His love for me.  It speaks encouragement to me.  It reprimands when necessary.  My Groom has written a letter to Me.  Your Groom has written a letter to You.

May we read, re-read, and re-read the very words of our Groom to us in 2021.  I guarantee that your life will be changed.  You will be reminded that there is a Groom that awaits at the altar preparing for eternity.  Until then, He has left us with His very breath to show us to be the "lamp to my feet and the light to my path."  

What do I recommend?

1.  Read the Bible daily.  Some are ready for trying to read the Bible in a year plan.  Others are not.  Start where you are.  Don't compare yourself.  You are not more spiritual if you read through the whole Bible in a year vs reading daily Scripture.  The Lord will speak regardless and it will not return void.

2.  What plan should I use?
  • There are so many plans out there, but a good start is YouVersion.  Check out "the Bible Project" as a starter.  Each book includes videos specifically designed to enhance your understanding.  They have partial Bible plans and biblical study plans as well.
  • Consider just reading through the New Testament.
  • Take your time and find what will work for you
  • I am going to go through Live Dead Joy by Dick Brogden again this year.  It gives a devotional, three passages of Scripture and an unreached people group to pray for.  For those not ready to read the whole Bible through in a year, choose one of the three passages of Scripture.  I do have some copies on hand and have more ordered for $15 or you can go to livedead.org to order.  You can also get on Amazon through Kindle for $4.99
  • Missionary God, Missionary Bible by Dick Brogden.  Another one I will tackle.  This is a one year, missions-centered, chronological reading of the Bible.  This is in bite size chunks in reading the Bible.  You can get on Amazon through Kindle for $4.99.
  • The Journible.  Go through one book for the whole year and hand write your own copy of the Scriptures.  In Deuteronomy 17, Moses is leaving final instructions concerning the future of Israel. As a prophet of God, Moses foretells of when Israel will place a king over the nation (v. 14). In verse 18, the king is commanded to not simply acquire a copy of the law (the entire book of Deuteronomy) from the “scroll publishing house,” but to hand write his own copy of the law. Thirty-four hundred years later, educators are “discovering” that students that physically write out their notes by hand have a much greater retention rate than simply hearing or visually reading the information. Apparently, God knew this to be true of the kings of Israel also. From such understanding came the conception of this series of books.
3.  Other advice
  • Go through your plan with other people.  If you are a part of Church Inside Out, get with your House Church and determine a plan and walk together in that plan.
  • Don't get discouraged if you miss a day.
  • Journal.  Write out what God says to you.  You will be amazed during the course of the year your growth.  Simply write out what you are learning and write down as the Holy Spirit reveals.  Write out your prayer requests daily as well.  
  • Set aside the same time each day.  Establish a routine.  They say it takes 21 days to establish a habit.  If this is your first time in establishing a habit of reading the Bible,  your flesh will find every reason not to, but stick with it and make yourself read.
  • You aren't going to always feel like reading your Bible, but again remember that these are the very words of your Groom.
  • It won't be every day during that particular moment that you will "get something" from the Word.  But in time, the Word will not return void and the Word planted in your heart will grow.  
  • You are meeting with a person, the Holy Spirit!  This is not a check the box duty.  You are dining with the King of Kings as you allow the Word to speak to your heart.
  • Apart from reading and listening to the Word, you cannot grow as a believer.  Dig in and you will notice the fruits of the Spirit spring from your life.
I guarantee You will notice a difference in a year and I believe others will notice a difference, but the main thing is you get to hear from Jesus, our groom, who is preparing a place for us as believers for all eternity.  This love letter has been gifted to us while on this earth.  Very soon, we won't read the Word, we will SEE the Word and until then His presence is with us!

Our Groom is Coming Soon!

Let's Go!
Mike

*Below is my theme song for 2021

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My Life as a Bookaholic in 2020

12/29/2020

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I love to read.  

This I would say is my hobby.  My wife gets frustrated at the number of books I have collected over the years.  There is just something about having a book and a highlighter and allowing my imagination to roam or to allow the Lord to speak to me through others.

These are a few of the books I have read that have been an incredible benefit to me personally.  Take a look and consider taking the Book Challenge in 2021.

1.  The Gospel Comes With a House Key by Rosaria Butterfield
This book made me rethink hospitality.  It goes well beyond a "fellowship"--it goes deeper and requires sacrifice.  This book has helped form my thinking on how I can be better at hospitality in order to reach those different from me.

Butterfield invites us into her home to show us how God can use “radical, ordinary hospitality” to bring the gospel to our lost friends and neighbors. Such hospitality sees our homes as not our own, but as God’s tools for the furtherance of his kingdom as we welcome those who look, think, believe, and act differently from us into our everyday, sometimes messy lives―helping them see what true Christian faith really looks like.

2.  Live Dead Joy by Dick Brogden
This devotional will always be on  my yearly reading list as it is the most challenging devotional I have come across.  It encourages me to read the Bible through in a year, steps on my toes spiritually and challenges me to abide in Christ.

Every Christian is called to live the crucified life (Galatians 2:20). In that sense we are all dying daily―dying is how Christians live. We die to ourselves, our wills, our comforts, and our reputations for the glory of Jesus. The wonder of applying this biblical principle to everyday life is that it brings life and joy in the process. This daily devotional celebrates a lifestyle based on the example of Jesus, who showed us how to live dead―not with dread but with great gladness.

3.  The Amplified Study Bible
I use the ASB in my time with Jesus.  I like to preach out of the CSB

4.  The Lost Art of Disciplemaking by LeRoy Eims
This book has challenged me in the realization of how simple it is to disciple someone and how much I need to learn and simply be faithful in this area of my life.  I hope to take these principles and begin using them in 2021.

Eims revives the lost art of disciple making. He explains: - How the early church discipled new Christians - How to meet the basic needs of a growing Christian - How to spot and train potential workers - How to develop mature, godly leaders "True growth takes time and tears and love and patience," Eims states. There is no instant maturity. This book examines the growth process in the life of a Christian and considers what nurture and guidance it takes to develop disciples.

5.  The Emotionally Healthy Leader by Peter Scazzero
By far, the most challenging book for me in 2020.  During this season of COVID, it took an emotional toll on my leadership and my identity as a believer.  It helped get me back to center.   Again, this one book that I will carry over into 2021 that will help me stay center.

The Emotionally Healthy Leader shows leaders how to develop a deep, inner life with Christ, examining its profound implications for surviving stress, planning and decision making, building teams, creating healthy culture, and encouraging others.

6.  Gaining by Losing by JD Greear
Great insights by a pastor who sends his people to the mission field.  I love JD's heart for the nations and how he equips his church. 

When Jesus gave his disciples the Great Commission, he revealed that the key for reaching the world with the gospel is found in sending, not gathering. Though many churches focus time and energy on attracting people and counting numbers, the real mission of the church isn’t how many people you can gather. It’s about training up disciples and then sending them out. The true measure of success for a church should be its sending capacity, not its seating capacity.
But there is a cost to this. To see ministry multiply, we must release the seeds God has placed in our hands. And to do that, we must ask ourselves whether we are concerned more with building our kingdom or God’s.
​

7.  The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert by Rosaria Butterfield
The story of a professor who describes her story as "a train wreck at the hand of the supernatural."  She lived a lesbian lifestyle and because of the the love and hospitality of a pastor, encountered Christ.  This is incredible insight on how to simply love those who may be different than us.

8.  You Can Change by Tim Chester
"The secret to living the Gospel life is being convinced that Jesus is the good life and fountain of joy." When I first read the title of the book my first thought was a "self-help" book, but as I read it, it clearly pegged me.  It is the one book in 2020 that I highlighted the most.

It's about heart change, not behavior change. That's the conviction of Tim Chester as he seeks to help everyday Christians "connect the truth about God with our Monday-morning struggles." This book is for newer Christians struggling with sin and for more mature Christians who have plateaued in their faith as they seek to find victory over sin in their lives.
With a conviction that sanctification is God's work and the journey to holiness is joyful, Chester guides readers through a "change project"-beginning with the selection of one area of life they would like to modify. Each chapter includes a question (e.g., Why would you like to change? What truths do you need to turn to?) to guide you as you deal with a specific sin or struggle, truths from God's word, and a reflection guide to help you through the change project.


9.  The Wingfeather Saga by Andrew Peterson
I like to read fiction as it takes my mind off of my responsibility.  I get buried into a world far, far away.  Andrew is not only an author but is also a songwriter.   The wing feather saga is a great series.  I am now on book three out of four.

10.  In His Steps by Charles Sheldon
What if?  What if there was a group of people who allowed the Word of God and the simple question of, "What Would Jesus Do?" dictate the moves we make.  It's a fictional story of a group of people who did this, but could it become reality?

11.   Gospel Fluency by Jeff Vanderstelt
This year, I have realized how unbiblical my life is.  I do my quiet times, I spend time with Jesus, but the Word isn't in every conversation or thought.  Becoming fluent in the gospel happens after believing it, and in believing it, we have to intentionally rehearse it (to ourselves and to others) and immerse ourselves in its truths. Only then will we start to see how everything in our lives, from the mundane to the magnificent, is transformed by the hope of the gospel.

12.  Missional Made Simple Todd and Hannah Mohr  missionalmadesimple.com
It's not a book, it's a website.  Todd has been a mentor over the past year walking me through house church direction.  He has been a great help in being a lending help and hands to  Church Inside Out

13.  You See Bones, I See an Army: Changing the Way We Do Church
So challenging and encouraging to know that I am not the only one who thinks this way.  As I read this book, it resonated so much in my heart.  It seems that what God has called me to do is an uphill battle going against a culture that has created an in the box way of doing things. 

McClung envisions a valley of dry bones ready for use-ready to become an army-but only after they are prophesied over.  The dry bones are the poor, the rebellious, the marginalized of society, the young and the uneducated.  They carry wounds, have been abused, suffer, are widows and single parents.  They are waiting for someone to believe in them, uphold them in community and send them out in service to God.  He presents five principles of leadership, church and mission to help make radical disciples of Jesus

14.  The UNLeader by Lance Ford
How is it we have incorporated a CEO mindset into the church.  The one thing that Jesus said to do in serving is what most of us don't want to do.  We want the spotlight, the accolades, etc.  Jesus himself is not our first choice when it comes to who we model ourselves after as leaders.  It seems we follow John Maxwell more than Jesus when it comes to leading our churches.

​Many times the life of Jesus directly contradicts much of what is being imported into the church under the mantra of effective leadership.  This book is not about eliminating leadership, but it's a call to redefine and recalibrate to Jesus' life.

15.  Five Presidents: My Extraordinary Journey with Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon and Ford by Clint Hill.
I love history.  This book was fascinating to see through the eyes of someone there almost every step of the way in history.

His career spanned the administrations of Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard M. Nixon, and Gerald R. Ford. A witness to some of the most pivotal moments in the twentieth century, Hill lets you walk in his shoes alongside the most powerful men in the world during tumultuous times in America’s history—the Cold War; the Cuban Missile Crisis; the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Robert F. Kennedy; the Vietnam War; Watergate; and the resignations of Vice President Spiro Agnew and President Nixon.


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How To Live In Babylon

12/29/2020

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Our country is looking more and more like Babylon. It is becoming even more clear that this world is not our home.

I am not a fearmonger nor a conspiracy theorist, so as I share this know that these words are meant to prepare for a spiritual battle, not hide from it. It is meant to offer an alternative to the hyper frenzy that is ravaging believers at this time by what they see.

I believe in the sovereignty of God. What comes will come and I have to stand on the secure foundation of my faith in Christ and under the shadow of His wings.

So, how do we live in a post-Christian world-our new Babylon?

1. Abide (John 15)
Before we DO something, BE something. There is power in the Words of God. The words of God will have to be our go-to in this exiled land. It must become our lamp, our guide and our wisdom. We must rest in Him and spend time with Jesus if we are going to thrive in Babylon.

2. Trust (Prov. 3:5,6; Isaiah 9:6)
May we remind ourselves that “the government rests on His shoulders”. The government rested on God’s shoulders during the times of Nebuchadnezzar, Herod, Nero, Carter, Reagan, Bush, Clinton, Bush, Obama, Trump and now, Biden.
Trusting goes back to His Word and being reminded of His promises and His principles. You must spend time with Him.

3. Prepare your mind. (Romans 12:1,2; 1 Cor. 10:5)
First, I must lay mind mid and my heart on the altar-not just my physical body.
We must set ourselves apart and fast from the world so we can be prepared with our minds.
Note: renewing of the mind comes through the Word!

4. Live out Jeremiah 29.
We need to be prepared for the long haul. In Jeremiah, he prescribed how to live in Babylon:
-build houses and live in them, work amd have kids....(we are not meant to bunker down and hide-we are to engage with the Gospel)
-seek peace and well-being for the city He has sent us and pray to the Lord on its behalf; for in its peace you will have peace
-don’t let false prophets deter you
-CALL ON THE LORD

5. Live out Acts 2
Gospel. Community. Mission.

-Live on purpose with the people God has called you to. Don’t just go to church, be a family of people. Be family of missionary servants SENT to a particular place to make disciples who make disciples in everyday life.

-Take the Gospel to your work, your home, your mission field.

The time has come where we are going to have to move beyond the brick and mortar as believers. The Good News is He has given us help. This is not something we have to try to muster up ourselves-we have an incredible Helper....
​
“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever. He is the Spirit of truth. The world is unable to receive him because it doesn’t see him or know him. But you do know him, because he remains with you and will be in you.”
‭‭John‬ ‭14:16-17‬
Let’s Go!!!
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In Order to Hit a Homerun, You are Going to Have to Swing

11/13/2020

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​In order to hit a homerun you’re gonna have to swing.

In order to see people surrender their lives to Christ you are going to have to GO and BE.

Every swing in baseball isn’t successful, but you don’t hit a ball unless you swing.

Sometimes these swings result in a base hit, sometimes these swings are meant to help advance the runner on base closer to a scored run. Sometimes these swings result in striking out.
But people never hit a home run unless they swing.

The same with seeing God at work and seeing people surrender to Him.  Many don’t “taste and see that the Lord is good” and truly experience this because they never get in the batters box.
They never move beyond the dugout.

They watch surrender happen. They cheer on Sunday mornings for their team, they have their Sunday uniform on, they do the things to make it seem they are in the game, but they never hit and truly taste and see that the Lord is good because they never swing-they never go and tell.

Many have never moved beyond the walls of the church to reach the lost out of fear of striking out—not knowing what to say, fear, nervousness, fear out of what people will think, etc.

In order to hit a home run (see people come to know Christ), there will be times that you will strike out, but guess what? There will be another pitch-another opportunity.

And take note, it’s a season of games, so there are many opportunities and times to be the hands and feet of Jesus.

There are great ministries that are lobbing softballs giving you an opportunity to hit the ball (BE the hands and feet of Jesus), but many stay in the dugout.
​
They chill out in the dugout watching others in the game but never have experienced seeing someone else taste and see that the Lord is good. Therefore, they faith becomes stagnant. Or worse, they sit in the stands telling the players how to play! (Translation: or worse yet, they week after week sit in the chairs on Sunday mornings telling the pastor how they should lead)

Is it time for you to get out of the dugout?

I would love to share with ways you can get involved in ministry. I would love for you to partner with us at Mobile Missions Network or Church Inside Out, but that may not be your cup of tea. There is ministry to those who have been abused, street worship, homeless ministry, food ministry-we will help you hit a home run!

Check out The Spring ministering to the abused and sex trafficked, CARA in North Tulsa ministering in North Tulsa, Angus Church ministering through Angus Cares, HOPE Missions ministering in the Forgotten Zip Code, Shouler2Shoulder ministering through street worship, Northstar Bridge feeding thousands of people, Get Out of the Bus ministering to the forgotten on the streets of Tulsa, Church that Matters-ministering throughout Sand Springs. Starfish Enterprises where homeless become family, the Well, Tulsa carrying the cross and bringing hope—all ministries that are lobbing softballs to help you hit a home run-and they are all local!!!!

YOUR CHURCH-I am surprised at how many still simply watch what God is doing in their own church and don’t experience God!

Get in the game!

“For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!””
‭‭Romans‬ ‭10:13-15‬ ‭NLT‬‬
​
For me, I am going to keep swinging. If you want to join me, call me 918-557-1558.
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November 13th, 2020

11/13/2020

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What a night! Over and over we heard, “we are just lonely”.

Every Thursday night we serve people in our communities.  It's a great time to eat, talk and pray for people.

Our community dinners serve as a connection to one another. It’s not just a hot dog or a plate of spaghetti.
It’s speaking life into many who don’t have anyone...those who have been forgotten.

These two wonderful ladies pulled Elijah and Anna aside and specifically said to Cindy and I, “We want them to pray over us!” God moved last night in the simplest of ways.

Home runs aren’t always salvations. Home runs are simply being the hands, hugs and feet of Jesus! #mobilemissionsnetwork #churchinsideout
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What Will Your Response Be?

11/13/2020

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We are living in a significant time in the church.
​
One of two responses we will have to the world we live in moving forward:
1. Whoa-what you see with your human eyes will prompt you to live in fear and retreat into our homes and churches.
2. Go-you see with spiritual eyes. You see the world we live in as spiritual warfare and have a desire to reach the lost and broken. Regardless of the cost, will help others cross the threshold from death to life.

What will your response be?

“And pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words so I can boldly explain God’s mysterious plan that the Good News is for Jews and Gentiles alike. I am in chains now, still preaching this message as God’s ambassador. So pray that I will keep on speaking boldly for him, as I should.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭6:19-20‬ ‭NLT‬‬
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Walking with the Lost So They Can Taste and See

11/13/2020

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​Here is the reality we need to face....we have been good at getting decisions for Christ, but not so great at making disciples.

Should we reconsider the church growth strategy that has left us an inch deep? Ask any church what is most important and we would say discipleship, but the fruit in a lot of instances have left a lot of spiritual babies on the changing table left to fend for themselves.

The process of discipleship started before I surrendered to Christ.

I was saved when I was 16, but it wasn’t an immediate decision. It was a journey of hearing the Word, observing other believers, asking questions, being out in opportunities to fast and see that the Lord was good.

I went in mission trips. I was in the church choir. I went to camp. I did the things associated with being a believer, but it wasn’t these throngs that made me a believer. They were things God used to help me surrender.

I say all of this to say....discipleship a lot of times happens before salvation.
This is why we must walk with people that are lost and let them see, experience, and walk alongside.
It’s in these moments that a person is able to work out what they believe.
It’s in these moments natural conversations can happen beyond a canned approach.

“Reimagining evangelism through the lens of discipleship requires that we let go of seeing salvation as something we can deliver on demand, or when a person says a certain formulaic prayer.
Rather, we need to reconceive discipleship as a process that includes pre[conversion discipleship and post[conversion discipleship.” Alan Hirsch

Here is the reality, we have been good at getting decisions for Christ, but not so great at making disciples.”
Let’s consider that the discipleship process starts well before salvation. I believe this happened with the disciples. They immediately followed Jesus but it wasn’t until later that Peter proclaimed, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God” in Matthew 16:16 that I believe salvation happened, but it was “as they went” and participated in the matters of the kingdom and saw Jesus heal and preach, that he believed.

This doesn’t mean we can’t do “cold turkey evangelism”, but we need to ask, “Who is going to teach them to walk as spiritual babes in Christ?”
This of course requires getting into people’s mess. We are going to have to get our feet and hands dirty so that others may come to know Christ.
We have made it so pretty...just say this prayer, but getting in the trenches is discipling through the mountains, the valleys, the questions and the heartache.

I always say that our Ministry at Mobile Missions Network and Church Inside Out is a crockpot ministry not a microwave ministry.

People have to be marinated in the things of God sometimes before they can taste and see that God is real.

It takes time, but most Believers don’t want to take the time to come alongside new babes in Christ. It’s not flashy. It’s not cool. It’s not on a stage.
​
This discipleship comes through us-His ambassadors. We go to their turf and walk alongside them so they can smell and see the aroma of Christ in us.
(Also, check out Alan Hirsch’s ebook called Disciplism)
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Can God Trust Us?

10/31/2020

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​Can God Trust Us?

"My fellow believers, do not practice your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of partiality (toward people--show no favoritism, no prejudice, no snobbery." James 2:1

In this passage, James continues on and compares the rich man and poor man and ends in v. 13 with, "For judgement will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; but to the one who has shown mercy, mercy triumphs over judgment."

As I have been reading through the book of James in my time with Jesus, I have also been reading through the book, The Gospel Comes with a HouseKey and a simple question was asked of me:

"Can I trust you?"

In describing radically ordinary hospitality, the author says this kind of hospitality "characterizes those who don't fuss over different worldviews represented at the dinner table. The truly hospitable aren't embarrassed to keep friendships with people who are different. They know that there is a difference between acceptance and approval, and they courageously accept and respect people who think differently from them. They don't worry that others will interpret their friendship.

JESUS DINED WITH SINNERS, BUT HE DIDN'T SIN WITH SINNERS.  JESUS LIVED IN THE WORLD, BUT HE DIDN'T LIVE LIKE THE WORLD. 

Jesus dined with sinners not because sin is no big deal. Jesus dined with sinners so that He could get close enough to touch us so that He could participate as a healer and helper and more than anything for their salvation.

This is the Jesus paradox.  And it defines those who are willing to suffer with others for the sake of gospel sharing and gospel living, those who care more for integrity than appearances."


It got me to thinking. Can God trust me with those He sends to me? Can God trust Church Inside Out with those He sends us?

Living in a post-Christian society even here in Oklahoma, God is going to send people that don't look like us, sound like us or believe like us.

Am I/Are we willing to walk with people before they are saved and after they are saved? Discipleship nowadays happens even before salvation. Am I/Are we willing to take a person's present condition and love them towards Jesus?

Am I/Are we willing to walk with people AFTER they get saved? 

Church Inside Out is the gathering place for those we reach in our communities on the streets. They come with baggage and worldviews different from us.

Why is this so important?
Because God wants to use Church Inside Out to reach the broken, and through house church, He is affording us the opportunity to be on the front lines of the battle.

Can God trust me? Can God trust us? Will God be able to trust us to minister to the homosexual couple? Will God be able to trust us to minister to the addicted person? Will God be able to trust us to love the person who has been broken by abuse and neglect? Will God be able to trust us with the person hurt by church? Will God be able to trust us with the person who thinks they have it all together?

House Church is, I believe, one way God is orchestrating for broken people to come back to God. God is going to use the radical, ordinary hospitality of those who are passionate about Jesus. Our homes become hospitals and incubators for the Gospel to grow.

Radical ordinary hospitality is a threshold. It meets people where they are and asks us to die so that others can live.

Am I ready for the calling God has to reach broken people with the Gospel? Are you ready? Many are not entering a brick and mortar church because they are seen as lepers. May they enter our homes and house churches because they are seen as one who God created.

Broken to Be a Blessing,
Mike

Would you pray for our House Church Shepherds and Hosts? COVID has stirred again and we are taking it week by week in determining next steps. Above all, pray for encouragement for them as they help shepherd our body!
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Empowering vs Enabling

4/1/2020

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 Six months after I got saved, my pastor, Steve Singleterry, said I was going to preach on Sunday morning.  You can imagine the shock.  Number one, I was not a public speaker.  Two, I had only been a believer for 6 months.  Third, I barely had basic Bible knowledge.  

But....

He threw me in the deep end and I had to learn to do it.  There I found myself on FFA (Future Farmers of America) Sunday preaching my first sermon on whole-hearted commitment vs half-hearted commitment and I preached out of the book of Job.  Two weeks earlier, I didn't even know who Job was, but there I stood in front of approximately 400 other Boys Ranchers preaching a sermon that lasted a whopping 10 minutes.

Looking back it was a defining moment for me for a few reasons:

1.  Someone believed in me.
2.  Someone believed that the Holy Spirit resided in me as of six months ago and empowered me to preach.
3.  It set the trajectory for my whole life.  When I tasted for myself the bread of life as I taught it, I wanted more.  As I read for this sermon, the Holy Spirit taught me as I prepared.
4.  I didn't know anything different.  I didn't know how to to do church and honestly, I still don't know how to "do" church.  My pastor mentored me and empowered me to BE the church.  He mentored and empowered me to get in the game immediately.
5.  I had to learn things on my own.  In order to learn how to preach, I had to study.  I had to want to study and learn how to bring a message to 400 people.  As I learned, I wanted to learn more and the more I learned, the more I grew in my relationship with Christ!
6.  Discipleship was walking alongside my pastor.  As we went, he taught me and showed me the details of ministry, but we talked about Jesus.  He didn't just sit me down in a classroom setting and pour out knowledge.  As we went, he discipled me.
6.  Jesus' mission became my mission.  By seeking the Lord and learning and doing, my eyes were opened to the KINGDOM of God, not just church.  The church was simply the vehicle to expand the kingdom, but it wasn't the goal.  The goal was disciples.  When I got a taste of making disciples, it opened up my eyes to Matthew 28:19, 20 and it sent me on a path to make Jesus famous.

I take these same lessons in regards to our church:

1.  I believe in our people.  All of our people are talented and incredibly bright.  There are things that I see them do in their jobs, schools, homes, hobbies, etc.   They have a great capacity and giftings that even i do.  Some of the things they do outside of church, I am amazed at their creativity, their care, their concern, their passion, their authenticity, and their character. 

Take the same creativity, hard work, giftings in bringing the Word into the home.  I love what Voddie Baucham says when it comes to Family Worship, "Just be one step ahead."  You don't have to be a theologian....you just have to ask the Lord and seek out the many resources available to help. (Which by the way we have done).  The best way in being one step ahead is spending time yourself with Jesus.

2.  Our church has the Holy Spirit living inside EACH one of them if they are believers.  If they don't, then as they prepare, I believe the Holy Spirit is powerful enough to convince them otherwise.

Do we still not believe in the priesthood of the believer?

"People should think of us in this way: as servants of Christ and managers of the mysteries of God." 1 Corinthians 4:1
"You yourselves, as living stones, a spiritual house, ARE BEING BUILT TO BE A HOLY PRIESTHOOD TO OFFER SPIRITUAL SACRIFICES ACCEPTABLE TO GOD THROUGH JESUS CHRIST." 1 Peter 2:5


These spiritual sacrifices are through life (Romans 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:5; Titus 2:11-14; Ephesians 2:10) and by word (1 Peter 2:9; 1 Peter 3:15). If we want them to serve as priests in their domain, then we must give them the opportunity to practice in the church.

3.  Empowering creates disciples who make disciples. Enabling  creates church attenders.
The greatest takeaway was how much I learned about myself, about what it really means to preach and most of all, what I learned about God.  As I searched the Scriptures, the Holy Spirit became my teacher.  I moved from being a spectator/a church attender to being a disciple who made disciples.

​Making disciples started when I was in high school.

The greatest thing I can do for our people is teach them to read and study the Bible themselves.  The question I get then is, "What if people don't like that mindset?  They won't come back if you make them do stuff like reading for themselves."  My answer, "Does the Holy Spirit live inside of them?"    In Romans, 8:16, it says, "The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children."  We do this by crying out , "Abba, Father!" (Romans 8:15).  One of the ways we cry out to our Father is with at least an inkling of a desire to read the Word of God.  

4.  We don't know anything different.  When we started Church Inside Out, we started Family Worship Sundays where we take a Sunday about every other month and we don't have church.....at least we don't have church at our regular place of gathering.  We encourage families to have church at home--moms, dads, husbands, wives, kids, students....take ownership of bringing the Word into the home.  Practice worshiping, praying, studying the Word and spiritually shepherding the family.

5.  Our church needs to seek the Lord.  I can't do that for people.  Jeremiah 29:13 says, "You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all of your heart.  I will be found by you."  WOW!  The reason we still have spiritual babies on the changing table is because they have never learned to seek the Lord.  We enable people to continue to be disobedient and on the spiritual changing table when we don't let them figure it out.  Disclaimer: We need to give direction and point them in the right direction, but we can't do their homework for them or they will never learn to do it themselves.  They won't grow in wisdom and stature.

Please know, I do walk alongside people and help people figure it out, but I don't give them all the answers.  Seeking requires effort.  If I do all of the work, what do they learn?

6.  Walk alongside me not behind me.  I told this to my kids all of the time as they were growing up.  We would be in the grocery store and they would be lagging behind me and I would say, "Walk beside me, not behind me."  Yes, I wanted them to keep up but more importantly I wanted them to see what I saw.  

The same with discipleship.  If someone wants me to disciple them, walk beside me, not behind me.  I don't want to pull anyone along.  Walking alongside, they see what I see.  Walking alongside, we get to have spiritual conversations.  Walking behind me, they always see my backside which is not a pretty picture.  Plus, there will be things that they see when walking alongside that I don't see.  It's a mutual learning process and accountability.

As we walk alongside one another, spiritual conversations, discipleship and ministry will happen.  If we just remain in a classroom setting, the other side of discipleship which is ministry will not happen.

7.  I don't want them to accomplish Mike's mission.  I want them to accomplish Jesus' final words to us in making disciples.  Now, some need some encouragement and pat to get them going in that direction, but I want them to accomplish God's vision for THEIR lives while here on earth.  I want them to be able to chart their own in course in following Jesus and make disciples in their realm of influence.

I want them to see that THEY are the church.  I want to see the light bulb come on as they seek the Lord.  In the past two years I have seen the light bulb come on.  One man in particular is Chad.  Chad for the most part has been going to church for years.  He moved from out of state.  He got involved in our DNA groups. There was a catalyst of some sort--and that sort was the Holy Spirit :), that woke Chad up from a spiritual stupor.  He started reading the Word and leading his family and the lightbulb moments have been so many and as a pastor it thrills my soul when he speaks because Jesus' mission became Chad's mission.  As long as Chad seeks Christ, the Holy Spirit will teach Chad.  But the cool thing is the trickle down effect.  As Chad has grown, his family is growing.

I could also say the same thing of Jerod, Tim, and many others.

What about you?  Have you learned to feed on the Word of God yourself or are you waiting for someone to spoon feed you?  There's so much more that you will experience and taste as you seek Him more.

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    About

    Mike serves as Lead Missionary of Church Inside Out and Executive Director of Mobile Missions Network whose aim is to take the church to people.

    Mike and Sarah have been married for 25 years and have 6 kids and one son-in-law: Hannah and Kendall, Noah, Grace, Elijah, Judah and Mercy.

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