Fervent Prayer Week: Church Leadership

Hebrew 13:17-18

¹⁷Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.¹⁸ Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things

         This passage, along with many others, shows the great tension found in church leadership. Elders in the church are to be people of character, maturity, compassion and courage having a responsibility before God for the spiritual condition of the church. But ultimately church leaders are like any other member of the church. They are people striving to serve as the body of Christ for the body of Christ. Far from being supermen they are simply stewards who have a responsibility to care for the church. A true leader is to be a disciple of Christ and is to follow his example to serve and sacrifice for others.

         As such it is vitally important that we, as a church, consistently spend time in prayer for our elders and church leaders. Regardless of the area of ministry each leader is integral to the function and heart of the church. We ought to pray that God would protect the hearts and minds of our leaders; keeping them from the sin, pride, self-reliance and religiosity that can so easily distract. We ought to pray that God continues to raise leaders from within the body of Christ: men and women devoted to the Word and to the church. In all these things we should pray that our leaders fulfill their responsibilities with joy and grace as a reflection of God’s love and mercy on us. Finally, we must all consider where God would have us serve His mission. No one is exempted from the call to serve, and true leadership is service. 

Celebrating Five Years!

This past week, we celebrated five years since having launched Mercy Hill Church in Milwaukee. Five years! At Mercy Hill, there's something we say often, "We're not here to build a church, we're here to BE THE CHURCH."

Pastor Tommy preachead on the concept of "being the church" and what that means for us at Mercy Hill.

Jesus Is My Homeboy

I don't remember how long ago I first saw this t-shirt, but I do remember that when I saw it, it hit me... how engrained Jesus is in our culture. And I started thinking about it some more, just because Jesus is engrained in a culture, doesn't mean that's it's a good thing.

As I prepared to write this blog, I quickly searched for a "Jesus is my homeboy" graphic and found an actual "official site" explaining the back story which I didn't know! You can read more here (not sure how true it all is), but it apparently started out by a man who was simply trying to spread Jesus' gospel to gangs in Los Angeles. Years later, a celebrity is photographed wearing the t-shirt and the rest is history.

This is a good example of how something with good intentions can easily lose its meaning when it becomes a fashion statement or "culturally acceptable" within a subculture without really discussing the true meaning or bringing attention to the gospel of Jesus. That somehow, by wearing a t-shirt or bracelet, we're living out the gospel.

And this is what fascinates me about cultures and subcultures we create, both Christians and non. How one person can wear this t-shirt and know, carry, struggle and deal with the gospel of Jesus and in another subculture, it's the "cool" thing to wear. I love a few things Leslie Newbigin calls out about culture overall, particularly the following:

"And one must also include in culture, and as fundamental to any culture, a set of beliefs, experiences, and practices that seek to grasp and express the ultimate nature of things, that which gives shape and meaning to life, that which claims final loyalty. I am speaking, obviously, about religion. Religion—including the Christian religion--is thus part of culture."

At Mercy Hill, when we say we're reaching out with a "culturally relevant message" of the gospel of Jesus Christ, it's not because we're attempting to be hip or cute. It's because the church is a place where the gospel and our culture collide. In Genesis we see that God created us to create and cultivate culture, however our sin has distorted this creation process and we're brought to passages like Romans that clearly reflect this.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. - ROMANS 4:8

In the coming months, I'm excited to share more about culture overall, specifically the collision with the gospel in the church and outside of the church. We'll explore more on passages like the above in Romans, including passages like the following in 1st Corinthians:

“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything. 1 CORINTHIANS 6:12

We'll explore how this applies to different parts of our culture, from Christian music to Hollywood movies. All through the lens of our one and only pure filter, Jesus, our homeboy.

Chosen for His own... but why?

As the primary worship leader at Mercy Hill, many of you have heard me share the idea that our worship is more than a song on a Sunday morning.  In all honestly, I realize I probably sound like a broken record.  But the brief moment I take to share my heart between two worship songs is hardly enough time to give this idea the weight it deserves.  

See, as a follower of Christ- as someone who has been chosen by HIM to follow HIM- my life now takes on new LIFE. My life is now filled with a new aim, a new goal, a new purpose.  I no longer live life toward my sinful desires or even, simply, my own ambitions.  Rather, I live my life to accomplish my purpose in God.  

And what is my purpose in God?  WORSHIP.  TO PROCLAIM HIM. 

The last few weeks, we in the youth ministry here at Mercy Hill, affectionately known as UPRISE, have been studying through the book of 1 Peter.  This week we came to 1 Peter 2, and although I've read it many times, this week the simplicity of my 'calling' or 'purpose' in God was renewed.  

^"9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light."

As Peter writes these words to the persecuted and scattered Church, he’s encouraging them to take heart in who they are: God’s chosen.  And they’ve been chosen to proclaim who God is and what He has done: to worship.  Worship not just with words or a song on a Sunday, but in Spirit and Truth- with heart and deeds.

So, no matter what circumstance you find yourself in today, take heart.  If you have been awakened to the beauty and truth of the Gospel, trust that it was God’s doing and choosing.  And He chose you to proclaim His excellencies: to live in WORSHIP.  

FERVENT: HEALTH & HEALING

There are a lot today in our culture who talk about wellness.  There are wellness coaches, wellness programs, and a myriad of opinions on how we can be well. I think most people recognize the great need for healing.  We are people who are inherently NOT well.  We are broken and warped, twisted by our sinful natures.  Of those of us who are members of the family of faith, however, there is a way that we can be well despite our sinful condition.  The scripture above states that the Lord “heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”  This is the same language that is used in Isaiah 61:1-2 “The Spirit of the sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.  He sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance or our God, to comfort all who mourn…”  This is also the scripture that Jesus read in the synagogue at the beginning of his public ministry and said, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing,” (Luke 4:21).  For those who have put their faith in Christ Jesus for the forgiveness of their sins, the process of healing has begun.  The first words that Jesus spoke to his disciples after his resurrection were “Peace be with you.”  Jesus reassures the disciples that they have his “peace.”  The Greek word used here transliterated is “eirene” is equivalent to the Hebrew word “shalom” used by the writers of the Old Testament.  These words are translated into English as “peace,” yet these terms connote a much deeper, more profound significance than our usual definition of peace.  The terms express a complete and entire emotional/physical/spiritual well-being among people that affects every aspect of life and every relationship.  Paul in his letter to the church at Ephesus states, “For Christ himself brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us…He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death” Ephesians 2:14-16.  True well-being and health are obtained through our relationship with Jesus Christ.  This shalom is also not an individual experience but one that provides restoration to all relationships.

Let us pray for healing and restoration in our lives and relationships that God might be praised and glorified and that His peace may penetrate every aspect of our being.

FERVENT: Mercy Hill Ministries

Building or Being? If you've been around Mercy Hill for any length of time, you've heard us talk of being the Church and not building a church. This is not simply some cute catch phrase adorning our website, but rather something that helps direct us as we plan events and start new ministries. To me, BEING the church is about glorifying God in all we do, living in unity within the congregation, meeting each other's needs and building one another up in Christ, and living-out the Gospel in our homes, workplaces, and communities. And the ministries of the church is what helps facilitate the being the Church. That's it. But often times, the ministries of the church are thought of as ways to grow or build the church, and most often, this is thought of numerically. We ask questions like, "What can we do (what ministry can we add) to attract more people; to increase giving?" That's "building" the church mentality. The funny thing is Christ said that HE would build HIS church (Matthew 16:18). It's not our job- that's His job. Our job is the being. We simply do our best to create an atmosphere where we can truly be the radiant Bride of Christ that He is building. Through things like the Sunday morning service, the City on a Hill Outreach, Greeters, Hospitality, Children's Church, and Gallery Nights- we are engaging in opportunities to glorify God, build-up one another, and reach out to a lost and hurting world. BE THE CHURCH. Please join with us today as we focus our prayers on the ministries of Mercy Hill Church. Pray that God would provide all that is needed for us to effectively be His Church: His Holy Spirit, His wisdom, compassion, humility, our participation, and finances.

FERVENT: Government

Praying for our government is really never at the top of our list, is it? Scripture urges that "...supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way." (I Timothy 2:1-2) In a time when we are bombarded with messages from the right, the left and everywhere in between, it's easy to get cynical, disparage or belittle the government because we don't agree with their points of view. However, regardless of where we stand, scripture lays out that we are ambassadors of Jesus. We aren't called to disobey our goverment and we must respect and subject ourselves to the law of the land (Titus 3:1-2). The other night, I was reading Bible stories to my 16 month old and we came accross the story of Daniel. I was reminded of what a great example we have in Daniel as that amabassador who intercedes no matter the opposition. In Phillipians 3:20, we find an important verse that reminds us that "our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.." So regardless of the political spectrum, as we pray for our goverment, we pray as ambassadors that together, our leaders may lead us in a peaceful, godly and dignified way through Christ, Jesus.

FERVENT: CHURCH LEADERSHIP

Heb 13:17-19 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things. I urge you the more earnestly to do this in order that I may be restored to you the sooner. Whenever the Bible gives an instruction it’s because the instruction is needed. The people in this church were groaning about their leaders. It says here about those men who were leading, “for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give account.” So whether or not the people appreciated them, these leaders were going to stand watch. The instruction to the people here is to bless the leaders by not grumbling and groaning. The writer asks for prayer too. Prayer for what? That he, the leader, would be restored to them again! So here we have a people who are groaning about their leader and yet the leader’s desire is to be with them. This make me think about Jesus and His desire to be with me. Look what the next verses say! Heb 13:20-21 Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. Jesus desired to be with me so He spilled His own blood as a sacrifice for everything that was and is wrong with me, my sin. My God is seeking my good which is to do His will in which I’ll be pleasing to Him. You see, these leaders were men who understood the gospel of grace that is in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Just a few verses previous the writer of Hebrews wrote about how the people should consider the lives of their church leaders. Heb 13:7-9 Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, The leaders at this church wanted the people to understand and know the grace of God towards them. The writer suggested the people watch the lives of their leaders to see their faith and way of life they had following Jesus. They taught the Word simply without complexity of weird doctrine; but instead taught about the grace that is Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ really is the same yesterday and today and forever full of grace towards us the great Shepherd of our souls…our souls…what did that first text say, “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls.” That is the heart of Jesus and so that is the heart leaders have had worked into them by Him to be His “watchman” in His church.