“Simplicity in preaching is of the utmost importance to every minister who wishes to be useful to souls. Unless you are simple in your sermons you will never be understood, and unless you are understood you cannot do good to those who hear you.”

“If you do not wish to be understood, you deserve to be neglected.” – Quintilian

“To make hard things seem hard is within the reach of all, but to make hard things seem easy and intelligible is a height attained by few speakers.” Archbishop Ussher

“If you yourself begin in a fog, you may depend upon it, you will leave your people in darkness.”

“There is no subject needful for the soul’s health which is not to be found plainly taught and set forth in Scripture.”

“If I do not see my way through a text, I cannot preach on it, because I know I cannot be simple; and if I cannot be simple, I know I had better not preach at all.”

“The most powerful and forcible words, as a rule, are very short.”

“Try to be as direct as possible… Never say ‘we’ when you mean ‘I’.”

“You must regard illustrations as windows through which light is let in upon your subject.”

“I am persuaded that, in preaching, little can be done except by trouble and by pains.”

“We must talk to our people when we are out of church, if we would understand how to preach to them in the church.”

“If Christ crucified has not his rightful place in your sermons, and sin is not exposed as it should be, and your people are not plainly told what they ought to believe, and be, and do, your preaching is of no use.”

Let us hear your cry
The one some dread to hear
Don’t be shy, start with a sigh
Then let it out, no fear

Don’t let them silence your scream
And take away your shot
Or rob you of your dream
For which you would have fought

But since you have no voice
I’ll let you borrow mine
I’ve finally made my choice
To speak up and have a spine

So, let them hear our cry
Those who can take a stand 
To plead your case before you die
And lend a helping hand

Until the night is no longer quiet 
And is pierced with your song 
Let us not stay silent 
And be rid of this great wrong

Then at last we’ll hear your voice
And you’ll have a chance to try
You’ll have a life and a choice
And finally we will hear your cry 

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.

Psalm 139:13–16

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. Rom 10:17

Discovery bible studies are one of the most effective ways for those starting their faith journey to warm up to the gospel over time.

As they hear the Word regularly, like an egg in an incubator, it’s often only a matter of time until they hatch spiritually and are born again!

You probably believe this, but if you are like me, you a lot of other stuff going on and don’t have hours to prepare a Bible study.

But, I’ve discovered three questions that can be used with any passage of scripture, and can be used for evangelistic groups, personal Bible study or even in-depth discussions.

What? So What? Now What?

What? What stands out to you from this passage? What observations or questions do you have?

 The difference between the average detective and Sherlock Holmes is his ability to observe what everyone else misses. Observation draws out the richness of the passage.

So What? How does the teaching of this passage relate to our lives?

This is the bridge between interesting ideas and transformational truth. Search for the timeless truths and transferable principles that connect with our everyday lives.

Now What? What might God be asking you to do in light of this passage?

Ending with application helps people develop the habit of being a doer of the Word, not just a hearer.

This framework can also be used as a skeleton to write your own questions that relate to specifically to your passage.

My hope is that that these questions will not only save you time, but by the power of the Spirit of God, the Word of God and the Son of God many people will be saved and grow in your Bible studies!

When I was in college, my twin brother and I were mentored by a man named Max Barnett. He was already a veteran college minister in his 70s but more passionate about learning than anyone I had ever met. 

He was constantly reading the Bible, devouring books, always had a verse he was memorizing, and even would sit on the front row taking notes when a freshmen shared their testimony!

He modeled what it looks like to be a life-long learner. When it comes to discipling others, he taught us…

“It’s not what you can teach them; it’s what you can get them to learn.” Max Barnett

His goal was to help us learn how to learn. 

The old adage applies here, “Give a man a fish, feed him for a day; teach a man to fish, feed him for a life-time.” In other words…

Teach someone and they will learn something, but teach them to learn and they will learn for a lifetime. 

In college, my twin brother Paul and I caught that yearning for learning! We would often visit the local Christian bookstore, rush to the discount section and buy a ton of cheap books, then show back up to our dorm with bags full of books. Our friends even started referring to it as “Worcestering it!”

Honestly, I’ve gone through seasons where I have been really passionate and intentional about growing and other times when my fire has subsided. But I can tell you, the times when I have been actively seeking to grow have been the most joyful seasons of my life. 

Also, I can see a correlation between how much I’m growing and how much I see God using my life. 

When COVID hit, one thing that helped me personally was enrolling in a leadership training program to become a certified speaker, trainer and coach with the John Maxwell Team. 

The program awakened a latent passion for growth in me. And as I grew in one area, I became motivated to grow in other areas, and now I’m more excited about life in general because everyday is a chance to get better!

There’s a lot of things you can’t control, but one thing you can take responsibility for is your personal growth. 

John Maxwell says, “Growth happens daily, not in a day…. You will never change your life until you change something you do daily… I believe a person’s secret of success is found in his daily agenda… Small disciplines repeated with consistency every day lead to great achievements gained slowly over time.”

In other words, to change your life, change your habits! When it comes to growth, we tend to overestimate events and underestimate the process. Ultimately you have a choice…

Will you go through life or grow through life? 

Growth almost always happens outside your comfort zone, it very rarely happens by accident, and usually costs you something. What are you willing to give up to grow up?

You might be thinking, I don’t have time, I’m a busy mom or dad, I have school, I’m too busy with work and besides isn’t focusing personal growth selfish? It can be if it’s not balanced growth. 

But if you are actually become a more effective person, it is actually one of the most loving things that you can do for the people in your life. Think about this…

When you grow, everyone around you benefits. 

If I grow as a dad, I’m kinder to my kids and will be better set them up for future success and my wife will become a better mom as we work together!

Recently, I came up with an acrostic that summarizes five helpful ways to become a life-long learner. 

L.E.A.R.N.

Listen To Wise People

The late Larry King said, “I never learned anything while I was talking.” Listening is the key to learning and curiosity is the heart of a great listener. 

But be careful who you listen to. Prioritize listening to wise people whose lives you would like to emulate. 

Take notes! Find audiobooks and sermons from men who preach the word accurately and applicably. Be like the Berean Jews.  

They received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.  Acts 17:11 

Don’t just listen to the most entertaining speakers. I once heard a description of four type of speakers.

FOUR TYPES OF SPEAKERS

• Very little to say and doesn’t say it very well
• Very little to say and says it very well
• Has a lot to say but doesn’t say it very well
• Has a lot to say and says it well.

The most dangerous people are those with very little to say but say it very well. Of course, I prefer to listen to those who have a lot to say and say it very well. But don’t neglect the wisdom to be gained from those who don’t say it very well but still have a lot to say! 

Evaluate Experiences

Howard Hendricks taught that experience is not the best teacher, evaluated experience is the best teacher. 

One of the best ways to learn is to do something and the debrief. Don’t waste an experience without asking yourself, what did I learn? 

Some of my best learning experiences happened on mission trips or after an epic failure. Capitalize on teachable moments. 

Ask Questions

Jesus modeled this for us as a young boy. His parents started back home from Jerusalem when they realized he was missing they when they went back and… 

After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.  Luke 2:46–47 

The teachers in the temple were probably the top experts of the law, unlike the JV teachers of Nazareth! So, Jesus seized the opportunity to glean whatever he could while he was in Jerusalem.

Jesus sat humbly, listened eagerly and asked questions, and everyone was impressed with his insights and answers. This was no ordinary 12 year old obsessed with video games! 

One of my friends, Andy Wood, leads a large successful multi-site church in the Bay Area called Echo Church. He’s already a great leader, but what that sets him apart is that he is always asking questions.

Even though he is far ahead of me in leadership, when I visited his church he asked me for feedback. 

His curious spirit is contagious and has become the culture of his church! 

My church actually adopted one of his church values as our own: Tenacious teachability! 

Pastor Harold Bullock says, “The only shortcut in life is teachability.”

A truly teachable person is always asking, “What do I need to know? Who knows it?”

Your growth is largely determined by the quality of the questions you ask and the wisdom of those you ask. 

If you ask the right people the right questions, you tend to get the right answers. 

Solomon said, The purpose in a man’s heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.  Pro 20:5 

Like a bucket that goes deep down into a well to get the water, a good question draws out the wisdom that is there to be discovered. 

To grow, you must know you don’t know it all. Curiosity is the key to growth, and know-it-alls don’t grow. I believe the moment you stop asking questions is the moment you stop growing.

Read Good Books

I see reading a good book like warming myself by the fire of a great mind.

Think of it like this: One book is a compilation of thousands of hours of an author’s best work, often on his most important subject! If he’s a pastor, it’s like the best of the best of his sermons! 

A lifetime of wisdom can be gained in a few hours! Why not capitalize on the blood, sweat, and tears of others?

But remember, reading wisely is more important than reading widely.

James Bryce says “Life is too short to spend it reading inferior books.” 

The best way to find the best books is to ask people you respect which books they recommend.

Also, schedule time for reading. If reading doesn’t make it into your schedule, it probably won’t make it into your life. I’ve started a habit of trying to read a chapter a day of the books I’m reading. 

I highlight key points that stand out so I can review them later. But the most important thing about a book is not what it teaches you but what it stimulates in you. 

A. W. Tozer said, “One of the tests of a really fine book is while you’re reading it, you put it down to start thinking.”

If a book has really impacted me, often I will create a blog post or book summary giving my applications. 

J Oswald Sanders in his classic Spiritual Leadership wrote, “If we read merely to stock our head with ideas, to feel superior to others, or to appear learned, then our reading is useless and vain.” 

Sharing your insights with others will help the ideas sink deeper into your being as you verbalize them. As it’s been said, thoughts disentangle themselves when they pass through the lips and finger tips.

Never Stop Learning

I believe that the day you are officially “old” is the day you stop actively seeking growth. But as long as your mind is working, everyday can have the adventure of learning something new!

Men like Max Barnett are still impacting people in their old age because they have committed themselves to becoming life-long learners! My hope is that if you made it to the end of the is article that you will join me in that pursuit! 

L.E.A.R.N.

• Listen To Wise People
• Evaluate Experiences
• Ask Questions
• Read Good Books
• Never Stop Learning

Which of these practices do you want to focus on growing in?

1. Become A Dreamer Who Does

According to John Maxwell and Rob Hoskins, “Changing the world happens one life at a time.”

“Change Your World” is a book that INSPIRES readers to pursue big picture dreams and INSTRUCTS with practical steps to actually do something. As Brad Montague says, 

“Dare to dream, but please also do. For dreamers are many, doers are few.” Brad Montague 

It’s the dreamers who do who actually change their world. 

Maxwell and Hoskins say, “The reality is that most of us are waiting for somebody else to do something about the problems we see.” 

Real change requires both righteous anger about how things are and courageous action. Augustine of Hippo said,

“Hope has two beautiful daughters; their names are Anger and Courage. Anger at the way things are, and Courage to see that they do not remain as they are.” Augustine of Hippo

 John Maxwell’s dad used to tell him a story.

Four frogs sat on a log. Three decided to jump off. How many frogs were left on the log?

Four! Deciding is not doing.  

Good intentions don’t change you world; only good actions do.

“The biggest gap between failure and success is the distance between I should and I did… The smallest deed is greater than the largest intention.”

What dreams do I have for my world? What can I actually do about it?

2. Eliminate Excuses

As soon as we start moving toward changing our world, excuses are right there to push against us. As Maxwell and Hoskins say,

“We can make excuses or we can make changes, but we can’t do both.”

Hope is a major theme in the book, because hope fuels urgency. 

Dale Carnegie said, “Most of the things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all.” 

Hope is fueled by what we focus on. For example, they argue that it’s more helpful to focus on promoting prosperity than fixing poverty. 

“Yesterday is not ours to recover, but tomorrow is ours to win or lose… Small actions, made consistently, lead to big changes.” Artist Vincent van Gogh said,

“Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.” Vincent van Gogh

It’s easy to get so overwhelmed by all the needs of the world that I underestimate the impact of the small actions that I CAN take.

3. Go Together 

You won’t make much of a difference on your own. As the African proverb says, 

“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” – African Proverb

I would add, it’s also a lot more fun to go with others! 

The only way to make a lasting difference is to work with like-hearted people. 

Experts say that the tipping point for an idea to take root in a culture is when 10% of the people adopt it.

They illustrate the characteristics of transformation with several word pictures. 

A WATERFALL: TOP-DOWN—IT REQUIRES LEADERSHIP

“Transformation begins with influence, and influence always flows from the top down, like a waterfall, not upward.” 

Cultural transformation trickles down when leaders are impacted within the eight streams of influence: government, education, business, religion, media, arts, sports, and healthcare. 

LADDER: BOTTOM-UP—IT ENCOURAGES MOBILITY 

“While influence flows down, transformation also climbs up.” Developing leaders need freedom to fail and room to rise. 

HEART: INSIDE-OUT—IT EMBRACES VALUES.

“Living good values precedes giving good values… Good values always add value to us. And they make us more valuable to others.”

JOINED HANDS: SIDE BY SIDE—IT DESIRES PARTNERSHIPS 

“What we focus on expands. If we focus on our differences, our differences increase. If we focus on what unites us, then our unity increases.”

A TABLE: FEW TO MANY—IT ENABLES GROWTH 

One of the most practical next steps in the book is hosting “transformation tables” where good values can be discussed and applied. 

They say, “Transformation happens a table at a time… The fastest way to find common ground with an enemy is to sit at the table and break bread with them… Everything good in human interaction starts with common ground.”

Tables provide a level playing field for ideas to be expressed, relationships to be formed and values to be transferred. Ultimately,

“Transformed people transform communities… mass movements don’t begin with the masses. They begin with a few people.”

People can be influenced from a distance, but lasting impact happens up close. One of the best places to start is around a table sharing transformative ideas.

A BRIDGE: HERE TO THERE—IT LEADS TO TRANSFORMATION 

“The ultimate goal of any movement is to create a better future.” But how do you know you are making progress.

4. Measure What You Treasure

Bowling wouldn’t be much fun without the pins. If we want to make progress  we must “measure what matters,” as John Doerr says. 

Maxwell and Hoskins say, “Leaders understand that activity is not necessarily accomplishment.” It takes courage and humility to look in the mirror at the results we are getting and be willing to make the necessary changes. 

“When we argue with reality, we lose 100% of the time.”

But when we do win, we must make sure and celebrate the stories because, 

“Facts fade, but stories stick… The stories we tell literally make the world. If you want to change the world, you need to change your story.”

What story are you telling with your life right now? What story would you like to tell? 

As Martin Luther King Jr. said,

“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is what are you doing for others?” Martin Luther King Jr.

“There are many who say, “Who will show us some good? Lift up the light of your face upon us, O Lord!”  You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound. In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.” Psalm 4:6–8

You too might be asking, “Who will show us some good?” When will good times come? When will the pandemic be over? When will I find a job? When will the economy resurge? When will I find my future spouse?

What circumstance are you waiting for to change? 

These are natural questions, but what do you do while you are waiting? How do you find joy while you are waiting for those circumstances to change?

The only way to experience joy in all circumstances is to place your joy in something beyond circumstances.

David’s delight in God was greater than the biggest bumper crop. His joy was in the One who never changes. You too can have that kind of joy in God.

David also experienced the rest of relying on God. As Charles Spurgeon said,

The sovereignty of God is the pillow upon which the child of God rests his head at night, giving perfect peace – Charles Spurgeon

Peace is possible right now; not because everything is perfect, but because your perfect God is ruling and reigning over everything. 

Especially when you don’t have all the answers, choose joy in Christ, and rest peacefully in the hands of Almighty God.  

In the last post I argued that Christmas is the celebration of salvation through reconciliation. Here are three ways to celebrate God’s gift of Jesus this Christmas based on the examples of the Shepherds and Mary.

Seek Jesus Urgently 

And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. Luke 2:16

“With haste” means to hurry. If you haven’t accepted Christ’s gift of salvation I encourage you to seek Jesus urgently while there is still time.

I’ve talked to a lot of people with a relaxed attitude about exploring faith. College students say I will decide when I graduate, BUT if Jesus really is the only way to be saved than there is NOTHING more important! Think of the years you are wasting and the joy you are missing out on!

Through the prophet Jeremiah God gives an amazing promise, You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.  Jeremiah 29:13 

If you are genuinely seeking truth with all your heart, it’s only a matter of time if you find him.  The next thing the Shepherds did was to… 

Share Jesus Simply

And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. Luke 2:17-18

We often overcomplicate sharing our faith. We don’t share because we don’t think we’re worthy, but of all the people God could have chosen to share the news he chose everyday ordinary shepherds! 

To share Jesus you don’t have to be a social media influencer or have a lot of “followers.” Just share what you’ve experienced. 

Those who heard their report were amazed, but we don’t actually know if those people ended but believing.  Their joy was not in the results.

I believe that everyone is a natural evangelist about what they are most excited about. I’m passionate about surfing,  so I naturally talk about it a lot! The same is true for you, what you’re passionate about you talk about.

One of the best ways to take your spiritual temperature is to ask yourself, how much am I talking my my faith?

Before you introverts get discouraged, I have something for you too. This time it’s Mary who gives us a great example. Her response to the amazing events was to… 

Savor Jesus Joyfully

But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. Luke 2:19

She had a lot to take in! Holding a new born baby is already such an amazing experience, imagining the potential of that precious gift.

But can you imagine how overwhelming it must have been for Mary to look at Jesus with what she knew about Him? And yes the answer to the question “Mary did you know?” is YES, she knew, Gabriel told her!

As Mary treasured the news about Jesus, we too can marinate on the message of Jesus this Christmas. 

Treasured literally means “to keep in mind.” It means to keep something alive or to savor it.

When COVID hit I watched the Free Yale “Happiness Class” videos which has some good points and some that don’t fit with scriptures, BUT interestingly one of the key “happiness practices” was savoring what you are grateful for. 

This Christmas if you do nothing else take some time to savor the Savior!  

For many the story of Christ’s birth has become so familiar it has lost a bit of its wonder. But taking some unhurried to ponder and think deeply about the implications will help you enjoy the season more deeply.

Read the Christmas story slowly, watch “The Nativity Story” movie, or meditate on all the implications of the incarnation. 

Savoring Jesus can look a lot of different ways, sometimes it’s sitting silently other times it’s singing or shouting like the shepherd’s…

And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.  Luke 2:20 

Like the angels, they couldn’t contain their joy! If God fills you with joy this Christmas don’t be afraid to belt out your favorite carol about Christ. 

Which of these three responses to Christmas do you need to focus on?

If you had to chose one word to describe 2020 what would you choose? Mine is whirlwind! 

But ever since people sinned, from the first sibling rivalry when Cain killed Able, peace has been illusive. This year though, the current crisis has caused many things that once bubbled under the surface to rise to the forefront. Not to mention all of us have been dealing with personal problems with the stress of canceled plans, jobs, classes, or just the stress of figuring out what do on your day off. 

In the mist of the chaos we all have ways of seeking peace. What’s yours?

• Maybe it’s the Life-changing Magic of Tidying up, and only keeping things that sparks joy. Or it’s the opposite, buying things you don’t need with money you don’t have to impress people you don’t even like.
• Maybe it’s scrolling through social media, or quitting social media.  
• Maybe it’s retreating to nature, on hiding in your bedroom. 

This year more than ever, Amy Grant’s song Grown-up Christmas List describes what many of us really want,

“No more lives torn apart, Then wars would never start, And time would heal all hearts. And every one would have a friend, And right would always win, And love would never end.”

Deep down we realize that is the peace God planned us for, but as long as we live in a sinful, broken world it won’t happen. But for now what kind of peace does Christmas bring us? 

How do we unwrap the peace Jesus came to bring us at Christmas? We must…

Receive Reconciliation

God orchestrated it so Mary’s due date would align with Caesar’s census so that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem and fulfill the prophesy Micah gave hundreds of years earlier.

Leaders like Caesar might flex their muscles to show their power but behind the scenes God is quietly displaying his power by working out everything according to his plan. 

When Mary & Jospeh got to Bethlehem, all the Air Bnb’s were booked up, so king of the universe was born in a stinky stable and laid in a feed trough. 

That night shepherds watching their sheep were suddenly startled by an angel who appeared to them in blazing glory saying, 

¹⁰ And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. ¹¹ For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. ¹² And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” ¹³ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, ¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”  Luke 2:10–14 

In a lot of Christmas movies the question comes up, what’s the real meaning of Christmas? Usually it’s some version of giving not getting, family, and making the world better for others, all great things, but that’s not what the angel’s said.

What would you say if someone asked you to explain the real meaning of Christmas? The one word answer is JESUS! Here’s what Christmas is about.

Christmas is the celebration of salvation through reconciliation. 

It’s good news of great joy for all people! God could have sent his angels to anyone, but he chose simple shepherds. These were ordinary blue collar workers, not the high ranking officials you would expect a king to come to, show that in God’s kingdom everyone’s invited to the party. 

But it’s not just a celebration for the sake of celebration, our culture wants the great joy without the good news, but it’s the good news that brings the great joy!  

Christmas is the celebration of salvation. But what is this good news?  First let’s look at the angle’s description of Jesus, “a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”

Jesus is Savior – Jesus came on the ultimate rescue mission to deliver us from sin. 

Jesus is the Christ – Christ is not Jesus’ last name, it’s his title, it means Messiah or anointed one. He is the promised one the prophets predicted, the chosen one the Jews were waiting for.

Jesus is Lord – He’s leader, the ruler, the king. He is Emanuel, “God with us.” 

God did not just send us a message he became a man, he didn’t just give us a story, he wrote himself into the story. Jesus is savior, messiah AND Lord, to truly accept him you must accept all of him! 

The angel told them they would find the baby wrapped up and lying in a manger. Next, a heavenly flash mob appeared praising God saying, 

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased! Luke 2:14

Remember, Christmas is a celebration of salvation through reconciliation. Reconciliation involves making peace between two parties. But what does this peace look like? 

Jesus offers internal peace now, and eternal peace later. 

The peace Jesus brought at Christmas is not primarily about external peace but internal peace with God. The phrase, “on earth peace among those among those with whom he is pleased”  means Christ gives peace to the people he’s pleased with. 

So how do you become someone God is pleased with? Most people think of God a lot like Santa, He’s making a list, he’s checking it twice, he’s going to find out if your naughty or nice, he sees you when you’re sleeping he knows when you’re awake he knows when you’ve been bad or good so be good for goodness sake. 

But being on the nice list won’t work with God, because all of us are on the naughty list!

Paul said, For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. Romans 5:10-11

Jesus came to make peace between God and humanity and he is both the mediator and the peace offering.

The song Hark the Harold says it best, “Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners, reconciled.”

You and I must receive this reconciliation. A few verses earlier Paul said, Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Rom 5:1 

The word Justified means to be made right in God’s sight. This justification is what makes it possible for God to look at us and be pleased because when he looks at us he sees the perfect record of Christ and is pleased with what he sees. 

Paul said we are justified by faith, meaning because of sin God sent Jesus to make peace possible for us on the cross, and we must take that peace. The amazing thing is that once we receive reconciliation with God part of that package is reconciliation with everyone else who is part of God’s family. 

Paul also says, For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near.  Ephesians 2:14–17 

Jesus is our peace, this passage is specifically referring to the divide between Jews and non Jews, but can applyed to all divisions in the body of Christ, political, racial or economic.

On the cross Jesus tore down the walls that divide us and built a bridge with his broken body. 

We have been made into one new humanity. In other words, Jesus has already reconciled us to one another, our challenge is to live like it. We can celebrate the beauty of diversity and realize that in Christ we have much more that unites us than divides us. Peace with God leads to peace with his people. 

And when you will make peace with God, he sends you out to make peace with others. Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” Matt 5:9

Those who take peace, make peace.

When we act as peacemakers we are acting like our Dad, the ultimate peacemaker. 

How can you be a peacemaker this Christmas? 

• Maybe it’s adjusting to the preferences to the most COVID sensitive ones of your family.
• Maybe it’s not hitting send on that snarky reply online even though you know it would feel so good.

The way to unwrap peace this Christmas is to receive reconciliation. Only then will you experience the internal peace of knowing you are right with God and experience the unity of being reconciled with God’s people. 

How can you better celebrate Christ’s gift of salvation through reconciliation?

How you can be a peacemaker this Christmas?

The Law of the Lid – Leadership Ability Determines a Person’s Level of Effectiveness

Applications from John Maxwell’s “21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership” 

“Personal success without leadership ability brings only limited effectiveness.” 5

Like many of you, I watched “The Last Dance” highlighting Michael Jordan’s amazing career. From the beginning of his career with the Bulls there was no questioning his talent. For several years he dominated the league with his amazing individual performances (winning multiple MVP trophies and scoring titles), but he failed to win the championship.

It wasn’t until he grew as a leader that he started winning championships. Talent can only take you so far, then you need leadership. 

When he started shifting his focus from from leading the league in scoring to leading the team the Bulls took off and ended up winning 6 championships. Granted, he also got some help from Scottie Pippen and others!

Even Michael Jordan level talent will only take you so far without leadership skills.

John Maxwell says, “The greater the impact you want to make, the greater your influence needs to be. Whatever you will accomplish is restricted by your ability to lead others.” 5

Lifting your leadership lid helps you in every area of life. And it doesn’t just help you! As many have said, when the leader gets better, everyone gets better. Maxwell says, “Leadership has a multiplying effect.” 7

A rising leader, like the rising tide, lifts those around them. When you reach your lid in skill, you can still improve by raising your leadership lid. Maxwell says, “To reach the highest level of effectiveness, you have to raise the lid—one way or another.” 9

I’m currently in the process of lifting my lid as a leader. During this season I became a John Maxwell certified leadership trainer, speaker and coach. I believe that if I can grow as a leader it will lift the lid for me as I seek to lead my church, my staff and my family.

How can you lift your leadership lid this new year?

One summer in high school, my parents had a friend walk my brothers and I through Dale Carnegie’s amazing book “How to Win Friends and Influence People.” I can safely say that the principles in that book changed my life and since that time it’s been a topic that I’m passionate about. 

The good news is that no matter what your personality is, you can learn to connect with others. This is not about becoming someone you are not; it’s about becoming the best version yourself.

Actually, when you try to become someone you are not, you are robbing the world of the uniqueness that only you can bring to the table!

I’ve tried being someone that I’m not, and it’s tiring! But if you never “fake it” you can relax and genuinely enjoy connecting with others, rather than being “on” sometimes and “off” other times. 

I want to share with you 5 principles for connecting with others based on Biblical principles and drawing insights from the books How to Win Friends and Influence People and “How To Communicate With Confidence“ by Dr. Mike Bechtle.

I love acrostics, so I’m going to use S.M.I.L.E. as our outline.

Start by Seeking To Serve

Ask yourself, “Why do I want to connect? To gain something for myself or to add value to others?”

According to Jesus, the believer’s motivation should be to love God wholeheartedly and… “love your neighbor as yourself.” Mark 12:31

I constantly have to check my heart on this. Am I seeking to connect with this person because they can do something for me, so they can come to my church, or do I genuinely want to help them?

In a different passage, Jesus explained what loving your neighbor looks like, “Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you.” Matt 7:12

Loving people means making their success your success. As John Maxwell says, “To add value to others, I must value others.”

Paul said, Let love be genuine… Romans 12:9

When I first got married, my wife Jessica noticed that I honk the car horn a lot. I admit that I have a tendency to get mad when I’m driving or when someone steals my wave when I’m surfing. 

Early in my church plant, I got mad while driving and might have given someone a dirty look. But then I felt like the Holy Spirit prompted me with this thought, “What if this person visited my church?”

What if I treated every person like a visitor to my church? It’s a good thing that our church goes above and beyond to love people who come to our church, but God was convicting me of the hypocrisy of loving people just because they were interested in my church.

If I only love people at church, that’s not really love. What about you? Do you turn love on and off? Living a lifestyle of love means whoever is in your path is a potential recipient of love.

The word genuine here can also be translated “without hypocrisy.” A hypocrite was a greek actor who would put on different masks in order to pretend to be different people. A hypocrite is a fake, and fake love is not love at all.

Instead of asking, “What can I gain?” try asking “What can I give?” The foundation of communication is the desire to serve others. Eph 4:29 summarizes the healthy motivation for communication.

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.  Eph 4:29

According to Paul, before we speak we must be able to answer YES to the following questions…

• • Is this helpful for building others up?
  • Does this address their needs?
  • Does this benefit my hearers?

Communication is all about others! When people trust that you are really there for their benefit, they will listen to what you have to say. It’s a cliche because it’s true that people don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.

Make Them Feel Special, Because They Are!

Paul said, Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.  Rom 12:10

I have an identical twin brother, so I know a lot about brotherly affection. Growing up, we were always roommates; before that we were womb mates. It doesn’t get any closer than sharing the same embryonic fluid!

But even if you don’t have a twin, brotherly affection is commanded. I’ve had guys come into my life who I have grown to love like a brother as we worked together for the gospel. 

One way to foster this brotherly affection is to, “Outdo one another in showing honor.” I love to compete, and as far as I know this is the one place in the Bible that actually tells us to compete with others! 

What if you treated every person like a VIP? When you think about it, it’s really true. Every person you meet is a VERY IMPORTANT PERSON because he or she is made in the image of God.

Have you ever met someone famous? I’m awkward around famous people, and when I met pastor and author JD Greear, I was nervous. I happened to be with my mom, so I introduced myself and said, “I’m David” and turned to my mom and said “and this is my wife”, oops! “I mean my mom!” But seriously, what if you made it your goal to treat every person you interact with like the very important person they really are?

How to Honor Others:

• • Yield to what they want to do. Let them choose the restaurant, activity, or give them the front seat.
  • Speak well of them even if they are not there. Don’t say anything you wouldn’t say to their face.
  • Greet them warmly. It says, “I see you and I care about you.”
  • Adjust to the person without losing your uniqueness.

Also, a sincere thoughtful compliment can really make people feel special. Proverbs 12:25 says, “Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up.” 

Your words are powerful. Pro 18:21 says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” One of our Worcester family values is “Life-Giving Words” because what we say sets the direction of our lives.

Have “ICNU – I see in you” conversations. My Dad has been one of my encouragers and he spoke life into me, saw potential in me and gave me a vision of what he saw in me. We can be that for others.

Say what you see! If you notice something good in someone, don’t waste the chance to say what you see in them.

As you seek to encourage others, here’s a few things to keep in mind.

How to Encourage Thoughtfully:

• • Avoid flattery. Proverbs 29:5, A man who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his feet. Here’s how you can tell flattery from genuine encouragement. Flattery is for your benefit; encouragement is for the other person’s the benefit. Flattery is about manipulating people to get what you want; encouragement is about helping people get what they want.
  • Be specific. The more specific the praise, the more meaningful it will be.
  • Don’t tell them how much they improved. It makes them feel bad about what they did in the past.
  • Don’t compare what they did to others. You can encourage them without putting others down in the process.

Interest Yourself in Them, Genuinely

Paul said, Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.  Phil 2:3–4

It’s better to be interested than interesting. Instead of trying to impress, try to be impressed. Instead of focusing on being the center of attention, center your attention on them.

Like it’s often been said, humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less. If you learn to be genuinely interested in others, you can connect with virtually anyone.

There is something you can learn from every one if you learn to ask the right questions. They are at least experts on themselves, hopefully! I like the acrostic FIRE when I’m talking with people

FIRE

• • Find Common Ground – What do we have in common?
  • Interests – What do you do in your free time?
  • Relationships – What is your family like?
  • Experience With God – Growing up did you go to church or anything like that?

Once you’ve asked them about their life, you must…

Listen Curiously

Pro 18:13 says, “He who answers before listening— that is his folly and his shame.”

Curiosity is the key to connecting. See yourself as an explorer more than a supplier of information.

Larry King said, “I never learn anything while I’m talking.”

Focus on what the other person is saying rather than what you are going to say or do next. As Stephen Covey says, “Seek first to understand, then to be understood.”

Good conversationalists observe the little details and use them to direct the conversation.

When you are listening, it’s important communicate that you care with your non-verbal cues. Here’s another helpful acrostic to LISTEN better.

LISTEN

• • Lean In – It communicates interest.
  • Interested Posture – Don’t cross your arms or put your hands in your pockets.
  • Smile – A smile sets people at ease.
  • Take Notes – If it’s something you want to remember later jot it down.
  • Eye Contact – Keep appropriate eye contact.
  • Nod – Let people know you are with them.

Summarize what the person said in your own words. Don’t think about your response while the other person is talking. Wait until they are done then formulate your answer.

Good listeners have mastered the “tell me more” mentality. Find the gaps in your understanding by asking follow up questions based on what you’ve heard.

End Purposefully

Every conversation has to end sometime, usually end in either in a satisfying conclusion or a painful escape. It’s better to leave on a high note if you can. So instead of letting it fizzle, be intentional and think about what a next step might be.

Think about if there is a relevant next step to the conversation like exchanging numbers, suggesting a common ground activity or inviting them to an event.

If you are giving a lesson or talk, put some real work into thinking about what next steps you want people to take.

If we connect with the people but fail to connect them to an application, we miss out on an opportunity. That doesn’t mean that every time you talk to someone you have to have something specific in mind; it just means that we should be intentional.

This is especially true in our interactions with non-believers. Paul said,

“Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone” Col. 4:5-6

Ending purposefully forces us to think about what the natural next step is. Paul encourages us to be wise with people who don’t know God and to seize the opportunities so that we can respond rightly to the situation.

When I’m in a conversation, I will often say something like, “It was great talking to you, let’s go surfing or get coffee soon.” And if I don’t have their number, I will get their number.

If I’m giving a talk or leading a discussion, I  challenge people to think about their next step and list two or three options.

So let’s apply this! Look through the S.M.I.L.E. acrostic again…

SMILE

• Start By Seeking To Serve
• Make People Feel Special 
• Interest Yourself in Others
• Listen Curiously
• End Purposefully

Which of these five principles do you personally want to focus on most starting today? Who will you try and apply it with?