I will have the privilege of teaming up with Michael, doing several in-depth Bible studies on the theme of leadership. David Tolley, pianist extraordinaire, will be our musician for the retreat. This will be a fantastic retreat for leaders in all areas of life, including church and family. We have many other great retreats at Laity Lodge, so plan now to join us. Simply visit our website for more information, or contact our Registrar, Ann Jack (AnnJack@laitylodge.org; 830-792-1230). Click here to register! |
We are pleased to announce that the Fall 2009 Laity Lodge Leaders' Retreat will feature award-winning author and sociologist
Prayer and Mission in the Ministry of Jesus
By Mark D. Roberts | Thursday, July 2, 2009
Part 6 of series: Missional and Formational?
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If you read through the Gospels looking for connections between formational and missional, you’ll discover plenty of them. In today’s post I’ll cite and comment on one pregnant example. Consider this passage from the Gospel of Mark:
35 In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. 36 And Simon and his companions hunted for him. 37 When they found him, they said to him, “Everyone is searching for you.” 38 He answered, “Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do.” 39 And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons. (Mark 1:35-39)
First of all, note that Jesus got up very early, went to a place of solitude, and spent ample time in prayer. When Peter told him that “everyone” was searching for him, we might have expected Jesus to be thrilled that his ministry was becoming popular. But instead of responding to his adoring audience, Jesus decided instead to move on to “neighboring towns” so as to proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God.
In the flow of this short episode, it seems as if Jesus’ unexpected decision to spurn popularity in favor of fulfilling his true mission was connected with his extended time in prayerful solitude. Though we’re not told the content of his conversation with his Heavenly Father, the narrative suggests that this allowed him to discern his next steps in his mission.
As a pastor, I have often thought about this passage from Mark’s Gospel. One of the greatest dangers for pastors and other Christian leaders is popularity. The more popular we become, the more we are tempted to play to the crowds. To more people like us, the more we can become drunk on the elixir of human approval, and therefore less likely to discern God’s direction for our lives and ministries. One way to avoid this trap, it seems to me, is to imitate Jesus’ example of extended time in solitude and prayer. I know many pastors and Christian leaders who do this on a regular basis. But I also know how hard it is to maintain this discipline, especially when the demands of ministry and family cry out for attention. In fact, the more popular you become in some area of ministry, the more difficult it will be for you to find time to get alone with God.
When I was Senior Pastor of Irvine Presbyterian Church, I found extended time of conversation with God to be absolutely essential to my leadership, my personal well-being, and my family life. I was blessed to live only about twenty minutes from a three-mile stretch of secluded beach. For many years, I tried to spend at least an hour at least once a week walking along the beach and praying. I can’t tell you how many times I began these ambling prayer sessions by telling God that I wanted him to do something, only to discover that my initial requests were not consistent with God’s will for me or my ministry. As I prayed, the Spirit of God was forming and reforming my own spirit, helping me to desire the things of God and to discern what those things were. (Photo: My favorite prayer spot in Southern California, the beach of Crystal Cove State Park.)
I don’t think that what I’ve just described is only for pastors and other “official” Christian leaders. All of us need to find times and places where we can be alone with God for long enough to bear our souls so we can begin to listen. If Jesus needed to do this, how much more do we need the same!
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The Formation of Jesus for Mission
By Mark D. Roberts | Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Part 5 of series: Missional and Formational?
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Today I’m returning to the series I began last week: Missional and Formational? So far I’ve looked briefly at some connections between missional and formational in the Old Testament and in the early life of Jesus. Today I want to focus on a couple of passages from the Gospels that shed light upon the formation of Jesus for his mission.
The Baptism of Jesus
The baptism of Jesus appears in the three synoptic Gospels. In each of these texts, Jesus is baptized in the Jordan River by John the Baptist. At this time, the Holy Spirit came upon Jesus, taking the form of a dove. A voice from heaven identified Jesus, saying: “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased” (Matt 3:17). (Photo: a painting of the baptism of Jesus in a church in Mahon, Minorca.)
The testimony of the heavenly voice must surely have encouraged Jesus, even though we would expect that he had some idea of his special identity prior to his baptism. Nevertheless, to hear that he was God’s Son would have powerfully formed Jesus sense of self and mission. Since “Son” was, in this context, primarily a royal or messianic title, Jesus would have understood his identity as related to the fulfillment of Israel’s hopes for the coming of the kingdom of God.
The Temptation of Jesus
Following the glorious moment of his baptism, Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where he fasted for forty days and nights. During this time, he was tempted by the devil. The substance of this temptation had to do with what it meant for Jesus to be the Son of God. Would Jesus seek his own glory, advantage, and power as the Son of God? Or would he choose the way of faithful servanthood and sacrifice?
I find it interesting that Jesus’ first “official” action as the Son of God was to get away from the people to whom he had been sent so that he might spend extended time alone. Of course he wasn’t quite alone, because, according to the Gospels, he was tempted by the devil for forty days. During this time in the wilderness, Jesus began to sort out the implications of his identity and calling. He said a definitive “no” to temptations that would have distracted him from his mission.
In all of my time associated with churches and other Christian ministries, I have only known one church that wanted its new leader to begin his work by spending extended time in solitude and prayer. This church sent its brand new pastor away for a personal retreat as his first official duty. Every other Christian organization of which I am aware is only too eager for its new leader to get down to business: meeting people, learning systems, preaching sermons, etc. etc. etc.
It does seem curious to me that we don’t feel more obliged to imitate Jesus’ own beginning in ministry. I wonder how things might be different if, when a church calls a new pastor, the first task required of that pastor is to take two weeks away from the congregation for prayer and discernment. Perhaps that pastor would confront and defeat his or her own temptations, rather than giving in to them while working way too many hours trying to please everybody in the congregation. I wonder . . . .
It is clear, however, that before Jesus began doing the things that characterized his mission–preaching the good news of the kingdom, healing the sick, casting out demons, training his disciples–he was being formed for his mission. His Heavenly Father clarified his identity. The Spirit led him into a period of testing so that he might grasp the implications of that identity. To use the language of this blog series, in the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, formational preceded missional and was essential to it.
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Andy Crouch at Laity Lodge: What Keeps Us From Being Creative?
By Mark D. Roberts | Tuesday, June 30, 2009
We had a fantastic lineup at Laity Lodge last week. Our musicians were Ashley Cleveland and Kenny Greenberg (for the second retreat in a row). Our speakers were Dr. J.I. Packer and Andy Crouch.
I expect most of you have heard of J.I. Packer. His book, Knowing God, is one of the most respected Christian books of the last half century. It has sold well over a million copies, which isn’t bad for a book of serious theology.
Joining Dr. Packer in the teaching role was Andy Crouch. Andy is not as well known as J.I. Packer, but he might well be in the future. (He’s just about exactly one-half Dr. Packer’s age, so he has plenty of time to catch up.) I first became aware of Andy through his work with InterVarsity at Harvard. I never knew him personally, but his name was familiar to me. His name continued to surface over the years in association with interesting projects, such as the Christianity Today Christian Vision Project.
In 2008, Andy’s first book was published: Culture Making: Recovering Our Creative Calling (InterVarsity, 2008). This book has been highly praised, winning a “Best Books” award from Publisher’s Weekly and the Christianity Today 2009 Book Award in the”Christianity and Culture” category. In this outstanding book, Andy urges Christians to be involved in culture making, rather than settling for condemning culture, critiquing culture, copying culture, or consuming culture. Culture, in Andy’s perspective, isn’t limited to “big” things such as major motion pictures or bestselling novels. Nor is it something that only fine artists can produce. Rather, all of us, in some way or another, have the opportunity and responsibility to make culture in our segment of the world.
At Laity Lodge, Andy summarized the key points of his book. But he also broke new ground. One of his messages addressed the question of why we don’t engage in creative culture making, even when we feel passionate about a certain project or called by God to do it. Several of his points struck home for me, including:
1. We are distracted from cultural production by cultural consumption. How often do I fail to create because I’m watching some mindless television show or following the trivialities of my friends’ lives on Facebook.
2. We fail to invest in culture making because it is hard work. Oh, to be sure, there are times when I enjoy writing and find that words flow from my fingertips. But, most of the time, I have to work hard at writing.
3. We don’t engage in culture making because we’re afraid of failure. I find it so much more comfortable not to put myself out there because, when I do, there is always the possiblity (indeed, the likelihood) that I’ll get something wrong. And if I do, I will be criticized. And then I’ll feel bad.
I was not surprised by the fact that Andy Crouch presented many thoughtful and challenging ideas. I expected that from the author of Culture Making. And, though I hadn’t heard Andy speak before, I was not surprised by the fact that he is an excellent oral communicator. But I was surprised to discover that Andy is also a fantastic musician (pianist, singer) and worship leader. He integrated his music into his messages in an unusual and powerful way. He also “sat in” at times with Ashley Cleveland and Kenny Greenberg. If Andy was “just” a musician, I’m sure we love to have him back at Laity Lodge. But he is also one of the most interesting, thought-provoking, and personable speakers we’ve had at Laity Lodge. I look forward to Andy’s next time with us (July 22-25, 2010, along with Michael Lindsay).
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Sunday Inspiration from The High Calling
By Mark D. Roberts | Sunday, June 28, 2009
The Inevitability of Death
Those who are wise must finally die,
just like the foolish and senseless,
leaving all their wealth behind.
Psalm 49 isn’t exactly what you’d call cheery. Its main point is that the rich will die just like everybody else. The psalm ends on this note: “People who boast of their wealth don’t understand; they will die, just like animals.” Not exactly an upbeat thought, is it?
Yet Psalm 49 offers us the possibility of looking at our lives differently, of living with deeper purpose and wider vision. Even if we’re not striving for riches, most of us spend generous amounts of time and effort seeking that which, in the end, will be left behind. We worry about so many things that don’t matter when we look at life from the perspective of death’s inevitability. Psalm 49 gives us the chance to see life from the point of view of death, and therefore choose to live with significance.
As a pastor, I’ve spent more time in memorial services than just about anybody I know. You might think this is a downside of ordained ministry. But, in fact, I consider it a blessing. I’ve officiated in memorial services where eulogies have been relatively empty because the deceased lived their lives devoted to emptiness. And I’ve overseen memorial services that are joyous celebrations of lives well led. What makes the difference? Not wealth. Not position or power. Not even success, as the world defines it. Lives that matter even after death were focused on loving God and loving others. It’s really that simple. So when I’m reminded, either by my involvement in memorial services or by Psalm 49, that I will die, I’m encouraged to live this day with eternal significance. Today I want to be a person of love.
QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: When you reflect on your own death, what thoughts or feelings come to mind? What are the things in your life for which you strive, and which really don’t matter all that much? Given the inevitability of your death, how will you live differently today?
PRAYER: Dear Lord, thank you for Psalm 49. When I first read it, I must confess I felt rather distressed. I wondered why I had to think about death today? But the more I have reflected upon this psalm, the more I have come to appreciate its sober reminder.
Yes, Lord, the day will come when I will die. On that day I will leave behind my possessions and obsessions. When I stand before you and have my life examined, will you and I rejoice over what you have done through me? Will I have loved you with all that I am? Will I have loved my neighbor as myself? Will I have invested my life in the things that last forever?
Thank you, dear Lord, for the reminder to live fully for you this day. May I live today, and each day ahead, with the wisdom that comes from knowing my days on this earth are numbered. Amen.
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