GRACENOTES
Table of Contents Features 2 Godly Leadership Takes the Initiative By Derek Brown
Volume 3.1 Editor-in-Chief Cliff McManis
9 A Theology of Worship Music A Biblical Perspective on a Divisive Topic By Cliff McManis
Managing Editor Derek Brown
13 The Value of Seminary for Pastoral Minsitry By Austin Thompson
Associate Editors Breanna Paniagua J. R. Cuevas Jasmine Patton
19 The Danger of Falling Away | Hebrews 6:1-8 By Derek Brown
Advisory Board Bob Douglas, Sam Kim, Tim Wong, Peter Lam
25 Discipling Women Through Small Groups By Jessica Ho
Reviews and Interviews 5 The Accidental Feminist Review by Jasmine Patton
Thoughts 7 Evangelism on College Campuses By Wilson Patton
15 Competent to Counsel Review by J.R. Cuevas
17 Report From Camp By Lauren Sykes
23 Interview with Paige Burgess Interviewed by Jasmine Patton
22 95 Years of Grace By Jasmine Patton
1 GraceNotes | Fall 2017
Feature
Godly Leadership Takes the Initiative Derek Brown, Elder, Assoicate Pastor of GBF, Editor of GraceNotes
The Blessing of Godly Male Leadership Over the past four decades the notion of male leadership has been under significant attack in our society. Sadly, the rejection of male leadership is the rejection of God’s blessing because God intends that good leaders be a source of prosperity for His people. We see this in the life of David. Note David’s words from 2 Samuel 23:3-4: The God of Israel has spoken; the Rock of Israel has said to me: “When one rules justly over men, ruling in the fear of God, he dawns on them like the morning light, like the sun shining forth on a cloudless morning, like rain that makes grass to sprout from the earth.” Despite his sin, the kingdom had flourished under David’s wise, humble, God-centered leadership. David’s rule was characterized by justice and the fear of God, and as a result, Israel enjoyed spiritual and material prosperity. Godly male leadership was like warm sun and pleasant, life-giving rain. We do well to keep this truth at the center of our thinking about male leadership. Men are tasked with leadership to bless those under their care and to labor for their good.
Godly Male Leadership Takes the Initiative But how do men lead others for their blessing? In order to truly lead, a man must take the initiative. And he must not take the initiative only once or twice, but continually throughout his life. Why? Because leadership, by definition, is antithetical to the passivity Adam exemplified in the garden. Adam, among other things, waited for someone else to fulfill his responsibility to guard his wife from the serpent. Because he didn’t take the initiative at a crucial moment, we are experiencing today the tragic fallout from his failure to step out in bold leadership. But in what ways are men expected to take the initiative? Let’s look at two specific areas. Men are to Set the Example First, men are called to take the initiative to set the example. A man deficient in character, integrity, or a personal walk with Jesus Christ is not able to lead effectively in any area of his life. We must be able to say to those under our care and within our sphere of influence, “Be imitators of me as I am of Christ” (see 1 Cor 11:1). This does not suggest that we must be perfect or sinless before we can start leading. Perfection is impossible in this life and we will always be troubled by some measure of sin
and weakness on this side of heaven (Rom 7:14-25; Gal 5:17). Nevertheless, genuine leadership demands that we make progress in personal holiness and spiritual growth so that we demonstrate authenticity in our leadership. We cannot lead others spiritually to a place where we have not already been, nor will we win the confidence of those under our care if we preach but do not practice (see Matt 23:3). Men are to Cast a Biblical Vision Second, men are called to lead by casting a biblical vision for those under their care and within their sphere of influence. One might think that this notion of casting a vision derives mainly from contemporary leadership theory rather than Scripture. But the responsibility to cast a vision is not the exclusive prerogative of cor-
porate CEOs. Casting a vision is vital because it enables obedience to God’s Word and motivates our followers to continue following us. “A real leader’s aim,” one author observes, “is to make everyone around him better. He makes them stronger, more effective, and more motivated.”3 People are strengthened, made more effective, and motivated when they are captured by a biblical vision. That is why we find regular examples throughout the Scripture of men casting a vision
2
for their people. We find Moses casting a vision as he tells Israel to follow him into the wilderness. He reminds them of God’s goodness and tells them of future reward so they are able to hope in God through their troubles (see Deut 8:1-9:5). We see Samuel encouraging Israel to repent of their sin of asking for a king on the basis of God’s goodness and kindness (see 1 Sam 12:20-23). We see the prophets reminding disobedient Israel of God’s intention for His people and His plan to restore them in the future (Jer 29:11-13; 33:11; Zeph 2:7). But best of all we see Jesus casting vision as He gathered His disciples for ministry. In a brief, concise sentence, Jesus shows us how to cast vision for those whom God has entrusted to our care.
If you’ve been entrusted with a ministry at your church, take the initiative to cast a compelling biblical vision for the servants in that ministry.
From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him (Matt 4:17-20). Notice how Jesus calls His disciples. He first says, “Follow me.” He could have stopped here if He chose to. Jesus was the self-authenticating God-man, and His very presence and the words, “Follow me,” could have induced obedience on their own. But Jesus does more than just call for immediate obedience. He provides these men with compelling motivation. “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Follow Me, and you will be part of something bigger than yourself. Follow Me, and I will transform you into the men you were created to be. Follow Me, and you will experience the joy of living for the eternal benefit of other people. That’s vision, and it creates happy followers. Men, there are plenty of opportunities to cast vision in your respective spheres of influence. In your local church, for example, you can cast vision in order to draw a few other men around you to begin a weekly prayer and Bible study meeting. Explain to your brothers why regular fellowship, prayer, and corporate reflection on the Scripture are vital disciplines in their walk with Christ. If you’ve been entrusted with a ministry at your church, take the initiative to cast a compelling biblical vision for the servants in that ministry. Husbands, take some time to craft a vision for your family. Write down spiritual goals, hopes, and dreams for your family, and set that document in a place where you will be regularly reminded about those things toward which you, your wife, and your children should be striving. If you’ve been invested with leadership responsibility at work, think of ways to develop a culture of integrity, respect, and diligence among your colleagues. If you are a single man in a dating relationship, take the initiative to cast a vision for your girlfriend about how you desire the relationship to proceed, how you plan to protect her emotional and physical purity, and what you believe a godly romantic relationship entails.
3 GraceNotes | Fall 2017
As we lead by taking the initiative in each of these vital areas, we will be a means of blessing to those whom we lead. Like rain and sunshine on fertile soil, God will use our leadership to enable growth and fruitfulness in those under our care.†
Get Conne Event Deta Ministry In Sermon D Fellowship Men & Wo Sermon N Send Praye Get Connected Event Details
Ministry Information Sermon Downloads Fellowship Groups Men & Women
Youth Groups
Sermon Notes
Send Prayer Requests Sunday at GBF
4
Book Review
The Accidental Feminist Crossway 2015 Review by Jasmine Patton, Assoicate Editor of GraceNotes
Young children are frequently asked what they want to be when they grow up. The eyes of the children usually widen in excitement as they contemplate this question and joyfully give answers such as “a doctor,” “a fireman” or “an architect.” Parents are often quick to respond to their children with thrilled affirmations and encouraging remarks. But how would we react if a ten-year-old girl were to answer, “I want to be a wife and a mother?” As Christians, we all desire to live a life committed and obedient to our God. We strive to obey His commandments, share the truth of the gospel with our family and friends, and use our spiritual gifts to build up the body of Christ. We dig into God’s Word to behold the glory of the One we are serving and learn the ways to serve Him best. But, if we were honest with ourselves, how often are we thinking and acting in a way that reflects our world rather than our Creator? Courtney Reissig’s The Accidental Feminist addresses this pertinent question as it relates to the concept of womanhood. Providing a comprehensive overview of the feminist movement, Reissig presses her readers to search their hearts and consider the influences that have painted their image of what it means to be a woman. The world and the Scriptures, she explains, give very different answers. Throughout her book, Reissig tackles various controversial topics, including the roles of women in the church, submission, issues of modesty, beauty, and homemaking. She discusses how the God-designed identity and roles of women have been tainted by the influences of feminism.
5
GraceNotes | Fall 2017
Additionally, she speaks to women in all different phases of life and provides encouraging wisdom on how these women can fulfill their calling as biblical women. In her endeavor to recover God’s true calling for women, Reissig urges women to consider how their lives are a reflection of what they believe about God. If we believe that God’s Word is true and the gospel is sufficient, then how we dress, how we view our role at home, how we submit to our husbands, and how we love our children should reflect these convictions. Reissig explains, “God calls us women--created in his image, valuable in his economy, and given a great singular purpose--to display his glory in [our] specific season, whatever it might be.” Rather than being defined by the world, she defines a biblical woman as one that loves to study Scripture, hopes in God alone, and has a “gentle and quiet spirit.” Reissig also discusses the relevant, yet often misinterpreted concept of submission in marriage—an issue that can elicit cringes, even from Christian women. Much of our society believes that “submission” turns women into “doormats,” kills their personalities, and subjugates them to abuse. Reissig meticulously examines and overturns these popular misinterpretations of God’s Word and, instead, argues that biblical submission is an “opportunity to daily die to ourselves and trust God for the outcome” (85). When we submit to our husbands, she explains, we are first submitting to God, exhibiting hope in Him alone and serving as a light to the watching world. We submit because we desire to fulfill the roles He has created within
marriage. We submit because we trust and love our Lord. We submit because we know that all things work together for our good and God’s glory. A second noteworthy topic is the discussion of biblical modesty. In a world that trains women to use their bodies to seek male attention and to gain power, it is easy to become confused on what it means to be beautiful and modest. Reissig provides two guiding principles concerning God’s view on the subject: (1) true beauty is defined by beholding and reflecting the beauty of God, not by sexuality; and (2) how we dress reflects our relationship with God. As women made in the image of God and living for His glory, we are to strive to mirror our Creator in our attitude toward modesty and “respect what we have been given and [protect] what God has deemed private,” (96-97). In our walk, we have to remember that ultimately everything we do should be for the Lord, not for ourselves. If we think in these terms, our conception of beauty will naturally conform to the Lord’s definition.
Book Excerpts “The reality is that feminism is hard to pin down. As the culture has evolved, so has the concept of feminism. We will explore that evolution throughout this book.” “...in some circles the definition of womanhood has moved from an earnest desire to be different and godly to a list of tasks that even the Proverbs 31 woman couldn’t complete”
Finally, I think a brief remark on Reissig’s discussion of God’s design for the home is needed. In chapter five, she unpacks the negative societal influences on women’s understanding of work, God’s definition and purpose of the home, and the importance of hospitality. While she does stress the importance of the home in the lives of women, Reissig fails to discuss the unique role God has given women as “workers at home” (Titus 2:5). Not only should women treat the home as important; they should prioritize it. Even though Reissig’s argument that women are ultimately supposed to be working to glorify the Lord in their work is true, her failure to illustrate God’s specific design for women as homemakers is somewhat concerning. Nevertheless, The Accidental Feminist is a convicting, eye-opening book that is applicable to women of all ages and walks of life. If you are a woman who desires to further conform your mind to Scripture and not the world, this book is for you.†
GBF Press
Biblical Resources that Will Establish You in the Truth Equip You for Ministry Enable You to Teach
gbfpress.com 6
Thoughts
Evangelism on College Campuses (and Anywhere) Wilson Patton, a Recent Graduate of Stanford University
College campuses are unique. They are awash with the free-exchange of ideas. Students are ready and willing to consider new worldviews. Excited freshman engage with anyone willing to talk. These characteristics make college campuses ripe grounds for sowing seeds of the gospel. Yet, wherever the gospel goes, satanic and fleshly opposition follow. Salvation is as much a divine miracle in the heart of a college student as it is in
7
GraceNotes | Fall 2017
any person whom God delivers from darkness to light. Acceptance is big on college campuses (and everywhere in the Bay Area, for that matter). The concept is simple: just accept people and ideas and you will be accepted. Acceptance is defined as affirming the potential legitimacy of commonly held moral and political views of society, even if you hold a different view. An “accept-
ing” person would say something like, “While I don’t agree that homosexual relationships are appropriate, I’m not going to say you’re wrong for believing that they are appropriate.” The statement makes no logical sense, but it checks the box for being “accepting.” One of the greatest temptations of any evangelist on a college campus is to acquiesce to his prideful, internal desire of acceptance from others. It is so easy to compromise
your witness for Christ by hypocritically ceding legitimacy to anti-biblical thoughts and ideas. I’m not saying that a Christian must outwardly oppose every sinful concept espoused on a college campus. But, when put in a position to give an opinion or to give the impression of an opinion, let the words of Christ ring in your mind: “Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven” (Matt 10:32-33). Many times, one of the most difficult aspects of evangelism on college campuses is not saying Jesus is Savior; it is saying that Jesus is the only Savior. It is not saying that
in and out of campuses on a daily basis. Living and eating quarters provide constant opportunities to meet and engage with new people. Striking up a conversation about “deep” topics is almost expected among students in dorms, especially as they develop friendships. All it takes is sitting down at a lunch table and asking your unwitting lunch partner if they have ever heard of Jesus. It astounded me how many people at Stanford, especially foreign students, had never heard the gospel. The Lord blessed me with opportunities to share about our great Savior with students from India and China who had actually never heard the good news. It was so exciting to get
can make disciples at college or anywhere. The concept is simple. Invite friends, neighbors, or coworkers for a Bible study. Express that the study is especially for people who don’t know Jesus. Go through the Book of John (or another Gospel) and show people “the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ” in the Scriptures (2 Cor. 4:4). The concept is beautiful, simple, and biblical. A multi-hour discussion on worldviews may be useful, but it will never convince someone of Who Christ is. “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ” (Rom 10:17). Take people to the Scriptures. May God remove satanic blindness and reveal to them the glory of the Son! To close this article let me make a request and a statement: 1. Please pray for whatever college is nearest to you, whether it is Stanford University, Menlo College, De Anza College, or San Jose State University.. Particularly, “beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest” (Matt 9:38). Plead with God to save the lost souls on that campus because “the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few” (Matt 9:39). Who knows? Maybe, as you are praying, God will make you into a worker.
Jesus is the Way; it is saying that “no one comes the Father except through Him.” It is not saying that you disagree with gay marriage; it is saying that gay marriage is rebellion against Almighty God. Of course, evangelism is not about winning acceptance. Evangelism is about faithfully sharing the gospel message (c.f. Mark 4:26-27). Praise God, college campuses are a treasure chest of opportunities for the gospel message. Thousands of people flood
to share about Jesus with people who had not been conditioned to think about Jesus as a peace-loving hippie. Especially in Silicon Valley, there are so many people who have never heard of the free grace and forgiveness of God! We believers must be like our Master, feeling compassion for the lost people we see every day who are “distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd” (Matt 9:37). Evangelistic Bible studies are one of my favorite ways by which believers
2. As I was thinking of my experience at Stanford, I realized that the campus is probably not much different than Google’s campus, Facebook’s campus, or a Starbucks in Sunnyvale. Each place supports a (supposedly) free exchange of ideas. There are people there from all over the world. And many have never heard the good news about Jesus. My prayer is that, as a church, we would put down our cell phones for a few minutes a week and, wherever we are in the Bay Area, share the gospel with someone who desperately needs Christ. †
8
Feature
A Theology of Worship Music A Biblical Perspective on a Divisive Topic Cliff McManis, Elder, Pastor-Teacher at GBF
Discussing the role of music in the
Having few God-ordained musical mandates delineated in Scripture actually guards against an overly proscriptive, limiting, inhibiting, legalistic approach that stymies creativity and personalized worshipful expression.
9
GraceNotes | Fall 2017
church is a legitimate conversation. For God created music, gave it to mankind as a gift, and intended it to be beneficial to church life. Music is mentioned all throughout the Bible, from Genesis (4:21) to Revelation (14:2), as a means whereby the saints can express worship to God for who He is and what He has done. We are commanded to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength (Mark 12:30), which means we are to love God with our whole being. And God has made us musical beings, therefore musical expression toward Him flows naturally. God gave music to humans to facilitate a worshipful experience of Him. Miriam worshipped God with the timbrel and song after crossing the Red Sea (Exod15:20-21). Da-
vid worshipped God with his harp (1 Sam 16:23). Saints in heaven worship God with song accompanied by harps (Rev14:1-4). Jesus and the disciples gave praise to God the Father by singing a hymn at the Last Supper (Matt 26:30). Psalm 149:3-4 says, “Let them sing praises to Him with timbrel and lyre. For the LORD takes pleasure in His people.” God is pleased when we worship Him through music. Music in the Church There are not many direct references in the New Testament to how music should be implemented into corporate church life. This point is significant for us today. The Book of Acts, as well as the epistles and Revelation chapter 2 and 3 reveal that all the early churches had problems. There were disputes about the Law; there were factious personality cliques; there were lawsuits; there were debates over doctrine; there were problems with immorality; there was infighting about spiritual gifts and many other social disputes. But there are no recorded examples of disputes over music, the styles of music or the methods of instrumentation. That is odd in light of the fact that today’s American church seems to squabble about music preferences more than many other issues. It seems we have created new issues to fight about in the church. The dearth of information on music in the New Testament, especially the scant number of imperatives, actually allows for tremendous variety and flexibility. Having few God-ordained musical mandates delineated in Scripture actually guards against an overly proscriptive, limiting, inhibiting, legalistic approach that stymies creativity and personalized worshipful expression. On the other hand, God does speak sufficiently on the topic of music. Guiding principles can be gleaned and systematized from the Bible allowing for a cogent and robust theology and philoso-
phy of music in the church. To that end, two key passages from Paul can serve as the starting point in laying a foundation for a biblical position on the issue. Church Music is for Worship and Edification The first passage from Paul is in Ephesians. In this passage God has commanded the church to incorporate music for the purpose of promoting worship. God spoke through Paul telling the church to “be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in songs and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father” (5:18-20). Similarly, in Colossians Paul wrote, “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God” (3:16). These two excerpts are parallel passages—Paul is talking about the same topic in each of the two epistles. His theme here is definitely music, singing and praise in the corporate assembly as the church gathers for worship. Music and singing in the corporate assembly is a carry-over from the Old Testament, as God’s covenant people, the Jews, regularly worshipped YHWH through music and song. Many of the Psalms were written for this very purpose. For Paul, a converted Jew, talking about music in the corporate assembly came naturally. The two preceding verses outline the purpose of music relative to church worship. The first stated purpose of music in the church according to these verses is to encourage and edify fellow believers. This is important to keep in mind, for there are many who want to say that the music we sing in church should be directed toward God alone. But according to these two commands here, that is not true. Paul said speak “to one another” with songs and “admonish one another” with songs. Some of our church songs need to deliberately be aimed at edifying the saints who are gathered together in the assembly. The second stated purpose, but actually the paramount purpose of music in the church, is theocentric—music and
song is to be directed toward God in worship. Paul said to sing “with thankfulness in your heart to God.” God is the main audience in our corporate worship. Worshipping Him is the greatest priority. God is seeking those who will worship Him in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). It is amazing to think that the infinite, eternal Creator of the universe is pleased when we sing worthy songs to Him. God enjoys music! Singing directly to God is a highly personal and intimate expression of worship. And what God thinks of our music matters more than anyone else’s opinion. According to the New Testament, our corporate church music and singing needs to be focused on the adoration of our holy God and edifying fellow believers who are present in the congregation of fellowship and worship. These are the only two stated purposes of music in the church. That eliminates other options which are prevalent in churches today. Some churches focus on the entertainment value in music and others use music in an attempt to draw and attract unbelievers into the church. But neither of these two reasons have any precedent in the New Testament. In the church context, therefore, music should be reserved for the exaltation of God and the edification of the saints. We don’t cater our music at church to appease pagans.
Music is Not the Focus Many Christians today consider music to be a determining factor in choosing a local church. For them, music is the priority, or at least a main priority. The Bible is clear about what the weighty priorities are supposed to be for a local church. Acts 2:42, 46-47 tells what the early Christians focused on when it came to church life.
10
These verses show the early church focused not on music— that was not even mentioned—but on five key elements. The first was “the apostles’ teaching” which is doctrine and theology—God’s revealed truth that is now written in the New Testament. So preaching and teaching the Word of God was a priority. Second was “fellowship” which is a mutual sharing among Christians of all they possess, both physical and spiritual resources. The third priority was “breaking of bread” or the celebration of communion, the ordinance that Christ Himself instituted. Fourth, the early church made “prayer” a priority. And fifth, the early church invested in worship by “praising God.” So the focus was on the Word, others, Christ and God—totally “other”-oriented. Music was given by God to the church to serve an auxiliary purpose of enhancing and augmenting the primary elements. So today when Christians say that music is a determining factor in their church experience, their preference becomes the focal point and “self-interest” dominates. This is the antithesis of what Acts 2 teaches about the priorities of the corporate church gathering. Attitude is Primary God wants pure worship. He puts a premium on the right heart-attitude when it comes to worship. Samuel the prophet reminded Saul, “Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin
of divination, and insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry” (1 Sam 15:22-23). God later said to Samuel, “God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart” (1 Sam 16:7). This principle applies to the “worship wars” in the church today. Too often, sinful and divisive attitudes dominate the conversation about what music is appropriate for church. Such attitudes obfuscate the issues. It is not uncommon to hear Christians “complaining” about the music at church. Many Christians spend more time criticizing and complaining about a three-minute song than they do thinking about how they are going to apply the thirty-minute sermon they heard from God’s Word. Many Christians spend more time undermining the pastor’s authority or the music minister’s service by spreading discontent over the music selection than they do praying for the church, the pastors and the serious needs of the church. This is a huge problem. Thankfully Scripture is sufficient for believers, even in the controversial area of music and worship in church. God has given us music as a gift to be enjoyed; let’s continue to use it as one more means of putting Him in the spotlight, giving Him all the glory He deserves.†
WE PREACH CHRIST 11
GraceNotes | Fall 2017
GBF Camp 2018 GBF Family Food Fellowship June 30 - July 1 Little Basin Santa Cruz Mountains
12
Feature
The Value of Seminary for Pastoral Ministry Austin Thompson, Minister of Music and Youth at GBF Over the past two years it has been my great privilege to attend The Cornerstone Seminary in pursuit of my Master of Divinity. Seminary has been an incredible blessing, and the depth of the riches that I have gained from my time there is beyond the scope of any article that I could write. This is especially true in light of my perspective when first considering a seminary education. I had just graduated with my Master in Vocal Performance from the University of Southern California, and the thought of continuing my education seemed excruciating, unnecessary, and fiscally irresponsible in light of my student loan debt. As a result I was hesitant when first approached by the pastoral staff about pursuing further education. While the grace of God ultimately prevailed through prayer and encouragement from the pastoral staff, I should have known I was destined for more education as a direct result of my “never” theology. I have often imagined that it was possible to have control over my future by stating out loud all of the things I would never do. It is ironic that this mindset eventually resulted in a lifelong UCLA fan that wanted nothing to do with classical music after years of piano and pursue a career in business because everyone said music was an unstable field into a USC graduate in classical music pursuing a career in music. When I finished my master at USC, I strongly declared that I would never go back to school. Enter the will of God. However, despite all of this, one thing I never said never about was a career in vocational ministry — and by God’s grace He has guided my path to where I am today. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. - 2 Timothy 2:15 Perhaps the most obvious blessing of a seminary education is training in the Scriptures. I am proud to be a student at The Cornerstone Seminary where there is a high
13
GraceNotes | Fall 2017
respect for the authority, necessity, and inerrancy of God’s Word. Apart from a firm foundation in Scripture, no minister or ministry will be able to withstand the trials of this life and the attacks of the enemy. Learning to study the Bible, training in the original languages, and doing it all while being sharpened by faithful men on either side has brought about great fruit in my life, and has equipped me to better serve the body. ...and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. - 2 Timothy 2:2 Alongside training in the Scriptures, one of the greatest privileges has been learning from pastors who are shepherds in their local churches. After a few years in vocational ministry, you learn that there are times when textbooks don’t contain the answer for a specific challenge you face in your ministry. Despite the riches contained within systematic theologies, it is the counsel of faithful men, grounded in the truth of Scripture, that provides the best guidance when the wisdom to deal with unique circumstances cannot be found in the pages of a book. Each professor’s personal experiences, failures, successes and testimony provide invaluable encouragement needed for perseverance during the most difficult seasons. And it is they that stand
in front of young men attempting to seek first the kingdom of God who exhort us to be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, and fulfill our ministries as they have before us (2 Tim 4:5). Therefore, encourage one another and build on another up, just as you are doing. - 1 Thessalonians 5:13 Without question one of the greatest blessings of seminary is the fellowship forged between classmates. Unlike other learning environments, we possess a special unity derived from oneness with Christ that permeates all areas of our interactions. We have the opportunity to pray for one another, bear one another’s burdens, rejoice in successes and grieve the trials that arise in our lives and ministries. I can confidently say that I do not think a true seminary experience to be possible in isolation. Certainly great men in history have forged adventurous paths and conquered mightily for the kingdom through personal devotion to the God who alone gives the increase apart from formal theological training. However, for those who are blessed with the opportunity to drink deeply from the Scriptures in a formal setting, it is of immense benefit to them if they are
able to do so with likeminded followers of Christ. …rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. - 1 Timothy 4:7-8 The singular aspect of seminary that has been most valuable to my personal life, my ministry, and my service is developing a great level of discipline. Theology books are difficult to read. The original languages are difficult to master. Competency in God’s Word requires difficult study. And if those tasks were not difficult enough, there is the underlying conviction that every paper submitted, every test taken, and every sermon prepared is a stewardship of the riches of the whole counsel of God. Stewardship requires discipline, and each task presents the opportunity to honor Christ that He might receive the glory for your efforts. It is often a heavy burden to bear, and yet faithful endurance yields divine fruit. As the load on your back increases, God graciously supplies the additional strength to keep you pressing forward on the narrow path.†
Exhalting Christ | Pastors Training Prospective Pastors 14
Book Review through the Word of God.
Competent to Counsel by Jay Adams, P & R 1972
Reviewed by J.R. Cuevas, Pastoral Assistant of Christian Education at GBF, Editor of GraceNotes Competent to Counsel by Jay Adams is a pillar work in the realm of Christian ministry, particularly in the sphere of biblical counseling. This book examines the nature of the human condition, the process by which humans change, and components of biblical counseling through which God enables such change to occur. The book serves as a lighthouse in an ocean of misguided philosophies regarding counseling and the human condition. By the time Adams penned this particular work, there had been a growing trend of pastors who deemed themselves ill-equipped to adequately counsel people due to their self-perceived lack of experience and knowledge in the counseling process, resulting in either pastors forwarding members of God’s flock to secular counselors and therapists, or the integration of secular psychology with biblical principles in the counseling process. Such trends continue in the present generation. Competent to Counsel addresses both the flawed nature of secular counseling (both in theoretical analysis and methodical practice) as well as the sufficiency of Scripture in the counseling process, making the Bible the tool through which the Christian attains competency in counseling. In the book, Adams examines both the danger of secular psychology to Christianity and the role of the Holy Spirit in counseling. Adams diagnoses the psychological principles of Freud, the foundational principles of modern psychology and modern psychiatric practices, and demonstrates how such principles are an enemy—not a friend—of Christianity. True change in counseling happens through the ministry of the Holy Spirit in transforming the heart of a person, and the primary means through which the Holy Spirit works is
15
GraceNotes | Fall 2017
Adams then sheds light into the misconstrued ideas about the nature of mental illness, and also on the nouthetic nature of biblical counseling. Biblical counseling, when done correctly, is not primarily a matter of addressing the behavior of a person, but rather addressing the heart and mind of a person. Throughout the book, Adams approaches several major issues for which people seek counseling—parenting, depression, anxiety, hope, homosexuality, life-dominating sins—through the lens of Scripture. He demonstrates how it is the Bible that addresses the human condition, the process of human change, and the role of the counselor in such change— all mediated through the authority and sufficiency of the Bible. Competent to Counsel is a foundational and comprehensive book regarding the broader genre of biblical counseling, and consequently contains some of the most crucial biblical principles for the ministry of the local church. Today, biblical counseling is one of the most neglected ministries in the church. I cannot rehearse the number of times I’ve heard Christians say, “My church doesn’t do biblical counseling.” Thus, there is developing an alarmingly large incongruity in the Reformed evangelical church between doctrinal knowledge and practical living. Competent to Counsel shows how the major doctrinal tenets of Christianity are not exclusive to counseling and Christian living, but rather the foundation and directive for them. One of the major strengths of the book, consequently, is the depth of both its theological treatment combined with its practicality. First, it contains much in-depth analysis of four major areas of systematic theology: the doctrine of man (anthropology), the doctrine of sin (hamartiology), the doctrine of the Scriptures (bibliology), and the doctrine of the Holy Spirit (pneumatology) and
how all these four areas relate to one another. Thus, the book is very much theological in nature, and one will indeed gain a greater understanding of these four major theological areas. Second, the theological treatment of the book is not in isolation from its treatment of Chris-
Competent to Counsel is highly recommended for all members of the church. It will prove to be a valuable tool for pastors who seek to be faithful in shepherding the flock of God. As the Scriptures equip the man of God for every good work—counseling included—the book
One of the major strengths of the book, is the depth of both its theological treatment combined with its practicality. tian living. The book shows how such doctrines affect the expectations that a counselor should have of a counselee, the priorities that a counselor brings into the counseling process, the presuppositions that the counselor holds, and the process of biblical counseling that results. Thus, through this book, Adams illumines what many believers today find themselves in the dark: the inextricable link between sound doctrine and sound living.
shows pastors how Scripture ought always to be used in counseling church members. It will also prove to be a valuable tool for a lay person seeking to gain further understanding on the nature of humans and the process of spiritual change. It is an invaluable tool for all of those seeking to serve in the ministry of biblical counseling in the local church. †
Other Books by Jay Adams on Nouthetic Counseling
16
Thoughts
Report From Camp Lauren Sykes, Member at GBF One of my favorite aspects of GBF has been attending all-church events. This year the GBF family camp in July was no exception. I had attended GBF camp two years ago and enjoyed all it had to offer. Since I missed camp last summer due to coinciding travel plans, I was particularly looking forward to it this year. In addition, this time was a brand new experience for me because I was no longer just a camper. Pastor Bob and Austin gave me the privilege of helping behind the scenes with the planning and execution of camp. Specifically, I was given the responsibility to coordinate and oversee each of the six meals served at camp. Although I am used to feeding large groups of church people, I was initially a little intimated by the task as I had never fed that large a group for that many consecutive meals. I was also told that the Little Basin campground might be remodeling the kitchen that was previously available to GBF. This meant that I had to be
17
GraceNotes | Fall 2017
prepared to cook everything outside and choose meals that would work well for this. The weekend required a lot of planning and organization ahead of time. When Pastor Bob, Austin, Emily and I arrived early on Friday to set up camp, I was very thankful to discover I would have access to a fully functioning kitchen. This made things much easier. In addition to a kitchen I also had the aid of a great crew of kitchen volunteers who went above and beyond to serve the saints of GBF. A special thank you to Emily, Hannah, Nikki, Alice, Megan, Alyssa, and, of course, Pastor Bob and Austin for all of their hard work helping to feed everyone. Despite a few challenges, all went smoothly by God’s grace; the Lord definitely provided more than everything we needed. Personally, I think one of the most valuable parts of the camp was the opportunity it provided for deeper fellowship. During a typical week, it
is difficult to build relationships with a variety of saints. We are often surrounded by the same people each week during midweek Bible studies or even on Sunday mornings. Even when we do try to connect with someone we might not know as well, we usually only have a few minutes before it’s time to transition to the next thing. However, church events such as GBF camp provide a unique opportunity to meet new people, deepen existing relationships, and spend quality extended time in fellowship. Since I was often busy in the kitchen, I did not get to sit down for many in-depth conversations, but I was still blessed in a special way by the unique dynamics camp provided for extended fellowship. In the midst of running around preparing for the meals, I could hear bits and pieces of conversations taking place all around me. I was blessed to be able to observe a big picture of fellowship among the saints.
All stages of life came together for more than a quick greeting. Throughout the weekend, I observed seasoned parents sharing their experiences with new parents, young singles playing with the kids, older saints imparting wisdom, and everyone bonding with longtime friends as well as making new ones. There were so many opportunities over the course of meals, board games, and team competition for deep, enriching conversations. Having a plethora of church events like GBF camp gives believers the op-
portunity to experience being a part of the body of Christ and truly understand Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 12:12-13: “For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.” As I reflect upon the blessing GBF camp has been to my own walk, I would highly encourage everyone
to continually seek opportunities to connect with those at GBF outside of your usual affinity group. And if you’re available, plan to attend GBF camp next year as it is a great blessing. Doing so will deepen your spiritual walk as you interact with fellow believers, share wisdom and prayer requests, and practice your one anothers. This connection will not only allow you to feel more integrated into your local church; it will produce a much greater joy as you taste the sweetness of being one in Christ (Gal 3:28).†
Training Pastors Supporting 100+ Churches Meeting the Needs of Orphans Meeting the Needs of Widows Pastor’s Training Conference November 5-8 We Need Your Support www.ChristToIndia.org 18
Hebrews 6:1-8 19
GraceNotes | Fall 2017
Interpreting Tough Passages | Hebrews 6:1-8 Derek Brown, Elder, Assoicate Pastor at GBF, Editor of GraceNotes
Sometimes the texts that cause the most initial trouble in one’s spiritual life are the texts that later bear the most fruit. This certainly has been my experience with Hebrews 6:1-8. Shortly after I became a Christian, I was confronted with the terrifying warnings in the book of Hebrews. The sixth chapter caused the most turmoil, for I constantly feared that I could be the one who had experienced the many blessings outlined in the chapter (e.g., partaking of the Holy Spirit, etc.), but who had never actually embraced Jesus Christ. Needless to say, I was beleaguered by a lack of assurance during much of my early Christian life. Both experience and Scripture teach us that rightly interpreting the Word of God is a matter of spiritual life and death. I was long troubled by my mistaken view of Hebrews 6:1-8, and Peter warns of those who twist the Scripture to their own destruction (2 Pet 3:16). Therefore, we can’t keep tough passages at arm’s length; we must wrestle with these texts until we come to a right conclusion. To help us better understand Hebrews 6:1-8, I will take us through four common interpretations of the passage, briefly discuss each one, and then explain why the last interpretation makes the best exegetical, theological, and pastoral sense out of the passage. The Loss-of-Salvation View One common interpretation of this passage is called the loss-of-salvation view. According to proponents of this position, Hebrews 6:1-8 teaches that genuine believers can lose their salvation. Tasting the good Word of God and becoming a partaker of the Holy Spirit are all experiences of a believer; to fall away after having these experiences means that a person fell away from salvation. This view influenced me early on, although I believed that the Bible on the whole presented salvation as a sovereign, unchangeable, unshakable gift that neither the believer nor his spiritual enemies could undermine (John 10:27-30; Rom 8:31-39). The Hypothetical View Among Reformed theologians who hold firmly to the biblical teaching of eternal security, another view has vied for preeminence. The hypothetical view doesn’t take these warnings as prompts to self-examination (like the
tests-of-genuineness view; see below), nor does it understand the text to be teaching that a believer can lose his salvation (the loss-of-salvation view). Rather, Hebrews 6:1-8 and the other warnings in Hebrews are understood as hypothetical: that is, they explain what could happen to a genuine believer if he fell away. But because the doctrine of eternal security tells us that genuine believers can’t fall away, these descriptions of apostasy must be merely theoretical. It wasn’t until later in my Christian walk that I was exposed to this view, so it didn’t initially trouble me. The Tests-of-Genuineness View But early in my pilgrimage I was influenced mostly by an interpretation of what some have called the tests-of-genuineness view. This view states that the warnings in Hebrews, and particularly 6:1-8, are intended to distinguish between almost-believers and true believers in order to prompt professing Christians to “look back” and make sure their original profession was genuine. It is argued that those who fell away and could not be restored to repentance (v. 4) were unbelievers because true believers, we know from other clear biblical texts (e.g., Rom 8:31-39), cannot lose their salvation. What about the fact that these people tasted of the heavenly gift and the good Word of God and were partakers of the Holy Spirit? Those who hold to the test-of-genuineness view claim that these people were those who came close to salvation but never fully embraced Christ. It was this understanding of Hebrews 6:1-8 that I most deeply imbibed during the first couple years of my Christian life. It was also this view that threw me for a spiritual loop. See, I knew I had tasted of those good gifts that the author describes in the passage, but I was presently struggling with sin and doubt, and I feared that I had fallen away from Jesus, never again to experience the power of saving repentance. The tests-of-genuineness interpretation, therefore, provided no help for me. If I was an apostate, then I was finished. “Looking back” to assess my previous profession was pointless and was, actually, the crux of the entire problem: I wondered if my faith was genuine. Digging into a Troubling Passage But God would not let me go. For several months I poured over this text, longing to understand what the author of
20
Hebrews meant in this terrifying passage. After a while, God drew me out of my spiritual troubles, and I was able eventually to pull myself away from constant—nearly obsessive—attention to this tough word from God. Some time later, now on more solid spiritual ground, I reengaged the text that had brought me low only a few years prior. I saw that throughout the book of Hebrews the author expresses confidence that those to whom he is writing are Christians. For example, immediately after his severe warning in Hebrews 6:1-8, he says in verse 9, “Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation.” In Hebrews 10:39, again after a serious warning, he says, “But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.”
tize. Rather, he gives them this warning in order to prompt them to consider the horror of apostasy so that they might persevere in the faith, remain faithful to Christ, and achieve final salvation. At no point are they to doubt their salvation; indeed, they were to hold fast their confidence firm until the end because God was faithful to keep his promise (Heb 10:23). Rather, they were to use their minds to ponder the future of anyone who fell away from Christ and use this as holy motivation to move ahead in the faith. This interpretation, typically called the means-of-salvation view, makes better sense of Hebrews 6:1-8 than the other three interpretations because it fits better exegetically. We are able to take the more straightforward approach to the book by seeing the intended audience as Christians (unlike the tests-of-genuineness view), and we don’t have to blunt the terror of these warnings by claiming they are merely theoretical (like the hypothetical view). We follow the argument of the text when it has us look forward rather than look back (like the tests-of-genuineness view).
A few proponents of the tests-of-genuineness perspective make sense of these passages by suggesting that the author of Hebrews is talking throughout his letter to three different people— the unbeliever, the almost-Christian, The main point of Heand the true Christian—and we have to discern to whom he is speaking brews is to highlight the at each section of the letter. But this supremacy and finality solution works only if you assume that of Christ and the New the warnings are talking about almost-Christian or unbelievers (which Covenant over the Old is a kind of circular reasoning). ExeCovenant so that these getically, it’s more natural to understand the author of Hebrews to be struggling believers writing to one group of people: the would not turn their body of Christ.
The means-of-salvation view also makes better sense theologically. I commend those in the tests-of-genuineness camp and the “hypothetical-threat” camp for taking seriously the doctrine of eternal security. But we can’t allow theology learned from other texts, no matter how precious, to dictate our interpretation of the texts we are currently studying. In the case of Hebrews 6:1-8, “the means-of-salvation” view fits well with eternal security because it teaches us that God uses means in order back on the Savior to keep us persevering in the faith. One of The Means-of-Salvation View those means are severe warnings of what Why, then, does the author include happens if we don’t continue to exercise faith and repensuch severe warnings in a letter to Christians? The book tance. Both divine sovereignty and human responsibility of Hebrews as a whole appears to be written to Jewish are respected and maintained. Christians who were being tempted, through persecution, to abandon Christ and return to Judaism. The main point Finally, the means-of-salvation view makes the best sense of Hebrews is to highlight the supremacy and finality pastorally. As I noted above, neither the test-of-genuineof Christ and the New Covenant over the Old Covenant ness or the loss-of-salvation view can provide a Christian so that these struggling believers would not turn their with real assurance. And the hypothetical view takes the back on the Savior. The warnings, therefore, served as the bite out of these warnings so that they really serve no means by which these believers would be kept from apospurpose at all. Only the means-of-salvation interpretatasy. It is important to note that in each warning (see Hetion allows for the doctrine of eternal security and the brews 2:1-5; 3:14-19; 4:1-7; 6:1-8; 10:26-31; 12:15-17), the warnings to each have their full voice. When the assured author instructs his readers to look forward to what would Christian is confronted by these warnings, he or she will happen if they apostatized, not look back to determine if take every measure to make sure they persevere to final their original profession of faith was genuine. salvation and never fall away. In such cases, the warnings have served their function and believers remain confident Taking Hebrews 6:1-8 as our example, we see that the auof their salvation while pressing forward to the consumthor at no point assumes any of his readers had apostamation of it. † tized, nor did he indicate that they probably would aposta-
21
GraceNotes | Fall 2017
Thoughts
95 Years of Grace Jasmine Patton, Associate Editor of GraceNotes
Titus 2:3-5 reads, “Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.” The Lord in His infinite wisdom and sovereignty has entrusted the learning of younger women to the care of older women (Titus 2:3-8). Younger women can glean much understanding by not only conversing with older believers, but by observing how their lives are a reflection of God’s Word. Happy Beatty, a 95-yearold beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great grandmother and saint, is a paragon of a Titus 2 older woman. Her steadfast commitment to the Lord coupled with a deep hunger for His Word have led Happy to exemplify what joy looks like. Her joy is so overwhelming that anyone who encounters her is forced to ponder, “where does this joy come from?” Within any two minutes of speaking with her, it becomes unmistakably clear that the roots lie solely in a love for God and His Word. While Happy epitomizes a number of godly qualities, her love for God’s Word has particularly encouraged me. Anyone who has visited Happy can testify that she has an unequivocal love for Scripture. As much as she enjoys socializing with people, it is pretty safe to say Happy has a much greater desire to hear God’s Word. She constantly reminds me of 1 Peter 2:2-3 which states, “like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.” Happy deeply thirsts for the unadulterated Word of God the way a runner thirsts for water after a long race. However, because of her very poor vision, she heavily relies on people to read her the Word. This has given rise to one of her top prayer requests: to receive more and more visitors that will fulfill that desire. And it is such a joy to do so. Furthermore, Happy does not only love parts of Scripture, she loves and values every single verse. Every time before reading with her, I ask if she would like me to read a particular portion of Scripture. I await her usual answer of, “You choose. I love them all.” Another time I asked her if she had a favorite book of the Bible, expecting typical answers like “Romans” or “John.” She
joyfully answered, “I don’t think so. They are all important.” If there is one thing she has taught me (though there are many, many more), it is that “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work” (2 Tim 3:16-17). During one of my favorite visits with Happy, I remember reading five entire books of the Bible, and after each book, she would say “How about another book?” I left feeling so blessed to have met a woman who never tires of the Word of God and holds it in the highest esteem. Happy wholeheartedly believes what the psalmist makes clear: God’s Word is “more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey” (Ps 19:10). She believes the truth with which so many of us grapple: nothing satisfies like the God Who makes Himself known in the Bible (Ps 16:11). Before her vision started to deteriorate, Happy led a Bible study at the Cedar Crest Rehabilitation center for anyone who wanted to hear the Word of God. She was blessed to teach others and counted it a privilege to share the wisdom the Lord have given her. She highly valued biblical instruction. In fact, in describing the reason she loves GBF, Happy immediately pointed to GBF’s biblical teaching. She added, “It makes me happy that people at GBF want to learn the truth of God’s Word.” Happy has encouraged me of the truth that bathing oneself in the Word and prayer every day is essential to the Christian walk. In the same way our bodies require water daily to function properly, our souls require pure milk of the Word to walk constantly in the Spirit. Spending time with Happy has been an absolute joy and blessing. Her words and actions are purposeful, full of wisdom and love, and always leave me thinking about the Lord. After every visit, I am filled with a desire to love God with my whole heart, mind and soul. That is what encouragement truly looks like. I will leave you with a piece of advice Happy had for younger women: “Follow the words of the Bible with all your heart and don’t let anything else get in the way.” †
22
Interview with Paige Burgess Wife | Mother | Home School Teacher | Traveler
Interview with Jasmine Patton, Associate Editor of GraceNotes
Where did you grow up? Paige: I moved a lot growing up because of my dad’s work. The places that feel a little like home are the Chicago area and Colorado. The longest we lived anywhere while I was growing up was four years. When and how were you saved? Paige: I grew up loving the Lord and had a personal relationship with Christ. However, I had a worldview crisis when I got to adulthood as a result of not receiving the kind of worldview training that parents have available today. I was shocked by a lack of harmony in what I was taught, what I believed, and what I was seeing in the world when I entered secular university. I began to wonder if all the things I believed to be true growing up were indeed true. I discovered how hard it is to live as a committed Christian when
23
GraceNotes | Fall 2017
you are “going against the world” in every area of your life. You need to be sure that your faith is true in order to honor that commitment. I found exploring apologetics and other faiths part of the journey I had to take. After a period of struggling with doubts, I read Gregory Boyd’s Letters From a Skeptic and found it to be a very honest and thorough response to genuine reasons that Boyd’s Dad doubted the Christian faith. Upon finishing the book, I started to systemically work through on paper all of the questions that were keeping me from wholeheartedly committing to Christ. With much prayer and dedicated study, the Lord quieted my doubts and increased my faith. Now, my life is characterized by absolute certainty that Jesus was God sent to earth as a human to save me from my sin. I have a hope that is greater than any trial I will face. Even unto death, I will follow Christ.
How many kids do you have and what are their ages? Paige: Trevor is 13 and is about to start attending a public high school, Homestead, after being homeschooled most of his life. Jason is 12 and will continue to be homeschooled. What do you do now for a living? Paige: Most of my work is unpaid since I am a homeschooling mom. However, I have been the nursery director at GBF for about 5 years. My job entails scheduling and recruiting volunteers, implementing new things like the check-in system and background checks, and responding to various needs that arise. In addition, we have a casual pet sitting business in our home. When did you and your family start attending GBF?
Paige: We started attending GBF September 19, 2009, almost 8 years ago. What made you decide to be a member? Paige: When we originally began attending GBF, it was the church that best met our requirements: elder-led, expository teaching, and a young earth creation view that was consistent with what we were teaching our boys. I had never before attended a church that required membership. My hus-
committee that’s focused on supporting GBF’s missions goals. I have also joined the new evangelism ministry that will be focused on outreaching to nonbelievers. Our family is always looking for hospitality opportunities; we enjoy sharing our home. I also enjoy discipling and being discipled by other women. What are some blessings you have experienced since attending GBF and specifically since you began serving as the nursery coordinator?
big blessing has been excellent male role models for our boys and the deep teaching they receive even as young men. What do you enjoy doing in your free time? Paige: I love sitting in a café with a good friend or my laptop or a good book, an excellent cappuccino and a pastry. Biking, hiking, camping, kayaking and playing board games or watching movies at home gives me joy. I also enjoy travelling very much. What is something most people at GBF don’t know about you?
band, Robert, and I appreciated and agreed with the reason GBF gives for membership: if our pastors are to be shepherds, they need to be able to identify their sheep. We submit to their authority, and, in exchange, gain their oversight and counsel. We also appreciated the accountability to the elders. What ministries are you involved with at GBF? Paige: I am the nursery coordinator and have recently joined the newly formed missions
Paige: Being the nursery coordinator gives me the chance to get to know a lot of people – both adults and kids. I also end up meeting many people outside my age group, and am one of the first to notice people new to GBF, if they have children. I love seeing how God provides what is needed in the nursery ministry. I have enjoyed Sam Kim’s Sunday School teaching over many years. Other blessings include getting to serve alongside others, being discipled by two women, and getting to know others well whom I have discipled or served with. A
Paige: First, regarding travel, I have visited 53 countries, and lived briefly in both Egypt and London. Second, when I was a baby, I had a disease called xanthogranuloma. My parents were told that at age 2, it would either go away or transition to another disease that would cause me to become a mentally-impaired midget. How can the GBF body be praying for you? Paige: Please pray for direction for Robert and I for our family and for us to have parental wisdom as Trevor and Jason are transitioning into manhood. I always appreciate prayer for Robert and I to grow in love and tenderness toward one another as the years go by. Finally, please pray that God would give me meaningful kingdom work in every season of my life and that I may be faithful.†
24
Feature
Discipling Women Through Small Groups Jessica Ho, Member at GBF
When I was asked to write an article about my experience and wisdom in discipling women in small groups, I was truly humbled. I am convinced that Jesus is the ultimate founder and leader of any small group, and I have merely been following the direction that He has given me through prayer. The Bible taught me to pray without ceasing (1 Thess 5:17), and to pray according to Scripture (John 15:7). It is through biblical prayers that God has allowed me to create, shepherd, sustain, and protect the small group that He sovereignly put together. Firstly, God moved my heart through prayer to establish my small group. In 2008, God worked through me to propose dividing an existing accountability group that was getting too large into smaller groups. As one of the new leaders, I spent a lot of time searching Scripture and asking for God’s guidance for the goal of my small group. In the end, God led me to focus on cultivating the time and the security necessary for women to be truly vulnerable with one another, thereby praying for each other deeply and effectively (James 5:16). As a result, every aspect of our group is centered around that focus. To encourage confidentiality, I keep my group very small and we meet every other week in the privacy of my home. To grow our affection for each other, I prepare home-cooked meals so we can begin each meeting by enjoying each others’ company over dinner. To emphasize meaningful sharing and prayer, we spend the majority of our time together praising the Lord, interceding for each other, and sharing God’s revelation through His Word. I also make binders for each woman so we can record all our sharing. This continuous documentation has become a powerful testimony of God’s faithfulness in His answered prayers over the years. I am convinced that it was only because of God’s prompting through prayer that our small group has been able to faithfully continue on this focus and format for the last 8 years!
25
GraceNotes | Fall 2017
Secondly, prayer continues to be a priority in order for me to minister effectively. Before every small group night, I take time to prepare my heart by being in God’s Word and going to Him in prayer. Specifically, I ask Him to glorify Himself, unify our small group, equip me, and sanctify each member. During small group time, prayer is the biggest component of our meeting. There were also occasions when the Holy Spirit prompted me to reach out to a member outside of the group setting. It was often through these ad hoc, one-on-one meetings that I was able to better assess a sister’s needs and struggles. Sometimes the conversations required encouragement; other times, exhortation. Each relationship is unique and each situation is different. Thus, each interaction necessitates discernment and sensitivity that could only come from seeking wisdom from God
through prayer. Thirdly, prayer is crucial to manage the departure and addition of members, along with the evolving group dynamics. In the last eight years, I have had a total of six member departures. Each time, I asked God to reveal to me a sister who would benefit from the intent and purpose of the group. Amazingly, God always made Himself clear on whom He wanted me to pursue, and moved the hearts of all the existing members to welcome our new addition without reservation. Every woman in the history of the small group brought their own unique personality and temperament, and every transition brought unique changes to the group dynamics. Yet, God has graciously enabled all of us to fully embrace one another along with the sanctification that each transition brought. This was only possible because of God’s intercession through prayer! Finally, God has taught me to arm myself with prayer to guard
against Satan’s attacks. Satan loves to destroy that which pleases the Lord, and fruitful relationships through small group are no exception. I specifically remember a time when I gave in to the devil’s lies. I felt as though there was no fruit in my ministry, and that I was not able to build deep relationships despite my greatest effort. I was so discouraged that I was often in tears after each small group meeting. To be honest, I wanted to quit! Thankfully God spoke through my discipler, Debbie, who encouraged me to continue to be faithful. In the following years of my perseverance, God conquered my uncertainties and allowed relationships and spiritual growth to blossom in our small group in ways beyond my imagination.
Hope House Boys Orphanage Guadalajara, Mexico
I am now convinced that Satan is an expert at using doubt and discouragement to break down ministries and relationships. Be-
Mission Navida is Coming Soon GBF collects gifts for the boys at Hope House and pastor Bob delivers them with a message about the true meaning of Christmas. The gifts being delivered represent the gift of salvation that Christ brings to man.
Sign-ups Start in October
Contact Pastor Bob with Questions cause of that, I have committed myself to be in the Word daily to discern truth and ask for the Spirit’s help regularly to deliver our small group from the evil one. Satan is actively seeking out people to devour, but God has given me a strong line of defense through prayer. What an honor and privilege it has been to participate in His work by abiding in Him through prayer! “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in Me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). Every time I think of how the Lord created, shepherded, sustained, and protected our small group, I am reminded of His great love and faithfulness to us. Every time I pray with my small group of like-minded sisters, I get a glimpse of what heaven will be like with the unity of the saints, singing praises to Jesus. May we all pray unceasingly and biblically, so that we may be led by the Holy Spirit to do His good work. May our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, receive all the glory, now and forever! Amen. †
26
GBF Press
653 Fremont Avenue Sunnyvale, CA 94087