Christian Standard | January 2021 by Christian Standard Media

fr o m th e pu bli sh er

10 Foundation Stones of the Church N o . 9: giving

t’s clear from reading Acts 2:42-47 that the early church was a generous church—and not simply generous, but contagiously generous. Scripture offers no hint that generosity was considered a burden; rather, it was a privilege. The people responded immediately by selling their houses and not considering material possessions as their own. The people freely gave and shared so that no needy people were among them. Such generosity was not dictated by the government or enforced by law; instead, it was done in response to one another and to God. In contrast, people in churches today can be filled with personal hang-ups to giving. Some might express concern about how the church might use “their” money, neglecting the authority issue that we discussed in an

earlier article. Others might consider suggestions that people bring a tithe as an Old Testament concept rather than a New Testament concept, ignoring Jesus’ words in Matthew 23:23 about not “neglecting the former.” Others might complain that church staff is paid too much. On this point, I would agree, and not because of the amount of our paychecks, but the intensity of our calling. We can’t believe we get paid for our ministry in God’s service! We sold out to Jesus and want to spend the rest of our lives telling others about him. The fact that we get paid to do so is amazing! For the sake of perspective, consider that if most church staff members were employed as teachers in the local school system, they would receive a raise. As it stands,

j a nua ry 20 21 3

many on the staffs of churches moonlight by mowing lawns, refereeing games, serving as substitute teachers, fixing cars, or driving for Lyft to make room in their budget to live out their calling. But the greatest hang-up can be summed up by the often-used phrase, “All the church cares about is my money!” A pastor friend tells a story about a coach who approached him and said those very words. My friend’s response was bold and enlightening. He turned the tables on the coach by accusing him of only caring about money! He asked the coach if he negotiated his contract (because the pastor didn’t). The pastor said he had to pay every time he attended a game, otherwise he couldn’t even enter the arena. Beyond charging for tickets, the coach’s team engaged in multiple fundraisers. There were special parking spots for high-level boosters, a special food-filled hospitality room for big givers, and (of course) those same folks received the best seats closest to the floor. At a church, by contrast, there is no entry fee, no season tickets, no special room for big givers, no special parking or privileges. At church, we counsel people, feed people, serve their kids, minister to engaged and married couples, visit them in the hospital, and conduct their graveside service . . . all without ever sending them a bill. Generosity is a core concept of the New Testament church and here are four ways to promote it. 1. Preach it. We can’t expect the church to become generous unless we preach generosity boldly and with deep conviction. If we preach on marriage, people lean in, because a high percentage of marriages are headed for divorce. We preach about pornography because statistics show that 60 percent of people are engaging in it monthly. In most churches, 75 percent of folks are struggling in the area of giving. This means we have an issue, especially if we believe God expects us to be generous. 2. Celebrate it. Many churches have stopped passing offering plates or buckets for fear of offending someone. While much of our giving is now done online, it still

must be a high priority in our services as a demonstration of our love for God and our acknowledgement of what he has done for us. It’s a moment to declare we are his and we seek to give back to him; it’s not a time for hiding our blessings from him or minimalizing them. 3. Exhibit faith, not fear. Proverbs 11:24-25, 28 says, “One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. . . . Those who trust in their riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.” Scripture tells us the righteous live by faith. Righteous people trust God, they believe God, they believe it is more blessed to give than to receive, and they believe you can’t take it with you, but you can send it on ahead. 4. Step out. Stepping out in generosity can look different for every person. One person might give for the first time. Another person might start giving consistently for the first time. It might mean giving sacrificially or tithing for the first time. John 6:5-13 tells the incredible story of the multiplication of fish and bread from a boy’s lunch. That story can teach us three things about stepping out. First, your gift may not look like much, but God can use it in a mighty way. Our possession—our gift—simply must pass from our hands to his hands. Second, even though a gift may seem small, it can bless multitudes. And third, we must recognize that the crowd witnessed and benefited from the miracle, but the boy who gave the fish and bread was an integral part of the miracle. Be part of the miracle!

Jerry Harris is publisher of Christian Standard Media and senior pastor of The Crossing, a multisite church located in three states across the Midwest. @_jerryharris /jerrydharris

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In Every Issue 2-3 | from the publisher

How to Read Scripture Correctly: A New Challenge for a New Year Megan Rawlings

8-9 | BOLD

6-7 | from the Editor

10-11 | HORIZONS Ministr y to Muslims Provides Relief and Grow th Laura McKillip Wood

the pandemic's effect on . . .

church f inances

22 26 32 36

colorado

PEOPLE-FIRST FINANCES Aaron Couch south carolina

OPPORTUNITY & OPEN DOORS Tina Wilson illinois

G O D D I D N ' T S TO P W H E N T H E PA N D E M I C S TA R T E D Dee Ann Billings georgia

A RENAISSANCE REBIRTH Orpheus J. Heyward

parachurch organizations

42 48 54 60

12-13 |

e2:EFFECTIVE ELDERS ‘In God We Trust ’? Gar y L. Johnson

14-15 | METRICS Money Strategies for Ministr y Kent E. Fillinger

how the pandemic impacted

CIY Andy Hansen how the pandemic impacted

CHRISTIAN COLLEGES Justin Horey how the pandemic impacted

PLANTING CHURCHES Phil Claycomb how the pandemic impacted

CONSTRUCTION LOANS Melissa Wuske

16-17 | MINISTRYLIFE

94-95 | INTERACT

God’s Messenger in Seat 21C Rick Chromey

72-93 | THE LOOKOUT

96 | THE FINAL WORD

f r o m th e edi to r

The Reminders We Need

hen we began planning this month’s issue about how the pandemic (and other 2020 perils) have impacted church and parachurch finances, I figured this would be our “bad news” issue. O me of little faith. When I asked leaders to write about this topic, several apologized for having little or no bad news to report. A recurring theme through these articles is how much God blessed their ministries, how he opened doors like never before during the pandemic, how giving actually increased (exponentially in some cases), how God worked for the good in all the struggles to do what only he can do. One of the best things the pandemic did was remind us who is Lord.

When we face trials, God often shouts to us, “I am the Lord, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God” (Isaiah 45:5), a reminder he repeated to his struggling people at least seven times in that one chapter. Like the Israelites, we need to be reminded over and over that he is God—not the organization we’ve built, not our successes, not our meeting places, and not our metrics. We are too easily prone to create and bow down to other gods. How foolish of us. I need God’s reminders—and I presume you do, too— about the true state of reality rather than the limited viewpoint of evening news anchors and Twitter. We need God’s ultimate perspective on his world. We need to remember: God’s arm is not too short, nothing is impossible for him, he will not grow tired. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power

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of the weak. He is for us (so who can be against us?). He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He will never forsake us, and he will be with us to the end of the age. He loves us with an everlasting love. Even if the mountains are shaken and the hills removed, his unfailing love for us will not be shaken and his covenant of peace will not be removed. I could go on and on, of course. God’s Word is replete with these kinds of reminders because God knows how much we need them. The people in our spheres of influence need to remember these truths as well. It’s our responsibility to remind them. I realize some churches and parachurch ministries experienced bad news during 2020. Many of the Bible passages that point to God’s sovereignty and power were written to God’s people and his church in the midst of bad-news circumstances. Through Old Testament prophets and New Testament disciples, God addressed people who felt abandoned, faced ruthless enemies, were in captivity or at war, were persecuted, and seemingly had no hope. They desperately needed reminders that God was still God . . . and so do we. I want to remind you that Jesus is still building his church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. He may cut off branches that are not bearing fruit and he may prune fruit-bearing branches so they will bear more fruit. I believe our Gardener-Father was putting his pruning shears and chainsaw to good use through the events of 2020 and he will continue to do so in 2021. He will also plant new seeds and send new workers into his harvest fields, both in the United States and internationally, and we must continue to ask him to do so. He will continue to do his part and we must continue to do ours. Remember, he will not do it without us, and we cannot do it without him! God’s Word excels at giving us the perspective we need—God’s perspective—regardless of earthly circumstances. It reminds people who look at their adverse financial status, difficult relational situation, or other

ponderous life challenges that with God there is hope, that he can do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine. It is an incredible blessing to hear and read stories like the ones in this issue of God’s power and provision. Each one is another real-life reminder of the truth that our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! P.S. I want to let our regular readers know that we are planning some exciting new steps at Christian Standard this year. A common theme last year for churches and other ministries (and all types of organizations, for that matter) was the need to “pivot” as we discern how to understand the times and know what we should do (cf. 1 Chronicles 12:32). As times change, we as a Christian media company must also pivot to remain relevant, effective, and fruitful. We will continue to be steadfast in helping the church carry out its mission to make disciples in biblically sound, financially prudent ways. Please stay tuned in the upcoming months as we share our plans. @michaelcmack @michaelcmack @michaelcmack /authormichaelcmack

bold

or years, I would commit to reading through the Bible in just 12 months. And every year, by mid-February, I would have to start playing catch-up. By the time March rolled around, my reading plan would be so thrown off I would resolve to double up on Scripture reading every day just to get back on track. Why did this happen again and again?

How to Read Scripture Correctly: A New Challenge for a New Year by Megan Rawlings

I think there were two main reasons for my struggles in sticking with a Bible reading plan. In some ways, “life” would just get in the way, but the main reason was the Pentateuch—that is, the first five books of the Bible. I had a difficult time reconciling how so many rules and regulations could mean anything to me, a 21st-century woman. Then I read a short passage from the New Testament that resonated with me: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). I did a quick word study on the word all and found that the Greek word actually means all in English! But how can everything in the Old Testament, especially those hard-toread books and sections, be useful to me as a Christian? I concluded I had not been reading Scripture correctly.

T he P robl em w i t h Re a ding bu t No t S t udy ing t he Bibl e To be candid, I frequently would choose to listen to some of the more daunting parts of Scripture via a Bible app rather than read them. I never retained what I read in sections about tabernacle measurements and the seemingly endless genealogies anyway, and frankly, I didn’t really want to. Imagine my surprise when my high school science teacher asked me how many of each type of animal were on the ark. “Two, of course,” I answered confidently. “That’s incorrect,” he replied. Without hesitation, he had me open my Bible and showed me in Genesis that there were seven pairs of clean animals and a single pair of unclean animals. How did I miss that? I had read Genesis too many times to count. It turned out, that was the problem. I read through Genesis and the rest of the Bible, but I did not study it.

“

When I slowed down and studied those books I thought were so “useless,” I came to appreciate their imLeviticus teaches us about the holiness of portance and why Christians need G o d a n d h o w u n h o ly w e a r e . W e n e e d t o u n d e r to read them. Leviticus teaches us s ta n d t h e c o n c e p t o f h o l i n e s s m o r e t h a n e v e r . about the holiness of God and how unholy we are. We need to understand the concept of holiness more than ever. It was in the small nuggets of truth that I came to realize that if I read the entire Bible in 365 days but missed the point of it all, I was doing myself no favors.

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The Benefit of Reading Scripture through the Lens of Jesus

A pastor told his congregation that every person needed a “Saul” in their life, because without a Saul there was no opportunity to be a David. “You won’t be able to fight your Goliaths if you never accept that you are David,” he said. The sermon was passionate and full of encouragement about how people can overcome their giants. Not too long after that, I heard another pastor, upon reaching the key moment of his sermon, yell out to the crowd, “You are not David!” I was confused. How could I not be David if I am facing all these “giants” in my life? Then I learned that all Scripture, especially the Old Testament, points to Jesus. In John 5:39, Jesus told a group of Jews, “You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me!” (New Living Translation). The story of David and Goliath isn’t about me overcoming my challenges; it’s about Jesus overcoming humanity’s sin. David had five stones when he fought Goliath. Jesus had five wounds. Two in his hands, two in his feet, and the spear wound in his side. These were the means by which he combated humanity’s sin—that is, a Goliathsized sin. Let me give you an example from the second book of the Pentateuch. When we read Exodus through the lens of Jesus, we see the intricacy of the descriptions and details that serve as allegories of Jesus’ life. For example, the ark of the covenant—which was a box covered in gold with two cherubim on its lid—was where the Holy Spirit dwelled. Once a year, on the Day of Atonement, the high priest would step behind the veil that separated mankind and God and sprinkle the blood of a sacrifice between the cherubim to atone for the sins of Israel that year. Fast-forward to the Gospel of John. Mary walked into the tomb and saw two angels—one at the head and one at the foot of where Jesus had lain. Between the angels was the blood from Christ’s brutal murder, the final and forever sacrifice that atoned for our sins. By not taking time to study, I had missed the beauty in this connection and how it pointed to Christ.

My Challenge for You This Year This year I’m issuing a bold challenge to you. Instead of reading through the Bible in a year, I suggest you pick one or two books of the Bible and spend the year intensely studying them. But, if you choose to read the entire Bible in 365 days, I suggest you read the Old Testament with an eye toward how it foreshadowed Jesus and his gospel. Don’t let the privilege of studying Scripture become a chore. 

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Megan Rawlings is the founder and CEO of The Bold Movement. She is an extrovert, pastor’s wife, and lover of the Scriptures. /tbmministry @tbm_ministry @tbm_ministry @theboldmovement theboldmovement.com

horizons

assan stepped off the bank and felt the river water swirl around his ankles. He took another step, his confidence growing. He knew his choice to follow Jesus was the right one. He grasped his wife’s hand and smiled at her. They’d come a long way in the last few years. Tears welled in his eyes as he remembered how his desire for revenge had almost endangered the lives of his family. When he found the tortured, lifeless bodies of his father and brother on his doorstep in Syria one horrible morning, he had decided to exact revenge on the regime that killed them. He was preparing to fight in the war when his wife convinced him to take her and their young children to safety in Jordan first. Reluctantly, he agreed, and they made the dangerous journey.

Ministry to Muslims Provides Relief and Growth

Arriving with only the clothes on their backs, they were met by a group of Christians who work to help Syrian refugees resettle in Jordan. Through the relationships that formed, Hassan was shown the love of Jesus, and he realized his need for Jesus. The process of fleeing his homeland, resettling in a new place, and healing from the wounds of the past led him to be baptized in the Jordan River that day. As the waters closed over his head, he felt the freedom provided by Christ’s sacrifice. He came out of the water and declared his anger was gone. He would stay in Jordan and raise his family in peace!

by Laura McKillip Wood

Finding a Place Matt Nance has seen many Muslim people like Hassan whose lives have been changed forever by the power and healing presence of God. Matt grew up in North Carolina and spent three summers in high school working as a missionary in Peru. Before heading to college, he traveled the world doing similar work for three years. Eventually he returned to the United States to attend Johnson University. During college, Matt worked nights at a local homeless shelter. There he met Susan, who also worked at the shelter, and they eventually married.

“

Matt liked Middle Eastern cultures and knew he wanted to work with Muslims, so when he was offered the chance to work with a new team going to Syria, he felt sure this was God’s plan for him. He and Susan went on a vision trip to he and susan went on a vision trip to syria. Syria. They fell in love with the they fell in love with the country and its people. country and its people. “Unfortunately, by the time we had our support raised and completed the necessary training, the civil war in Syria prevented us from moving there,” Matt says. Instead, they moved to Jordan and began language training.

“Our social work backgrounds [working with the homeless] quickly became useful when we partnered with a local Arab church to distribute aid and minister to the refugees all around us,” Matt says. The Nances became immersed in the local Christian community during the next few years as they worked together to reach out to Syrian and Iraqi Christian refugees. They spent nearly eight years in Jordan and eventually began focusing their efforts on long-term projects like entrepreneurship development, a home-based medical outreach, and education projects for refugee children.

Making a Move In February 2020, Matt took over leadership of the Christian Holy Land Foundation (CHLF) and transitioned away from the organization he and his wife served with in Jordan. They still support the ministries they started there, but they do not work directly in the ministry. CHLF is a Restoration Movement organization founded in the mid1980s to partner with Arabic-speaking congregations in Israel. Its primary focus right now is on the Galilee area, but it also hosts several annual training events that bring together people from around the region. “We believe the indigenous local church in the Middle East is the key to effective outreach and peace building in the region,” Matt says. “We seek to support and advocate for those native believers as they share the good news with their neighbors.” CHLF also uses its platform to educate its American network of friends and supporters through teaching seminars and missional trips to the Holy Land. CHLF wants to expand its base of ministry to Israel and Palestine as a whole, and eventually to neighboring countries. The foundation partners with local Middle-Eastern believers through grants to support outreach efforts. Matt says he commonly encounters American believers who are surprised to learn Arab Christians exist and have a 2,000-year-old history in the Holy Land. “We think our ministry is well-suited to connect American and Arab believers in global missional friendships.” Matt says one of the best things about his job is seeing the local church come alive through outreach. Hassan’s discovery of the freedom available through Christ was just one illustration of this. An Arab Christian friend of the Nance family once told Matt that she hated Muslims. Then she befriended a young Muslim mom. A year later, this same Arab woman called Matt and joyfully exclaimed that her friend had accepted Christ. “She is

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a new person,” the woman told him. The former Muslim woman’s life had changed, but so had her Christian friend’s. Their joy affected Matt’s heart too. God worked in three people through this one friendship!

Before long, thousands of Syrian refugees flooded into the country.

Fa c i n g C h a l l e n g e s Ministry among Muslims and refugees in the Middle East demands that the Nances navigate a political and theological minefield with their supporters. “We have lost significant financial support when supporters felt that we were not on the same page politically,” Matt says. “Our ministry is nonpolitical, though. We simply want to see Christ known and for communities to be transformed by the good news. We are blessed that the majority of our supporters share this desire and [that] we enjoy a diverse support network.” When Matt and Susan see lives changed through the work of CHLF and the ministry in Jordan, they know this challenge is worth it! 

abou t the au thor

Laura McKillip Wood, former missionary to Ukraine, now lives in Papillion, Nebraska. She serves as an on-call chaplain at Children’s Hospital and Medical Center in Omaha. She and her husband, Andrew, have three teenagers. /laura.wood2 @woodlaura30 @woodlaura30 lauramckillipwood.com lauramckillipwood@gmail.com

e 2 :e f f e c t i v e e l d e r s

couple of exciting events took place in 1956. First, I was born, which was pretty exciting for me. Second, our federal government adopted the official motto, “In God We Trust.” That phrase quickly was stamped onto our currency and coin, where it remains today. Why did America adopt a motto in 1956? We were fighting a Cold War with the Soviet Union, a superpower that championed atheism. While the U.S.S.R. contended God did not exist, the United States not only declared his existence, but that our nation trusted in him.

‘In God We Trust’? by Gary L. Johnson

“In God We Trust” is more than a motto—it is a way of life. It’s rather paradoxical, then, that we often have a hard time trusting God, especially when it comes to money. COVID-19 forced us to ask: Do we “trust in God” or not? The pandemic impacted the finances of both individuals and congregations, and in 2020, we had to come to grips with truly trusting in God. Tens of thousands of businesses closed and millions of Americans lost their jobs during the coronavirus pandemic. Suddenly, individuals, families, and congregations were thrown into financial chaos. Not everyone could turn to their savings (many people don’t have savings); a great number of people remain unemployed to this day. Numerous congregations didn’t meet in-person for weeks (or longer), and when regathering did occur, the onsite numbers typically were smaller than they were previously. Some churches saw decreased giving, budget cuts, and staff reductions. Our money declares, “In God We Trust,” but do we? As we leave 2020 behind and enter a new year, the fact remains: Whatever might lie ahead, we must authentically trust God. Here’s how.

S ta r t D o i n g T h i s Jesus taught his disciples to trust him. This is the central lesson from the only miracle recorded in all four Gospels, the feeding of the five thousand (see Matthew 14:13-21; Mark 6:3244; Luke 9:10-17; John 6:1-15). When told of John the immerser’s execution, Jesus wanted to be alone. He went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, and massive crowds followed him. When Jesus saw the crowds, he had compassion on them and healed their sick and demonpossessed, but then he did one more thing. He fed them. As evening approached, the people became hungry. Their stomachs were growling. Remember, first-century folks did not eat three meals a day like us. They were fortunate to enjoy one meal a day, and in this remote place, the several thousand people in this crowd were famished. If they tried to hike back to their homes, they might collapse on the way. It’s no surprise the disciples were unnerved when Jesus told them, “You give them something to eat.”

Jesus had the people sit down in groups of fifty and a hundred, and then he took a boy’s “happy meal” of five loaves of bread and two fish, gave thanks to God, and fed the multitude. Scripture says he gave the food to the disciples, and they in turn took the food to the people. Think about what that looked like. Five thousand men— plus women and children—sitting in groups across an enormous grassy field, with a catering crew of 12 men taking food to them, time and time again. How many trips did the disciples make? They would deliver the food and then go back to Jesus to replenish their supply, then take it to the people, who ate seconds and even thirds! The text says the multitude “ate and were satisfied,” meaning they were stuffed. Moreover, the disciples collected 12 baskets of leftovers, which served as an exclamation point to this lesson; it was like Jesus saying to his disciples, “What you need for them, you get from me.” Jesus used this miracle to teach his followers then—and now—to turn to him, go to him, and trust in him for all we need for them. Who are the “thems” in your life and mine? Our spouse, children, grandchildren, aging parents? Perhaps the “thems” in our lives are the people we shepherd and care for in our church. No matter how great the needs of those for whom we care, elders must start to trust in God—once and for all. What we need for them, we get from him.

Stop Doing This

We can thank Elisha Otis for making elevators safe in the mid-1800s. (And Otis Worldwide Corp. continues to be the largest manufacturer of elevators and escalators in the world.) Though he didn’t invent elevators, Elisha Otis devised a braking system that instilled the public’s confidence in a product that made taller buildings practical. Otis’s invention became known as the “safety elevator.” Still, Otis initially had trouble selling them. Finally, to prove his product was reliable, Otis displayed his elevator at the 1854 Exhibition at New York’s Crystal Palace in downtown Manhattan. Repeatedly, Otis stood on the platform of his open-air elevator that was lifted high above the crowd. When Otis gave the order to cut the rope holding the elevator, the crowd was worried. But instead of plummeting to the floor, the elevator’s braking/ safety device automatically stopped the platform after it had dropped only an inch or two. “Thereupon,” according to an American Heritage article from 1978, “Otis would . . . take off his top hat, bow deeply, and announce, ‘All safe, gentlemen, all safe!’” Otis elevators sold briskly after that because people began to trust the creator of its safety brakes. In this new year, stop worrying and start trusting our Creator. After all, whatever we need for them, we get from him.  abou t the au thor

Jesus had yet another lesson for his disciples in his Sermon on the Mount. In that exhortation, Jesus commanded his followers three times, “Do not worry” (Matthew 6:25, 31, 34). Our culture feasts on fear, and fear produces worry. The media spreads panic by the way it reports bad news day after day. Throughout the pandemic, death tolls and statistics of positive test results scrolled on television and computer screens. America was fed a constant menu of bad news—and not just about COVID-19, for there were international tragedies, as well. Remember, we become what we eat, and all last year, consuming the bad news filled us with worry and anxiety. We contracted a case of the “what ifs”: What if I lose my job? What if I get COVID-19 and can’t work? What if I can’t make the rent or house payment? What if my car is repossessed? What if? . . . When we repeatedly and consistently turn to Jesus for all we and our loved ones need, we will stop worrying. In his sermon that day long ago, Jesus preached, “Can any one

Dr. Gary Johnson served 30 years with Indian Creek Christian Church (The Creek) in Indianapolis, retiring last year. He is a cofounder of e2: effective elders, which he now serves as executive director.

/e2elders @e2elders

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of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” (Matthew 6:27). We obsess with living longer, so we diet, exercise, take supplements, and more. Worry robs us of health and happiness. We need to obsess with turning to—and trusting in—God!

Yet, Jesus already had in mind what he was going to do. Jesus was going to teach his disciples a lesson they would never forget—a lesson each of us must learn today.

metrics

oney helps fuel ministry, so it’s critical for leaders to pause and understand the state of their church’s finances as they start a new year. I encourage leaders to consider short-term strategies to keep their congregation focused on the mission and a long-term approach to develop disciples who are generous. Here are four steps you can take to improve the short-term and long-term financial health of your church.

Conduct a “Giving Audit” People’s giving habits can be indications of their spiritual journey; a church typically has givers at various points on that journey. PushPay identified the following eight categories of givers in a church:

Money Strategies for Ministry by Kent E. Fillinger

• First-time givers: people who have been moved to make a first-time gift within the last 30 days • Second-time givers: people who followed up their initial gift with another one • Occasional givers: people who are sporadic or undisciplined in their giving • Regular givers: people with giving habits you could set your watch by • Recurring givers: people who have set up their giving to happen automatically • At-risk givers: people whose giving has recently stopped or who have paused their recurring giving • Lapsed givers: people who have completely stopped giving over the last 120 days • Top givers: people who carry a lot of the church’s financial burdens Recurring givers are the best givers in your church. Studies show that recurring givers contribute 42 percent more than typical givers and 28 percent more than nonrecurring givers. Here are some questions to consider as you review the results of your giving audit: How many givers did your church have in each category prior to COVID-19? How has each category of givers changed since the pandemic? What are your strategies for following up with and connecting with each type of giver? What do you know about your “at-risk” and “lapsed” givers and how the pandemic has impacted them?

A s s e s s t h e F i n a n c i a l H e a lt h o f Y o u r C h u r c h Churches of any size have three basic metrics for understanding their financial health.

Daily operating expenses have an impact on everything the church does. These expenses include fixed costs like church staffing, operational expenses (i.e., mortgage, utilities, janitorial services, etc.), missions giving, and other established expenses of your church. Debt includes capital expenditures, loans, and bonds. It’s imperative that churches closely track their debt and work to address any unexpected deficits. In my experience, churches and church leaders often don’t have a good handle on how they are doing in these three areas. Plus, I’ve seen too many lead pastors who choose to “put their heads in the sand” and leave the finances to someone else. Awareness is an asset, especially during rapidly changing times. And pastors can be aware of their church’s financial condition without micromanaging it. When the pastor has a good understanding of the church’s financial situation, he can provide better reports to the congregation.

“

Outputs are the activities and programs your church provides for your congregation and the community. For example, most churches tend to tell the congregation something like, “We have a dozen new small-group Bible studies meeting online since the pandemic started.” This report could be encouraging to some. But if you told of the life change or spiritual growth of one person who has become involved in one of those new online small groups, that would be sharing an outcome. Typically, outcomes also energize people to engage and to give. Finding outcomes to share can take a little more work, but when you emphasize outcomes more than outputs, people’s ears will perk up and they will respond. 

awa r e n e s s i s a n a s s e t, e s p e c i a l ly d u r i n g r a p i d ly changing times.

Create New Ways to Engage More Ministry Volunteers Church closures, government restrictions on gathering, online worship services, and a fear of contracting the virus can naturally lead churches and individuals to pull back. It’s time for churches to creatively look for new avenues to engage more people in serving that are safe and that they feel comfortable doing. This is especially true because many of the traditional volunteer roles at your church may not be available given a reduced number of services, ministries that are paused, or the lack of children’s or student ministry programming. Research shows that “the more engaged a person is in a particular ministry, the more often they give, and the more they give,” says author and veteran minister Todd McMichen. “So, giving is greatly impacted by the level of engagement of the individual, not the level of attendance in the worship room on a given Sunday or even the amount in a person’s wallet.” Another study found that people involved in a small group or Sunday school class gave as much as six times more than those attending worship services alone. In short, engagement drives generosity.

abou t the au thor

Kent E. Fillinger serves as president of 3:STRANDS Consulting, Indianapolis, Indiana, and regional vice president (Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan) with Christian Financial Resources.

/3strandsconsulting 3strandsconsulting.com

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Focus on Sharing Outcomes More than Outputs

Cash flow is the money coming into your church from all streams of giving or revenue. Cash flow is an important factor for determining sustainability. A church with three months or less of cash in hand to cover expenses will have difficulty managing its financial responsibilities.

ministrylife

ometimes God shows up in strange places . . . like an afternoon United Airlines flight from Denver to Houston.

At the time, my life was a wreck. My career was gone. My marriage in trouble. My dreams paused. My faith wearing thin. The Great Recession had left me unemployed and broke. I was depressed, skeptical, cynical, and angry. I survived through sporadic speaking and preaching but now wearied from the travel. I didn’t want to go to Houston. I was ready to quit the ministry, find a decent paying job, and live in peace. I despised ever accepting God’s “call into ministry.” I questioned whether I ever had one. The “ministry life” had burned me one too many times.

God’s Messenger in Seat 21C by Rick Chromey

And now I was booked on a flight to Houston, Texas . . . to speak and pastor. I boarded the plane to more frustration. It was overbooked and I drew the dreaded middle seat. All around me were sweaty teens, harried moms, screaming toddlers, and unshaven men eating smelly meals. I wasn’t a happy camper. I squeezed into the middle seat with a scowl. A twentysomething woman took the window seat. She was in her own world and I gladly left her alone. In the aisle seat sat a fiftysomething man smartly dressed for a Texas business meeting. His eyes caught mine as I plugged in my headphones. I closed my eyes and waited for takeoff. The man tapped me on the shoulder. “How are you doing today?” he asked. The intrusion annoyed me, but I answered, “I’m fine,” and closed my eyes again. I didn’t lie. “F-I-N-E” perfectly described me: Frustrated. Irritated. Nervous. Exhausted. Only when he pressed for more conversation did I relent. We chatted about family and work. I found the man interesting, likable, and, strangely, pastoral.

“

to my surprise, nobody seemed to notice . . . the w h o l e s i t u at i o n f e lt u n b e l i e va b ly s t r a n g e .

He owned a flooring and carpet store in Worland, Wyoming. He asked me what I did.

“I’m a speaker and writer,” and then I added how I used to pastor. He told me he led a church too. Our conversation suddenly took flight. We talked about everything.

And that’s when things got weird.

Like in a 21C aisle seat to Houston. 

The man asked if he could pray for me. “Sure,” I half-heartedly muttered, wondering what was happening. He placed his hand on my shoulder and started to pray. I didn’t expect a long prayer. Give him a couple minutes and he’ll be done, I thought, but the man prayed 5 minutes, then 10, then 15. To my surprise, nobody seemed to notice. He prayed with the thunder of Elijah for God to bless me with spiritual strength, peace of mind, joy of life, and passion for ministry. He prayed for my health, family, finances, and dreams. He begged that God’s purpose and plan for me would always be discernable. The whole situation felt unbelievably strange. At one point he buried his head in my chest and wept. His tears soaked my shirt as he begged God to protect me from evil. Even when the flight attendant leaned in for my drink order, she didn’t notice this praying giant . . . still praying over me! It was like his seat was empty. His prayer eventually ended (but our conversation didn’t). I felt unimaginably different and incredibly blessed. I sensed a supernatural relief with a divine inoculation of courage, strength, resolve, and hope. I was literally recommissioned and spiritually recharged for ministry.

abou t the au thor

When we reached the terminal, we exchanged names. His name was both angelic and divine. Michael King. As my new friend disappeared into the crowd at George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Hebrews 13:2 crossed my mind about “entertaining angels unaware.” You don’t suppose he was . . . an angel? Years later, I found his business card. I called the number for his store and learned Michael King was indeed real . . . and he had recently died. When I related my story, his former employee laughed and said, “That’s just like Mike!” Someday, in Heaven, I want to find and thank Michael (God’s angel to me that day).

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He refocused my purpose and restored my ministry calling. I’ve never felt like quitting again. I also learned God sometimes shows up in mysterious ways.

At one point, I surprisingly confessed my dark struggle with God’s calling. I shared my doubts, fears, regrets, and anxieties. I told him my days in ministry were probably numbered.

Dr. Rick Chromey is the founder and president of MANNA! Educational Services International. He serves churches, schools, and faith-based organizations with “curiously divine” training for leaders, teachers, and parents. He lives in Star, Idaho, with his wife, Linda.

mannasolutions.org

COLO COLORADO

PEOPLE-FIRST FINANCES

How Our Church Prioritized Our Spending and Resources During the Pandemic By Aaron Couch

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ORADO News about the coronavirus in mid-March sent fearful shockwaves down my spine. I had no idea what it all meant for the nation, for Southeast Christian Church in Parker, Colorado—which I serve—or for the people who call Southeast home. I had received no instruction in how to lead a church through a global pandemic, nor did I have practical experience in doing so. Consequently, while considering next steps for the church, I immediately thought of the worst-case scenario of people at Southeast—and young people especially— dying of COVID-19. There are two things I truly hate about ministry. First, I hate doing funerals for children. The death of a little one just seems so far afield from how things should work. And while I grieve with the families and attempt to comfort them, I personally struggle to make sense of those same moments in my own faith journey. I seriously worried that COVID-19 might ravage the youngest among us. I also hate firing staff. The church is supposed to be the family of God. It feels weird to fire family. And while I know such times come to almost all church staff teams, it just never sits well with me. Part of me always wrestles with how I might have let that person down. COVID-19 made the prospects of this situation even worse. The thought of needing to release staff through no one’s failure was horrible. I couldn’t believe I was facing this situation only six months into a new ministry. Making matters worse, the church had already seen its share of heartache, turmoil, and insecurity during the three years prior to me being selected as lead pastor. We seemed to be turning a corner when we were blindsided by something beyond our control. I must admit, I had a couple of conversations with God about the tremendous unfairness of this. So, when stay-at-home orders were issued, I immediately created a Zoom link (we all have become familiar with those) and met with my executive pastor and our main finance person to discuss what was necessary for surviving whatever might occur next. We were all a bit dumbfounded at that point, but we assembled a list of financial priorities.

INVESTMENT IN STAFF I believe money in the church is best spent on people. Though buildings are a normal part of ministry, Jesus didn’t command us to love God and love buildings. Jesus said to love people. So, we immediately decided we needed to take care of our staff first, no matter what the future might hold. The prospect of not working due to suspensions of worship services and our regular weekly activities deeply concerned our employees, especially those who are paid hourly. This posed a unique leadership challenge and a heavy emotional responsibility. When leaders are insecure or angry or fearful, the people we lead can sense it. For the good of everyone at our church, I knew we needed our staff to lead well. And for that to happen, I needed to do my best to eliminate fear and insecurity for our staff team. We did three things for our staff very early on that I believe stabilized our church’s finances during the pandemic. First, when stay-at-home orders were issued, I assembled our entire staff via Zoom to tell them we would not change how they were getting paid. We would pay them as if they were working normal hours. I watched our staff members breathe deep sighs of relief knowing they would not be asked to make sacrifices they were not in positions to make. It reinforced to the staff, “We value you.” In turn, their positive attitude undergirded everything we did to communicate with our church body. Second, we began daily, 20-minute check-ins with the staff via videoconferences. While some—OK, most—have grown tired of videoconferences, these were times for laughing together, cracking jokes, praying together, staying connected, and encouraging one another daily (just as the Bible instructed). It’s been an incredibly helpful leadership tool. Third, the staff was given creative license to find ways to reach out to the people in our congregation during the restrictions on group gatherings. And when we saw staff

We have moved from

FEAR to

WONDER.

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members step out and do fun or creative things, we celebrated those wins. For example, our early childhood director developed a tool consisting of Bible-based lessons and activities for use by parents who were cooped up with their children. It was a great example of our staff taking positive leadership steps to help resource our people. This behind-the-scenes investment in our staff translated into our congregation having confidence in the church as we traversed an unfamiliar path through the pandemic. It was an unspoken incentive for our people to continue supporting the church as we sought to fulfill their needs and honor the Lord.

INVESTMENT IN CHURCH AND COMMUNITY Leadership took three additional steps that helped instill confidence in our stewardship among the people. First, very early on we created a group email that helped connect needs of individuals within our congregation to those who had the resources to help. The importance of doing this exceeded our expectations. It was a blessing to both those who received the help and those who extended it (and perhaps more so among the latter). In our area, there was much talk of “helping one another get through this,” but not many real opportunities to do so. Our initiative provided a much-needed outlet for those who wanted to make a difference in our community. Second, we were generous with area churches who were facing serious struggles because of the pandemic. God always blesses generosity, and he did so again with Southeast! We were shocked again and again as God provided through his faithful people for the needs of not only our church, but also for those of several churches in our area. And, in the midst of escalating racial tension nationally that occurred concurrently with COVID-19, we were able to help sustain three Black churches because of our folks’ generosity. It was a huge statement to many.

Third, we made a more concerted effort to talk about helping our community (and then following through). Rather than hoarding money and trying to “protect ourselves,” we trusted in our God of abundance, and we became his hands and feet in the community we serve. We cannot outgive God; instead, we need to take him at his word. The more we stepped out in faith, the more God proved himself faithful in all things. It obviously helped that, while we were allocating funds toward helping others, we were not spending money on such things as youth camps, VBS, conferences, and many other events that kept getting canceled. As various expenses fell off the radar, we were able to reinvest in other types of kingdom work. We learned that sometimes God provides by giving plenty, and sometimes he provides resources by taking away certain other things for a season. As I sit back and consider the last few months, I am amazed at what we have experienced. We have moved from fear to wonder. I marvel at God’s goodness. We have seen struggling folks step out in faith to give. I am so proud to be a part of our church family. We have remained faithful to put God’s heart first. And we have watched as God himself has provided for us—exceedingly, abundantly, and above anything we could ever think or imagine. I am reminded of Paul’s words: “And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity” (2 Corinthians 8:1-2). May our trials also well up in rich generosity! 

Aaron Couch serves as lead pastor with Southeast Christian Church, Parker, Colorado.

OUTH SOUTH CAROLINA

opportunity &

OPEN DOORS

When the Pandemic Hit, Our Leaders Went to Work to Discover the Best Ways for Us to Serve Our Community BY TINA WILSON

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CARO One of our pastors, while addressing the coaching staff at a local college last year, described Ekklesia Christian Church as opportunists. Any time God cracks open a door, even slightly, and we see a target that aligns with our core values and seems beneficial for the kingdom, we run at it. In our six years as a church, God has opened doors that have brought about immeasurably more than all we asked or imagined. Perhaps that’s why Saturday, March 14, seemed to stand in such stark contrast. The day before, a group of Ekklesia women had driven a couple hundred miles to attend a conference. A few hours before it was to start, we learned the event was canceled due to the novel coronavirus. We were already settled into hotel rooms, so we spent the night and drove home that Saturday. All the way home, I watched social media posts from church after church announcing service cancellations. I pictured doors closing, one after another. It was surreal. Ekklesia was one of the few churches in our county to gather the next day, but with a notable drop in attendance. That week, city-imposed restrictions forced the cessation of our in-person services. It was the most disheartening door closure I can remember in our church’s story. As a group, we mourned for a few minutes, and then we started looking for opportunities. Our most immediate and obvious need was to boost and improve our mediocre livestream of our weekend service into a legitimate online campus. We added a preshow, postshow, more cameras, an upgraded streaming platform, better sound equipment, and a back-of-house studio to run production. We received incredible coaching

and assistance in this from Jerry Harris and his media staff at The Crossing, a church with multiple locations in and around Quincy, Illinois. The percentage of church income given online almost immediately increased 32 percent and we saw a 10 percent increase in overall average weekly giving. Two specific factors—an online forum that directed people toward next steps and a focus on individual pastoral care—helped lead directly to 12 baptisms during our eight weeks of onlineonly services. We eventually reopened for in-person services, but some closures in the community continued. This scenario presented Ekklesia with several opportunities to minister. One of Ekklesia’s goals is to know the needs of our community and to meet them, and then to use those connections to point people to Jesus. To quote Carey Nieuwhof from the 2020 Spire Conference, “Nobody can out-local the local church.” Through social media engagement, Ekklesia opened discussions about the best ways for the church to serve the community during this challenging time. It became very clear the greatest need of local families was educational support for kids. It turned out, God had spent the previous 15 months positioning Ekklesia to thrive during such a time as this, for he had guided us in laying the groundwork for three programs to help fill that educational space and serve families of our community: City Camp Kids, The Homeschool Hub, and REACH.

c hristia n sta nda rd 28

CITY CAMP KIDS City Camp Kids was established in 2019 as a summer day camp for kindergartners through sixth-graders. It’s like other day camp programs in that we offer field trips, outdoor play time, and a summer filled with fun. Two things set it apart: It is faith-based and the teachers function more as mentors than babysitters. Age-appropriate Bible teaching and discipleship occur every day. Aside from the spiritual benefits, the City Camp Kids program stands out because of its location in our beautiful new church facility that boasts some amenities not offered elsewhere. When schools abruptly closed in spring 2020, however, City Camp Kids’ after-school camp closed as well . . . but only for a time. As families realized school closings would last more than a few days or weeks, they began seeking long-term solutions. By mid-May, as local schools abandoned attempts at virtual learning and brought the academic year to an early end, the need to reopen City Camp Kids was incredibly apparent, and so we did. The program quickly regained its prior enrollment, plus more. Shortly thereafter, our county announced that summer camps operated by local recreation departments would not be reopening in 2020. That meant a whole new wave of families faced an urgent need for childcare, and City Camp Kids quickly reached its enrollment cap of 100 students. Among those we served over the summer were children of men and women who work in the medical field and as first responders. Our state Department of Social Services paid the tuition of the children of these essential workers so the parents could carry out their duties. With a fee of $100 per student per week, City Camp Kids brought a welcome boost to the income of the church during summer months. School reopening plans in our county have been very murky, so Ekklesia has been able to continue serving our community well by offering parents clear solutions to fill gaps left by the school district. Currently, City Camp Kids operates a distance learning center from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday for families who have opted for virtual school. There also is an after-school camp from 2 to 6 p.m. weekdays for students who have returned to school in person. Those students who returned to school were offered only a part-time schedule; they attend only two or three days per week. Parents have been incredibly grateful for our program’s flexibility in offering children a place whenever school was not an option during this season.

THE HOMESCHOOL HUB Ekklesia has always had a disproportionately high number of homeschooling families. Even as a mobile church— from 2015 to 2018—we offered homeschool support programs by partnering with other churches and utilizing their facilities. After moving into our own building, we opened a homeschool cooperative in the fall of 2019. Approximately 40 kids enrolled that first season. COVID-19 forced an early closure of the homeschool co-op in spring 2020, but the ministry has made an audacious comeback in the new school year. Over the summer, many families opted to withdraw their students from the local school system due to the district’s lack of clarity. As a result, we now have more than 200 homeschoolers attending our weekly co-op, doing their best to share a space with more than 60 virtual learners enrolled with City Camp Kids. The co-op charges only a registration fee, which covers the consumables for the semester. All classes are taught by parent volunteers who have specialized skills and expertise in certain areas. This wildly popular program does not produce income for the church, but it brings in many new volunteers. (At Ekklesia, we call them “world changers.”) The co-op also offers Bible studies for moms while their kids are in classes, creating a great opportunity to disciple newcomers. In South Carolina, homeschoolers are required to register for legal coverage through a group approved by the state board of education. Ekklesia has been approved for this designation, and now most of our students are registered for coverage through our accountability association.

While coronavirus has presented many unwanted challenges, it has also opened doors for Christâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s church to become his

HANDS &FEET

in spaces we wouldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve never thought possible.

REACH is another of Ekklesia’s educational offerings to become even more valuable due to COVID-19. REACH is a ministry to underserved youth in our area that helps them overcome cultural and academic inequities. We carry out this mission by connecting with families in the subsidized housing complex nearest our building. We get to know families there by hosting summertime cookouts, during which we sign up kids for weekly programming that takes place during the school year. After school starts, we pick up students from their neighborhood and bring them to our facility in the afternoon. We provide tutoring and homework help, and children take classes in music, dance, cooking, video production, and more. They also meet in small groups for a Bible lesson and discipleship led by their mentor, who remains with them for the whole year. After that, we serve dinner and eat with the students before taking them back home. Ekklesia hosts this ministry and has staff members who serve on the board of directors. REACH is an independent 501(c)3 organization that is led by three churches represented on the board. It is a stand-alone ministry that we hope will grow into more neighborhoods and eventually will involve churches in those communities. REACH’s fall and spring semesters close with a showcase. Parents come and watch students share the music, dance, and other skills they’ve learned during the term. Artwork is displayed, and children prepare and serve a meal for their families and others who come to see their performances. The last REACH showcase ended with six students being baptized into Christ. This ministry has become more essential than ever in the context of the coronavirus, because those who are likely to suffer the most due to long-term school closures are children in communities and families already considered at risk. REACH is supported by monthly donations from the partnership of local churches. While coronavirus has presented many unwanted challenges, it has also opened doors for Christ’s church to become his hands and feet in spaces we would’ve never thought possible. In our case, for example, we never expected such a large portion of the unchurched community would turn to the church over the government to meet kids’ educational needs. As the communities where your church serves continue to feel the effects of this pandemic, I encourage you to recognize their needs and find open doors you can walk through to serve them well, all the while pointing people to Jesus.  Tina Wilson serves as social media coordinator at Ekklesia Christian Church in Conway, South Carolina.

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REACH

ILLIN ILLINOIS

GOD DIDN'T STOP WHEN THE PANDEMIC STARTED WHEN WE DECIDED TO TEACH PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY HOW TO STUDY THE BIBLE, GOD PROVIDED EVERYTHING WE NEEDED BY DEE ANN BILLINGS

God opened more doors during the first six months of this pandemic than I have seen in my 40 years. God not only has blessed our church immeasurably with financial donations, but the outreach we have been able to perform in most circumstances has cost very little or nothing. An example of this is a recent Bible study our church offered to the community at-large.

AND SO IT BEGINS A few months ago, some of our church’s outreach opportunities were ending. I remember it vividly. It was a Sunday morning—the first since arrival of COVID-19 that I didn’t attend both services. (I attended only the second service that morning.) I had some extra time before we all headed off to the church building, but apparently God knew I needed that extra time with him. I listened to two online services; one was from my brother, who is a pastor in Pennsylvania, and the other was from a friend who pastors a nearby church. I needed to hear both of their messages. One sermon was about what our heart should be like toward other churches and other believers. The other sermon was on the importance of the Great Commission. After listening to the sermons, I prayed, “God, what would you have me do next? Is this a time of silence or a time of action? I will surrender and be obedient to whatever you ask me to do.” I finished getting ready for church, packed up our four children in our minivan, and off we went. That morning, as the worship music was playing, I heard God say, “Start the Bible study now, but I want it to be for the community.” (It’s a very humbling experience when God speaks through your spirit.) To back up a little bit, about three months earlier, I felt inspired by God to teach people how to study their Bibles. I asked if this could be a Sunday-morning Bible study class, but we weren’t able to move forward due to limited child-care availability upon the church’s reopening.

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When COVID-19 first hit and life ground to a halt, I didn’t know what I would do with myself. As a volunteer outreach coordinator at Copper Creek Christian Church in Maryville, Illinois, as well as a leader with several independent outreach opportunities in the community, I was devastated when all events were unexpectedly and indefinitely canceled. Suddenly my involvement in two to three outreach events per month dropped to zero. No more events. No more kids’ activities. No more social gatherings. Just my husband and I, along with our four children, sat at home asking ourselves, “What are we going to do now?” We honestly sat in limbo for about two weeks before asking God, “What would you have us to do?” Then I heard God speak, “I’m not done. I haven’t stopped working.”

OIS

GOD IS NOT LIMITED BY OUR FOUR WALLS. GOD HAS NO LIMITS, AND NEITHER SHOULD WE.

I’m typically a persistent person, but I could sense it wasn’t God’s timing, so I waited and continued to pray. Apparently three months later, while standing with arms raised up, worshipping our almighty creator, the time was right. Tears of joy streamed down my face, for I knew God was getting ready to move in a profound way. After speaking with my husband, I asked one of our brilliant elders, Darryl Roosevelt, to teach the class. (God had guided me to ask him.) Darryl quickly said yes, and he started preparing an outline. In the meantime, I posted this simple question on several community Facebook pages: “Would you be interested in attending a class teaching us how to study our Bibles?” To my amazement, within an hour, 80 people responded that they were interested, and 95 percent of them were from outside our church. To keep track of all those who expressed interest, I quickly made a Facebook group called “Learn How to Study Your Bible.” I was excited at the response . . . but not all that surprised. I have seen God do seemingly impossible things over and over again. As I was praising him, I felt called to get new study Bibles for some in the group who wouldn’t have them. An individual at one point had given me $100 to use for outreach; that was enough for maybe three Bibles. I prayed, “God, if you want this to happen, I need you to pave the way. I need you to supply the need.”

GOD SUPPLIES THE NEED The next day, in the mail, someone from the community sent me a check for $500 along with this note: “Use this for whatever you think is the most important at this time. Thank you! Stay Safe. J.” God obviously knew the check was already written when he laid it on my heart to buy study Bibles for people in the group; he obviously wanted me to put my trust in him. If I had bought the Bibles using my own means—which I could have done—it would have been about me. God wanted it to be about him.

But God didn’t stop there. As we entered our third week of the study, our group had almost doubled to 480 people eagerly learning how to study their Bibles. A limited number of in-person seats are available because of the pandemic, and the rest of the folks attend via Facebook Live. We start with an hour of teaching and end with 30 minutes of questions from those attending in person and virtually.

LESSONS WE LEARNED God is alive and working. He is not limited by circumstances. He has been preparing our hearts for such a time as this, and now is the time to pick up our cross, carry it boldly, and proclaim his holy name. Now is the time to be the big “C” church. The Bible study we are offering has people from more than 30 different churches of various denominations attending. God is not limited by our four walls. God has no limits, and neither should we. God has taught me to say yes before he even asks the question. God has taught me someone’s eternal death is way more important than their physical death, so I should sense an urgency to share Jesus with people beyond our church building. He has taught me to surrender. I hope and pray that others will do the same and completely surrender their will for God’s glory. The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. God will use you if you’re willing. 

God also opened further doors to purchase Bibles. Thrivent Financial, a Christian financial services and products company, granted $250 through an Action Team award, and the manager of a local Walmart donated a $100 gift card to use toward community service. I used all of the money to purchase 47 Bibles. We created an attendee form for people to fill out online; one of the questions was, “Are you in financial need, and would [you] like a free study Bible?” Interested folks completed 254 forms to participate in the Bible study, and exactly 47 of them requested a free study Bible, precisely the number we had already purchased. Only God can do things like

Dee Ann Billings is a business owner, wife, mother of four children, and a volunteer outreach coordinator with Copper Creek Christian Church in Maryville, Illinois. She is an activist in her community—a servant-leader who spreads the love of Jesus. Her passion is to unite people in Christ while humbly serving those God places on her path.

/dee.bill.946 coppercreekcc.org

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that. Only God can plant such desires in our heart. Only God can make the impossible possible.

WAITING AND PRAYING

GEOR GEORGIA

A RENAISSANCE REBIRTH HOW GOD WORKED THROUGH THE PANDEMIC TO MOVE OUR CHURCH FROM LOCAL TO GLOBAL MINISTRY BY ORPHEUS J. HEYWARD

A particular passage that accentuates this notion is Romans 8:28: “God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (New American Standard Bible). The pivotal terms in this passage are “work together” and “purpose.” The Greek word translated as “work together” is sunergéō, from which we get our English term “synergy.” The word’s meaning carries the idea of cooperation for an intended goal. The term “purpose” comes from a Greek term prosthesis, which communicates the idea of a predetermined design or plan. To that end, the apostle Paul was making a clear statement that God has the power to cause all things to cooperate toward the intended end of his design. Contextually, this would include the idea of suffering, since the apostle Paul previously stated that this world’s suffering is not worthy of being compared to the glory that would appear afterward (Romans 8:18). It is theologically safe to conclude we serve the God of Heaven who has the capacity to take all of our suffering in this world and use it toward the intended goal of his purpose. We see this truth within the context of the book of Acts, where the church is viewed as spreading from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth with the pressure of persecution resting upon their shoulders. Under the malignancy of persecution and disdain, the church continued to grow. God was able to take his followers’ suffering and use it to further his purpose of developing their character and expanding the kingdom. In this current season, the world is experiencing a viral phenomenon known as COVID-19. This virus has impacted people in the United States and worldwide. Businesses have closed and travel was brought almost to a screeching halt. This highly contagious virus has drastically challenged the norms we once knew while simultaneously introducing new norms to which we have all had to adjust. Churches have not been exempt from the terrible impact of the coronavirus; many were forced to close the doors of their buildings for a period of time. Churches worldwide were challenged to find a way to carry out Christ’s mission in the face of a tenacious virus that threatened the safety of mankind. However, many churches have continued advancing, as God has used this virus for kingdom expansion and character development.

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RGIA

One of the most potent theological tenets of Scripture is called the Providence of God. The doctrine of Providence provides us with insight into God’s care for his creation as he continuously provides for its existence and sustenance. Additionally, Providence suggests that God is guiding his creation according to his divine purpose.

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FINDING ANOTHER WAY

Renaissance Church of Christ’s facility wasn’t yet two years old when we were forced to exit our building because of the virus. With a tremendous level of uncertainty, we had to rethink how we could effectively practice Christianity without a central location for members to meet. Additionally, the church’s finances were a concern in that many of our constituents still placed checks in the offering each week. In a period of seven days, we had to transition the entire congregation to online giving. While these mechanisms were in place before COVID-19, we had to ensure a user-friendly experience that was deemed safe and secure for those who did not typically engage in online giving. Further, in that same seven-day period, we had to ensure our online worship experience was optimal so that our members would not feel disconnected in the absence of being able to meet in the facility. To that end, we invested significant resources in obtaining the proper equipment to provide the best virtual experience possible. The idea was to create an intimate worship service so engaging that the believer would feel like they were present. Concurrent with this, we embraced various preaching methodologies that ranged from lecture to dramatic sermonic displays (including skits) to ensure an impact in the virtual world. The current generation is a visual culture, so we added significant visual aids. These changes were made to help keep the congregation connected and united.

SEEING GOD'S PURPOSE

While we were focused on keeping the local church connected, we did not readily perceive the opportunity God had presented—the possibility of reaching literally billions of unreached people on Facebook and YouTube. It became evident to Renaissance Church of Christ’s leaders that the obstacle of not being able to utilize the facility was simultaneously an opportunity to access more people than ever before. Suddenly, the church has moved from local to global. God, through his permissive will and the advent of COVID-19, helped Renaissance Church of Christ experience a drastic increase in attendance, so that now more than 3,000 people worship with us virtually each week. (Previous to the pandemic we averaged about 1,000 in person and 600 online.) The ability to access more people created an opportunity for an increased response to the gospel. The pandemic kept the congregation out of the building, but it increased the number of people who were baptized into Christ. To our surprise, people in states beyond Georgia’s border were accessing the gospel of Jesus Christ, leading to conversions across the country. Just like that, the church was no longer just a local entity but an organism that would have a global impact.

WE SERVE THE GOD OF HEAVEN WHO HAS THE CAPACITY TO TAKE ALL OF OUR SUFFERING IN THIS WORLD AND USE IT TOWARD THE INTENDED GOAL OF HIS PURPOSE.

THE PANDEMIC KEPT THE CONGREGATION OUT OF THE BUILDING, BUT IT INCREASED THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO WERE BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST.

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The Renaissance Church of Christ has not resumed inperson assemblies [at the time of writing this article]. However, the church’s ministry continues to thrive. Like the persecution initiated through Saul in Acts 8 that resulted in the church going everywhere preaching the Word, so it is that COVID-19 has moved the church into a global ministry going everywhere declaring the gospel of Jesus Christ.

WILL WE HAVE ENOUGH MONEY?

As COVID-19 was causing school, business, and church closures across the country, we had serious concerns whether we would have the capacity to meet the monthly mortgage on our new building. We were not alone in having to lay off several of our church workers to ensure some level of financial stability. Our hearts melted to make such a difficult decision; we recognized that some of our workers had families they supported. While many banks promised relief for churches who were attempting to maintain a staff, we weren’t able to secure financial assistance. Still, we maintained our faith. In the heart of our despair, The Solomon Foundation came alongside and provided a grant that aided us in that time of difficulty. While we were extremely grateful for The Solomon Foundation’s ministry, we continued to be concerned about what the coming months would hold. However, the God of Providence, who makes all things cooperate toward the goal of his purpose, not only gave us access to more people through social media platforms, he enabled us to receive global financial support from people who believe in the work of the Renaissance ministry. As a result, Renaissance Church of Christ has experienced double and (at times) triple its average offering. Global ministry has resulted in a global offering.

While we expect that our in-person assemblies will resume in the near future, we have also readily accepted the new norms of having a global focus as a local church. We have embraced the possibilities of reaching people in every conceivable geographical location and building ministry relevant to a virtual constituency. God is challenging the church’s comfort level, removing us from the confines of facilities into a mission-driven disposition that sees the importance of expanding the kingdom of God. Like many, we had enjoyed the blessing of our facility and allowed it to become a museum, when we should have maintained the posture of an unstoppable Christian movement. Understandably, many have seen COVID-19 as the death of the church. However, I find it plausible that God has allowed the coronavirus to propel the church into a new level of ministry operation that will enable the church to have a more significant impact worldwide. COVID-19 has also been the rebirth of creativity, stretching the minds of leaders to think beyond the proverbial box of stagnation. Furthermore, it is the rebirth of faith, for we have been reacquainted with trusting God in uncertain times. The humility of dependency has permeated church leaders across the country, but these folks now recognize that God can preserve us through a pandemic and prosper his people in the process. We have been reacquainted with the reality that God’s mission is not dependent on convenient circumstances. The church can function and operate under the weight of inconvenience and still find success in expanding the kingdom of God. 

Dr. Orpheus J. Heyward serves as ministering evangelist at the Renaissance Church of Christ in Atlanta, Georgia. He is considered one of the most dynamic and scripturally sound gospel preachers among churches of Christ today.

WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED?

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I M PA C T E D I M PA C T E D I M PA C T E D I M PA C T E D I M PA C T E D I M PA C T E D I M PA C T E D I M PA C T E D I M PA C T E D I M PA C T E D I M PA C T E D I M PA C T E D I M PA C T E D I M PA C T E D I M PA C T E D I M PA C T E D I M PA C T E D I M PA C T E D I M PA C T E D I M PA C T E D I M PA C T E D I M PA C T E D I M PA C T E D I M PA C T E D I M PA C T E D I M PA C T E D I M PA C T E D I M PA C T E D I M PA C T E D I M PA C T E D

CIY By Andy Hansen

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THE HARSH REALITY In March, in the span of just a couple of weeks, it became evident that all the April and May weekend events would be canceled. The hurt and ache of lost ministry to thousands of students and hundreds of churches was compounded by the angst and uncertainty of what was taking place. This also created a drought of expected cash flow at what is a high-expense time of year as we prepare for summer programming. Major investments to create Move and Mix videos, staging, facility contracts, transportation, materials used in programming, special personnel contracts, etc. (well over $1 million) had already taken place. It became apparent the church would have to radically pivot from live events to online. As CIY is “the bridesmaid and never the bride,” brainstorming sessions focused on how to serve and support the church—specifically youth ministries—in the midst of this crisis. Within a matter of days, CIY released more than 100 digital items for free: films, games, video clips, speaking elements, creative fillers, etc. This became a lifeline of material as churches and ministries scrambled to create digital communication teens would respond to. Almost 3,500 users—including people from countries like Ireland, Czech Republic, India, Scotland, Denmark, and England—downloaded more than 14,000 items from our site.

he beginning of March had a vibe that 2020 was going to be a banner year of ministry at Christ In Youth. SuperStart preteen and Believe junior high events were on a roll! The teaching and interactive elements were powerful and impacting hundreds of youth. Large numbers were waiting to attend the seven remaining major city sites in April and May. Plus, registrations were at a record pace for CIY’s Move high school and Mix junior high summer events. Hundreds were also prepared to participate in an Engage mission experience. Several new projects were coming together, and the culture and giftedness of the CIY staff was off the charts. Then . . . the tsunami of COVID-19 crashed over all of us!

We made thousands of phone calls to youth ministers as we sought to provide encouragement and guidance. A weekly Zoom meeting entitled “Youth Ministry at a Social Distance” served as a platform for hundreds to stay in touch, review key topics, compile innovative ideas, and share frustrations and challenges in small group chats. As we rolled into summer, a stark and dark reality blanketed our organization: many, if not all, of our 56 summer events and 15 mission trips would be impossible. Regulations just wouldn’t allow the gathering of hundreds of youth. We had to decide seven weeks out whether to move forward with individual events. Again and again, we decided to cancel, and every decision to cancel was like a deep knife cut. As June headed toward July, the harsh truth was that all summer programming would be canceled. The word devastating hardly describes what this felt like for CIY as a ministry and what it meant financially.

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A VISION FOR MOVING FORWARD After a time of grieving, the vision for a preferred future began to be developed. Our creative and committed staff doubled down with focus and faith.

SURVIVAL MODE Determined to help youth ministers salvage the summer, CIY took all the digital production prepared for Move and Mix and created a two-day, three-night experience. The digital resources were downloadable, and boxes with creative materials were shipped out to registered churches. These experiences contributed to hundreds of decisions for Christ as more than 1,000 churches and 50,000 youth (including 1,000 in Ireland) participated. So, how did CIY survive when all scheduled events, April through August, were eliminated and millions of dollars in revenue lost? There were four key components: • CIY received a Paycheck Protection Program grant from the Small Business Administration. • In an incredible display of partnership, more than 600 churches allowed CIY to keep the $50 per-person deposits for summer programming, resulting in $1.5 million in revenue—a literal lifeline! • Regular gifting from churches and individuals did not waver. • Our finance team negotiated at least a partial return of deposits from a majority of our venues. Unfortunately, even with those blessings, by the middle of April it was apparent CIY could not sustain its salary base with the massive loss of revenue. A million dollars in payroll had to be eliminated. There was no choice but to cut deep. The agonizing decision was made to release 30 percent of CIY’s staff.

Christ In Youth passionately desires to continue to craft “moments” at live gatherings where students respond to the call of faith in Christ and specific tasks of kingdom work. In addition, the ministry’s “preferred future” will utilize digital and visual communication that can positively influence an ever-expanding movement of kingdom workers. Youth ministry is changing, and CIY will be on the cutting edge of assisting the church with what it needs. Here’s an example of what this means. I clearly remember a Monday this summer when CIY launched for free to youth ministers in the United States and partners in Ireland two new interactive digital games they could immediately use with their youth groups. On Wednesday and Thursday, as I made calls to youth ministers, a majority of these leaders heartily thanked CIY for sending out this tool. These ministry servants were impressed with the excellence and age-appropriate nature of the material and how it created a positive connection with their youth. And on Friday came a major “aha” moment when Jasper Rutherford, CIY European director, sent an e-mail telling the CIY office that these two digital games were being used by many contacts in Ireland . . . and the Czech Republic . . . and were being translated into Dutch. (There were even rumors it was being utilized in Africa!) We became aware of the incredible potential within our grasp for expansive influence and discipleship investment in the lives of unknown numbers of youth around the world. Unfortunately, with the difficulty of opening schools, churches, and large gatherings in the fall of 2020, we regretfully decided not to host weekend events in the spring of 2021. CIY simply could not afford to invest in the preparation, video production, stage production, and travel arrangements when there was still so high a risk of losing a significant percentage of attendance.

AT I V E A N D C O M

FOCUS + FAITH

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A STRONG FUTURE So, what is in CIY’s future? As I write this in September, three clear goals are in front of our team for the rest of 2020 and all of 2021. First, we’re fully committed to building exceptional Move and Mix experiences and Engage trips for the summer of 2021 at 71 locations. “For All—Forever!” a focus on Jesus through the Gospel of John, will be a life-changing encounter for thousands of youth from hundreds of churches. Second, CIY is coming alongside the local church to build kingdom workers with the release of “Engage Experience”; this material takes youth through six key principles that develop into practical lifestyle action. Through highly interactive digital and visual experiences, pragmatic action, challenge steps, and focused debriefing guidelines, this resource has been launched and is available to assist the church in growing young disciples. Third, additional videos, interactive studies, visual communication starters, and digital materials for small groups of all ages within the local church are being produced and distributed throughout this year and into the future. So, how does CIY pull this off when the ministry has lost all event revenue for 14 months? (Can you imagine if your local church did not receive offerings for that long?)

Innovate—Additional capital is necessary to underwrite the creation of new ventures to equip youth ministers for a changing world and provide fresh methods of reaching youth for Christ. Expand—Additional financial resources are needed to advance Christ In Youth’s growth and influence throughout Europe (it is already a recognized charity in Ireland) by specifically reaching youth in two new countries; we will do this by coming alongside the local church and calling youth to kingdom work through resources and events. And one request to you, the reader. Would you commit to putting “PEP” into CIY and other ministries as they step boldly into 2021 with the following actions? Pray! Place this ministry in your prayer journal and consistently ask the Father to supply energy, vision, focus, and spiritual fruit from CIY’s efforts. Encourage! Reach out to ministry staff with notes, texts, and e-mails of your prayer thoughts. These boosts of prayer and support mean so much! (Go to www.ciy.com/ staff and e-mail someone now.) Promote! Share the importance of this ministry with others and provide resources as God moves you to do so.

A team worked on maintaining close communication with partnership churches to build a strong October 1 registration for Move and Mix and continued registrations throughout the fall of 2020 and into 2021. As of midOctober of 2020, 16,500 registrations have been received from more than 350 churches.

In conclusion, we praise God that in the midst of months of chaos and unique challenges, he has been faithful in his unique provision for Christ In Youth and many other ministries. We believe CIY will not only survive, but we will thrive as a unique partner with the local church to create a generational movement of kingdom workers.

CIY has built a clear business strategy and marketing release of the new kingdom-worker materials which will serve as incredible resources for the local church, as well as provide CIY with a revenue stream.

A new website, www.ciy.com/kwneverstops, describes from a youthful perspective what kingdom work is, who CIY is in three core principles, how CIY accomplishes their goals with three key focuses, what is taking place in 2021, and CIY’s specific goals. The website provides amazing videos and information. You will be inspired by viewing what God is continuing to do through CIY.

The development department will continue to reach out in partnership with churches and individuals that will allow Christ In Youth’s ministry to accomplish three goals: Stabilize—Additional funds are necessary to recover lost income from canceled events as well as sustain staff and programming development through the end of 2020 and first quarter of 2021. The great news is CIY has received a $300,000 pledge in matching funds!

We believe the best is yet to come, and that for his glory the movement of kingdom work in partnership with the local church will radically advance in 2021 and beyond!  Andy Hansen serves as senior relationship officer with Christ in Youth. He formerly served as president.

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Christian Colleges

CHRISTIAN COLLEGES By Justin Horey

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he COVID-19 pandemic had a devastating financial effect on many small businesses and nonprofit organizations in 2020. But Christian colleges and universities fared relatively well, due in large part to major government assistance programs and surprisingly stable support from churches and individual donors. While the future remains unclear, the financial impact on Christian colleges has been minimal thus far. Four Christian college presidents from the United States and Canada spoke with Christian Standard about their experiences related to the pandemic and its impact on their schoolsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; finances. Most had remarkably similar experiences, and most would agree with their colleague who said,

â&#x20AC;&#x153;We've got a good story here."

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The Past T H E PA S T

GOVERNMENT STIMULUS The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, approved by Congress and signed into law by President Trump in March 2020, provided two primary sources of relief funds to assist colleges and universities in the United States: the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF). The terms of the CARES Act were so generous to institutions of higher learning that some large, wellendowed private schools like Harvard University were criticized for accepting assistance that might have been more useful to smaller organizations. The Paycheck Protection Program provided small businesses of various kinds with forgivable loans to be used for payroll in the spring of 2020. Dr. David Fincher, president of Central Christian College of the Bible (CCCB) in Moberly, Missouri, who also currently leads the Association of Christian Church Colleges and Universities, said the PPP provided “immediate breathing room” to Christian colleges and kept administrators from impulsively cutting staff and faculty out of fear in the early days of the pandemic. CCCB received almost $600,000 in PPP funds. In Fincher’s estimation, by providing a source of funds to continue paying employees without interruption, “the Paycheck Protection Program probably made every college’s fiscal year look better than it would have otherwise.” Carolina Christian College also applied for and received funds from the Paycheck Protection Program. Dr. LaTanya Tyson, president of the college located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, said the windfall was especially helpful in the summer months. Thanks to the PPP funds, Tyson said, “Everyone was able to be paid over the summer without having to seek out additional donations.” The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund, meanwhile, was intended to directly assist universities and university students with financial hardships caused by the pandemic. According to the program’s guidelines, institutions of higher learning were required to distribute at least half of their HEERF grants as direct payments to students. Any remaining funds could be used to offset other costs incurred directly by the schools—for example, to reimburse the cost of tuition refunds. Christian colleges associated with the Restoration Movement received HEERF grants ranging from approximately $50,000 to more than $1 million. Fincher is aware of roughly $6 million in total HEERF grants to Christian colleges.

At Carolina Christian College, the HEERF grant enabled students to stay on campus, buy technology they needed, and keep learning when classes transitioned to remote learning. The resources also helped nontraditional students, many of whom were not able to work when stay-athome orders were issued. The U.S. government provided millions of dollars in assistance to colleges in 2020. “The government gave colleges the unexpected, short-term blessing of replacing what was lost,” CCCB’s Fincher said. “Ideally, the CARES Act gave schools enough breathing room to get through this fiscal year as they normally would.” His college participated in both PPP and HEERF, but Fincher said the effects of the government assistance were just short term, “a blessing, but a blip.” In Canada, no such programs were available to Christian colleges. Though the Canadian economy was significantly affected by the pandemic, their federal government offered only small tax breaks to institutions of higher learning in 2020. Dr. Stanley Helton, president of Alberta Bible College, said his school was ineligible for other assistance because of large gifts it received at the end of 2019.

“This fall, we were opening not only a college, but also— in a sense—a restaurant, two hotels, an event center, and a church.” Thankfully, none of the colleges that participated in this article reported a significant drop in enrollment due to COVID-19. At Manhattan, enrollment was down only about 7 percent for the fall semester. Prior to 2020, Ingram said, “We already had some volatility in enrollment because of dwindling high school populations.”

The Present THE PRESENT INCOME + EXPENSES

Because aid from the U.S. government was intended to be a short-term solution, colleges and universities have continued to closely monitor their income and expenses. “This year has been unprecedented for all of us—at least in our lifetimes,” said Kevin Ingram, president of Manhattan Christian College in Kansas. “But all of our Bible colleges have had financial ups and downs over the years. That part’s not unprecedented.” Thankfully, Manhattan Christian did not experience a significant drop in donations in 2020. In fact, none of the schools interviewed for this article reported major changes in incoming gifts. Ingram shared that one of the college’s larger supporting churches planned to suspend its financial support during the first month of the shutdown, but the church resumed donations to the school after receiving its own PPP grant. Not only did MCC avoid a drop in financial support, the college actually received some unexpected contributions in 2020. Those gifts were particularly beneficial, because the school refunded nine weeks’ worth of housing and dining fees to students last spring. Still, the college continued to operate—albeit in a different way. “We had to close our campus, not shut down our mission,” Ingram said. Manhattan Christian College incurred a number of new expenses in response to the pandemic. The school spent

Overall, the unexpected costs of the pandemic have been offset by unexpected income at Manhattan Christian College. “For the last six months, finances have been pretty much balanced out,” Ingram said, The same is true at Central Christian College of the Bible. “We haven’t needed to cut employees at this point, and our giving has stayed reasonably stable,” Fincher said. At Alberta Bible College, “the pandemic has had minimal effect on our bottom line financially,” Stan Helton said. Most students at ABC are adult learners, so the college has no on-campus student housing. The college had been building what Helton called “a good online platform” for years before the coronavirus outbreak began in North America. In fact, ABC moved all of its classes online one week before the first COVID-19 shutdowns because a snowstorm last winter made travel to the campus almost impossible. As a result, when lockdown orders were issued in Alberta, no classes at ABC had to be canceled or rescheduled. The college has continued conducting classes remotely; at the time of this writing, it still was not offering any on-campus classes. At Carolina Christian College, Tyson said the pandemic gave leaders the opportunity to think strategically and grow the school. CCC is a very small college with less than 100 students, but Tyson said, “Enrollment is up from last year, which of course is a positive thing.” CCC has made small but significant changes, like hiring new bookkeepers that specialize in higher education, saving 20 percent on accounting costs in the process. Such a change might be insignificant at a larger college, but not at CCC. “Because we are so small, we can maximize this resource to get a lot done,” Tyson said. The college is also embarking on more notable changes, like improving and expanding its student housing.

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more on personal protective equipment (PPE), cleaning supplies, and additional cleaning than in prior years. Operating a college is always a multifaceted undertaking, but Ingram said it was even more involved at the start of the 2020-21 school year.

we had to close our campus

NOT SHUT DOWN OUR MISSION.

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The Future THE FUTURE

O U T L O O K S T I L L U N C E R TA I N David Fincher took the long view when discussing the financial effects of COVID-19. “I think the pandemic is going to make every college reassess how it is spending its time and money,” Fincher said. “That might be for the better eventually, but it will be uncomfortable between now and then.” Fincher, like every other Christian college president interviewed for this article, is wrestling with long-term financial uncertainty: Will thousands of churches in North America really close, as some have predicted, reducing the number of congregations that support Christian higher education? How many students will be enrolled by next semester? In five years? Kevin Ingram shares those concerns. “If this continues much longer,” he wondered, “are the biggest financial effects still to be felt? Is the worst yet to come?” Stan Helton believes some changes in Christian higher education are inevitable. In his opinion, “Traditional Christian higher education is unsustainable”—too staff-heavy, with too much overhead, and too expensive for students. At Alberta Bible College, which offers remote learning in six-week modules, Helton said, “I think we’re going to keep plugging away.” LaTanya Tyson also stressed the significant influence COVID-19 is likely to have on the future of Carolina Christian College. “We believe this will be the turning point,” Tyson said, “[As president,] I can’t simply think about the here and now. I have to think long-term. And long term, we are looking at strengthening our financial foundation so we can build on it. Every dollar we spend has to be used so we can bring in another dollar.”

The Conclusion THE CONCLUSION UNEXPECTED BLESSINGS + UNANSWERED QUESTIONS

In general, Christian colleges have not experienced major financial trauma as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, but the interviews for this article were conducted in September, during the early weeks of the 2020-21 academic year, when many questions were still unanswered. How will the November election affect Christian colleges and universities? Will the availability of COVID-19 treatments or a vaccine affect finances on campus? While it’s true that “some challenges may be yet to come in the spring,” as Kevin Ingram said, Christian higher education has not yet been severely hampered by the pandemic. Financial difficulties may still lie ahead, but as David Fincher pointed out, “Churches are always going to need trained leaders. They’re going to get them from somewhere.”  Justin Horey is a writer, musician, and the founder of Livingstone Marketing. He lives in Southern California.

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planting churches 7 C O U N T E R I N T U I T I V E W AY S T O I N T E R P R E T R E A L I T Y

By Phil Claycomb

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So, when the coronavirus hit and our new churches were being told to shut down services, our first assumption was that it was going to devastate our young congregations. But I have good news: Our new reality is not nearly as dreary as anticipated. I suggest our new reality includes the following truths: • New church offerings have not plummeted. A quick survey of Nexus churches reveals that two-thirds have seen their offerings either increase or plateau during COVID-19, with the remaining one-third reporting decreases. The mission support sent to Nexus, which is based on a percentage of the supporting church’s weekly offerings, has not dropped during the crisis. Offerings have largely stayed level or even increased. • COVID-19 has blessed many new churches with a small financial boon. Since a high percentage of new churches meet in rental spaces, most did not pay monthly rent while shut down. Many of our churches invested the rent money in new video, sound, and computer equipment. Some simply (and wisely) set the funds aside and have built-up savings.

’ve coached, mentored, and trained church planters since 2001, so I’ve been involved in many different crisis situations. I’ve sighed deeply and asked, “OK, what just happened?” more times than I care to remember. I’ve brainstormed through a host of “where do we go from here?” discussions. I’ve rolled up my shirtsleeves and jumped in to help “pick up the pieces and move on.” And I’ve discovered that while the causes of crises may vary, and churches are amazingly creative at finding ways to get into trouble, the one thing leaders must always do early and often in crises is to define and interpret reality. When a crisis hits, a leader instinctively starts acting on the basis of assumptions. Time and energy rarely go to testing those assumptions. Good leaders eventually learn to both trust and distrust their initial thoughts. They welcome having assumptions challenged. It’s awfully hard to pin down the true reality when everything is in turmoil. A good leader takes the time to challenge assumptions, conclusions, and instincts.

• The coronavirus has prompted many church members to begin online giving. The result has been regular and consistent giving patterns as fewer people are dropping checks in the plate and more are using automatic online transactions. One new church reported that 90 percent of their giving is transacted online. An unexpected benefit of COVID-19 is that it has done more to promote good stewardship habits than all previous sermons and campaigns combined. • Our bottom line—“making disciples who make disciples who start churches that start churches”—has not been threatened by the crisis. We are still interviewing prospective planters, pulling together new partnerships, and providing “leader care” (coaching, mentoring, training, community, and accountability). We have funds in hand for multiple church-planting opportunities. We’re ready to pull the trigger. We’re just waiting for the church-planting leader to emerge. So, how do we evaluate the coronavirus crisis and its impact on new church planting? I suggest seven counterintuitive interpretations as healthy ways to view our new reality.

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because of covid-19 . . .

YOU CAN L AUNCH AGAIN!

Most new churches get just one shot to “launch” in their community—one opportunity to make a good first impression. That was true, at least, until COVID-19. Thanks to the crisis, all of our new churches are “launching again”! And this time they have a team, which is something they didn’t have the first time. We expect big results. When launching for the first time, church planters are often still forming their team. They’re pulling everything together on a shoestring. But not this time. These relaunches will be done by teams, partners, and collaborators.

YOU CAN REINVENT YOURSELF!

COVID-19 has been tough on hard-driving, type A leaders who have a plan for everything. The coronavirus trashed their plans; it made timelines obsolete. Good plans turned out to be bad guesses. But that’s OK, as most church planters are visionary leaders. Right now is a good time for these leaders to trust their God-given ability to envision, dream, and rewrite their church’s next chapter. It’s a perfect time to toss out those old plans and come up with something new. Dream new dreams, set new goals—and consider doing it with a team this time. Visionary gifting partnered with the explosive power of a shared vision can make for an awesome next chapter.

YOU CAN IDENTIF Y NEW LEADERS!

It’s been said that “a crisis is a terrible thing to waste.” It’s possible, even likely, that this crisis will reveal emerging leaders. Don’t mope around and fail to notice this. Who is stepping up to help during the crisis? Since leaders attract leaders, you should expect potential leaders to emerge around you. So, select a few coronavirus-related problems that you firmly resolve not to fix yourself. Talk about those problems, highlight their challenging features, and then watch and wait to see who tries to be part of the solution. The person or people who step forward are potential leaders. Don’t let this crisis go to waste; instead, let it reveal the emerging leaders God has placed around you.

Y O U C A N C R E AT E C O M M U N I T Y ! Alan Hirsch compares doing church during COVID-19 to playing chess without the queen. The queen is the most versatile piece on the chessboard. Take away the queen and a player’s game is handicapped. In the same way, COVID-19 has deprived most of us of our favorite ministry tool—the Sunday-morning gathering. We have been forced to get things done through other means. The good news is that people crave community and are willing to try new ways to find it. All of us know older people who instantly learned the Zoom platform because they crave community. Actively create community by offering small groups—even accountability groups as small as two or three people. Set the table and let community break out all around you. The coronavirus is creating an appetite for community. Give people options beyond Sunday morning.

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j a nua ry 20 21

Y O U C A N M E E T TA N G I B L E N E E D S I N E Q U A L LY TA N G I B L E WAY S ! A lot of people are hurting due to this pandemic. Even more are frightened about career and employment prospects. The church has the opportunity to re-earn the right to be heard by our culture by being the best neighbors ever. Let’s train our people to respond to COVID-19 with a prayerful SANMAN (See A Need—Meet A Need) lifestyle. We may not be able to gather as we have in the past, but we can still love people one at a time!

YOU CAN SLAY SOME SACRED COWS!

Just between us [shhh, let’s lower our voices], COVID-19 has handed us a potentially low-drama opportunity to kill church programs that need to go away. Start by identifying the programs you want to disappear. Then simply let them die through neglect and starvation. Don’t fix their problems or talk about them. Just ignore them. Walk away and let nature do its thing. I know of a church that entered 2020 with 74 ministry programs running. (It makes you tired to even think about it.) Today the same church is running just 7 programs. COVID-19 rewrote the rules! The amazing—though, perhaps, not surprising—thing is this: The church is more effective with 7 programs than they were with 74. So, my advice is this: Identify sacred cows and let them die of neglect. Then blame it all on the coronavirus. You know you can do this (and you might even enjoy it)!

YOU CAN REFOCUS ON JOB 1 —D I S C I P L E-M A K I N G ! According to Jesus, the No. 1 mission of churches is making disciples. But way too many churches behave as if hosting events and meetings is their No. 1 job. This epidemic has provided a great opportunity to change this. It’s an invitation for us to refocus. We can’t get our crowds into a big room for a one-size-fits-all attempt at pseudo disciple-making during this crisis. Perhaps God wants us to try ministry the way Jesus and the earliest followers did it. Wouldn’t it be just like God to use the coronavirus to refocus us on making disciples? I asked one of my church planters how they were responding during this pandemic. He said he was following his dad’s advice about handling intractable problems. That advice? “If you can’t fix it, feature it!” Since COVID-19 isn’t likely to go away anytime soon, that advice would be to “reinterpret reality and find a way to make use of it.” Slow down and question your assumptions about COVID-19’s impact on you and your church. Give yourself permission to consider counterintuitive interpretations of reality. The coronavirus might be the worst thing that happened to the world in 2020, but it could also be the best thing that’s happened to Christ’s church in a long time!  Phil Claycomb serves as executive director of Texas-based Nexus Church Planting.

HOW HOW HOW HOW HOW HOW HOW HOW HOW HOW HOW HOW HOW HOW HOW HOW HOW HOW HOW HOW HOW HOW HOW HOW HOW HOW HOW HOW HOW HOW

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CONSTRUCTION LOANS

By Melissa Wuske

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INITIAL UNCERTAINTY Along with virtually everyone else, TSF, CFR, and CDF faced a time of uncertainty as spring arrived and the shock of the pandemic took hold. Each organization adopted a calm, reasoned, faithful approach—aiming to move forward prudently, soothe the fears of their ministry partners, and rely on God.

arly in 2020, as the global pandemic unfolded, the uncertainty and economic losses seemed to spell disaster both for churches looking to build or expand their facilities and for the financial institutions that provide loans to these ministries. How can churches expect to build when they can’t even safely meet in person? How can giving and lending hold steady when the economy is flailing and so many people are out of work? Now, mere months later—albeit long months—the worst fears did not happen. Churches are proceeding with construction projects and lending remains stable. Leaders from three major Restoration Movementaffiliated, church-lending organizations—Douglas J. Crozier, chief executive officer of The Solomon Foundation (TSF); Jesse D. Kamm, senior vice president of construction management with Christian Financial Resources (CFR); and Dusty Rubeck, president and CEO of CDF Capital—agreed to share what they’ve seen and experienced during these trying times. The men say all that has happened—the growth and stability of ministries and overcoming the dire predictions—is a testament to God’s faithfulness, the creativity of churches and believers across the country, and the diligence and wisdom of the supporting financial organizations.

“Very early in the pandemic,” Kamm said, “CFR met with each project leadership team to assess their situation and strategize the best course of action to fit their ministry needs. The aim was to balance the uncertainty and fluidity of the pandemic” along with the needs of each stakeholder, including “contractors, vendors, ministry leadership, and congregation.” But once the landscape became clearer, the impact wasn’t as bad as some feared—in fact, all three organizations were able to continue their projects. “Overall, it was a far smaller impact than we first anticipated,” Rubeck said. “Some projects were put on hold for a couple of months before commencing, some projects had unanticipated delays due to the shutdowns, and some felt almost no impact whatsoever.” Kamm concurred. After an initial pause to gather data, CFR was able to move forward with every project. And Crozier noted, “TSF has not stopped funding any current projects, and we have continued to approve new loans.” Through it all, churches showed faithful resilience. “Even in the best of times, construction projects are subject to various delays,” Rubeck said, “so most churches were prepared to deal with these obstacles already.”

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THE FUTURE OF LENDING AND BUILDING THE NEW PANDEMIC REALITY Still, the pandemic’s impact has been felt in various ways. “Many construction loans have capital campaigns happening at the same time,” Rubeck said, “so a reduction in those receipts has influenced churches to look for more ways to cut costs on the overall project.” There have been some positive surprises too. “Our loan delinquency rate,” Crozier said, “is lower today than preCOVID.” “Since some projects are drawing out longer,” Rubeck said, “this is actually working well for those who are expecting a slow growth of attendance and with more people favoring online over in-person meetings.” It’s also been a time for churches and the financial organizations to show their creativity. “We have seen the people within the church body respond in unbelievable ways, including continued financial support and investments in building God’s kingdom,” Kamm said. “We’ve seen church leadership embrace opportunities to reduce expenses, adopt innovations, and prepare for post-pandemic ministry opportunities.” “We [my wife, Julie, and I] have traveled over 14,000 miles visiting over 90 churches, and the creativity is amazing,” Crozier said. “We have seen drive-in church, we have seen churches grow by 80 percent moving into a new building, we have worshipped in a backyard because the church [building] was closed. Our churches are finding creative ways to get it done!” Above all, “At every step of the pandemic we have seen God’s providence and wisdom at work,” Kamm said.

As the pandemic has worn on, the question being asked by everyone (which no one can answer) is, What’s next? In some ways, it’s simple. Crozier said, “We firmly believe the church will continue to need a physical space to operate from during the week and the weekend.” “Construction lending is likely to remain strong for the foreseeable future,” Kamm said. “Many of our ministry partners will look to reorganize, modify, and re-envision physical space. I anticipate fewer large-scale, ground-up projects and more small to midrange capital improvements of existing space and additions.” Rubeck anticipates challenges will continue. “There will be some difficult financial days ahead for churches in 2021 and beyond,” he said. “When the economy is disrupted, church giving tends to remain strong and any negative impacts on that giving lag behind the economic downturn by 12 to 18 months.” “Not all churches will be impacted equally, and some may continue to flourish,” he continued. “But there is likely to be some downturn in giving. It is a time to seek God’s clear guidance and pause to seek the wisest plans for the future. While I firmly support leaders stepping out in faith, I do not equate building new buildings as the only sign of that faith.” “My advice remains the same as it was prepandemic,” Kamm said. “Plan for the long game by deciding as a leadership team what you hope for the ministry to be in 15 to 20 years. The actions you take today may have detrimental effects on future mobility, flexibility, and nimbleness should other unforeseen events occur.” Churches should maintain adequate operational reserves and align capital improvements with the overall vision.

DOUGLAS J. CROZIER

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE SOLOMON FOUNDATION (TSF)

JESSE D. KAMM

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT WITH CHRISTIAN FINANCIAL RESOURCES (CFR)

DUSTY RUBECK

PRESIDENT AND CEO OF CDF CAPITAL

WHILE RUBECK, KAMM, AND CROZIER ARE OPTIMISITIC IN THE REALM OF CHURCH LENDING, THEY'RE EVEN MORE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE ADVANCE OF GOD'S KINGDOM.

But it’s never been just about money. In the months and years ahead, the church will continue to be comprised of followers of Christ who aren’t confined to a particular building. While Rubeck, Kamm, and Crozier are optimistic in the realm of church lending, they’re even more optimistic about the advance of God’s kingdom. “When this pandemic is over, the church will come out stronger because of the creativity and commitment they have made to expand the kingdom,” Crozier said. The creativity churches have exhibited during this time will continue. Churches are learning to adapt to changing environments, and those skills will impact the kingdom in the years ahead. “It is expected that, for many new guests,” Kamm said, “the online virtual experience will become the new front door—the first place new guests will ‘sample’ your ministry and decide if they should step foot into the physical gathering.” While these times are undeniably difficult, they’re a chance to grow and re-envision what it means to be the body of Christ: How and where do we gather? How do we connect to each other and to God? What do we do with our resources? “The advances in the last months have been related to churches using a variety of methods to reengage their people and to focus on what matters most,” Rubeck said. “I don’t think God has much concern about the facilities we want to build, or even our mastery of the digital universe. From the beginning, God has been concerned about relationships with his creation. So, my hope is to see church leaders double and triple their investments into the spiritual pathways that create these connections, and that facilities begin to take a back seat to greater concerns.” “Imagine what it would look like,” Rubeck continued, “if we could unleash these great waves of generosity and [if] all of the funds were used to reach the lost, here and around the world,” rather than build bigger, better buildings. In uncertain times—in all times—God’s people can trust him. While so many in the world today put their trust in financial security, throughout this pandemic God has shown his faithfulness to the believers, churches, and financial institutions who rely on him.  Melissa Wuske is a freelance editor and writer. She and her husband, Shawn, and their son, Caleb, live and minister in Cincinnati.

/melissa.wuske melissaannewuske.com

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THE ADVANCING OF GOD'S KINGDOM

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SPONSORED

willing to cross this river.

One Foot in Front of the Other At The Solomon Foundation, we are not standing on the banks unwilling to cross. No, we have stepped into the river as we pursue God’s plan for this ministry. TSF has been open and will remain open. We continue to approve new loans, complete new construction projects, and accept new deposits in record numbers. As the first wave of COVID-19 gripped our nation in March, the leaders and staff of TSF processed our feelings and sought direction from God, refusing to allow COVID-19 to make the choices for us. And then TSF got to work in carrying out a plan. When we arrive at a river, there is danger in attempting a haphazard crossing, but there also is a real possibility and danger in pausing for too long. Camping out on the banks for a few days can easily turn into a few weeks, months, or years. Be sure to seek out God and his plan for you and your church . . . and don’t delay for too long in moving forward! At The Solomon Foundation, our day-to-day choices have changed in some ways—we are conducting most meetings with church leaders virtually rather than face-to-face— but we are still accomplishing the mission God has set out for us: • honor God • help people come to know Jesus as their Savior • help our investors achieve a great return on their investments • help churches get to the next step • have fun! We continue to set one foot in front of the other. And when we arrive at a river, we may pause momentarily to collect our thoughts and pray, but then we proceed to the other side. We might experience a level of discomfort or uncertainty—as if it might be the wrong time or the wrong place—but we continue on as we seek to honor God in all we do. God did not promise us an easy journey; instead, he promised to remain with us and never forsake us. Here at TSF, we want to help the church audaciously navigate through the challenges in front of them. God is with us. We must choose to follow him . . . and as we follow, we can sing to him: I will follow you, follow you wherever you may go. There isn’t a river too deep A mountain so high it can keep, keep me away.

Renee Little serves as senior vice president of project management with The Solomon Foundation.

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how to use

Each week has a lesson aim, lesson text, and supplemental text.

Tabs indicate the week of each lesson.

Each week features three sections: Study, Application, and Discovery. Use the Discovery questions to study, discuss, and apply the Scripture passages in a group or class.

january 2021

Upside Down

Kingdom

sermon on the mount The greatest sermon ever preached was so upside down. It was countercultural and counterintuitive in every way. It turned the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wisdom on its head. From it we learn who is truly blessed, how high the bar of righteousness really is, where genuine rewards are located, what focused generosity looks like, and how to make judgments that are not warped.

Upside Down

Kingdom

sermon on the mount

WEEK 1

Conform your perspec tive to Chris t's .

lesson text:

M a t t h e w 5 :1 - 1 6

supplemental text:

L u k e 6 : 2 0 -2 6

s t u dy

Backward Blessings by mark scott After Israel was “baptized” in the Red Sea, they wandered in the wilderness (1 Corinthians 10:1-5). During that time they received God’s law on a mountain (Acts 7:38). Jesus retraced old Israel’s steps. He was baptized and tested in the wilderness (Matthew 3-4). Now it was time to give the new Israel (Matthew 4:18-22) a new law (of sorts).

Jesus congratulated the merciful. When these people give out God’s loving-kindness, it comes back to them in equal measure.

The Sermon on the Mount was probably the greatest sermon ever preached. It was the first of five sermons of Jesus recorded in Matthew. The sermon was preached to the crowds and the disciples (5:1; 7:28). Jesus preached in typical rabbinical posture (sitting down) and did so from a mountainside (the traditional site is between Capernaum and Bethsaida on the northern tip of the Sea of Galilee). From the start, the sermon content was upside down when compared to worldly wisdom.

Jesus congratulated the peacemakers—those who put themselves at risk and often in harm’s way to reconcile fighting brothers and sisters.

Jesus congratulated the pure in heart. They will habitually seek one thing (“God’s kingdom,” said Søren Kierkegaard) and will be allowed to see God.

Jesus congratulated those who are “hunted down” because they follow God’s standard. This final beatitude gets some extra emphasis. The antagonists in Matthew’s Gospel were religious leaders. They made life miserable for the beatitude people. Their weapons were insults, persecution, and slander. But the reward for these beatitude people was the good company of the famous prophets of old.

Who Gets Congratulated? Matthew 5:1-12

These seemingly backward people were actually the ones whom Jesus commended. They demonstrate some of the biggest things in the Good Book (e.g., meekness, righteousness, mercy, purity, and peace). Some of the congratulations come in this life (notice the present tense in verses 3 and 10, but many of the congratulations are left to God’s glorious future (notice the future tense of verses 4-9).

Preacher Randy Gariss said, “Our culture has turned honoring the wrong people into an art form.” We honor and bless movie stars, athletes, politicians, and the rich and famous. Jesus, by contrast, honors the poor, the humble, and peacemakers. That could not be more backward to the current culture. There are eight Beatitudes (though the last one in Matthew is extended—and in Luke there are four Beatitudes and four “woes”—Luke 6:20-26). Each one starts with the word blessed. Seth Wilson used to say there are two words for blessed in the New Testament—one means “goodie for God” and the other means “goodie for you.” This is the “goodie for you” word. The English word congratulations might capture the idea. In his book, Max Lucado calls it The Applause of Heaven.

Who Has Influence? Matthew 5:13-16

Jesus congratulated the poor in spirit. He was referring to those who had experienced spiritual bankruptcy, for that is always where real religion begins (i.e., recognizing our need for God).

Jesus used two of the most common elements of the universe—salt and light—to drive home his point about influence. Salt and light are both known by their absence. Saltless food is bland. Hidden light is useless. Salt that loses it saltiness (Jesus was not speaking scientifically) is good only to be thrown out. Light that is hidden is flatly ridiculous. If the blessed people do not exercise their influence in the world, they will be judged and found to be silly.

Jesus congratulated those who mourn, meaning those with the ability to be touched in heart from sin’s personal and cosmic effects. This is real religion’s contrition. Jesus congratulated the meek, by which he meant those who possess the strength of humility. Humble people will enjoy this world and the one to come the most.

The calling of this influence is cosmic in scope. Christ followers are to be salt of the earth. Christ followers are to be light of the world. They let their light shine locally, but they always try to think globally. After all, their Father is all the way in heaven.

Jesus congratulated those who are hungry and the thirsty for righteousness, for such people long for God’s justice to be established on the earth as it is in heaven.

Faithful Rescue 2 Timothy 4:16-18

Paul wrote this Epistle in the shadow of his own death. There would be no physical or earthly rescue from that. But, previous to that entrance into glory, the Lord had rescued Paul many times (Acts 14:19-20; 2 Corinthians 11:23-29), including many times in court (Acts 21–26). He referred to one such time as the Epistle ends. He referenced his first defense (preliminary hearing that would lead to an ultimate trial). Even though others deserted (left behind) Paul, the Lord stood by his side and strengthened him. But God did not do that solely for Paul’s sake. He did it so that the gospel that Paul preached to the Gentiles would go forth. Paul held no animosity against those who did not stand with him. His actions mirrored those of Jesus and Stephen, in that Paul did not wish them ill (Luke 23:34; Acts 7:60).

Paul served the Lord faithfully because the mouth (likely a reference to the emperor Nero). was ready to face the possibility that God might praise for God who had the power to rescue

Lord’s record of faithfulness was without question. Paul had been delivered from the lion’s Paul was confident that if God wanted to deliver him, the Lord would do so again. But Paul also give him the ultimate rescue and bring him safely to his heavenly kingdom. Paul burst out in him.

Faithful Res2 Timothy 4:16-18

cue

Paul wrote this Epistle in the shadow of his own into glory, the Lord had rescued Paul many referred to one such time as the Epistle ends. though others deserted (left behind) Paul, the He did it so that the gospel that Paul preached him. His actions mirrored those of Jesus and

death. There would be no physical or earthly rescue from that. But, previous to that entrance times (Acts 14:19-20; 2 Corinthians 11:23-29), including many times in court (Acts 21–26). He He referenced his first defense (preliminary hearing that would lead to an ultimate trial). Even Lord stood by his side and strengthened him. But God did not do that solely for Paul’s sake. to the Gentiles would go forth. Paul held no animosity against those who did not stand with Stephen, in that Paul did not wish them ill (Luke 23:34; Acts 7:60).

Paul served the Lord faithfully because the mouth (likely a reference to the emperor Nero). was ready to face the possibility that God might praise for God who had the power to rescue

c h r i s t i a n s ta n d a r d

WEEK OF January 03

Who left the larger mark? Princess Diana or Mother Teresa? They both died the same day. John F. Kennedy or C.S. Lewis? They both died the same day. Looking through the list of congratulated people in the former section would cause one to say, “Surely the beatitude people have no clout, sway, or influence.” Wrong! The people described in verses 3-12 are the real movers and shakers of the world. They are the ones who leverage the influence in the world.

A p p l i c at i o n

Do the Opposite by David Faust

act of adultery, how will you cure a lustful, unfaithful heart? Should you follow your instincts and hit back at your haters? No, do the opposite and love your enemies.

In an episode of the TV show Seinfeld, Jerry’s friend George sits in the coffee shop bemoaning his bad luck. He says, “My life is the opposite of everything I want it to be. Every instinct I have, in every aspect of life . . . it’s all been wrong.”

The Sermon on the Mount isn’t a list of rules that make you a Christian. It’s a description of what the Lord makes out of you when you surrender your life to him. When someone asked Olympic athlete Bob Mathias how he managed to leap so high, he answered, “Throw your heart over the bar, and your body will follow.” If you study the Sermon on the Mount as a list of religious rules, you will end up frustrated. Instead, the sermon challenges us to surrender our hearts to the heavenly Father who can transform us from the inside out.

Jerry’s advice? “If every instinct you have is wrong, then the opposite would have to be right.” George decides, “Yes, I will do the opposite. I used to sit here and do nothing, and regret it for the rest of the day, so now I will do the opposite!” Instead of his usual tuna salad on toast, he orders chicken salad on rye. Instead of shying away from a pretty woman, he initiates a conversation. George’s social life improves and he gets promoted at work when he does the opposite of his natural instincts.

Backward Blessings

Counterintuitive Truth

At first glance, the Beatitudes sound like the opposite of a blessed life. How can it be a blessing to mourn or to endure persecution? But in the upside-down kingdom where God rules, brokenness leads to blessedness and the poor in spirit discover heaven’s riches. God turns zeroes into heroes, the darkness of mourning into the morning of hope. In his kingdom, meekness isn’t weakness, and the spiritually famished enjoy a feast where right relationships are always on the menu. God’s mercy multiplies, his Spirit purifies, his peace unifies, and persecution intensifies the testimony of his faithful followers.

Jesus’ teaching was unprecedented in the first century, and it still sounds unconventional and uncomfortable today. At times his ideas seem contrary to common sense (the opposite of what seems natural or obvious), but on deeper reflection they prove true. Instinct says:

Jesus says:

Protect yourself Promote yourself Greatness = others serving you

Deny yourself Humble yourself Greatness = you serving others

Remember when you were a kid on a playground swing? You had to pull back to propel yourself forward. It’s counterintuitive, but according to Jesus, those who pull back on self and seek God first find true blessing, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus confronts his disciples with counterintuitive truth and challenging questions. What does God’s kingdom rule look like in real life? What will change if we invite him to take charge of our attitudes, priorities, money, and relationships? Don’t murder—that’s obvious enough. But do you ever hate others and wish they were dead? More than merely avoiding the physical

J a n u a r y 2 0 21

Faithful Rescue 2 Timothy 4:16-18

Paul served the Lord faithfully because the mouth (likely a reference to the emperor Nero). was ready to face the possibility that God might praise for God who had the power to rescue

Personal Challenge: Do a spiritual inventory as this new year begins. What have you been doing your way that you need to start doing God’s way?

D i s c ove ry

by Michael C. Mack

1. What challenge did you face last week? 2. In what specific way did you live, love, or serve like Jesus over the past week? Ask three people—two readers and one reteller—to help. Ask the readers to read Matthew 5:1-16 one after the other, preferably from different Bible versions. Ask the third person to summarize the teaching in one minute or less. 3. What worldviews do you see represented in Jesus’ teaching? 4. Let’s dig more deeply into the passage. • To whom is Jesus teaching these lessons? • In what specific ways does Jesus separate (call out) his disciples from the crowd? • To what kind of life, in general, is Jesus calling his followers? • Note the different verb tenses—is and will—in the Beatitudes (vv. 1-12). What does this indicate about our blessings now and in the future? • What does this passage demonstrate about the priorities of a disciple of Jesus? 5. What do you learn about God from this passage? 6. What do you learn about people? 7. What will it look like this week for you to obey Jesus’ directive to “let your light shine before others”?

9. What challenges or blessings do you anticipate as you go about your next week?

For Next Week: Over the next week, read and reflect on Matthew 5:17-48 as we continue studying the Sermon on the Mount. You can also read next week’s supplemental texts as well as the Study and Application sections as part of your personal study.

WEEK OF January 03

8. Based on our study and discussion, complete this sentence: “This week, I will . . .”

Upside Down

Kingdom

sermon on the mount

WEEK 2

Let love def ine your righteousness .

lesson text:

M a t t h e w 5 :1 7-2 2 , 2 7-2 8 , 31-35, 38-39, 43-48

supplemental text:

M a t t h e w 7 :1 2 ; 2 2 : 3 4 - 4 0 R o m a n s 1 3 :1 0 G a l a t i a n s 5 :1 4

s t u dy

Unconventional Wisdom by mark scott

(see the previous paragraph). God had made provisions through Moses to grant divorces due to the people’s hardness of heart (Deuteronomy 24:1-4; Matthew 19:8). This also protected women from being abused. But Jesus indicated the problem with divorce wasn’t that it was being done the wrong way; rather, divorce itself was wrong. Any divorce, for whatever reason, is an indication someone has failed.

In Jesus’ upside-down kingdom, the most unlikely people (Matthew 5:3-12) have the most sway in the world (5:13-16). What comes next in the Sermon on the Mount is the thesis statement (i.e., the big idea). One way that Jesus fulfilled the entire Old Testament was to raise our understanding of what constituted real righteousness. Jesus did not abolish the old way; rather, he built on it. What Jesus said in this theme paragraph (5:17-20) was that every commandment of God matters, but we can never reduce our walk with God to a few favorite commandments.

In his mercy, Jesus did agree that sexual immorality was a legitimate reason for divorce. Sexual immorality breaks the sanctity of the relationship; it creates carnage by victimizing the innocent spouse (makes her the victim of adultery) and also brings adultery into the new relationship.

When Jesus said, “Unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven,” the crowds and disciples must have thought, How would that even be possible? After all, the religious leaders were experts in extreme righteousness. Jesus gave six examples—also called the “six antitheses”—of how this real, greater, fulfilled righteousness worked in daily life.

Divorce: Sanctity of Speech Matthew 5:33-35 The fourth way real righteousness works in daily life has to do with the integrity of our speech. Vows mattered in Israel (Leviticus 27; Judges 11:29-40). They were to matter to the New Israel as well. We will be justified or condemned by our words (Matthew 12:37). The best commentary on this paragraph is Matthew 23:16-22. We shouldn’t need to underline the truthfulness of our words by saying things like, “I’ll swear on a stack of Bibles.” A yes is a yes, and a no is a no.

Murder: Sanctity of Life Matthew 5:21-22 Conventional wisdom said you were righteous if you refrained from murder. But Jesus skillfully showed that anger lurks behind murder. Calling someone, “Raca” (blockhead or imbecile) or “You fool!” are expressions of anger. Everyone knows that words hurt worse than sticks and stones. Care enough about life to reconcile with people while you have the chance.

Eye for Eye: Sanctity of Fairness Matthew 5:38-39

Adultery: Sanctity of Sex Matthew 5:27-28 The seventh commandment is clear enough. Do not be intimate with someone else’s spouse. But Jesus indicated that dirty minds preceded dirty acts. Therefore, if a man looks at a woman lustfully—the Greek text has it as a purpose clause (i.e., looks at her with the purpose of mentally undressing her)—an immoral line has already been crossed. Intimacy begins in the mind before it ever makes it to the bedroom.

Love for Enemies: Sanctity of Foes Matthew 5:43-48 The Old Testament said, “Love your neighbor” (Leviticus 19:18), but it never said, “Hate your enemy.” That was added by some sly scribe. Jesus’ way turns enemies into friends and prays for one’s persecutors. God is kind to the ungrateful and evil (Luke 6:35); he called his people to be mature in love like he is. God’s love is unconditional, and his wisdom is unconventional.

Divorce: Sanctity of Marriage Matthew 5:31-32 Jesus did not use the full formula (“You have heard . . . but I say to you”) for this antithesis. He simply said, “It has been said.” This is probably because broken marriages often result from unfaithfulness

Faithful Rescue 2 Timothy 4:16-18

Paul served the Lord faithfully because the mouth (likely a reference to the emperor Nero). was ready to face the possibility that God might praise for God who had the power to rescue

c h r i s t i a n s ta n d a r d

WEEK OF January 10

The law Jesus quoted in this antithesis was first given in Exodus 21:24. It was referred to as the “law of limited revenge.” It may seem cruel to us but, given the cultures of the nations that surrounded Old Testament Israel, it was viewed as being extremely fair. Wicked nations and kings were known for exacting huge penalties for rather small offenses. Jesus recast it in a way that served as a sanity check, but which also was proactively kind and generous.

A p p l i c at i o n

Don't Stay the Way You Are by David Faust

Uncommon Sense

Does your church have a mission statement? A quick internet search turns up examples of mission statements that are good, bad, and funny. Unfortunately, you also can find church mission statements that sound lofty but don’t translate well into real life. In truth, they sound like corporate jargon.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus repeatedly said, “You have heard that it was said . . . but I tell you.” First-century rabbis backed up their opinions by citing respected authorities, but Jesus taught “as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law” (Matthew 7:28-29). Christ didn’t need anyone else’s opinions to back him up. He fulfilled and embodied God’s Law. He challenged conventional wisdom and still does. He leads us to move beyond common sense to uncommon sense. He prods us to examine our motives and obey God from the heart instead of trying to impress others.

In churches, relationships matter more than slogans, so mission statements should be used wisely or they come across as manipulative or irrelevant—mere words posted on the wall. It’s hard to beat the mission statement Jesus gave us in the Great Commission: make disciples, baptize, and teach (Matthew 28:18-20). However we express it, our mission always involves transformation as God moves us from lost to saved, death to life, alone to together, darkness to light, inactive to involved . . . from new birth to spiritual maturity and from aimlessness to fruitfulness.

On the surface it sounds logical to say, “If others hurt you, hurt them back.” Jesus says, “Turn the other cheek.” Conventional wisdom asserts, “You’ll get by just fine by doing the bare minimum.” Jesus insists, “Go the extra mile.”

Continued Growth

Conventional wisdom says, “It’s smart to live together before marriage. ‘Kick the tires’ and see if you are sexually compatible.” God’s Word declares, “Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure” (Hebrews 13:4).

No matter how many times I read Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, it consistently challenges me to deepen my walk with God. The Lord evidently wants me to keep growing. When Christ is Lord, the status quo isn’t acceptable and spiritual growth isn’t optional. God accepts us as we are, but he loves us too much to let us stay that way.

Conventional wisdom says, “Money makes the world go ’round. Give a little to charity, but don’t overdo it.” The Lord says, “Store up treasures in heaven. It’s more blessed to give than to receive” (Matthew 6:20; Acts 20:35).

In the congregation where I serve, we summarize our mission by saying we “help people take their next steps with Jesus.” That easy-to-remember mission statement not only reminds us to introduce non-Christians to the Lord, it also challenges those who already believe to take additional steps of faith and obedience. Even if we have been Christians for years, we still need to be transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2), adding to our faith goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, mutual affection, and love (2 Peter 1:5-7).

J a n u a r y 2 0 21

In every stage of life, let’s keep taking steps of faith and helping others do the same. That isn’t a typical goal in our current culture, but it’s the way of the cross. And it’s our mission, if we choose to accept it. Personal Challenge: What is the next step you need to take with Jesus? This week, how can you help someone else grow in the Lord?

D i s c ove ry

by Michael C. Mack

1. What challenge did you face or what blessing did you receive last week? 2. In what specific way did you “let your light shine before others” over the past week? Ask three people—two readers and one reteller—to help. Ask the readers to read Matthew 5:17-22, 27-28, 31-35, 38-39, 43-48 one after the other, preferably from different Bible versions. Ask the third person to summarize the teaching in one minute or less. (After the reteller finishes, others can fill in any parts the person missed.) 3. How would you title this Bible passage? Pick one and explain your choice. • How to Exceed What’s Expected of You • Going Beyond Just Following the Rules • Six Tips for Challenging Conventional Wisdom • From Common Sense to Uncommon Sense • You Don’t Have to Settle for Ordinary 4. What kind of life is Jesus calling his followers to live? Be as specific as possible. 5. What do you learn about God from this passage? 6. What do you learn about people? 7. How can living by Jesus’ higher standards help you to be salt and light to the people around you?

9. Based on our study and discussion, complete this sentence: “This week, I will . . .” 10. What new challenge do you anticipate as you head into next week?

For Next Week: Over the next week, read and reflect on Matthew 6:1-18 as we continue studying the Sermon on the Mount. You can also read next week’s supplemental texts as well as the Study and Application sections as part of your personal study.

WEEK OF January 10

8. Look again at each “But I tell you . . .” precept from Jesus. Which one do you most need to start obeying now?

Upside Down

Kingdom

sermon on the mount

WEEK 3

F o c u s o n b u i l d i n g c h a r a c t e r, w h o y o u a r e even in private, more than you focus on your reputation, what others think of you.

lesson text:

M a t t h e w 6 :1 - 1 8

supplemental text:

M a t t h e w 2 3 :1 - 1 2

s t u dy

Reverse Rewards by mark scott

(synagogues and street corners), and they pray with many words. The places of their prayers will get them noticed, and their verbosity will get them heard. If all they want is to be seen by others, they will receive that reward. If all they want is to babble like pagans (Gentiles did this to be accepted by the Jews), they will receive that reward.

There is a subtle danger of letting your righteousness surpass that of the religious elite (Matthew 5:20) and in striving to be perfect (5:48). The danger is religious hypocrisy, which is the worst kind of hypocrisy. True kingdom people will do their best to live out the real, greater, fulfilled righteousness that Jesus spoke about in the six antitheses (5:21-48). The danger comes when these true kingdom people practice their righteousness just to be seen by others. They become more interested in the praise of people than the nod of God. They become duplicitous in the public practices of their faith.

Instead, Jesus taught the value of private prayer (even closet prayer). This was not a prohibition against public prayer (John 12:27-30), but an acknowledgement that since God knows what we need before we ask, we should use humble and respectful plain speech by letting our words be few (Ecclesiastes 5:2).

To ensure this does not happen, Jesus stated a huge principle (Matthew 6:1) and then illustrated it with three cardinal practices of the Jews of his day: giving, praying, and fasting (6:2-18). The practice of faith is always public and private. It cannot be otherwise. If the practice of faith is only public, then it is hypocritical. If the practice of faith is only private, then we miss the community aspect of it. Jesus cautioned against practicing righteousness to be seen (literally “do theatrics”) by people. God does not reward such pride.

Speaking of few words, the model prayer is exemplary in succinctness—just 53 words in English. Its two halves (the Lord’s half and our half) and six petitions are nothing short of brilliant. (See David Timm’s Living the Lord’s Prayer.) Our(s) is a term of community. Father is a term of intimacy. In heaven is the abode or throne of God. What access we have! God’s half of the prayer features imperatives. “Let your name be hallowed” (made holy, distinct, and set apart). “Let your kingdom come” (the dynamic reign of God colliding with earth’s values and ways). “Let your will be done” (the parallelism with kingdom is obvious). We are praying that heaven and earth will be one (Revelation 21:1-4).

When You Give Matthew 6:2-4 When (not if) you give (as in giving alms to the poor), do not announce it with fanfare. There is no evidence that people actually announced their giving with trumpets. But times of prayer and days of fasting were announced with trumpet blasts. Some thought that giving and fasting helped achieve answered prayers. Jesus may have meant it figuratively, such as, “Do not toot your own horn when you give.”

Our half of the prayer concerns our needs (not greeds) for the bread of the day, our plea for forgiveness, and our ability to resist temptation and the forces of the evil one. Of the six petitions, it’s interesting that the plea for forgiveness receives the excursus. The person who prays this prayer will always reciprocate forgiveness. When You Fast Matthew 6:16-18

When You Pray Matthew 6:5-15

When (not if) you fast (abstaining from food for a time to heighten spiritual formation), do not aspire to look like it (that is, sort of washed-out and somber). Some want to advertise this spiritual discipline. If so, they have already received their reward. Instead, clean up so you appear as you normally would. Let the fasting be your and God’s little secret.

When (not if) you pray, do not be like the hypocrites (play actors in the ancient world). Their prayers are quite “involved.” They pray in the prominent places

The only way to do these acts of righteousness well in public are to practice them much in private. Who are you, really, when no one else is looking? Faithful Rescue 2 Timothy 4:16-18

Paul served the Lord faithfully because the mouth (likely a reference to the emperor Nero). was ready to face the possibility that God might praise for God who had the power to rescue

c h r i s t i a n s ta n d a r d

WEEK OF January 17

And it was not just “how” but also “where.” Synagogues and street corners are not the places to work on generous righteousness. Instead, giving should almost be done subconsciously (not letting the left hand know what the right hand is doing) and in secret. Giving publicly is not wrong (2 Corinthians 8–9; Philippians 4:10-20), but giving to be praised is the wrong reward to seek.

A p p l i c at i o n

For Mine Is the Kingdom? by David Faust

Remember the part of the Lord’s Prayer that says, “Thine is the kingdom”? It’s tempting to say “mine” instead of “Thine.” Every day I have to choose between the kingdom of God and the chaos of self. Every day I need to ask, Am I in charge, or is God? Often I find myself trying to run my own little kingdom—the “kingdom of Dave.” I know that sounds ridiculous, but it won’t sound any better if you substitute your own name in the phrase.

It’s an understatement to say the photo that ended up on my driver’s license is less than flattering. It looks terrible—and very funny! Anytime I want to make my wife laugh, all I have to do is pull out my driver’s license and show her the photo. My own mother cringed and laughed when she saw the picture. And remember—this was the second photo the worker took. How bad must the first one have been?

If I don’t guard against it, the kingdom of Dave will dominate my life. When it’s time to take out the trash and I pretend to be busy so my wife has to do it, there’s a struggle going on between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of Dave. When I want others to listen to me but I don’t want to listen to them, the kingdom of Dave is taking over. When I’m tempted to play to the crowd, that’s not the kingdom of God at work; it’s the kingdom of Dave.

I sighed and told the woman behind the counter, “This picture is really embarrassing. And now I’ll have to put up with it for the next four years.” She shook her head and said, “No, in Indiana your license is good for six years.” So for six years, I quietly looked forward to renewing my driver’s license when I finally would get a new photo. Sure enough, right on schedule, the Bureau of Motor Vehicles sent me a postcard saying it was time to renew my license. But because the offices were closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, I had to renew it by mail. The postcard said, “The BMV will use your last photo on-file for your new driver’s license.”

Hypocrisy runs rampant when self occupies the throne. That’s why Jesus warned about doing religious acts in public places. Public admiration brings a fickle, fleeting reward, but nothing more. The heavenly Father sees how and why we give, pray, and serve, so why do we seek attention from others?

J a n u a r y 2 0 21

“Seek first the kingdom of Dave”—that has an absurd ring to it.

Now I am stuck with that same terrible photo for another six years—12 years altogether. Except the new photo is black and white instead of full color, so it looks even worse.

Putting Self in Its Place

So much for the kingdom of Dave.

When my wife, Candy, and I moved to Indiana from Ohio nearly seven years ago, I went to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles to get my new Indiana driver’s license. The worker behind the counter asked me to take off my glasses while she took a picture of me, but after glancing at the photo, she shook her head and mumbled, “Oh, that’s not good.” She took a second picture and discarded the first one.

Personal Challenge: Pray a prayer of confession like this: “Father, my life is an open book to you. You know me inside and out. You see everything I do, and you know why I do it. Forgive me for trying to impress others. Purify my motives, humble my heart, and help me discover the joy that comes from seeking your kingdom above all else. Amen.”

D i s c ove ry

by Michael C. Mack

1. What new challenge did you face last week? 2. In what specific way did you live by Jesus’ higher standards over the past week? Ask three people—two readers and one reteller—to help. Ask the readers to read Matthew 6:1-18 one after the other, preferably from different Bible versions. Ask the third person to summarize the teaching in one minute or less. (After the reteller finishes, others can fill in any parts the person may have missed.) 3. In what ways are a person’s motives important to how they practice their faith? 4. Let’s dig deeper into this passage: • What is Jesus’ main point in this passage? • The three practices Jesus used to illustrate his main point—giving to the needy, prayer, and fasting—were common spiritual practices for Jewish people of that day. Why are these practices vital for living out one’s faith? • Other spiritual practices that are important for Christ followers include (but are not limited to) worship and Bible study. What role do your motives play as you engage (privately or publicly) in these? • Look through the passage for repeated phrases. What do they teach you? • Note the use of second-person plural pronouns (our, us, we) in the model prayer. What does that signify about the importance of community? 5. What do you learn about God from this passage? 6. What do you learn about people? 7. Serving others and sharing our faith are outward-focused spiritual practices for Christ followers. As you engage in these practices (either personally or as a group) how will you do them with the right motives?

9. Based on our study and discussion, complete this sentence: “This week, I will . . .” 10. What challenge do you anticipate as you seek to live your life for Christ this week? For Next Week: Over the next week, read and reflect on Matthew 6:19-34 as we continue studying the Sermon on the Mount. You can also read next week’s supplemental texts as well as the Study and Application sections as part of your personal study.

WEEK OF January 17

8. Jesus gave several “how-to” directives in this passage. Which one do you sense you most need to focus on obeying now?

Upside Down

Kingdom

sermon on the mount

WEEK 4

Pursue God's kingdom to lay up treasure in Heaven.

lesson text:

M a t t h e w 6 :1 9 - 3 4

supplemental text:

P s a l m 3 7 :1 - 4 Proverbs 2 3:4 - 5 Matthew 19:2 3 -30 L u k e 1 2 :1 6 -2 1

s t u dy

Singular Servants by mark scott

a reductive fallacy. But realistically there are only two options—theism or materialism. If we are devoted to or love one, we must despise or hate the other. It has been said we can’t take our treasures to heaven with us, but we can send them on ahead of us by being generous here.

Rich Mullins played a song on his hammer dulcimer entitled “My One Thing.” When too many things occupy our attention, our devotion to Christ becomes compromised. The real, greater, fulfilled righteousness in Christ that Jesus taught about in the Sermon on the Mount should be our single focus. When it is, generosity will mark us, and worry will flee from us.

Life on Earth: Pursue the Kingdom Matthew 6:25-34

Jesus was one of the most colorful speakers ever. In this latter half of Matthew 6, Jesus employed at least 18 different metaphors or images to drive home his point. He spoke of treasures, moths, vermin, and thieves. He spoke of eyes, light, darkness, masters, and money. He spoke of eating, drinking, clothing, birds, grass, flowers, a king’s son, and fire. Jesus truly engaged the right side of people’s brains as he taught.

Setting our minds on things above (Colossians 3:1-4) actually helps us steward things on earth below. This mind-set deals a death blow to worry. Singular servants give up fretting because “worry” means to be drawn in two different directions at the same time. Sometimes worry can be a good motivator, such as worrying about taking care of our spouses and church people (1 Corinthians 7:33; 2 Corinthians 11:28). But in this passage, worry is antifaith.

Treasures in Heaven: Pursue Generosity Matthew 6:19-24

A fine line exists between worry and concern. But being preoccupied with food and clothing is counterproductive. Jesus used a “lesser-to-greater” style of argument to make his point. Birds are busy little creatures, but they do not worry about their next meal or their designer feathers. People are more valuable than birds. Worrying about our needs (or greeds) cannot add a single hour (or greater stature) to our lives.

The real righteousness of the upside-down kingdom can be hypocritical (Matthew 6:1-18), but it should always be “singular” in focus. We might call it “Cyclopes Christianity.” (The Cyclopes were great oneeyed creatures from Greek and Roman mythology.) Kingdom people have their hearts set on Heaven and their eyes focused on earth. Jesus said, “Don’t store up treasures on earth.” Earthly treasures get eaten by moths. Earthly treasures get destroyed by vermin (parasite worms or insects; many Bible translations use the word rust). Earthly treasures get stolen by thieves who “dig through” the house. Heaven is exempt from these problems. Look at your treasures, for there you will find your heart. The human eye is an amazing piece of God’s handiwork. No wonder Jesus used it for illustrative purposes. It lets light in and enables us to see out. And even though we look through thousands of blood vessels, the eye has the incredible ability to focus. Jesus said our eyes need to be healthy; in the King James Version, the word used is single. At first hearing, single sounds strange, but it actually makes sense in context. The word could also be translated “generous” (see James 1:5). Healthy eyes will be generous and focused and spread light everywhere.

Our task is to continually seek first God’s reign and standard (kingdom and righteousness). Then, as an added bonus, God will give us what we need. Worry gets us nowhere. In the last verse of our text, Jesus pictured worry as a person capable of choosing to worry or not. No truer words have ever been spoken about the fallen world than, “Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Focus allows us to be generous, and focus helps us to pursue God. Pursuing one thing helps put all other things into perspective.

Jesus’ world was filled with masters and slaves, and he used this metaphorical reality to emphasize generosity. “No one can serve two masters” sounds like

Faithful Rescue 2 Timothy 4:16-18

Paul served the Lord faithfully because the mouth (likely a reference to the emperor Nero). was ready to face the possibility that God might praise for God who had the power to rescue

c h r i s t i a n s ta n d a r d

WEEK OF January 24

Clothing was necessary in a fallen world. It not only warmed people but also became a shelter and bed (Exodus 22:26-27). The flowers of the field are beautiful. God dresses them. But they do not worry. People are more valuable than flowers. Even Solomon’s wardrobe was not as beautiful as the flowers which would burn tomorrow. Jesus called us away from a preoccupation with food and clothing. He acknowledged that pagans (unbelievers) pursue these things that God graciously promised to give us.

A p p l i c at i o n

consider the birds by David Faust

Last spring my wife, Candy, put a decorative wreath on the front door of our house. A little brown wren decided the wreath would be a good place to build a nest. Some say it’s a sign of good luck when a bird builds a nest on your front door. To me, it meant there was going to be a mess on our porch.

their wings beating 70 times per second. Some birds are guided by an internal compass that directs them with uncanny accuracy; they migrate thousands of miles to warmer climates to find insects and seeds during the winter months. His Eye Is on the Sparrow

It was interesting, though, to watch the mother bird gather sticks, moss, grass, and straw, and weave them into a sturdy round nest tucked expertly into the wreath. Every time we opened our front door it disturbed the bird, but she persevered. Eventually four eggs hatched. The wren fed her four babies until they were big enough to fly off on their own, just as they were designed to do.

Our feathered friends illustrate God’s ability to provide for us. Psalm 91:4 says, “He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge.” God “satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s” (Psalm 103:5). The prophet wrote, “Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” (Isaiah 40:31).

Creative Artistry “Look at the birds of the air,” Jesus said (Matthew 6:26), for they display God’s creative artistry. Consider their variety. Chickens, ducks, and geese. Red cardinals and blue jays. Perky yellow canaries, pesky black crows, and bulky white turkeys. Graceful herons, storks, and swans. Wise owls, innocent doves, majestic peacocks, ominous ravens, quirky ostriches, and funny-looking kiwi birds. Hard-working woodpeckers, cheerful robins and parakeets. Black-and-white penguins and rainbow-colored macaws.

In first-century Israel, sparrows were so cheap you could buy two of them for a penny (Matthew 10:2931). If you were willing to buy four, the dealer would throw in an extra one for free—yet, “not one of them is forgotten by God” (Luke 12:6). Jesus didn’t say a sparrow would never fall; he said they never fall without the Father’s awareness (Matthew 10:29). Jesus didn’t promise we would escape all hardship. He said whatever happens, he will be with us. Jesus perhaps had a twinkle in his eye as he stated the obvious, “You are worth more than many sparrows” (Luke 12:7).

Birds fill the air with interesting sounds. They serenade us with songs, tweets, chirps, honks, clucks, quacks, hoots, gobbles, and whistles. Parrots and mynah birds can even imitate human speech.

One thing birds never do is worry. And even if they did, worry wouldn’t help them find food, build nests, sing songs, escape predators, or look more beautiful. Birds stay busy doing what they were created to do, relying on God’s provision. We’re wise to do the same.

Humans build machines that fly, but God engineered birds with sturdy, lightweight muscles, bones, and wings so they do it naturally. Geese soar in V formations. Hummingbirds fly forward, backward, upward, sideways, and upside down, and they can hover with

J a n u a r y 2 0 21

Personal Challenge: What worries you right now? Talk about that issue with God and discuss it with a trusted friend.

D i s c ove ry

by Michael C. Mack

1. What challenge did you face last week as you sought to live for Christ? 2. Were you more aware of your motives as you engaged in spiritual disciplines over the past week? If so, how? Ask three people—two readers and one reteller—to help. Ask the readers to read Matthew 6:19-34 one after the other, preferably from different Bible versions. Ask the third person to summarize the teaching in one minute or less. (After the reteller finishes, others can fill in any parts the person may have missed.) 3. What perspectives on life does Jesus provide in this passage? 4. Let’s dig deeper into this passage: • Note the short phrase at the end of verse 30, “you of little faith.” What does this phrase indicate to you about Jesus’ audience and his purpose for teaching this? • What does this passage teach you about: Jesus’ lordship? . . . faith? . . . God as our provider? . . . God as sovereign (in control)? . . . other:___? • How do we combat worry? 5. What do you learn about God from this passage? 6. What do you learn about people and how Jesus wants us to see ourselves? 7. Look at the choices this passage presents: seeking treasures on earth or in heaven, committing ourselves to money or God as our master, embracing worry or faith, being preoccupied with food and clothing or seeking God, living as pagans or as disciples of Jesus. All of these are matters of obedience for the person who endeavors to live as a Christ follower. Which of these choices are you facing right now, and what will you do to choose wisely?

9. Based on our study and discussion, complete this sentence: “This week, I will . . .” 10. In what way will you ask God to provide for you this week?

For Next Week: Over the next week, read and reflect on Matthew 7:1-27 as we continue studying the Sermon on the Mount. You can also read next week’s supplemental texts as well as the Study and Application sections as part of your personal study.

WEEK OF January 24

8. Seeking God’s kingdom and his righteousness includes living out his kingdom mission to “go and make disciples of all nations . . .” (Matthew 28:19). In what specific way will you carry out that mission this week?

Upside Down

Kingdom

sermon on the mount

WEEK 5

Discover Christ's wisdom h i d d e n i n p l a i n v i e w.

lesson text:

M a t t h e w 7 :1 -2 7

supplemental text:

L u k e 6 : 3 7- 4 9 H e b r e w s 5 :1 1 - 1 4

s t u dy

Different Discernment by mark scott

of us), give good gifts to their children. God knows how to answer our prayers and open up the storehouses of heaven for his children (Malachi 3:10; James 1:18). Proactively seeking the best for others (the Golden Rule) also tempers our judgments toward them. It also fulfills the Law and Prophets.

People who are committed to Jesus’ upside-down kingdom will discern differently than the people of this world. Their judgments will be more accurate. Their prayers will be more earnest. Their actions will be more generous. Their decisions will be more decisive. The themes of the Sermon on the Mount flow in and out of one another. Often, because the genre of this sermon is similar to that of Wisdom Literature (Job, some Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon), these themes will balance and help qualify each other. People who work hard at righteousness (Matthew 5:20) might find themselves just being legalistic (5:21-47). People who strive for perfection (5:48) might find themselves trapped by religious pride (Matthew 6:1). And people who seek first the kingdom (6:33) might find themselves unduly judging others (Matthew 7:1). So, Jesus ended this famous sermon by calling for different discernments.

Decisive Choices Matthew 7:13-27 It is not enough to like or agree with the Sermon on the Mount. One must obey it. Jesus ended this sermon with a decisive call to action. He did so with a series of contrasts. First, he described two gates (which lead to two roads which, consequently, lead to two destinations). The way of the upside-down kingdom may not always be easy, but it does get us home (Luke 13:23-24). Next, he described two prophets—true and false. To whom will we listen? The false ones come in sheep’s clothing, meaning “in disguise” (John 10:1, 5, 12). Their true identities come out sooner or later, just like good fruit and bad fruit are produced by the corresponding trees. The false prophets are followed by people who make two claims. The claims can be earnest (“Lord, Lord”), and they can even be backed up by miraculous gifts (prophecy and miracles). In the end, claims are cheap. To those who give only lip service to the Lord, Jesus will say, “I never knew you.” How could an omniscient God say that? The phrase probably should be understood, “I do not recognize you as mine.”

Tempered Judgments Matthew 7:1-12 Mother used to say, “When you point a finger at someone else, three fingers are pointing back at you.” Judgment always seems to boomerang. When Jesus said, “Do not judge,” he certainly did not mean not to make judgments. In fact, he taught elsewhere that we were to judge with righteous judgment (John 7:24). Here, he is teaching against making hypocritical judgments, for these judgments come back to bite us.

Finally there are two builders. The greatest sermon ever preached hardly ended with “wooing.” Instead, it ended with a house crashing during a terrible storm. But our loving Savior tied a bow around the Sermon on the Mount with a simple parable. Everyone builds on something. Storms come to all people. The difference is where (and on what) a person builds. The choice is ours. We can choose to be wise and obey these teachings and find ourselves securely grounded on the rock when the storms come, or we can foolishly choose to live in a sandcastle for the rest of our lives. Which will it be? Faithful Rescue 2 Timothy 4:16-18

What will help us temper our judgments? Two things— earnest prayer and seeking the welfare of others. It is difficult to wish evil on someone for whom we are praying. So Jesus taught us to ask, seek, and knock. Have confidence to pester heaven to align your judgments with God’s. Jesus’ paternal illustration made perfect sense. Earthly fathers, who are evil (Jesus’ worldview

Paul served the Lord faithfully because the mouth (likely a reference to the emperor Nero). was ready to face the possibility that God might praise for God who had the power to rescue

*A few scholars see this as referring to the Romans (See Glen H. Stassen’s article in Journal of Biblical Literature), but that might be giving the text more political emphasis than is necessary. It might be better to keep it in the context of false teachers or apostates (2 Peter 2:21-22).

c h r i s t i a n s ta n d a r d

WEEK OF January 31

Jesus humorously compared a speck of sawdust to a plank. Sawdust in the eye hurts and needs to be removed. Specks are irritants. But failing to first see the obvious plank in our eyes is hypocrisy. We should always check ourselves as we strive to correct others (Galatians 6:1). Tempered judgments must also be made when considering our stewardship with “dogs and hogs.” While the metaphors sound offensive to us, we dare not give the sacred kingdom message and the pearl of great price to people who will trample them (Matthew 13:45-46; Acts 13:51).*

A p p l i c at i o n

Clearing Away the Fog by David Faust

righteousness” (6:33). We seek lost, straying sheep. And we knock—persistently trying to identify and enter any doors God opens. “Knocking” in prayer means exploring new opportunities and finding new ways to serve. We can ask, seek, and knock with confidence because the heavenly Father knows our needs and wants to “give good gifts to those who ask him” (6:8; 7:11).

A year ago this month, on January 26, 2020, basketball star Kobe Bryant boarded a helicopter along with his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and other passengers headed to a youth basketball tournament. The helicopter was a high-end model with a reputation for safety, and the pilot was known for his experience and reliability. The sky was blue when they took off, but soon a thick fog settled in and the pilot became disoriented. He thought they were going up, but actually they were plummeting toward the ground at a high rate of speed. In a horrific tragedy, the helicopter crashed on steep terrain, killing all nine people on board.

A clearer view of truth. In foggy, confusing times, we need a well-thought-out biblical worldview. “Enter through the narrow gate,” Jesus insisted, “For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it” (Matthew 7:13). “Watch out for false prophets,” he warned (7:15). Phony religious leaders create fog, not clarity. Not everyone who calls Jesus “Lord, Lord” truly knows him (7:21). Truth isn’t always popular, but it always matters.

It’s extremely dangerous when you can’t see where you’re going and you lose your bearings. Unobstructed Vision Like a defroster that melts ice from a car’s windshield, Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount clarifies our vision in several key areas.

A clearer view of obedience. Jesus’ teachings aren’t just nice ideas; they are marching orders. The Sermon on the Mount isn’t a philosophy course; it’s a call to action. Like a homebuilder who constructs a house on a solid foundation, the wise person hears Jesus’ words “and puts them into practice” (Matthew 7:24).

A clearer view of others. Unselfishness is an underlying theme throughout the sermon. Love others—even those who mistreat you. Pray with plural pronouns: “Give us today our daily bread . . . . Deliver us from the evil one” (Matthew 6:11, 13). Don’t just seek forgiveness for your own sins; forgive those who sin against you (6:12). Don’t view others through the distorted lens of a harsh, critical spirit. “For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged” (7:2). Don’t try to perform cataract surgery on someone else’s eyes when a two-by-four obstructs your own vision (7:3-5).

Ignoring Jesus’ instructions is like trying to fly a helicopter in blinding fog. It’s like trying to drive a car while the windshield is covered with ice. Let’s learn from the ancient psalmist who prayed, “Open my eyes that I may see,” and then went on to promise the Lord, “I obey your statutes, for I love them greatly” (Psalm 119:18, 167). Personal Challenge: Using a highlighter or a pencil, read through the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7) this week and mark key verses in each chapter that challenge you to action. Ask God to help you put these principles into practice.

A clearer view of prayer. “Ask, Seek, and Knock” (Matthew 7:7)—the first letters of those English verbs remind us to ASK! But prayer isn’t just about asking; it’s also about seeking. Discerning disciples seek God and his wisdom. We seek “first his kingdom and his

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D i s c ove ry

by Michael C. Mack 1. In what ways did you see God provide for you during the past week? 2. What choices did you make over the last week to live in obedience to God and his Word? Ask three people—two readers and one reteller—to help. Ask the readers to read Matthew 7:1-27 one after the other, preferably from different Bible versions. Ask the third person to summarize the teaching as if teaching it to a group of middle schoolers. 3. What wisdom for living as a Christ follower do you see in this passage? 4. Let’s dig deeper into this last section of the Sermon on the Mount: • What does this passage say a follower of Christ does and doesn’t do? • What do you learn about how to live well in relationship with others? • What do you learn about how to build your relationship with God? • Verses 13-27 provide four contrasts a follower of Jesus must consider. What do each of those four contrasts teach you about living as a disciple of Christ? 5. What do you learn about God from this passage? 6. Let’s discuss what you’ve learned about yourself. This passage presents each of us with four choices: a. following the narrow gate and way (Jesus) or the wide road (the world) b. listening to and following true teachers or false teachers c. seeking a genuine, abiding relationship with Jesus (this is a disciple who does God’s will) or adhering to a religion based on works and appearance d. building your life on the solid rock of a relationship with Jesus or on the sinking sand of the world We want this to be a safe place for everyone to be honest so that we can grow—and help each other grow—in our faith. With that in mind, which of these choices are you struggling with? • How can we help you make the wise choice? 7. Think of a person in your life who has not yet accepted Jesus as Savior and Lord. What will you do this week to help that person find the narrow gate and narrow way that leads to life?

9. Based on our study and discussion, complete this sentence: “This week, I will . . .” 10. What challenges to you anticipate this week as you live out your faith? For Next Week: Over the next week, read and reflect on James 1:22-27; 2:14-26 as we focus on “Faith in Action,” a new study on the book of James. You can also read next week’s supplemental texts as well as the Study and Application sections as part of your personal study.

WEEK OF JAnuary 31

8. We study the Bible not just to hear and know God’s Word, but to put it into practice (see vv. 21, 24, 26). This is why each week we always include a question about how we will obey what we’ve learned and discussed. What specific thing from this study will you put into practice this week?

Interact Missions: Past, Present, & Future . . . Dave Thurman @DThurman7 Appreciate the excellent November edition of Christian Standard centering on missions. Thanks for your fine work.

Why We Struggle to Develop Leaders . . . Dave Faust I want to thank you for your article “Missing: The Main Thing” [“From the Editor,” by Michael C. Mack, p. 6, November 2020]. One of your observations that really rings true is, “Leadership development occurs naturally in churches that have a discipleship environment in place. A failure in developing leaders is the sad consequence of a failure to truly disciple our people.” It’s stunning to realize how few Christians actually know about the Great Commission and feel compelled to embrace it as their own life’s purpose. I wrote an article about this a year or two ago called “The Great Omission.” Our churches struggle to develop leaders because we have been busy satisfying “consumers” instead of doing the slow, serious, steady work of making disciples. The pandemic is forcing us to take a hard look at all this, and in some ways that’s a good thing.

Going Forward, We’re Going Back . . . Harriette Holder [responding to our October 2020 issue, “There’s No Going Back . . . or Maybe There Is”] Going back—only if it is to recoup and regroup! Going forward we must be more creative in continuing in steadfastness!

We Need to Assemble . . . Rick Willis I agree with just about all that Jim Estep says in his October “What COVID-19 Taught Rural Churches” [e2:effective elders, p. 8], Still, I struggle when he lists nine innovations common during the pandemic, then says “Why would we stop them when the pandemic ends?” All nine were virtual things, from Bible studies, to calling members to check in, to “church in a box” (virtual church at home), to drive-in worship with cars honking their “amens.” Sure, the innovations from COVID-19 will teach us new methods we should continue, but let’s be careful. I believe “ekklesia” means assembly, and the church needs to assemble. Why? It’s tough to gauge facial expressions, body language, and emotions when you communicate virtually. If elders are to shepherd the local flock—teaching, guiding, caring for Christians—it is difficult [to do it] remotely. A sheep follows the recognizable voice of the shepherd (didn’t Jesus say so—John 10:4?), and that’s tough when the voice is a text or an email or a video display. Let’s avoid the extremes as we balance old (face-to-face) and new (virtual) tools for church.

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Restoring the ‘Home-Centric’ Church Post-Pandemic . . . Tim Liston Thanks, Randy! You might be more of a prophet than you realize [“5 Big Shifts: What Will the Church Look Like Post-COVID-19?” by Randy Frazee, p. 44, October 2020]. I’m looking forward to the future with great anticipation of what God will do.

Sonny We are a church movement gaining popularity among individuals, families, and neighbors restoring the first works of love, joy, and peace to the home church or the house church movement. We gather in homes, break bread together, and share and care for one another without the need for budget, overhead, or staffing. My biggest surprise was to discover [how the house church movement] had returned to the simple gospel of the new covenant, leaving the traditional institutional church model of the pastor or hired hands and returning to the elder-led, humble servants of the first century. Here is an opportunity to restore the first works.

Jim E. Montgomery From a careful reading of the New Testament text, it seems the first hearers and doers of the Word were enmeshed in a “home-centric” scenario [and that] “building-centric” came later! Makes one wonder why God sent Jesus. He might just as well have sent Frank Lloyd Wright. (Just another perspective and gentle thought of a “nut job,” out on the prairie, in the flyover zone, and home churching as well! Carry on . . .)

Bible Study . . . Larry E. Whittington I believe the Bible should be used in small-group studies instead of just some man’s thoughts (found in his book) about some particular topic [“Lesson for October 25, 2020: You’re Next (2 Timothy 1:13-14; 2:1-2; 3:10-17),” by Mark Scott, p. 88, October 2020]. Writers can earn a living writing these books, but I do not feel that [book-focused studies] can be as effective as a Bible study. A man studying the Bible can teach the Bible.

A Way-Back Tweet . . . James A. Setser @JamesASetser “Never pity missionaries; envy them. They are where the real action is—where life and death, sin and grace, Heaven and Hell converge.” —Robert C. Shannon, Christian Standard, January 1983 #reachourworld [tweeted Sept. 21, 2020]

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