Another episode of Thriving Talk is out. The topic this week is Social Media.
Details about Thriving Talk Podcast -
On Gospel-Link.com website - https://gospel-link.com/podcast-thriving-talk/
Links to different podcast platforms - https://tinkuthompson.blogspot.com/2022/08/thriving-talk-podcast-links.html
YouTube Link to the latest episode - https://youtu.be/_dy1gmWW55U
I want to share the sermon I preached last Sunday at my church. I spoke in Malayalam with translation to English.
Main Points from the messages.
രണ്ടു ദിവസമോ ഒരു മാസമോ ഒരു സംവത്സരമോ മേഘം തിരുനിവാസത്തിന്മേൽ ആവസിച്ചിരുന്നാൽ യിസ്രായേൽമക്കൾ പുറപ്പെടാതെ പാളയമടിച്ചു താമസിക്കും; അതു പൊങ്ങുമ്പോഴോ അവർ പുറപ്പെടും. 23 യഹോവയുടെ കല്പനപോലെ അവർ പാളയമിറങ്ങുകയും യഹോവയുടെ കല്പനപോലെ യാത്ര പുറപ്പെടുകയും ചെയ്യും; മോശെമുഖാന്തരം യഹോവ കല്പിച്ചതുപോലെ അവർ യഹോവയുടെ ആജ്ഞ പ്രമാണിച്ചു.
Whether the cloud stayed above the Tabernacle for two days, a month, or a year, the people of Israel stayed in camp and did not move on. But as soon as it lifted, they broke camp and moved on. 23 So they camped or traveled at the Lord’s command, and they did whatever the Lord told them through Moses.
- You will have Kingdom First view - plans, thought, energy, time, and effort will be first directed towards being a witness. Receive the power to be a witness.
- You will be willing to sacrifice. This includes your ego, attitude, etc.
- There will be ongoing transformation, and you will move from talking to actions and commitments.
- You will not simply follow your emotions or what others say. You will not be manipulated by people or devil.
- All leading should sync with the word of God and with good counsel. You will do exploits for the Lord in your generation.
YouTube Link - https://youtu.be/yBwTRJ2SCvQ
During the journey in the wilderness, Moses faced many challenges
and opposition from people. He had a Kibroth-hattaavah experience in which people
complained about not having meat, and the anger of the Lord blazed against the
people, and he struck them with a severe plague. I feel sad about it, but I
felt like his brother Aaron and sister Miriam were with him most of the time.
Something which happened is recorded in Numbers 12.
While at Hazeroth, Miriam and Aaron criticized Moses because he had married a Cushite woman. 2 They said, “Has the Lord spoken only through Moses? Hasn’t he spoken through us, too?” But the Lord heard them. 3 (Now Moses was very humble—more humble than any other person on earth.)
I have read this passage many times, but it just hurt me
this time. Own brother and sister turned against Moses. Whatever the reason
with his wife, the point they raised is something different. The issue was with
their sister-in-law, but they questioned the integrity and sincerity of Moses’ ministry.
God has spoken through them also and not just Moses.
When we read about everything which happened before that, we
know what a foolish statement they were making. What Moses did and what they
did cannot be compared at any level. Here they were opposing Moses for no real
reason. This is a pattern we see even today. Let me share a few points which may
highlight the issues.
I can go on with more statements, but I hope the point is
clear. I will call these Hazeroth Moments times of unexpected opposition coming
from nowhere. You trusted people and never imagined they would turn against you,
but it happens. The people whom you thought would stand and support you till the
end behave as if you are their enemy. Once this happens, everything you do
becomes a problem, and all your actions become problematic. You cannot say and
do anything since you will be misunderstood irrespective of what you do. It is
a reality, and it can happen.
I have seen in my life that God uses these moments to mold and
build us before giving us the next assignment. It is not to destroy you but to
build you. Let us see what happens in this scenario.
In conclusion, the lesson we learn is that Hazeroth moments with
unexpected opposition may come in your life. You do not have to react or fight
it out. If you are humble and faithful, the Lord himself will take care of it.
These moments are excruciating, but they will prepare you for something new in
your life.
Do not waste your Hazeroth Moments. In prayer, anticipate
the next level of your ministry with confirmation from the Lord.
Episode 5 of Thriving Talk is out. The topic this time is "Volunteering at Local Church vs. Parachurch." This is another Dad-Son edition in which Tim, my son, sits with me and asks questions about life, purpose, spirituality, faith, etc.
I recently wrote a blog, and some questions are from it. You can read that blog pose here - https://tinkuthompson.blogspot.com/2022/08/local-church-vs-parachurch-ministry.html.
YouTube Link to the latest episode - https://youtu.be/ZbAvrNG9EEs
Sharing the sermon, I preached this Sunday at my church. It is in English.
There are many ways in which people get engaged with the work of the Lord.
1.
Their desire and commitment push them to volunteer and
do things.
2.
They are pushed into something by others because there is
a need, and they have the talent to do it.
3.
They are asked or forced to take up some responsibility
because others think they will grow by doing things even though they may have
no experience.
4.
They get opportunities because there is pressure within
their church or organization to provide them to people. People may end up with
things they do not want to do.
5.
They want fame and fight to get positions, so elections
take place with a lot of competition.
6.
They get a direct vision or call from the Lord and
pursue that in obedience.
There may be other ways, but my focus today is what happens after taking up
the role. The Bible is clear that we should not be careless or lax when it
comes to assignments related to the work of the Lord, and God expects
faithfulness from us when it comes to the task given to us.
Jer.48:10- "A curse on anyone who is lax in doing the Lord's work!.."
Luke 16:10- "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be
trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be
dishonest with much.
Few things to consider-
1.
Do not take up roles that you cannot do or know that
you are not going to do anything.
2.
Do not hold positions for the sake of name or fame, and
many hold on to posts due to the organization's brand name.
3.
If you are inactive and not doing much, give up and let
someone else do it. Trust God that He can use others if you are too busy.
4.
Understand that holding a position and not doing
anything hinders the Lord's work. Your inactivity is killing the organization
slowly.
5.
Do not take up positions under pressure. Pray and take
it if you realize that God is calling you to do it. It does not mean that you
shy away from everything.
6.
If you take any position or role, allocate X hours per
week or every month for that role. Add it to your calendar or list of things to
do. Make sure you are thinking about it and making sure that you are playing
your part in the progress and overall growth. Never sleep over the work you are
assigned.
7.
Be intentional with completing the work. Do not delay
what can be done today. Do not go into hibernation mode for no reason.
8.
Be focused and diligent with your assignments. Lack of
focus is killing many mission initiatives these days.
9.
Do not fall into the trap of having divided loyalty and
ignoring one over the other. I have different roles, and I have to balance them.
I cannot be focused on things that drag me and ignore others. The best way to
handle it is to evaluate your commitments. If you feel you will neglect
something or do not have the time, relieve yourself from that role.
10. Do
everything wholeheartedly, knowing that you are doing Lord's work and not for
anyone else. Your reward will be from the Lord.
In conclusion, let me encourage you to evaluate your commitments and ensure
you contribute diligently to everything you have taken up. Do not let
missions suffer because of your busyness, lack of focus, and intentionality.
If we do that, we will have to answer to God one day.
God bless you!
Episode 4 of Thriving Talk is out. The topic this time is Purpose of Life. This is the first Dad-Son edition. Tim, my son, sits with me and asks questions about life, purpose, spirituality, faith, etc.
YouTube Link to the latest episode - https://youtu.be/cnbNrRsrBmU
Sharing the sermon, I preached this Sunday at my church. It is in English. It was a heartfelt message in which I shared how God taught me about submission last year.
YouTube Link - https://youtu.be/jP1uL0RoLWk
.jpg "Parachurch")
As someone who pastors a local church as
well as gives leadership in a parachurch ministry,
I thought about it and did some research. I want to share my thoughts on this
topic.
Let us start with some simple
definitions.
Local Church – The local church is the consistent gathering of Christians within
a particular community or area.
Parachurch ministry - Parachurch organizations, are Christian
faith-based organizations that work outside and across denominations to engage
in social welfare and evangelism. They are focused on particular areas.
Why should I write about this?
I am the pastor of a local church, and I have members who volunteer or help with other parachurch ministries. I also give leadership in an organization that has people who are members of local churches but also volunteer and support the ministry with their finances. I have encountered scenarios where people start ignoring their local church as they get busier with parachurch commitments. It has at times created tensions and issues. Many pastors feel betrayed by parachurch ministries because they use their talented members to work outside the church. That sometimes leads to intentional or unintentional opposition to a volunteer in a parachurch organization. This all leads to some unhealthy scenarios, ultimately hindering the work we all should be doing with one goal and focus.
Some ridicule and mock sincere people volunteering in parachurch ministry because
they are passionate about the mission and vision of that organization. I want
to give some guidelines based on my understanding of this matter. I will accept
that many people may disagree with me based on where they are today with their commitments. I can still see people who may think of what they do as superior to
what their pastor and church do. Then some people will say that parachurch
ministry is not the actual ministry and people are wasting their time. I deal with
people who volunteer sincerely but struggle to balance and get discouraged.
What is the Issue?
The concern raised by people who do
not support a parachurch ministry is that we cannot find any parachurch
ministry in the Bible. The concept of parachurch church ministry did not exist
in the first century; hence, we do not see it mentioned in the Bible. In most
cases, a parachurch ministry carries out a mission independent of any local
church and fulfills a need that a local church may not be able to accomplish. A
good parachurch ministry will have the goal of partnering with local churches and
complementing the mission. They will not be doing anything that will hinder or
harm the local church's mission. They will not start their churches by pulling
people away from local churches. The parachurch organization I serve works
among students and is focused primarily on campus ministry. We do not plant
churches but work with local churches and connect people who come to Jesus
Christ. I cannot think of my local church doing an effective campus ministry on
its own based on the size, volunteers, and people equipped to work among
students. I may be able to pull a few people and encourage them to do a few
things, but it will not be as effective as a student-focused ministry.
Today if you pick any influential
pastor who serves in a big church, it will be hard to find someone who does not
lead a parachurch ministry. When a local church and parachurch organization
partner and work together, it can be very effective. The local church can
provide financial support and encourage people to volunteer with the parachurch
ministry. Many big churches run many parachurch-type ministries under their banner.
They have the resources to execute additional projects which is beyond the
scope of a ministry within a local church. A parachurch organization is playing
a support role to the local church in reality, and they are protecting the
local church.
There are many non-profits
created for other purposes. Some do fundraising and send money to foreign organizations,
and others may have private 501c registrations for tax purposes. All
those organizations are out of the scope of this discussion as I do not believe
they have a particular vision or area of focus. We are only focusing on parachurch
ministries that have a clear mission and focus. They work along with different local
churches.
Some guidance for volunteers
in a parachurch organization
· Do not view your parachurch organization
as your local church.
· Do not ignore your local church and view
it as unimportant since you are doing many things.
· Do not intentionally plan events that
directly conflict with your local church events. For example, if you are doing
a student ministry, do not plan a student meeting for Sunday morning when your
local church has service time with the intent to skip your church. Your actions and plans should convey a clear
message that the end goal of your mission is to see people committed and
growing within a local church as per what the Bible teaches. There will be occasions when some commitments or programs may conflict with your church program. Make sure your local church leadership is aware of it and understands the reason. This can avoid a lot of unnecessary speculations.
· Make sure pride does not come into your
life as you experience high moments in the parachurch ministry. For example,
do not become arrogant after a successful mission trip or event where you saw
great results.
· Do not criticize or belittle your pastor
and other church members, thinking they are inward-focused, not doing any
mission, etc. They do many things to ensure that the local church functions correctly
and that all members grow spiritually.
· Have good communication with your local
church pastor and leaders. Even if they may not appreciate what you are doing,
continue to show them respect by being accountable.
· Take part in essential activities of the
church. Do not ignore events in church thinking what you do is better than what
the church can do. The goal of a local church is more than having a place for hatching-matching-dispatching
(Baby Dedication- Baptism-Funeral).
Some guidelines for church pastors, leaders, and members
· Accept our limits and acknowledge that we cannot run all types of ministries under the church. We need parachurch
organizations to do what we cannot do to accomplish the greater purpose.
· Always acknowledge and remember that most volunteers
are very sincere and have a call and passion for the mission they are involved.
They are not there for name or fame.
· Treat and see them as co-laborers in
ministry.
· Provide them with whatever support and
encouragement you can provide.
· Never treat them as opponents. They are also
doing their part in the big mission which God has started to restore lost humanity.
· Understand their calling and do not try to destroy them if they do not align with everything you want them to do.
Conclusion
In conclusion, always have a kingdom-first
mindset and work towards the goal of winning souls. For that, we need
unity and not competition. When someone very talented and active in my church relocates
for work or other reasons, I get excited sometimes. Humanly speaking, it is a
loss within the context of our church. I am happy as I always think God is moving
them to accomplish a purpose, and He needs them there. If they are faithful, we
will see a more significant impact on expanding the kingdom of God. Having a few
more people sitting in my church may help me to boast about numbers, but I have
a view that resources for the kingdom work need to be strategically distributed.
If I have four people who can play guitar, I do not need them all. I will be
happy if one of them ends up where no one can play the guitar. They
will also be able to use their talents to grow and strengthen that
church.
If a member of my congregation,
rather than roaming around in a mall, gets involved with a homeless shelter
mission and uses their time and energy for the kingdom's work, I will rejoice. Rather
than spending money on expensive vacations, if someone goes on a medical
mission and touches the poor and needy, I will do whatever I can to support
them since they have chosen the better from a biblical and eternity perspective.
Suppose a volunteer working with
me at a parachurch ministry neglects the local church. I will not
be happy as it will eventually drain them out spiritually, and they could lose
all enthusiasm. I am not looking at short-term gains but have a long-term goal-
to be with all those people in eternity with Jesus Christ, having fulfilled our
purpose in our generation.
Sharing some links if you want to read more about this topic from other ministries.
https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/what-is-a-parachurch-ministry
https://www.9marks.org/article/journalnine-marks-healthy-parachurch-ministry/
https://www.gotquestions.org/parachurch-ministries.html
https://graceandtruthcincy.org/pastors-blog/2019/2/6/mission-local-church-or-parachurch
YouTube Link to the latest episode - https://youtu.be/pW8nM_D5hU0
I want to share the sermon I preached last Sunday at my church. I spoke in Malayalam with translation to English.
Main Points from the messages.
YouTube Link - https://youtu.be/hcQ5KXdAaqU
Link to the video - https://youtu.be/H_O9A_5lB2E
Last Sunday, I preached a message on "Quality of Contributions."
The key points from the message are-
Introduction Recently, a Pastor visited me, and I took him to the Mall of America, the biggest mall in America. As we were walking, we met ...
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