Last August my associate, Mark, and I were in South Africa on a ministry trip. While visiting a sister with a heart for discipleship, we discovered that she had been reached and discipled through Calvary Road Ministries in Kenya and Uganda. Mark and I also have had connections with CRM and were were reminded of the strategic value of chronological Bible storying for evangelism.

Several Ministries have developing strategic resources for Worldview Evangelism & Discipleship through Bible stories presented orally and in chronological order. Here are four leading examples of this.

1. Calvary Road Ministries
https://www.calvaryroadministries.org/resources

Sample resource: The Story Cloth

“Did you know that 80% of the world are oral communicators by necessity or preference? Oral learners can be completely or functionally illiterate; visually or hearing impaired; part of an oral culture; or simply prefer to learn in an oral manner. There are more than 6 billion oral learners in the world, and of that group over half of them are children!

The Bible Storying Cloth Scarf is a wonderful tool to communicate the message of Christ to oral learners in a way that makes sense to them. This colorful storying cloth has 42 squares vividly illustrating stories from creation to Christ. A page of scripture references is included that corresponds with each of the squares on the cloth. Display the storying cloth on a wall for missions events or use it for Bible teaching lessons.” (with free downloadable teaching aids)

2. Ethonos 360
ethnos360.org

Sample resource: Firm Foundations, by Trevor McIlwain

“The gospel and grace are simple concepts. Communicating them clearly is not. Especially in a culture where concepts like ‘sin’ and ‘holiness’ and even ‘truth’ are negotiable and redefining God to fit our desires is almost fashionable.People around the world have used an effective solution: teaching chronologically through the Bible.”
https://biblestudy.ethnos360.org/

3. Good Seed
GoodSeed.com

Sample resource: The Stranger on the Road to Emmaus, by John Cross

“When you think of God, what is he like? How you answer that question reflects your worldview. Each of the major worldviews are different, and GoodSeed has created resources designed for each worldview, whether Christian, Islamic, Eastern religious, or Secular.”

“GoodSeed has developed a variety of resources that churches can use in both evangelism and discipleship. These resources are useful for:

• grounding each of your congregants so they have a solid understanding of the gospel. (Remember: a clear presentation of the gospel flows out of an accurate understanding of the gospel.)
• ensuring each congregant is confident on how to share the gospel message.
  preparing your church to be ready at all times to share the gospel with visitors and newcomers.
• getting your church to actively reach into its community with the gospel message.” https://goodseed.com/train-your-church.html#guiding

4. Good Soil
GoodSoil.com

Sample resource: The Story of Hope Workbook

“A time-flexible resource for presenting the Bible’s big redemptive story in as few as fifteen minutes or as long as twenty or more hours. Designed for evangelistic Bible studies, one-on-one or in small groups, but also helpful in teaching God’s redemptive plan to believers. Includes a study of 40 Bible events (20 Old Testament and 20 New Testament) and Bible maps. 64 pages and plastic coil binding. FREE Leader’s Guide and FREE Classroom Facilitator Guide available as downloads from this site.” https://www.goodsoil.com/resources/

May we as ministry leaders discover the value of this approach for biblical evangelism and discipleship in a secular culture.

JBW

“Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you.” ( 2 Thess. 3:1).

“Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.” (Col 4:2-4).

Andrew Murray observed, “These verses suggest the strength of Paul’s conviction that Christians had power with God. Their prayer will bring new strength to him and his work … If Paul, after having preached for 20 years in the power of God, still needed the prayer of the church, how much more does the minister in our day need it?… Let us all intercede more faithfully for ministers, whether of our own church or of other churches.”

Daniel Henderson’s team is preparing a resource to equip intercessors:

“The staff and board of Strategic Renewal have worked together to compile a resource that will help you pray for the church leaders in your life. Our book 21 days of Prayer for Your Church Leaders: Lifting Up a Shield of Intercession will inspire you to stand in the gap for those who God has appointed to lead you. In anticipation of the arrival of this resource, we have prepared a preview PDF that includes 7 chapters of the book. Look for the complete book around the new year!”

Click here to access this sample: 21 Days of Prayer

May we pray for ministry leaders more intentionally.

“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23,24

Verse 24 holds they key to preaching that has a grace orientation rather than works orientation. Most preaching is an exhortation to try to live the Christian life rather than the New Covenant perspective of God’s Spirit living in and through the believer (Eph. 5:18; John 15:1-8).

This sermon is a brief expository message on 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24: “Living a Positively Responsive Life.”
by John Woodward
For Worcester United Church in South Africa

Subject of this study: progressive revelation as exemplified in preaching this text:

“These six things the LORD hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren.” Proverbs‬ ‭6:16-19‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

In Proverbs. This text is a memorable, poetic list of sins/ vices described in terms of vivid physical actions. 

In O. T. law. God’s righteous laws condemn vices for individuals and society. The Mosaic covenant contains providential blessings and cursing based on corporate conduct. 

In O. T. history. History includes examples of these vises and the tragic consequences that follow (and positive examples of the opposite characteristics.)

In O. T.  prophecy. The prophets rebuke vices as violations of God’s moral standards, especially sin patterns that were forbidden in the Mosaic covenant. 

In N. T.  Gospels.  Jesus is the perfect example, avoiding every vice and demonstrating righteous conduct. His teaching and preaching raised the standards of morality to a higher level, especially superseding the oral traditions and hypocritical conduct of the legalistic sects of the Jews.

Christ’s sacrificial death and bodily resurrection provided atonement so the repentant sinner could be saved, forgiven and reconciled to God. 

In The Acts of the Apostles. The Holy Spirit baptizes believers into the Body of Christ and helps them live righteously. 

In the N. T.  Epistles. Through identification with Christs’s death and resurrection, the believer experiences a new identity (saint), a new regenerated spirit (with a new righteous nature), is free from sin’s authority, is free from the law, and is invited to abide in Christ. He is to daily trust in Christ to live in him and through him by grace through faith. This quality of life displaces vices by bearing the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:22,23). Exhortations to put off vices and cultivate righteous character and actions flow from the graciously bestowed blessings of the New Covenant. Instead of walking after the flesh (which would produce vices such as those listed in the Proverbs text), the believer is called to Intentional, ongoing submission and obedience to the indwelling Holy Spirit, bearing the fruits of practical righteousness (Eph. 5:18; Gal. 5:17; Rom. 6:3-14). 

Pastor, are you preaching God’s Word in light of the full revelation of the New Covenant? Don’t settle for a history lesson that could be taught in a synagogue, or a morality lesson that would not teach beyond a liberal theologian’s homily. As the angel exhorted the apostles, “Go, … and speak to the people all the words of this life.” (Acts 5:20).

-John Woodward

The annual Ministers’ Conference of the Cameroon Baptist Convention was held in Limbe, Cameroon August 16-18, 2023. The plenary sermons were preached by Dr. John Woodward: 

Matthew 25:21,23: “Well done, good and faithful servant…”
Convention 2023 Text: 1 Timothy 4:15,16:

“Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.”

Here are the two sermon outlines:

• Sermon 1 JBW
• Sermon 2 JBW 

He also gave two workshops on Christ-centered pastoral counseling. See GraceStudyHall.org

• John Singinie came from Malawi, gave testimonies and presented a Workshop on Dynamic Discipling. See DCImalawi.com and DynamicChurches.org under “Traning Resources.”

You are invited to study these outlines and discover GFI and DCI resources

One of the big challenges of pastoral ministry is dealing with being criticized…especially by members of the congregation you serve. In an article on this topic, Craig Cable observed:

“I recently had candid conversations with two wonderful friends in ministry regarding a pastor’s need for thick skin. During one of these conversations, my associate pastor friend shared that a disgruntled church member recently sent the senior pastor an absolutely scathing letter via registered mail. This unorthodox method of delivery ensured that the pastor would read and feel every toxic word that was spewed out on paper. I thought, ‘What infraction could possibly warrant a nasty letter like that?’

“My second conversation was with the wife of a pastor. She told me that they’re constantly receiving criticism from outspoken parishioners. In spite of their best efforts, someone is always going to be upset and she and her husband were always going to hear about it. With a trembling voice and tears in her eyes, she confided that they’re often left wondering if they can do anything right. I can only imagine how daunting and discouraging that must feel week after week, year after year.

It doesn’t escape me that pastors are under immense pressure. Aside from pouring their lives into helping children, youth, and adults grow in their relationships with Jesus, they’re also the lightning rod for everyone’s frustrations. They have to be compassionate and grace-filled in the face of adversity, scrutiny, and challenge…”
https://refreshthechurch.com/piercing-the-pastors-thick-skin

As Christian leaders we can find consolation through God’s acceptance and the indwelling life of Christ. The Chief Shepherd can provide an “equilibrium” to His undersheperds and their families:

We need to value our relationship with God more than the opinions of others. People can be so fickle! Remember how the people of Jerusalem hailed the Lord Jesus with praise on Palm Sunday, yet a mob in the same city cried “crucify Him!” only five days later! And Acts tells of the people of Lystra who wanted to worship Paul and Barnabas after the miraculous healing of a crippled man, yet ended up stoning Paul when his enemies from a neighboring city arrived (Acts 14:14-20). The opinions of others are like shifting sands, so don’t use them to calculate your worth!

The abiding life gives the disciple of Christ an inner equilibrium than can stabilize him/her from the effects of vain flattery as well as the effects of negative criticism. How reassuring that in Christ we are “accepted in the Beloved One” with “no condemnation” and the promise that “all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose” (Eph. 1:6; Rom. 8:1,28).

When criticized by opponents in Corinth (a church God used him to plant), Paul responded:

“But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I know nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God” (1 Cor. 4:2-5).

You find inner security by looking to Christ to meet your ultimate needs.

“If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us” (Rom. 8:31-34).

So when complements come your way, lay them at the feet of the Champion of our salvation. And when “brickbats” of harsh criticism come sailing through the air, catch ’em and assemble an altar of praise to our God.

May we appropriate grace to keep our balance when criticisms come.

J.B.W.

Read the full article here: https://gracenotebook.com/bouquets-and-brickbats/

Living on the Edge reports: “Pastors all over the world are struggling. Many are burned out and beaten down.  It really started during the pandemic but the immense issues of our day weigh heavily on pastors. A record number have quit and others are on the verge of throwing in the towel.

“During the pandemic, we created a resource for pastors called The A.R.T. of Survival. It is a teaching out of James 1 about persevering. We were initially able to train over 10,000 pastors in 60 countries using Zoom and the response was overwhelmingly positive.  https://livingontheedge.org/daily-discipleship-2/In this 10-Day Challenge in James 1, Chip takes just 10 minutes a day to help you learn The A.R.T. of Survival. The gospel promises victory, not victimhood, but sometimes in this broken world it feels like we can barely survive, let alone thrive!

Begin this free course here: livingontheedge.org/daily-discipleship-2/

LIVING IN THE HOPE OF AN ACTS 6:7 AWAKENING
AN INTERNATIONAL GATHERING!

Join Hundreds of Ministry Leaders From All Over the World!
When: May 30th – June 1st, 2023

Where: Centre Street Church in Calgary, AlbertaCANADA

“This will be a time of powerful plenary presentations, life-giving corporate prayer, and practical workshops to rejuvenate, inspire, and awaken your passion for Jesus Christ and His mission!”

There is an option to register to view the sessions live streamed.

A Pastor’s Testimony
by Jeff Black

Words cannot describe the way that I felt. I was tired of trying, tired of doing, and tired of being a believer. I was saved at the age of 19, baptized immediately, and put to work in just a few weeks teaching teenagers. Only by God’s grace did things get accomplished. I was new and green, and the church I was attending at that time was in need of a youth leader. I had energy and all kinds of ideas, and they were happy and relieved to turn it over to me. In those two, short years, my wife (girlfriend at the time) and I became workers with a great desire to do whatever was necessary to make sure all were pleased; and most importantly, we wanted our Lord to be pleased.

After my wife, Tonja, and I were married, we moved from that church to the present one; and we never skipped a beat. When the Pastor found out that I loved teenagers and had worked with them for two years, he asked me to consider working with them. Being the person that I was, needing to feel important and needing the security that I got from pleasing others, I accepted. At this time, I was working construction, going to Bible College, and looking to start a new work for God. This was the beginning of a long, grueling journey to try to please God so I could have the security that I desired.

As a child I was always insecure. I had a fear of not being accepted; and, as a result, I felt rejected a lot. Although my parents were good parents, and they loved me very much, I was still insecure. As a result of that fear, I tried to work hard to please all who asked something of me. Surely if I produced for enough people, someone would accept me. I continued on with my job, school, and working with the teens; but still there was an empty spot inside of me. So being the good, fundamentalist that I was, (and that I was expected to be), I started working every week in the junior churches. Right after that God called me to preach.

Now the pressure was on to its fullest extent, or so I thought. One day at work, I got a phone call; and my wife said, “Hi Daddy.” Now what was I going to do? The construction job was starting to play out; doing the work at church was really stressing me; God was calling me, and now I was going to be a daddy. I did the only thing that I knew to do—run from the calling of God, bow my neck and try working harder for Him; surely He would bless me with all of my good effort. The blessing that I was looking for did not come.

I could not understand why the Bible promised me joy and peace, and I could not find it. I knew that God did not lie and that His Word was true; so, obviously the problem was that I was not doing something right and He was not satisfied, so I took on more responsibilities in the church. I did this for 15 years; and believe me, it didn’t get any better. As a matter of fact, it got worse. I felt worse as a believer than I did as a lost person! I started dreading going to church, working in the different ministries and even sometimes questioned whether or not I was truly saved. I read and read the Bible, prayed and prayed for relief; and I could not find any. God seemed like He was a million miles away. I was just sick and tired of trying to please Him. I knew that I couldn’t please my own self. That is why I was trying to please others, but day after day of trying to please God and getting no results or comfort in my soul finally got to me. I just wanted someone, especially God, to be pleased with me; and I could not get the desired results.

I did not understand that God was guiding me to come to Him in surrender. Luke 20:17,19: “And he beheld them, and said, ‘What is this then that is written; The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner? Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.’” Finally (and I praise God for it) after 15 years of trying to be somebody for people to be pleased with, I gave up. I was working for a candy company at this time. I was driving from one city to another, miserable as anyone I have ever known, when I came face-to-face with Christ and His Cross. I was sick and tired of being sick and tired. I pulled off to the side of the road and threw up my hands and prayed this prayer. “God, I am tired; and I am giving up. I can’t do this any longer. I don’t care what you do with me; even take my life if you want to. You can have my wife, my children, my job, my church, my ministries, my health and my wealth. You can even send me to the middle of Africa; I just can’t live under this any longer.”

For the first time in my adult Christian walk I understood what it meant to surrender to what He accomplished for us at the Cross. A burden was lifted off of me and I felt joy. It was almost like I had been saved all over again (in a way I was because I was saved from myself). I did not understand everything that happened to me at that time. I had a lot of unlearning to do. There were, and still are, times when I have to surrender (“die”) daily. I now understand that I am secure in the life that I have which is Christ’s. He is my life and I realize that the old man in Adam that I was trying to satisfy was crucified with Him. Galatians 2:20: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”  I was raised to walk in newness of life. Romans 6:4: “We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”  I can rest now because He is life, my life. Colossians 3:4: “When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”

My friends, take a long look at the Cross of Christ; and you will see that He set you free to walk with Him in your new life. No performance is necessary any longer; He took care of it all. My security is in Him; my worth is in Him, and my future is in Him. I don’t have to try to gain acceptance with God any longer through my trying. He is pleased with me already. Why? The answer is because I am in His Son and have His life. All is well within my soul.

Jeff Black serves as lead pastor of First Baptist Church of Proctorville, Ohio.