Pastor Pusch

With every job comes it’s ups and downs. There are portions that you love and elements that you endure. I suppose that can be said about much in life. One part my job I really enjoy, an element that keeps me coming back, is the opportunity to be a pastor to pastors; a minister to ministers. Everyday I get to work with pastors and their churches in all sorts of ministry aspects, especially in the realm of Christian Education and Discipleship, an often over looked ministry in the local church.

If there is one are in the local church where we really struggle, it is in the area of discipleship or ’spiritual transformation’. The phrase ’spiritual transformation’ was introduced to me by some friends/Christian Educators who lead in another denomination. I like the phrase because it accurately conveys the change that is to take place while on the road of discipleship. The Greek word for disciple, “ma-thay-tes”, means “learner” or “pupil”. In other words, a disciple is one who is a learner or student. In the world of Christianity, a true believer is one who submits himself as a learner or student of Jesus Christ and His teachings.

Where is the struggle? There several areas within the church that gives explanation as to why they struggle in the area of discipleship. Here are 5 situations I have dealt with the last 4 years, 1. Sunday School/Small Group is just a time filler 2. It’s all about Big Church 3. The Pastor does not care.  4. HELP 5. People just do not get it.

1. Time Filler – Sunday School/Small Group (whatever you call) is more than just “something” till fill up an hour of time. I would almost rather encourage churches not to have such ministries if the only intended purpose was to fill an hour because “that is what you are supposed to do”.

2. Big Church – One of the elements I enjoy most about church is corporate worship; gathering in one accord, the body of Christ comes together for the sole purpose of exalting the name of the Lord. The problem is that most of our attention is given to this ONE ministry in the church. It seems to be the church’s only focus so much so that more effort, time, and resources are devoted to it while discipleship, spiritual transformation suffers. For too long numerical growth has been the measuring rod to determine the success of a church. The thought is that a church must be successful if they are growing numerically. Numerical growth is not necessarily a bad thing, however, if transformation is not taking place, the size of your church means absolutely nothing.

3. Pastoral Apathy – While the pastor may never come out and say he does not care, his leadership would speak otherwise. Pastor Johnny Hunt of First Baptist Church, Woodstock, GA reminds his people repeatedly that if there are only going to give one hour to the church, they should go to Sunday School. He knows that is where the rubber meets the road. It is the pastor responsibility to train and equip people for the work of the ministry (Eph. 4:11-13)

4. Help – Unlike number 3, the pastor really does care about the spiritual growth of his church, but he is having a hard time recruiting help.

5. WE JUST DON’T GET IT! If becoming a Christian means that we believe Jesus is God and by that we accept Him as Lord in our lives then how is it we can ignore the “follow me” imperatives of scripture. By accepting Christ, we are placing our lives in Him, yet the thought of being imitators of Christ is unappealing. It is as if we only want the benefits of what it means to be a Christian without having to become living sacrifices. Instead of placing our lives in His, we place God in our lives. Big difference.

Pastor Johnny Hunt refers to the process of discipleship as becoming “fully devoted followers of Christ.” When we are truly saved, the process of sanctification begins. It is a life long process of become more like Christ.

By random, I mean random. I have a binder packed with notes. These were interesting quotes I scratched down.

“If the largest ministry in the church isn’t Great Commission focused, the church itself is not Great Commissioned focused.”

“If you only go to church 1 hour a week, go to Sunday School and get connected.”

“If Jesus were to come back today, would He find a church like the one He started?”

“In the Greek it’s called lying!” (It was hilarious in it’s context)

“Sunday School is not dead, old, or stale, just neglected.”

“There is an over-infatuation with filling the big room (worship service).”

“[As pastors], we need to champion the cause of Sunday School.”

“Teach for the sake of obedience, not knowledge.”

“We need to be a congregation of small churches.”

“We need to get back to intentional witnessing.”

“Pastors need to emulate our exhortation.”

“What’s important to pastor is important to the church.”

“By the time you are sick of talking about it (SS/Outreach/Ministry), they (the people) are just getting it.”

“If you are not working Sunday School, you cannot say it doesn’t work.”

In regards to finding teachers: “A need does not constitute a call.”

“Watch out for ’suddenly appearing leaders’.”

Darfur – The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Sudan President Omar al-Bashire for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur. Unfortunately the judge panel did not see inconclusive evidence for genocide in the region; however, if al-Bashire is brought before the ICC he will be facing life imprisonment.

Ominous Bill – Senator John McCain’s attempt to cut out billions of dollars in earmarks was denied by a senate vote of 63-32. The $410 billion dollar spending bill is said to be packed with over $32,000,000,000 (billion) in earmarks. Sadder yet is that upwards of 40% of the $32billion is being claimed by the G.O.P.  *Is this how it’s going to be? Spend, spend, spend? If it’s not one bill, it’s another… all while Obama talks fiscal responsibility and cutting wasteful spending.

Chicken McNuggets - Did anyone else hear about the 9-1-1 call against McDonalds? Latrease, of Florida called 9-1-1 after McDonalds ran out of Chicken McNuggets.

SSinHD – Tomorrow I am heading to the Sunday School in HD conference being held at the First Baptist Church in Woodstock, GA. The conference begins tomorrow at 12:30pm and will conclude at 4:30pm. It’s not to late to purchase tickets… so go… you will not be disappointed!  www.sundayschoolinhd.org

What I get to hear over the next two days…

Dr. Thom Rainer, LifeWay President and Southern Baptist Convention Leader of Education - Sunday School and the Essential Church 

Allan Taylor, FBC Woodstock Minister of Education, Author, and Founder of Ember to Blaze Ministries - Sunday School Upgrade – Standard Def to HD

Pastor Johnny Hunt, FBC Woodstock Pastor and Current President of the Sounthern Baptist Convention – 1. The Vital Role of SS in the Local Church 2. Having a Fire in your Gut

Elmer Towns, Co-founder and Vice President of Liberty University – A Biblically Grounded Sunday School Meeting the Needs of a Contemporary Society

Brian Robertson, FBC Woodstock Pastor of Assimilation – Closing the Back Door

… and several others!