Too big for God to use?

In the almost 50 years in which I have been active in rural ministry and mission I have often spoken about the fact of what God can do with a little.  You may have heard or read a quote I first heard from Rupert Hambira, a Congregational minister from Botswana.  He said, "If you think you are too small to be significant for God then you have never spent a night in a room with a mosquito".  Yes, it is amazing what God can do with a few loaves and fishes that are placed into his hand.  Small churches should not despair for God is well able to work through them as they respond surrendered to God's will.

Over the last few days I have found my thoughts running along similar lines once again, only this time instead of thinking that no one and nothing is too small within God's plans, I have been dwelling on the fact that it is possible to be too great for God.  Perhaps the seed was sown last Thursday morning in our village Bible Discussion Group at Yelvertoft where we explored 1 Corinthians 1 to 4.  We noted that the first issue of concern that Paul addresses - divisions - covers all of the first four chapters.  It is that important.  We noted that the theme of these four chapters as well as addressing divisions within the church, could be summed up as 'it's all about God'.  Paul introduces himself as an ambassador of God.  His letter is addressed to the church of God at Corinth. He reminds them that their salvation only exists because God has called them.  He tells them that he, Apollos, and Peter are merely the servants of God and nothing in themselves.  The very gospel they have believed is extremely simple so that believing it is no great intellectual credit, but it is the power of God unto salvation.

It is here that Paul points out that God takes the foolish and the weak, so that no human can boast in himself or herself.  I was left with a distinct opinion that in God's economy small and weak is beautiful.  But the spirit of the world seems to drive many in our churches towards becoming bigger and stronger all the time.  The dream is to have mega churches.  But I am convinced that God is against empire building.  In the Hebrew Scriptures we have the account of the tower of Babel.  In the New Testament, as the church at Jerusalem grew numerically God allowed persecution to be an instrument of scattering, from which blessing was multiplied in a way that would never have happened if  they had stayed in Jerusalem. 

While the early days of the church in Jerusalem seems all about massive growth (three thousand converted in one day) many of these were only visitors to Jerusalem.  The only other majority church I can think of is at Samaria where, after Philip's ministry, the whole city was full of joy.  But the Scripture record seems to be of Christian churches in a minority within a much larger pluralistic society.  Could it be that the mega church vision is actually contrary to what God desires?

What happened to the dream of some in the nineteen sixties to create one large single church instead of the multiplicity of denominations?  The hopes of growth gave way to rapid decline.  Of course I believe that Jesus will build his Church.  I believe we need a vision for winning more and more men, women and children to Jesus' side.  I also believe that the unity that is God's gift to his Church needs to be nurtured.  The development of large super stores might appear to be good for the pocket but they seriously distort the economy.  Before the development of internet outlets such as Amazon, the Christian book trade in the UK seemed to be already falling apart at the same time as one organisation was developing a monopoly.  Where are those splendid Christian bookshops in all our towns today?

William Carey, the founding father of the Baptist Missionary Society once said, "Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God".  I want to say "Amen" to that but suggest that we need to be very careful that we do not become too many or too strong for God to use us.  His strength is made perfect in our weakness, as Gideon discovered (Judges 6 and 7).

The Past Week included some encouraging meetings including a Rural Round Table linked to the Fresh Expressions movement, a Country Way editorial meeting (please let me know if you are not already a subscriber to this important magazine), a village Bible Discussion Group, and today's Congregational Federation's Mission and Society Committee.

The Coming Week is less full as far as events are concerned, but not necessarily as far as work is concerned.  On this Sunday I will be leading and speaking at Yelvertoft.  On Monday I will be taking a school assembly in Lubenham.  On Tuesday I will be working in HMP Gartree.  Through the week there is still much to do sorting out matters relating to Action for Christ, preparing for a rural consultation in the south west, and a similar event in Northern Ireland, and some important administration for Rural Mission solutions and its parent charity.

I am sure that you will be busy within your own sphere of activity.  May God grant us all the ability to be his 'mosquitoes' and having an impact for the kingdom of God wherever we buzz!

Please tell me what you are up to.  Doreen and I would so love to hear from you.

Barry

"My help comes from the Lord"

Hello,

I'd like to start by thanking all those who sent words of encouragement and assurances of prayer related to the gastroscopy I underwent last Monday.  It's actually a fairly routine procedure with only slight risks, though somewhat unpleasant.  Some of the members at our meeting on Sunday persuaded me to accept a sedative and one of the older members (forgive me Priscilla) undertook the 40 mile round trip to pick me up for the 30 mile round trip to the hospital on the understanding that the procedure would be undertaken under a sedative.  Both the sedative and Priscilla's kindness certainly made it far less onerous.  As far as I am aware nothing alarming was discovered and the Barrett's Oesophagus seems to be being managed satisfactorily.

Tuesday morning I took a school assembly at Yelvertoft (Northants) and combined the trip with taking some photos of the amphitheatre where the recent open air funeral service was held.  A magazine picked up on the story and asked me to write it up.  It reminded me of an article I once wrote that was then copied with permission into a Christian newspaper, and then found its way into a Christian best selling paperback as an 'anonymous' story!  While taking the photos a lady walking her dog stopped and discussed the service with me.  It seems to have touched many hearts.

In the afternoon I went to prison for the regular choir practice - only it wasn't.  As the Christian Prison Fellowship were occupying the chapel area we were moved into a relatively small room on one of the prison wings.  I'm not sure whether it was the different environment but there was such a sense of fun among the men it made me laugh for a long time afterwards.  Serving a life sentence and being aware of the serious crime that warranted that sentence is often hard to bear.  That brief interlude on a Tuesday afternoon means a lot to these men and I believe it is of significance.  Keep praying.

That evening Doreen and I drove to Stamford to pick up a cousin on holiday from Australia and touring the UK visiting various relatives.  Laurence was with us for three days, which gave me a good reason for taking some time out.

On Friday I took him to other relatives in Doncaster as I made my own way towards Hebden Bridge.  The journey failed to start properly as the hazard lights on the car came on and would not go off.  The garage from which the car had been purchased could not fix it or obtain a part so I had to hire a car for the journey.  Apparently my car has to go for a factory reset!  The late departure then put us into heavy Friday evening traffic and we arrived around four hours late!

Before I left I made a call to my university supervisor.  It was not an easy conversation.  The extra work that I have felt I have had to undertake to help Action for Christ out of difficulties has taken up a lot of time since mid June, and it is the MPhil that has suffered.  It looks as if I might have to formally interrupt my studies for a few months rather than struggle to find dedicated time for the studies.  Making the call made me feel extremely sad as doing this programme is very important for rural evangelism.  However, I can see no alternative to answering the call to help AfC through this particularly difficult time.  It's a 'what would Jesus do?' situation.

The trip to Hebden Bridge was equally sad and difficult.  AfC and the trustees of the Slack Top charity had ventured into a project that had excited both.  It now appears that both had not been given an entirely accurate picture of all that this would involve and it is with great regret that the AfC trustees now find themselves unable to provide further funding to complete the venture.  While AfC have ensured that the building has been rfe-roofed and is now water tight there remains an enormous amount of work to be undertaken internally in the building.  I could have wept as I was given a tour of the premises.  The practical disaster is compounded by some serious emotional pain and I ask you to pray for all concerned.  As we talked and prayed together on Saturday the opening part of Psalm 121 came to mind: "... where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth."  In situations like this, he is our only hope.  I may be able to share more about this situation at a later date.

So tired and frustrated I made my way the 145 miles home on Saturday evening.

This week's Diary

Sunday 16th Yelvertoft Congregational Church, Northamptonshire

Monday 17th Rural Round Table for Fresh Expression, London

Tuesday 18th HMP Gartree

Wednesday 19th Country Way Editorial Meeting, Stoneleigh, Warwickshire

Thursday 20th Bible Discussion Group and Pastoral ministry, Yelvertoft

Saturday 22nd Mission and Society Committee,  Congregational Federation, Nottingham

Sunday 29th Sunday at HMP Gartree

What matters isn't so much what we do but how we do it.  Please join me in praying that God's grace will be seen throughout this week, and that each day will be spent for his honour and glory.

Thanks,

Barry

Brief News for Praise and Prayer

It has been a full week and I am thankful for the sense of God's presence throughout each day.  There are a number of ongoing activities and responsibilities and I value your prayers as I seek to fulfil each of these.

Please excuse a very short blog this week.  In addition to the various ongoing tasks there are fewer appointments this week.  However, each of them is significant and need to be supported in prayer.

Sunday 9th  10.45  Yelvertoft Congregational Church; 6.00  Theddingworth Congregational Church

Monday 10th I will be going to the Leicester Royal Infirmary for a routine gastroscopy related to the Barrett's Oesophagus condition I have.  When this was discovered I was asked if I would be part of a national cancer research trial.  This involves taking a course of medication over eight years.  In a minority of cases Barrett's can develop into cancer but my last check up revealed no cause for concern. A gastroscopy is not pleasant.

Tuesday 11th The regular session in HMP Gartree in the afternoon.

Thursday 13th I meet with my local management committee.

Friday 14th I will be travelling to Yorkshire to meet on Saturday 15th with the local trustees of a project that Action for Christ has been involved with.  This is a complicated situation and I especially ask your prayers for all involved.

Sunday 16th Yelvertoft Congregational Church.

Text for the week:  As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people both now and for evermore. Psalm 125:2

What's the Point of Worship?

I wonder what your answer is to the question at the top of this blog.  Tomorrow millions of Christians will gather in an assortment of churches   Over the past few days men and women who will be leading worship or preaching will have spent an almost unimaginable combined total of hours planning and preparing.  But what's the point?

For the vast majority of churches in the UK I fear that there is no point.  People will go through the motions both at the front of church and in the pews without having an awareness of how what they are about is likely to make a real difference to the world, how it might advance the kingdom of God, or result in greater obedience to God's will.

A few years ago I was asked to speak at an assembly of churches and posed the question, "What is the main purpose of church?"  The popular answer I received was a quote from the Shorter Catechism, "... to glorify God and enjoy Him forever".  I challenged that conception, stating instead that the main purpose is to set forth the gospel message by words and deeds. But some who know me well would say, "You would say that".  But I ask again, "What is the point of worship?"  When we have sung all our hymns and songs, preached all the sermons, and gone through the motions for yet another Sunday, will God be doing cartwheels of delight, or might he be shaking his head and sighing?

That bit about glorifying God and enjoying him forever is part of the answer to the first question of the Shorter Catechism, which then continues to explain how we might do that.  It reveals that the path to achieving this is only found in obedience to the revelation of God's will in scripture.  I suggest that it is impossible to read and understand the gospels without realising the sense of God's mission, and his call to those who believe to play their part in his purposes.

So here is this week's challenge.  Firstly, to those who will be preaching or leading worship: does what you have prepared have any expected outcomes that relate clearly to proclaiming the good news and making of disciples?  Secondly to those who will be part of a congregation:  will you come away from the meeting with a deeper desire to walk closely with God, wanting to please him by doing your part in telling others the gospel?  Most people who receive this as a newsletter or who regularly read it on line have a good grasp of the point of the life of Jesus on earth, his death, and resurrection.  But what is the point of worship this Sunday?

Worship is not about making us feel good, or worthy in some way.  Nor does God need us to tell him that he is wonderful, (though he longs that we might discover just how wonderful he is as we experience his transforming grace in our lives).  Worship should be an experience in which we feel real communion with God that produces a deep desire to be what he wants us to be and do what he wants us to do.  If it fails to do that, then what's the point?

The past week
On Monday and Saturday I had the privilege of conducting Christian marriage blessing services following civil marriage services at Hothorpe Hall, Leicestershire.  Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday were spent on moving the offices of Action for Christ (formerly Mission for Christ).  The reason for the move is better stewardship of God's resources.  I am grateful for the help of Danny (a pastor linked to the organisation), John (a former trustee of MfC), and Nathan (the teenage son of the organisation's secretary).  In addition, Nathan's mother, Heather, and the Chair of Trustees, Elizabeth put in a lot of hard work.  Mary, our design and reprographics staff member had done a lot to prepare for the event.

Please give thanks that all went well (despite my having a small accident).  Please pray for the staff as they settle into new offices and the final elements such as phone and broadband are put in place.  Please pray for the trustees as we seek to redefine how the organisation fulfils its objectives.

The coming week
Sunday 2nd 10.45 Yelvertoft Congregational Church, Northants.
Monday 3rd International Congregational Fellowship Conference Planning Meeting in London.
Tuesday 4th Gartree Prison, Leics.
Wednesday 5th Pastoral Care Board meets morning and afternoon in Nottingham.
Thursday 6th, 10.30 Bible Discussion Group, Yelvertoft.  In the late afternoon there is a wedding rehearsal in Yelvertoft.
Friday 7th, 7.00 meeting of a sub-committee of the CF East Midlands Area, Ashby de la Zouche, Leics.
Saturday 8th, 2.00, It is a delight to conduct my first wedding service at Yelvertoft. Aimee and David are the couple.  Aimee is the daughter of our church secretary.

Text for the week: 
"When I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!"  1 Corinthians 9:15

Barry