IN VIEW

Vision 100 Leadership Stretch Cont.

2010-10-07T18:07:00.000-07:00

Our vision is to see Tasmania reached for Christ through the planting of as many churches as possible, so that there is a gospel witness in every city and town in the State. We believe that the planting of new churches is the best way to reach people with the gospel. We’ve made a good start, but a slow and small start. In the past the key limiting factor has been the lack of trained men for the work. We have seen a good number of trained folk and a continuing number of apprentices coming into the network. There will always be a shortage (the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few), and we will continue to need people who can take on new church plants.

I believe that structurally, what our movement needs is the implementation of 'Pauline Teams', along the line of the model we find in the Scriptures, so that the work can progress faster & further, by God’s grace.

Why team?

We have come out of an era in which the minister was appointed to lead and run the church, and despite our heritage for a plurality of leaders in the church, because he was paid there was an expectation that he did the work, and it tended to be a lone and sometimes lonely role with some support by the elders.

When Jesus trained his disciples he didn’t train individuals, he trained the team. He even sent them out in pairs. Paul, likewise always worked in a team including apprentices. He appointed teams of elders to shepherd the church. Is seems to me that Paul established a model of open, flexible teams in order to quickly spread the gospel through church planting. We see how this worked in the book of Acts, and we see the foundational theology for this in Ephesians 4.

In history, the Catholic church turned this into a hierarchy of ministry positions. This was not God’s design or purpose. The Reformation corrected this with its emphasis on every member ministry and a flatter organisation structure for the church, based on the pastoral epistles. However, we have yet to see this dynamic team approach to gospel ministry (apart from exceptions) generally used in the church.

The rise of church planting networks in Christian work recognises the need for like-minded Christians to be working together in different ways if we are to reach non-Christians with the gospel. Vision 100 network has in a way already in a limited way been operating in a type of Pauline Team.

What is a Pauline team?

A Pauline team is a number (two or more) of biblically qualified leaders and apprentices who

· Have a variety of spiritual gifts

· Are commissioned and appointed by local churches

· Have a clear vision of Christ’s mission through church planting and raising up leaders (including new elders)

· Are prayerful & responsive to the Holy Spirit’s leading

· Are willing to sacrifice all for the sake of Christ & the gospel (prepared to be tent-makers)

What would Pauline Team do?

· Reaching/evangelising new areas of Hobart for Christ

· Gathering converts and planting new churches

· Discipling/training new converts to be fully mature disciples of Christ, going on to serve him to build the church

· Identifying spiritually gifted people and raising them up to serve as elders / deacons and ministers of the gospel through training and accountable discipleship

· Operate as a network of leaders supporting and encouraging each other in the work of the gospel

· Celebrate in the local sending churches God’s grace in the winning of converts, establishing new churches and raising up new leaders.

So how do we move this forward in the Vision 100 movement?

Here are three Biblical precedents to ponder for action:

· Elders & teaching elders of participating churches are to take greater responsibility & leadership of the local church (eg. Acts 20:17ff).

This is a relatively easy step and the work of an elder is already well detailed in most church polities. In Vision 100 it is being practiced more and more with elders leading ministries and involved in teaching/preaching. Elders ought to continually consider the time they need to do the work of the Lord and look at changing their priorities (some elders in our network have reduced work hours to four days per week to give a day a week to their elders responsibilities).

· Key leaders need to be set apart by elders of key (Antioch type) churches to, on their behalf, lead Pauline teams to reach new areas of Tasmania (eg. Acts 13:1-3).

Increasingly the key leaders in the V100 network are providing support to local churches and church plants, but there is no mechanism in our respective church polities to enable this. We have yet to take the next step of setting apart and sending suitably gifted men and their teams to go and plant churches away from their churches. This will be needed if we are to reach more widely across Tasmania.

· Some trainees, especially those with evangelistic skills are to be attached to Pauline teams (eg. Acts 16:1-3).

Most trainees are connected to established churches. We need to be willing to release and support trainees to participate in ‘Pauline Teams’ that are actively engaged in planting.

Conclusion

Pauline teams drawn from a number of churches in the Network would be used to:

· Speed up the work

· Break new ground where we do not currently have people

· Change the ethos of an existing work by closing down an old work & opening up a new work

The move towards effective using Pauline Teams in the work will not be achieved on paper, but by experience, because such teams are flexible, changing as need dictates, led by the Spirit, and dependent on the Lord for all success. It will be have to be pioneered.

It requires much prayer and a willingness to work sacrificially together.

Vision 100 Leadership Stretch Cont.

2010-09-20T16:06:00.000-07:00

Another factor that Vision 100 leaders need to be aware of as the network grows is the development of an a growing independence in the Network. In the early stages of the movement, there was enthusiasm and a strong desire and necessity to work closely together. But as we grow it is important that existing leaders do not drift apart and new leaders coming in are caught up in a a sense of spiritual movement. In order to encourage this, Vision 100 can do several things:
(1) Continually cast the vision and values for the movement.
(2) Call people to regular prayer for the movement.
(3) Ensure new and existing leaders attend the annual Vision 100 Leaders conference.
(4) Ensure the Vision 100 Committee is representative of the whole Network.
(5) Involve new leaders are involved in organising the different Vision 100 events.
(6) All leaders and apprentices across the Network meet together (not necessarily often, but) regularly socially and for prayer.
(7) Vision 100 needs to constantly review what it does to ensure that it is assisting leaders and contributing to the work of the local church, and not adding any unnecessary load in what is often already a very busy ministry.

As mentioned previously, prayer is vital to the work of Vision 100, and it must start with the leaders. There is nothing that will create a sense of independence in the work more, than a lack of praying together. Prayer is the work, and does more to strengthen the Network, and align it to God's vision, than any other activity.
(1) As we pray together we acknowledge this is God’s work
Christ said “I will build my church.” Christ rules the church as it’s head and leads the work.
(2) As we pray together we express our dependence on God
We live in a resistant, hardened, secular culture. Only God has the power to change people’s heart. We need the Spirit of God be powerfully at work in the movement.
(3) As we pray together we make ourselves available to Christ for his mission
We express our desire to serve, and acknowledge that it is a singular privilege to serve. Our service to the King is the best work there is.
(4) As we pray together we demonstrate our love for the lost
God seeks lost sinners and we are his representatives. We want to align ourselves with God’s heart.
(5) As we pray together we take the opportunity to confess our sin
We need to confess our fear & lack of boldness, and our lack of willingness to step out of our comfortable risk-adverse lives. We need to confess our self-reliance when we do thing in our own strength.
(6) As we pray together we express our need of each other for the work
The whole body of Christ is needed for the work. Unity is Christ is essential for the work.
(7) As we pray together we praise and thank God for his wonderful grace to us in Christ
In saving us, in growing his church, in strengthening the work, in raising up new workers, and for the joy we have in all this.

May God help us to work closely together across the Vision 100 Network, expressing our unity in the Gospel, in order that the church planting work is strengthened, and more Tasmanians are won for Christ as our Gospel witness spreads to new communities.

Vision 100 Leadership Stretch Cont.

2010-06-24T23:19:00.000-07:00

One of the factors that Vision 10o leaders need to constantly address and check is the subtle power of denominational competitiveness.

As a movement Vision 100, because of it's clear values, has been, by God’s grace, reasonably successful in resisting denominational competitiveness and replacing it with gospel generosity towards each other. We have achieved this by joining together through the Vision 100 organisation as follows:

(1) Sharing resources – preaching, training, Ministry Challenge and other conferences, ideas

(2) Raising and disseminating funds through Vision 100 Resources

(3) One joint church plant – Cornerstone (now a Presbyterian work)

(4) Supporting the University work (AFES & FOCUS) across all participating denominations

(5) Vision 100 leadership and prayer meetings

At present we have several churches from two denominations (Presbyterian and Christian Reformed) and two independent churches (Crowded House in Spreyton and the Evangelical Reformed Church in Launceston) in the network. These churches all share the values of the Vision 100 movement, which are critical to a genuine working together under Christ and in the gospel.

Several other churches have been encouraged to participate, but because they do not share the Vision 100 values, have other priorities, or lack of gospel leadership, have not participated in or joined the Network (St Johns, Anglican and Baptist churches, CRC Hobart and the CRC Launceston). Some of these churches suffer from an unhealthy commitment, either to the denomination, or to liberal theology.

Vision 100 is against independentism, and sees great value in it’s member churches being part of a denomination. Through a radical commitment to the gospel, we want member churches to have a reforming effect in the denominations. At the same time we recognise the dangers of being infected by ‘denominational malaise.’ How are we to guard against the subtle power of denominationalism infecting the movement?

(1) The Vision 100 leaders continuing to set and example of gospel generosity across the network in practical ways (giving, preaching, training, practical help).

(2) To seek to make Vision 100 networking activities a priority, especially where they are more singularly focussed on the spread of the gospel through local churches. (ie. Tea and Talk has ‘died’ and we are encouraging elders and church leaders to attend the Vision 100 Leadership and Prayer meetings)

(3) Network leaders meeting and working together for the sake of the gospel to support each other, to encourage stepping out in faith and to keep each other accountable.

(4) Promote the denominations working together through joint church planting and other activities through 'Pauline' teams, made up of leaders from various denominations.

(5) To, as much as possible, direct non-local church financial resources to Vision 100 for distribution even if it is ear marked for a particular work. We need to enlist the wealthy gospel-hearted folk in our churches to regular giving to Vision 100.

Vision 100 Leadership Stretch cont.

2010-06-13T22:25:00.000-07:00

Only a living, responsive faith in Christ, persistent pleading prayer, a preparedness to sacrifice comfort, and a humble dependence on the grace of God will lead to the break-throughs necessary for genuine Kingdom growth.

In order for Vision 100 to be like this the leadership needs to be stretched to address the following areas as previously noted:

1. The lack of praying together
2. The subtle power of denominational competitiveness
3. A growing independence in the network
4. The lack of a ‘Pauline team’ Biblical model of leadership
5. The limited flexibility in function and pay of existing and new leaders
6. The loss of urgency for one to one discipleship of all members

I'll address each one of these over the coming weeks.

The lack of praying together

Prayer is not some sort of ‘magic.’ It is essentially a vital expression of our relationship with our Heavenly Father through His Son our Lord Jesus Christ, by the Spirit of truth.

The spheres of prayer are the individual, the church, and the world. As a child of God, I have been convicted by the Spirit, of my sin and of the great salvation extended to me through the finished work of Christ. That wonderful salvation has brought me into a fellowship of love with other believers (the church). It has also caught me up in the mission of Christ - the spontaneous joyful, Holy Spirit-directed expansion of the church bringing the gospel to a lost world. Each sphere needs my attention, first and foremost in my persistent, pleading prayer.

The key strengthening Agent of the Vision 100 movement is the Holy Spirit. There is nothing like urgent, honest, pleading prayer to quicken us to the Spirit’s power in us and working through us. We need to regularly and persistently call all Vision 100 partners to such prayer. What is it that stands in the way of such prayer? Here are some suggestions:

(1) Leaders not meeting together solely for prayer. We need a regular gathering of all leaders for times of open, heart-felt, urgent prayer.

(2) Leaders not communicating the need for prayer (the reason for this requires some soul searching). We need to make a much greater effort in calling people within the movement to persistent, pleading prayer every Sunday. As leaders we should teach our people how to pray in these times especially by our example. Perhaps we could also produce/find some suitable set prayers for congregational use to help us in this.

(3) A lack of penitence. We need to, by the Spirit’s conviction, give opportunity for times of confession and repentance from specific sins committed by those within the movement (ie. some dangers we regularly face & fall too include pride (in position, status, ability, influence), lack faith and true dependence on God, materialism and the lack of willingness to sacrifice, including half-heartedness, lack of love for the lost, and a low expectation that the gospel will save – there may be other that the Spirit will convict us of.) Such conviction will only come through the Word of God radically applied to the culture of our day. Where is this happening in our movement?

(4) Loss of confidence in (& dependence on) the power of Christ & his gospel. We need a clearer vision of the Ascended Christ and of his mission. Christ has all authority and is the Head or Commander-in-chief of the church. The church (that’s us) is to be the Lord’s forward movement in a lost world Such a vision will drive us to pray. We should consider a focus on this in our preaching throughout the movement.

Vision 100's Leadership Stretch

2010-04-30T18:56:00.000-07:00

Vision 100 Resources is a network of leaders from various denominations committed to working together for the spread of the Gospel in Tasmania through church planting. We've made a good start, but there is a need for 'leadership stretch' if we are going to break through our current limited impact (Lord willing).

We need leaders to break through the inhibiting forces (evils) that are stopping us from effectively serving our Lord & King, so that his Kingdom will come in power in Tasmania. There is an urgent need for courage to address the following:

(1) The lack of praying together

(2) The subtle power of denominational competitiveness

(3) A growing independence in the network

(4) The lack of a 'Pauline team' biblical model of leadership

(5) The limited flexibility in function and pay of existing & new leaders

(6) The loss of urgency for one-to-one discipleship of all members

These challenges need prayerful, thoughtful and bold responses. The solutions are likely to result in some opposition from the denominations. Only a living, responsive faith in the Ascended Christ, persistent pleading prayer, and a preparedness to sacrifice comfort will enable us to make the break-throughs necessary. May God help us.

What gospel ministry should look like

2009-12-18T17:06:00.001-08:00

There are many books on what ministry is all about. If you are looking for one of the great books on ministry, Colin Marshall & Tony Pane's new book The Trellis and the Vine is a must read. Check out Tim Chester's blog for a review, including a video clip from Mark Dever recommending the book on (see http://timchester.wordpress.com/2009/12/03/thursday-review-the-trellis-and-the-vine/)

Ordinary work, extraordinary work

2009-11-22T20:49:00.000-08:00

Gospel proclamation is ordinary work. It's not difficult to understand or to do. It is the plain work of spreading the good news of Jesus Christ to people you meet and get to know. It can be done anywhere and at any convenient time; at home, over lunch, after sport, or at a party. The resources for gospel proclamation are always available. It is simple ordinary work. Any idiot can do it!

Yet at the same time, it is extraordinary work. It is supernatural work. It is powerfully effective, transformational work. The gospel changes everything, because God is at work. As the simple message is spoken and heard, the Spirit of God works in the heart of a person impressing on it two great truths, "I am more wicked than I realised, and more loved than I ever dared hope for." By God's mighty, supernatural power those two truths draw the heart to Christ in repentance and faith.

This combination of our ordinary work and God's extraordinary work should give us greater confidence than many Christians seen to have. May God forgive us. It should lead us to:

(0) Thank God daily for his saving grace to us in Christ

(1) Make sure we are clear on the gospel and how to present it

(2) Make time & create opportunities for telling people the gospel

(3) See the image of God in every human being & love them

(4) Pray constantly for God to work through our witness

(5) Make the most of every opportunity (most other thing are less important!)

(6) Expect conversions

(7) Work together with other Christians for support in our witness

(8) Realise that nothing we do for Christ is wasted

(9) Thank God for the privilege of serving Christ in this way

It's that easy. So let's go reach Tasmania for Christ!

Great Sinner, Great Saviour

2009-09-29T16:00:00.000-07:00

The gospel tells us, as John Newton, the writer of the hymn Amazing Grace, once put it, I am a great sinner, and Christ is a great Saviour.

How do you react to that statement? What feelings does that evoke in you?

Does it encourage you? Does it make you feel assured and loved? Does it make you want to sing for joy? Or does it make you feel uncomfortable, offended, or angry?

The Apostle Paul tells us that the gospel is the fragrance of life among those being saved, and the smell of death to those who are perishing.

Christians do not want to take the gospel for granted. They do not want to assume the gospel. They wanted it to be at the very centre of their lives and the life of the church. Why? Because they believe it is the power of God to save people.

The Presbyterian & Reformed Partnership

2009-08-18T21:37:00.000-07:00

I thank God for the practical, biblical partnership we as Reformed Christians have with the Presbyterians in Southern Tasmania. It is a partnership that has been blessed by God, and we have seen God's Kingdom come through the work of both churches as churches are planted and new ministry workers raised up for gospel work.

Our connection with them goes back to the early 1950s when the Dutch migrants first came to Kingston, Tasmania. Seeking a church home they attending the St. Johns Presbyterian Church in Hobart and were welcomed with great enthusiasm by Rev C. Read. In those early years as the number of Dutch migrants grew in numbers services in Dutch were held in Kingston (sermons by Rev C. Read & Basil Cox were translated into Dutch and read by Eric vanderLaan.) There was talk of establishing a Presbyterian Church in Kingston. But doubts arose about the Presbyterian Church. The Dutch migrants were concerned about Free Masonary and liberalism in the church. The issues came to sharp focus when a visiting Moderator of Victoria and Tasmania preached a liberal and moralistic sermon at St John's one Sunday, in which there was no mention of Christ. As a result the decision was made to establish the Reformed Church of Kingston. Rev C. Read, who had worked so hard to include the Dutch migrants, was saddened and also somewhat hurt by this decision, as he was a gospel-hearted man.

Little did Rev C. Read know of the partnership that would develop between these two churches some fifty years later.

At the time of the formation of the Reformed Church of Kingston, the leaders signed the 'Kingston Protocol' which states:

Protocol of the founding of the Reformed Church of Kingston

on Sunday the 24th of February 1952 at Kingston, Tasmania

We the undersigned before our migration communicant members of a Protestant Church in The Netherlands and of positive Reformed persuasion regret that we do not feel free to be able to join anyone of the existing Australian churches, partly because in some of them liberalism can develop unhindered, partly because the churches which are faithful to the Holy Scriptures with their prescribed way of worship makes it difficult for us to feel at home in their midst.

We regret the impossibility of joining especially regarding the Presbyterian Church of Hobart, which church has been very accommodating from the beginning of our arrival in Tasmania, especially the Rev. C.Y. Reid is still remembered, who did his utmost to help us in many ways.

Because of the above mentioned reasons, to the honour of God’s name and the spiritual well-being of ourselves and our children we see ourselves called to the founding of the Reformed Church of Kingston within the denomination of the Reformed Churches of Tasmania, on the basis of God’s Word according to the interpretation of the Westminster Confession, the Belgic Confession, the Heidelberg Catechism and the Canons of Dordt. We will maintain this basis by Christian Discipline about teaching and life in accordance with Holy Scripture, Confessions and the Dordt Church order.

We will strive after Christian fellowship with all those who love our Lord and Saviour and who are willing to accept the basis of His Word according to the Creeds of the Reformation, by giving ever more importance to the English [language] in our worship services we will strive to become a real Australian church as soon as possible.

We will persevere in prayer for the Australian Churches that there may be a real return to His Word and Service. If that would happen in the Presbyterian Churches of Australia we would do our utmost to work for union of our churches with these churches.

We undertake this step to found the Reformed Churches with fervent prayer to God for His blessing also for the churches of Australia, that He will keep us and our children and generations to follow from straying from the faith that once was delivered unto the saints. Through His grace He makes us faithful to His Word and the Confessions based on that Word.

Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

Signed by 17 Communicant members and 6 Baptized members.

What does this statement mean for us today? How should we respond to it? Things have changed so much in fifty years for both churches. We now share the same Reformed theology, values and vision for our work in Tasmania.

Surely the first thing to do is to thank God for each other and our partnership especially through Vision 100. Secondly, we ought to pray often for each other, asking God to continue to strengthen our partnership, so that his Kingdom may come to His glory alone.

Dangerous waters

2009-08-10T03:13:00.000-07:00

Where ever liberal theology has gained an ascendancy the church itself has gone into decline. This is self-evident for any student of church history. Yet, over the last five to ten years, I have detected a slight but growing drift towards liberalism in our Reformed churches. These are dangerous waters for us to enter. This has occurred because of a combination of a poor biblical knowledge, and denial of Scripture's clear teaching. Here are the evidences I see for saying this:

(1) An increasingly biblical illiteracy

Very few members have a clear grasp of the gospel or a good knowledge of the doctrines of grace. Very few can explain the gospel in simple clear terms, or defend it when it is attacked. Even fewer people in our churches understand biblical theology and the principles of interpreting Scriptures.

(2) A lack of confidence in the gospel as the only power in the world that will build the church

We have not been taught to recognize that the gospel is the 'beating heart' of the church. It is often assumed, and it's implications for Christian living are not well understood. This has led to leaders elevating other issues and programs to try to build the church.

(3) A tendency to reject or downplay the key doctrine of original sin and the depravity of man

The belief of our culture, that man is inherently 'good', is undermining a central teaching of the gospel, that while we are made in the image of God and have great potential, we are inherently sinful from birth and therefore need saving. Any denial of this truth denies the necessity of Christ's death on a cross.

(4) An increasing acceptance that woman can serve in the function of elder and minister.

If we were to survey our church leaders, I believe a remarkable number would subscribe to this position, undermining the clear teaching of Scripture on this. We have been infected by our culture, by the influence of Reformed Christians from overseas, and by the many churches in Australia who now hold this position.

(5) The almost non-existent practice of discipline

Although we are committed to this as a mark of the true church, the practice of discipline is pretty much neglected. This will only result in increasingly weak Christian communities that, in their practice, deny the very gospel they purport to believe.

(6) A poor understanding of what biblical leadership is and isn't

There are so many models of leadership being used in the church from managerial through to the old 'dominee' (one man controls all) model, none of which are particularly biblical. Leaders are to serve Christ and his people, by focussing on the Word of God and prayer and laying down their lives. Christ has given various gifts (evangelist, pastor, apostle (small 'a') etc) to the church that are to find their expression under the key attitude of service and servanthood. The neglect of the biblical pattern of leadership again subtly undermines the gospel, which is all about Christ who came, not to be served, but to serve.

2009-05-20T20:05:00.000-07:00

Denominations

The the apostles and elders with the whole church decided ....

Acts 15: 22

Denominations seem to me to be a necessary evil. Too often they create separation between believers where there should be unity. Too often they quench the Spirit by resisting the bold vision of Christ, rather than holding high the cause of Christ for all to see and follow. Too often their decisions are about control rather than empowerment of people and churches.

That is why para-church organizations can be so useful. Free from the controls and restrictions of church orders and administrative controls, they can empower people to boldly pursue Christ's mission.

Yet, we stand on very shaky ground when we take a solely negative stance towards the denomination, because the problems we see there are the very same problems found in every church, and the very same problems found in every human heart. Our denominations will only be more godly than they are, when we are more godly then we are.

The challenge is that I might have a clearer view of Christ's vision, and be so taken by this, that I will be prepared to take positive steps to obey my Lord.

The perils of pride in leadership

2009-05-08T20:23:00.000-07:00

What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you can to believe - as the Lord has assigned to each his task.

1 Corinthians 3:5

The greatest temptation of a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ is to rob our Lord of his glory. We do that in many and subtle ways. Our thirst for applause, recognition and status are powerful motivations that we never fully over come this side of heaven. Our foolish pride is greatest limiting factor to the success of our work for the Lord, and needs to be repented of daily.

Who are we as ministers? Firstly and fundamentally, we are redeemed sinners, no better than any one else, and just as desperately needing God's grace as our fellow human. As Dr. Timothy Keller often says, the cross of Christ tells us we are more sinful than we imagine, but more loved than we ever dared to dream. That in itself should check our pride.

Secondly, as Paul says in the above text, we are only servants. The work we do is God's work, as he has assigned it to us. He is the author of faith, and therefore of any success we might see in our ministry. How can we boast in it? How can we look at other ministers with envy when they have greater success ? How can we focus so much on the numbers in our churches? How is it that we take pride in our status as ministers? How is it that we desperately need to be noticed? God forgive us for our stupid, stubborn and sinful pride!

It is enough that we belong to Christ. And it is a great privilege and joy to be his servant in ministry. May the Holy Spirit work in us and help us to fight pride in our lives, so that we may rather be servants of humble child-like trust, who live for God's glory alone.

The Power of Christian Hope

2009-05-03T02:03:00.000-07:00

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.

It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,

where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf.

Hebrews 6:19-20

C.S. Lewis writes in his book Mere Christianity that we all long for something better than what we have in this life. He says:

Most people, if they really learned to look into their own hearts, would know that they do want, and want acuetly, something that cannot be had in this world. There are all sorts of things in this world that offer to give it to you, but they never quite keep their promise. The longings which arise in us when we first fall in love, or first think of some foreign country, or first take up some subject that excites us, are longings which no marriage, no travel, no learning, can really satisfy. I am not now speaking of what would normally be called unsuccessful marriages, or holidays, or learned careers. I am speaking of the best possible ones. There was something to be grasped at, in that first moment of longing, which just fades away in the reality. The wife may be a good wife, and the hotels and scenery may have been excellent, and chemistry may be a very interesting job: but something has evaded us.

Christians have the hope of a new heavans and new earth, in which we will share God’s glory and joy with new bodies in a new world and a new age.

What difference does that make to us now? A very great difference. The hope we have gives us great pleasure and great rest. We love our work and work hard to do our best, because we do it all for our Lord. Yet we are not stressed by it because we don’t need to perform or achieve to feel good about ourselves. This hope also gives us courage and strength, because we serve the Majesty of heaven & earth who is in control of all things. The hope we have also enables us to relax, laugh, sing and celebrate together. Our God reigns and nothing can separate us from his love now and forever.

That’s the power of Christian hope.