BLOG #13: FOCUS ON TARGET AUDIENCE (cont'd)

BLOG #13

PREACH AND TEACH TO CHANGE LIVES

Step 4:  FOCUS ON YOUR TARGET AUDIENCE (cont’d)

PREACHING TRACK

In Blog #11 we said: Here the TEACHING TRACK is foundational.  The PREACHING TRACK assists as a trouble-shooter. But note:  All preaching involves teaching, and all teaching involves preaching.  But for the purposes of this study, we make the following distinction:

TEACHING gives the timeless Word; PREACHING gives the timely Word.  TEACHING aims to impart God’s Word progressively from Genesis to Revelation; PREACHING chooses specific texts and truths to expound and apply to the current needs of the congregation.  TEACHING serves the regular menu for healthy Christians who are developing normally; PREACHING serves a special menu that provides the nutriments needed at critical stages of development.  

Again, we may illustrate the difference as follows:  Teaching (horizontal arrow) instructs God’s people consecutively, progressively and systematically from Genesis to Revelation.  Preaching (vertical arrows) brings out truths from anywhere in God’s revelation in the Bible to meet the current needs of God’s people and to equip them to deal with their present circumstances.

(Sorry.  Diagram is supposed to be inserted here, but I'm having a problem uploading it.  Diagram shows one long horizontal arrow, representing TEACHING; above the horizontal arrow are short vertical arrows, representing PREACHING.)

Our diagram provides a guideline as to what we need to preach on, as we focus on our target audience.  We simply need to ask questions such as:  What do I need to preach on when I’m speaking to SPIRITUAL BABIES?  When I’m speaking to SPIRITUAL YOUTH?  When I’m speaking to SPIRITUAL PARENTS?

Please note that our diagram shows four general topics for preaching:

·      Focus

·      Key

·      Area of Conflict

·      Major Temptation

These topics arise out of 1 John 5:12-17:

1 John 2:12-17:  12 I write to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake. 13 I write to you, fathers, because you have known Him who is from the beginning.   I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the wicked one.   I write to you, little children, because you have known the Father.

14 I have written to you, fathers, because you have known Him who is from the beginning.   I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the wicked one.

15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

BABY CHRISTIANS

Let’s look at the four topics as they relate to BABY CHRISTIANS.

FOCUS: SECURITY

1 John 2:12, 13:  I write to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake …  I write to you, little children, because you have known the Father.

From the above description of the spiritual baby we deduce that the focus of preaching/teaching to the spiritual baby is SECURITY, which is related to forgiveness of sins and knowledge of the Father.   Sermon topics for Baby Christians on SECURITY may include the following:

·      Assurance of Salvation

·      Assurance of Victory over Temptations

·      Assurance of Forgiveness

·      Assurance of Answered Prayer

·      Daily Devotional Time (Quiet Time)

·      Fellowship with Other Christians

Another key verse for SPIRITUAL BABIES is 1 Peter 2:2:

As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby.

Sermon topics for Baby Christians on the WORD OF GOD may include the following:

·      A Brief, Panoramic Survey of the Bible

·      Five Ways of Receiving God’s Word: Hear, Read, Study, Memorize, Meditate

·      The Importance of God’s Word as Food (Milk) for Spiritual Growth

·      Obeying and Applying God’s Word

·      Two Kinds of Hearers of God’s Word (Matthew 7:24-27)

KEY: FAITH

AREA OF CONFLICT: BASIC NEEDS

MAJOR TEMPTATION: LUST OF THE FLESH

The three topics above are all related.  More than at any other stage of the spiritual journey, it is at the BABY STAGE that a Christian struggles with the basic needs of life and with the major temptation of lust of the flesh, which arises out of those needs.  And FAITH is the key quality to develop in the Baby Christian, because it is faith that will help him/her to deal with basic needs and with the lust of the flesh.

Matthew 6:25-34 provides the essential message for Baby Christians regarding the three topics above.  The message centers on this truth:  GOD YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER IS JEHOVAH-JIREH, THE LORD YOUR PROVIDER.  This truth may also be expressed as JESUS YOUR SHEPHERD WILL ALWAYS TAKE CARE OF YOU.  Below are some scripture passages that you may preach from:

·      1 Kings 17:1-16 – God provides in times of famine.

·      Psalm 23 – Our Shepherd provides for all our needs.

·      Psalm 103 –  God’s Material and Spiritual Blessings.

·      John 2:1-11 – Jesus will help us when our resources run out.

·      Philippians 4:19 – God will supply our needs, not wants.

·      James 1:5 – God gives the needed wisdom to live the Christian life.

·      Philippians 4:6, 7; 1 Peter 5:7 – How to overcome worry.

·      Hebrews 13:5, 6 – God will never forsake us.

·      Mark 4:1-20 – How to overcome Satan’s temptations regarding the lusts and cares and worries of this life.

NOTE:  In our next posting, we will explore preaching topics for YOUTH CHRISTIANS.

BLOG #12: AN OVERVIEW OF THE SPIRITUAL JOURNEY

BLOG #12

PREACH AND TEACH TO CHANGE LIVES

Step 4:  FOCUS ON  YOUR TARGET AUDIENCE (cont'd)

AN OVERVIEW OF THE SPIRITUAL JOURNEY

NEWLIFE DISCIPLESHIP TRAINING MANUAL

A manual is a brief guidebook that's easily carried in one's hand.  This discipleship manual is not only a book that you carry in your hand.  This manual will put on your palms and fingers important discipleship truths, taught through hand illustrations, that will equip you to participate in the greatest work -- becoming a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ and helping others to do the same.

In the Bible, God often refers to His hands.  The Lord Jesus gives the most beautiful reference to the divine hands: "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.  I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.  My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand" (John 10:27-29, NIV).

What a wonderful promise!  In the almighty hands of the Father and the Son we Christians are safe and secure – forever!  Our salvation does not depend on our holding on to God.  Our salvation is securely grounded on the truth that God holds on to us with a grip that won't let go.

Does this mean that we fold our hands and do nothing but wait for heaven? Unfortunately, many Christians hold this wrong idea in their minds.

To the contrary, because we are secure in God's hands we should work vigorously with our hands!  Paul captures this graphically in Philippians 3:12:  "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me."

Christ took hold of us -- grasped us with His hands -- for a purpose.  Now, we are challenged to take hold of -- to grasp with our hands -- Christ's purpose until it is perfectly fulfilled in our lives.

To take hold of Christ's purpose, the Christian must have strong hands.  This discipleship training manual will strengthen your spiritual hands at every stage of your Christian growth.

STAGES OF GROWTH

There are three stages of Christian growth, according to 1 John 2:12-14: "I write to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.  I write to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning.  I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one.  I write to you, dear children, because you have known the Father.  I write to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning.  I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one."

Children, young men, fathers. In more general terms, every Christian goes through three spiritual stages: BABY, YOUTH, and PARENT.  This discipleship training manual will teach and train Christians to use their spiritual hands during each of these stages.  Hence, the outline of this course is as follows:

BOOK ONE

BABY RIGHT HAND:  THE GOSPEL

1.  Thumb:  God's Love

2.  Pointing Finger:  Man's Problem

3.  Middle Finger:  Christ is the Answer

4.  Ring Finger:  Christ's Invitation

5.  Little Finger:  Man's Decision

6.  Palm:  The Christian's Assurance

EVANGELISTIC BIBLE STUDIES

FROM THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

BOOK TWO

BABY LEFT HAND:  NEEDS OF A SPIRITUAL BABY

1.  Thumb:  Prayer - I

2.  Pointing Finger:  Word of God - I

3.  Middle Finger:  Forgiveness

4.  Ring Finger:  Family of God

5.  Little Finger:  Testimony

6.  Palm:  Indwelling Holy Spirit

BOOK THREE

YOUTH LEFT HAND: NEEDS OF A SPIRITUAL YOUTH

1.  Thumb:  Prayer - II

2.  Pointing Finger:  Word of God - II

3.  Middle Finger:  Cross

4.  Ring Finger:  Body of Christ

5.  Little Finger:  Witnessing

6.  Palm:  Holy Spirit-Filled Life

BOOK FOUR

BAPTISM AND CHURCH MEMBERSHIP

The Importance of B-A-P-T-I-S-M

Thumb: Believe

Pointing Finger:  Accept, Prove

Middle Finger: Testify

Ring Finger: Instruct

Little Finger: Stewardship

Palm: Membership

BOOK FIVE

YOUTH RIGHT HAND: KEYS TO VICTORY

1.  Thumb:  Body

2.  Pointing Finger:  Mind

3.  Middle Finger:  Emotion

4.  Ring Finger:  Will

5.  Little Finger:  Armor of God

6.  Palm:  The Exchanged Life

BOOK SIX

PARENT LEFT HAND: NEEDS OF A SPIRITUAL PARENT

1.  Thumb: Prayer - III

2.  Pointing Finger: Word – III (Expanded in Book Eight)

3.  Middle Finger:  Stewardship

4.  Ring Finger:  Bride of Christ

5.  Little Finger:  World Mission

6.  Palm:  Gifts of the Holy Spirit (Expanded in Book Nine)

BOOK SEVEN

PARENT RIGHT HAND: Foundations for Ministry

1.  Thumb: The Spirit in Ministry

2.  Pointing Finger:  The Word in Ministry

3.  Middle Finger:  Prayer in Ministry

4.  Ring Finger:  Modeling in Ministry

5.  Little Finger:  Trials in Ministry

6.  Palm:  Goal & Process of Ministry

BOOK EIGHT

BASIC BIBLE TRUTHS

1.  Palm:  TRUTHS ABOUT THE BIBLE

2.  Thumb:  TRUTHS ABOUT GOD

3.  Pointing Finger: TRUTHS ABOUT CREATION

4.  Middle Finger: TRUTHS ABOUT SIN AND SALVATION

5.  Ring Finger: TRUTHS ABOUT THE CHURCH

6.  Little Finger:  TRUTHS ABOUT LAST THINGS

BOOK NINE

SPIRITUAL GIFTS:

DISCOVERING, DEVELOPING, DEPLOYING

1.  Four Wonderful Truths

2.  What are Spiritual Gifts?

3.  Gifts for Serving

4.  Gifts for Teaching

5.  Gifts for Leading

6.  Basic Ministries

7.  Developing and Deploying your Gifts

8.  Affirming Your Gifts and Ministry

9.  NewLife Church Planting Strategy

BOOK TEN

CHI UPSILON

SPECIAL TRAINING FOR YOUTH

1.  CHI and UPSILON are letters from the Greek alphabet.

(a)  CHI (shaped like the English letter X, pronounced like CH) is the first letter of the name of Christ in Greek: CHRISTOS

(b)  UPSILON (shaped like the English letter Y but equivalent to the English letter U) is the first letter in the Greek word UPSISTOS (pronounced [H]UPSISTOS), which means ABOVE ALL.

2.  CHI UPSILON is a Bible study course designed to help Christians, specially young people, to put CHRISTOS [H]UPSISTOS – CHRIST ABOVE ALL – in every area of their life.  When a person receives Christ as Savior and Lord, this commitment is symbolized  by superimposing the letters CHI (X) and UPSILON (Y) on the circle of life; thus dividing the circle of life into SEVEN AREAS (please see diagram below):

·       GOD

·       SELF

·       PARENTS

·       FRIENDS

·       SPECIAL FRIEND

·       PURPOSE

·       SUCCESS

BLOG #11: FOCUS ON YOUR TARGET AUDIENCE

BLOG #11

PREACH AND TEACH TO CHANGE LIVES

Step 4:  FOCUS ON YOUR TARGET AUDIENCE.

The bottom half of our diagram deals the MESSENGER; the top half deals with the HEARER.  In our simple model of communication HEY! YOU… SEE? SO., the HEY underlines the importance of knowing, understanding,  and focusing on your target your audience.  The old illustration of the shotgun versus the rifle is apt.  Some people preach/teach as if they are blasting a shotgun at their audience.  The pellets of the shotgun blast cover a large area and some of those pellets will surely hit someone.  But the focused single shot of the sniper rifle is more effective in hitting the heart.  Someone said, “If you aim at nothing, you will surely hit it.”  Another said, “If you try to talk to everybody, you’ll end up talking to nobody.”

What do we mean by focusing on your target audience?  We mean three things:

·      Focus on the goal of the spiritual journey.

·      Know at what stage of the spiritual journey your audience is at present.

·      Aim to bring your audience one step closer to the goal.

THE GOAL

Let’s begin with the GOAL.  The Christian life is a spiritual journey with a very clear goal or destination.   This goal has two aspects: IN THIS LIFE and BEYOND THIS LIFE.  Please look at our diagram.

(1)  BEYOND THIS LIFE:  PERFECT LIKE CHRIST

This aspect of the goal is beyond this life because it will be accomplished at the Second Coming of Christ.  This will be the culmination of salvation described as glorification, in which the believer will share in the perfect humanity of the resurrected Jesus, in body, soul and spirit.

Ephesians 4:13: Till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.

Romans 8:29-30:  For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.  Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

Philippians 3:20-21: 20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.

(2)  IN THIS LIFE: MATURE IN CHRIST

Every Christian is called by God to grow to full spiritual maturity in this life.  Maturity is not the same as perfection; maturity is achieving your God-given potential (in character and service) in this world short of perfection.

Ephesians 4:12, 14-16:  12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ… 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

Colossians 2:6-7:  6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.

Every time you preach/teach keep your eyes on the goal of the spiritual journey.  Your purpose is not to inform merely, or to encourage merely, or to challenge merely.  Look at every person in your audience and praise God in  your heart and say: “God, thank You this person will become mature in Christ in this life, and perfect like Your Son someday.”

You preach/teach like Paul with all your might because of the greatness of the goal:

Colossians 1:27-29:  27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. 29 To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.

And you must undergird your preaching/teaching with the same fervency of prayer exemplified by the apostle Paul as well as by a local church leader like Epaphras:

Feel the passion of the apostle Paul as a spiritual parent: Galatians 4:19: My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you

Share in Epaphras’ uncompromising commitment to the goal:  Colossians 4:12:  Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.

THREE STAGES

As in the physical life even so in the spiritual life, the Christian goes through three stages in his/her spiritual journey toward maturity: baby stage, youth stage, parent stage.  Please look at our diagram again.

1 John 2:12-14: 12 I write to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake. 13 I write to you, fathers, because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the wicked one. I write to you, little children, because you have known the Father.  14 I have written to you, fathers, because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the wicked one.

A newborn baby is the sweetest thing in the world.  But if that baby stays a baby and does not grow normally toward the next stage of development, parents become concerned as they should be.  In the Philippines we have a name for a person that develops physically to the size of a grown man but whose mind remains that of a baby; we call that person BONDYING (pronounced bon-djing).  We often use that term for fun, but there is nothing more tragic and more sad for parents than for their baby to grow into a BONDYING.

The New Testament strongly warns against believers remaining BONDYINGS.

1 Corinthians 3:1-3:   1 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; 3 for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?

Hebrews 5:12-13: 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.

How do we protect the people in  our care from remaining spiritual BONDYING?  We do this by making sure they get the knowledge, disciplines, skills, attitudes and character qualities that they need at each stage of the spiritual journey.  Again, let’s remind ourselves that we do this through two tracks, TEACHING TRACK and PREACHING TRACK.

Here the TEACHING TRACK is foundational.  The PREACHING TRACK assists as a trouble-shooter.  What do we mean?

TEACHING TRACK

Every group or congregation must have a curriculum of Bible studies, which progresses from evangelism on to the baby stage and the youth stage and the parent stage.  And everyone who becomes a regular attender (and eventually a member) of the congregation must be enrolled in that curriculum.  Remember the Campus Crusades’ TEN STEPS?  The Navigators’ 10 book-series called Lessons in Christian Living?  These lessons are designed to take a person from the start of the spiritual journey up to a certain level of maturity.    This kind of step-by-step, systematic curriculum is the best way – the ONLY WAY – to ensure that every member of the congregation gets the needed teaching and training at every stage of the spiritual journey. 

NOTE: NEXT BLOG

For purposes of illustration, the next blog posting will give the outline of my 10-book  NewLife Discipleship Training Series (available free in word.doc electronic file upon request at pastor.bien@yahoo.com).  The NewLife Series utilizes Hand Illustrations, which contain the knowledge, disciplines, skills, attitudes and character qualities needed at each stage.

BLOG #10: PROCLAIM A CLEAR MESSAGE

BLOG #10

PREACH AND TEACH TO CHANGE LIVES

Step 3:  PROCLAIM A CLEAR MESSAGE (concluded)

We have one more item under Step 3 that we need to discuss.  Then we shall proceed to Step 4.

LAYER 3: REPROOF, CORRECTION, TRAINING, EQUIPPING (cont’d)

(4)  Please look over our diagram again (below).  We have been dealing with Layer 3, and we have discussed REPROOF, CORRECTION, and TRAINING.  Now we will focus our attention on EQUIPPING.  Let’s review our key scripture in 2 Timothy 3:15-17:

15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

(a)  What then is the end product of preaching/teaching when we have faithfully done all the aspects of the ministry the Word as indicated in Levels 1, 2 & 3 (please see diagram)? Let’s review our key scripture in 2 Timothy 3:15-17:

15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

(b)  The end product is the man (and woman) of God (who are) complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.    Let’s note the words: complete, thoroughly equipped.   “artios  fit, complete, capable, sufficient; i.e., able to meet all demands (BAG)….  Exartizo completely outfitted, fully furnished, fully equipped, fully supplied.  The word was used of documents which were completely outfitted or of a wagon which was completely outfitted or of a completely outfitted rescue boat.” (Linguistic Key to the Greek New Testament)

(c)  In our diagram we are putting EQUIPPING as an aspect or activity separate from teaching, reproof, correction and training.  Our key scripture, however, seems to indicate that the state of being complete and equipped is the end result of doing the ministry of Word in its aspects of GOSPEL (SALVATION), DOCTRINE (TEACHING), REPROOF, CORRECTION, and TRAINING.  But we are using the word EQUIPPING to describe “the finishing touches” (if you will) in the preparation of the servant of God who has to fulfill a four-fold role, according to 2 Timothy 2:3-7, 15 (please note the words in bold letters):

3 You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. 5 And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 6 The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops… 15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

·      SOLDIER.  What knowledge, disciplines, skills, attitudes, and character qualities should be possessed by a complete, capable, sufficient, fully equipped soldier disciple?  Ephesians 6:10-18 suggests the answer.

·      ATHLETE. What knowledge, disciplines, skills, attitudes, and character qualities should be possessed by a complete, capable, sufficient, fully equipped athlete disciple? The answer must be based on truths found in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27.

·      FARMER. What knowledge, disciplines, skills, attitudes, and character  qualities should be possessed by a complete, capable, sufficient, fully equipped farmer disciples?  The principles highlighted by the agricultural parables used by Jesus should guide us in formulating an answer (Mark 4).

·      SERVANT OF THE WORD.  What knowledge, disciplines, skills, attitudes, and character qualities should be possessed by a complete, capable, sufficient, fully equipped servant of the Word?  The answer should include solid grounding in the principles, methods and practice of our diagram PREACH & TEACH TO CHANGE LIVES: A FRAMEWORK (2 Timothy 3:15-17).

(d)  Please note:  The complete, fully equipped man and woman of God pictured in 2 Timothy 3:17 is the end product of faithful preaching/teaching of God’s Word in the bottom  half of our diagram; the same person is also the end product in view of the completed growth process in the top half of our diagram.  To that top half we shall now turn our attention.

NOTE:  In our next blog posting we shall proceed to Step 4.