Leadership devotions: Fresh Expressions - Isaiah 56:11

Isaiah 56:11    They are dogs with mighty appetites; they never have enough. They are shepherds who lack understanding; they all turn to their own way, each seeks his own gain. 

Yesterday I was reading a quote from Bishop Graham Cray who is an Anglican and a leader of the newly formed “Fresh Expressions” organization in the United Kingdom. His quote was something that I heartily agree with, because it addresses the current leadership crisis in the Western church.

Bishop Cray stated, "When I was ordained 37 years ago it took a particularly inept Minister to shrink a church. All of that has changed. It now takes an exceptional minister to prevent decline."

Sadly, I have found this to be true on both sides of the Atlantic. Seminaries and divinity colleges are producing inept pastors who go from church to church creating havoc, or who cannot stay in the ministry beyond five years. I’ve even seen one pastor be given three different churches by the same Presbytery and in each case the congregation diminished. The same pastor is a big voice at Presbytery when it comes to making decisions for new church developments!

In my opinion, the leadership crisis that we face can only be averted by raising up strong leaders who know, believe, and teach the Word of God. There are too many unsound preachers and self-serving seekers in our pulpits, or as Isaiah put it so succinctly, “They are shepherds who lack understanding; they all turn to their own way, each seeks his own gain.” 

So what can we do about it? We can start to pray for leaders to be raised up in the next generation of Christians who will stop the decline and re-grow the Faith. There are some great young people in our congregations who may be called by God to do this. If that is the case, then our work is to encourage, support, and guide them so that they will become strong and faithful Christian leaders to their peers.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, You called for leaders from all walks of life to grow the Faith by establishing Your Church. We pray for those of our young people who are feeling called to ministry and we ask that You empower them with Your Word and strengthen them with Your Holy Spirit. In Your Sacred Name, we earnestly pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest Easter drawings called “Star Fall.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7202/6811333724_b8573e54b6_b.jpg

Easter Sunday devotion: Fact or Fantasy? Matthew 27:64

Matthew 27:64            “So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.”

 

This last deception will be worse than the first.

Do we realize that if Jesus didn’t rise from the dead, then all of our faith is a tragic lie and inhumane deception? Millions of people will have lived and died for their faith in Christ, but if He was not resurrected, then their lives and deaths will have been in vain. In my opinion, to actually be a Christian is to put all of your belief eggs in that one basket of faith; to be a disciple of Christ means that you truly have to believe that He rose from the dead.

The relevance of our faith all comes down to that one fact in history. If the resurrection never occurred, then Christians could be called the most stupid people in the whole universe. However, if the resurrection did occur, then the converse is actually true - Christians are the smartest people who have ever existed because their faith in Jesus will prove to be the most successful and eternally rewarding belief that has ever been given to humanity.

So, the question of faith seems to be this: either Jesus was deluded and Christianity is the biggest deception in history, or Jesus rose again and our mission is to broadcast that Good News to our families, friends, acquaintances, colleagues, neighbors, and even strangers. The choice about what we do with the Resurrection is ours; the challenge of its truth comes solely from God.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, as Christians we believe that You are the Savior of the world because You died for our sins and rose from the dead. We thank You for Your mercy and forgiveness. We praise You for Your glorious resurrection and heavenly ascension. We eagerly anticipate Your Coming again. In Your Holy Name, we expectantly pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment about today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest Christ drawings. It’s called “The Baptism” and is a crayon drawing of Christ being baptized in the Jordan with the Holy Spirit descending upon Him. If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7194/6924951609_4fc7a8a94e_b.jpg

Lent devotion: 700 Years - Isaiah 53:11

Isaiah 53:11    After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. 

I am constantly amazed at how much the descriptions of the Suffering Servant in Isaiah 53 are perfectly matched with Christ’s suffering and execution. There’s about seven hundred years between the prophet’s writing and the crucifixion of Jesus. It’s more than just coincidental; it’s divinely predestined and appointed by God.

I like the sacred and spiritual lead up to Easter. It’s a whole lot more meaningful than the commercial chaos that we now call Christmas. Believers get time to focus on their Christian faith and when it is done properly and consistently, the season of Lent helps us to lean upon God in the midst of our own issues and crises, pressures and problems. It’s a wonderful way to draw nearer to God. It’s a special time to commit ourselves to His Suffering Servant, the Crucified Christ.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, You suffered because You served God completely. Your agonizing death paid the absolute price of our sins. Because of Your obedience and sacrifice, we can be among the many that will be restored to God. Help us to draw nearer to You each day. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is part of a Good Friday drawing that John is working on, which is based upon the Seven Last Words of Christ from the Cross. If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7194/6923675459_89c9fd470b_b.jpg

Lent Devotions: Faith for Life

Matthew 27:1  Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people came to the decision to put Jesus to death. 

Today in Iran, Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani is awaiting execution. He was found guilty of apostasy by an Iranian Sharia Court because he converted to Christianity from Islam and preached the Gospel. His appeal was rejected and the rest of the world is waiting to see if the Iranian government will carry out the sentence. A good and godly man may die unjustly for believing in Christ and applying his faith.

C.S. Lewis once said, “I didn’t go to religion to make me happy. I always knew a bottle of Port would do that. If you want a religion to make you feel really comfortable, I certainly don’t recommend Christianity.”  Our faith is not a cozy system of beliefs, it’s a costly one. Christians all over the world are losing everything – family, homes, churches, careers, and even their lives – for sharing the same beliefs that we possess. The difference is that our beliefs tend to be influenced by our life-style choices; for others like Youcef, their beliefs involve the choice between life and death.

When the decision was made by the chief priests and elders to have Jesus executed, did they ever regret what they chose to do? Christ’s death did not put an end to His ministry; it only expanded it beyond Jerusalem and out into the whole world. They thought that they were saving their own religion, but in historical reality, they were giving birth to a brand new faith which would eclipse their own.

As we focus upon Christ and His mission throughout Lent, let’s also remember that the persecution of His Church still takes place in other lands. May we never take our faith for granted or look for it to be comfortable.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, we have open our hearts to You and call ourselves Christians. At times, we bear an uncomfortable cross and find that our faith confronts our most cherished choices. Help us to be aware of the cost of our beliefs and keep us from compromising Your sacred commands. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian church in Knoxville, Tennessee. if you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest drawings based upon the PCUSA symbol. It’s entitled “A New Day.” If you would like to view a larger version of the drawing, please click the following link: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7186/6857135507_2823395f41_b.jpg

Lent Devotions: Lent Begins at 40 - Isaiah 51:11

Isaiah 51:11    The ransomed of the LORD will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.

Today is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. Millions of Christians around the world will attend worship services to have the sign of the Cross placed upon their forehead using the ashes of last year’s Palm branches. They do this as an act of penance, beginning a forty day journey of humility and contrition, in order to prepare their hearts and souls, bodies and minds for Holy Week and Easter.

It’s also a time when self-importance gives way to a focus upon God. Self-centered sin is cast side, to be replaced with a deeply spiritual awareness of who Jesus was, is, and ever shall be.

Lent begins at 40. The ashes represent sorrow and shame. The forty days are symbolic of Christ’s fasting in the wilderness just before He began His incredible three year journey of preaching, teaching, and healing. The whole season of Lent is meant to bring us closer to God by aligning our thoughts and acts, our words and ways with those of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. If we are successful in maintaining this focus, then Holy Week and Easter will become incredible too.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, as we begin this forty day journey of Lent, be with us step by step and day by day. Allow us the blessing of Your presence and guidance over everything that we think, do, or say. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is a bulletin cover designed by John for Lent and/or Holy Week. It is called “Purple Reign.” If you would like to view a larger version of the drawing, please click on the following link: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7050/6913397537_14e0996d59_b.jpg

Shrove Tuesday devotion: Reveling and rebuilding - Isaiah 51:3

Isaiah 51:3      The LORD will surely comfort Zion and will look with compassion on all her ruins; he will make her deserts like Eden, her wastelands like the garden of the LORD. Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the sound of singing. 

Tonight the streets of New Orleans will be full of party goers, revelers, and celebrants. People will be singing loudly, joyfully, and drunkenly because Mardi Gras has come to the Big Easy. It’s a remarkable occasion and amazing turnaround for a city that was left devastated and desolate when the levees broke after Hurricane Katrina. What was once a city of destruction has now become a place of re-construction. The people have a right to make merry and be joyful; they have worked hard to rebuild and to restore.

Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday, Shrove Tuesday or Pancake Day always takes on the eve before Lent begins. Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday when Christians all over the world are supposed to begin a six week season of penance and sacrifice, humility and contrition. It’s a time to remember that we sin constantly and because of that Christ has to die for us. It’s meant to be a somber time and a quiet month and a half of sobriety, steadfastness, and sanctification.

But Lent is also a time of rebuilding our faith and restoring our confidence in God’s salvation. It’s a wonderful season of redemption and liberation, reconnection and love through Christ. Yes, we all sorrowfully know that we are sinners, but we also rejoice that Jesus is our Savior and that He alone can bring us back to God’s kingdom, favor, and love.

Sin may have wrecked our lives, but Christ can reclaim our souls.

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, thank You for this special time of year, which is celebratory and somber, full of self-reflection and divine compassion. Open our hearts to Your ways and help us to meaningfully prepare ourselves for the passion and the pain, as well as the joy and jubilation of Easter. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest images for Mardi Gras. It’s called “Mardi Gras Masks.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7004/6806639485_cee4d33105_b.jpg

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