drmattphd

Just Read It!

2010-12-18T21:07:03Z

(Growing Closer to God by Listening to Him Through His Word!)

In 1993 I was challenged by God to read his word, the Bible, cover-to-cover. I quickly wrote a reading schedule and found that by reading about 3 chapters a day, this was ‘doable!’

So, off I went, not knowing what to expect. What happened was … God showed up! BIG TIME! I am still amazed that I had been a Christ-follower for two decades and no one had told me to, ‘Just read it!”

Over the years I have enjoyed an intimate, spiritual walk with God, enjoying hundreds of answers to prayer every quarter, and hundreds of new insights monthly from God’s Word. I have now read it cover-to-cover some 28 times since God’s challenge to me in 1993.

One of the greatest joys for me was to experience the truth of these verses:

“but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.” ” (Jeremiah 9:24, ESV)

That’s my desire for you; that you would be able to say, “I understand and know God.” Is that something you are interested in?

It is my habit to label and file each insight topically for future retrieval for personal growth, training and messages. Currently I have some 20,000 plus topical observations from the Bible that are a direct result of God’s intimate work during my devotional time.

Why Am I Telling You All This?

I would like to invite you on a journey through the Bible in 2011. In fact, I believe you will “Hear from Heaven in 2011” if you will walk with me through this process.

All along the way I will provide help and insight and ask you to share what you are learning as well. We will encourage one another as we read.

In fact, I am dedicating this blog to this journey this year. Every day I will post something short to read and, hopefully it will help you as you read.

Are you willing to join me?

If so, would you just post a quick comment telling me you are going to travel with me through the Bible in 2011?

Tomorrow I will start talking about how to read the Bible so that you can, “Hear from Heaven in 2011!”

From Maintenance to Missional!

2007-11-14T04:09:06Z

I’m inviting you to read this book with me!

I continue to read this incredible book that I believe you should read as well! The book is called "Shaped By God's Heart - The Passion and Practices of Missional Churches" by Milfred Minatrea. ISBN: 0-7879-7111-1

The American Church is losing the battle for our country! This reality is felt in rural centers which cannot keep their doors open, urban areas where the community has transitioned and inside suburbia where sports and activity have replaced devotion and worship.

While the church loses its grip of influence on our country, it also fights an increasingly difficult battle to ‘just keep the doors open.’ As the Church ages and its numbers dwindle in the local parishes, maintenance becomes the focus. While we speak of the need to reach out, the reality is we are too tired and too overwhelmed with the needs of the facilities and the organizational structures we are trapped in to exert another ounce of strength to the Great Commission – at least that is what is seems like!

And then comes Milfred Minatrea in chapter one reminding us we are to be missional: to refocus the energies and efforts of the local church on the Great Commission.

“God desires His church to relish in His glory, share in His glory among the nations, and reflect His glory in word and deed. The church is made in His image, sent on His mission, to be to His glory!” (9) “In the maintenance church, both clergy and laity lose sight of their obligation to make disciples.” (9)

When we reread the Great Commission, we see right away what he means … “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. Matthew 28:19-20 (NKJV)

Hence the essence of our focus is to be upon the Great Commission. The church’s fundamental task is to MAKE DISCIPLES.

While we may be very mission minded in our local church, we must return to the mission of Jesus Christ individually and corporately. Minatrea marks the difference as follows:

“The mission-minded church emphasizes sending and supporting; the missional church emphasizes being and doing.” In other words, we must individually and corporately become the church through our own personal activities and actions within our personal spheres of life influence.

The mission-minded church is representative; the missional church is participative. As this becomes a reality in our midst we see the change from the taking of offerings and listening to missionaries, to becoming the missionaries in our neighborhoods, work places and schools; eventually resulting in our traveling to those outside our locale to share the love and message of Jesus.

The mission-minded church perceives mission as one expression of its ministry’ the missional church perceives mission as the essence of its existence. When we get a handle on this, we see that the Great Commission is our life purpose – as a person and as a church community. Everything else must align itself to the success of the mission of Jesus.

Obviously this type of transformation begins on a ‘quantum level’ within our souls. If you would like to explore this in more detail, please read some of the articles at www.firstbaptistpv.com/transformation.

Until next time, please leave a comment and grab a copy of the book "Shaped By God's Heart - The Passion and Practices of Missional Churches" by Milfred Minatrea. ISBN: 0-7879-7111-1. This is a great read!

Shaped By God's Heart - A Book You Should Read!

2007-11-07T05:21:21Z

Check out the introduction!

I am reading this incredible book! I believe you should read this book as well. The book is called "Shaped By God's Heart - The Passion and Practices of Missional Churches" by Milfred Minatrea.

This book focuses on the missional church: a reproducing community of authentic disciples, being equipped as missionaries sent by God, to live and proclaim His Kingdom in their world (xvi)." I am fascinated as I read the introduction and see the similarities with the early church in Acts. Like the first century, these churches are "living organisms passionate in their commitment, and exceptional in their practice of focusing attention outward, beyond themselves (xvii)."

How many times have we - as pastors and church leaders - longed for a church that was more than a social club? How many times have we longed to see our people passionately birthing new and growing lives for Christ? If the things spoken of in this book can become a reality in our midst (where ever each and every one of us are located) what incredible joy this would bring to the Master of the Church!

Minatrea rightly concludes that "if churches are to accomplish God's purpose, they must do more than apply marketing principles; they must yearn for the vastness and endlessness of relationship with Him." This book promises to "encourage you to ask a spiritual question: 'What is God's desire for our church? What is on His heart?' That should prompt a strategic question: "What would He have us to do, as individuals and as a body?' Only then can you ask: 'How should we structure our ministry to best accomplish those strategies?'"

Finally a voice drawing us back to the Sacred Text! Since the Spirit in the driver of the works of the living God on planet Earth, it brings fresh hope to this servant attempting to find the path trodden so long ago with such amazing effects!

I am looking forward to reporting more from this exciting read in the days ahead ... until then, let me encourage you to get a copy and follow along!

Perhaps we can enter a dialogue about the book and about bringing transformation to our churches!

Amazed by God's Incredible Love!

2007-09-02T23:16:14Z

Wow! As I came home from worship this morning I was amazed by God's incredible love for us. He so longs for us to follow Him and enjoy being the "object of His love."

How can I, or anyone of us, repay such unfailing love? May my life be an offering of incredible sacrifice for Him today. He deserves nothing less for His compassion, mercy and grace.

To God be the glory!

Subscribe to My New Podcast!

2007-08-13T19:06:49Z

I am excited to announce my new podcast entitled, Transformed! It is a weekly podcast of my messages from the First Baptist Church of Palos Verdes, CA. Join me each Sunday as I lead the congregation to transform through the love of God.

You can find my new podcast - Transformed! at: http://transformed.mypodcast.com

You may subscribe to my new podcast using my website: http://eaglesinleadership.org/2007/podcast/

For more information about our ministry check out www.firstbaptistpv.com.

Thank you for considering subscribing!

Dr. Matthew Smith

Now that I am 50!

2007-08-07T02:55:16Z

I turned 50 on August 2nd, and I can't be more excited. God has blessed my life in ways I cannot even believe. To think that a printer's son from rural Wisconsin could have become a servant of the Most High God is amazing in and of it self. God has truly been faithful to me over these past three decades of ministry and five decades of life.

Over the past month I have been thinking about my next chapter of ministry and life. If the next 15-20 years allows me to serve the Lord Jesus with all of my heart, I want to do so with His pleasure and favor.

In order to accomplish this goal I began to think about what I must become in order to "age gracefully." Meditating on this thought I began to consider people I have known who were 50+ and their character. Over the past 28 years of ministry I have noticed that the soul of many men and women seem to "dry up" and take on some very negative qualities. As opposed to how they have become, I began to see God's heart for the next chapter of my life.

• While older people often become self absorbed, I wish to become Christ-centered.

• While older people often become critical of others, I wish to become encouraging.

• While older people often become judgmental of anything that doesn't suit their fancy, I wish to become helpful and vital to the success of others.

• While older people often become reclusive, I wish to become available to others and allow them access to my life.

• While older people often become controlling, I wish to become empowering of others.

With the rest of my life, I wish to live only for Christ and His cause, His body the Church in these last days and Heaven and an abundance of rewards.

I am reminded of the old saying, "Only one life, 'twill soon be past; only what's done for Christ will last." It is my earnest desire to personify the heart of this truth. I can only believe this is possible using King David's blueprint for life: "You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore." Psalms 16:11 (NKJV)

To God be the glory!

God Initiates a Relationship With Us!

2007-07-30T03:57:22Z

"But you are my witnesses, O Israel!" says the LORD. "And you are my servant. You have been chosen to know me, believe in me, and understand that I alone am God. There is no other God; there never has been and never will be." Isaiah 43:10 (NLT)

As I read this passage today I was again taken aback with the reality of God's great desire to develop a deep relationship with us! Think it through with me for a moment.

God chose us to know Him - He is the initiator of a relationship with us.

When I consider that the purpose of my life is to know God I thrill! God has done so much to make it possible for me to know Him - from sending His Son to restore our relationship to preserving His word so that I can understand how that relationship will thrive!

God chose us to believe in Him - He is the demonstrator of faithfulness to us.

In order for me to believe in Him, I must trust Him. And this is the spectacular part of this whole thought: God is constantly revealing Himself to us! He reveals Himself in His Word - the Bible; again, through His Son, the Lord Jesus and continuously through the Spirit of God. He guides, leads and demonstrates Himself each and every day, if we will but just listen to Him with an open heart.

God chose us to understand that He alone is God - He is the revealer of His essence to us.

Through this entire process, God is showing us His nature ... His compassion, His grace, His mercy ... as we walk throughout the days of our week. While we are bruised and banged along the way, God's heart of love constantly soothes our wounds. When we are left in a quandary, it is the wisdom and understanding of our Father in Heaven which is so freely available (James 1.5-8). At each and every turn God meets us and reveals Himself to be the sufficiency we so desperately need and want.

Enjoy your walk with God this week and remember He longs for you to know Him!