Run With Horses

Are you preparing for future ministry? - Ep.225

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INTRO
Today on Run With Horses, today we look at some things you can be doing now to prepare for ministry in the future.
 
My name is Norman and my goal is to help you Run Your Race Well, not just Surviving but Thriving as a Disciple of Jesus! There are a LOT of things you could do with your life, but I don’t think anything compares with following Jesus and joining Him on His mission of bringing Hope to the nations.
Thanks for including me in your journey!
 
Five Foundations for Ministry
 
As a Christian following Jesus, contemplating the role of ministry in your life is essential. Regardless of whether you aspire to become a deacon, pastor, church planter, missionary or Sunday school teacher, it's vital that you grow consistently along the journey. Accepting these roles means embracing change in your life. Here are Five areas to consider as you build a foundation for future service.
 
First is Character Development; strive to emulate Christ’s character by getting to know Him and His teachings and allowing Him to transform you. We are changed by the people we hand around with. Spend a lot of time in God’s Word and it changes you. You see your selfish desires more clearly and desire true humility and godliness. Spend time with God in prayer, study His Word and make a special place in your life for fellow believers. Traits to develop? Compassion, Forgiveness, Humility, Patience, Gentleness, etc. Really the fruit of the Spirit should mark your life.
Gal. 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
 
Second are Core Values: It’s essential that your core values align with Jesus. You need to learn what Jesus prioritized during His time on earth. You should develop the same priorities and consistently live out these priorities in all your choices. Your life is a series of small choices that reveal what you really care about. Your priorities form an integral part of your foundation as a Christian leader. Make sure they align with God’s priorities. Jesus valued Obedience to the Father, Peace, Relationships, Faith, A commitment to the ministry of Reconciliation, God’s Glory and the list goes on. Read the Gospels to see how Jesus spent His time and energy, and even His Life.
 
Third are Competencies or Skills: Identify the necessary skills for your chosen ministry path and devise strategies on how to acquire them. Engage with those already serving in such roles to gain insights on what skills you can be working on now. Every role has different requirements. As you grow spiritually you will gain new insight into ministry as well as new skills that will help you serve better. Public speaking, teaching, leading a small group effectively, leading music, or even using the churches riding lawnmower. These are all skills that might benefit you as you pursue God’s call on you life and make yourself available to serve.
 
The Fourth area revolves around Experience: If you aim to become a Sunday School teacher or Deacon for instance, prior participation Sunday School and church business meetings provides at least a small foundation to build on when you consider stepping into a leadership role. Being part of the church life equips you with practical knowledge which can be utilized when stepping into new roles. I encourage you to volunteer and help out in many different kinds of ministry as you are considering your gifting and role in the body of Christ. Serving in your churches food pantry to going with the youth group on a missions trip. All of these little things add up and help clarify your place in the body when you are looking for ways to serve others.
 
Lastly comes Commitment; Serving others requires sacrificing personal wants for the cause of Christ and his people. A leader of any kind will be demonstrating increased commitment along with increased responsibility. The willingness to make some sacrifices for the good of others is a key factor in choosing leaders. Commit to serving others in small ways now as preparation for greater service later.
 
These five area are all important if you're considering ministry because ultimately being like Jesus entails serving others like He did.
OUTRO
Thanks for joining me today! Check out runwithhorses.net for show notes and past shows. Write me at norman@runwithhorses.net if you have comments or questions. Join our facebook community and tell a friend if you have found this show helpful! Keep Running!

Should Single Men go as Missionaries? - Ep. 224

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Today on Run With Horses, we look at a question from a listener, the topic? Single missionaries!
 
THE QUESTION: Is it generally ill-advised for single men to go as missionaries to another country? My logic behind this is that I have seen married couples and families being missionaries abroad, as well as single women, but the only single men I know serving as missionaries abroad are/were engaged when serving. I know single men CAN serve as missionaries abroad, but is it appropriate (SHOULD they?)? I have always assumed that single male missionaries are practically non-existent because the sexual temptations could be too dangerous to risk sending a single guy.
Excellent question! To start this article has some good thoughts from a single male missionary.
https://omf.org/us/five-pieces-of-advice-for-single-men-looking-to-get-involved-in-missions/
 
There are a lot of ways to look at this and I am sure my take is not unique or even the best. But here are some thoughts. Short answer, Yes, they should!
 
Now for the long answer.
First, God calls all of us to be disciple makers. That means pursuing God first in all areas of life. Anyone considering missions should be an active, growing follower of Jesus. I would really want that person to be involved in a community of believers and have multiple relationships where ongoing accountability is normal.
 
Second, Anyone sensing God’s leading in their lives towards ministry of any kind should be talking to their pastor and the spiritual leaders in their life to get advice and direction. Since I believer God has called all of us to ministry, using our gifts for the building up of the church and serving as ambassadors to the world, This step should include every believer!
 
Third, I believe everyone pursuing ministry would do well to seek out a mentor, or multiple mentors to help them navigate some of the pathways available to them as they train and prepare for the future. One such mentor that might be a challenge to find but who would be valuable for the young man looking at going to the mission field as a single, would be an older single missionary. Statistically single men are much less common than single men on the mission field.
 
Let’s pause in our thoughts on preparing and going as a single man to address the WHY are they so uncommon?
No easy answer that I can find! Lot’s of people have asked the question though. Here is an example article by Brooks Buser.
https://radical.net/article/where-are-the-men-in-missions/
 
One quote from the article. “Two-thirds of missionaries are married couples, the other third are single women, the rest are single men.”
Single men aren’t going to the mission field, single women are. Buser mentions pornography, student debt and getting married as three common reasons. I have seen all three of those keep people from ministry. But I wonder if a bigger issue is not that we aren’t preparing our young men to follow Jesus. The world calls them to make money, have fun, look for adventure and change the world. I fear that too often the church doesn’t call them at all. If too few of us are answering the call to deny ourselves, pick up our cross and follow Jesus, too few of us are influencing the next generation.
 
The adventure and changing the world rhetoric of the world can’t hold up to the life changing message of Jesus. Talk about a life of value! The mission of reconciliation is an eternal mission that surpasses all else in scope and impact. It is also fun, and filled with adventure but that’s not the point.
 
Why are single men not on the mission field? They aren’t in our churches. They aren’t in our small groups. They aren’t being challenged to give their lives for the greatest mission ever undertaken. If more men are actively engaged in disciple making, I believe the process of spiritual growth would lead more of them to consider missions.
 
Back to getting ready to go as a single missionary.
Fourth, A single missionary, male or female, should plan to be intentional about pursuing healthy relationships before leaving and after arriving on the field. Ideally, all single missionaries would be part of a multi-member local team. Two or three families working together with a single or two would provide support and help along the way.
 
Fifth, whether in person or online, a single missionary, as well as married missionaries!, should have people who know them and are part of an accountability and support team.
 
Single missionaries are a valuable part of the missions community and have a lot to give to the work. There are certainly dangers, but that is true for us all. Intentional pursuit of righteousness and a firm connection with the church family go along way to keep all of us on track. Add in a healthy dose of humility and a solid spiritual foundation to keep the focus in the right place.
 
Check out runwithhorses.net for show notes and past shows. Write me at norman@runwithhorses.net if you have comments or questions. Join our facebook community and tell a friend if you have found this show helpful! Keep Running!

God’s Grace vs My Stewardship?

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INTRO
Today on Run With Horses, we consider our responsibility and God’s plan – That includes stewardship, God’s sovereignty and God’s grace.
 
My name is Norman and my goal is to help you Run Your Race Well, not just Surviving but Thriving as a Disciple of Jesus! There are a LOT of things you could do with your life, but I don’t think anything compares with following Jesus and joining Him on His mission of bringing Hope to the nations.
Thanks for including me in your journey!
 
I need a better system for keeping track of emails. I have folders but somehow I have too many and they don’t work as well as they should. I need a new system. Any good ideas out there? Let me know! norman@runwithhorses.net
 
Susan and I in the car, talking about life. Stewardship, responsibility and expectations came up. Not using those exact words but the topics were definitely there.
Here is an important thought we focused on. Being a good steward does not guarantee you good results. We don’t like that do we!
We feel like we earned a good result by making good choices in life.
 
However, your faithfulness doesn’t obligate God to act in a certain way.
You can exercise and eat right but still get cancer or die in a car wreck. Does that mean you shouldn’t be a good steward? No! It means God is the ultimate authority and you can only be a good steward of what HE give you. It’s hard to be satisfied with less than we feel we deserve.
 
It’s also true in sharing the gospel. We can pray and share the gospel faithfully and still not see that dearly loved friend or family member turn to Jesus. It’s important to remember the three parts – my part, your part and God’s part. God never fails in his part. And even when we do our part, each person is responsible themselves before God. It’s hard for us to accept that sometimes.
 
Let’s take a sticky subject these days. Politics. Your vote for president doesn’t guarantee he will win or that if he wins he will act as you believe he should. Romans 13 comes to mind here. This is one of the passages we were talking about in the car.
How does this phrase strike you? “The authorities that exist are appointed by God.”
 
Proverbs 21:1 The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.
It seems to me that we like these kinds of verses when we like the leaders we have. We begin to wonder if God made a mistake somehow when we don’t like them!
 
My part, your part and God’s part. And then there’s Grace. Thankfully grace covers a lot of me failing to do my part well. I am so thankful that Grace covers when my strength is weak and my mind is dull. Like Paul I always want to be confident that His grace is sufficient.
 
And that means His Grace is sufficient for you. Somehow is is harder for us to accept mistakes in other people’s lives than in our own. God’s Grace is sufficient for me but you better watch yourself! Oru critical, judgmental nature pops right out when others stumble.
 
An important part of our spiritual journey is realizing that God’s Grace is sufficient for me, and for you. I have to be a willing vehicle for God’s Grace in your life. Instead of Judging, bringing a helping hand and a word of encouragement knowing that I will need it tomorrow.
 
The spiritual life is never boring! There are always new lessons to learn and new steps of Faith to take as we follow Jesus. Be a good steward of what God gives you, trust Him in the details and give Grace to those around you. And Keep Running!

How do you find a healthy church? - Ep.222

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INTRO
Today on Run With Horses, we are looking at the church, the Bride of Christ. What does a healthy one look like?
 
My name is Norman and my goal is to help you Run Your Race Well, not just Surviving but Thriving as a Disciple of Jesus! There are a LOT of things you could do with your life, but I don’t think anything compares with following Jesus and joining Him on His mission of bringing Hope to the nations.
Thanks for including me in your journey!
 
So how do you find a good church to be part of? Not always so easy!
In some parts of the world there are few choices so it means sticking with one that may be less than ideal in many cases. In other context, most anywhere in the USA for example, there are too many choices. It is hard to even visit most of them! So where do you begin?
 
I am old fashioned so I always begin with people. Ask someone you know in the area, a fellow believer, to give you recommendations. Ask believers who may be familiar with the area or have family there to give you recommendations. At the least you can rule out some options and put an asterisk by others.
 
I believe Baptist doctrine is intended to be an honest attempt to be Biblical doctrine so Baptist or Baptistic churches will be my first stop. With naming of churches being what it is these days that doesn’t mean Baptist will be in the name! Many Baptist churches, Bible churches, Community churches, and as well as non-denominational churches have similar if not identical doctrinal statements. I would like to see a churches doctrinal statement but the difficulty comes in when you begin visiting churches to see how they live it out. Baptist doctrine does not always equal Biblical practice unfortunately.
 
A church website can tell you who a church is, beliefs and creeds, etc. A website can show you a lot of what a church does, service times, small groups, counseling ministry, etc. A website cannot really let you get to know a church. That takes time with the church, the people who make up the local body.
 
So what do you look for?
 
Mark Dever wrote a book, The 9 Marks of a Healthy Church. The 9 Marks he gives are: 1. Expositional Preaching, 2. Biblical Theology, 3. The Gospel, 4. A Biblical Understanding of Conversion, 5. A Biblical Understanding of Evangelism, 6. A Biblical Understanding of Church Membership, 7. Biblical Church Discipline, 8. Concern for Discipleship and Growth, 9. Biblical Church Leadership.
 
The IMB has an article on the 12 Characteristics of a Healthy Church.
https://www.imb.org/2016/08/31/2016083112-characteristics-healthy-church/
The article actually precedes all of these with the word Biblical! I suppose it is good not to assume anything!
The 12 Characteristics they list are: Evangelism, Discipleship, Membership, Leadership, Teaching and Preaching, Ordinances, Worship, Prayer, Fellowship, Accountability and Discipline, Giving, Mission
 
All of these are good to think about but they are long lists. I want to emphasize a few specific things.
 
Foundation of God’s Word:
The bible is taught and is followed. There should be a real love for God and His word. Jesus is lifted up as the standard for our behavior, attitudes and relationships. God’s Word is lived out by His people. There is a commitment to do what it says.
 
Emphasis on Active Obedience:
Hand in hand with the biblical foundation in the teaching is an emphasis on living it out. Practical daily obedience and a willingness to follow Jesus are encouraged and supported. Each person is challenged to be a Berean, actively reading the bible themselves and making personal application. The goal should be for every believer to be a self-feeding Christian who is engaged with others on the mission of Jesus to bring God’s message of reconciliation to the world.
 
Training and Encouragement toward being a Disciple Maker:
Following Jesus results in people pouring out their lives for others. Sacrificially giving time and resources to see the Family of God grow in maturity and faith is natural and necessary. Members are motivated, trained and released to serve the church and the community.
 
Focus on Life and Ministry outside of the building:
Church life is the life of the people, not the service times printed in the bulletin. Relationships are encouraged, living the “one another’s” is practiced. Small groups are utilized to train leaders, share the gospel, build up new believers and provide ongoing accountability and encouragement for all.
 
The command to Love one another is lived out:
Forgiveness, confession, sharing testimonies of God’s grace and the like are common and considered natural. Perfection is not expected, mistakes are. All kinds of people with all kinds of problems are welcomed and embraced with Grace and Love.
 
It’s all good to look for a good church to be a part of. It is a task to take seriously. Just don’t look for a perfect church. It doesn’t exist. Look for a church you can contribute to and help to be the church God intends it to be. Invest in the lives of others in the church. Commit to be a giver to the church. Make ti your goal to build up every member and to make Jesus the center of every relationship. The church is, and will remain, a messy group to be a part of. But God loves His bride and we should too!
OUTRO
Thanks for joining me today! Check out runwithhorses.net for show notes and past shows. Write me at norman@runwithhorses.net if you have comments or questions. Join our facebook community and tell a friend if you have found this show helpful! Keep Running!

My Spiritual Life is Stuck! Help! - Ep. 221

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INTRO
Today on Run With Horses, we are looking at what to do when your spiritual life is in a rut.
 
My name is Norman and my goal is to help you Run Your Race Well, not just Surviving but Thriving as a Disciple of Jesus! There are a LOT of things you could do with your life, but I don’t think anything compares with following Jesus and joining Him on His mission of bringing Hope to the nations.
Thanks for including me in your journey!
 
Have you ever reached a spot in your spiritual life where you felt you just couldn’t manage to make a single step forward? I think it happens to many of us ore often that we would like to admit. In the past few shows we have been looking at the process of spiritual growth and you may feel like you just aren’t making any progress. Today, I want to give you some thoughts about how to get past those roadblocks and get your spiritual life moving again.
 
First, lets examine a few reasons people get bogged down.
1.Sin that hasn’t been dealt with. This is a big one. Gotta deal with sin, ASAP.
2.Unhealthy relationships. The people you hand around with make it easy or hard to follow Jesus.
3.Lazy/ Busy – You know what to do but can’t seem to get it done. This can often be a symptom of misplace priorities.
4.Doubt/ Discouragement – A little mistake or slip here and there can steal your confidence and make you consider your ability more than God’s Grace.
5. Earthly Desires – We all easily get distracted by the things of this world. Promotion at work, the approval of others, new “things” are all competing for the place Jesus demands.
 
Obviously not a complete list. You need to do the personal hard work of examining your own life to determine where you are aligned with God and where you are pursuing something else.
 
Next, lets consider the obvious tools that we need to always be using to build a healthy spiritual life.
Here is me, the broken record, telling you that God has given you three things specifically to help you grow. You have heard this hear before and will hear it again!
 
1. God’s Word - There is no way to really grow without increased time with God which equates to time in His Word. Read the Bible. Meditate on it. Memorize it. Think about it. Talk about it to others. This is foundational to a healthy spiritual life.
2.Holy Spirit – God has given you the Holy Spirit to guide you, help you understand the Bible and to change you from the inside out. When you don’t know what to pray, trust that the Holy Spirit does, and pray!
3. The Church – Hey that church takes lots of hard knocks. It is definitely not perfect, but then, how could it be, it is full of former enemies of God who are still learning what it means to be part of His family!
As a resource for spiritual growth the church will include music that points you toward God, books, sermons, podcast and videos that teach, encourage and motivate you to keep on keeping on.
 
Now, lets look at a few tools you should have in your spiritual toolbox to pull out when you need them.
Spiritual Disciplines -
1. Disciplines of Abstinence:
Solitude: Time away from people, leaving more space for God.
Silence: Not speaking and going to a quiet place to clear a space for God to reach us.
Fasting: Going without food (or something else like media) for a time. Replacing the food or media with more of God’s Word and Prayer.
Sabbath: Intentional rest in God’s person and provision.
 
2. Disciplines of Engagement:
Bible Reading: might include Bible study, Scripture meditation, and praying God’s Word.
Worship: Praising God in words, music, or silence. (privately or in community.)
Prayer: Talking with God about what we’re experiencing and doing together.
Fellowship: Intentionally seeking out believers to encourage and speak with about spiritual things.
Service: Humbly serving God by overflowing with his love and compassion to others, especially those in need. (Also tithing and giving.) A great way to “get out of your head”.
Finally, lets consider how to make a plan that will give us structure and intentionality as we face our spiritual battles.
If possible, identify the main area you are struggling with right now. Are there any obvious reasons or ways to address it? Ask a good Christian friend to help you evaluate your life and current lifestyle. Talking through your choices with a friend who want to see you grow may be the best way to see your own life more clearly.
 
Make sure you have a consistent plan to include the basic activities of the spiritual life in your week, every week. Have a bible reading plan, journal what you are learning, share it with a friend. Pray throughout the day every day and invite God into every activity. Put the church on your calendar, not just the service times but plan to reach out to others throughout the week. Ask your church family to pray for you.
Consider the spiritual disciplines and make a space in your life for those you believe would help you given where you are right now. Don’t be afraid to try something you haven’t done before!
 
KEY POINT: Invite a friend to go through this time with you and pray for you as you apply these tools to your life. You are not meant to walk the Christian life alone! That is a recipe for stagnation and a nasty spiritual fall.
 
Most of all, keep it up. Persevere. The reward is worth the struggle. Remember that God promises to be with you in the middle of every trial and He is working in you to complete the work HE started!
OUTRO
Thanks for joining me today! Check out runwithhorses.net for show notes and past shows. Write me at norman@runwithhorses.net if you have comments or questions. Join our facebook community and tell a friend if you have found this show helpful! Keep Running!

Spiritual Maturity and Reproduction

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Spiritual Maturity and Reproduction
 
INTRO
Today on Run With Horses, we look at Stage Three of our spiritual growth. We are growing to become disciple makers in Jesus’ footsteps.
 
My name is Norman and my goal is to help you Run Your Race Well, not just Surviving but Thriving as a Disciple of Jesus! There are a LOT of things you could do with your life, but I don’t think anything compares with following Jesus and joining Him on His mission of bringing Hope to the nations. Welcome to Run With Horses and Thanks for including me in your journey!
 
Today’s focus -The Third Stage – Spiritual Maturity and Reproduction
 
We looked at the First Stage – Spiritual Identity and Foundations
Learning who you are in God’s sight, developing your character and learning the basics of the Christian life.
 
We looked at the Second Stage – Spiritual Sacrifice and Service
Learning how to relate in a biblical way to others, applying the “one another’s” of the NT in our relationships and learning the meaning and value of sacrifice as we serve others.
 
And now, drum roll please .. we are ready for the Third Stage – Spiritual Maturity and Reproduction
What are we talking about? We are continuing to build on the foundation of the first two stages. Remember that we never leave them. You should be growing in your understanding of who you are in Christ, of what He accomplished on the cross, of the work that He is doing in and through His church. You are continuing to learn about and practice your gifts, building up the body of Christ intentionally as you serve and take real joy in seeing others grow.
 
Know and maintain biblical priorities.
Came to seek and to save lost. To do Father’s Will.
Keep the main thing the main thing. Let’s keep it real simple.
Hebrews 11: 6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Matt.22:36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”
37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
 
Now the real question is how do you do that! And that is the process of Spiritual Growth and Sanctification. The Christian life is the answer to that question. It is the culmination of all our choices and life activities. Our life proves that we have Faith and love God and our neighbor or it gives evidence against us.
Think it’s easy? Paul didn’t!
Romans 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. 19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.
 
In the third stage of Spiritual Growth we recognize the reality of the struggle and the value in the struggle. God uses it to grow us!
 
Maintain healthy spiritual habits and the disciplines that build a strong spiritual life.
Matt.6:33 Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.
We have developed biblical priorities and are actively engaged in the struggle to live them our. What does that look like practically?
It looks a lot like practicing spiritual good habits and using the spiritual disciplines to support our spiritual life.
This includes the basics of the Christian life like Bible Study.
2 Tim. 3:16 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.
Prayer.
Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
And Fellowship with the Church.
Eph. 4:14 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.
It also includes some of the spiritual disciplines that aren’t a part of most people’s daily practice.
Like Fasting.
Matt. 6:16 “Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 17 But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
Solitude.
Luke 5: 16 So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.
A good resource for thinking about the spiritual disciplines is the book by Dallas Willard, The Spirit of the Disciplines. Here is the Amazon link -
https://a.co/d/hyxWiUN
 
Intentionally seek out younger people and invest in their spiritual life.
Deut. 6:6 “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.
 
Not just your children! Take responsibility for the spiritual growth of others and help them grow.
 
Joshua 24:15 And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
 
You are to be a beacon of light in the lives of those around you. Challenge them to consider the claims of Jesus and to see the world from an eternal perspective.
 
Prioritize disciple making activities and relationships.
Matt. 28:18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 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, 20 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.
2 Tim. 2:2 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
 
This is the primary role of the church in the world today as I understand it. Make disciple of Jesus. Follow Hm and help others follow Him. Every generation is responsible for taking up the cause of Christ and reaching the next generation. It is not primarily information or education but whole life transformation into the image of Jesus. Our lives are changed from the inside out, eventually impacting every thought, word, deed and relationship. This is what it means to follow Jesus.
In the Third Stage of Spiritual Growth you are taking up the mission of Christ and acting as His ambassador to the world as you prepare the next generation of disciples to one day do the same. It is a big task. But it is God’s task and He will not fail. How awesome that He lets us be a small part of the great work of reconciliation that He is doing as He builds His church!
 
OUTRO
Thanks for joining me today! Check out runwithhorses.net for show notes and past shows. Write me at norman@runwithhorses.net if you have comments or questions. Join our facebook community and tell a friend if you have found this show helpful! Keep Running!
 
All Bible Quotations are NKJV unless otherwise noted.
 

Sacrifice and Serving Others - Ep. 219

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Spiritual Sacrifice and Serving Others
 
INTRO
Today on Run With Horses, we are moving on to stage two of spiritual growth. Thanks for moving forward with me!
 
My name is Norman and my goal is to help you Run Your Race Well, not just Surviving but Thriving as a Disciple of Jesus! There are a LOT of things you could do with your life, but I don’t think anything compares with following Jesus and joining Him on His mission of bringing Hope to the nations. Welcome to Run With Horses and Thanks for including me in your journey!
 
Today’s focus – Moving beyond self to thinking about others. Sacrifice and Service as a foundation for Ministry.
 
I have introduced three stages of Spiritual Growth as they relate to your spiritual life and ministry. Today we will cover the second stage, Sacrifice and Service. Let me know if you have questions or comments as we go along! norman@runwithhorses.net
 
The First Stage – Spiritual Identity and Foundations, allowed you to build a foundation. Learning who you are in God’s sight and the basics of the Christian life as you develop good spiritual habits for the future.
 
The Second Stage – Spiritual Sacrifice and Service, builds on that foundation.
Where the beginning of the spiritual life necessarily involve a lot of work on yourself, to continue to grow you have to be properly oriented toward others. One of the lessons I learned years ago is that Christianity can be summarized as a web of relationships. Your relationship with God, Your relationship with His family, the Church, and your relationship with the world, people who aren’t yet following Jesus.
These relationships with other people are built on a right relationship with God and a clear understanding of what God is doing in the world and your part in it. This foundation is started in Stage One and continues in Stage Two.
 
What are we talking about? Although there is more to it than we will cover today, here are four things that I see us building on the foundation we started when we placed our faith in Jesus.
Learning how to relate in a biblical way to others.
God loves people! How we treat them, in and out of the church, should reflect God’s love for them. We are His hands and feet in the world, carrying out His mission of reconciliation and using our gifts to build up the body. To do that we have to be growing in the character of Jesus. A selfish unregenerate heart can’t treat people as God wants them treated. The foundational heart change of Stage One gives us the new nature that is directed by the Holy Spirit to genuinely love others and consider their needs.
Phil.2:3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
2 Cor.5:20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.
1 Thess. 2:7 But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children. 8 So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us.
 
Learn and apply the “one another’s” of the NT.
The “one another’s” give us a real picture of what the family of God should look like! You can’t live these out without a real relationship. It takes time and proximity to build this kind of close personal involved relationship with other people.
Love one another is the most of repeated and is the basis for a lot of the other commands we are to live by. The first and second command are to love the Lord your God with all your heart soul mind and strength and to love your neighbor as yourself. These are SIMPLE to understand. But so hard to live out consistently!
Romans 12:9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. 10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; 11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; 13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.
Galatians 5:13 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Eph. 4:1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with long-suffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Eph. 4: 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
God is serious about our relationships! Teach, admonish, encourage, pray for, live in harmony with, build up and in every way LOVE each other.
 
Learn the meaning and value of sacrifice.
Matt. 20:25 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. 26 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. 27 And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
Luke 9:23 Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. 24 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. 25 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?
Gal. 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Sacrifice is putting God’s eternal plan and purpose above my personal desires and goals. Sacrifice is loving others enough to do what is best for them even when it is not in my best interest.
 
Find joy in serving.
In this Second Stage of spiritual growth and development we want to answer the question, “What are my spiritual gifts?” As a follower of Jesus, you have been equipped to build up the body of Christ. You have gifts that the church needs. I don’t believe you can mature as a believer without learning to serve others and put your gifts to use. The desire to serve and use your gifts comes from really loving the people God loves and died for.
 
If in Stage One you are learn who God wants you to Be, in Stage Two you are learning to allow Who you are in Christ to flow through you and to impact those around you. If stage one is a classroom, stage two is a construction site with lots of activity! God is building something great in your life.
 
Next time: The Third Stage – Spiritual Maturity and Reproduction
What is it? Know and maintain biblical priorities. Maintain healthy spiritual habits and the disciplines that build a strong spiritual life. Intentionally seek out younger people and invest in their spiritual life. Prioritize disciple making activities and relationships.
 
OUTRO
Thanks for joining me today! Check out runwithhorses.net for show notes and past shows. Write me at norman@runwithhorses.net if you have comments or questions. Join our facebook community and tell a friend if you have found this show helpful! Keep Running!
 
All bible quotations are from the NKJV unless otherwise noted.
 

Building a Spiritual Foundation and Knowing your Identity in Christ - Ep. 218

TITLE: The first stage of spiritual growth
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INTRO
Today on Run With Horses, I am going into a little more detail about the first stage of spiritual growth that we all should pass through on our journey of faith.
 
My name is Norman and my goal is to help you Run Your Race Well, not just Surviving but Thriving as a Disciple of Jesus! There are a LOT of things you could do with your life, but I don’t think anything compares with following Jesus and joining Him on His mission of bringing Hope to the nations. Welcome to Run With Horses and Thanks for including me in your journey!
 
Today’s focus – Stage one spiritual growth.
 
Last time we covered an overview of the three stages of Spiritual Growth. and then go over each one in detail in the next three shows. Let me know if you have questions or comments as we go along! norman@runwithhorses.net
 
First Stage – Spiritual Identity and Foundations
 
What is it? Learning who you are in God’s sight.
Eph.2:19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
1 John 3:1 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 3And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.
Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. You are loved!
 
Time of developing our character.
Matthew 5:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.
Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
1 Timothy 3: 2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; 3 not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous;
 
Learning the basics of the Christian life.
The Gospel provides the entry into the Christian life and we never leave that foundation, we build on it. What did Jesus accomplish on the cross? How does that help me live today? What is available to me because of the cross? Power of forgiveness and God’s grace. Prayer – we are able to go to God directly. Fellowship – we have a body of believers who are united by the Holy Spirit. God’s mission – The ministry of reconciliation.
Spiritual warfare, spiritual gifts, ministry to the body of Christ, ministry with the body of Christ. Our testimony – witnesses to His work in us.
Learning about genuine spiritual worship.
 
How do you learn these?
From who?
 
Developing good spiritual habits.
Begin developing the habit of bible study and obedience.
Learning the value and importance of prayer.
Learning about the special community, God’s family, the Church. Developing the habit of intentional relationships.
Developing a good view of stewardship in all areas of life. Time, health, relationships, finances, etc.
 
Why are these so important? They change your mind, immerse yourself in the mind of Christ. Develop discernment, spiritual wisdom and insight.
How do you learn these? From who? How do you maintain consistency?
 
Next time:
The Second Stage – Spiritual Sacrifice and Service
Thanks for joining me today! Check out runwithhorses.net for show notes and past shows. Write me at norman@runwithhorses.net if you have comments or questions. Join our facebook community and tell a friend if you have found this show helpful! Keep Running!
 
 
 

Are you growing? Ep.217

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INTRO
Today on Run With Horses, I am introducing three stages of spiritual growth that we should all want to pass through on our journey of faith.
 
My name is Norman and my goal is to help you Run Your Race Well, not just Surviving but Thriving as a Disciple of Jesus! There are a LOT of things you could do with your life, but I don’t think anything compares with following Jesus and joining Him on His mission of bringing Hope to the nations. Welcome to Run With Horses and Thanks for including me in your journey!
 
Today’s focus - Growing in Ministry – Keep taking steps towards spiritual maturity!
 
I hope you understand that God wants you to grow. In many ways, in many area of life. God is working in you to grow.
Hebrew 5:12 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. 14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
1 Peter 2:1 Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, 2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
Col.1:9 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and long-suffering with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.
Col.2:6 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.
2 Peter1:5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
 
I want to introduce three stages of Spiritual Growth as they relate to your spiritual ministry. To day we will cover an overview of the three stages and then go over each one in detail in the next three shows. Let me know if you have questions or comments as we go along!
 
First Stage – Spiritual Identity and Foundations
What is it? Learning who you are in God’s sight. Time of developing our character. Learning the basics of the Christian life. Developing good spiritual habits.
 
Answering questions like:
Who does God day I am?
What does it mean to follow Jesus?
How do I grow spiritually?
 
Second Stage – Spiritual Sacrifice and Service
What is it? Learning how to relate in a biblical way to others. Learn and apply the “one another’s” of the NT. Learn the meaning and value of sacrifice. Find joy in serving.
 
Answering questions like:
What does it mean to serve others?
What is sacrifice in my life? Why is it important?
What are my spiritual gifts?
 
Third Stage – Spiritual Maturity and Reproduction
What is it? Know and maintain biblical priorities. Maintain healthy spiritual habits and the disciplines that build a strong spiritual life. Intentionally seek out younger people and invest in their spiritual life. Prioritize disciple making activities and relationships.
 
Answering questions like:
Who around me needs encouragement today?
How can I help others grow and serve?
What do I need to do to help others become disciple makers?
 
OUTRO
Thanks for joining me today! Check out runwithhorses.net for show notes and past shows. Write me at norman@runwithhorses.net if you have comments or questions. Join our facebook community and tell a friend if you have found this show helpful! Keep Running!
 
 

Ageless Beauty. -Ep.216.

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Ageless Beauty
 
Discussion on aging. How th e world views it, how Christians can/should view it
 
Term – “sandwich generation”
 
Stereotypes – dementia, frail, bed-ridden, no fun
 
Loss of autonomy is probably the hardest part of old age to accept. Those ADL’s (Activities of Daily Life) you’ve performed for yourself most of your life must now be done by someone else.
 
Many benefits to being older – experience, wisdom, able to pass on to next generation
may know how to handle relationships better
 
Old person’s situation makes a big difference – sickness, family around? Mobility
 
Compare: tribal environment vs. modern environment
-- elderly are valued; their knowledge is needed; no other resources (youtube, books)
-- most experienced and good at basket weaving (e.g.). Current day knowledge hasn’t changed for centuries. Continues as it has been.
-- In US, old are in the way, not respected, not useful. The knowledge they had (i.e. slide rules) is obsolete now. Technology keeps changing.
 
Need a purpose for living, feel useful to others, feel needed
-- understand what God wants from you in this chapters
-- You DO have a role if you’re still breathing!
 
 
Perspective/Outlook
God provides a basis for seeing the future in a positive light!
You can be thankful every day for something.
You can be a blessing to someone every day if you try.
 
On what do you base your worth? What makes you valuable?
-- Do you feel valuable because of how you look? (what happens when you get wrinkly, bald, & saggy?)
-- Do you feel valuable because you are productive in society or to your family or church? (what happens when you are no longer able to feel productive?)
-- Is your worth based on your sense of pride?
-- Or is it based on the value God places on you, for being created in His image? He proved how valuable you are!! (sending Jesus to pay your way to belong to His family)