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6 Ways to Shepherd When You Can’t See the Sheep

By
Christianity Today
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shepherding

The work of pastoral ministry is biblically described as the assignment of under-shepherding. Implicit in the biblical metaphor is that shepherds care for the sheep, protect the sheep, and lead the sheep to nutritious pasturelands.

All of this seemingly necessitates physical presence as we lead under the authority of the Great Shepherd. The very language associated with shepherding connotes a proximity that keeps us smelling like sheep—we are intimately aware of their needs and constantly seeking out their best interest.

The incarnational presence of the shepherd lies at the heart of Jesus’ famous illustration in John 10.

“Truly I tell you, anyone who doesn’t enter the sheep pen by the gate but climbs in some other way is a thief and a robber. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. -John 10:1-3 (CSB)

Jesus is the Good Shepherd for His sheep because He was among them—calling them by name and even sacrificing His life so that the sheep could be safe.

So, it’s difficult to imagine shepherding apart from proximity. Paul’s apostolic example of dictating instructions of what was best for the sheep, and then continuing to travel on his way, included the assumption of resident shepherds directing the tactical process. Shepherds had to live among the sheep, so that they could, at the moment, offer situational guidance.

But in the wake of our pandemic, many godly shepherds are now faced with the daunting challenge of shepherding from a distance. We can’t be with the sheep, at least not in the ways that were once understood. Zoom calls feel like an awkward substitute …

Continue reading…

Gates of Heaven: Got Your Ticket to the Ultimate Celebration?

By
Keiston France
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heaven

You’ve cheered for your favorite football team through the good times and the bad. You’ve faithfully supported them with t-shirts, bumper stickers, and a flag. The year finally comes when they make it to the Super Bowl! With your face painted and team colors on, you drive the distance to the game.

Overwhelmed with emotions, you arrive at the stadium anticipating the ultimate experience. But, when you get to the gate, the attendant asks for your ticket.

“Ticket? Isn’t my support good enough? Won’t my cheering get me in? I know the players and coach by name! Why do I still need a ticket?”

Out of the crowd, a stranger approaches and hands you his ticket. He paid the ticket price so that you could enter. You gratefully accept it and go in.

This is Our Guaranteed Access to Heaven.

I don’t stand a chance of getting into Heaven on my own efforts, and neither do you. We can know every major player on Team Jesus, connect ourselves with prominent Christian faith leaders, but it still won’t be enough to put us in right standing in the eyes of God.

That’s why God sent a Savior to pay our price so that we could enter His gates. That’s good news!

Acts 10:43 says that all who believe in Jesus will be forgiven of their sins through Jesus’ name. The price has been paid for you; all you need to do is believe in Jesus and let Him be your Savior. Then, follow Him as your Lord until you meet in eternity.

So, What’s The Play Call?

Think about it:

  1. What’s the nicest gift someone ever bought for you?
  2. Do you believe that Jesus paid the price for your sins so you could be with Him forever?
  3. Have you told others about this gift?

 

“Father, thank You for sending Jesus to pay the price for me. I don’t deserve to be with You in Heaven, but I accept the entrance gratefully. Help live a life worthy of You and to share Your good news with others. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.”

 

MAGA Hat, Stay at Home Protestors: Compassion or Contempt?

By
Christianity Today
-
compassion
ALBANY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES - APRIL 22, 2020: Protesters hold placards as they take part during the demonstration. People gather outside the New York State Capitol advocating that New York State's regulations shutting down parts of the economy because of the Coronavirus should be repealed.

Compassion is an odd thing. When we think we don’t have enough of it, it can emerge from seemingly nowhere. When we are certain we are filled with it, we find we respond in ways we ought not. And often, our compassion meters are put on display when it comes to how we respond to those who seem least like us.

We are seeing a lot of scorn and anger targeted at protestors wanting to open the economy— often MAGA-hat wearing pro-Trump supporters. “They must just be ignorant hicks,” some say. “They are going to get sick—and get us sick.” “What a bunch of idiots.”

It’s important, however, that before we judge, we consider. That before we condemn, we pray. All of those who act in ways we disagree with are made in God’s image. We may believe our thoughts and opinions are the correct ones, but we must never forget that there are two sides of each story and many lenses through which to see the world.

There are a lot of frightened people out there, many of whom were already having financial strains. Now, too many of these people are unemployed or underemployed because of the impact of COVID-19.

So, if you are sitting at home, working from home because your job allows it, have a little compassion for people who are watching their future dissolve, are fearful for their children’s future, and who just want to work.

Compassion or contempt?

Hard truth, friends: we have got to listen a bit more to one another right now.

A lot of people are afraid and frustrated. And, there are some groups who are being disproportionately affected. Among them, economically, are working-class white people.

Jenn Thomas, a single mother with two children, is worried about the economic impact of government …

Continue reading…

When One Muslim Son of the Arabian Gulf Met the Son of God

By
Christianity Today
-

My story begins in the Arabian Gulf region, where my tribe raised me as a devout Muslim. When I was a child, my father would wake me up at 5 a.m. so we could attend morning prayer at the mosque. Each day, I would sit with my uncles to read and study the Qur’an. By age 10, I had memorized the majority of the book, since family members would award me $100 for each chapter I could recite.

Growing up, I performed my mandatory prayers in the mosque and even woke up each night to pray for an extra hour. I was proud to be zealous in my faith. I wanted to obtain the blessings and favor of God, as well as the esteem of my family.

The first major turning point in my life occurred when my family moved to an English-speaking country. I hated it there. We went from being wealthy to dividing a two-room apartment among six family members. Barely anyone shared our faith or culture. I had a conversation with my grandmother, who warned me, “Watch out for the infidels, and don’t befriend or associate with them; they are a disease on society.”

At school, I formed an Islamic group that worked aggressively to make everyone around us conform to our religion. We demanded that the school serve halal food exclusively. During Ramadan, we would walk around forcing other students to pray with us. On one occasion, when another student criticized our behavior, a Muslim friend head-butted him violently, breaking his nose. We were all awestruck that someone had taken it upon himself to punish this infidel for his disrespect.

Meanwhile, I prayed for the death and destruction of Jews and Christians, the “atheists” who were unclean, equal to pigs and dogs, and not to be touched. At this point, I had never met a Christian, but …

Continue reading…

Faithful Over Little: 3 Things That Keep Us From Ruling Much

By
Kim Brightness
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faithful over little

Go BIG for Jesus?

Have you noticed the present-day ambitions of the body of Christ? The Team wants to GO BIG for Jesus – do greater works, redeem the “wealth of the wicked” for the kingdom, take authority and prepare to judge the world (1 Corinthians 6:2) and so forth. So many of us are praying for God to give us a deep, “freshhhh” Word – when we haven’t come close to mastering the fundamentals.

Basically, many of us are begging for meat while we’re spitting up milk.

Interesting.

As I pondered this “BIG” phenomenon during my study time, you’ll never guess who I ran into…

Peter.

And, oddly enough, Peter gave me a glimpse of this very issue that plagues some of us – the disregard for little while pursuing or boasting of big, weighty things.

Jesus Has Something Important to Tell Us

When you look at the Last Supper account in John 13 or Luke 22, Jesus had a lot going on.  The fulfillment of His purpose, the end of His earthly days was near. Yet all the while, the disciples quarreled over which of them was the greatest, the devil and Judas teamed up to betray Jesus, and Peter asked inappropriate questions all night.

Knowing His death was imminent, Jesus drops some final knowledge on His disciples in John 13:30-35 (read), ending with the new commandment to love one another. Love would ultimately be the sign of true discipleship.

But, what was Peter’s first response after that whole dialogue:

Where are you going, Jesus? Why can’t I go?
You know… I would lay down my life for you.

Thank you for the example, Peter.

Have You Been Faithful Over Little… the First Works? 

little thingsHow many of us are like Peter? We skip right over the simplicity of love and begin to boast about the BIG things we’d do for God.

How many of us are so focused on the BIG works of Christ – conferences filled with thousands, service projects where we feed the masses, the number of zeroes behind our annual offering – that we overlook the simple gesture of love and kindness towards our neighbor?

As we fall prey to the prideful pursuit of BIG things, we forego the opportunity to “rule much” because we won’t be faithful over little.

Here’s how we get tripped up – and how to regain our footing. Do you find yourself in any of these scenarios?

1. We have a misconception of what’s important to God.

Some of our hearts are in the right place, but with a misguided understanding. Take Martha, for instance, who wanted Jesus to tell Mary to help her with the preparations for Him and the disciples (Luke 10:38-42). True enough, Martha’s heart was in the right place – she wanted Jesus to have a comfortable stay in her home – but she lacked an understanding of God’s priority. Sitting at the feet of Jesus, consuming His teachings was more important than meal preparation.

The same principle applies when we pursue God’s great purpose for lives. Has God called you to be the CEO – by way of the mailroom? Are you resisting your mailroom experience because you “know what God called you to do”?  Welcome to an even longer stint in the mailroom *smile*!

Know that it’s important to God for us to have a solid foundation on which to build His greatness in us.  Seek first the kingdom of God, which includes His guidance, timing, and provision (Matthew 6:33).

2. Our ambition lacks focus on God’s glory.

While it’s noble to desire to do great things for God (He did say “greater works” we will do), we must be mindful of our motives.

What is your why? Why are you pursuing ____?  Will the achievement bring you accolades, while glory to God is a mere byproduct? God expects us to do all things in love, and as unto Him. And, we prove our readiness when we do so with the basic tasks God gives us. When selfish motives disappear, we’ll see clearer what’s important to God and pursue that with all our heart.

3. We equate BIG works with God’s biggest smile.

We all want God to be happy with us. We all seek that stamp of approval from our Father. But, we miss the mark when we equate God’s approval to the typical “big things” that impress man.

Sure, it’s a huge deal for us to empty our bank accounts for the poor or “give our bodies to be burned” (1 Corinthians 13:3), but if we don’t honor God’s simple play call to love, we’re wasting our time.

God will always be a quality over quantity type of God. He does not give brownie points for BIG sacrifice with little obedience. The reason God blesses us to “rule much” is because our obedience proves that He can trust us. God wants to know He can depend on us just like we can depend on Him.

So, What’s the Play Call?

In all of our great, wise pursuits for Christ, let’s get understanding (Proverbs 4:7).  Spend time with God to know His heart and how you should care for the little things placed in your hands.

Know that the source of God’s biggest smile is when we honor and obey the little things as unto the Lord.

Fuel Up: The Only Way Believers Can Run the Race With Endurance

By
Keiston France
-
run the race

During the 2008 Olympics, NBC aired a special segment on the diet of record-breaking swimmer Michael Phelps. It was incredible! They said that he tries to eat 8,000 to 10,000 calories a day. That is as much as I eat in five days. But when Phelps is in heavy training and competition, his body needs all the fuel it can get.

Allow me to make a quick analogy. As Christians, we’re in a daily spiritual battle, facing tough temptations, situations, interactions, and decisions. It’s our own version of Olympic competition, yet there’s a lot more at stake than a sporting event. The eternity of souls is up for grabs, and God has called us to compete for them.

Run the Race with Endurance

successJust like Olympic athletes, we have to be properly prepared for competition. Would Michael Phelps choose to skip three meals before a race? No way! His body wouldn’t have enough energy to sustain him, and his competitors would smoke him.

So, why do we, as Christians, feel like we can face a single day without taking time to fuel ourselves spiritually? Is our competition not as fierce? Is the prize not as worthy?

There’s really no excuse. We either take the time to pray, read the Word, and fellowship with the Lord, or we do not. It’s that simple.

So, What’s The Play Call?

Today, search your heart and test yourself. Find out whether or not you value the spiritual battle enough to invest time in the proper preparation. If you fully believe in the cause you’re fighting for, then you will take the time to fuel yourself before entering the battle so you can run the race with endurance. Think about it.

  1. Do you spend time with the Lord every day? If not, how can you start now?
  2. Is your daily routine drawing you closer to God, or do you just go through the motions?

Father, I am Your servant. Please help me to prepare spiritually for battles that may lie ahead. Amen.

Small Predators: Is Fear Making a Fool of You?

By
Alecia M. White
-
fear

So, I watched The Lion King, the real one, for the first time on Disney Plus. Have you seen it? One thing is for certain, watching Mufasa fall from that cliff as an actual lion and not an animation is far more devastating than I could have imagined. But, that’s not what this is about.

No, this is about those stampeding wildebeests that trampled the dear king of the jungle. Their panic cost Mufasa his life. Now, let’s back up a bit to the actual cause of the stampede.

Those three pesky hyenas caused an entire herd of animals to take off in terror. Yes, I get that hyenas are predators, but there were only 3 of them and like a billion (not quite) wildebeests. I know, I know, “It’s the circle of life, Alecia.” I get it, they’re supposed to be afraid, but couldn’t the wildebeests have trampled the hyenas and been done with it? Oh well.

Another thing, once those wildebeests got caught up in their stampede, nothing took their focus off the panic long enough to get them to calm down. In fact, I can probably bet that at least 87% of them didn’t even know what the threat was about! They only ran because the other 13% actually saw their attackers. It’s like the “run now, ask questions later” rule. Either way, they ran. I mean, where were they running to? Where was the safe house? And, which wildebeest was in charge of these details?

Is the Danger Worth the Fear?

fearAlright, here we are again after one of my movie binges. My focal point here today is fear. Yes, let’s talk about how fear gets way too much credit and power.

Fear, if we allow it, sends us on wild stampedes with no questions asked. It has been the cause of many deaths, and I’m not talking literal deaths. Just as Mufasa was the casualty of the wildebeest’s terror, so are some of your plans and dreams. Some of the things that we have written down, drawn blueprints for, and created a logo to represent have been trampled under the large hoofs of fear. And, just like those wildebeests, your predator is, in many cases, smaller than you.

But, due to the “circle of life”, or the thoughts and opinions of others, you have chosen to cower and allow yourself to succumb to their logic. The slinging of statistics and facts, declarations of a lack of resources, and whispers of lack of support are insignificant to the God who placed those plans in your head and desires in your heart.

One of the problems is that our human emotions kick in and we become afraid of the hyena that is much smaller than we are. We take off running, never look back, and by the time we stop, we are in a place so comfortable that we dare not leave. We even allow other people’s failures to stop us because they’ve tried what we are planning to do and failed.

In these times, what we forget is that with God by our side, covering us, and within us, that thing that we are so terrified of is outnumbered. And, you know what our playbook says about God being for us. If you don’t, no worries, here’s the scripture: “What shall we then say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31

So, What’s the Play Call?

One of the most effortless things to do in life is to be afraid. It is so easy to allow fear to take over and cause our nerves to stampede us to doom. Here are some things to remember when those hyenas show up to chase you from your green pastures:

  1. Don’t be afraid. Yes, I know, this is easier “read” than done, but remember that if God is for us then those against us cannot defeat us. And, I’m going to share a few more things to help work through this point… please read on. “Don’t be afraid!” Elisha told him. “For there are more on our side than on theirs!” 2 Kings 6:16 NLT
  2. It’s bigger than you. Mmmhmm, what God has for us is greater than what we’re anticipating. If it wasn’t, He would not have given us our amazingly crazy ideas. He wants you to possess that land, but you’ve got to let that fear go. The hyena can only chase you out of your success if you let it. “Then will the Lord drive out all these nations from before you, and ye shall possess greater nations and mightier than yourselves.” Deuteronomy 11:23
  3. Do not hide your talents. Please don’t be like the fearful servant who buried what his master gave him. Gifts and talents don’t grow like flowers – when you bury them, you only risk losing them. If God gave you something, please believe He will protect His investment. “Why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.” Matthew 25:27
  4. Only use what God gave you. If you stick to this, you won’t be tempted to let fear barge in. Why? Because of all the things that God has given you, fear is not one of them. “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7

I challenge you to stand firm and refuse the urge to stampede in fear. Have faith that your success is secure in the hands of God who gave you the gifts that you possess.

 

The Greatest Gospel Question Right Now: “How Are You Doing?”

By
Christianity Today
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how are you

For some of us, it’s hard to think about mission work right now.

This sentiment is surely understandable—pastors and church leaders are scrambling to discern the best path forward to love and lead the sheep entrusted to their care. This work, combined with genuine personal anxiety about the crisis, sickness, and death, leaves many with little mental or emotional margin to consider how best to care for those outside of the flock.

Yet such efforts are needed, perhaps now more than ever. Our last decade stands as a condemning witness to almost every tribe for the lack of prioritization in disciple-making. Many have authored compelling articles that included undeniable stats of languishing evangelism numbers.

The calls for increased efforts in evangelism often elicit resounding “amens” from pews to tribal leaders alike. Yet even with all the hearty ‘amens’, the numbers suggest that we’ve failed to make progress. Could it be that this moment of global crisis comes with a Sovereign reawakening from our complacent self-fascination to a renewed commitment to our King’s commission?

There seems to be three means of gospel engagement that never change. Disciples of Jesus are always positioned with these three tools in their missionary arsenal: what we say, what we do, and how we respond. Let’s think about each in light of the current COVID-19 pandemic and how we might effectively lean into each for missionary engagement.

What We Say About the Gospel

The gospel is multifaceted. This is the brilliance of God’s plan. God’s redemptive work is impossible to contain in one image or concept, so the biblical writers use many different pictures to convey the glory of what God has done for us in Christ. …

Continue reading…

Ministry Leaders to ICE: Release Immigrants and Let Churches Help

By
Christianity Today
-

Evangelical leaders from nine major organizations wrote the Trump administration to urge officials to release detained immigrants during the coronavirus pandemic, particularly those who are elderly or at higher risk for contracting COVID-19.

They are calling on the church and community partners to “provide any assistance they can” including “safe accommodations in which to ‘shelter in place’ for as long as such practices are advised.”

“Our concern is rooted in our Christian belief that each human life is made in the image of God and thus precious, and, like you, we want to do everything possible to minimize the loss of life as a result of this pandemic,” the leaders wrote in a letter sent Monday to Chad Wolf, acting secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.

The letter was signed by Russell Moore, president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention; Walter Kim, president of the National Association of Evangelicals; and Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Council, among other members of the Evangelical Immigration Table, a group of Christian leaders who support comprehensive immigration reform.

Detention and camps

The coronavirus pandemic has complicated the already precarious position of those immigrants being held in detention by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) while seeking asylum in the US.

Not only do they worry about their health while living in close quarters, but they are also concerned about what the crisis means for their prospects of a future in the US. With just a year to apply for legal status, the clock could run out while they are waiting for legal clinics to reopen to help them file …

Continue reading…

Kierra Sheard releases her highly anticipated sixth studio album, KIERRA

By
Editorial Staff
-

kierra sheardToday, GRAMMY® and Stellar Award-winning artist, actress, and entrepreneur, Kierra Sheard, released her highly anticipated album KIERRA (Karew Entertainment / RCA Inspiration). Marking her sixth studio album and first project with RCA Inspiration. KIERRA includes the songstress’ latest single “It Keeps Happening,” and the popular anthem “Don’t Judge Me,” featuring Missy Elliott. Also, the album is accompanied by the release of a new video for another single, the atmosphere moving, “Something Has To Break (Live)” featuring Tasha Cobbs Leonard. The video will debut exclusively via YouTube Premiere today at 1 pm EST.

With a mission to deliver uplifting music, KIERRA provides a fitting sanctuary amid these difficult times, “Faith and inspiration have been the driving force of my career. We’re going to get past this. We have to. The Lord has so many things for so many of us to do,” Kierra shares.

Phenomenal sounds, familiar voices

The album includes 15-tracks with sounds ranging from Pop, R&B, Hip-Hop, and Gospel, and features some live recorded songs which Kierra performed before a sold-out crowd in her hometown of Detroit, MI. Demonstrating her lyricism, Kierra either wrote or co-wrote all of the tracks on the album including the beautiful ballad “Grateful,” the authentic and raw “Human,” and “Better.” Assisted by a dynamic team, KIERRA features production from her frequent collaborators, Harmony “H-Money” Samuels and her brother J. Drew Sheard, as well as songwriters Mia Fieldes, Varren Wade, Edgar “JV” Etienne, Justin Brooks and rising Chicago artist Sir the Baptist. In addition to Missy Elliott and Tasha Cobbs Leonard, the album features vocals from other star Gospel Artists Todd Dulaney, Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Le’Andria Johnson and Kierra’s nephew Jacob Sheard.

On top of her new music, Kierra is celebrating the fifth anniversary of her fashion line, Eleven60, which is available at Macys.com. Showcasing her versatility and range as an artist, Kierra continues to act and co-stars in the Lifetime biopic, The Clark Sisters: The First Ladies of Gospel, which premiered on April 11th to 2.7 million viewers. In the film, she depicts her mother, legendary gospel artist, Karen Clark Sheard.

KIERRA is available now via all major digital providers. Get yours today!

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