by Dr. Shane Parker and Dr. Michael Wilder

“We have realized that for students to become true disciples, they must themselves become concerned and active disciplers of the nations. If this generation will be influenced and developed toward, engaged in, and assessed for growth unto a global vision and life, God will raise them up to change the lives of whole tribes, communities, and nations.” (p 237)

Shane Parker and Michael Wilder’s newly released book TransforMission is about the impact of short term mission trips on the lives of youth and how they can be a sanctifying agent in students’ lives and in the ministry as a whole. In all 200+ pages of TransforMission I never wonder why I am reading it. The theme of the transforming power of missions is carried throughout the book.  The authors know that mission trips, however long they might be, serve youth by changing their Americanized culture mindset and giving them a look at the world God created for His glory.

If you aren’t a statistician, I ask that you persevere through the first chapters. The authors do a skilled job at providing the reader with tons of broad and in depth research on short term missions and churches.

Here is where I think Wilder and Parker excel:

1. My favorite part of the book is definitely the personal stories that each of the authors tell about the time they have spent on the mission field. Reading these personal accounts anchored this truth: the gospel is for the world – and these two men breathe this.

2. This book is filled with the Word. They don’t just rely on personal experience or research studies. They take it back to the infallible Word of God as the basis of their study. You can clearly see they hold up the Word as their authority.

3. TransforMission has clear guidelines on how to begin to make an impact through short term missions. I think this book would be very useful in a seminary classroom or for a youth pastor who is fighting upstream at getting the other staff/parents at his church to see the importance of taking students across the world.

If you are involved at all in missions, discipleship, youth ministry, college ministry – you would be wise to pick up this book. This will help strengthen your argument for short term missions.  I hope by reading this book you are compelled to proceed with getting your students and self overseas – no matter what length of time.

So, when’s the next plane leave?

Is it possible to enjoy God? We have heard of worshiping God, fearing God, honoring God, and obeying God, but can we enjoy Him? According to the men in the picture to the left, worship and enjoyment of God are two sides of the same coin.

The men in this picture were called the Westminster Assembly. The assembly was made up of some of the most godly and intelligent pastors, theologians, and professors that the world has ever known (Thomas Goodwin, William Bridge, Jeremiah Burroughs, etc). They were given the task of deciding what basic doctrines all English Christians should be taught. It took them six years but they finally concluded their deliberations and summarized them in several documents one of which was called the Westminster Shorter Catechism.

The Westminster Shorter Catechism is a series of 107 questions and answers. It was meant to be a teaching tool for basic Christian doctrine. The first question in the catechism is:

Q: What is the chief end of man?

A: Man’s chief end is to glorify God,and to enjoy him forever.

Pastor John Piper modified this statement in the first chapter of his book Desiring God. He states:

“Evidently the old theologians didn’t think they were talking about two things. They said ‘chief end,’ not ‘chief ends.’ Glorifying God and enjoying him was one end in their minds, not two. How can that be? That’s what this book is about.

Not that I care too much about the intention of seventeenth century theologians. But I care tremendously about the intention of God in Scripture. What does God have to say about the chief end of man? How does God teach us to give him glory? Does he command us to enjoy him? If so, how does this quest for joy in God relate to everything else? Yes, everything! ‘Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.’

The overriding concern of this book is that in all of life God be glorified the way he himself has appointed. To that end this book aims to persuade you that: The chief end of man is to glorify God BY enjoying him forever.”

So enjoying God is not just possible it is commanded. If this is true, how is God to be enjoyed?

If we are commanded to enjoy God, how exactly is He to be enjoyed? One of the simplest ways to accomplish this is to understand God as the source of all good things (James 1:17). Think about something that brings you delight. It could be a spouse, a child, a place, even a certain type of food and then put that thing into context. For example, if I find fillet mignon to be this satisfying then God must be even more satisfying because He created fillet mignon. Then follow that with a prayer of thanksgiving to God for your fillet mignon and a request to Him to help you see Him as infinitely more satisfying. What you are doing is ultimately taking that satisfaction back to the source. Consider Jonathan Edwards view on the matter:

“The enjoyment of [God] is the only happiness with which our souls can be satisfied. To go to heaven, fully to enjoy God, is infinitely better than the most pleasant accommodations here. Fathers and mothers, husbands, wives, or children, or the company of earthly friends, are but shadows; but God is the substance. These are but scattered beams, but God is the sun. These are but streams. But God is the ocean.”

Another way to enjoy God is to rely on Him to be your provider. If you are anxious, rely on Him to bring you peace. If you are struggling financially, rely on Him to meet your needs. In depending on Him, we begin to see His far superior ability to provide for us and we get to enjoy the blessing of being thankful. God enjoyed is God glorified.”

We might not think of God in terms like delicious, rapturous, savory, enchanting, delectable, alluring, luscious, mesmerizing, enticing, tantalizing, captivating, or enthralling, but our spiritual forefathers most certainly did. They unashamedly applied such adjectives to God that we now only apply to food or to our significant others. How decidedly low we have allowed our enjoyment of God to become. I hope that I can recapture this enjoyment and experience
what the scriptures mean when they say:

“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”

Psalm 116:11

Originally posted at www.claphamcommunity.com

Dr. Randy Stinson, Dean of the School of Church Ministries, has brought
together a team of experts on church, family, ministry, and culture including
Dr. Albert Mohler, Dr. Russell Moore, Dr. Timothy Jones, Steve Wright, and
Jay Strother – with many more. You will get a chance to interact with these
speakers and have small group discussion. You will get the benefit of sharing
in smaller group learning environments about what is going on at other
churches, asking questions, and sharing ideas. This would be the perfect
conference for you to not only come yourself, but to also bring your entire
ministry team.

Mark your calendars now, register, book your travel itinerary, and don’t miss this exciting conference in Louisville.

Wilder and Parker have penned a great work on the impact
of missions in the local and global church. This will be a useful and provocative tool for you and your team as you
discuss your church’s role in God’s grand design for His glory in the world.

To purchase this book, click here:
Amazon

To see the table of contents, click here: table of contents

• Live Spirit led lives ourselves.
• Pray regularly as individuals and as a team for the Holy Spirit to work in our midst.
• Allow for the Spirit to work in how we plan and conduct our activities.

Since the gospel requires us to embrace sacrifice and suffering we
must commit to:

Since the gospel requires us to practice community and demonstrate it to the world we must commit to:

1. Moms like to be encouraged.

• Send a personal note thanking them for their service or bragging on their child
• Make a phone call relaying a personal message, thank you, or
  invitation

2. Moms like to be well-informed.

• Consider sending out a year-at-a-glance calendar of youth activities/events and the curriculum plan.  See an example here: curriculum map
• Put together a list of ways parents can help

3.  Moms want to be involved in the discipleship and training up of their children.

• Provide opportunities for moms to minister with their students
• Gather resources and ideas for how they can disciple their children.  For one useful resource click here: ApParent Privilege

From now until May 31st, call to order the ApParent Privilege PDF Class Curriculum, and a receive one copy of the ApParent Privilege book for FREE. (All you’ll pay for is shipping)

This curriculum has four sessions:

Session1: Our God-given Privilege
Session 2: Our Guiding Principles
Session 3: Our Gospel-centered Priorities
Session 4: Our Daily Practices

*Offer applies to PHONE ORDERS only and is good as supplies last or
until May 31st. Shipping charges for the free copy of ApParent Privilege will apply.

The above responses surfaced from a recent seminary study asking student pastors about the future of family and youth ministry. From their input, the idea of the first Connecting Church & Home Conference originated.

The Connecting Church & Home Conference is designed to equip pastors, church leaders, and parents with practical ministry strategies for shepherding families within the church.  Featuring nationally known leaders and ministry speakers, this conference is sure to impact your approach to building stronger families in your church.

To register for the conference click here: Conference Registration

For the conference schedule click here: Schedule

For a list of the general and breakout session speakers click here: Speakers

For more information visit the conference website by clicking here: More Info

Or contact the Office of Event Productions:
2825 Lexington Road
Louisville, KY 40280
Phone: (502) 897-4072
Email: connecting@sbts.edu