Ask Better Questions - I

Tuesday’s Scripture Readings:
OT: Ezekiel 39
NT: Philemon
W&W: Psalm 119.137-144

Wednesday’s Scripture Readings:
OT: Ezekiel 40
NT: Hebrews 1
W&W: Psalm 119.145-152

Thursday’s Scripture Readings:
OT: Ezekiel 41
NT: Hebrews 2
W&W: Psalm 119.153-160

Friday’s Scripture Readings:
OT: Ezekiel 42-43
NT: Hebrews 3
W&W: Psalm 119.161-168

Today’s Reflection:

The past two Saturdays, leaders from BNC (Bethel Nazarene Church) came together for the “New View Leadership Conference 2009.” The purpose of this conference was to begin formulating a five year plan and specifically to come up with five special initiatives that we could accomplish before May 31, 2010 (the end of our business year).

Doug Van Nest, our district superintendent delivered the keynote address to open the conference. His council to us was to “Ask Better Questions.” I want to share with you my notes from Dr. Van Nest’s message.

Dr. Van Nest spoke from Matthew 21.28-31, The Parable of the Two Sons:
28"What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work today in the vineyard.'
29" 'I will not,' he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.
30"Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, 'I will, sir,' but he did not go.
31"Which of the two did what his father wanted?" "The first," they answered.

Better Question #1: “What is God calling us to be and do?”

• The father is at the heart of the story.
• We must realize that our Father’s will defines our mission.
• He desires that we who love God and love others should be busy getting others to love God and love others.
• God has already told us the what!
• Churches spend a lot of time developing mission statements, etc. to frame how this what is to be accomplished, but the what is a given from God: Make Christlike Disciples in the Nations!
• Whenever we as a church consider a ministry, program, activity, or expenditure, we should ask ourselves, “Is this going to fulfill that purpose?”
• Often we as churches don’t ask this tough question because we are afraid it will reveal the fact that what we are doing is not fulfilling god’s purpose.
• We may like it – it may be fulfilling to us and our purpose – but it is not fulfilling God’s purpose.

We must begin with Better Question #1 and line everything else up with it: What is God calling us to be and do?

This Week’s Scripture to Memorize:
We are trying a whole Psalm this week – the shortest “chapter” in the Bible – Psalm 117: Praise the Lord, all you nations; extol him, all you peoples. For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord.