Vision4Living

Coming up…

With the up and coming Passion4Christ Summit this fall, I have been doing a lot of thinking, reading, and studying around the theme – ‘The Body: God’s Plan for Church’.  The whole idea and topic of the church conjures a load of misconceptions, disappointments, and even bitterness in the minds and hearts of believers. Say something about the church and you might get a myriad of answers, opinions, and deep-rooted feelings on the issue.

That thing you do…

Since the 18^th century and the turn of the 19^th – up until the last 40 to 50 years – “The Church” was something that you either “went” to mainly because culture necessitated it or out of tradition.  Communities were built around “The Church” [you could even say a building in this context] and if you were not a part of the congregation then you were considered a heathen or outsider.  The church was as much a part of the social structure in American Western culture as baseball. It was just something you should do.

Tradition!

As all traditions, the newer generation looks for something different – whether that would be in the name of being more real, exciting, or a mixture of both.  Sometimes they throw off tradition all together as the 60’s bear evidence.  The 70’s to 90’s saw the rise of the mega church, which offered anything and everything a family might need or want – desiring most of all to make people feel warm and welcomed.  At the turn of the 20^th century, this soon burned people out. While keeping some elements of the mega church, the new century gave way to culture relevance and a more “hip” approach. “Big Churches” began catering to smaller groups where relationships became more the central focus.

Whispers

However, none of this brought us closer to a biblical outworking of “The Church”. We have seen whispers of it, but we have failed to delve into the scriptures to gain a biblical understanding of what it is and what it should look like.

Lets get radical

Over the course of the next few weeks, I would like for you and me to delve into the word together and discover what the scriptures mean by such intimate terms as the “the body of Christ” or “the bride of Christ”. I want to discover the lost meaning behind true fellowship and what implications the “local church” might have in regards to the gospel and the furtherance of God’s glory.  I hope you join me each week. Not that I have anything profound to say but because I believe the scriptures have something to tell us that may radically change the way you look at life.

Daniel Cavanaugh

Its hard to believe that five years ago this past March we began the exciting journey of Vision4Living Ministries. So much has happened since then. Last October marked our fifth annual Passion4Christ Summit. 2012 saw us host our first Family Leadership Conference in a foreign country. This year, we are preparing the launch of our newest resource – Legacy Conference – which will be April 24-26, 2014. Our God has lavished His grace upon our efforts to equip the leaders and families of the church to transfer the gospel and all we treasure to the next generation. We have seen fruit abound in ways we never imagined possible. Our God has done exceedingly and abundantly above all we expected.

However, prayer has played a key role in this work. When we began V4L, we initiated a prayer team that has been praying regular for us throughout each year. In fact, many over the years have shared that they are praying, and we never knew it. We know that prayer is not just a part of the work… it is the work. This is where God’s people commune with Him and usher in His will for the kingdom. It is the means that our sovereign God has ordained to see His work accomplished. The faithful prayer of a righteous man does avail much.  Donald Whitney put it this way:

Some say, “if God is sovereign, why pray?” I say, the question should be the exact opposite, “if God is not sovereign, why pray?”

So in short, we are inviting you to join our prayer team. We do not ask you to consider quickly or lightly. It is a commitment that will require time and attention. As we grow as a ministry, we understand and feel the burden to bathe everything we do in prayer. But we cannot do it alone. We need a team of prayer warriors who will storm the throne of grace as we seek to do the work. In fact, you will be the forerunners of our ministry. You will pave the way as we do the will of God.

If you desire to join the ministry:

• Consider the responsibility

• Contact us with an email

• Commit intentionally

Serving with you,

Daniel Cavanaugh

1 Corinthians 1-3

There is never an end to new programs, gadgets, or gizmos when it comes to “ministry”.  A casual walk through a Christian bookstore these days, will give you no end to the “newest” thing that will help make your ministry a “success”. Do not misunderstand me; there is a place for resources and tools. Object lessons are wonderful tools to proclaim the glories of the cross. A play – in the right context – can bring alive the story of God’s redemption. A book can communicate what biblical gospel ministry should look like. Even Christ left us with His creation, which on a visually level constantly declares the glory of who He is [Ps. 19:1].

However, ministry has become increasingly pragmatic. We are afraid we will offend people; we want people to feel like they fit in; and this leads to fashioning our churches to have a more hip and relevant appeal. But lets not just pick on the “liberals” of ministry. How about the so-called conservatives? We look for ways to attain unto Christ through our “holy standards”. Human effort as opposed to faith in the grace of God motivates us. The fear of being “worldly” leads us to believe that being “in the world” will destroy us.  Or maybe, you are one of those who fits somewhere in between…

The question remains: how are we to discern if our ministry is centered in the work of the cross?

The glory of God vs. the greatness of a man

Cross-centered ministry has not a morsel of space for the building up of ones greatness.  When you proclaim “Jesus Christ and Him crucified”, it is a message of Christ alone. When Christ is proclaimed, the individual must decrease and Christ must increase [John 3:30]. This is the measurement of successful cross-centered ministry. This is how you know. No matter how seemingly wise, indispensable, or far reaching the success of a person’s ministry, if the cross is not their glory and their passion for you is not the same, they proclaim another gospel. Paul rebuked the Corinthians believers for their attachment to men rather than Christ – i.e. “ I follow Apollos”, I follow Cephas”, or ‘I follow Christ” [1:10-17.

Realize your message is foolishness to the world

The world cannot and does not understand the things that are spiritually understood. “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing [1:18].” Man’s wisdom says, “You have what it takes to be what you want to be.” The gospel tells us, “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of Christ.” “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God [Eph. 2:8].” Remember: we proclaim something that is as completely foreign to the world as a fish out of water.  All have sinned and because of that sin, man is blinded to the “foolishness” of the cross.

We proclaim the cross; the Spirit reveals cross

Do you fall into the trap of thinking that you are the one who reveals to people the truth? Do not. You cannot reveal the truth; only the Spirit of God can. 1 Corinthians 2:10 tell us, “These things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything even the depths of God.”  It is your job to proclaim the cross. It is the Spirit’s job to reveal the truth. Do not take responsibility for something that the Lord never gave us. Do your job – proclaim the gospel – and pray for the power of the Spirit to work.  Adrian Rodgers said, “I can preach truth, but only the Holy Spirit can impart truth.”

The cross implicates your ministry work

We have already touched upon some simple yet profound implications. As we draw this post to a close, I leave you with a quote from D.A. Carson:

“Ultimately wisdom if from the world and is opposed by God, or it is God-given and tied to the cross. There is not middle ground. Those who try to create some middle ground by imitating the Corinthians – who confessed the Jesus of the cross but whose hearts were constantly drawn to one or another of the public philosophies and values of the day – will gain nothing but the rebuke of Scripture.”

Daniel Cavanaugh

As I wind down my series on leadership, I am reminded of the various leadership gurus, pastors, mentors, and men and women in history who have left us with abundant food for thought in their written and spoken words. We quote them often in various avenues in the social media outlets. Their thoughts and words have been tried through much study and life experiences. The wisdom we find in these words is founded in the unchanging principles of God’s word – whether they were Christian or not. After all, everything that is true has its roots in the One who is Truth. Their words have been our mentors. Their life experiences – tried by fire -have help light our path.  They have inspired us to achieve beyond personal gain. Their selflessness has burned within us a passion to continue in their steps. And those who have known and held true to the gospel have pointed us to Christ and His glory. We have learned from their mistakes and found joy in their triumphs.

On twitter and Facebook this past week, I asked people to send me their favorite leadership quotes. I wanted to hear from you the words and thoughts of men and women that inspired you to grow as a leader. I have sifted through all kinds of material, and I can say that it has run the gamete – some made me laugh while others cause deep reflection. In any case, I have left you with the ones that I thought you would find enjoyable:

“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” —John Quincy Adams

“I must go, they have gone, and I am their leader” – Unknown

“The very essence of leadership is that you have to have vision. You can’t blow an uncertain trumpet.” – Theodore Hesburgh

“Convictional leaders propel action precisely because they are driven by deep convictions, and their passion for these convictions is transferred to followers who join in concerted action to do what they know to be right.” – Al Mohler

“The world is run by tired men.” – Unknown

“If the person you are talking to doesn’t appear to be listening, be patient. It may simply be that he has a small piece of fluff in his ear.” – Winnie the Pooh

“Spiritual leadership is knowing where God wants people to be and taking the initiative to get them there by God’s means in reliance on God’s power.” – John Piper

“ Successful people are willing to do things that unsuccessful people will not do” – John Maxwell

“The leader is able to lead others because he has conquered himself” – J Oswald Sanders

“Being powerful is like being a lady. If you have to tell people you are, your aren’t.” – Margaret Thatcher

“He who has much to teach must suffer much; and he alone can speak of the deepest things in the economy of God who has sooner or later entered into fellowship with the suffering of God.” G.C. Morgan

“It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open one’s mouth and remove all doubt.” – Abraham Lincoln

Daniel Cavanaugh

The spiritual leader lives with a higher calling. At the core of this calling lies the reason – the gospel. Not only has the gospel redeemed his life from destruction, it is the conviction that motivates every spiritual leader to invest himself in those in his sphere of influence. The gospel fuels his conviction, because within the gospel is the bread of life – Jesus Christ. The cross is his wisdom and informs every aspect of his ministry. It defines and hones his message and ultimately gives credence to true success – whether the God of the gospel is glorified or diminished. The gospel is not peripheral; it is central.

So, when steps to effective leadership are given, they should not be manmade steps born out of human reasoning. Those steps must have biblical gospel implications – the humility of our Lord, His forgiveness, His grace, a commitment to His glory, and undeserved love.

The Gospel-centered leader reflects Christ to others in his leadership. He is passionate while being grounded in the truth. He reflects a sanctified life in his interactions with those he leads. These traits are genuine, not forced. They are fruit born out of a life that is centered in the person of Christ. They are not profound truths except in their ability to transform a life.

Let’s take a look at a few.

1. Genuine love

“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13 [ESV]

2. Walking in the Spirit

“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.” Galatians 5:16&17 [ESV]

3. Prayer

“In these days he [Jesus] went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God.” Luke 6:12 [ESV]

4. Love for the word

But he answered, ”It is written, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4

5. Humility

“Therefore it says, ”God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:6

These are a good place to start for any who aspire to leadership.

Daniel Cavanaugh

Photo courtesy Britton Felber

Last night I had the opportunity to speak to the leadership team of Global Encounters, of which I am blessed and privileged to be a part. It was a joy to share with a group of people who, first of all, want to grow as leaders and secondly listened with open hearts. This year, God has put together a team for short term mission trips that only He could develop. They are ready by God’s Spirit to lead others to proclaim the gospel in other lands.

Nothing profound was shared. Just a few thoughts from my years of leading teams whether short term or a daily basis in an organization. I leave you with the things I highlighted. They are simply forged from a life that is and has been on a journey with Christ. I am over whelmed at the grace of God in my life. I know He is not done with me and the journey ahead – though challenging it may be – will teach me more. He truly works all things for my good.

1. Be the disciplined one – set the example

2. Be a student of the word

-        Know what you believe

-        Don’t just read but study

3.  Make the word of God primary 

-       Gives focus and direction instead of randomness.

-       Study what you will teach beforehand. Be ready to teach.

4. Build a relationship with your team

-        Make time for individuals

5. Grow with your team

6. Discern your team members

-        Be attentive to team members needs

-        Know their personalities/how they respond or don’t

-        Are they growing weary or pushing too much

-        Watch the signs/discern

7. Play to your team’s strengths

8. Empower your team

-        Don’t micro manage

-        Trust people

-        Let them make mistakes & learn

-        Rebuke in love

-        Firm action is last resort

9. Make time for rest   

10. Remember to have fun

11. Do not remind people you are in charge

12. You will make mistakes

-        Walk humbly

-        Be quick to ask forgiveness

13. Working with outside leadership  

-        Discern culture tendencies

-        Don’t over commit your team

-        Learn the art of saying no

 14. Communicate with your leadership team

…much more could be said but that is all for now.

Daniel Cavanaugh

I know this is an emphatic and bold statement to make – a leader is a reader – but let us take a moment to consider:

Why? 

Leaders give vision and direction to an organization and its ideals. Born out of an inner compass that is rooted in conviction, they are motivated to maintain true conviction and see it continue for generations to come.

However, how can a leader direct an organization or group of people when he fails to grow? Leaders do not grow unless they feed themselves with the proper resources and tools that stimulate the mind and heart, inspire, and most importantly fundamentally teach what it means to lead. If a leader is not growing, he cannot motivate and direct others to grow, achieve, and most importantly promote and continue that conviction they work from. Leaders can only lead from a life that gives evidence of the very conviction he promotes.  Leaders lead by example.

This is where the medium of reading comes in. Through words, sentences are built and through sentences, ideas are forged in the mind and ultimately in the heart – becoming unwavering conviction.  This is why books are so powerful and can alter or radically change the reader. Through the truth of God’s word, an individual’s heart is transformed. Through stories, journeys are taken that inspire and bring hope. When history is read, we learn from the mistakes and triumphs of fellow leaders. Through the written word, ideas change the course of civilization or direct the path of individuals who affect so many others. If you want to learn and grow as a leader, then you must without delay be a reader. The un-stimulated mind and heart never has and never will grow when left alone.

My list:

I leave you with a list of books that have changed and forged conviction that motivates me as a leader. Read them. Make your own list to share.  Leaders not only read; they encourage other to read.

1. ‘God is the Gospel’ – John Piper 

2. ‘Don’t Waste Your Life’ – John Piper 

3. ‘Think’ – John Piper 

4. ‘Dug Down Deep’ – Joshua Harris

5. ‘The Conviction to Lead’ – Dr. Albert Mohler

6. ‘Band of Brothers’ – Stephen Ambrose [Warning: language/war violence]

7. ’21 Irrefutable Laws of a Leader’ – John Maxwell 

8. ‘What is the Mission of the Church?’ – Kevin DeYoung & Greg Gilbert 

9. ‘Church Membership’ – Jonathan Leeman

10. ‘Radical’ – David Platt 

Daniel Cavanaugh

There are those rare times when you read a book and you know before you are done with it that it will change your life and you will read it again.  I love to read and more importantly, I like to read things that will challenge me to move beyond my comfort zone and set me on a course the will grow me in my relationship with Christ and as a leader. ‘The Conviction to Lead’ is one of those books. From the moment I began the book till its finish, I have had a rough time putting it down. I have posted excerpts from it on Facebook and Twitter multiple times. This book has been my inspiration in my latest series of blogs on leadership. In short, it’s a profoundly great book and you should read it.

I have read a plethora of books on leadership in the last ten years. Each one has brought something to the table that the other did not. Each one has expounded on principles that every leader needs to ponder, digest, and apply. However, the stark contrast between past leadership books read and the newly completed ‘The Conviction to Lead’ is the reason its gives on why we are to lead. Others have touched on it, but this one expounds upon it. Based upon biblical understanding and personal lessons in his own journey of leadership development, Dr Al Mohler [the author] gives clear reasoning on why conviction is the bedrock reason we lead.  His writing style is easy yet packed with meaning and insight as he lays out for you a clear understanding of what biblical conviction is and what it looks like for the leader in his day-to-day life. Dr. Mohler is very gifted in communicating and leaves no rock unturned, yet he gives valuable and concrete application for what convictional leadership looks like.

So, as Lavar Burton says in the classic PBS kids television show ‘Reading Rainbow’, “You don’t have to take my word for it.” You can find it here on amazon.com. Buy it. Read it. And change forever the way you view leadership.

Daniel Cavanaugh

Is this the question?

Actually, the issue is deeper than coffee. For the believer, we are dealing with a gospel engagement issue in the most recent wake of controversy over Starbucks long held view and support of same-sex marriage.

First of all, I want to preface before my remarks by saying that if you have chosen for conscience sake not to support Starbucks, then I condemn you in no way. God’s word tells us that anything that is not done in faith is sin [Romans 14:23]. So, if you in good faith cannot support Starbucks please don’t. Do not violate your conscience.

However, I would like to challenge leaders and the average laymen with what it means to engage our culture with the gospel and whether or not boycotting Starbucks or any other corporation will accomplish that mission. Let’s take a step back, breath a minute, clear our mind of all social media bantering, and look at the whole picture.

The whole picture

For the 21-century believer living in Western American culture, he or she finds they are surrounded in a postmodern world. No longer is our society permeated or influenced by Judeo-Christian values. It has been replaced by a more evident and stronger humanistic way of thinking. The value system that once motivated the average citizen – Christian or not – is all but gone. We are left with a faded photograph stored in an attic that we nostalgically remember and hope will return. For the first time, the American believer finds himself understanding what it must have been like for Paul to minister in Rome or Corinth; or Jesus and His disciples who had to pay taxes to Caesar – using the money for nothing but evil.  Anyone who is a student of accent history knows the level of debauchery that Rome and Corinth had reached in regards to perversion. It ran rampant in the streets. One could not walk down the road without being visually assaulted by it. You could make an argument that we have reached that level here in America.

Why do I reference the culture of the first century believers or Jesus himself? I do it to remind us that we are not the first ones to engage the gospel in a culture that is anti-Christian. Sure, we are not being killed for it, but we are verbally persecuted everyday by the media and those who push their agenda. And yet, I ask: do we engage as the first century believers did? Jesus told his disciples to pay taxes to an evil emperor who used their money for anything but good [Matthew 22:1-22]. Paul told slaves to be faithful servants to their earthly masters [Ephesians 6:5-8]. Do not misunderstand me. There are definite times when we should obey God rather than Caesar.  But is this the ground that we want to die on? Is removing ourselves from all engagement from an area a good idea?

Gospel Compels…

I believe the gospel compels us in a different direction than we might think. I don’t know why, but Christians often seem to have a knee jerk reaction to things. Instead of responding, we react. Instead of engaging, we hypercritically ostracize those around us. Instead of addressing the issue biblically, we basically say, “I don’t like you anymore”. Do not be fooled. The message of the gospel will be divisive by its very nature.  But must we unnecessarily turn people off from the gospel? In EVERY place, preach forgiveness that is found at the foot of the cross. Show people their sins in light of the word of God. Compel them to repent and turn in faith to Christ. Oh, and remember: only grace differentiates you from the guy next to you.

So what should we do?

Lets make our daily/weekly stop at our local Starbucks, grab a cup of coffee, say hi to our favorite gay barista, strike up a conversation, and who knows; maybe you will have the chance to talk about the gospel. You may be the one God will use to bring the Starbucks culture to Christ. If all the Christians stop working or going into Starbucks, who will reach that avenue of culture with the gospel? If we remove our influence from every place that supports or promotes a gay agenda, we remove the light of the gospel in that corner. In addition, we cease to have a platform from which to engage the issue of homosexuality. Furthermore, what happens when all organizations except the church or Christian businesses – which may find it impossible to operate legally – herald loudly their support and throw their money liberally to the homosexual cause? Will we just close ourselves up into our houses and cease to engage with the gospel?

Jesus commanded His disciples to GO into the ENTIRE world. We are not to be of the world, but we are most certainly to be IN the world.  So the question is not ‘to drink coffee or not to drink coffee’ but rather ‘to engage with the gospel or not to engage with the gospel’?

Daniel Cavanaugh

For more on this issue, I encourage you to read the following article by Dr. Russell Moore: ‘Should Christians Boycott Starbucks?’

Anyone who knows me understands I am a stickler for being on time and how you use your time. I never have time to kill. A lot of it has to do with my personality, but much of it is driven by my passion. I am passionate about the gospel, the need for its centrality, and effectively mobilizing God’s people to live and proclaim it. I know that we can’t afford to waste time. However, there is a hard balance to strike when it comes to using your time wisely. On one hand, you only have one life to live and no clue how long it will be. On the other, busyness suggests a life filled with purpose but void of investment in people or the right things to accomplish what God has called you to.

When you consider eternity in comparison to the time you have on earth, it is sobering. None of us is guaranteed our next breath.  Peradventure, we live the average age of 75; our life is a speck of sand in the grand universe of eternity. Yet, we are still commanded and commissioned in scripture to “redeem the time because the days are evil”.

For those who are overly compulsive about time – meaning, we do not take time to rest or for people – or for those who do not use their time wisely, harsh rebuke is needed. However, instead of harping either one, let’s consider the razors edge a faithful leader walks everyday when it comes to time. I want to challenge either side to a central view of time stewardship.

What questions should you ask to walk the edge? How do you discern what is motivating you? How do you prioritize your time?

1.    Do you realize the urgency?

All leaders must live with urgency. Time is precious. Time is valuable. With each tick of your watch, time is lost and never regained. The next tick could be your last.

2.    Do you see the necessity?

A leader know it is necessary to use time wisely. He does not throw it away like trash. He values it. More importantly, the gospel cry necessitates that he recognize what must be done. He will prioritize and claim the grace of God to accomplish what is before him.

3.    Do you think you are indispensable?

No leader is indispensable. And, if he becomes so in the minds of those who follow, then that leader has failed to train faithful men who can teach others. For he to will run out of ticks. Then who will carry on?

4.    Are projects more important than people?

We can always come up with another project. However, the leader knows that souls are the only thing that will echo from eternity. They alone bear the image of God. Never pass up an opportunity to invest in an image bearer. Never be to busy for people.  People are never a waist.

5.    Do you take time to rest?

A faithful leader’s greatest weakness is His ability to rest. He realizes the urgency and the necessity – translating it as a reason never to rest. It never works. Wash out is around the corner. He is not indispensable. When a leader fails to be filled up again, he eventually runs out of the ability to give.

6.    Does need or Christ motivate you?

Do not misunderstand me. Need is all around us and should be very compelling. But, ‘need’ alone will render you ineffective. That’s just it: there is always a need and there is only one you. Let Christ ground you. He must direct the priorities of your life. Preach the gospel. And equip and empower others who will take up the banner cry of a need.

7.    Are you a “Plodding visionary”?

A leader must have vision. Vision is what keeps him on course. It is his mainstay. When all around gives way, his vision will ground him. Dream big but do not pursue empty glory. Be a leader who is willing to plot through the mundane.  Be the leader who sees the mundane as a tapestry that is being woven together for the glory of God.

Finally:   No one has time to kill. If you do, I would be glad to take some off your hands. Every leader has 24 hours in a day and each one is given the responsibility to steward that time. You are faced with a choice: what will happen during the dash of your life? The dash on your gravestone marks the days between your birth and your death.  That time is not yours to kill. It is God’s gift to steward.

Daniel Cavanaugh