Faith and Patience

Terry and Sandy Kreuger with three of their children relocated to Denver, CO in June of 2010 where they serve on the NCMI Trans-local team as well as the Church Planting / Leadership Team of Redemption City Church.

Faith and Patience

Hebrews 6:12 tells us that with faith AND patience we inherit the promises. If you are anything like me – faith is the easy part and it is the patience that I struggle with. Allow me to encourage you out of this scripture this morning.

Build Slowly

Ex 23:30 tells us that “Little by little … ” we will take the land. I love the stories of church plants that go off like rockets, explosive growth and many getting saved. I have faith that every one of our church plants experience the supernatural life and the presence of God manifested in this way … “The Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47) Still I want to encourage you to build slowly. Don’t rush the simple processes, timing and seasons of God

Who we set is as Elders / Deacons will significantly affect and shape the future of our church.

-       Jesus example ..

                        Spent time in prayer (Luke 6:13)

                        Didn’t just choose his buddies … It is clear from Scripture that there were varying levels  of relationships between Jesus and the 12. We must be comfortable to bring through those that are not like us. Those that we might not necessarily have chosen but that God is choosing. 

-       Moses

Men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain (Ex 18:21) … Takes time

-       1 Tim 3 …

                        Must first be tested …. Takes time

Build Strategically

Simply means that we need to be deliberate and intentional about how we move the church forward. I want to be so bold as to say that this is a key area for us to lead from revelation rather than observation. I love to read, but books on how others did it in other places are not going to suffice here. In finding strategy for our churches, cities and nation we must lead from revelation … we must be found in the word and in prayer! Jesus strategies for going into regions and cities showed great variety, creativity and depth of sensitivity. In some places healing was the key, in others, as in John 4 and the women at the well it was a prophetic conversation laced with the word of knowledge that opened up a community.

Even in the details of where and when we meet we can give God room to speak. A friend of mine who has planted a thriving church meets exclusively on Saturday night and encourages his folk to visit other churches on a Sunday Morning. How many of you know that you have to be crazy to do that if you have not heard God! But he has and his church is growing rapidly

Build Scripturally

God has given us all of Scripture for a reason! It is all valid; it is all necessary and it is all relevant. Scripture itself speaks into this saying ALL scripture is God breathed. (2 Tim 3:16) We err when we over-emphasize portions, principals or even individual truths over the rest of Scripture. Paul’s farewell speech to the Ephesian Elders gives us some insight on how he saw his roll in preaching as well as what he preached. … “I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you” … and “I have not hesitated to preach the whole will of God. (Acts 20:20+27) Lastly – David writes in Psalm 119:89 “Your word, O Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.” Some translations put it like this  … “Your word is settled in heaven” … if it is settled in heaven let us be found faithful to settle it here on earth!

Build Sensitively

As you know I have commented before on my personal Blog about the tension between word and spirit so I will endeavor not to repeat that here. Suffice to say that between the death and resurrection of Jesus there is a third event that carries all the weight and significance of the first two; and that is the temple curtain being torn from TOP to BOTTOM! (Mark 15:38) This tearing of the curtain signifies not symbolizes the release of the Holy Spirit. The fact that the curtain is torn from top to bottom tells us that this is God’s initiation. That curtain was sixty feet high – we know no man reached up there to tear it. The Holy Spirit poured out on all flesh is Gods idea and God’s initiation. May I again be so bold as to say that even Jesus himself suggested that we would be lonely, orphans (John14:18) with out the presence of The Holy Spirit to lead and guide us into all truth. From my vista the single most important gift that Jesus gave us and by implication the church is The Holy Spirit. He is more important than the gifts, which without him would simply stop flowing. He is far more important the Five Fold ascension gifts which without him are simply built on men’s natural gifts and talents.

Build Securely

All things can and will be shaken. There is only one King and one Kingdom that will remain unshaken. If we are going to make our people secure we better give attention to building them toward the King and the Kingdom.

Security in Christ

            Col 3:3

Security in the Father

            John 10:29 

Security in the leading and dealing of the Holy Spirit

            John 16:12 - 15

Build Seeking

I was in a forum a number of years ago in North Orange County where we gathered planters and potential planters from around the country. The first session went something like us debating and deciding on “25 essential characteristics of a Church Planter” I was horrified as not a single person mentioned a heart for the lost!!! I know .. I know you are saying there he goes again … Tkay always with a heart for the lost. I get it!!! But surely even if a passion for the lost is not top of the list or even in the first 10/15 characteristics, surely it should be there somewhere? Surely if we are not planting to see the lost saved we need to re-evaluate what we are doing? Surely, if the Gospel and all its magnificent implications is not a cornerstone of how and why we are planting we need to question our motives?

Luke19:10  tells us that Jesus came “to seek and save what was lost” The NIV Study Bible tells us that this statement is “An important summary of Jesus purpose – to bring salvation, eternal life and the Kingdom of God”

For most this is the “pot” that gets pushed to the back of the stove the easiest. If we are going to keep this “pot” boiling we are going to have to move it back to the front burner. We are going of have to pray it, preach it, teach it and live it out so that His purposes may become our purpose – Salvation, eternal life and the Kingdom of God

Trust you are all encouraged … feel free to email me subjects to be covered as well as updates on church plants and testimonies.

Yours in His grip

Terry Kreuger