How can a few men change a nation?

We live in an age where the attention of the world is focused on everything that is big, flashy, and media driven. If the 21st century church wants to change the 21st century world, surely they need to adopt 21st century methods, don't they? Various books on church planting explain how to spend a lot of money on marketing and buy guaranteed results. Church growth 'experts' tell of how to use the latest research methods and influence particular groups by studying and appealing to their felt needs. The patent failure of all these efforts to transform the character of their 'target' populations is tragic testimony to the failure of the 21st century church to recognize that, "the weapons of our warfare are not carnal" (2Cor. 10:4). So how can a few men change a nation?

Ultimately change is in the hands of a sovereign God, whose methods are unchanged. He will only transform a nation through the proclamation of the Word of God by men on fire for God.

When Jesus set about transforming the world, he spent his time preaching the gospel, but he also chose 12 men, and while carrying on his preaching ministry, he devoted a huge portion of his time to 'discipling' these few men, and preparing them for a lifetime of doing likewise.

Three years after calling them out to be 'discipled,' Jesus commissioned them to go and preach the good news, and sending them into the world, commanding them to go and make disciples of all peoples. The result? With just a few, the whole world was turned upside down!

God is unchanged, and his power to transform a nation is not limited by the hardness or coldness of our materialistic, apathetic age. What is needed once again are a few men who will commit themselves to preaching the word, and discipling men for godliness.

With Christ is our model, the emphasis of a biblical ministry must be a balance between proclamation and personal instruction. In the same way Paul saw the necessity for Timothy to "Preach the word" (2Tim. 4:2), but also to disciple a plurality of men who would carry on the work (2Tim. 2:2).

Think for a moment how things could change if a few men devoted themselves to finding and making disciples in the way our Lord did?

Five to the power of Five

If one pastor spent the next five years finding and discipling a small number of men, just five of whom, at the end of those five years, were called of God and willing to go into the ministry; During the next five years, if that same pastor spent his time training and helping those five men to find and disciple their own five, just as he had done; Then for the next five years, if he spent time training and helping those first five men to train and help their five, to find and disciple five more... how long would it take to fill all the empty pulpits in Britain?

If the process continued, (and was successful) in just 25 years, 3,125 men would be entering the ministry in Britain!

Obviously the work of God is not simply a matter of 'try-and-do'! Many men have longed to find successors and failed to see any raised up. God alone can ultimately call and thrust men into the ministry, and merely seeing the potential for such a transformation is a far cry from accomplishing it.

What these simple figures do show us however is the tremendous importance of devoting time and effort to discipleship, alongside all the other tasks of ministry.

How can a nation be changed? Right now there is a famine of the word of God, which will not be met by the 'saviour' of modern media or marketing methods. The answer will only come when an army of preachers is raised up and sent out across the land, as in the days of John Wycliffe and his Lollards.

Please join us in praying that just such an army will be given from above!

Please also pray for the few, these men committed to devoting their lives to preaching the whole counsel of God, and pouring their lives into a small number of men who will go and do likewise! With God, we can run against a troop, with our God we can scale a wall! (Ps. 18:29)

Now hear this... (oh, and spot Donna if you can...)

Tom's sermons available online

Thanks for visiting the blog :-)

To get to Tom's sermons from Sojourners Fellowship Group at Grace Community Church click here.

I'm working on getting some video put up from the sermons we recorded at the seminary, and will post a link when they are ready.

Praying they're a blessing to you...

In His lovely Name

Tom

Donna's 40th Surprise Party

"Well, you totally surprised me on that one!!!"

So said Donna on her way home from her 40th birthday party last night :-)

Follow this link for some pics

Wish you all could have been here to celebrate with us!

In His love

Tom

Postmodern culture???

Hi again...

I am just reading "Planting New Churches in a Postmodern Age" by Ed Stetzer. Some helpful advice in this book, but I can't help thinking he confuses philosophy with culture. He claims that once we "understand the cultural nature of postmodernism, (we'll see that) a postmodern church is just about as acceptable as an Arab church, a contemporary church or an inner city church" (128). Much is then made of the need to adapt the church so that unchurched 'postmoderns' will come.

In the NT, Paul made cultural adaptations so as not to offend unnecessarily - but he didn't concede to a worldly philosophy in order to make Christianity attractive to people that held it! If that was the case then Paul would probably have had to plant two churches in Athens... one for the Epicureans and one for the Stoics.

The need of the hour is not 'contextualization' - but an unceasing bold declaration of man's need and God's remedy, with fervent prayer for God's accompanying mercy!

Ah well... on with the book...

T

So much fun

Hi friends

We just got back from a trip to the Glendale "Americana" - which is true to its name, an all American shopping experience: 100ft Christmas tree, fake snow, tram rides, Santa's grotto, dancing fountains, and Bing Crosby still dreaming of a white Christmas!It doesn't get more fake than this... but it was all exceptionally well done.

Carys was simply over-awed... and I must admit, despite the glitz, we all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves!

Desperately sad to think that this is all that most people have to enjoy. A few short lived pleasures, and then wrath to come! So wonderful on the other hand to realize that Christ has saved us, and also given "all good things for our enjoyment"! With heaven ahead... all these little pleasures just become reminders of the wonders God has prepared for us in the life to come. Wish you were here with us to share in the fun... seeing Carys' delight was

such a thrill.

TTFN

Tom

A brief Christmas update... more to come.

Hello one and all...

Tom here...

It's been SUCH a long time since we updated this blog that the gap is simply too big to fill. Instead we'll try to fill you in on some of the highlights with a few entries over the Christmas period.

The last few days have been a wonderful treat! With the pressure of the semester now past, it's been so wonderful to have a few hours each day to spend in the company of the most amazing and beautiful woman I know!

So lovely to be married to my best friend... and to someone who just grows more beautiful as the years go by.

I've also been discovering just how MUCH fun it is to lie on my back and be handed one or two toys again and again and again! Carys is simply a delight every day... and apart from a 'three day fever' the other week, praise God, she has been quite the picture of good health!

All would be entirely peaceful, were it not for the fact that Donna taught her how to tickle US... and now like the (old) Inspector Clouseau... we have to be on our guard in case this little 'Kato' comes rushing up to catch us unawares!

The 5th semester is now behind us... only two more to go!

This last one has been typically busy, with a few extra responsibilities thrown into the mix. My eyes are feeling the strain a little after completing the 3702 pages of assigned textbook reading... but it's (almost) all been GREAT reading... and all of it has been a GREAT privilege to read!

I had six courses this semester: Preaching lab; Apologetics and Evangelism; Ordination Practicum; Worship and Music; Exegesis of selected Psalms, and a Discipleship lab.

All were excellent classes... and it's hard to pick a highlight. It was great to begin to get to grips with Hebrew poetry and start to feel at home in the Psalms... though it's been like starting to paddle in a vast ocean still to be explored!

Not everyone enjoys the Worship & Music class... but I was so happy to have an opportunity to delve into the Biblical principles of worship that should underlie all that goes on in the Body of Christ. There are so many hot potatoes in this area, and so much prejudice based on preference rather than principle, that I felt really relieved to have had the time to ground my opinions in the Word of God. It did feel slightly odd for me to be learning to read the basics of music... and then how to conduct! Friends and family in England will no doubt have a good laugh to think of me waving my arms around! Conducting formed part of the final exam... so I practiced at every opportunity, including when leading worship in our fellowship group... an act that earned me the nickname "Pope Thomas" :-D Here's a link to a brief "Philosophy of Worship" paper that I had to write.

'Ordination Practicum' sounds a bit like a disease... but in fact it was a real treat. Every week we covered about 6 books of the Bible, and had to memorise the theme, outline, key chapters (summary of contents), key verses/passages, and key people. The week by week tests were manageable... but the books kept piling up, and by the end of the semester, it was something of a struggle to go back and re-learn the above for all 66 books! I spent over 40 hours revising for this exam alone, and still felt as though I was not really prepared! Thankfully the exam was more manageable than it could have been! The more I studied for it... the more I kept realising just how little I know the Bible. Such a blessing to have that tucked away now though! It's so good when counselling with people to be able to think, "Oh yes... this person needs to understand their position in Christ and practice it... that's the theme of Ephesians"

Apologetics & Evangelism is two courses combined, with two professors. I thought I was a presuppositionalist... and I it turns out I am... but it was good, all the same, to read all the different views of how best to defend the faith (Apologetics). Reading Van Til's "Defense of the Faith" was not a highlight! This is supposed to be a classic... but it has to be the most obscure classic in print! Even Van Til's successors admit that his writings are not exactly clear! (Thankfully the presuppositionalist John Frame's book "Apologetics to the Glory of God" is as clear as Van Til is obscure.) Over the last few years, I have come to love the two volume set by Ichabod Spencer called, "A Pastor's Sketches" These are invaluable records of the pastoral visits made by Ichabod - a real physician of souls. I decided to write a paper for this course on Ichabod, since it seems he was a presuppositionalist long before Van Til, who is lauded as the father of Presuppositional Apologetics. If Apologetics interests you... you can read it by clicking here.

The Evangelism side of the course was a joy... very practical! Refreshing to be helped to think Biblically in an area where either pragmatism or fear usually rules!

Preaching lab is quite an experience! (Click here for a sample)This was one of the moments I'd been longing for! Where else in the world do you have a room full of men who spend all their time thinking about how to preach... thinking about how you just preached? This opportunity for real critical feedback has to be worth its weight in gold. Between a few professors, there was about 100 years of preaching experience being poured into a handful of us fledglings! I can't describe the relief of having someone put their finger on the source of problems that I've been aware of but unable to pin down! What a privilege!

Discipleship lab I've left till last... my mum told me... always leave the best till last!

I will always treasure these times with Dr. William Varner. He's my pastor in the growing fellowship group (now about 300-strong) where I serve as an intern, and he also teaches Bible & Greek at the Master's College. Meeting with him week by week for one-on-one discipleship has made for a learning experience I could not have expected. How do you prepare as a trainee pastor, for the many practical tasks such as visiting the dying & bereaved, except by going along with someone who's doing it? I have loved these precious opportunities, both to accompany him as my mentor, and sit and talk with him as a friend... and have come to really admire Dr V's practical Biblical wisdom laced with genuine graciousness. May the Lord enable me to follow him as he follows Christ.

Life goes on apace despite the end of the semester... many more books to read for next term... a sermon to preach in our fellowship group... responsibilities overseeing the Bible studies... people to disciple, and others to counsel... a banquet to organise for February... and a James 1:27 ministry to initiate... oh, and Christmas!

Even so, it is a lot more relaxed, and lovely to be finally writing some news to you all. Please do write back and let us have some of yours! :-)

Our love in Christ

Tom

For Tom Donna and Carys

A smile, a giggle and a budding conversationist?

A friend who adopted a little girl about a year ago pulled me to one side at Seminary when we  began to try to adopt Carys. "I'm so happy for you," he said. "Just a few weeks from now, you'll be bending over her crib, looking at her sleeping... and she'll open her eyes, and smile up at you... just because it's you there looking at her." 

Well, it's happened, and what a joy! Now to top it all she's beginning to try to talk back at us! Take a look at this video...

What a cheeky child! :-)

This has been quite a week, and we are both exhausted, but rejoicing in the Lord and his kindness to us... and who couldn't go a little bit giggly when there's a little bundle of joy like this.

Only three more weeks of Seminary to go. And only one more week before Grandma and Granddad arrive from England! Pray for us, especially for Tom for strength to see the semester through to the end. He has so much still to do.

Our love from over here...

Tom & Donna

Friends Forays and The Face of the Fearless

We've been blessed so much recently by having the support of so many of our friends. Drew, here is another seminary student whose wife Sarah just popped 6 weeks ago and - little Levi has already got his eye on Carys.
Carys seems to take it all for granted... but of course... everyone like to look at me... I'm gorgeous... that's obvious isn't it? 
Donna and I have been making our first forays into the big wide world with Carys safely tucked into the new stroller provided by our fellowship group. Carys is entirely unruffled by it all. Admirers, bumps in the road, photographs, it's all in a day's work for her gorgeousness... 

Seriously, we have been SO blessed by the many visits and tokens of love that have come with them. Not least has been a constant supply of FOOD! We have eaten almost nothing but the meals provided for us, and the copious left-overs... day after day... which has taken a huge load off Donna.

For any of you reading this before Tuesday... I have a huge Hebrew paper to submit, and another Greek test to sit, which I would much appreciate your prayers for. I am quite seriously behind with all my work now, and working like mad to catch up... but the tiredness doesn't always permit me to work as I would like to!

Thanks again for your love and prayers.

Yours from across the pond...

T 

Carys the Conqueror

Hello again

Who would have thought that someone so little could wield such power?

If we could only have had a dictaphone on hand... and added up the number of times people kindly gave us their advice, "Everything is going to change!" we would have set it to music, and now you would be listening to it... rap style... in the background while you read this blog.  Well... they were right! 

Praise God though, she actually slept in the night-time last night! (The nights before had not been so good, and my somewhat over-full schedule doesn't have much tolerance in it for less sleep than I already get...)

Still - I've been learning to work and care for Carys at the same time when Donna is too exhausted to continue :-)

So - everything is changing... but what an amazing amount of joy such a little one brings in with all the challenges! We are just continually overwhelmed at the Lord's kindness to us in giving us this gift up to this point. Only three weeks to go till we find out if she's with us to stay.

Donna's just off to the hospital for another follow up visit... they've been pretty constant recently, but hopefully this will be the last for a while... I'm going to get dressed and get some work done I hope!

TTFN

T

A new blog

Hi everyone

With the arrival of little Carys Elaine last week, we thought it's about time we started a blog so that you can all share in our joy!

You can use this site to keep in touch with us, and we will definitely enjoy reading your comments...

The large gorgeous girl is busy catching up on some sleep after an almost sleepless night feeding Carys. The little gorgeous girl is also sleeping... punch drunk from plenty of formula. We are trying to get her ready for a weigh-in today, and keep the doctors happy.

Well... in true seminary fashion... that's all I have time for for now... I have to finish translating Genesis 3:8-16 and then about 25 verses from the New Testament in time for an exam tomorrow... plus a fair bit of reading to do... oh, and Carys needs to be taken to visit the Paediatrician! :-)

TTFN

Tom