Living for Jesus

Reproducibility is a part of our church planting strategy. Everything I do should be reproducible by the Filipinos whom I serve. That is how our house churches can grow; simplify their organization so any baptized believer can learn to start a church among their family and friends.

If they do not have the skills to deliver a 3-point sermon, then I should not deliver such sermons when I’m leading a new church. If they do not have a title, like Pastor, then I should not carry one. If they do not have the means to build even a small church building, then I should not encourage one to be built.

The way I lead should be the way they will lead. So, I use the same prepared, one page lessons that they will use. I use the same Bible stories with questions that they will use. I sit on the same dirty floors that they will sit on. I pray in a way that’s easy for them to pray. And I try to answer questions in a simple way that they can remember and answer, too.

So last week was a big change of pace for me. Central Philippine University was having their Christ Emphasis Week and I was again one of their invited speakers. Their theme was “Living for Jesus” and I wanted to draw a sharp contrast between giving in the pleasures and excitements of modern culture verses denying oneself in order to serve others.

For nearly 4 days, using Martha’s new laptop computer, I finally learned how to use PowerPoint (the computer software that uses text, graphics, pictures, and even video clips for a presentation). Then, for 3 two-hour sessions, I spoke to about 400 students, using as much media as I could in order to communicate audibly and visually what it meant to live for Jesus. At the end of the 3rd session, about 50 students came forward to indicate their intention to truly live for Jesus.

But the part I enjoyed most was working with Martha. She helped me do 3 drama presentations, as well as giving personal testimony and insights during each of the three sessions. She even helped me answer questions during the open-forum time. Being the same age as the students to whom we were speaking added much weight to what she had to say. And the students listened well when she spoke. Of course, she was able to speak with authority and grace because of her own commitment and example to live for Jesus. What a joy. And I think Jan, too, was smiling from heaven’s window.