Meeting Transcripts

Opening Remarks

Welcome

Thanks so much to each of you for coming this year. God bless you for doing so at the sacrifice on your part of time and finances. We appreciate it. We’re going to get started right away because we have plenty of material to cover.

Agenda

Slide 1

THE APOSTOLIC FAITH

THIS PRESENTATION WILL COVER

·         The apostolic faith

·         Our Minister’s Manual

·         Our Daybreak and Discovery series

In the first session of today, we will look at three aspects of our work. Notice on the slide, that we used lower case letters on “apostolic faith.” This is because we are trying to describe a faith rather than an organization. Our Minister’s Manual describes how we attempt to apply that faith within our organization. Our Bible project series is a valuable tool that we should be using. It presents an opportunity to study the Bible cover to cover, over a period of three years, through the lens of this faith that we embrace.

Our Faith

Faith vs. the Faith

Slide 2

THE APOSTOLIC FAITH

DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN “FAITH” AND “THE FAITH,” Ascertain the difference.

The Bible draws a distinction between “faith” and “the faith,” as we shall now see.

Slide 3

THE APOSTOLIC FAITH

 “FAITH” VERSUS “THE FAITH”

·         “Faith” = trust, assurance, and confidence in God. It refers to believing.

·         “The faith” = the entire scope of doctrine (teachings) and practices given to the Church through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

When we think of “faith,” we think of “believing faith.” “The faith” encompasses the whole of all that the Bible teaches—what the Apostles stood for, how they lived and conducted themselves, and the framework of what they taught and what we want to embrace.

Examples of Believing Faith

Slide 4

THE APOSTOLIC FAITH

EXAMPLES OF BELIEVING FAITH

·         The Roman centurion who believed for the healing of his sick servant.

·         The four friends who brought one sick of the palsy to Jesus.

·         The woman who touched the hem of Jesus’ garment.

There are plenty of references in the Bible to “believing faith.” The Roman centurion was one who exhibited believing faith. He had a servant at home, who the Bible says was, “sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.” He brought the situation to Jesus, “And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him” (Matthew 8:6-7).  The centurion was a man of authority as you well know. He answered, “Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed” (verse 8).  Those in authority can relate to this; people obey what they say. When Jesus heard this, “He marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel” (verse 10). He was outside of Israel in terms of His heritage. He told the centurion, “Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour” (verse 13). This is a good example of believing faith. It is usually what we think of when we describe faith and when we preach of faith.

Next, we have the four who brought to Jesus the one who was sick of the palsy. We’ve already heard in one of the sermons this week, “Open the roof.” The Bible says, “And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee” (Luke 5:20). Jesus also healed the man. That was the believing faith on the part of the four, and also of the one who was sick.

Third, is the woman who was diseased for twelve years. She “came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole” (Matthew 9:20-22).  

References to “The Faith”

Slide 5

THE APOSTOLIC FAITH

REFERENCES TO “THE FAITH”

·         Acts 6:7 “ . . . and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.”

·         Acts 16:5 “And so were the churches established in the faith . . .”

·         Acts 14:22 “Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.”

In contrast to believing faith, there are many references in the Bible to “the faith.” Many were obedient to the faith, established in the faith and continued in the faith.

Slide 6

THE APOSTOLIC FAITH

REFERENCES TO “THE FAITH”

·         1 Timothy 4:1: “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.”

·         1 Timothy 5:8: “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.”

·         1 Timothy 6:20-21: “. . . keep that which is committed to thy trust . . . Which some professing have erred concerning the faith.”

We see also that it’s possible to depart from the faith, deny the faith, or err concerning the faith. (In our language today, we might say, “blunder.”)

Slide 7

THE APOSTOLIC FAITH

REFERENCES TO “THE FAITH”

·         Galatians 1:23: “But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.”

·         1 Timothy 1:2: “Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith.”

·         2 Timothy 4:7: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.”

Paul preached the faith, Timothy was Paul’s son in the faith, and with Paul, we want to be able to declare that we have kept the faith. The point is that when we consider the faith, it is not the fact that we have believed; rather, it is what we have believed and stood for after we have believed.

Why We Proclaim “The Faith”

Slide 8

THE APOSTOLIC FAITH

WHY WE PROCLAIM “THE FAITH”

(Photo of group of young people sitting in church)

I can think of three reasons why we preach the faith: First, our Gospel veterans would be surprised if we somehow preached something other than the faith that they long stood for and passed on to us. Another overriding reason is that we have a generation of young people. We need not think generationally; we need to think annually. Every year, another young person, or group, comes to age. They need to hear it to understand and value “the faith” that we have come to appreciate. Finally, if neither of the first two applied, it is the Word of God, so we want to declare it.

Charles Parham

Slide 9

THE APOSTOLIC FAITH

CHARLES PARHAM

(Photo)

·         He was the first one to use “the apostolic faith.”

Charles Parham, a minister who settled in Topeka, Kansas, in the late 1800s, is generally viewed as the first one who used the term, “the apostolic faith.” Lower case. He used the term “apostolic faith” not to describe a denomination, but to describe a faith. Parham viewed himself devoutly non-denominational; he had left the Methodist Church because they had departed from the holiness teachings, practices, and traditions which he had long embraced. He and a group of young coworkers traveled from town to town in the Midwest preaching the holiness Gospel; entire sanctification and divine healing. That gives you an idea of his framework of the faith.

His self-proclaimed purpose was to seek the restoration of the faith of the Apostles, and his group came to be known as “the Apostolic Faith Movement.” Parham established a mission in Topeka, and in 1899, began printing a magazine called The Apostolic Faith. The title was describing a faith, not the name of a group. He started the Bethel Bible College in Topeka in October 1900, leading his students according to what he understood to be the faith of the Apostles; the apostolic faith doctrines, including repentance, justification, healing, restitution, and entire sanctification.

Near Christmas of 1900, Parham left for a time to preach. He assigned the students to study Acts 2 in his absence and give a report upon his return after the first of the year. The students had several days of study and prayer, and then held a New Year's Eve "watch-night" service (December 31, 1900). At just past midnight, one student named Agnes Ozman experienced the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the accompanying witness of speaking in a distinct language unknown to her. By the time Parham returned, others had experienced this as well. He soon did, too. The number of students in that college was about three dozen. Two-thirds of them rejected the teaching so that left only a handful who embraced it.

A lot of this history is available online. A source that I trust is one of our own people, Amos Morgan. His website is azusabooks.org. Fifteen years or so ago he gave me a printed booklet of most of what is posted there. I have referred to it often and have found it to be very useful. He uses a number of primary sources and eyewitness accounts of the things that happened. It has a bias toward the Apostolic Faith, but so do I.

Slide 10

THE APOSTOLIC FAITH

 “. . . EARNESTLY CONTEND FOR THE FAITH WHICH WAS ONCE DELIVERED UNTO THE SAINTS.”

Jude’s exhortation

Parham’s Apostolic Faith magazine used a portion of Jude 3 for a motto six years before the Azusa Street Revival and before the Apostolic Faith newspaper came into existence. Others, over the years have also used “The Apostolic Faith.” Early on there were divisions. Today, many of these groups are what we call “oneness” people. They rejected the Holy Trinity teaching that most conservatives stand for, Pentecostal and otherwise, but we won’t go into all of that today.

Slide 11

NEWS REPORT OF JANUARY 22, 1901

THE KANSAS CITY JOURNAL

(Photo)

Three weeks after Agnes Ozman experienced her Pentecost, the Kansas City Journal reported on another service conducted by Charles Parham and his “Apostolic Faith” band. The headline read: Was A Pentecost; “Apostolic Faith” Believers Claim a Gift of Tongues. Members are Chiefly Women. Strange Testimonials at a Strange Meeting Last Night. It was reported in a dramatic manner. The reliability and description of the report, just like the newspaper reports that came out of Los Angeles, may be suspect. But if nothing else, they confirmed in real time back then, that these events took place. Like today, news made to sound sensational or scandalous sells. Brother Amos brings up the “chiefly women” comment in that headline. The same article names the nine workers who were there. There were five women and four men. That gives you an idea of the reporting that took place to make it sound outlandish.

William Seymour

Slide 12

WILLIAM SEYMOUR

Leader of the Los Angeles Apostolic Faith Mission

(Photo)

Five years later, in 1905, Parham moved to Houston, Texas, and started the Apostolic Faith Mission, with other groups joining him. William Seymour, who learned from Parham, was invited to speak in Los Angeles early in 1906. He preached from Acts 2:4 and then was locked out of that church.

Slide 13

THE APOSTOLIC FAITH

FROM BONNIE BRAE TO AZUSA

(Photos of house and church)

Seymour joined a prayer meeting at 214 Bonnie Brae, and on March 31 the group implemented ten days of prayer. This led to April 9, 1906, when the power of the Holy Ghost descended. Afternoon prayer meetings were being held at Azusa Street, and evening prayer meetings in the Bonnie Brae home. The first service was held at Azusa Street on April 14, 1906.

Florence Crawford was invited and came when “there were scarcely twenty people.” There she experienced entire sanctification and the baptism of the Holy Ghost, and immediately became a key player in the movement under Seymour’s leadership, as evidenced by the photos and sources outside of our own.

The first Apostolic Faith Paper

Slide 14

ISSUE #1 FROM LOS ANGELES

 (Photo)

Five thousand copies were made of this first paper, named The Apostolic Faith, which came out in September of 1906. Sister Crawford’s activities were reported throughout those Los Angeles papers during the next couple of years, including her visit to Portland and elsewhere. I have printed a copy of all of these. We have facsimiles of the original documents, but in addition, the text has been put into PDF format, which is more easily read. In my copy I have highlighted every instance naming Sister Crawford and M.L. Ryan who extended the invitation to her in 1906. He is reported in these papers as well. He went to Los Angeles, visited, received his Pentecost, and invited Sister Crawford to Salem to hold meetings. She went and while she was there Sister Glassco came from Portland, was in those meetings, and invited Ryan to Portland. He went to Portland on an unscheduled trip. Those visits are also documented in these papers published from Los Angeles.

Clara Lum, who later joined Sister Crawford in Portland, was heavily engaged in producing these papers, as well as the ones soon to be issued from Portland. She is credited as being the silent chief editor and creator of these papers. Her arrival in Portland facilitated the continuing publication of these papers from Portland.

Establishing the Work at Portland

 
Slide 15

SISTER CRAWFORD BROUGHT THE FAITH TO PORTLAND

(photo of Sister Crawford and Front and Burnside building)

Late in 1906, Florence Crawford visited Salem by invitation. During the Salem meetings, she was invited to Portland where she held her first meeting just before the New Year.

In time, legal requirements necessitated that we incorporate, and “The Apostolic Faith Mission of Portland, Oregon” came into existence.  That corporate name was reserved with the State of Oregon in 1909, as I recall. We actually did not use it for another decade when it became necessary to organize to secure the campground property. That name was available, having been dormant for a number of years, so we picked it up and began using it. As I said, Parham’s teaching was to not organize , have a name, or incorporate unless it became a legal necessity.

This 1916 photo of the mission on Front and Burnside was taken just ten years after Florence Crawford first came to our city.

Slide 16

THE FIRST PAPER PRINTED IN PORTLAND

(photo)

Sister Crawford moved to Portland, as did Clara Lum. They continued printing the news of the apostolic faith. The first Apostolic Faith paper to be issued from the Portland headquarters was published in September of 1908. The doctrines listed in that paper and subsequent editions have stayed the same down through the years and to this day because they are Bible based, and reflect the teachings of the apostles.

AF or Apostolic Faith?

Slide 17

THE APOSTOLIC FAITH

ARE WE “AF” OR “APOSTOLIC FAITH”?

apostolic faith

I understand that “apostolic” can be difficult to pronounce and cumbersome to type.  However, . . . you will not hear me refer to us as “The A.F.” I don’t know what that means. We are the Apostolic Faith. I know what that means. To refer to us as “A.F.” is to diminish what we are all about, inadvertently. I’m not correcting or chastising anyone at all. We want to embrace and continue to experience and teach what the Apostles experienced and taught and stood for. When we call ourselves “Apostolic Faith,” we are saying more than a mouthful. We are claiming something that is a challenge to live up to. We don’t mind being challenged. May God help us. I have also learned that Google does not recognize “A.F.” If you google “A.F.” or use that name, it will not link you to us. We can almost thank Google for that. We need to use “Apostolic Faith.” If we want to elevate our online exposure, it’s helpful to use “Apostolic Faith” rather than “A.F.” Also, we want our young people to grasp the importance of the phrase “apostolic faith.” When we understand what it stands for, where it came from, we have a deeper appreciation for it.

The Minister’s Manual

The Scope and Purpose

Slide 18

THE SCOPE AND PURPOSE OF OUR MINISTER’S MANUAL

Our Minister’s Manual provides our pastors and ministers all around the world with an overview of what we stand for as an organization, the Apostolic Faith Mission of Portland, Oregon, and how we are expected to operate if we embrace this faith.

It is invaluable in helping us to operate in a consistent manner, no matter which continent we live on or which nation we live in. Any one of us or anyone anywhere in the world who attends one of our churches, should not think, This doesn’t feel like an Apostolic Faith service. We want their experience to feel like an Apostolic Faith service because we are apostolic. One critique I have heard of our young adult services is that they are no different than our adult services. Thank you. That’s a compliment. That’s what we want. We want our young adults to conduct their services in the same way we conduct our regular services. The only difference might be that they generate a little more enthusiasm and spontaneity than the adults due to the age difference. But it is by design that their services mirror ours. We want that. This is not to say that there can’t be a bit more creativity with the youth services.

The Minister’s Manual is not a preaching manual, though preaching is considered. It is not a leadership manual, though leadership is considered. It is an operation manual. It covers how we are to conduct ourselves personally as we strive to stand for the faith. It covers how we are to operate as a church if we expect to be part of the Apostolic Faith Mission of Portland, Oregon.

A Reference and Resource

Slide 19

MINISTER’S MANUAL – A REFERENCE AND A RESOURCE

“STUDY TO SHOW THYSELF APPROVED UNTO GOD, A WORKMAN THAT NEEDETH NOT TO BE ASHAMED, RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD OF TRUTH.”

2 Timothy 2:15

We continue to expand globally, more where there are third world conditions than elsewhere. However, we don’t discount that it’s needed everywhere. Here is a recent report on India: “All of the pastors in Aurangabad have all of their experiences. I have been communicating closely with our contact in India. His wife took all her jewelry off. Then they went to all the pastors and their wives, and she told them that from that day forward, she would not wear jewelry. She explained that she had given her jewelry to God. In addition, since they have started preaching the Apostolic Faith doctrines, many Muslims have been saved and water baptized. I have been receiving pictures of all the people who have gotten saved and water baptized. The pastors are asking when someone will come from Portland and visit all fifty churches. Also, they want to know when they can officially become ‘Apostolic Faith.’” We need to explore security issues and a number of other things before we can go and visit a handful of those fifty churches, but this gives you an idea of the longing that there is in the hearts of people around the world, for the Apostolic Faith.

The Minister’s Manual is designed to help emerging works to understand and live up to the apostolic faith doctrines and our mode of operating. It reminds the rest of us to preserve our rich tradition (I love our tradition!) and spiritual heritage thereby unifying us globally.

If we read and apply what is written, we will never find ourselves on an island by ourselves. Those who have run into problems would not have, had they read and followed the Minister’s Manual. It builds accountability at every level. Accountability is our friend. Not one of us has the luxury of operating independently of the rest of us. Those who have sought and done so end up losing their umbrella of safety and protection. It provides safety and protects against flawed thinking, let alone less than stellar actions.

What is the first word of 2 Timothy 2:15? Study. Study the Bible. Read books that help you better understand the Bible. Read this manual. Take advantage of the weekly excerpts that are delivered to your inbox.

Ironically, in my study I have learned that the verb translated “study” is more expansive than an intellectual exercise at our desk with our books. The emphasis seems to be that of the farmer plowing a straight furrow. He doesn’t want his neighbor to look at his field at the end of the day and wonder why he plowed in such a crooked manner. That would be embarrassing. I have not plowed, but I have laid irrigation lines. It is rewarding to look back 200 yards and see a straight line, even if the boss never did see it. We want to be happy about rightly dividing the Word of Truth and living for the Lord.

We want to cultivate our hearts and our minds through studying the Word of God to the benefit of our ministry and to the benefit, moreover, of the saints of God who are under our ministry.

Four Main Sections

Slide 20

MINISTER’S MANUAL

FOUR MAIN SECTIONS

·         Doctrines of the Holy Scriptures

·         The Ministry

·         Public Services

·         Church Organization and Administration

According to the Table of Contents, the manual is divided into four main sections: Bible doctrines, Apostolic Faith ministry, our practices (regarding holding services), and our mode of operation (organizationally and administratively). Each of those four main sections is divided into smaller sub-sections.

Doctrines of the Holy Scriptures

Slide 21

MINISTER’S MANUAL

DOCTRINES OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES

·         God and His Word

·         God’s Relationship with Man

·         God’s Plan for the Future

·         Biblical Ordinances

·         Biblical Practices

·         Biblical Perspectives

Section one covers Bible doctrines. It has six sub-sections. God and His Word focuses on the inspiration and infallibility of Scripture, and the three Persons of the Trinity. God’s Relationship with Man covers the fall of man, the nature of sin, the Atonement, the basic foundational experiences, the Church, and divine healing. God’s Plan for the Future gives a brief overview of our understanding of end time events. Biblical Ordinances covers water baptism, the Lord’s Supper, and Foot Washing. Biblical Practices looks at teachings regarding restitution, worship, honoring the Lord’s Day, tithes and offerings, and distinction from the world. Biblical Perspectives addresses topics such as the sanctity of marriage, the sanctity of life, and human sexuality along with other contemporary issues such as gambling, pornography, and use of alcohol, etc.

The Ministry

Slide 22

MINISTER’S MANUAL

THE MINISTRY

·         Ministerial Identity

·         Ministerial Competence

·         Ministerial Responsibilities

·         Ministerial Relationships

·         Administrative Work of a Pastor

Section two is The Ministry. It has five sub-sections and focuses on identity, training, and the responsibilities of those have been called to preach the apostolic faith. Ministerial Identity examines the call to preach, spiritual qualifications, personal fitness and conduct of ministers, and our accountability to God. Ministerial Competence focuses on Bible study and preparation, time management, personal growth and development, devotions and prayer life, and familiarity with church history and doctrine. Ministerial Responsibilities covers seventeen topics related to the duties of ministers, such as sermon preparation, leadership, support of other branches, counseling, and conflict resolution, etc. Ministerial Relationships looks at how ministers should interact with their spouses, their children, other ministers, workers, their congregation, and individuals with specific needs. The Administrative Role of a Pastor reviews duties that are specific to pastors, such as oversight of church finances, acquisition and care of church property, and the evaluation and training of ministerial candidates, etc. Our ministers notice when our pastors operate in a manner that is inconsistent to what they are reading in the Minister’s Manual.

Public Services

Slide 23

MINISTER’S MANUAL

PUBLIC SERVICES

·         General Instructions for Services

·         Types of Services

·         Marriage Ceremonies

·         Funeral Services

Section three, Public Services, has four sub-sections, which provide instructions for officiating weddings, and holding church services, dedications, music events, youth events, funerals, and more.

Church Organization and Administration

Slide 24

MINISTER’S MANUAL

CHURCH ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION

·         About the Organization

·         Organizational Structure

·         Legal Considerations

The final section, Church Organization and Administration has three sub-sections. It gives background on unique aspects and characteristics of this work, our church governance, and legal matters that need to be considered. About the Organization focuses on key aspects of who we are: our foundation, mission, logo, motto, and denominational characteristics. It also contains topics such as our church branches, property, and literature, website and operational budget, etc. Organizational Structure and Roles relates to church governance, reviewing the roles of the Superintendent General, the Board of Trustees, regional directors, district superintendents, etc. I will draw attention to Legal Considerations. It provides some general counsel related to potential legal issues for churches, covering such topics as emergency preparedness, public safety, etc. As you are aware, these subjects are covered more comprehensively by our Safety Program, which we introduced to you at this time last year. This section also addresses tax and financial issues, insurance, physical property, and copyright issues. Only a few have been resistant to conforming to the 2016 safety expectations. The requests are minimal and are heartedly embraced by our saints who are real-world employed. They marvel that anyone would be hesitant to comply.

We Continue to Edit

Slide 25

MINISTER’S MANUAL

WE CONTINUE TO EDIT

We are open to editorial comments

An example of the ongoing evaluation process is that we have recently added the topic: Organizational Discipline Policy. Our new manual already included Conflict Resolution, which dealt with helping individuals with differences to reconcile according to the principles given in Matthew 18:15-17. However, we had not yet put in writing a policy regarding how we deal with discipline matters as an organization. That written policy in draft form is available at the back desk. It covers the following: The nature and purpose of discipline; Who the policy applies to; Our Scriptural authority for disciplinary action; Causes for discipline; The organizational response.

Remember, this is not about reconciliation; this is about applying discipline whether reconciliation applies or not, and whether reconciliation is achieved or not.

Please feel free to offer input or suggestions regarding this document and other thoughts you have as you read the manual over time. We will eventually insert changes that result from comments made and update the Table of Contents. You won’t necessarily get a reply when you bring it directly to my attention. What I will do is put it in the pool of resources that we accumulate to eventually review together. Particularly, if the email comes from “info” you might think it is coming right back to my inbox. It’s not. If you need to communicate with me directly, with respect to confidentiality, then email me directly. That confidentiality exists because I’m the only one that looks at my inbox.

The Daybreak and Discovery Series

The Purpose

Slide 26

OUR DAYBREAK AND DISCOVERY SERIES

Daybreak and Discovery play a key role in providing to our saints an understanding of the faith we have been talking about.  When followed, this curriculum will have provided, over a three-year period, an overview of the entire Bible. It will inspire students to live up to what the Bible teaches.

Twenty-five or thirty years ago I read something in Halley’s Bible Handbook. Many of you have this book. There are others available now as well. The thought that caught my attention towards the end was: "The most important thing in this book is this simple suggestion: that each church have a congregational plan of Bible reading.” That’s what this curriculum does. An added thought was: “And that the pastor’s sermon be from the part of the Bible read the past week.” I’m altogether persuaded that if we, as congregation members more than ministers, read the Bible from cover to cover, we will comprehend the faith of the Apostles. The precepts that are provided in the Word of God are simply so common sense, so practical. The outflowing of the tradition and practices that we embrace are altogether sensible as we strive to stand for the apostolic faith.

Unlike nearly every contemporary study system available, this curriculum provides a format for regular Bible study through the lens of the Apostolic Faith holiness background. This material is unique—it is based on our understanding of the faith. It is written from an Armenian rather than Calvinistic perspective. Calvinism generally accommodates sin. Armenian teaches holy living and deliverance from sin.

We, as ministers should take advantage of this curriculum. It teaches the Bible. It teaches the faith we stand for. We, as pastors should encourage our congregations to use it. In Portland, we use it during Sunday school. Some branch churches use it during a weeknight Bible Study hour. Others use it on a personal level. Assigning this curriculum at the personal level and supporting it by preaching or teaching in conjunction with the lessons of the quarter, could be effective. It’s of no value if not used! It will anchor our congregations in our scriptural moorings. It will also build unity within our global organization.

Slide 27

DAYBREAK AND DISCOVERY SERIES

“IF THOU PUT THE BRETHREN IN REMEMBRANCE OF THESE THINGS, THOU SHALT BE A GOOD MINISTER OF JESUS CHRIST, NOURISHED UP IN THE WORDS OF FAITH AND OF GOOD DOCTRINE, WHEREUNTO THOU HAST ATTAINED.”

1 Timothy 4:6

Notice what Paul wrote to Timothy. He again is referring to the faith when he speaks of “words of faith and of good doctrine.” The Greek phrase rendered here “nourished up in” marks a continuous and permanent process of self-education. It might be translated “ever training thyself.”

It was a challenging reminder from Paul to his son in the faith, Timothy—and it is to us also. We must never relax our efforts for self-improvement. Our training/education process in striving to be a “good minister” of Jesus Christ is never completed. As teachers of others, we must always be striving for a deeper understanding of things spiritual. The phrase “whereunto thou hast attained” perhaps more accurately could be translated, “which thou hast closely followed.” It supports a challenge to study further.

Daybreak and Discovery are tools to help you do just that. They provide a good supplement/overview to your own personal, deeper study of texts, contexts, and background material. It does not replace that deeper study.

A Daybreak Sample

Slide 28

A CLOSER LOOK AT DAYBREAK

(photos of Daybreak)

Here is the Daybreak for today, March 4. We have a text block—Matthew 9:35 through 10:15 (a total of nineteen verses). Next are the “Devotional Focus” verses—Matthew 9:37-38, “Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.” These verses tie to the content of the devotional, which follows. It begins with a “slice of life” account told by a brother in our congregation about an event which took place during harvest time when he was a five-year-old boy back on the family farm in Minnesota. “Background” material is provided after the devotional, giving explanations and details related to the text block. I personally study with an outline, which helps give context. The portion of an outline that relates to the text block is provided. Then there are three to four study questions, a conclusion, and space for you to jot down any personal notes about the material. I confess that I don’t use that section. For me, the Bible reading, devotional, background, and outline are helpful. Use what is helpful to you.

Slide 29

TIME INVESTMENT

3 Minutes 20 seconds

At a comfortable pace, you can read through most day’s offerings in three minutes and twenty seconds (or listen to it by choosing the devotional on the App). At a comfortable pace, you can read most of the text blocks in less time than that (or listen to it with any number of free Bible reading apps). It is embarrassing to even call it a time investment.

This is a tremendous tool, and if used will yield (for this one quarter of thirteen weeks) a greater understanding of the books of Matthew, Hebrews, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and I & II Thessalonians. We encourage online use; that is how I use it. But if you need the printed version, we’ll arrange for our churches to have it. We don’t want to send more than what is used, but will send you what you will use.

A Discovery Sample

Slide 30

A CLOSER LOOK AT DISCOVERY

This is the Discovery Sunday school lesson, which we will be going through together this coming Sunday. As some of you already know, the lesson title is “Birth of the King.” The lesson text is Matthew 1:1 through 4:11—three and a half chapters. Background information about the text is given. Following this are questions for discussion during class time. This particular lesson has eight questions. A conclusion, which summarizes the key point or provides a closing challenge to the reader, finished the lesson.

There is a companion teacher’s guide that covers each Discovery lesson. It has the same background information, but provides answers and additional thoughts for class discussion following each question. Is this too much material or too hard to teach? It’s God’s Word. Study. We are not intellectual weaklings. Our saints read all week long. Unlike other material we read, this will prepare us for Heaven. In fact, it is easy if one keeps up with the Daybreak devotionals. By Saturday night, you’re prepared and only need to brush up your notes.

Progress on the Project

Slide 31

PROGRESS ON THE PROJECT

WE HAVE COMPLETED SEVEN UNITS OUT OF TWELVE.

Current unit: Luke, Acts, Romans, Galatians, and James

Once the current unit has been completed, we will be seventy-five percent (8/12) complete.

We began this project about 15 years ago after noting that we had been existence for nearly 100 years, and we had terrific topical study materials, but we lacked a strictly textual study system. We said if it would take the next 100 years to get it done, we had best get started.

Anchored to the Faith

During the final fifteen minutes, let’s address a few other issues that have arisen of late.

Slide 32

ANCHORED TO THE FAITH

Appropriate Sermon Topics

Please don’t stoop to preaching politics. Don’t let your inspiration be the last book you read or YouTube video you watched. Nor should your sermon revolve around your personal family or work frustrations, or the dire state of world events. Don’t assume everyone has a life that’s just full of trouble. They’re happy in the Lord. God has taken care of them. Let your inspiration be the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.

I learned from my India experience to not preach against idols, which were everywhere. Rather, preach Jesus; preach the Gospel.  Choose your text, develop the context, have one main point, and at the end of your sermon, everyone ought to know what you preached about. It ought not to have been some random preacher who no one knows anything about from his book or video or tape or whatever. Just preach the old-time religion, and people will be thanking you for it. Even when it’s not a very good sermon, they’ll appreciate it.

Similarly, let’s not continually preach against homosexuality, gender identity, pornography, abortion, divorce and remarriage, alcohol, Islam, ISIS, or even anti-academia and anti-prosperity—preach for Jesus. We will address such things in the context of a message, but not every week or month!

Missing Services for Work

Apologies for missing services to work. No apology is necessary; you need to work. For the sake of unity, we all benefit when we all come together. If your finances or work schedule don’t allow it, it is completely understandable. That applies to camp meeting, too. If finances or work don’t allow you to attend, or force you to leave early, then you have my support. On the other hand, if you’re tired and need to retreat to the beach for an escape from the rigors of camp meeting . . .

Most pastors do need to be employed and that employment needs to be protected. It is unreasonable to think that a congregation of half a dozen families or fifty to seventy-five members should provide full-time support for a pastor and family. That is why nearly all of us have been secularly employed while serving simultaneously as branch church pastors. The church does not exist for the purpose of supporting a pastor. It exists to the benefit of the saints and to be an outreach to the community. At times, expectations can become distorted with regard to pastoral support, to the point of an entitlement attitude. It is not the responsibility of the church to pick up your personal financial slack. It is our responsibility to find a way to pick it up personally.

Safety Program Questions

With regard to concerns about child abuse—should one call law enforcement/social services? If you witness a crime, call the police. If a child comes to Sunday school with unusual bruising, or claims to have been abused, call social services. If you did not witness a crime, you don’t know what happened.

The current documents are correct as written, having been reviewed by our insurance company and legal sources. If you call the police when you should have called social services, be prepared for legal action from the family or for the loss of a church family. We’ll never guarantee that you won’t be sued. People can take legal action against any of us for any reason. We’ve seen that happen. Don’t call the police on a hunch. 

Disciplinary Policy

Does the disciplinary policy allow for a “Performance Improvement Plan?”

This is a common corporate/government approach and has some validity in some cases. In other words, can someone who has been guilty of bullying, abuse of power, sexual harassment, or insubordination be provided a path for restoration? The disciplinary policy allows for rehabilitation to some degree. For example, if certain inappropriate actions were deemed to be misinterpreted, misunderstood, or unintentional, the policy takes that into account. Other bad behavior that was foolish and intentional, but not immoral and deemed correctable, can also be mitigated at the discretion of leadership.

There is no performance improvement plan for those guilty of total moral collapse when it comes to being restored to ministry or leadership roles. Remember, you cannot disconnect responsibility accepted from consequences. If you accept the consequences, it is evidence that you have accepted responsibility. If you reject the consequences, it is evidence that you are not accepting responsibility. If responsibility for failure is accepted and amends are made, it is possible that lesser roles can be assumed, at the discretion of leadership. The manual as it currently reads states that.

Remember one thing if you forget everything else, that the Gospel standard for misconduct is higher than the government or corporate standard. This is a holiness Gospel. There was rehabilitation for John Mark, but not for Ananias and Sapphira.

Dealing with Negative Feedback

Someone who has left the Apostolic Faith organization, but still claims to be Apostolic Faith while steadfastly refusing to subject themselves to the Apostolic Faith order that God has imposed upon them, is not Apostolic Faith at all.

With regard to the comment, “The church didn’t handle the matter appropriately.” First, the church doesn’t mishandle things, people do. Second, we’ll never change the attitude of those who consistently demonstrate an adversarial view of nearly everything. Third, if we follow the procedures in the Minister’s Manual, we’ll not have handled anything independently. So if it’s mishandled, it’s mishandled according to the view of several leaders, all of whom have reviewed the facts of the matter and have heard the opposing perspectives. Fourth, it’s impossible for someone on the sidelines to properly judge that something has been mishandled. They are ill-informed in matters that don’t pertain to them, because they simply don’t have the facts. Next, the facts have been intentionally withheld to avoid making the personal drama of those involved the focal point of the church. Finally, where failure has occurred, whether it be moral or in practice (i.e. exercising very poor judgment or administrative incompetence), the extent of that failure will seldom be disclosed outside the Board of Trustees. We would rather doubt existed in the minds of the ill-informed about how the church “handled” something than to publically shame the one who has failed.

We are delicate in addressing the failures of others, making every attempt to view them as character flaws rather than moral failures (unless it puts the safety of the congregation at risk). The fact that there is fallout or an unfavorable outcome when failures are addressed does not mean something was mishandled. An outcome may be disappointing and sad, but it is the appropriate outcome when it preserves the integrity of this work. When a situation arises and is addressed with an apparently unfavorable outcome, the responsibility for that outcome rests upon the one whose actions required addressing, not with those who were forced to handle it.

Use a Bible When Preaching

In preaching, let’s take our hard/soft cover Bibles to the pulpit rather than only an electronic Bible. We can hardly forbid electronic notes, but don’t leave your Bible behind. I just violated this actually in Israel where, at the last minute, three or four times they were expecting something and I only had my phone which has the Bible on it. Big as day I held up my phone and read from it. Maybe after four or five times I should have learned to bring my Bible with me, but I didn’t.

Continue to be Anchored to the Faith

May we continue in the spirit and practices of the faith of the Apostles, the apostolic faith. This is not a time to go wobbly in the knees or faint in the heart. We have to be men and women of character. We have to be willing to declare ourselves and take a stand. Are we going to be apostolic or not? Most have the luxury of bypassing the weighty issues, even in our congregation, but the pastor has to stand up and be counted. Be as gentle as you can, but there are times where the line is drawn for the sake of the faith and the integrity of this work.

We cannot go through life in a spiritually lackadaisical manner and succeed. We must “earnestly contend for the faith.” We must fight to preserve it in our own hearts, and also to preserve it corporately as a body of believers. That phrase challenges us! None of us would boast of how well we measure up to the faith of the Apostles, but we should not mind being challenged to strive for it. May God help us to embrace the challenge and live up to the standard set forth by those teachings! We do not just want to come to the faith, but we want to live according to the faith.