Jesus Speaks: Holding Fast in a World of Compromise

By Mike Baker, J.K. Jones and Jim Probst (InterVarsity Press)

The three authors are Pastor Mike Baker and two of his pastoral staff—J.K. Jones and Jim Probst—at Eastview Christian Church in Normal, Ill.

The book references the seven churches in Revelation 2-3 plus another one—yours. That eighth church shows up in Appendix 2. The book’s basic emphasis is holiness, and the authors accentuate it by using the churches’ personalities—both positive and negative.

The authors also discuss personal holiness, examining what it means to be ready to become and be holy.

The book is interspersed with devotionals. A helpful set of discussion starters for group study parallels the chapters.

Jesus Speaks is a wonderful book for Christians interested in learning more about holiness or anyone involved in a study of Revelation.

Skip Holman, minister of discipleship

Northeast Baptist Church

San Antonio

Review: Designed to Lead

November 9, 2016

By Skip Holman

Designed to Lead

By Eric Geiger and Kevin Peck (Broadman & Holman)

Eric Geiger, co-author of Simple Church, and Kevin Peck, pastor of Austin Stone Community Church, have written a consummate work on leadership from a biblical perspective.

To quote the authors: “The Great Commission is Plan A; Jesus has no Plan B.”

The book deals with four levels of leadership and development within each of them—a volunteer who works with others, a leader who works through others, a director who works through teams and senior leaders who work through key leaders.

The book addresses discipleship, vision, strategy, collaboration, people development and overseeing resources, along with ministry-specific competencies, a person’s unique skills within a ministry area.

The heart of this book is discipleship—growing leaders and all that entails. You also will enjoy the appendix on discipleship from the perspective of Jesus.

Designed to Lead is a wonderful read for anyone interested in leading and developing leaders.

Skip Holman, minister of discipleship

Northeast Baptist Church

San Antonio

September 28, 2016

By Skip Holman

Thom Rainer, CEO and president of Lifeway Christian Resources, wrote his latest book in response to a questioning email from a pastor who was so desperate and frustrated, he was about to resign from his church.

BAPTIST STANDARD REVIEW

BROKEN AND WHOLE

A LEADER’S PATH TO SPIRITUAL TRANSFORMATION

BY

STEPHEN A. MACCHIA

IVP FORMATIO

Stephen A. Macchia, the founding president of Leadership Transformation, Inc., director of the Pierce Center for Disciple-Building at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and author of ten books including “Becoming a Healthy Church” has penned his new work “Broken and Whole”. This work takes the meaning phrase by phrase of 1 Corinthians 13 as each chapter has its subtitle a portion of “the Love chapter of the Bible”. The book is directed to those in leadership and Macchia speaks of his failures and failures and/or sin general. Every one of us have experienced the pitfalls he lists in this book. The author encourages us to see and implement the specific aspect of love that can overcome those failures.

For instance, in Chapter 7, the chapter title is “The Destructive Power of Unbridled Anger” and the subtitle is “Love is not easily angered”. Then each chapter ends with a “Spiritual Leadership Audit”—a spiritual inventory of where the reader is on what he/she has just read. Leaders will appreciate this work for their work in the Kingdom.

Skip Holman

minister of discipleship

Northeast, San Antonio

The process of discipleship in  Matthew 4:19 and Mark 1:17 was Jesus' call to vocational fishermen to become "Fishers of Men". We see that time and time again as the disciples followed Jesus' example as he grew them to himself in the discipling process.

We need today to speak regarding Spiritual Parenting and Spiritual Grandparenting. In the conversion of Saul of Tarsus (later the Apostle Paul), when on the road to Damascus, he is blinded and needs to have Ananias lay hands on Saul as the scales come off and Saul receives his sight. From Damascus to Jerusalem Saul continues to get his "spiritual" feet wet by preaching to the Jews in the synagogues. When in Jerusalem, he wanted to fellowship with the disciples, but they were afraid of Him (Acts 9:26). But in Acts 9:27 Barnabas (name meaning "Son of Encouragement") begins to do what everyone else is afraid to do and that is DISCIPLE SAUL OF TARSUS!!! Then in Acts 13:2 at Antioch the Holy Spirit,  Barnabas and Saul were set apart for the first missionary journey, but along the journey (Act 13:9) Saul takes the name he will be known as from this point forward-Paul! Further, it's now Paul and Barnabas (Acts 13:42 ff). On the journey, John Mark, known as Mark, leaves the journey at Perga. The reason is not stated, but Paul and Barnabas got in a team-splitting disagreement regarding the issue. Therefore Barnabas and Mark, his cousin, set out to minister together and Paul sets out with Silas. Paul mentions Mark in a positive tone (1 Thessalonians 4:10). So up to this point we've seen Barnabas disciple Paul and his cousin John Mark.

Next we see Paul with  those whom he has come in contact: Silas, Silvanus and others . But the one most prominently mentioned---including two epistles to him--- is Timothy! So this is how this ties together:

1) Barnabas disciples Paul

    * Barnabas also continues to disciple Mark

2) Paul disciples Timothy

    * Paul also disciples Silas and other

3) Timothy gets his marching orders from Paul:

     * The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to           faithful men who will be able to teach others also...2 Timothy 2:2 (NASB)

So you have:

Barnabas-the Spiritual Parent

Paul- the Spiritual Child

Timothy- The Spiritual Grandchild

 GO THOU AND DO LIKEWISE     

TRAINING DISCIPLES SYLLABUS

* KNOWING YOU HAVE ETERNAL LIFE--ASSURANCE OF SALVATION

A. 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, Romans 5:8, John 1:12, 2 Corinthians 13:5, John 6:37

B. 2 Peter 1:10, 2 Corinthians 13:5, John 6:37

C. Romans 1:16, 2 Timothy 1:12

* THE IMPORTANCE OF GOD'S WORD IN DAILY LIFE

A. 2 Timothy 3:15-17, Proverbs 2:1-5, John 12: 47-48

B. Jeremiah 5:14, Jeremiah 23:29, John 6:63, 1 Peter 1:23, Hebrews 4:12, 2 Timothy 3:15

* HOW TO LEARN THE TRUTHS OF GOD'S WORD

A. Meditate- Psalms 1:2-3

B. Memorize- Psalms 119: 9-11

C. Study- Acts 17:11

D. Revelation- 1:3

E. Hear- Romans 10:17

F. Miscellaneous Scriptures- Mark 4:2-8, Acts 20:23

* SPENDING TIME ALONE WITH GOD

1. Psalms 42: 1-2, Psalms 27:4, John 14:23-24, Psalms 116:1-2
2. Bible Study/Prayer:

*Adoration-Luke 7:38 (Example)

*Confession- 1 John 1:9

*Thanksgiving-Colossians 4:2

*Supplication, Intercession- James 5:16

*Petition – Philippians 4:6

* THE CHURCH AND CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP

1. Acts 2: 42-47, Ephesians 1: 22-23, Ephesians 2:15-16, 19-21
2. Ephesians 1: 13-14, Ephesians 5:23, Ephesians 2:13-14, Matthew 7:21-23, Hebrews 10:24-25
3. 1 John 1: 3-7, Malachi 3: 10-11

* THE LORDSHIP AND IMPORTANCE OF BEING CHRIST’S DISCIPLE

1. Lordship- Luke 9:23, Colossians 1: 15-18, Luke 14:33, Proverbs 11:14, Joshua 24:15
2. Importance- Luke 14:26, John 1:43, John 13:34-35, James 1:22, Titus 2: 11-12, Galatians 5: 22-23, Luke 6:30, 1 Peter 4:30

 * GOD’S PLAN FOR A COMMITTED DISCIPLEMAKER’S LIFE

1. Hebrews 6:1, 2 Chronicles 16:9, 2 Peter 3:18, 2 Peter 1: 5-9, John 15:8
2. Philippians 3: 8-10, Colossians 1:27, 1 Peter 4 12-13, John 12:24
3. Matthew 28:19-20, 2 Timothy 2:2