Hershel’s Blog

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Radical

Posted on September 28, 2010 by hersheladams

Have you ever read one of those books that was just hard to put down? Today I finished reading “Radical” by David Platt. It took me less than two days to read it. That’s a miracle if you just knew how slow a reader I actually am. Just to let you know, I’m keeping up with my reading of God’s word also. Today I read the book of Romans as part of reading through the New Testament in 30 days.

I want to share a few things that God has shown me from this book called “Radical.” The book is about people who have been radically transformed by Jesus and what that, in reality, should look like. It’s not for the fainthearted. It’s not for those who just want to continue to pursue the American dream and be content with billions of people going to hell because no one will take the gospel of Jesus to them. It’s not for those who see and hear about poverty and the fact that 26,000 children will die today due to starvation in our world. To put that in perspective for Great Bridge, every child in our city would be dead in one day from starvation. Why are we, the church, doing nothing about poverty around this world? Why are we content with people, billions of people, dying and spending eternity in hell? The answer is because we have bought into this humanistic worldview that says it’s all about me. We have denied the authority of God’s word and replaced it with our own authority.

The solution is to turn back to God. To repent of our selfishness, our comforts, our luxury, and to trust in the authority of God’s word. His word commands us to go and make disciples. Baptizing them into the family of God and teaching them the commands of Christ. But how can we teach them to live radical lives for Jesus if we are unwilling to live radical lives for Him? We can’t. So let it begin today, with me, with you! Let us surrender ourselves, our agenda, our desires, our dreams.

There is one point that really stood out for me in chapter four. The author said that most Christians would say that the essence of Christianity is that “God loves me.” But that’s not biblical Christianity. He says that “Biblical Christianity is ‘God loves me so that I might make him – his ways, his salvation, his glory, and his greatness – known among all nations.’” I agree! Do you want evidence that we think it’s just about God loving us? Just go to church this Sunday and see how many people are bringing their bibles to learn. Just look around and see how many people are taking notes so that they can take this message to their friends, their neighbors, and their co-workers. Every time we read God’s word, every time we listen to God’s word, every time we study God’s word we need to not only have our own maturity in mind, but also the maturity of others. It’s not the responsibility of the pastor or the evangelist to share God’s word with the nations. It’s yours and it’s mine! It’s everyone who declares Jesus as their banner. So do the radical thing and step forward. Take the initiative to learn God’s word and begin to share it with others. You will be amazed at how God will use you and the joy that will follow! The author of this book is a pastor of a mega church. He commented that when he preaches on Sunday, he knows that it’s not over when the sermon has ended. People have walked the journey with him. They have taken notes, read the Scripture and even taken it home to study for themselves. Then they share it with a friend, with their neighbor, on the soccer field, or wherever. In reality, the message is continuing to be preached all week long and even beyond. Why? Because the people in that church have learned that God not only loves us, but He loves us so we can proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ to a lost and fallen world. Oh, how I long for the people of Sonlight to grasp this! What an impact we will have! What a revolution of changed lives we would witness! And all of God’s creation would rejoice and shout because a church became radical about Jesus.

Let me suggest that you pick up this book and read it from cover to cover. But don’t just read this book, read THE Book, the Bible! For in there you will truly discover how to live a radical life for Jesus!

Filed under: Bible, Church, Discipleship, Evangelism | 1 Comment »

Week two of my sabbatical

Posted on September 27, 2010 by hersheladams

This past week I was so blessed to attend the Creation Pastors Conference. I have to admit that I was running on information overload for most of the week. Our sessions began around 8:30 in the morning and we concluded most nights after 10:30. The preaching and teaching was just amazing! We took in as much as we possibly could, and then we purchased some DVD’s and books to help us retain the information so we could help teach others. To be technical, it was actually called “Answers for Pastors Conference.” I have to admit that there were some issues that I really didn’t think much about, but they make all the difference in the world. Without the truth of what I learned this week, all of Christianity would collapse and sub come to our society’s worldview. In other words, a worldview that has its foundation on human wisdom instead of a worldview based on God’s wisdom.

In Britain, half of all Christians stopped going to church between 1979 and 2005. Today, only 18% of the people of Britain say they are an active member in any organized religion. In 1964, 74% said they were an active member of a church.

The same is even more true where Paul spent most of his time starting new churches in the first century. What was once a flourishing center for the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus has now become a country that’s 98% Muslim. What has happened to these once thriving Christian nations and kingdoms? I’m glad you asked. The same thing that is happening here in America. Today, God’s word and the gospel of Jesus is being attacked, mocked and thrown out as if it’s a disease. The sad part is we are just sitting by letting it happen right under our noses.

In a speech that Obama made, he stated that “Whatever we once were, we are no longer just a Christian nation. At least not just. We are also a Jewish nation, a Muslim nation, a Buddhist nation, a Hindu nation, and a nation of unbelievers.” Then last year President Obama spoke these words to the Turkish Parliament, “We do not consider ourselves a Christian nation or a Jewish nation or a Muslim nation. We consider ourselves a nation of citizens who are bound by ideals and a set of values.”

What? If we are no longer a Christian nation, then who’s ideals and set of values do we follow? Because the last time I checked, the only reason we have values is because God clearly laid them out in Scripture. But it’s true, “Whatever we once were, we are no longer…” And the reason is because our worldview has changed from a biblical worldview to a human worldview. God no longer determines our values, we do.

If we even have a chance of bringing a revolution of change to our country and this world, we must first chose to replace man’s word with God’s word. We must establish ourselves upon God’s word of truth. Only when we, the church, come under the authority of God’s word and begin to experience radical change personally, will we ever be able to witness a change of our culture.

I can’t wait to address this issue once I return to Sonlight. In my mind, I am hoping to share a series of messages beginning in the new year that will give us the answers to live our faith out loud. There are so many thoughts that I want to share, but they will just have to wait. God bless you all and I can’t wait to return home. Just five and a half weeks!

Filed under: Bible, Church | 2 Comments »

Sabbatical Update

Posted on September 18, 2010 by hersheladams

The first few days of our sabbatical has been wonderful to experience. We arrived late Tuesday evening after an eleven hour drive to our remote home on the Tennessee River. Wednesday we went grocery shopping in nearby Dayton, (home of the Scopes trial, you might want to look that one up) and we worked out at the local YMCA, consisting of four treadmills and four stair steppers. The people were really nice and I kept asking people about a good church to attend in the area. I asked the lady in Krystal, the guy in Wal-mart, and a couple of people at the YMCA. Most of them had no clue. So we returned home and was able to find a church online.

That evening we attended The Church at Grace Point and it was awesome. I learned a lot from the scripture studied, a very challenging scripture, John 6:41-68. The question or challenge of Jesus was very simple, “Are you going to also leave?” Are we going to be a follower of his or not? Are we going to stick with him and serve him and His kingdom, or not? Many people following Jesus at this time were just there to see what he would do next. Maybe they wanted to be healed, or they wanted food, or they were just hanging around someone that did some pretty amazing things. However, when Jesus started making it serious and personal and said you have to rely on God’s Spirit and not your own human effort, people left. So Jesus asked the twelve, and he is asking you, “Are you also going to leave?”

After our study, we broke up into groups of four for prayer. We didn’t know anyone, so a couple came over and introduced themselves to us. We shared a few things and some prayer requests. At one point I told them we were asking people in Dayton all day for a good church to attend and we were not getting any suggestions. He told me that he had a relative that lived in Sale Creek. I said, “Ben, I know. I met her today. Her name is Kathy and she works at the YMCA.” (I was only kidding and I only said it because she told me that she was from Sale Creek, about 20 minutes south of Dayton.) He was shocked. Because that WAS his aunt! What a small town!! Anyway, we prayed and I think Deena and I are going to attend their small group on Sunday evening.

Every day Deena and I have spent a lot of time reading and studying God’s word. It’s been so good! I really have a passion to read and learn as much as I can. I fell my hunger growing more and more each day. We are also spending a lot of time in prayer and I believe that God is going to reveal a lot of wisdom to me over these next few weeks. Please pray for us to hear from God.

We are also going through the Truth Project that many of you will be participating in this fall. Let me just say that it is amazing! We are doing a lesson a day and God has shown us so much in the first three days of the study. God is really going to use this to help strengthen our church. Thanks Kenny for brining the truth project to us!!

I’m also learning a lot about developing healthier relationships through a book that I’m reading called The DNA of Relationships. I would recommend this book to everyone, but especially those who are having a hard time in their relationship with their spouse or their children. We have to break the cycle in our home. We can’t live with unforgiveness or with fear. I can’t wait to finish this book and be able to apply it to my own life.

And if that isn’t enough, Deena and I are also reading the “Apocalypse Code” as we study the end times. Just got started with chapter one, but this book is going to be very interesting.

In all, we have watched about two hours of television, played one game of cribbage and two games of backgammon, (in case you are wondering, I won) cooked together, cleaned up together and have worked out together every day. We are spending a lot of quality time together and this is something we have very much needed. I love my wife! However, over these next seven weeks, I’m going to learn to love her even more!!!

Monday we leave for a pastors conference dealing with creation, evolution and apologetics. That’s followed by a marriage conference. We would appreciate your prayers! I wish I could tell you about everything we are experiencing here, but I’m sure most of it will be revealed in future messages.

Please know that we are praying for many of you by name, and for the church as a whole. We are so blessed to be a part of Sonlight and we are so blessed that Sonlight has given us this opportunity to grow in our walk with God and with each other.

Filed under: Church, Personal | 2 Comments »

My Sunday Thoughts

Posted on September 6, 2010 by hersheladams

God is so good! I hope you enjoyed the different element we included this past Sunday with Kenny and I both sharing the message. I thought Pastor Kenny did a great job helping us understand prayer and then giving us some ways to get involved. I really believe that prayer is a faith issue. Do we have faith and belief in prayer or not. If we believe, if we have faith, we will be compelled to pray and pray even more. This is an area where I want to grow in as well. Thanks Kenny for the encouraging and challenging word!

I hope you also felt encouraged and inspired to begin using your talents, gifts, and abilities for God’s kingdom work and building up His church. There are so many ways that you can get involved in serving. If you have any questions about any ministry opportunity or even if you just want to talk to me about serving, please contact me this week. I would love to be able to help you and equip you for the work of the ministry. Remember, every member is a minister!

I also asked our church to help us with a financial need by giving extra this week if possible. We need to purchase a projector and screen. I was so excited to hear that our church gave about $5000 above our average this Sunday! Now we will be able to stop using the school’s projector and not have to worry about whether or not it’s working. (It’s been broken for about seven weeks and they seem to be in no hurry to repair it.) Let me also say that we are so blessed to be meeting in Great Bridge Middle School. Please keep this school in your prayers and pray for us to always have a positive relationship with the school’s leadership. I can’t even imagine where we would meet if we where not allowed to have the school.

Filed under: Church | Leave a Comment »

Using our Talents for Kingdom Purposes

Posted on September 4, 2010 by hersheladams

Today’s Reading: Matthew 25-28

Okay, today’s reading featured my Scripture for tomorrow’s message: The parable of the three servants. If you want to know my thoughts on this parable, then check out our service tomorrow or watch online at www.sonlightchurch.org.

Filed under: Church, Discipleship | Leave a Comment »

Vacation or Sabbatical?

Posted on September 3, 2010 by hersheladams

Ever since I announced to the church that I’m going to take an eight week sabbatical, I have had so many people come up to me and say, “Hope you enjoy your vacation!” Is a sabbatical really a vacation? I mean, I’ve never taken one, I’ve never talked to anyone who has taken one, and so what is a sabbatical?

A sabbatical comes from the idea of a Sabbath rest. After God had spent six days creating, he took one day off for rest. In Exodus 20:10-11, Moses instructed God’s people to dedicate a day each week to focus on God. This day was to be set apart for the Lord as holy and you were not to work on the Sabbath day. In Exodus 25:2, God even had them take a full year sabbatical from working in the fields every seventh year. In the New Testament, we read that during Jesus’ three and a half year ministry, he often withdrew to get alone and seek God in prayer. If Jesus had to withdraw and get alone in order to connect with God on a deeper level, then we have an even greater need to connect with God.

For this reason, I think it’s healthy for a pastor to find time when he can connect with God on a deeper level. A time to be refreshed, revitalized and renewed.

For several years I have been considering a sabbatical for rest and focus. However, it wasn’t until this summer that I realized that I really needed one. I love my church! I love preaching! I love being here and serving our church! However, I realized that I have become comfortable in ministry. While visiting my daughter in Kentucky this summer, Deena and I attended a church in Louisville. This church has seven different campuses. They are a church of several thousand people. When I showed up to help my daughter and son-in-law move in, the pastor of this large church was there to help as well. At first, I didn’t believe that he was the pastor. I thought that he was just one of the several pastors on staff. But as I talked to him, I discovered that he was indeed the senior pastor and here he was on a Saturday afternoon helping my daughter move into their condo.

I attended his church that next day and he wasn’t preaching, but the service and the message was exactly what I needed. Isn’t it interesting that just when you need something, God finds a way to deliver it to you? During that message, God spoke to my heart and told me that I had become complacent and comfortable in ministry. God challenged me to get passionate in ministry once again. Not passionate for preaching, because I’m very passionate about preaching God’s word. But passionate in serving others, caring for others, meeting their needs and passionate in my relationship with Him and spending more time listening to Him.

So that’s why I’m now being led to take this sabbatical. I know the time away is short, but this is my first experience with something like this. Most sabbaticals begin with a minimum of three months and last for up to a year. I want to come back to Sonlight with a richer passion for God and his people. I want to come back with a stronger marriage and a stronger prayer life. I want to come back to Sonlight with a fresh word from God and clear direction for our near future. I would hope that every member of Sonlight would have a strong desire for their pastor to be more in sync with God, his people and his family. So please pray for me and Deena over the upcoming eight weeks. Please lift us up every day if you possibly can.

So, is this a vacation or a sabbatical? Well, let me share with you what I plan to do in order to reach my goals listed above.

Read through the New Testament twice – which I’ve begun and I’m blogging about.
Read three books: The DNA of Relationships by Gary Smalley, The Spirit of the Disciplines by Dallas Willard and Church for the Unchurched by George Hunter.
Spending extended times in prayer, seeking God and listening to his voice.
Attending “Answers for Pastors” pastors conference. This conference is designed for pastors in order to better prepare them for Christian apologetics, especially dealing with creation, evolution and evangelism.
Attending “Weekend to Remember” marriage conference. Deena and I need time to strengthen our marriage and our love for one another. I am really looking forward to learning how to show my love for her on a deeper and more personal level.
Attending “AND Conference” by Granger Community Church. This church has helped me and Sonlight be the church that we are today. Through their creative and innovative conferences, they help to inspire and train us to be the church that reaches our culture without compromising God’s word.
Deena and I will also embark on the truth project bible study together.
Physical fitness is a priority for me at this point as well. I began two weeks ago and I have established a goal during my time away. I know that in order to do all that God desires for me to accomplish, I need to be in better physical condition and become a healthier person.
Rest and relaxation – With all of this, it almost seems impossible to find time for rest and relaxation, but I have to make time where we just unwind, let down our hair (at least Deena’s hair) and have some fun. Who knows, I might even teach Deena how to golf!

So what do you think? Does this sound like a vacation? I didn’t think so either. Having never been on a sabbatical, I’m just going to remain flexible and try my best to draw closer to God and my wife. I hope these things help, not hinder.

I want to thank our church for allowing me this opportunity. I believe it will benefit us all!

Filed under: Church, Personal | 4 Comments »

First or Last?

Posted on September 3, 2010 by hersheladams

Today’s Reading: Matthew 17-24

One day mother of James and John came to Jesus and asked him to allow her two sons to sit on his right and his left in his kingdom. Jesus told her that it wasn’t his place to decide, God would decide. Now check out what happens with the other disciples when they heard this request. Matthew 20:24-28, “When the ten other disciples heard what James and John had asked, they were indignant. ²⁵But Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. ²⁶But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, ²⁷and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. ²⁸For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Here it is again! Serving others! There are so many places in God’s word that speak about our role to serve one another and get involved in kingdom work. In this account, Jesus reminds us that even he came to serve, not to be served. Why do so many people think that church is about them getting their needs met and them being served? Do they actually think that they are better than Jesus? That they deserve greater honor than Jesus? Of course not! Nobody would possible consider themselves as better than Jesus in their words, but by our actions, we do it all the time.

I don’t know about you, but I want to be more and more like Jesus. So in order to become more like Him, I must serve. As a pastor, I’m not only to equip others to serve, but I’m to lead by example in my service and care for others. Oh Lord, help me to love, care and serve others!

Filed under: Bible, Discipleship, Spiritual Disciplines | Leave a Comment »

Opposing God?

Posted on September 2, 2010 by hersheladams

Today’s Reading: Matthew 10-16

In my reading this morning, something really stood out as I’m preparing to preach on people getting involved in Kingdom work through their local church. At Sonlight, we believe that every member is a minister. It’s not the responsibility of the pastors to carry out the ministry of church. God’s word tells us in Ephesians 4:11-12 says, “Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.” So as a pastor, I’m to equip God’s people to become ministers. God doesn’t want any child of his sitting on the sidelines. If we are going to reach our cities, if we are going to change our world, it requires all of us doing His work!

What stood out to me this morning is what Jesus said in Matthew 12:30, “Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me.” If I’m not engaged in the work of God’s church, then I’m actually working against God. With my mouth I might be saying that I love God and I’m for God, but in reality, by my actions I may be opposing Him and working against Him. So, are you with Jesus? Are you spending time with him in prayer and in His word? If not, you are really opposing him. These are strong words, but they are needed. Our lives have an eternal element to them. We were made to last forever. What really matters on this planet is whether or not we are for or against God. It determines where and how we will spend all of eternity.

Please understand that I believe that we are saved through faith alone in Christ. Yet, God’s word says that there should be fruit in our lives that comes from our faith in Him. Are you producing the kind of fruit that resembles the faith you have in Christ? I hope so!

Filed under: Bible, Church, Discipleship | Leave a Comment »

Reading the New Testament in 30 Days

Posted on September 1, 2010 by hersheladams

Today’s Reading: Matthew 1-9

Over the next two months my goal is to read through the New Testament twice and evaluate where to go next. Lately I have felt that God has been leading me to know more and more about his word. I want to be become so familiar with God’s word and what’s contained in it so that God can use me to help lead others to discover what he is saying on a personal and deep level. If a friend is struggling with anger, where would you send them? If your friend is struggling with drinking, what encouragement could you give them from God’s word? If your friend’s marriage is failing and they are considering a divorce, what Scripture would you read to them?

This is why I want to know God’s word! We all have issues. We all have struggles. We all need encouragement, correction, and help in doing what is right. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.”

I have never seen God’s word mess up anyone’s life. We mess up our own lives. It’s only when we begin to discover what God says and apply it to our lives that we truly begin to live. Following his word will help our marriage, it will help our parenting, it will help our job performance, etc.

This coming Sunday, I’m preaching on the importance of every person becoming a minister. The pastors are not the ministers! We are the equippers. God’s word tells us to prepare God’s people for the works of ministry. So in my reading today, God reminded me of what my prayer should be for our church. Matthew 9:37-38, “He (Jesus) said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”

Lord, would you please send workers into the field at Sonlight so we can see the greatest possible harvest.

I hope you will join me in reading through the New Testament in 30 days!

Filed under: Bible, Church, Discipleship | Leave a Comment »

Sorry I left you hanging!

Posted on August 30, 2010 by hersheladams

After a long time away from the blogging world, it’s time to come back. I was reading my last post and realized that i just left everyone hanging in the balance about a journey that coming to Sonlight. Well, it came and God’s people stepped up in a huge way. As you may be aware, Sonlight purchased 99 acres of land two years ago. Now it’s time to begin the process of designing our first building, a place where we can call home until Jesus comes back to take us to our eternal home. We asked our church to join the “Revolution” in seeing changed lives and a changed city. During February and March, our church came together and called upon God to see what part we could have in bringing the revolution to our city. Over tghe next two years, our church family committed to give over $782,000! More importantly, we saw many people place their fiath in Christ! God is so good.

As of last week, our church family has already given over $212,000 in the first five months. We also saw another four pepole commit their lives to Christ this Sunday! Again, God is soooo good!