tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9612058388452972862024-03-05T07:03:53.679+00:00Steve Tibbert Leadership BlogSteve Tibberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16547700995511170549noreply@blogger.comBlogger356125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-961205838845297286.post-55819367236647874922014-03-20T11:43:00.001+00:002014-03-20T11:43:59.750+00:00I am currently taking a break from his blog... We are in yet another new phase of church life at King's Church London, this time undertaking a major staff and team restructuring in order to adequately respond to the demands that the blessings of growth and expansion of our current three sites is placing upon us.<br />
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The posts loaded here and the resource papers alongside will continue to be available for reference. Thanks for your interest - you might also like to look in on us at my regular King's <a href="http://www.kingschurchlondon.org/resources/blog.php" target="_blank">blog</a> - this will give you some idea of current developments for this wonderful and diverse community of God's people based in south-east London but reaching out to London and beyond!Steve Tibberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16547700995511170549noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-961205838845297286.post-88671723744168411782014-02-25T07:45:00.000+00:002014-03-07T10:44:00.180+00:00Times and seasons...<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">This blog, covering a wide range of aspects of church
leadership has appeared regularly since October 2008 - I trust that regular
visitors/recipients have found content that has been worth reading and that has
proved useful to them in their leadership. Everything that has appeared here
has been shared from my own experience or from the lives of other leaders who
have proved themselves worth following – Bill Hybels, John C Maxwell, Jim
Tomberlin, Jim Collins and Tim Keller, to name a few.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My commitment to the local church and to seeing
increasing effectiveness in our communities has taken us at King’s on a journey
of discovery and faith, following our great and compassionate God and calling
as many as we can to trust in Jesus. High Sundays, multiple meetings and
multi-site church have become familiar terms to our leadership teams and our
people. Everything we do, from Alpha to youth work is as intentional and </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 15.333333015441895px;">focused</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"> on our mission as we can make it. Our finances are brought to bear on
the vision that we constantly hold up to those who call King’s their home
church and I am glad to say that the church has responded with faith,
commitment and much hard work to that vision!</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Currently I have decided to take a break from this blog
to concentrate once again on what is another new phase of life at King’s involving a season of major staff restructuring and thinking through (yet
again!) the way we do things – inevitably there are changes to be made to make
us even more effective in the future! A growing church needs constant
attention.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br />Meanwhile, you are welcome to keep informed of life at
King’s via the <a href="http://www.kingschurchlondon.org/" target="_blank">King’s website</a> and <a href="http://www.kingschurchlondon.org/resources/blog.php" target="_blank">blog</a>. It’s great to know that
many of you look in on that blog on a regular basis and we are glad of your
interest! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">If you would like to read further details of our journey as a church,
<i><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Good-Grow-Tibbert-Steve-Taylor/dp/1860248128" target="_blank">Good to Grow</a></i> tells the story of
King’s over nearly two decades - right up until the time we became a multi-site
church.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br />Whatever season you are facing as a leader or as a
church, may God powerfully equip you to serve Him and the community around you –
and may you know life and growth in an increasing way. It’s all for His glory!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />I
would like to thank my co-writer, Val Taylor, who has, with great creativity,
patience and commitment, made this leadership blog possible. Every blessing,
Val, in your new season!<span style="font-size: x-small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></i></div>
Steve Tibberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16547700995511170549noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-961205838845297286.post-22559853737451456382014-02-18T07:11:00.000+00:002014-02-18T07:11:00.432+00:00Celebrating diversity: cultural preferences<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">My life has been enriched because being part of a
diverse church has made me aware of some of my cultural preferences which I
don’t like. The white community tends to be more cynical – that’s in our
culture. And we don’t honour age so much and I have learned from that. I have
also learned from the fact that other cultures handle mourning differently.
They come together and gather with those who grieve – whereas in a white
individualistic culture we tend to ‘give people space’. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Sometimes I have learned that in some contexts people
can hang around too long after a funeral! I tell you – it ain’t all good! ‘Man,
we’ve got to feed them again...!’ It’s all very well having a culture where if
anyone turns up you invite them in and give them food – but there are things to
be done, you know! Time-keeping has its place – especially if you are catching
a plane to get back to Jamaica!! But my life is enriched from being in a
cross-cultural and a cross-generational church. I have been educated by it and
I believe I have grown through being in a church like this - I believe I will
continue to be enriched by it and I hope you feel the same. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And that is why we celebrate! It’s because we reveal
something of the sovereign plan of God to save us and bring us together as one
people. A picture of heaven and an example to the community that you can live
in unity – that the gospel has the power to not only deal with your sin but to
connect and reconcile differing people groups. Our diversity is a gift from
God. We are part of his plan to bring all things together in Christ! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Thank
you for our diversity, Lord. Thank you that you are the Lord of all nations and
that one day you will draw all peoples and nations to your throne, bowing down
to you. Thank you that this was always part of your plan and that it was all
achieved through the selfless love of the Lord Jesus for us on the Cross.
Through Him the dividing wall of hostility has gone and we have been made one
for all eternity. Thank you, Lord!<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
Steve Tibberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16547700995511170549noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-961205838845297286.post-87027941507892749282014-02-11T07:05:00.000+00:002014-02-11T07:05:00.492+00:00My life is enriched because I am part of a diverse community<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">My life is definitely enriched by this community. I
have even got to the point where I don’t really like just bland white anymore.
I prefer the mix, the energy, the creativity. But maybe I could use the
benefits of a cross-generational church as an example of how life can be
enriched. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I celebrated my 50<sup>th</sup> birthday this year. Now,
I am not known for big parties but it was great to mark that moment and what I
found as I hit that fine age is that I am looking at people who are 5, 10, 15
years ahead of me, looking at the model they set and the example they give and
I’m asking, ‘How are they dealing with the seasonal adjustments of life? Like their
involvement with elderly parents... like their kids getting married... like
becoming grandparents. How are they handling the challenges of health that come
with age? How are they following Christ through the ebb and flow of life?’ <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Now, you can go to a church that is just full of people
your age if you want, because in our pick-and-mix society you can find one of those!
Are you white, in your twenties? Then you can find a white twenties church and
so find a place that will meet your primary social need. And if you lead that
sort of church you would speak on issues of identity all the time – that’s
where 20s are! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It’s more complex in a diverse community, but I love it
because we have people here who have run the race! So if you are here and you
are raising kids and you are wondering – ‘Do I ever sleep again?’ – for about 5
years you don’t – and then after that they become teenagers and you have to
stay up late because they are out... in fact you don’t get sleep at all until
you’re in your 50s and then you are old and sleepy anyway – and then you rally!
In a church like ours you get this ebb and flow of the generations blending
together - and some want the music louder – and some want it quieter. Every
Sunday, someone in church is unhappy! That’s a fact and has to be recognised
with grace!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But I love the fact that we are a cross-generational
church – it enriches my life. Hopefully Deb and I are a model for some that are
asking, ‘How do you build a marriage? How do you raise kids?’ But there are
others ahead of us who have followed God through many years, some even through wartime
and have lived through bombing, showing that you can follow Jesus through all
situations. I want to honour our elderly folk – to say, ’Well done! You are
phenomenal - and this church is richer for having you here.’ <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Steve Tibberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16547700995511170549noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-961205838845297286.post-35957876015356595712014-02-04T07:06:00.000+00:002014-02-04T07:06:00.335+00:00We celebrate fitting in - and feeling uncomfortable!<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As part of my preparation on diversity I read a helpful
blog by an American guy called Jemar Tisby. Jemar says:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">‘Ethnically
diverse churches authentically witness the gospel’s power to reconcile people
to God and each other. In a society shredded by sectarian interests –
political, ideological, racial, you name it – churches that demonstrate unity
in diversity attract attention.
Multi-ethnic churches demonstrate that there is neither Jew nor Greek,
there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all
one in Christ Jesus. Gal 3:28’<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A powerful quote! In practical terms – it means you can
fit in here. If you come to this church regularly you get the ‘both and’ – the
way to fit in and the way to feel slightly uncomfortable! You can feel that you
fit in because ‘there are people like me here!’ But you can also feel
uncomfortable at the same time because we all have cultural preferences and
there’s a real clash happening all the time. That comes as part of the deal! But
it really does give us a great opportunity to be missional and present Jesus to
many.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">My own view is that what’s found in King’s and churches
like it is the future of urban Christianity. I believe that in the coming
decades a white majority church or a black majority church have massive
identity challenges coming - particularly to the second generation. The reason black majority churches started up
(and some of them are fantastic!), some of them started in reaction, to be
honest, to a not very great welcome from the white community. And as through
immigration people have come, have not been accepted, they have found challenge
out in the world and so have come to worship together and felt that they needed
a safe place – very understandable, not right or wrong. But through the years, my
own view on what will happen is that as people make this their home and start
to relate in a broader way outside their own people group, particularly as
their kids grow and have issues of second generation, there will come issues of
identity – both to churches and to individuals. And therefore the King’s type
of church will be the norm and is increasingly becoming so. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This poses massive opportunities and challenges for us.
The challenge, with all that God is teaching us, is to model something to the
best of our ability. To show that it can be done, and more than that – it can
be done with joy! And we know that there is pain involved too. But it can be
done.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Steve Tibberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16547700995511170549noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-961205838845297286.post-43390115032280272272014-01-28T07:04:00.000+00:002014-01-28T07:04:01.018+00:00We celebrate diversity because of the gospel of God!<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We celebrate because we have been saved. Col 1: 21-22 says,
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">‘Once
you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil
behaviour. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through
death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from
accusation.’</span></i><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">There is reconciliation between you and God - and me
and God, so we can have access to God and reconciliation with one another. In Eph
2:14-19 it goes further. It says, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">‘For
he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the
barrier, the dividing wall of hostility...</span></i><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’ <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The dividing wall of hostility has been dealt with, in
the biblical context between Jews and Gentiles. The promise to a Jew (Abraham) is
now fulfilled through Christ and the gospel comes to all nations. We are those
that through Christ can have access to one another – the dividing wall of
hostility has gone. Behind the picture of the barrier and the dividing wall of
hostility is the reality of the temple where there were barriers so that
non-Jews could only go so far, women could only go so far, into its courts. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Then there is the barrier between God and man. Eph 2:15
shows us that by abolishing the law and its commands his purpose was to create
within himself one new man/new humanity out of the two, thus making peace and <br />
:16 in one body to reconcile them both to God by his death on the cross, the
means by which he put to death their hostility. <br />
:17 He came to preach peace to those who were far away (Gentiles) and peace to those
who were near (Jews). <br />
:18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. <br />
:19 Consequently you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow-citizens
with God’s people and members of God’s
household. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So the gospel does not only reconcile you to God but
with people who are different to you, different nations and languages and
tribes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Through reconciliation that only God can bring about,
we become a powerful message, a powerful testimony of a powerful missional
community, because if you walk into this church now, you can come from
anywhere. You can work in the city; you can come from the streets. You can be
male or female, you could be black or white – you could come from anywhere in
the world and find someone who looks like you. So we become a powerful
testimony to the great mission given us by God. We start to authenticate the
message. We are the body of Christ - we represent reconciliation with God and
therefore reconciliation with one another... and our very unity speaks volumes! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Steve Tibberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16547700995511170549noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-961205838845297286.post-47100337281755869562014-01-21T07:01:00.000+00:002014-01-21T07:01:00.657+00:00We celebrate diversity - because of God!<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ultimately we celebrate because of what God has done in
our lives. The diversity of this church, of any church, reflects something of
the purposes and character of God. God in himself is diverse – Father, Son and
Holy Spirit. And his creation is remarkably diverse - mankind, in all its
shapes and sizes, shows that. God loves the differences - they reflect something
of Him, His creativity and creation. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Eph 3:10 says that ‘<i>the
church displays the manifold wisdom of God</i>’. Behind this statement is the picture
of a diamond with many facets reflecting brilliant light for everyone to see. This
is part of God’s sovereign plan. So when we gather and celebrate as we do today
it’s because there is something of God’s salvation history before us. It’s the
fulfilment of a promise – that’s why it is a prophetic thing because it means
that it speaks as though God speaks. Our gathering is a speaking out – a
statement, the fulfilment of massive biblical promise made centuries ago to
Abraham, when God chose a man and told him that He would make him the father of
many nations. We are part of the fulfilment of that and that’s why we
celebrate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In that fulfilment of salvation history we also see the
great commission – God sent his Son who came and taught us to go and make
disciples of <i>all nations</i>. Here we
have a glimpse of heaven – heaven will be like our church! Rev 7:9 says, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">‘After
this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no-one could count,
from every nation, tribe, people and language</span></i><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">.’ <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">When we eventually get there it will not just be a
bunch of white people, black people, old people, cool or trendy people. It will
be us - the people of God gathered from throughout the generations – the
fulfilment of all things, the restoration of all things! Here we have a glimpse
of heaven – a promise through the centuries fulfilled in Christ. So we can tell
people that there is a way to know God and ultimately there will be a day when
there will be one celebration, when every knee will bow before him. If that
gets into your spirit and you lift your eyes from the challenge of it – it is
an amazing thing and should give us a sense of wonder - even of awe. That God
can do this – take you and me, who are very different, and bring us together in
Christ! We may have some similarities, but we are different, we have completely
different journeys to this point – only God can do this. So we celebrate!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Steve Tibberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16547700995511170549noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-961205838845297286.post-44312556299126562602014-01-14T07:08:00.000+00:002014-01-14T07:08:00.029+00:00Why celebrate diversity?<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Today at King’s Church London we now attend a church
where no one group is in a majority. The Nigerians are not a majority, the
Caribbeans are not a majority, the white British are not the majority. We are
very diverse and I like it that way. But it is appropriate to look at our diversity
from time to time to see the challenges clearly, and also to celebrate our
differences. To celebrate what we are because there are many things we are not!
What we are is a cross-generational, cross-ethnic, racially mixed, cross-
cultural church.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Why do people celebrate? To mark moments. And different cultures do
this in a variety of ways. In white British culture we tend to mark the
birthdays at ages 18 and 21. Often there will be a family party. Now, I have
learned from Pastor Robert Kwami that in Ghana you would mark the ages of 50,
70 and 80 – due honour is given to those attaining these ages. There will be a
huge celebration involving the whole extended family – often taking a weekend –
with lots of people, lots of food, lots of parties! Best clothes will be worn –
and the pastor of the church will be invited and involved! I was invited to the
50<sup>th</sup> birthday party for a Nigerian recently – it was like going to a
wedding! There was a picture of the
family with the cake and then a second photo– one of the pastor with the cake!
The pastor was honoured and is given high status in that culture.... I’m just
saying...!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In other situations, a couple’s engagement is a moment
to celebrate. In white British culture you fall in love and the young man <i>might</i> ask the permission of the father
to marry his daughter. In an African culture this relationship is seen as the
coming together of two families so it is about more than just the couple. An engagement
party would involve exchanging gifts between families. These variations are cultural
preferences – there is no right or wrong way involved - but we need to
appreciate the differences and learn from each other’s cultures. It is an enriching
thing!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Steve Tibberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16547700995511170549noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-961205838845297286.post-41885928489476012682014-01-07T07:04:00.000+00:002014-01-07T07:04:00.600+00:00Celebrating Diversity!<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><i>Today I begin a new blog series on a topic which is highly relevant and important in many urban churches. Diversity provides the opportunity for us to show in our churches something of the purpose of God - not a matter of political correctness but of living out the values we believe...</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">On a Sunday morning earlier this year I was able to
tell the church about some new staff members and volunteers coming on to our
team. Photos of them were shown and revealed a mixture of white and black faces
all smiling at us... It was a good Sunday to celebrate the diversity God has
given us and to preach about it!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I found the following chart on a Facebook posting – it
really shows up some of the cross-cultural challenges to living in a diverse
community. Communication differences are a major element in this. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">What the British say<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">What the British mean<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">What others understand<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">That’s
not bad<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">That’s
not good<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">That’s
poor<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">That’s
a very brave proposal<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">You
are insane<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">He
thinks I have courage<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">I
was a bit disappointed that...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">I
am annoyed that...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">It doesn't really matter<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">I’m
sure it’s my fault<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">It’s
your fault<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Why
does he think it’s his fault?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Can
we consider some other options?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">I
don’t like your idea<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">He
has not yet decided<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It is highly probable that each week in church life at some time we are miscommunicating! We need grace to ask the follow-up questions
and check our understanding or to cope with being a little uncomfortable as we
wonder what people are really saying. This impacts issues of race, but also of ageism
and class. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But in King’s church you can find a black businessman relating
to a white guy who’s come off the streets. You can find a single mum relating
to an elderly person or a middle-class white person speaking to a Chinese
student. There is diversity in age, culture and season of life. We need to
regularly celebrate our diversity – but not without recognising that there are
continuing challenges – communication being one. Ongoing racism, issues of legacy, the pain associated with many of our journeys, the
guilt that comes, the challenges that arise from the historical issues of
colonialism and slavery, or tribalism – all make for a complex situation
because people have been sinned against. Ultimately the challenges are
connected to our own sinfulness and selfishness and with the fall of mankind.
Sin has come into the world and a part of that is the separation of peoples. If
we fail to see and don’t appreciate that fact then the whole issue becomes
competitive and a challenge.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Steve Tibberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16547700995511170549noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-961205838845297286.post-8250459510503778302013-12-31T07:48:00.000+00:002013-12-31T07:48:00.701+00:00Maximize!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41w1TClSYDL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_SX342_SY445_CR,0,0,342,445_SH20_OU02_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41w1TClSYDL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_SX342_SY445_CR,0,0,342,445_SH20_OU02_.jpg" width="245" /></a></div>
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Subtitled ‘How to develop extravagant givers in your
church’, this book by Nelson Searcy is a very useful addition to a leader’s
bookshelf. Involved in ministry in New York and Florida, the author also coaches
senior pastors on a regular basis.</div>
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The issue of resourcing the ministry of the church cannot
be avoided if there is to be growth! A systematic and prayerful approach to
giving has to be established in the life of any thriving church and Nelson
Searcy has provided a book on ‘biblical stewardship in our current church
culture’.</div>
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This is a book that lays out lots of ‘how to’s – its practical
approach covers ways of encouraging and developing giving among the people of
God. It will give all of us food for thought regarding the ways that we do and
don’t do the giving and receiving of money to support the work of our local
churches.</div>
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The issue of money needs serious and regular thought in
the lives of our churches as far as I am concerned. This is a book to help
provoke thought – and provide insights!</div>
Steve Tibberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16547700995511170549noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-961205838845297286.post-56022092092327049512013-12-24T07:37:00.000+00:002014-01-02T09:55:40.505+00:00The Meaning of Marriage<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51AITpYCj7L._SY445_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51AITpYCj7L._SY445_.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It’s been an established pattern for Deb and me to read a
book on marriage each year. This year we were fortunate enough to be able to have
<i>The Meaning of Marriage</i> by Tim and
Kathy Keller and I can wholeheartedly say that this is the best book I have
ever read on the topic! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Keller brilliantly integrates levels of cultural
awareness, biblical truth and pastoral application. There are also good
chapters on singleness which I found very helpful. Since Deb and I finished
reading it I have praised this book wherever I have spoken on this important subject and would highly recommend it – especially for those in ministry leadership.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">It also proved a helpful resource for our recent
King’s preaching series called <a href="http://www.kingschurchlondon.org/resources/audioseries.php" target="_blank">#TrendingNow</a> where we covered topics such as
intimacy, identity and also the internet. </span>Steve Tibberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16547700995511170549noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-961205838845297286.post-82728313531799728892013-12-17T07:01:00.000+00:002013-12-17T07:01:00.345+00:00The Last Words of David: Praise!At the end of his life (1 Chron. 28), David stands before the nation’s leaders and the people and speaks to Solomon his son, the one who is to carry on the work, and says - have a vision, remember you are chosen, stay devoted, work on the plan, know the encouragement of God, here are some resources in order to complete the work, and he leaves a legacy for the future.<br />
<br />While this is about a specific national leader setting a major project in motion which would shape the nation’s life and the worship of God for a long time to come, the story has much to say to us. Whether it’s about church life or our plans for the future for our family or career, God has planted dreams in us, sometimes many years ago. I encourage you to pray those plans out before God and ask Him to guide you in implementing them. Then be prepared to work hard as you commit yourself to God’s purposes in your life.<br />
<br />All this so that when you come to the end of your life you will be able to look back and say without many regrets, ‘I served the purpose of God in my generation’. <br />
<br /><i>‘David praised the Lord in the presence of the whole assembly, saying, </i><br />
<i>“Praise be to you, O LORD, </i><br />
<i>God of our father Israel, </i><br />
<i>from everlasting to everlasting...</i>’ (1 Chron. 29:10)<br />
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As a result of all that was done, praise was given to God. The fulfilment of David’s dream to build a house for God was to ensure that the praise of God would continue from generation to generation for a great God who rules and reigns, searches and examines, enables and strengthens, loves and provides from everlasting to everlasting.<br />
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And we seek to play our part in building something that will also stand for all time – not buildings but the Church of Jesus Christ composed of the lives of those who come to be part of His Kingdom and to serve the purpose of God in their generation. That is something to praise him for!<br />
<br />Steve Tibberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16547700995511170549noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-961205838845297286.post-79767953966136937622013-12-10T07:07:00.000+00:002013-12-10T07:07:00.278+00:00The Last Words of David: Legacy1 Chron. 29: 28 says of David, ‘<i>He died at a good old age, having enjoyed long life, wealth and honour</i>’. The NT records it like this, – ‘<i>For when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep...</i>’ (Acts 13:36). I don’t know about you but when it comes to my moment of falling asleep I hope it is said of me that ‘<i>he served the purposes of God in his generation</i>’. I think you would like that said of you – that you stayed on course, you didn’t get distracted, you stayed good-hearted and fulfilled what God had given you to do. I hope to live to a good age like David, and to lead this church for the greater part of my life, then to hand on the church to a younger generation who I trust will go further than we have gone.<br />
<br />It’s not that we haven’t still got great things before us but I honestly believe that the true test of leadership is legacy – and I trust and hope that what we build over the next 10 – 15 years will build a foundation for another generation to build on and go even further, because we recognise that we are building on what the generations before us laid down. We are not ‘the’ generation – we are one of the generations and we are doing something for the future, as our ancestors in God did before us. In the context of King’s the development of the Lee building alone is an investment for the future and is something that I believe God will use for generations to come.<br />
<br />Perhaps you are a single Mum or you are in a season of life where you are raising young children. My mum did not have a big career. She stayed at home, supporting my Dad in the success he achieved in his career, and spent most of her time raising two sons. As she reads this - she’s one of my fans and adds to my blog hits every week – I want to say to her a big, ‘Thank you, Mum!’ I am very, very grateful to her, that she invested in me. The greatest thing you might do as a parent is to lay a foundation in your children for a generation that will serve God and fulfil their potential in Him.<br />
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Steve Tibberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16547700995511170549noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-961205838845297286.post-62862318241212114352013-12-03T07:05:00.000+00:002013-12-03T07:05:00.777+00:00The Last Words of David: Resources‘<i>With all my resources I have provided for the temple of my God...’</i> (1 Chron. 29:2)<br />
<br />To fulfil any vision takes resources – whether we are talking about raising a family, going to university, setting up a business or taking out a mortgage and it is the same in church life. What you see and experience at King’s, for example, does not happen by chance; all we do is funded by God’s people. In 1 Chronicles chapter 29:2-9 we see that David, from his success and out of all the resources he has gathered through his life and reign, leads the people into a massive offering to bring together everything needed for the building project for the temple. And they raise the money and then there is a prayer of thanksgiving (29:10-13). Read it through. Does it seem familiar?<br />
<br />This prayer is the Old Testament foundation for another great prayer that we know in the New Testament – it’s called the Lord’s Prayer and it’s rooted in this Old Testament prayer! We are used to building projects at King’s so I find it encouraging and reassuring that the Lord’s Prayer is based on this prayer about a building project!<br />
<br />You have to find a way to resource the vision God has given. There is a lot of truth in 1 Chron. 29:14 where David says, ‘<i>Who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand...</i>’ I wish that all Christians believed that. Some of us think it’s all ours and we will give God what’s left over. That’s not God’s perspective and it should not be ours. It’s all His and ultimately all your gifts and resources come from Him anyway. If you have a gift and have been chosen it’s because of the Sovereign One, not you. That’s why we give thanks to Him for all he is doing in this church and in our lives – it’s his grace. If you have that perspective it changes everything. If all Christians lived that out then the resources released for the Kingdom of God and what we could do together as a result would be remarkable. But some of us just live giving God loose change, as though we are tipping God. There are some strong words elsewhere in Scripture about such an attitude.<br />
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Steve Tibberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16547700995511170549noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-961205838845297286.post-23336298071924040132013-11-26T07:03:00.000+00:002013-11-26T07:03:00.142+00:00The Last Words of David: EncouragementDavid said to Solomon, ‘<i>Be strong and courageous and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the Lord is finished.’</i> (1 Chron. 28:20) <br />
<br />This echoes back to a previous massive transition in the Old Testament. When Moses, another great leader in their history, hands over to Joshua, the word that comes to Joshua in Josh. 1:9 is almost identical – there are deliberate echoes. And the instruction comes – ‘<i>Do the work!</i>’ It’s not ‘put your feet up and wait for it to happen’ – no, get stuck in and do it! You have a part to play and don’t fear and don’t be discouraged. Why? Because the Lord your God is with you.<br />
<br />‘<i>The Lord God is with you!</i>’ Ponder on that fact! Amazing! This does not mean that we won’t go through challenging times – there are seasons in life that ebb and flow. Sometimes it seems like everything is going great – sometimes it’s really tough. Just because we are Christians doesn’t mean we won’t face challenge or circumstances which perplex us. We are like everyone else – but the big difference is that we face these things with the Lord God. We have to hold on to that – easy enough when all is going well – but we have to remember that it is true in whatever season of life we are going through now.<br />
<br />And even if you are thinking – ‘Well, that’s all very well. I don’t know what my dream, my ‘that’, is. I’m not very good at planning either...’ The key thing is for you to know that the Lord God is with you, whatever. Keep following God, keep faithful in prayer and He may put into your heart and mind the seed of a dream. There is still time!<br />
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Steve Tibberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16547700995511170549noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-961205838845297286.post-81106806345532226402013-11-19T07:09:00.000+00:002013-11-19T07:09:00.399+00:00The Last Words of David: PlansIf you read on from 1 Chronicles 28 into 2 Chronicles you realise there is a wealth of detail about the design and fitting of the new Temple and what it should be like. It had all been thought out carefully. If you are going to fulfil the dream that God has for you, then you are going to need a plan – and you will need to know how to implement it. I know leaders who are far more gifted than I am – I listen to them and they inspire me. They are great vision-casters, but if they tell me the same thing in a year’s time and there is still no indication that they have a plan to put that vision into being, then those who hear them will conclude that they are just blowing so much hot air. They have a dream but there is no ability to follow through.<br />
<br />Jim Collins, in his recent book <i>Great by Choice</i> – I would say this is a ‘must-read’ if you lead an organisation of any kind - when looking at leaders of most successful charities churches or businesses, says they had the ability to do two things at the same time. They could zoom out and keep a big picture and retain a strategic overview of what was really happening in their business (or family, or church) and then could be in a meeting where they are looking at the detail of what is going on and connect it to what is happening in the big picture. This will need repeated review. So here’s some good advice – make a plan, regularly review how it is being implemented, adjust accordingly and then take the next step.<br />
<br />Let me give an illustration from our marriage – across the summer, Deb and I read a book on marriage. (This has become a regular thing for us as part of investing in our marriage, that every year we read a helpful book and discuss it together. After 243 years we are still learning!) We read the book and at the end of it there were four or five pages with about 40 or 50 questions to answer so we took time over the summer to work through them. We looked at our use of time, our use of technology, when we pray together. We looked at each of our boys, how we handle money (monthly, annually, five year and twenty-five year plan), our love life, our in-laws (our parents are now in their mid-70s and we want to ensure that we care for and connect with them), we talked about holidays, our work places, careers, our house – detailed stuff! And details are important, in fact I spend most of my time at King’s, not in exciting vision-casting moments preaching to the people of God, but in detail meetings, one after the other, in order to work out how best to move the church forward - and I do the same detailed thinking at home. It is possible to get into a super-spiritual way of thinking – ‘relax, God will do it!’ – He will, but actually He requires us to engage, take responsibility and make a plan.<br />
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Steve Tibberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16547700995511170549noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-961205838845297286.post-48946744842461817622013-11-12T07:06:00.000+00:002013-11-12T07:06:00.164+00:00The Last Words of David: DevotionIn 1 Chronicles 28:8 David charges the people to serve God devotedly and then in verse 9 tells Solomon to ‘<i>serve him with wholehearted devotion and a willing mind</i>’. God is all-loving and is also all-seeing. He sees the motives in people’s hearts and he searches them – when God does so it’s a penetrating thing and David knows this from his own experience. He sinned with Bathsheba, and then the prophet Nathan, directed by God, came to him and confronted him with what he had done. David tells Solomon to guard the way he lives, because he knows God sees it all! Now we know that Solomon began well – he built the temple - but later on he loses that undivided heart for God and begins to be influenced by his foreign wives to follow idols. He loses the plot! One of the greatest sadnesses in life is to have a dream, to be gifted for it and chosen by God – and then shipwreck your life by not remaining devoted to God.<br />
<br />You may recall the story in the media about David Petraeus, the leading military leader of the US – a strategic leader in the super-power of our era. He was the man sent in to sort out the situation in Iraq and he did well with that. He retired and became the head of the CIA, he had been married for over 30 years with a career that for a military man is a dream – and in a moment he blew it by having an affair with the woman who wrote his biography. You can be faithful for decades, friends. You can run the race well and still tragically blow it. This can happen to us if we don’t keep devoted to God, the vision he has given and His purposes. So, I urge us all - keep Jesus central, keep praying, keep reading the Word, keep in fellowship with those who will help you to stay on track and protect your spiritual life.<br />
<br />I would say that generally the areas in which people tend to blow up can be described in these words - pleasure, measure or treasure.<br />
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<ul>
<li><i>Pleasure</i> – this is normally to do with sex and if you are married, it’s about staying within that covenant relationship. If you are single then it’s about staying pure.</li>
<li><i>Measure</i> – this is to do with success. If you are a leader and God has called you and you build anything, you will have a degree of success. But success has its own dangers because if you become successful you can start to believe that the normal laws of life don’t apply to you. We can see this with public figures out in the world but it can also happen to pastors - they can become so successful that they lose contact with those who will ask them the difficult questions. </li>
<li><i>Treasure</i> – this is money. Putting it in plain and simple terms, what you do with your money is critically important to your spiritual health. If you continue to be generous then you show you aren't putting your trust in money – you are ultimately putting your trust in God. Included in this would be never giving or taking back-handers, being accurate with your expenses, paying to Caesar what is Caesar’s with your tax, handling money - your own and that of others - with integrity.</li>
</ul>
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These three areas have the potential to derail the purposes of God for us. Be aware. Be on your guard! I don’t want that for you and I don’t want that for me. Stay devoted to God!<br />
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Steve Tibberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16547700995511170549noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-961205838845297286.post-17359686214411063622013-11-05T07:02:00.000+00:002013-11-05T07:02:00.156+00:00The Last Words of David: ChosenIn 1 Chronicles 28:4-6 the words ‘chose’ or ‘chosen’ appear four times. David reminds Solomon and the people that he was chosen by God. He knew what it was to be chosen – his tribe was chosen, his family was chosen – the background to this was that when Samuel came, at the Lord’s instruction, to find the one to anoint as King, David was not with the rest of his brothers – he was out in the fields looking after the family sheep, he had to be called in! He was the chosen leader. In this context it is important for Solomon to know that he is also chosen by God to rule - and for the people to know that too.<br />
<br />There is a close link between the sovereign choice of God in an individual’s life and the fulfilment of the dream. I might have had a dream to be a professional footballer! Most young, sport-loving men would entertain such thoughts but that isn't what God chose me to do. There has to be a connection between the individual dream and joining up with God’s choice. Looking at others and thinking ‘I’d like to be like them’ is not what God has chosen for you. Being chosen is very powerful. Christians know we are chosen by God in Christ. We are chosen by the Father and at the end of our lives that is what will count – ultimately it ensures our place in heaven!<br />
<br />John Maxwell comes at this in a slightly different way – he says that we learn that people buy into the leader and his character before they buy into the vision. You cannot disconnect the dream, the vision, from the person who has the vision. This will apply in every area of life including that of parenting: you can set up a whole list of rules for your kids but if you don’t have a meaningful relationship with them you are unlikely to be successful. You have a dream for them but they have to connect with you and you with them. Even if you are boring, old and a fuddy-duddy! (Even using that word confirms to them that I am a fuddy-duddy!) I mean – what do WE parents know? In the end leadership in any area of life is built on trust and ultimately on the sovereignty of God - that’s what is packed into our understanding of the word ‘chosen’. <br />
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Steve Tibberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16547700995511170549noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-961205838845297286.post-48812603206212504422013-10-29T07:10:00.000+00:002013-10-29T07:10:00.593+00:00The Last Words of David: Vision<i>I had it in my heart to build a house as a place of rest for the Ark of the covenant of the Lord. 1 Chron. 28:2</i><br />
<br />David was living with a major plan. His sin with Bathsheba, and the consequent attempt to cover it by setting up Uriah’s death, had resulted in a public condemnation by the prophet Nathan and he had been dealt with by God. He was passionate for God – he had a dream to build a place for God to dwell, a place to honour God.<br />
<br />What’s on your heart? What has God called you to do with your life? It could be to establish a great home or a great church or school, or build a career. Perhaps it would be to have a great marriage or raise great children – all good dreams. But what has <b>God </b>called you to do? When you are old and grey and you look back, what will you look at with no regrets as having fulfilled the dream in your heart? I've said this before - we only have one go at life and I want to make it count! Search your heart, ask God - and use your imagination.<br />
<br />I love this definition of ‘vision’ – <i>a preferable picture of the future that inspires you to perform</i>. So use your imagination, whether for your job or career, your family, your marriage, or a new venture - and look ahead. We have that for the church here at King’s – we believe God is calling us to build a church of some 5000 people – a big dream and one beyond us to achieve! It’s good to have a dream that is beyond our ability to deliver – it requires God to move for it to be fulfilled. So don’t set the bar too low; choose something that isn’t totally unrealistic but something that God needs to move forward to make it happen.<br />
<br />Paul puts it like this in Philippians 3:12 – <i>But I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me</i>. Can I ask – what your ‘that’ is? What has God given you to do in your generation? Whether as a leader at work or in the church, or in your family... When you know, when you have found out what ‘it’ is, write it down – ‘<i>My dream is this... I believe God has called me to...</i>’<br />
<br />You will have aspirations for your marriage and your children too and if only all it required to make it happen was just saying it...! It’s going to take prayer, hard work and commitment along with the work of God, but you have to start with a dream.<br />
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Steve Tibberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16547700995511170549noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-961205838845297286.post-47092237351187716172013-10-22T07:06:00.000+01:002013-10-22T07:06:00.295+01:00The Last Words of David<i>What has God called you to do with your life – what has God put on your heart to do?</i><br />
<br />I've been looking at David’s last words at a critical moment of transition towards the end of his life, spoken to the people of God, their leaders and to his son Solomon. (1 Chronicles 28:1-21) David had a dream of building a house for God – to take some of the gains from all the success of his reign and build a temple in the centre of Jerusalem for the presence of God to dwell, to put God at the centre of the nation’s life. But through the word of a prophet David was told that this dream would be fulfilled through his son, Solomon. So David, who has made financial and practical provision for this great building, gives instruction to Solomon and also to the people to receive Solomon as the new leader.<br />
<br />Think about what it will be like at the end of your life as it comes to a close and you look back. As I get older I find that from time to time that future moment zooms in. What I do know is that when that time comes I want to find myself there without many regrets. Now, I’m realistic enough to know that there will be things that I think about and conclude, ‘I wish I had handled that situation better. I wish that particular outcome had turned out differently.’ What I hope is that it would be said of me, as I am sure that you would want it said of you, that I had served the purposes of God in our generation. This is what is said of David (Acts 13:36), and David gives some great wisdom to Solomon as he stands ready to step forward and lead this great people as his father had done.<br />
<br />The next series of blogs will be around seven words from this part of the life of David which I hope will help you as you seek to fulfil what God has put in your heart to do.<br />
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Steve Tibberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16547700995511170549noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-961205838845297286.post-62284500286919232892013-10-15T07:02:00.000+01:002013-10-15T07:02:01.036+01:00Ideas for Vision Sunday - An Invitational Church <div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">‘Give
ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul will live.’ Isa 55:3<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">You cannot read Isaiah 55 without realising that it shows
that God’s plan of old was that all should be invited! It’s a warm welcome and
a repeated one – God says ‘Come!’ <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We are here to invite all those who don’t know Jesus to
come and find Him. We invite everyone to connect with us – take another step
towards us, whether you have been here for decades or a few weeks. Through
being invitational we can give everyone the chance to find out more about what
it means to become what our friends from Willow Creek describe as a fully
devoted follower of Christ. Join us on that journey of faith!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Our aim is to help you to put Jesus at the centre of
your life – it will do you good! Be Jesus-centred, look to strengthen and
lengthen your life and your involvement in King’s - and be invitational!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">My invitation to us all is this: let’s be an Isa 53
church, an Isa 54 church and an Isa 55 church – Jesus centred, strengthened and
lengthened, and invitational to all those who do not yet know Jesus. And to
those who do know Him – we can take another step in our growing relationship
with Jesus – and with His church!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I
trust that this series has given a potential outline for a Vision Sunday talk. You
can listen to the actual message via the podcast <a href="http://www.kingschurchlondon.org/audio/sermons/%2020120909_steve_tibbert.mp3" target="_blank">here</a>. </span></i>Steve Tibberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16547700995511170549noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-961205838845297286.post-85783139335328532822013-10-08T07:02:00.000+01:002013-10-08T07:02:01.134+01:00Ideas for Vision Sunday - Strengthen - Areas for attention <div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In the light of responding to a call for ‘lengthening
and strengthening’ there will be key areas in church life that we need to give
attention to. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana;">-<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><i style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Leadership
development</span></i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -18pt;">. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -18pt;">I believe this will be an ongoing thing
for us. We have hundreds of people attending this church. If they are going to
be pastored effectively then we need to release tens, if not hundreds, of
ministry leaders to care for the people. Children’s workers, youth workers,
community group leaders, worship leaders, social action workers – everything –
the list goes on and on! We need to actively and continually encourage
leadership development with leadership disciple groups to foster the growth of
new leaders. If you have any inkling or thoughts of growing in leadership
within His church we need to connect with you and help you to grow in your
potential! Now you may enjoy being a part of King’s, have found a place here
and are happy to come and go on a Sunday -worship Jesus and walk out, getting
on with your life. That is ultimately between you and God – it may work for you
as an individual but long-term that will not serve the church.</span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Communication.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> We
have made a decision at King’s to transition our church communication to primarily
electronic means. We would ask and encourage you to connect with us via social
media and the King’s website if you are able. Twitter, the blogs - these are
easy means to access information about King’s so you will be up to date with most
recent news and information. We realise that this will mean a stretch for some
of you to step in to this world of messaging and gadgets. Please do so if you
can!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Mercy
ministry and pastoral care</span></i><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> – I am pleased that we are
establishing our debt advice service – this is a really important ministry in
today’s world. Welcoming people through our mercy ministries, as well as
through Alpha and migration into the area means that we will need an increasing
number of suitably wise and experienced people to pastor our people well. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Giving</span></i><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> –
this area needs strengthening. We are aware that there are hundreds of King’s
people now giving via standing orders directly from their bank account into the
church account. This is a fantastic help and means that we know how much we can
depend on each month. Equally there are hundreds who give in a way that we have
no idea how much we can rely on. If that is you, can I ask you to seriously
look at giving regularly in this direct way? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Currently we need £90,000 a month to run the ministry fund. The
multi-site fund needs about £40,000 a month. If
giving does not match our planned budgets it will hold back the progress we
need to make to make room for more people and to provide the people and
resources to care for them. Now if we don’t have the money – we won’t spend it.
That’s a given with us! But it will delay the progress of achieving the vision
we believe God has given us. Please respond – we need a big push! Sacrificial
giving is required...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Steve Tibberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16547700995511170549noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-961205838845297286.post-437442031856700982013-10-01T07:09:00.000+01:002013-10-01T07:09:00.837+01:00Ideas for Vision Sunday - Confidence in God and a Solid Future <div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Isaiah 54 also speaks of confidence in the future – ‘...<i>do not be discouraged, you won’t be humiliated’</i>.
(:4)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The next picture given in this passage is that of a
marriage – one where the Lord God is the husband, so there can be confidence
that He will provide as he is the ruler of all the earth! This is a great reason
for confidence and ties in to our journey as a church. We can rely on what God
says and what we have seen Him do already – the gospel progressing, community being
built, extension after extension taking place.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Alec Motyer says that in Isaiah 54 equal attention is given in
the picture of the extended tent to both enlargement - and to solidity. It’s
about an intentional reach and a lot of building work going on, to build
something solid and established. Lengthening – and strengthening. This helps us
as we lay out our roadmap for building a church of 5000. Our history has been
of growth at a rate of 10% per year so we do not step into the future untried
in this area. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">In the past 30 people from Catford were asked to go and
join the second meeting at Lee to strengthen it – especially those who lived in
that area. Then we ran to two meetings at the Downham site – another 30 were
asked to go and strengthen that meeting – also creating more space in the tent at
Catford Hill for new people to come – and they have! The spaces they left have
been filled with new people. Currently we have around 1750 meeting at the three
sites, seven meetings on a Sunday and eventually in 2014+ the work we plan to
do on ‘extending our borders’ will lead to a total 2500 seating capacity. </span></div>
Steve Tibberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16547700995511170549noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-961205838845297286.post-65994916463484291052013-09-24T07:08:00.000+01:002013-09-24T07:08:01.042+01:00Ideas for Vision Sunday - Lengthen... <div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">‘Sing,
O barren woman... because more are the children of the desolate woman than of
her who has a husband...’</span></i><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> (Isa 54:1)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">There is a brilliant Bible commentary by Alec Motyer on
Isaiah called <i>‘The Prophecy of Isaiah’</i>.
Regarding chapter 54 he writes that here is joy over a supernaturally created
people. The barren woman sings because of supernatural births – a people coming
into being beyond the imagination and power of man. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Here at King’s week by week, we see people coming along
and being saved – born into God’s own family by His will and purpose! They are
connected back to God, sin is dealt with, relationships are put back in line
and Lordship issues are resolved with His order being established and Jesus
taking the central place. This is not just for individuals but is also for a
community of believers working out relationship together<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As you read on in Isaiah 54, it speaks of the expectation
of expansion and growth – <i>‘Enlarge the
place of your tent... do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your
stakes. For you will spread out to the right and to the left...’</i> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This growth is expected because God speaks and says it
will happen. God speaks to us and we can be confident in His word – there is an
expectation for the tent to get bigger and bigger. The picture here is of a Bedouin
tent – as the family increased they would add another section - as the family
grew so did the tent, with poles, canvas and ropes added to meet the need for
more space. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">This is a good picture of life at King’s – we had a ‘tent’
at Catford Hill, we extended it – twice! Then we went to two and then to three
meetings and then we acquired another ‘tent’ at Downham and another massive one
at Lee. We now have a second meeting at each of those sites – each filling up,
praise God! – so we find we need more space, more tents.</span></div>
Steve Tibberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16547700995511170549noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-961205838845297286.post-64047469123516034872013-09-17T07:06:00.000+01:002013-09-17T07:06:00.204+01:00Ideas for Vision Sunday - A Jesus-centred Church <div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">‘...he
will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper
in his hand.’</span></i><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> (Isa 53:10b)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Reading Isaiah 54 in my garden, I began to look at
commentaries and found that before Isaiah 54 comes Isaiah 53 - and after it, Isaiah
55! Profound truths! I felt God wants us to be a church that embodies these three
chapters. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Isaiah 53 wonderfully describes the Lord Jesus, His
person and His work - and we need to be a Jesus–centred community. Jesus is the
only one who can save us! He’s the only one who can bring us to the Father, it
is all about Jesus Christ – whether we are talking about forgiveness or healing,
or restored relationships among other things. We are not preaching ourselves
but Jesus. He’s the Cornerstone, the Beginning and the End, He was at Creation,
He will be there at the end of the age; He sustains, He towers over the nations
and over history more than the Shard towers over London. We must be a
Jesus-centred church.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Individually we need to be Jesus-centred too. We want
Him at the centre of our lives, affecting our relationships, what we do with
our money, how we respond under pressure, guiding and framing our choices and
decisions. We are learners, followers, disciples of Jesus! The extent to which
we do this will reflect on how much we gather to pray, how much time we spend
reading the Bible and it impacts every bit of life. Your world view is
different, what you are running for - everything is changed when He is the
centre.</span>Steve Tibberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16547700995511170549noreply@blogger.com