please forgive james

Here’s what you can expect at this year’s RE:FORM Conference 2009 …

Vineyard Boise pastor Tri Robinson explains the vision of RE:FORM and the heart behind this growing network of like-minded and like-hearted Christians.

Now that you know who J.A.M.E.S is, we want to hear your thoughts on Sunday’s message. What do you think about some of the perceptions of who James is? Judgmental? Antagonistic? Mean-spirited? Exclusive? Self-righteous?

As some of the conversations emerge around Monday’s post, there were some reoccuring themes that people shared. So, I thought I would mine this a little more today.

A number of posters commented on yesterday’s blog entry that they weren’t sure how risky they were really being. One person also mentioned how being risky meant risking more than “things.” And I agree. Oftentimes, the biggest risk we take isn’t one that’s financial or one of security, but that of reputation.

Simply by being open and sharing their thoughts in this forum, the very people who shied away from calling themselves risk takers or worried about not being risky enough were the very ones taking a big risk. That’s being a risk taker–risking your reputation.

Paul challenged the Corinthians to be more transparent. The key to reaching a broken world is through humility and transparency. The world is looking for people who are real. They want to know that the Truth you ascribe to is actually making a difference in the way you live your life.

So, for today’s discussion purposes, answer one or some of these questions:

1) Is being transparent difficult for you? Why or why not?

2) What is the greatest obstacle you face in being transparent before others?

3) How have you been transparent in the past and experienced and opportunity to share your faith with someone as a result?

- Tri

As the week is drawing to a close, reflect back over Sunday’s closing prayer:

“Holy Spirit, we ask that you would come right now in a very real way. Literally give us a picture of those folks who we’ve had a difficult time with, who are resistant to You, that at times we may have even been angry with. Help us to see them as You see them. Help us to see past the wall, the veneer, that the enemy has put up to keep the reality of who they are and who You created them to be from us. Help us to see them as You see them. Give us Your heart.

“Lord, would You give us the circumstances and the words to minister authentically and sincerely and genuinely out of a heart of brokenness and humility? Take from us, Lord, any anger or judgmental spirit. Help us, Lord, to have a deep desire to see them come to know You. We ask Lord that you would give us the words. …

“Help us, Lord, so that we don’t rehearse and try to figure it all out but rely on You in those moments of divine appointments where we bump into folks. Whether it be through email or by telephone or just in person, we ask that You would give us the heart to speak and the words to say. Break our hearts for a broken world that we might be agents of change in a very real way. We commit this to You, God. We ask your anointing over this week. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

Here are some questions for today’s discussion:
1) What has happened in your life this week in the way of your relationships with non-believers?
2) How has God answered this prayer in your life?

- Tri

There is no formula for sharing our faith with people. And you just never know where you’re going to meet someone in his or her journey of faith. You might meet them on day one where they are just beginning to get curious or on the day they’re ready to jump in with both feet and follow Jesus. It’s for that reason that we must be listening to what the Lord is saying as we encounter people. The founder of the Vineyard movement John Wimber called it “power evangelism”.

In my early days of ministry, I had a counseling appointment with a woman who showed up only because she had to. As part of her probation, she had to receive counseling and admitted that the reason she came to the church was because she thought she could get counseled for free. Though she wasn’t really interested and just wanted me to sign some papers so she could show her probate officer, I listened to her story for a few minutes before the Lord showed me some things about her life.

As I began relaying to her what the Lord was showing me about the cause of pain in her life, she fell on the floor and began weeping. A few minutes later, we prayed together and she accepted Christ. In the weeks and months ahead, she then began her journey of following the Lord.

Being attentive to the voice of the Holy Spirit in my life gives me the opportunity to be used in such a way. It’s sheer joy to meet someone where they are at and tell them about the good news of Christ. And allowing God to use you to do it in such a way that God’s love is obviously revealed to the person is incredible.

For today’s discussion, take some time to answer the following questions:
1) How do you listen to the Lord for opportunities to share your faith in a powerful way as you’re going about your day?

2) What experience do you have to share where God used someone to reveal something about your life that you thought maybe no one or very few people knew?

3) How open are you to seeing the Holy Spirit move through you in such a way? Are you bold enough to challenge someone with something you think the Lord is telling you … even if it could be offensive or embarrassing or shameful?

Throughout our discussion here and in conversations I’ve had with people, many people have shared about the hostility they face when talking about their faith. Like our great panelists talked about yesterday, when you go in trying to prove you’re right and someone else is wrong the walls of defense go up.Sometimes no matter what we do, people are going to find the Gospel offensive; however, there are ways we can share our faith without putting someone on the defensive.

Watch the following clip of Saddleback pastor Rick Warren talking with liberal talk show host Alan Colmes and answer these questions:

1) How could Rick Warren and Alan Colmes part as friends?

2) How did Rick Warren disarm Alan Colmes when he began posing questions?

3) What did you learn from this interaction?

- Tri

Jason goes on a search to find out who James is. … He hasn’t been seen since. … Maybe you should give James a call and find out where he is.

We had another great group of posts from people sharing how they are reaching the culture through their unique gifts, talents and interests. Robin’s post really touched on a point that I feel is important in this discussion–that of sharing the Lord through your personal life in a very natural way:

When God called me out of writing for the general market and into writing for Him, it opened many doors of opportunity to share. One that I cherish was when I was interviewed for the Romance Writers Report. Naturally, this wasn’t a Christian venue, but I simply answered truthfully which meant sometimes talking about God …

At the close of the interview, I was asked if I had anything I would like to add. I said, “No, but if anyone has any questions, I’ll share anything except my weight.” I said it with a laugh and meant it to be kind of a joke. A throw-away line, I thought.

Then I received an email from a writer who asked if I’d meant what I said. She had questions about my relationship with God. This opened an exchange of emails that culminated in one where she wrote that she had asked Jesus into her heart.

I believe that when we are authentic and transparent doors will open for ministry in the most surprising places.

As we read these posts and the depth of them emerges, it seems like this is the direction that the Lord is taking us in the “Please Forgive James” series.

Consider these questions and share your responses with us:

1) Have you ever had an experience like Robin’s? If so, what did it look like?

2) How does authenticity in your relationships with friends invite conversations about your faith?

- Tri

p.s. Tune in tomorrow for a special video in the quest to discover who James is