Yount discusses what he calls the Triad of life – head, heart, and hands. We have the thoughts and beliefs of the mind, the passions and affections of the heart, and the actions and doing of the hands. These categories are helpful in considering how to connect and teach disciples.

There is a danger to center one’s focus on one the area they are most comfortable with. That is, for the one who thrives in the life of the mind, the focus easily falls to the meaning of words and the exploration of the context of a passage. This, of course, can transform into a dusty and dry exercise.If one’s strength is in the area of the heart and affections, there is the temptation to ask a lot of “what does this mean to you” and “how does this make you feel”. Shallowness stalks here. If the focus falls to the hands, there will be lots of business, but very little belief or passion.

The key is to maintain a balance, both in one’s own life, and in ones teaching. It is here with teaching that these categories can be very helpful. Whether small group discussion questions, sermon preparation, or personal discipleship settings, moving through these categories can bring new life and vitality.

We should realize that we deal with people who are comprised of all three of these categories. In addition, we minister to those who learn the most through one of these categories. If our strength is in the life of the heart, if we teach solely with that bent, we will find that 2/3rds of the people are left out because they learn best in the categories of the head or hands.

Head Focused Questions

What does this word or phrase mean?

What does this text mean in it’s context?

How would the originally readers have understood this?

What should we believe based on this text?

Heart Focused Questions

How would you have felt if you were in this situation?

How does this text affect you?

Tell us about a similar experience to this passage that you have had in your own life.

What should we feel based on this text?

Hand Focused Questions

How can we put these principles into practice?

What should we do in response to this passage?

It is important that we do not over-emphasis one of these categories to the neglect of the others. In addition, we cannot pit them against each other, for transformation must come to each of these areas, in our own life and in the lives of those we teach and disciple.

So why the name change? There is of course the fact that the SBC is no longer a southern organization. It’s geographical reach extends globally. There certainly could be a case to change the name to reflect this. However, that was not the primary motivation. The main reason for the change was, as Jimmy Draper, chairman of the task-force says, “The name ‘Southern’ is a barrier to the Gospel in some regions of the country.”

Why you ask? Well, as we all know, us Southerners are perceived as backward, country red-necks, so there is that. The real reason has to do with the SBC’s historical ties to slavery and racism.

While I understand the logic of changing the name, I still have some lingering questions about this proposal.

• Is the offense at the name ‘Southern’ really about regrettable history, or is it really that we are Christian, Baptist, or some other factors? In other words, will this new name really open new doors of ministry or is it just to make us feel better about it?
• If the purpose of the name change is to reduce offense to unbelievers, why only add a not-legal tag name? That is, even if church chooses to use GCB naming, at the end of the day, they will still have to acknowledge that they are Southern Baptist.
• Along that same line, are we creating a “bait-and-switch” situation? Are we calling ourselves one thing, “Great Commission Baptists”, only to really reveal later that we are Southern Baptists? What are the implications of that?
• If the purpose of the is, again, to reach people who are turned off by the ‘Southern’, why now use a second name that has very little meaning to an unbeliever?
• What are the possible negative connotations of “Great Commission Baptists”? For example, will some government leaders in certain countries perceive it as a direct implication of proselytizing, which may be shunned or illegal there, and thus hinder ministry in those regions?
• Who will experience the great impact from the name change? Unbelievers who now think GCBs are terrific or Southern Baptists who feel better about themselves for adding this new name?
• Is it worth it? Will adding this tag-line be worth the cost, time, and educating necessary to make it effective?

At the end of the day, I agree with Ed Stetzer thoughts. Changing the name, or rather, adding to the name *may* be good, but changing actions is better.

In Old Testament studies, books are carved out based on countless reasons to be by different authors, written at later dates, and so on and so on… The gist of it all is that we don’t have to hold this or that piece of Scripture as authoritatively God’s word, but just a reflection of later redaction.

One example will suffice. A common argument is that the story of Genesis about creation is nothing more than a parable or idealized story, and not a true reflection of how the world really began.

Those who argue these points often make powerful, long-winded, and fancy arguments. But one problem exists with all of them. That problem is that no matter the final reason, determining that some portion of God’s word is somehow less authoritative, inaccurate, or flat out wrong undermines all of it. The one who argues in this way sets himself over the Word as its judge able to determine what thousands of believers before him were not and able to negate the very Scriptures themselves. And once in this position, what is to stop this person from declaring other parts of Scripture un-authoritative. Or for that matter, why not negate the whole thing? After all, isn’t that what they want in the end, to have their word taken as authoritative while discrediting God’s?

There are two powerful contrasts that Nahum makes:

• God is avenging, wrathful, powerful, and creation itself trembles before Him (1:2-6), YET He is good and a refuge for those who seek Him (v. 7). When all the world seems to be coming apart, God is a shelter to those who seek refuge in Him.

• The bad news of destruction and the end of the Assyrian Empire is foretold (1:12-14), YET it is Good News that will come that God is faithful in judging sin and restoring His people (1:15, 2:2). Judgement of sin is the worst of news for those who stand in sin, but for those who have come to Christ for their righteousness, judgment of sin is the Good News that God will set all things right and one day do away with sin entirely.

Introduction

What is one of the best gifts you have received?

Come to Worship – Matthew 2:1-2

What drew the Wise men to come and visit Jesus? What difficulties do you think they may have encountered on the way?

What draws people to Jesus today? What difficulties do people face as they are drawn to Him?

Seeking to Destroy – Matthew 2:3-8; 16

Why do you think the Wise men, who were not Jews, were seeking Jesus, yet Herod, who claimed to be “king of the Jews” himself, did not even know where He would be born?

What motives did Herod have in seeking Jesus? What are some different motives people have for seeking Jesus?

What does verse 16 reveal about Herod’s statement about wanting to worship Jesus? Do people today put on a front of “religion” or “devotion to Christ” in order to make themselves seem better to others?

What is Herod’s fear? How does his fear compare to the fear some people have today that cause them to reject Jesus?

Worshipping and Giving – Matthew 2:9-12

What is worship? What is the impact of worship on the worshipper?

How are acts of service and giving of one’s resources acts of worship?

Special Application

What dangers are there in having an attitude that says “I found Jesus years ago, what more is there?”

What implications does Jesus’ lordship have on your life? The life of your unbelieving friend or neighbor?

Can giving of your time to care for another be an act of worship?

1. Large-church mentality – This mindset says that it is better to grow on large church in an area than several smaller ones. However, bigger is not always better, and the ministering power of several churches can often out weight that of one large church. Large churches are not bad, but they are not the goal either.

2. Parish-church mind-set – Closely tied to the large-church mentality is the parish-church mind-set. This approach limits church planting activities by geography. Often the fear is that if there is more than one church in an area of a particular denomination or style, then they will “compete” against one another. However, the mission of the church is to reach the community with the gospel, and another church working in the field is an ally, not the competition.

3. Professional-church syndrome – Those with this mind-set believe that all pastoral staff must be seminary trained, or highly educated. But this is impossible, not only because of the limited number of pastors, but also because smaller churches cannot usually support those with this level of education (and education debt!). Seminary training is not bad, it is needed for many, but it is not required.

4. Rescue-the-perishing syndrome – This approach says that instead of planting churches, we should work to save the dying churches. But too often, like a smoker who is told to “quit or die”, a dying church would rather stay with their traditions than make needed changes. Church revitalization can happen, but church planting is usually faster, cheaper, easier, and more fruitful. A dying church should not be an excuse to not plant a church.

5. Already reached myth – This myth says that the West, and especially the United States, or the South, or wherever has already been mostly reached. But this simply is not true. While we are certainly blessed with many Christian resources, the number of churches being planted each year fails to even keep pace with the population growth. The Great Commission is not finished, no matter where you are.

6. Indifference – This is the most poisonous trap to church planting. Having little or no concern for those without the Gospel reveals a lack of sincerity of the heart or a failure to understand the true depths of the Gospel.

7. Fear – Fear can stand in the way of many church planting endeavors. Whether it be on the part of the planter(s), the church(es), or the mobilizer(s), fear can kill church planting. Fear, however, can be overcome by faith in God’s promises and confidence in the power of the Gospel message to change lives.

Do you find any of these road blocks in your own heart? In your church?

(Adapted from Planting Missional Churches by Ed Stetzer)

Randy Alcorn – Money, Possessions, and Eternity – Link

R.C. Sproul – The Holiness of God – Link

Martin Luther – Concerning Christian Libery – Link

The Bible – HSCB Version – Link

The Bible – ESV Version – Link

Also, a couple of bargins -

Ted Tripp – Shepherding a Child’s Heart – $1.79 – Link

John Piper – Brothers, We are Not Professionals – $1.99 – Link

Imagine you are Joseph. What would you have done? What were Joseph’s options?

Luke 1:28-31

What reason did Mary have for rejoicing? Had she earned God’s favor?

Why do you think the angel told both Mary and Joseph not to fear? What reasons Mary and Joseph would have been afraid?

Do we ever fear what God may call us to do? How can we do to prepare to confront our fears with courage?

Luke 1:34-37

How does this passage teach about the virgin birth? Why is this truth of the virgin birth important for understanding Jesus’ identity as fully God and fully man?

What is the difference between asking questions of God and questioning God? Which of these did Mary do? How can asking questions of God be a catalyst for growing one’s faith?

Matthew 1:24-25 and Luke 1:38

What do Joseph’s and Mary’s response and actions show about their character? About their faith in God? How do our actions demonstrate our faith in God?

Where did Mary and Joseph find the strength to go in the way God called them to? Do we have the power and strength to do what God calls us to on our own?