Blog - Hope & Anchor Church: Recent Episodes
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A Blog Post by Heather WhitfordLast year I read a book called, “Do More Better: A Practical Guide to Productivity” by Tim Challies in which he defined productivity as, basically, using all of my life to glorify God and work for the good of others. Aside from how this definition might differ from my preconceptions about the idea of “productivity,” I was challenged, inspired, and humbled.
This is not a new idea: It’s all over the New Testament. Jesus said to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength and to love our neighbor as our self. Paul called us to live in love, consider the interests of others above ourselves, and to use our spiritual gifts to build up the body of Christ. John points us to Jesus’ example of laying down his life for us, and thereby calling us to lay down our lives for our fellow believer.
But something about hearing in this way at this time really resonated with me.
I needed to decide if I was going to continue my current course, living and working in Springfield, or if I was going to set out on a new adventure, chart a new course. I struggled with the decision because I have painful memories here, and having spent a year abroad serving in missions, I felt I was somehow too good to live here. I should be doing something bigger, better, and more important! The motivation of my heart was selfish: I wanted relief from sadness, and I wanted glory for my own reputation. Thinking about living my life for the good of others revealed my heart and made me change my perspective.
I work at an accounting office, and I started out as extra help during tax season. About six months in, my boss said they wanted me to stay on long term, take accounting classes, and eventually learn to do tax preparation. At first, the thought of doing so made me feel suffocated: all I wanted was to get the heck out of Springfield! But then Challies’ words made their way into my thought process: I could learn a new skill that would enable me to serve others in more particular ways. I could earn more, and therefore give more to my church. And of course, I could be of greater benefit to the company I work for now.
Once I started thinking about it this way, the decision became way easier! God is sovereign: I can’t thwart his plan for my life in a decision like this, so if I make the choice with a heart to benefit others, I can make that decision all day and sleep with no regrets.
I am still working in the same office and I’m looking forward to starting accounting classes later this year.
My station in life was the most immediate application for me personally, but I’ve also been thinking through how I can take other areas of life captive for the good of others. Tim Challies wrote a few articles toward that end: My pursuit of Christlikeness is not just for my own benefit, but it is for the benefit of my church and the other people in my life. The more like Christ I become, the more I can love and bless others. My personal suffering is not only for my own sanctification, but for the growth of the whole body as we share burdens in prayer and demonstrate faith to one another.
I thought about my finances: What if I plan my budget around how I can best benefit others? What if my emergency savings isn’t just for my own emergencies? I also thought about my health: What if I eat better and keep my body well so that I have the strength and energy to serve others? I thought about my daily responsibilities at work: Am I doing my job just to earn the paycheck, or am I striving to do my job well so my coworkers can do their jobs better? And I continue to think about small areas of daily life: I can stop watching the next episode on Netflix and go to sleep so I have energy for the responsibilities and conversations of the next day. I can put my phone down while I’m driving because I am concerned about the safety of fellow drivers. I can even take the smaller cookie on a plate to let someone else enjoy the bigger one.
A Christlike focus on living for the good of others will save us from a self-abasement lifestyle where we pridefully try to give out of our own strength instead of out of God’s grace. It also saves us from turning a biblical self-stewardship into an idolatrous love of self. My rest, my solitude, my time with the Lord, it benefits me, yes, but I ought also to consider how it works to allow me to love and serve others. I take care of myself in order to love and serve others.
I’ll admit, I feel overwhelmed when I think of all the areas of life where I default to an individualized, self-centered mindset. There is a lot to address! But by God’s grace, the faithfulness of Christ, and the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit, I have started to change and grow. And honestly I live in so much peace about being in Springfield for this season of life, and I have hope for my future. I have purpose and direction that can’t change with the change of circumstance: To live for the glory of God, and the good of others.
Blog Post by Pastor Adam StoddardMatthew 10:7 “Go and announce to them that the Kingdom of Heaven is near.”
Fun fact: Did you know that, if you blindfolded yourself and set off walking across an empty field toward a landmark, you’d eventually walk in a big circle, even though you felt like you were walking in a straight line? It’s true. Because one of your legs is dominant and stronger, it takes slightly longer strides while the other follows along. This is a big reason why people get lost in the wilderness and are unable to find their way out…they end up walking in big circles.
BUT, if you attempt the same thing with two blindfolded people walking together holding hands, they will walk across the same field in a remarkably straight line. This is simply because each individual’s tendency to walk in a circle is canceled out by the other person’s competing inclination. Thus, those traveling together get where they’re going and they ultimately avoid getting lost.
Shortly after Jesus called the twelve disciples to follow Him, He sent them out to have an experiential adventure in proclaiming the Good News. This was an early test case for the followers of Jesus, allowing them to gain valuable experience in God’s mission in the world. Along the way, they would grow in their understanding of what Jesus’ Kingdom might actually be about and how it should function. As was Jesus’ practice, He most likely sent the disciples out in pairs, to work together. But, even more importantly, I think He sent them out together so they could discover the value of having a partner on the journey, a fellow traveler, to facilitate growth and learning, to provide encouragement and guidance. Jesus established a pattern that we in the Church today should notice and emulate. Our task is to “go and announce that the Kingdom of Heaven is near.” Not go and get people to come to church, not get together and formulate elaborate programs to educate people about Jesus, and not go and get people to believe a set of facts and pray a sinner’s prayer. While these things matter and are important, they aren’t really the point of what Jesus sent us out to do. Ours is to go and announce. And when we go, we ought not travel alone.
We need the companionship and correction that comes from having a trustworthy friend as a fellow traveler, a common adventurer in the faith. This is the appropriate and natural context of discipleship and mentorship. Jesus’ idea of discipleship and mentorship among believers is primarily a horizontal relationship between two people who are committed to following Jesus and growing in His likeness. If evangelism, discipleship, and mentoring are left up to clergy and leaders to accomplish, we will continue to get the dismal results we’ve been seeing in the church. Once we understand that Jesus sent you and me to go out together, we’ll quickly discover the joy that comes from seeing lives transformed by the Gospel. And we’ll also discover the freedom and growth that comes from not walking alone and not walking in circles any longer.
Who has God placed in your life as a traveling companion? If Jesus sent you out today, who would He send with you? Maybe the first step for you is to pray and ask God to help you better understand your role in discipleship and mentoring. And then look around and grab the hand of someone nearby. Step in to the love of Jesus together and then step out to announce His Kingdom to the world.
Post by Pastor Adam Stoddard
Thanksgiving is one of my favorite times of the year. It’s an agreed upon opportunity for us to all slow down a little bit, get together with family and friends, and join our hearts in a time of gratitude and joy.
For many, Thanksgiving has little to do with Pilgrims and Native Americans anymore. But for all, this should be a time for us to become mindful of God’s goodness and provision in our lives. It’s also an opportunity to pray and seek God’s guidance in the days, months, and years ahead.