Someone recently asked, “How do you find time for daily Bible study while holding down a full-time job, speaking on the weekends, and doing counseling on weeknights?” Here’s my answer.

I carry books and a copy of The Message (or some equivalent easy-to-read version) with me. I read while waiting on others such as doctor’s appointments, luncheon engagements, or instead of eating lunch. I find skipping lunch and reading to be good for both soul and waistline! Time is also available while waiting to fall asleep. Reading is a wonderful sedative, with no side-effects!

I was very fortunate, early in my life, to have congregations who supported me while I learned how to study the Bible properly, and devoted myself to reading and studying Scripture. I spent two full years, at one congregation, reading and studying Scripture and related New Testament studies such as customs, language, etc., which gave me a great foundation. That, along with a lifetime of preaching, teaching, and counseling, has given me my present working knowledge. Because of this foundation, I no longer have to dedicate a lot of time to reading and studying the Bible. I spend my time with God in fasting, prayer, listening, and meditation.

For those just beginning your journey with God, I suggest getting an easy-to-read version. Carry it with you. Make time to read. Purchase a commonly-accepted version like American Standard, Revised Standard, or New King James for detailed study. Take time to sit, read, study, pray, and meditate. Have several versions available for comparison. Avoid reading commentaries until after you have arrived at your own conclusions. Keep in mind the original context as you read. A good book on how to properly study the Bible is also appropriate for beginners.

The entire Bible is now available on tape or CD. If you do not like to read, then listen to Scripture as you drive. Much time is wasted traveling that could be spent listening and learning. There are a lot of books now available on tape/CD.

The most important thing is to ingest Scripture and spiritual material on a regular basis. Scripture is best when placed deep in the heart, meditated on day and night.

Pray for wisdom. Seek God’s face. Follow the Spirit.

Another dream last night. Another messsage for someone. Possibly someone reading this blog. I will try and relate it as God gave it to me. First, a little background.

I lost my favorite leather jacket. This particular style is hard to find. I have looked a long time for another. My wife happened to see one just like it this week while out with friends. She told me about it and I rushed back the next evening hoping no one had purchased it. It was still there. It was perfect, just what I wanted. I was so excited. All of a sudden something told me to take it off and examine it closely. I was heartsick to find two flaws, but glad I checked it. I would have been very sick had I paid so much money and discovered later it was flawed. Now, the lesson.

You think you have found the perfect person. You looked for him all your life. You want to spend your life with him. You are rushing to marry him because you don't want to lose him again. He is SERIOUSLY flawed. God wants you to stop and take a closer look. Use the eyes God gave you. He will reveal what you need to see. Everyone is flawed, but this is serious. It has the potential to destroy your marriage later if you wait to see it. God loves you and wants you going into this marriage knowing what you are getting. That's all. End of message.

I bought the jacket and I love it. But, I got it at a significantly reduced price! Heehee!

Many Christians see God as some doting parent who is pleased with whatever his children offer in the form of worship. Well, God states exactly what he wants in I Corinthians 14. He says, through Paul, that he prefers to have it his way in ALL THE CHURCHES! He adds further that if any of his children do not accept it his way that he cannot use them! God is very serious about how his children worship him. So why have Christians not done it his way for over 1700 years? Isn't it time we give worship back to God?

Imagine next Sunday in your church Sam Christian being free to rise and exclaim, “I love you, Lord. I praise you, O God! You are everything to me. I stand in the midst of your congregation to give you praise for making me into a brand new person, a real father, and a loving husband.” Then, imagine Sam’s eight-year-old son free to immediately follow his dad with a praise song composed entirely on the spot by the Holy Spirit! There would not be a dry eye in the place. Sinners would fall on their faces and confess their sins; applause would break out in heaven; screams of rage would most likely ring out in hell! I can only imagine.

I can only imagine further what would happen if Sue Christian was so moved by her husband’s testimony and her son’s song of gratitude that she actually jumped to her feet and praised God, publicly. I expect there would be collective coronaries; ushers would rush to “ush” her; gasping would be heard with expectations of a lightening bolt striking the steeple because a woman did not hold her praise until she was outside the sanctuary door!

It's a sin and a shame what God is not permitted to do in his assembly.

Several fallacious assumptions are made today in the area of church growth. Let’s look at a few of them.

One assumption is that some magic formula, or some program, needs to be constantly adopted to keep congregations viable. Sometimes the very method adopted (that actually makes a church grow) is wrong in itself. For example, the First Righteous Church advertises that it will give away $100 bills in all future services. Do you suppose they will experience growth? Well, the “health and wealth” messages proclaimed in churches today brings huge increases in attendance. Is it any different than promising cash? Who wouldn’t desire more health and more wealth? But, that is not the proper reason for coming to Christ or to church!

Another false assumption is that growth in attendance is an indication a church is growing. God doesn't measure growth by numbers. God measures growth in terms of “spiritual produce”. He takes what we are capable of producing with our flesh and multiplies it supernaturally by pruning us. Wow! Anyone want to get pruned? Not a popular message. Yet, real growth is only possible as I am willing to deny myself, take up my cross, and follow him. He promises PAIN, not earthly GAIN, as he remakes me into his image. That message is not well received in a “seeker service”! Jesus even experiences “loss in attendance” at his rallies when he refuses to feed the crowd any longer and starts talking about eating his flesh and drinking his blood! (Real crowd pleaser there! ) A growth in numbers is no indication of spiritual maturation. Sometimes a growth in numbers is just members jumping ship from one church to go to one more appealing. That's more like swelling than growth.

Look in Acts, last verse in chapter 2. The body of Christ grows exponentially as God adds to it. So much for our theories and methods.

Is your congregation more loving this year than last year? Are you? Do you better reflect today the character and nature of Jesus Christ than you did yesterday? How do you stack up next to a Holy God? Do you have a greater sense of his presence in your assembly and in your life now than before?

These are REAL questions churches and individuals ask themselves if they desire REAL growth.

Rick's other book, "The Purpose-Driven Church", is no different. Here once again a good brother advocates the implementation of a "system" designed to make good Christians better. Or, is it rather a system for making church members more faithful to doing "church"? Hmmmmmm.

Rick bases his system out of Ephesians 4. If Paul intended to implement a system in Christian churches, would not Paul have outlined it in that chapter? Does Paul need Rick Warren's help to clarify it for the churches?

The "purpose" for Christian churches is to assist the Holy Spirit's work in each Christian as HE brings them to the stature of the fullness of Christ. The gifts poured out in the churches are given to individual members. They should be respected and utilized in the church. Churches create an environment for members to utilize the gifts so all are built up to the "stature of the fullness of Christ". That's Ephesians 4.

There is no system that makes bad persons good, or good persons better. God alone makes new hearts. God alone matures those hearts by providing his Spirit and spiritual gifts. The perfection found in Christ Jesus and obedience to him is incapable of being improved upon by some system devised of men. There is no purpose more high than being obedient to the Holy Spirit, in the churches and in our daily lives.