#721 - SUNDAY. OCTOBER 6. 2019

In the life of a pastor/preacher, Sundays are big days.

Services are held. Sermons are preached. People are ministered to. Connections are made. The Kingdom of God is advanced.

In an effort to celebrate, process, and remember what I am privileged to experience on any given Sunday, I am starting a new segment on this blog simply entitled, “Sundays.”

• Preached at Creekside Community Church on the topic The Enduring Motivation.

• “Preached” at THEMOVEMENT.CHURCH from Revelation 2:1-7. (I actually recorded the message on Friday night, knowing I was going to be out Sunday, and they played the video in service on Sunday. This was the first Sunday we have ever showed a video message in 6 years of ministry. Got good feedback, but it’s probably not anything we’re going to do again anytime soon.)

• I’m so thankful for how God is giving me opportunities both in our church and in other churches to preach about the worthiness of God. I’m so thankful for how the Holy Spirit is opening up people’s eyes to the necessity of His worthiness being the underlying motivation for obedience in every area of our life.

• I’m so honored that other pastors of other churches would trust me in their pulpit.

• Enjoyed lunch with a married couple in our church who are recovering from an infidelity within their marriage. (Only God!)

• Enjoyed a dinner/membership interview with a married couple who is new to our church within the last 6 months. They are sharp. I am amazed by the great people that God continues to send to join our church family.

ONE MAJOR REFLECTION

As much as Sundays are about preaching, equally important are the relationships I develop and maintain with the people I am privileged to preach to.

#720 - FAVOR > COST

The New Home of the Golden State Warriors!

I had absolutely no intentions of going to this game.

It was the very first NBA basketball game to be played in the new Chase Center in San Francisco, and though it was a preseason game, tickets were still crazy expensive. I was fully prepared to enjoy the game on TNT.

Then, less than two hours before tip-off, I get a call from an old friend who is a VP for CLARK Construction. This friend of mine played a major role in facilitating the deal between the Golden State Warriors and CLARK Construction to work together to build the arena. Not only did he help facilitate the deal, but over the two years that the arena was being built, he also oversaw the project in a major way as well.

He tells me that the people he had invited to go to the game bailed, and he asked if I was interested in going. I said, without hesitation, ABSOLUTELY!

Then, I found out he had theater box seats! FREE full buffet. FREE cocktails. FREE tickets.

Favor also means feasting!

The game was great. The arena was beautiful. The opportunity to catch up with an old friend was priceless.

But tonight, I was reminded of a truth that God has revealed to me time and time again (and hopefully it’s a truth that you can be encouraged by as well!):

Cost can price you out, but the favor of God can get you in!

You can take that to the bank!

#719 - REFLECTIONS ON PREACHING THROUGH REVELATION

Though I have many weeks to go before I have preached through the book of Revelation in its entirety, I just finished writing my third sermon from the book, and I wanted to share some reflections on what I’ve experienced in my study and sermons thus far.

1. Because I am clear on why I’m preaching through the book, what I choose to preach from the book is much clearer to me. (This is probably true for any book of the Bible you choose to preach through, but I’ve found this particularly helpful for the monstrosity that is the book of Revelation!) Side note, my stated purpose for preaching through the book is: “Instead of being focused primarily on explaining when God is returning or how God is returning, we will study Revelation to gain a deeper understanding of the God WHO is returning.”

2. Physically re-writing what I see happening in every sentence in the text has been a great aid in preparing me for my understanding and interpretation of the text. (Once again, this would probably be helpful in preparing me to interpret any book of the Bible I preach from.) Another side note: The ESV Scripture Journal from Crossway has been extremely helpful towards this end.

3. It’s been in my study where the Spirit shows me what to say. (Again, this isn’t unique to the book of Revelation. God shows up in this way when I’m studying to preach from any book!) But, because preaching through Revelation is such a challenge and step of faith for me, I am amazed at (and thankful for) how God meets me during my study and preparation and guides me towards what he desires for me to say. I absolutely could not do this work if I did not encounter God in my study. This process is truly a miracle!

4. The congregation is hungry for the Word! Whether it’s the book (Revelation is intriguing!) or the season of life that our people are in (or a combination of the two), I have never sensed such a strong hunger and desire at THEMOVEMENT.CHURCH for the teaching of God’s Word. Preaching is so much more fun when there are eager listeners! I am so thankful.

The bottom line is this: preaching through Revelation is turning our much better than I ever thought it would! (And I’m only 3 weeks in!)

I will most definitely write more reflections on preaching through the book of Revelation as the weeks go along, but in light of the things I’ve shared above, I am so thankful for what God is doing through this teaching series. Though it hasn’t been easy, God has been faithful, and I am thankful!

#718 - HOW THE WISDOM OF DALLAS WILLARD IS WRECKING ME

City to City Bay Area Faculty

Over the last 24 hours, I had the privilege of meeting with the City to City Bay Area Faculty to discuss/evaluate the current church-planter incubator we are facilitating and to dream about and plan for the next group of participants. I am humbled to be a part of a group of such wise, Kingdom-minded leaders.

As we were discussing values/strategies, Nancy Ortberg shared the following exchange that her husband John and Dallas Willard had at a conference in February of 2013.

John Ortberg: I don’t know how we can leave this without getting to a much more painful reality. Most of us here are a part of churches. I work at a church. I love the church, yet there are times when I think about the church and the smallness and pettiness and mean-spiritedness and competitiveness and superficiality. Really, it starts with me, but it is so mind-numbingly painful. And there’s such a gap between it and the picture Jesus talked about. Why is it that way? Why is it so hard? What do we do with that?

Dallas Willard: Well. I’ve thought and prayed and worried a lot about this myself. Once you back up and look at it, it’s obvious that the separation between the churches in our communities is one of the hardest things to get past to begin to appreciate what Christ is doing in the world. I have tried to approach this by saying to ministers that…

…the most important part of your ministry is that to other ministers. Come to know them and begin to get over the idea of separation and competition.

When Nancy shared this thought in our meeting today, I was absolutely arrested by the thought.

Over the last year in particular, because of the opportunities I have had to serve the “Big C” Church through my affiliations with the SEND Network, Acts 29, and City to City Bay Area, ministering to ministers (especially to those in the city that my church is in—Oakland) has increasingly become a greater passion and priority. I absolutely love encouraging church planters and pastors in whatever way I can.

But, this increasing passion has concerned me at times because I feel like because there is so much work to be done in my local church, I really shouldn’t be investing in other ministers as often as I do.

In many ways, this blog also is an extension of my desire to minister to other ministers. And most times, when I sit down to write, I am conflicted over whether or not this is a proper investment of my time.

I praise God for the wisdom of Dallas Willard shared above. In many ways not only does it give me a freedom to continue doing what I’m doing, but it gives me an affirmation that my instinct to serve other pastors with my time, effort, and energy is a godly one. And…it challenges me very strongly to lean into the instinct (even though it feels like I may not have the time) even more!

In closing, I want to list just a few of the “benefits” I’ve experienced as a result of prioritizing ministering to other ministers:

1. It eliminates the deception that God only works mightily through my “style,” philosophy of ministry, theological affiliation, or “tribe.”

2. It broadens my understanding of the myriad of ways God is expanding His kingdom beyond what I can see him doing through my local congregation. (Because He’s doing SO MUCH MORE!)

3. It encourages my heart to know that my struggles, hardships, and obstacles in ministry aren’t unique to me.

4. It raises my awareness of less/more effective ways of doing ministry.

5. It helps my congregation develop the much-needed humility to recognize that what God is doing through our church is only a tiny sliver of what He is doing in the world at large.

6. It expands my fruit-bearing beyond my own “orchard.” (Undeservedly and miraculously so.)

In short, ministering to other ministers makes me less self-absorbed and more God-aware.

I praise God for this gift because a prideful guy life myself sure needs it!

NOW IT’S YOUR TURN.

If you are a minister who has ministered to other ministers, what benefits have you seen from doing so? I’d love to learn from you. Please drop a comment below!

#717 - WHY CHRISTOPHER WILL BECOME ONE HELLUVA' CHURCH PLANTER

Nearly 4 years ago, during a time when I was having a hard time recovering from a difficult ministry season, God blessed myself and our church with an incredible gift—Christopher and Brittany Stites.

In addition to bringing a much-needed reinforcement to our leadership team, God also used them to remind me that, even though I had just experienced a ministry “failure,” he was not finished working in and through THEMOVEMENT.CHURCH. I am forever grateful.

For the last four years I have had the privilege of serving alongside Christopher, and I have had a front row seat to God’s activity through and God’s favor on his life. It has been incredible to watch, and I know the best is ahead. In less than 8 months, we are going to be sending Pastor Christopher, Brittany, and some of our church members out to plant another church in the city of Oakland! Our church plant is going to plant a church!

In an effort to honor Christopher for what he has meant to me and to encourage him (and all those who follow him) for the journey that is ahead, I want to publicly affirm why I am confident Christopher is going to make one helluva’ church planter!

#1 - CHRISTOPHER WORKS HARD.

He rises early. He stays up late. And he does this, day in and day out, to do whatever it takes to provide for his family, serve the church, and be there for those around him. He works hard to be a good husband. He works hard to be a good father. He works hard to build his coffee company. He works hard to preach good sermons. He works hard to lead and love people. He doesn't make excuses about the hard work. He doesn’t complain about the hard work. He doesn’t try to avoid the hard work. He just works hard. Christopher is going to become one helluva’ church-planter because church-planting requires hard work, and Christopher works hard.

#2 - CHRISTOPHER PREACHES STRONG.

Whether he’s given one month to prepare or one day, Christopher, every time out, preaches the Word of God accurately, boldly, and inspiringly. He preaches with a confidence and a force that comes from knowing he is called, the Bible is true, Jesus is worthy, and the gospel is powerful! Every time I sit under Christopher’s teaching, I am impacted by its strength. He preaches strongly because he has, first, been impacted deeply. He preaches strongly because the Spirit of God is in him truly. He preaches strongly because he is gifted immensely! Christopher is going to become one helluva’ church-planter because church-planting requires strong preaching, and Christopher preaches strong.

#3 - CHRISTOPHER LEARNS ALWAYS.

Christopher is a student. He is a student of people. He is a student of ministry. He is a student of the Word. He is a student of people. (I can’t make this up. While I was writing this paragraph, Christopher literally texted me a picture of a paragraph from a book he’s reading! RIDICULOUS!) His passion for learning is motivated by a humility and sober judgement of himself. He knows he doesn’t know it all, but he doesn’t learn to become a know-it-all. He takes learning seriously because he takes becoming a better version of himself seriously. He takes becoming a better Christian, husband, father, pastor, and business owner seriously. Christopher is going to become one helluva’ church-planter because church-planting requires always learning, and Christopher learns always.

#4 - CHRISTOPHER LOVES JESUS.

More than he loves his wife. More than he loves his kids. More than he loves his business. More than he loves his ministry. Even more than he loves his coffee! Christopher loves Jesus. Christopher is enamored by Jesus. Christopher is mindful of Jesus. Christopher is committed to Jesus. He loves Jesus because he is so in tune with how deeply Jesus loves him. Christopher worships Jesus through song. Christopher worships Jesus through prayer. Christopher worships Jesus through obedience. Christopher is going to become one helluva’ church-planter because church-planting requires a constant declaration of the simple phrase, “Jesus loves,” and Christopher loves Jesus.

Though it is going to be difficult to send Christopher and Brittany and their team out of our church to plant another church, I can’t wait to see how God glorifies himself through Christopher’s leadership. I can’t wait to hear the testimonies of lives being changed by Jesus as a result of Christopher allowing Jesus to continually change him. The best is truly yet to come! (Follow their church-planting journey on Instagram - @tmc.life!)

NOW IT’S YOUR TURN!

If you know Christopher or have been impacted by his ministry from afar, drop a comment below and let him know why you think he is going to make one helluva’ church-planter!

DESIGNING YOUR BEST MONTH EVER - OCTOBER 2019

Air Jordan x Union I’s

AIr Jordan XII “Playoffs”

5 MEMORABLE MOMENTS (SEPTEMBER 2019)

1. Celebrated my 15-year wedding anniversary with Rebekah in Rome, Italy.

2. Witnessed my nephew get baptized and my brother-in-law get married.

3. Enjoyed delicious dinner at Liholiho Yacht Club and John Mayer concert at Chase Center with my wife and the Huang’s.

4. Ministered at a Men’s Retreat, Middle/High School Camp, and a wedding.

5. Received a warm welcome back from my church family during our six-year anniversary service.

6. Bonus: Added the Air Jordan x Union I’s (both pairs!) and the Air Jordan XII “Playoffs” (these were stolen from out of my locker in high school so this was a particularly special pick-up) to my collection.

4 GOALS (OCTOBER 2019)

1. Preach four solid, God-revealing, practical/useful messages from the book of Revelation.

2. Host one prayer gathering for Oakland Church Planters.

3. Ask/take Rebekah on 4 intentional, pre-planned dates.

4. Build Only God email list to 200 subscribers.

3 HABITS

1. Read/reflect on a “Valley of Vision” prayer daily. (31x)

2. Post to edwardpaz.com daily. (31x)

3. Run 5x week. (23x)

2 SACRIFICES

1. No clothes/shoes shopping.

2. Drink water only.

1 COMMITMENT

1. By October 31, 2019, I ask/take Rebekah on 4 intentional, pre-planned dates.