Why Can’t We See Them?

Posted on January 30, 2012 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

As we walked the streets of our community this weekend giving away small bags of Valentine’s candy, my heart almost broke as I thought about all the people near our worship facility.

Who are they? What’s their story? Do they know Christ? What aches and pains do they carry?

“Hi, we’re your neighbor and wanted to give you this bag of Valentine’s candy and say, ‘Happy Valentine’s Day!’” The reactions were positive and several remarked how no one had ever done this before that they could remember.

Just a few candies and a flier for the upcoming month’s small group and worship schedule; No hard sell. We just wanted to let the people around us know that we were their neighbors and that we cared.

“No one has ever done this before,” keeps ringing in my heart and head. How can we live near people and not “see” them, get to know them and connect with them?

 

“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:39, NKJV)

 

 

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Episode 101: My Consecration: How Can I Be Spiritually Fulfilled?

Posted on January 25, 2012 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

It’s our 101st episode of the Transformed podcast today. We are so glad you have joined us we seek to Encourage Achievement in Godly Leaders by Emphasizing Servanthood.”

Today we examine a powerful encounter between a rich young ruler and Jesus. As the conversation progresses, we discover that possessing eternal life – from Jesus’ point of view – means something far different than is often understood.

Indeed, this young, powerful and deeply religious man walks away from Jesus refusing eternal life as a result of his encounter.

As Dr. Matthew Smith, lead pastor at Pacific Baptist Church of El Segundo, continues a 4-message series on the ABCs of Loving God, let’s open our Bibles to Mark 10 and listen in as Pastor Matt walks us through Jesus’ answer to the question: How Can I Be Spiritually Fulfilled?

 

We would also ask you to check out the resources on our website and consider one of the year-long devotionals for 2012: either, In His Image, which focuses on the theme, “God Created YOU to Love You!” or, In His Presence, which centers on the truth, “God Welcomes YOU into His Presence with Joy and Pleasure!”

 

 

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Reframing Commitment

Posted on January 23, 2012 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

By Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

Over the course of the past 2 years I have been thinking about the alarming statistics concerning the American Church. My friend, Len Sweet, says that 75% of the churches in America are dying, 23% of them are plateaued (often taking those from dying churches) and the remaining 2% are growing due to conversion growth. (Personal conversation) Even the simplest of anecdotal evidence shows the vast majority of churches in America are in trouble.

With that in mind, I have been focused on the paradigm we Church leaders use for commitment of Christ and His Church in the USA and find it flawed. In fact, when we talk about “commitment,” we often use softer words like “attendance.” However, in the real word “commitment” has some harsh realities. Take housing as one example …

  • Owners pay for everything – and take the responsibility for everything. In return, all of the benefits belong to them. Their hard work and total investment often pays off over the long term with great rewards.
  • Renters pay for some things – and take the responsibility for only their things.  In contrast, a renter has a short-term commitment (a monthly or annual lease) and gains the benefits of the home / apartment / room for a short period of time, without the long-term appreciation of the property and the financial pay-off it might bring. They also enjoy none of the maintenance and financial responsibility beyond the negotiated rental agreement.
  • Freeloaders pay for nothing – and take no responsibility for anything. All too often someone, often children or friends, take advantage of us through an unforeseen tragedy or the misguided goodness of our hearts. Once in, these parasites consume our resources returning nothing of value. In fact, it is these sponges that often seem to think we exist to clean their clothes, feed their stomachs and put up with their messes – again, without ever lifting a hand to help with their own untidiness.

The applications of such a thought pattern are many … and are reinforced by the King Himself who said,

“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” (Luke 9:23, NKJV)

Paul reinforces this line of thought by saying …

“For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.” (2 Thessalonians 3:10, NKJV)

Perhaps 2012 is a time to call our people to ownership of the Kingdom of God and to stop renting or worse, freeloading … should membership or leadership be filled with renters or freeloaders?

That’s my thought. I’d love to hear yours. Take a moment and give me your feedback in the comment section.

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Episode 100 – My Benefits: What Do I Do With What God Has Given Me?

Posted on January 18, 2012 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

Artwork Credit: michaelhoffman.info

 

It’s our 100th podcast today and we are so glad you have chosen to join us!

Dr. Matthew Smith, lead pastor at Pacific Baptist Church of El Segundo, continues a 4-message series on the ABCs of Loving God.

Today we are looking into the Old Testament to discover how we will utilize all of the blessings God has given us as we seek to love Him, love our neighbors and love one another!

So let’s open our Bibles to 1 Chronicles 29 and listen in as Pastor Matt provides great help in unlocking the door to the closed hearts of those in your sphere of life …

 

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The Façade of Faith

Posted on January 16, 2012 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

By Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

 

As they did renovation on the old building not far from my house recently, I noticed that the frontage of the building was, in reality a façade! While it appeared to be a very large structure, it was, in reality a much smaller building, hiding behind a false front … like many Christians I fear.

 

Have you ever read these verses … I mean, ever REALLY read them?

 

“So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” (Matthew 5:23-24, ESV)

 

The façade of faith simply ignores verses like this. I mean, does Jesus really expect us to do this? I have become convinced that he does.

 

My friend Dave Ferguson has challenged us this year to lead ourselves every day. As I have taken time to review my life each morning, using the REMS tool he wrote about at the beginning of the month, I have come to realize that I simply need to do an accounting of my relationships each day.

 

Is there anyone who “has something against you?” is one of the questions I ask myself often. As I ask and answer this question honestly, and take the steps to reconcile relationships, I painfully rip off the façade of faith. What a liberating feeling it is to live in genuine faith!

 

So, let me ask you: Is there anyone who “has something against you” right now? How are you going to take care of it? How will you “be reconciled to your brother” before you go back to worship next weekend?

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Episode 099 – My Attitude: How Do I Respond to God?

Posted on January 11, 2012 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

As 2012 runs ahead full speed, Dr. Matthew Smith, lead pastor at Pacific Baptist Church of El Segundo, begins a 4-message series on the ABCs of Loving God.

As we open Luke 10, we will look at our attitude and ask, “How do I respond to God?”

Let’s listen now as Pastor Matt prepares the congregation in El Segundo for whatever 2012 will bring …

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Serve Us or Service?

Posted on January 9, 2012 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

By Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

 

As the Christmas season came to a close, I can remember how the focus for many was on themselves. They were interested in what THEY were going to get, what parties THEY were going to and what things THEY were going to be doing.

In contrast to this was Christmas morning as we bundled out of the car to head for the restaurant for breakfast … a Christmas tradition in our family. As we stepped onto the sidewalk a homeless man with a shopping cart and a little dog asked if we could spare any change. Since I don’t carry any, I politely told him I had nothing on me.

Sitting at the booth, my wife Melodee ordered him a “to go” breakfast, and when it arrived, she immediately took it to him. The jumbo coffee and hot breakfast were gratefully received. When she came back to the table I sat there in awe of my wife who was more interested in being of service to this one man in a difficult situation than she was about how well we were served our traditional Christmas breakfast – her breakfast was cold.

This year, we can all remember that there are two motivations in life – one selfish, the other selfless. Do we see the needs all around us? Do we love our neighbor as we love ourselves? As we ate our breakfast Christmas morning, I was sure that one person did, and she was sitting right across from me.

And that brought a question to my mind as I sat there: Will I be more interested in my service of others or how others serve me in 2012? What about you?

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Episode #98 – How Do I Please God?

Posted on January 3, 2012 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

We are thrilled you have rejoined us for another year of Encouraging Achievement in Godly Leaders by Emphasizing Servanthood!

In today’s episode, Dr. Smith starts us on a journey through the most important subject in life: How do I please God?

As we open our Bibles to 2 Chronicles 7, let’s listen in as Pastor Matt explains to the people of Pacific Baptist Church in El Segundo, CA how we please God by knowing him personally!

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How To Lead Yourself Everyday!

Posted on December 31, 2011 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

By Dave Ferguson

We welcome our good friend Dave Ferguson back to Eagles in Leadership today. We know this article could change your 2012 in ways only God can imagine. With that in mind, we submit this great idea to you for your consideration:

My good friend Bob Bouwer was having lunch with the campus pastor of COMMUNITY a couple weeks ago when he said, “Everyday at the top of my journal I write these three letters:  E (emotional), P (physical) and S (spiritual) and then give myself a 1-10 rating.” He went on to explain how this daily routine of rigorous self-evaluation helps keep him in a healthy place.

As I heard Bob talk I was inspired to do the same; but to use a tool that is a regular part of our coaching of leaders at COMMUNITY and explained on page 120 of Exponential:  How You and Your Friends Can Start a Missional Church Movement.  We refer to this tool as “checking your RPM’S.”  This tool is based on Luke 2:52 that says, “Jesus grew in wisdom (mental) and stature (physical), and in favor with God (spiritual) and men (relational).”  So for the last week on a daily bais I have put at the top of my journal these four letters: R (relational), P (physicial), M (mental) and S (spiritual) and given myself a 1-10 rating.

 

I am already convinced that using this tool on a daily basis, rather than just during coaching sessions may be one of the most powerful self-leadership tools around.  I would strongly encourage you to try it for yourself.  Let me briefly explain each of these and give you a few questions to ask in your own daily self-evaluation.

 

RELATIONAL:  Our relational world typically includes the people with whom we interact on a regular basis: our immediate family, friends, neighbors, coworkers, and small group members. Here are some questions you can ask yourself.

 

  • How are my relationships at home?
  • What about my marriage, dating, or family life is going well? What’s not going so well? What would I like to change?
  • Who do I consider my closest friend? How is God using that relationship to grow me?
  • What are my relationships at work like?
  • Which of my relationships give my energy and life? Which are the most challenging or draining?

 

PHYSICAL:  Our physical well-being is often the most overlooked aspect of a leaders life. Yet diet, exercise, sleep, and rest are all vital to our ability to lead effectively. If we are serious about developing as a whole person, we have to take seriously our physical well-being.  Here are some good questions to ask:

 

  • Am I getting enough rest?
  • How is my current energy level?
  • What am I doing to maintain good health when it comes to exercise and eating habits?
  • Is there anything about my physical health that I’d like to change?

 

MENTAL:  Another often-overlooked aspect is the development of our minds. In order for us to stay sharp and be a lifelong learners, we need to be challenged. Here are some questions we can ask to see if we are developing mentally:

 

  • What have I been learning lately?
  • How am I applying what I are learning?
  • What magazines, books, or websites do I read or access?
  • What thoughts have been dominating my mind? Are they drawing me closer to God? Are they pulling me away from him?

 

SPIRITUAL:   It is also imperative that we discover and act on whatever it is that helps us grow deeper in our relationship with Jesus. Here are some questions we can ask to see how we are developing spiritually:

 

  • How would I describe my relationship with Christ right now?
  • What does it look like when I am feeling closely connected to God?
  • Which spiritual disciplines seem to help me draw closer to Jesus? Prayer? Journaling? Worship? Solitude?
  • Who is holding me accountable to practicing these disciplines?
  • What has God been saying to me lately through his Word? The Holy Spirit? Other Christ followers? Prayer?

The longer I am in leadership the more I am convinced that the most important leadership we can offer is self-leadership.  Use this tool everyday and lead yourself!

 

This article was first published on December 15, 2011 at daveferguson.org and is used by permission.

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Episode #097: How to Have a Character of Compassion!

Posted on December 29, 2011 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

Artwork Credit: philosophicalanthropology.blogspot.com

Welcome back to the Transformed podcast! In today’s holiday episode, Dr. Matthew Lee Smith, Lead Pastor at Pacific Baptist Church in El Segundo, California shows us how to have a character of compassion.

Using the birth and life of Jesus as a springboard, Pastor Matt shows us three ways to enjoy and share the love of Christ throughout the New Year!

Let’s sit back, open our Bibles to 2 Corinthians 1, and listen to this last podcast of 2011 as Dr. Smith teaches the congregation in El Segundo.

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