Let It Flow!
Oct 22, 2020.
Public speaking is a fearful thing for many people. In truth, many ministers are not as comfortable with it as they appear. This becomes especially true when we are called to break away from prepared teachings and speak extemporaneously. And yet, there are times when the gospel will ask that very thing from us.
#JesusStories: In Mark 13, Jesus revealed a time when such great turmoil and persecution would come upon Christians that leaders would find themselves having to defend the Church before courts and governmental leaders. Of course, this happened initially in the book of Acts and later some forty years after the death and resurrection of Christ with the fall of the Temple in Jerusalem. However, some of the words of Jesus in this chapter seem to point to a future event – perhaps what is unfolding in our lifetime. Wars, famines, earthquakes, families turning against each other, and hatred of the Christ-followers are among Jesus’ descriptions of a time to come. These things are occurring with greater regularity now than they did in A.D. 70, to be sure. But true to divine form, Jesus made it clear that these seasons of turmoil were also times for the inbreaking Kingdom to advance largely. In verses 9-10 he stated, “But this will be your opportunity to tell them about me. For the Good News must first be preached to all nations.” This is a huge insight into the God Family; they charge forward at the exact moment earthly enemies of the Church look invincible. And they direct us, the representatives of Jesus upon the earth, to be the sharp point of the spear by standing up with authoritative speaking and empowered preaching during these seasons. But, this kind of speaking is different than our training – it is more about the ‘unction of the Spirit’ and less about the ‘preparation of the pastor’. Some preachers during the Great Awakening used to talk about their sermons like this, “Read yourself full, pray yourself hot, and let yourself blow.” That always makes me laugh, but it was their way of ‘flowing with the Spirit’. And there must be something important here, because Jesus Himself said in verse 11, “Don’t worry in advance about what to say, Just say what God tells you at that time, for it is not you who will be speaking, but the Holy Spirit.” Wow! We all could probably grow in our ability to ‘let it flow’. After all, when we speak – we are supposed to be speaking for God. And all the more as we see the day approaching.
#DinnerChurchQuotes: Every faith community we have opened includes some form of a table. -Ray O’ Leary (Pastor of a church in Dallas TX with 7 monastic gatherings)
#PracticalStuff: In these days of Covid when most Dinner Churches are meeting outside on the sidewalks, there is a potent silver lining – the public gets to see the Church doing church. While it was more comfortable to be indoors, we were also less visible. Setting up canopy tents side-by-side: with buffet tables filled with great food in hot chaffing dishes in one, worship musicians and pastors doing their work from another, and guests gathered and eating in yet other pop-ups. With winter weather approaching, these tents not only shields the rain, but they are cheap, quick to set up, and provide a great picture of Jesus’ Church for all passer-by’s. Oh the power of a canopy tent!
Blessings & Boldness,
Verlon
Dr. Verlon and Melodee Fosner have led a multi-site Assemblies of God Dinner Church in Seattle, Washington since 1999 (www.CommunityDinners.com). In this decade when more churches in the U.S. are declining than thriving, and when ninety-six churches a week are closing, Verlon and Melodee sensed that a different way of doing church was needed for their 97-year old Seattle congregation. It soon became obvious that they were not the only ones in need of a different path. They joined the FX team in 2016 and founded the Dinner Church Collective. And then in 2019 founded the Dinner Church School of Leadership. There is a lot to be gained when church leaders begin to see open doors in the American landscape that they had previously overlooked. Therein lies the journey for those who will forge a new future for the American Church.
Categories: Uncategorized
10.24.20
By: Carl Bauchspiess
Good word. The problem I see though today is that the Church is too often aligned to the government and depending on its favor that the prophetic voice is lost. we have to have our tax exemptions and deductions. I sometimes wonder how people would give if it weren’t deductible. And we look out for what is good for us rather than what’s good for our neighbor. it may take persecution and loss of status for the church to regain her voice. And then maybe we’ll be able to let it flow.
10.26.20
By: Josh Gering
When we started our first dinner church 4 years ago, I would prepare a message with notes every week. I would stand up with my notes, 25 minutes into the dinner and preach the notes, looking down and up. It felt so rehearsed and it was as bad as I felt as it really lacked connection with our guests. After several weeks I decided to ditch the notes. I studied a Jesus story, came up with a short intro, read or paraphrased the story, made a quick point and wrapped it up with a personal connection and prayer of response and healing. I felt the Holy Spirit really use this new way of communicating and I really liked it as well. Now, that’s what I do and it’s amazing how the Holy Spirit flows. I definitely say no notes, let the gospel and the Holy Spirit use you!
10.27.20
By: JoAnn Bastien
I find it challenging at times to speak extemporaneously. I am an introvert and it takes me time to process my thoughts. Even on days when I am “prayed up”, I still need time to consider my words. However, I do find that once I begin to listen to the Spirit, He allows the conversation to flow more easily. But I also have learned to lean into listening more. I don’t always have to have something to say. The ministry of presence is a powerful thing. The community would benefit from us simply holding space for them.
10.28.20
By: Roger Bird
This is a road that I have been intermittently treading for the last few years. I think that I may have been one of those undiagnosed ADD kids and can tend to get sidetracked and rabbit trail, so in my preaching, I tend to write out everything to help keep me on track. Back in 2016, I felt God telling me that He wanted me to move into a season of preaching more out of an overflow of my time with Him, rather than just out of a carefully pre-planned sermon series.
Since then there have been many times that literally minutes (actually sometimes only seconds) before I get up to preach, I feel the Holy Spirit stop me and say, “Nope, I want you to talk about something different today.” So, I have had to get up with no notes, no real prep time, no “net”, and just talk off the cuff about something that He has been talking to me about that week. It is terrifying and humbling, but it’s also exhilarating. Never have I been lost for words and have sometimes been told that those messages were particularly moving to some of our folks because it was addressing issues that they were going through right then. Granted this preaching has been directed to a friendly crowd and not a hostile tribunal, but it’s given me more confidence to trust that the Holy Spirit will guide me as I speak, even without my preferred preparation.
10.28.20
By: Rodney Martin
I have been preaching without notes for over ten years. It’s freeing and feels more natural. The congregation likes that I’m engaging them instead of just speaking to them. Last year I started asking questions throughout the sermon so that the congregation was more directly involved. I often go over my message several times on Saturday and Sunday, preaching to an empty room, so that I have it in me to say.
I think this can be taken a step further. Roger Bird, your thoughts on changing the message moments before you get up to speak are precious. The Great Awakening mantra that you quoted Verlon, “Read yourself full, pray yourself hot, and let yourself blow”, has a good point even though I wouldn’t say it quite like they do. To speak extemporaneously means we must be dwelling in God’s Word and being in the spirit so that the words flow as the Spirit leads.
11.3.20
By: Shawn Rutan
For me the challenge is often knowing when to shut up! I often since the spirit moving and flowing though me when I share the Jesus story or give Godly advice around the table. I tend to just keep talking even when the divine download is complete. May we learn to hear the “stop talking” just as loud as the “start talking”!
11.4.20
By: Marion Sortore
“Read yourself full, pray yourself hot, and let yourself blow.” That always makes me laugh, but it was their way of ‘flowing with the Spirit’. And there must be something important here, because Jesus Himself said in verse 11, “Don’t worry in advance about what to say, Just say what God tells you at that time, for it is not you who will be speaking, but the Holy Spirit.” Wow! We all could probably grow in our ability to ‘let it flow’. After all, when we speak – we are supposed to be speaking for God. And all the more as we see the day approaching.”
How I shudder thinking about the poor souls who suffered my preaching in my early years – Shawn Rutan – you hit the nail on the head – I didn’t know when to shut up! I had a mentor tell me that once the plane was landed – shut off the engine! I would land the sermon plane several times and then take off again! Sharing Jesus stories has really freed me from the tyrrany of the script!
11.4.20
By: Nicole Fike
This definitely hit home for me. I am not a pastor and have not had any seminary training. One of my weaknesses is public speaking. I am getting better as I get older but still get nervous. When I first started my dinner church journey I was concerned that I may have to deliver a message. I started praying for God to help me out in this area. Now, when I am reading scripture and it speaks to me I journal about it. I try to relate it to my life and how I would share this with someone that knows very little about Jesus. I don’t feel quite as nervous now. Mark 13:11 is a good reminder that we need to rely on the Holy Spirit more.
12.1.20
By: michael cox
I come from the “let it flow” school of ministry. The preacher that used notes or had a coherent point was not as anointed as the one who could “flow”. After many years of faithful church attendance, I started to notice every preacher had the same message and the same list of phrases to prove that the Spirit was moving. “Apostolic shift”, “open heaven”, and “prophetic mantle” were some of the most popular. The times I spoke from the pulpit were interesting. Wanting to show myself approved by rightly dividing Scripture, I hoped to let the anointed word of God speak for itself. My sermon on the empowerment of the Holy Spirit being for church planting and evangelism was not well received. Church people want to hear the preacher’s greatest hits. “Be blessed”, “God has a plan to prosper you”, and “no lack for believers during a famine” were some of the most popular titles. I spoke a handful of times and was never asked to speak again. My style was to calm and relaxed to be truly “anointed”.
The dinner church community is where I found my voice. I was a perfect fit for kerygmatic preaching. I still use notes for my ten minutes because I believe its disrespectful to ask people to listen to you if your unprepared. Overtime, I have become more comfortable speaking from the heart and less from the page. Presenting the words of the Bible is such an honor and privilege. It has been incredible to see the Spirit move from the words of Jesus to the hearts, minds, and souls of those that participate in the Dinner Church community. The words of Jesus are empowered with the Holy Spirit. “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you (John 14:15-17).”
05.15.21
By: Penney Forbes
Reading Dr. Fosner’s post, I am reminded that the vast majority of Christians living throughout the world are born into persecution and live out their years on earth as a persecuted people within their communities. Living in America, we are the exception. But, these days are numbered. Therefore, since we know that our days of living in peace and unhindered in the practice of our faith is rapidly coming to an end, I think that we need to give earnest consideration to praying that God would enlarge our capacity to embrace persecution and forgive from the heart our persecutors.
In my own life, I have been reflecting on the stories of martyred Christians. I have great insight from pondering their testimonies and praying about what God built into their lives that enabled them to embrace the Cross when the crucible happened.
One example that challenges me is the martyrdom of the Sicilian Martyrs in Carthage (July 180 AD). Their deaths occurred under proconsul Publius Vigellius Saturninus, whom Tertullian declared to have been the first persecutor of Christians in Africa. [1] There were twelve in all—seven men and five women. Their names were Speratus, Nartzalus, Cintinus (Cittinus), Veturius, Felix, Aquilinus,[2] Laetantius, Januaria, Generosa, Vestia, Donata, and Secunda.[3] Nartzalus, Cintinus were Punic names, and the rest were Latin.
Serratus was the principal spokesman. He claimed that he and his companions lived quiet and moral lives, paying their dues and doing no wrong to their neighbors. [4] But when called upon to swear by the name of the emperor, Serratus replied, “I recognize not the empire of this world; but rather do I serve that God whom no man hath seen, nor with these eyes can see.”[4] It is believed that he was referencing 1 Timothy 6:16. [5].
This is the original account recorded in The Ante-Nicene Fathers Vol. IX, “The Passion of the Scillitan Martyrs [6]:”
On the seventeenth day of July, at Carthage, when Praesens, for the second time, and Claudianus were the consuls, there were set in the judgment-hall Speratus, Nartzalus, Cittinus, Donata, Secunda, and Vestia.
Saturninus the Proconsul said: Ye can win the indulgence of our lord the Emperor if ye return to a sound mind.
Speratus said: We have never done ill, we have not lent ourselves to wrong, we have never spoken ill, but when ill-treated we have given thanks; because we pay heed to our Emperor.
Saturninus the proconsul said: We too are religious, and our religion is simple, and we swear by the genius of our lord the Emperor, and pray for his welfare, as ye also ought to do.
Speratus said: If thou wilt peaceably lend me thine ears, I can tell thee the mystery of simplicity.
Saturninus said: I will not lend mine ears to thee when thou beginnest to speak evil things of our sacred rites, but rather swear thou by the genius of our lord the Emperor.
Speratus said: The empire of this world I know not; but rather I serve that God, whom no man hath seen, nor with these eyes can see. I have committed no theft, but if I have bought anything, I pay the tax; because I know my Lord, the King of kings and Emperor of all nations.
Saturninus the proconsul said to the rest: Cease to be of this persuasion.
Speratus said: It is an ill persuasion to do murder, to speak false witness.
Saturninus the proconsul said: Be not partakers of this folly.
Cittinus said: We have none other to fear, save only our Lord God, who is in heaven.
Donata said: Honour to Caesar as Caesar: but fear to God.
Vestia said: I am a Christian.
Secunda said: What I am, that I wish to be.
Saturninus the proconsul said to Speratus: Dost thou persist in being a Christian?
Speratus said: I am a Christian. And with him, they all agreed.
Saturninus the proconsul said: Will ye have a space to consider?
Speratus said: In a matter so straightforward, there is no considering.
Saturninus the proconsul said: What are the things in your chest?
Speratus said: Books and epistles of Paul, a just man.
Saturninus, the proconsul, said: Have a delay of thirty days and bethink yourselves.
Speratus said a second time: I am a Christian. And with him, they all agreed.
Saturninus the proconsul read out the decree from the tablet: Speratus, Nartzalus, Cittinus, Donata, Vestia, Secunda and the rest having confessed that they live according to the Christian rite since after opportunity offered them of returning to the custom of the Romans, they have obstinately persisted, it is determined that they be put to the sword.
Speratus said: We give thanks to God.
Nartzalus said: Today we are martyrs in heaven; thanks be to God.
Saturninus the proconsul ordered it to be declared by the herald: Speratus, Nartzalus, Cittinus, Veturius, Felix, Aquilinus, Laetantius, Januaria, Generosa, Vestia, Donata, and Secunda, I have ordered to be executed.
They all said: Thanks be to God.
With that, the hearing was over, and shortly thereafter, the twelve, which included five women, were beheaded.
And so they all together were crowned with martyrdom; and they reign with the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost, forever and ever. Amen.
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[1] Hassett, Maurice. “Martyrs of Scillium.” The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol. 13. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1912. 12 March 2021.
Ante-Nicene Fathers Vol. IX, The Passion of the Scillitan Martyrs Various, translated by Philip Schaff et al. The Passion of the Scillitan Martyrs.
[2] Smith, Clyde Curry (2004). “Aquilinus.” Dictionary of African Christian Biography. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
[3] “Church Fathers: The Passion of the Scillitan Martyrs.” Newadvent.org. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
[4] Ante-Nicene Fathers Vol. IX, The Passion of the Scillitan Martyrs
Various, translated by Philip Schaff et al. The Writings of the Fathers Down to A.D. 325.
[5] “Church Fathers: The Passion of the Scillitan Martyrs.”
[6] Ante-Nicene Fathers Vol. IX, The Passion of the Scillitan Martyrs
Various, translated by Philip Schaff