Dear Reader,
Thank you for being a subscriber of The Three Taverns.
We want to bring fresh perspectives and thoughts in this publication. That’s what happens in a tavern! The Three Taverns was a town where Paul stopped on his way to Rome as a prisoner where he would wait for trial in front of Caesar and declare the rule of Jesus the Messiah. He was met there by other believers who came out of Rome to encourage him. We all need this kind of encouragement on our journeys!
EXAMPLES OF SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP
" I don't want anyone to give me credit beyond what they can see in my life or hear in my message." (2 Cor. 12:6b)
"I don't want what you have- I want you." (2 cor. 12:14)
Look hard and honestly at examples of leadership and the life of fellowship in the biblical record.
You won’t find church staffs and salaries. The church had no similarity to organizations known in the world. When Jesus said “new wine requires new wineskins” why would the functioning of His body resemble the familiar landscape of religious or political organizations? He was telling what was to come, a temple not made with hands, filled with the Spirit of the living God, led by the resurrected Jesus who said He alone would build His church. This is incredibly uncomfortable to our flesh because we humans are control freaks. But it is the life of surrender worked out in fellowship together.
If the disciples followed the methodologies they were familiar with, as soon as the Spirit was poured out upon them on the day of Pentecost and the 3,000 people came into the body of Christ, they would have carpeted the upper room, opened windows for air-movement, built benches for comfortable seating, and put a sign out front FIRST APOSTOLIC HOLY SPIRIT TABERNACLE.
Remember when Jesus took Peter, James and John up to the mountain and Jesus went to pray? Jesus’s body was transformed, his clothing glowed with the white light presence of God, and He stood and met with Moses (the Law) and Elijah (the Prophets). The old covenant leaders representing the Law and the Prophets were meeting with the Beginning of the New Creation. Shocked awake by what was taking place, Peter suggested doing exactly what he was familiar with: “let’s build three tents, one for each of you.” A voice came directly from God saying, “This is my Son, listen ONLY to Him.”
The leaders didn't promote building programs; they preached the risen Jesus throughout the cities and in the marketplaces and they equipped the body for doing the same. The body of Christ was organic, dynamic, untethered to locations and meeting spaces and programs. Their homes seemed to be the center of all spiritual activity, and since most people’s businesses operated out of their homes, their “offices” and workplaces were places of ministry, thereby involving their entire life. The marketplace, open spaces, temple courtyards, open lecture halls (Acts 19, the “School of Tyrannus” where Paul held meetings for two years) were gathering places for teaching, equipping, and interacting with each other and the city.
The body of Christ did not outsource their witness and spiritual life to paid professionals schooled in seminaries. Paul said, "We are not like the many hucksters who preach for personal profit. We preach the word of God with sincerity and with Christ's authority, knowing that God is watching us." (2 Cor. 2:17)
I’ve said for years: “If you removed money from institutional religion, 98% of what we call church would disappear within 30 days.” We have a long way to go to restore the unlimited dynamism of the body of Christ. We like our organizations, multi-million dollar facilities and mega-church programs, but there is no biblical precedent for it. Funds were spontaneously made available, laid at the apostles feet, to give to those in need. There was no tithing program, but the body gave as led by the Spirit, individually to needs around them and to those who taught them the word of God, and corporately as led to take care of those in need or famine.
As said above, there was no outsourcing the ministry to the professionals, every person in the body of Christ was a minister. Corporatism limits the growth of the church, it does not contribute to it. But if we are connected to the Head of the body, who is Jesus Christ, and to each other in ligament relationships (Eph. 4:1-16; Col. 2:16-19), we will go as He says go, we will reach as He says reach, we will not be distracted by attendance to activities as a way of church life but will live it daily in the home and marketplace.
Comments below are welcome!
MICHAEL FARREN AT "TAVERN TALKS"
For those in the local Mid-TN area, Michael Farren will join us in the tavern at "Tavern Talks" next Tuesday May 21 at 7am.
We just know him as Farren in the The Mission Cigar & Social
Farren is a Grammy nominated song writer. He also wrote the Dove-winning "LET IT RAIN" first recorded by Michael W. Smith. Best of all he is a great guy and his wife is a jewel!
He has a compelling story of redemption and he doesn't edit his story.
He also thinks in rhymes as a prolific songwriter.
He founded BOURBON GOSPEL Songwriters Round which is a live show that highlights local new song-writing talent.
Come hear his story and maybe get a spontaneous song or two.
Learn more about Farren here: https://curbwordmusicpublishing.com/blogs/writers/michael-farren
Bring your Bible, a friend, purchase a cigar (not required, we have non-cigar smokers who join us too!), your Febreze if you have to go to the office after, and be ready to participate with honesty, humor, open conversation, challenging looks at truth, all in an accepting atmosphere.
Coming up in "Tavern Talks":
May 28, Daniel Willis, Spring Hill police officer
June 4, Cactus Moser, drummer, producer, writer, Wynonna Judd’s husband
Looking Up (Luke 21:28),
Tod Bell
Chief Tavern Host
P.S.
