Relational Environment
In discipleship, the vehicle the intentional leader drives is the relational environment. Relationships are what God uses to communicate His truth and help people grow. Without relationships, the journey of discipleship will be ineffective and fruitless. Relationships create the environment where discipleship happens best. What does this look like? Discipleship has to consist of at least two people, no more than three. Maybe you engage in discipleship at a coffee shop and you read scripture together over coffee. If your discipling somebody, it's helpful to them to see you in action in your life, how you interact with others, how you make decisions, how you respond to others, etc.

Reproducible Process
We should be discipling others in a way that is simple and easily reproducible. It should be a process that the disciple can then take and intentionally lead others on the same journey. If you're going through the book of Ephesians, it's helpful to break the book down into eight to ten sections, and each meeting you pray over, read, and discuss a section. This "curriculum" is a process that the disciple can easily reproduce with somebody else.

Discipleship can be messy, and results may not always be seen quickly or at all in the immediacy. Remember, we're not putting our trust in this framework, our trust is in God and that His word never turns void. This is just a needed framework to guide the process. Even if the discipleship seems like it's not gaining traction in a disciples life, we can trust that it is and it will bear fruit at some point in the future. Remember, if Jesus commanded it, and we do it faithfully, we can expect him to do the rest.

To answer the question, "Why should I give?" The answer always has to begin with the truth of good stewardship. Good stewardship is the recognition that we don’t own anything we have. We work hard for the resources we earn in our jobs and through other means, but ultimately our skills, talents, abilities and the resources that come from them are from nothing less than God and His grace. Because we don’t own anything, we owe everything. Additionally, our giving is a reflection of our past, present, and future with God. It's a reflection of our gratitude for what God has done in our past, thankfulness for what He is doing now in our life, and anticipation and trust in Him for our future.

Secondly, we should define clearly the concepts of “giving” and “tithing”. There is a difference between giving and tithing and God calls us to both of them. Giving to Christian/non-christian causes outside of the local church, while they may be good places that your financial resources are going to, isn't tithing. The local church - the bride of Christ - is the primary recipient of Christian "tithing". There is no prescription in scripture as to how much we should "give" to Christian/non-Christian causes outside of the local church, other than giving generously. God does give some direction to believers with regard to "tithing" through His bride - the local church.

The idea of tithing a sacrificial offering to God in recognition of His lordship and provision goes all of the way back to the Book of Genesis. Giving a “tithe” (10%) of our income is the Biblical standard that is established in the Old Testament (see Genesis 14:19-20, Genesis 28:22, Proverbs 3:9, Leviticus 27:30, Deuteronomy 14:22, Malachi 3:10). Central to the biblical view of tithing in the Old Testament, was the Temple. The Temple was God’s primary way of extending His grace to Israel. The people’s tithing went to the priesthood, the daily functions of operating the Temple as well the distribution of the offerings to the various needs of the community around the Temple.

Jesus affirms the concept of tithing in the New Testament (see Matthew 23:23). The consistent message of the New Testament is that followers of Jesus are called to be generous with their tithe. Because of what Jesus has done for us on the cross, while their is no required amount, ten percent is a goal and a starting point, and like grace, we should strive to exceed what the OT law required. It also provides a good guideline to evaluate whether or not we are being generous in our giving. Central to the biblical view of tithing in the New Testament and today, is the local church. Jesus’ bride - the local church - is God’s primary way of extending His grace throughout the world, so our faithful and generous resourcing of the local church through tithing is tantamount to the outpouring of God’s grace in the church, in the community, and throughout the world through global partnerships.

A biblically faithful church doesn't just want your money, a biblically faithful church wants you to grow and bear fruit, which happens through obedience to Jesus, which includes giving and tithing. With that said, it's important to understand that our giving and tithing doesn't benefit God. He doesn't need our money. God commands that we give and tithe because it benefits us! God blesses us and teaches us through our obedience. 2 Corinthians 8-9 is a great place to go to have a biblical understanding of generosity and why we should give and tithe. When we give and tithe, it is a grace from God to somebody else, He sends His grace through us (2 Corinthians 8:1). We should give and tithe because Jesus Christ, though he was rich, yet for our sake he became poor, so that we by his poverty might become rich (2 Corinthians 8:9). We should give and tithe because through our generosity, God will multiply the resources He is giving us in some way (2 Corinthians 9:10). He will also increase the harvest of our righteousness (2 Corinthians 9:10). We should give and tithe because being generous enriches us (2 Corinthians 9:11). We should give and tithe because being generous produces thanksgiving to God (2 Corinthians 9:11). We should give and tithe because it glorifies God (2 Corinthians 9:13).

Biblical stewardship isn’t asking, "How much do I need to have everything I want?...and then God gets what is leftover". Biblical stewardship is asking, "How much should I return to God, and then after knowing that and acting upon it, how much do I have left to have everything that I need?" Obedience to Jesus always comes at a high cost. But did you know there are more promises in the Bible about giving than anything else? Why? Because God is a giver. Malachi 3:10 (that verse at the top of this page) is the only place in the Bible where God essentially says, "I dare you"! Good stewardship is intentionally orienting our lives so that we live in obedience to Jesus, so we can give and tithe what we are called to give and tithe, so we can be blessed as much as God wants to bless us.

We also recognize that it is more difficult than others to reach obedience in this area. With that said, we would always encourage those having difficulty, to evaluate their weekly/monthly budget (click HERE for some helpful tools), start small, watch God work, and progressively orient their life to steward themselves and their finances towards obedience to Jesus. Giving is a step of faith for everyone, some more than others, but the fruit of generosity for everyone is waiting!

Equally as important to individuals’ stewardship of financial resources, is the call on church leadership to be faithful and exercise good stewardship in how they receive and distribute the offerings. If you have any questions and would like more detail in how offerings are distributed throughout the church and outside of the church, start off by reaching out to us at streamsong@streamsongchurch.com!

Our definition of failure and success are different than Gods. In the disciples eyes, for three days, Jesus' death was a tragic failure, to God it was a success! We also often equate successful results as being from God, and if something we do fails then it must not have been from God or not what I was "supposed to do." But God does call us to things He knows we will ultimately fail in. Many of us won't take a step of faith unless they know that the work will be successful. We look at our work for God like we do a job in a business organization - We often only choose a job that we are pretty sure we can be successful in. The truth is, when God calls us, He rarely tells us if it will be successful or a failure.

What does success look like? The answer is in what we’re focusing on - Results OR the process. God doesn't call us to results as much as he calls us to the PROCESS. Whatever God might be calling you to, He has less in His mind the result, than you do. More often than not, He calls us into a PROCESS whereby He will use it, regardless of the result to grow us, burn away impurities, and form us into the likeness of Christ. In our eyes, the prophet Jeremiah's ministry failed miserably. In God's eyes, Jeremiah was successful because he was obedient, regardless of the results. God brought Jeremiah through a process that was tailor-made for him, to grow him and form him, and it's the same with us!

Results are in God’s hands alone. Obedience in the process is the often unheeded secret. It starts with understanding that, through the cross and our faith in what Christ accomplished for us, we're in a winning position already before we've done anything. It then flows into our private lives with God - engaging with scripture consistently, prayer and devotion. Then it flows into the church. Streamsong is a “one at a time” church. One chapter at a time, one prayer, one devotion, one interaction at a time, one conversation, one relationship, one invite, one sermon, one worship song, one serve, one “hello” at a time. These are all the wins of Ministry. We then prayerfully trust God to do what only He can do - save, grow, sanctify, and multiply. God doesn't work at our pace, so if we're constantly focusing on results, we'll never think we're winning. Results Ministry leads to overactivity, overexertion, worry, burnout, stress, feelings of failure, and pushing the Spirit out of the work. Results Ministry means we become business partners with all eyes on the “bottom line”. Process Ministry means we’re Ministry partners with all eyes on Jesus, inviting the spirit into what we're doing. Process Ministry leads to freedom, momentum, fun and fresh and healthy relationships.

This is what Streamsong is going to be about. It’s what any ministry should be about. It’s what our lives should be about.

Ah, but it’s not. After the parable of the sower, Jesus says: “Consider carefully how you listen” (Luke 8:18). He says if we listen in one way, we will be given more, but if we listen in another way, even what we think we have will be taken from us. It’s a life-and-death business, listening to sermons. So let us consider carefully how to listen. Here are seven pointers.

1. Expect God to speak.

Although we are listening to sound waves produced by human vocal chords, if the preacher is opening up the Bible then we are actually listening to the authoritative voice of God. “If anyone speaks,” Peter writes about Bible teaching in church, “he should do it as one speaking the very words of God” (1 Pet. 4:11). And if anyone listens to a faithful sermon, he should do so as if hearing the very words of God.

Pray during the week for next Sunday’s preacher. Pray for yourself and those who go to church with you. Come to the sermon as physically and mentally fresh and attentive as you possibly can. Quiet your mind and heart and expect God to speak. “Lord, speak to me. I am listening.”

2. Admit God knows better than you do.

When Timothy preached in Ephesus, Paul warned him that many would “not put up with sound [health-giving] doctrine,” but would desire for the preacher “to say what their itching ears want to hear” (2 Tim. 4:3). By nature we all want that. We want the sermon to make us feel better about ourselves, to boost our self-esteem, to reinforce our preexisting prejudices.

But when God speaks, he calls me day by day, week by week, to turn from sin and to trust in Christ. He calls me to “get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted” in me (James 1:21). I need to sit under the Word in humility, not over it in judgment. God is God and I am not. I must be ready, then, to adjust my opinions, my beliefs, my heart, my life.

3. Make sure the preacher says what the passage says.

Our question is how to listen to an expository sermon. Every sermon should open up from Scripture the meaning God has already put into Scripture. In this sense, every sermon should be expository—exposing what’s there. The alternative is “impositional” preaching in which the preacher imposes a meaning on the text. Of course, some sermons expound one passage while others expound verses from more than one passage. The advantage of the former is that it’s easier to ensure the preacher says what the passage says.

The authority of the preacher doesn’t come from his office (pastor, minister, or whatever) or his powerful personality. It is entirely a delegated authority. When he says what Scripture says, he speaks with authority; when he does not, he has no authority. A friend once said to me that when his pastor preached, he would have his Bible open and ask, “Where did he get that from?” It’s a good question. If I can see he got it from the passage, I should bow and repent and believe; if not, I shouldn’t.

Be humble but not gullible. Read the passage during the week leading up to the sermon. Ponder it. You don’t have to be an academic to do this. What’s the main idea? Is the central thrust of the sermon the central thrust of the passage?

4. Hear the sermon in church.

It is possible to hear sermons from downloads, alone, in our own time, at our own convenience. This is not a bad thing, but it’s not the best thing. God’s standard pattern is for his people to assemble (“church” means “assembly”) and sit under his Word together.

Listening to sermons is not a “me and God” thing; it’s a “God shaping us together” thing. We listen together. We hold one another accountable. I’ve heard the sermon; you know I’ve heard it; now you know I’ve heard it. You expect me to respond appropriately, and I expect you to. We help one another, stirring one another up to godly living as we gather together (Heb. 10:24–25).

5. Be there week by week.

Be regular in church. We breathe the cultural air of anti-commitment. It’s so easy to drift in and out, sitting on the edge as spectators. But the commitment to consistently gather with your covenant family is important.

God doesn’t give us quick fixes that come from hearing one or two Sunday sermons; he shapes and molds our minds, our hearts, and our character over time by the steady drip, drip, drip of his Word. We need to hear Christ proclaimed again and again. As Peter puts it, “I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them” (2 Pet. 1:12). Consider keeping a record of the Sundays you are—or are not—in church. You may be shocked at how often you’re away. Resolve to be there regularly, both for your own good and the good of those around you.

6. Do what the Bible says.

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves,” the apostle writes. “Do what it says” (James 1:22). The purpose of sermons isn’t to make us know-it-alls, but to make us like Jesus. We are to be those who “hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop” of godly character (Luke 8:15). We don’t come to the preaching of God’s Word to be entertained or to have our brain cells tickled by intellectual displays or to have our emotions swayed by manipulative oratory. We come to hear, to worship, and to obey.

After the Sunday sermon, think about some concrete way in which you will obey the preached Word. Write it down. Tell someone what it is. It may be something to start doing, or to stop doing. It may be words to speak, or to stop speaking. Most of all, it will be an attitude or desire of the heart. It may help to keep a journal Sunday by Sunday. Return to past entries from time to time and review your progress. Ask yourself how God is at work in you through his Word. You may be surprised and encouraged.

7. Do what the Bible says today—and rejoice.

“Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” So says Psalm 95, and so says the writer of Hebrews quoting it (Heb. 3:15). Today. There is an urgency to our hearing. Don’t put it off till tomorrow, for tomorrow may never come.

And then rejoice. Be glad God caused the Bible to be written exactly as he wanted. Be glad for the good news of all he’s given us in Christ. If you are a believer, be glad your name is written in heaven. Let each time you sit with your covenant family in Christ listening to a sermon be a time of fresh repentance, fresh reliance, and fresh obedience to your King.

Why the S.P.E.C.K. method? Reading the words on the page is not enough; We often read but we don’t know what to look for. We need to identify and tap into the spirit behind the Word by knowing what to look for. We need to learn how to best uncover the riches of God’s Word and bring out it’s fruit into our lives. SPECK is a helpful tool to understand scripture in a way that bears much fruit in your life.

1. Sin - Is there a sin to avoid?
2. Promise - Is there a promise to know?
3. Example - Is there an example to follow and learn from?
4. Command - Is there a command to obey?
5. Knowledge - Is there knowledge of Christ to understand?

Is there a SIN to avoid?
Why is this something to look for when we read scripture? Why is identifying sin so important? God wants us to live a certain way. God hates sin. Sin separates us from God. In Christ, despite our sin, we are no longer positionally separated from God, however sin hinders/stunts our growth. Also, Satan can use our sin to oppress us. Sin also destroys us. Also, identifying sin helps us identify God’s grace.

Is there a PROMISE from God?
Why is this something to look for when we read scripture? Why are God’s promises so important? Joel Beeke and Mark Jones say it very well in their book, “A Puritan Theology: Doctrine of Life”. The promises are the pathways where Christ meets the soul (p.401). The promises are instrumental in the coming together of Christ and the soul (p.401). Nothing is so excellent, so precious, and so sweet as a promise of God (p.405). The promises guide & lead us to Christ, for there is not a single promise that does not cry out to us in a loud voice, “O, come to Christ!” and there is no access to Jesus but by a promise (p.406). Promises are the objects of faith, through which they feed, nurture, & sustain every other grace (p.406). God’s promises are the chief aids to our life & our growth (p.406). It is of great importance to every believer not to be negligent & careless in the frequent use, and due application of the promises (p.407).

Is there an EXAMPLE to follow?
Is there an example in the scripture or somewhere else in scripture? Is there an example of somebody acting contrary to the example or consistent with the example elsewhere in scripture. Most importantly, do we see an example from Jesus. Why is this something to look for when we read scripture? Examples show us patterns; Examples show us what is possible with God. Examples from Christ show us why we can trust him.

Is there a COMMAND to obey?
Why is this something to look for when we read scripture? Knowing what TO DO (command to obey) is just as important as knowing what NOT TO DO (sin).
What does obedience to the command look like in my life? How would it benefit my life?
Obedience always brings us blessing and greater faith. God never commands things of us contrary to His nature, therefore His commands are always good and right, and we need to search them!

Is there KNOWLEDGE of Christ to understand?
Why is this something to look for when we read scripture? Knowing God is the ultimate purpose in ourt life. What is God like? What are His attributes? What does He do? If we want to know what God is like, we look at Jesus. Knowing his character, how he thinks, what he says and what he does. What does He like and dislike? What is His attitude?

All five of these won’t always be in every text you read. But there are many where they are! Be blessed in your scripture reading!

We encourage our whole team, no matter what position they are serving from, to consider themselves as helping to lead the church in worship. The responsibility of leading worship isn’t limited to a rostered position on Planning Centre, (although we do need and have rostered worship leaders ?), the responsibility is actually carried by our entire team. Every time you step onto the platform to play an instrument, sing in the choir, etc, you have the privilege and opportunity to encourage and lead others to worship God, so use everything you have to point people to Jesus.

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God — this is your true and proper worship.” (Romans 12:1)

You may not have a mic to sing, but you have a voice. You might not be at the front of the platform, but you have a posture. Your outward expression can point people to the goodness of God and inspire others to lift their eyes to Jesus. In light of that, there are some very practical principles that we can apply when serving on the platform, to help us do it better … Here’s some of the things we teach our own team, I hope you find some of it helpful for you and your team!

1. We lead from wherever we are

It is not solely up to the worship leader to lead the congregation. Each of our platform team have a responsibility to be leading from wherever they are, from whatever position they find themselves serving from. Whether behind a drum kit, guitar, keyboard, vocal microphone — we are all worshippers and leaders, first and foremost. If we craft the most perfect songs and setlists, but fail to help carry and engage the church alongside the worship leader, we have missed the mark. We are not gigging or on stage to simply play and sing excellently — we are on the platform to lead people into the presence of God. That must be our first and foremost objective!

However, this does not discount excellence — we shouldn’t be raising our hands at the expense of paying attention, or missing cues and parts to execute our craft, it’s possible to do both! It means we need to practice and achieve a level of excellence and ability within our craft, so that we’re able to engage and actively be singing, worshipping, leading from wherever we find ourselves (in addition to playing and singing well)!

2. We set the standard on AND off the platform

Leading in a service does not just stop with the platform team rostered on that Sunday. Our pastors / leaders / volunteers lead our church in response. If we’re not rostered on platform for a service, we lead still off the platform — by worshipping passionately, raising our hands, dancing, clapping, engaging in the service. We should have the same level of passion on and off the platform! If we are only able to show life and energy when we are on platform, we have missed the point. The platform should be an overflow of the leadership and passion for Christ that already exists within us!

3. Our posture and stance are either inviting or distancing for people.

Whether we like to admit it or not, when we are on the platform, people can actually see us (not just the worship leader) and are often watching us. Our body language says more than we think it does. If we have our heads down, solemn faces, rigid bodies, while the worship leader is doing their best to engage and lift the congregation — there is disparity in our message. It’s all of our responsibility to be in unity in leading and encouraging the congregation through whatever position we are serving in.

When you’re not required to play or tune etc, be participating in engaging the church — singing, clapping, lifting your hands, moving around. This may sound trivial, but if we see ourselves as leaders, supporting the worship leader and doing all we can to be worshipping and engaging the church from where we are, it brings a new freedom and desire to be inviting in your posture.

Something as simple as a smile can change the atmosphere. Eyes shut and intense faces have their place, but can also be off-putting if not balanced with an inviting posture. We encourage our team to be smiling, singing, and using their instruments and body language to be engaging and welcoming to the people in the congregation. Sometimes we need to tell our faces to show the love of Jesus!

In closing — the goal of this blog is not performance or ‘doing’ things differently — it’s simply to raise awareness that all of us are actually leaders both on and off platform, and it’s our job to collectively be leading people into the presence of Jesus … whether behind an instrument, console, lighting desk, standing on the front row or back row in the congregation, or worship leading.

When each and every team member realizes they have something to bring and begins to lead out of their own heart and gifting, it’s amazing to see the atmosphere lift and change and see people step into the presence of Jesus like never before.

Everyone matters. Everyone leads from wherever they are.

I’ve had the privilege of serving in our Creative team for the past 12 years. I love what I do and still pinch myself that I get to be a part of it. When it comes to ministry and life on team, we all have different seasons of opportunity. Usually, how that looks is out of our control. One thing I have been determined to grow in over the years is navigating my change of seasons well.

Over the last several years I’ve had a lot of opportunities to really put this into practice. For example, I’ve had three children and taken maternity leave at three different times. Practically, that has looked like:

Taking leave from my job and semi-disappearing to immerse myself in motherhood and then resurfacing to go back to work. I’ve gone from working full-time to part-time. My role has changed…and then changed again. I have traveled the world with our team then stopped traveling to be with my family. At certain times, I’ve had every opportunity possible in our team, and at other times I’ve totally stopped doing those things. I’m not saying that I am a hero for adapting to change (or that change is always easy for me), but rather that I have chosen that I don’t want who I am to be defined by what I do. What I do will always change, and if my identity is built around the things I do, then who am I if I stop doing them?

I have chosen that I don’t want who I am to be defined by what I do. I think this is something that can often trip us up. Let’s take worship leading for example. You love it. It’s what you feel called to do. You lead worship for a while (maybe a lot of it). Suddenly, other people around you start getting these opportunities and you feel like there’s not as much for you to do as there once was. Here come the internal questions:

Am I still a worship leader? Did God call me to lead worship? Do I fit anymore? Perhaps all of these things are still true, and it’s more of a changing of assignment rather than the ending of a season. Maybe it’s a new opportunity to come alongside someone and champion them by investing and developing the gifts inside them. This is just as valuable a way to serve, if not a more valuable way to serve God and others in your team. Sure, it looks different, but it’s just as important. If we are too hung up on what we do and don’t do, we can miss what God wants to do next, including opportunities to mature and lead in new ways.

I believe as leaders we’ve got to become good at changing positions. Sometimes we’re at the front, paving the way; sometimes we’re coming alongside and cheering someone on; sometimes it’s getting behind people to push them forward into serving. Every position is equally valuable; each one has a job to do. Too many times I have seen people bow out because they couldn’t handle the change of position. In the bigger picture though, there was actually another great space for them to step into.

My goal is to be indispensable to our team, not because I’m the best at something, but because I’m happy to do whatever is needed. I pray that in whatever way we serve God in our teams, we will always do so with an open hand. Sometimes the lines get blurred, and opportunities can become more about ourselves than others or even God. It can become about our gifts and our entitlements. Before we know it, we are holding on to ‘our position’ too tightly.

Change can be uncomfortable, but it’s healthy, and the more we are open to God positioning us where He wants us, the more valuable we will be in building His Church. Sometimes opportunities in my own life look ‘big’. They might even look ‘important’ (whatever that means) and be in full view of people. More often though, they will be hidden — they will be made up of choices that no one sees:

Choices to pull back, or to be present. To follow. To lead. To change positions. To stay planted. To encourage, to champion, and to love others (including having hard conversations). My opportunities might look like: coffees with people, dropping off meals, stopping and asking the important questions, or just being a safe person for others to talk to. Every opportunity is equally valuable. Everyone has a job to do.

Sometimes we can feel like the most noticeable opportunities are the prize, but I’ve found it’s usually the ones that only God and I know about that are the most fulfilling. Every season has a purpose. I don’t know about you, but I want to make the most of mine and find joy in each one.

You can spend your time wishing a season away, or trying to rush through it to get to the next one, but I believe if you commit whole-heartedly to being fully present where you are, then one season will equip you for the next.

Trust that God will position you where He wants you and where you best fit. He knows you better than you know yourself, so lean into Him and enjoy the journey.

2. Set the right kind of atmosphere.
If you’ve had a crazy morning, pause and take a deep breath and leave the junk at the door. Don’t carry it with you into rehearsal/service with you, but set the atmosphere that you want for people!

3. Remember that your role is always about SERVING!
Like everyone else, your role is to serve God and people- you just happen to be the one leading and serving from the platform.

4. Push through nerves and fear.
It’s worth it and the more you do it the easier it will get.

5. Preparation is worship too!
Consider your preparation off platform part of your worship, and be diligent with it. God deserves our very best, not our leftovers!

6. Grow your own personal leadership.
Be someone that people will want to follow off platform as well. If people want to follow your example when you’re off the platform, they’ll want to follow your example when you’re leading on the platform too!

7. Be your authentic self!
God has made you unique, so don’t try to be someone else