The Quest Continues...Day 30

[Barb Bouldrey]

I have enjoyed The Quest so much. What a wonderful, refreshing study of the Spirit-filled, Spirit-led life. I am impressed with Frank Moore's simplicity and depth.

This last week's study talked about difference between the self-preference and the self-surrender. He mentioned that when we come to God for leadership of His Holy Spirit we need to consider ourselves D.O.A....dead to self.

I loved that example.

He also mentioned that when Abraham saw the burning bush, the burning bush was on fire, but not destroyed. He compared that burning bush to the sanctified life...on fire by the Holy Spirit, consumed by the Holy Spirit, but yet still alive.

The book itself is worth the read and study. It is a wonderful book for new believers and old.

Barb

[Larry Osweiler]

Barb, I am happy that you are enjoying the Quest. Are you doing it in a corporate manner within the church or reading the book individually?
I had the guy from NPH call me and let me have a 30 day review of Quest. I looked it over and went over it with my discipleship leader. After reviewing everything, we sent it back.
Now I hate to pour cold water on a good thing. And I'm sure that Quest is a great program. I personally think Frank Moore is as solid as they come. He and Roger Hahn are two of my favorite Nazarene theologians. But here are a few reasons we didn't feel it was the right time to do this:
1. I've seen churches who have tried all the latest programs. I've seen the
"50 Day Spiritual Adventure, 40 Days of Purpose, Quest, Evangelism Explosion, Promise Keepers rallies, John Maxwell Club, etc. But I've never seen one of these ever really change the dynamics of the local church. It seems like folks get blessed, and then sooner rather than later, everything reverts back to the way it was before. Are some changed? Yes, but has it really revived the church? Not often. Now there may be places like yours where it may really make a long term impact. But these programs to me rarely work. The latest craze around here is the Purpose Driven everything. But show me one place where it has revolutionized the church. Maybe I'm living in the Twilight Zone, but I just don't see real revival happening. Many folks use these programs as quick fix ways to advance in the spiritual journey. And most never read the books anyhow. But it boils down to prayer and full surrender to the Lordship of Christ that will really make the difference. And to me, it doesn't take a "program" to do it. Maybe that's why revivals really don't do much for the church anymore. It's another program.
Now before everyone throws tomatoes at me, let me say that I've seen guys saved at Promise Keeper's rallies. And I've seen them come back excited for Jesus. But I find a small minority carrying the cross five years later.
2. I guess I might sound like a scrooge, but I feel most of these programs are simple large scale marketing endeavors. It's about selling books, tapes, workbooks, and all the rest that goes with it. It's a business world we live in, and NPH and all the others are interested first in profit. That is one big problem I have with Willow Creek. And I attend the Willowcreek Leadership Summit every year. And I think what Willow is doing it great - for them. But when I go there, it's about selling more tapes and books. I just get uneasy with the commercialization I see in the church. That's why I don't buy more than one book when I go there. But you ought to see folks who cart off 20 books at a time there. I wonder if they are using up the church expense account. And yes, the Lord is talking to me about whether to continue to spend the money to go there every year.
3. I find it hard to justify the cost to my church of these programs. I feel to me it is not good stewardship to spend $100 of the church's money, then ask folks to buy a bunch of books. My people just won't buy books. But with things tight like they are, I am not going to ask folks to shell out money for a book. And if the church buys them, then you have to shell out $200 to buy 20 books. To do a 40 days of purpose costs alot of money. I really think most of these programs are tailored to the bigger churches that have more resouces, both in money and people.
4. I have found out over 14 years of pastoral ministry that two books would suffice as a low cost way of discipling our church folks:
A. The Bible
B, The Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster. (As long as folks practice what the book teaches.
5. Some churches must do these programs or else folks will jump ship. It's kind of like a spiritual narcotic. If the church doesn't offer the latest thing on the bandwagon, then we are not "contemporary" enough. "Let's do this thing because XYZ Fellowship down the street is doing it." "And we need to be like them." That's why the turnover rate in the megachurches is astronomical according to Barna. We go as long as we have our "fix", but don't talk to me about a long term radical life of complete abandonment for the cross.
I know churches using some of these programs. And I hope they are working for them. But in this day we live in where over 98% of church growth is transfer growth, I think it's going to take more than Quest to make it happen.
Now before everyone labels me a hypocrite, let me say that I do buy books, I do occasionally buy a CD, I do buy Bible software, I do go to conferences. I'm just saying that some things make me uneasy anymore. Maybe I'm a small minority of pastors who feel this way.
Hope you don't think I'm pouring cold water on your good news there. I'm happy that it's working for you. It just isn't what I'm led to do.

[Barb Bouldrey]

Larry,
We are doing this as a church family. About 24 of our regular Wednesday night crowd have purchased the book. The rest of the congregation of 85 are just there hearing the sermons and sharing in the dialogues.

Our church has been blessed with good finances, so the cost of this program was not an issue for us.

Benefits I have seen:
1. It has been encouraging and refreshing to read a wonderfully simple explanation of what we believe about the Holy Spirit and the sanctified life.
2. We have new young adults attending and two of them have gotten saved during a service where John has been preaching on the Quest. This series of sermons have been a training ground for them as new believers.
3. Some of our teens are really paying attention and following along with John's messages. One teen boy bought the book and has been faithful to read it ahead of each sermon. It is educating our teens and our new people about what we believe about the pure heart and holy life.
4. The dialogue has really been a time of blessing as we share what God has done in our own lives that is reaffirmed in what we study.

Actually, when we get done with this, I believe John would be willing to share the material with anyone who could not afford the entire series...even lending the leftover books.

If you have Power Point, the Power Point materials really help make the series more meaningful. John puts his outline on Power Point as he preaches and puts the basic outline in the bulletin.

It has been a blessing and an educational experience for many. It has helped our new Christians in their growth.

Barb