James MacDonald

Jesus said, “He who is not for Me is against Me”(Matt 12:30).  Apathy is not an option in our walk with Christ. Passion means get the flag to the top of the pole and let people know what Christ means to you. The truth is, if we’re not following with our whole hearts, we’re not following Him at all.

What does that look like?  I check my passion level against three criteria:

2. Is my private life ignited by my walk with Christ? Am I digging into God’s Word on my own?  Is my heart on fire with conviction? Do I depend on God in prayer? Does Jesus have all of me all of the time?

3. Am I rolling up my sleeves to engage in the work of God’s kingdom?  Am I involved in meaningful service?  Am I investing my spiritual gifts into building Christ’s body, the church?  Am I spending my energies so that Christ is made known and adored?

When I can answer ‘Yes’ to these questions then I know I’m living a passionate life—just as He’s called me to. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________  James MacDonald is the Senior Pastor at Harvest Bible Church and host of the daily radio show “Walk in the Word.”  James will be speaking at the UPRISING PKC Men’s Conference in Toronto this November.                                                                                                __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

                                                                                                                                        Paul Henderson 

From my perspective, the most important ingredient is a living example of someone who is passionate about one’s own walk and intimacy with the Lord.  An infectious role model has a profound impact on others.

I relate to athletics, as many men do, and understand the need for disciplined training to reach goals.  To run a marathon or to get in game shape takes daily routines and hard work over a period of time.  To strengthen your spiritual muscles, you need to carve out the necessary time.  Most people work better with a partner or a coach to push them when they want to quit, so I recommend this strongly.  Our men’s Discovery Groups have really helped men to become disciplined in these areas.  So firstly, develop yourself before trying to move others (John 15:5).

I would try to paint a picture for them of what they could become.  Give them a vision of being God’s vessel (Timothy 2:21).  They will need to be encouraged in order to see their potential and to use the gifts that God has given them.  Many people need help in seeing their own capacity.

When you see giftedness in a person, put them in a position to use their gift.  This will usually involve asking them to step out of their comfort zone and take some risks.  Walk with them.  When they fail, pick them up and exhort them to keep going.  Don’t let initial failure discourage them.  Every leader fails.  Encourage them to seek the lessons they may have learned through failing.  I have learned far more through my failures than my success.  In other words, don’t let their failures paralyze them or make them hesitant to move forward.

I really think that getting people away for a conference, a retreat, or ministry project is an excellent motivator to help them gain a more biblical perspective of daily living.  When I first started going on these projects, I came home a different person.  I have taken many men since and have seen positive results.

The Promise Keepers movement has used this as well as any organization.  I am thankful for the impact on many of our men. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________  Paul Henderson is the Founder and President of The Leadership Group – a ministry committed to developing leaders in the business community by impacting their belief, character and action.                                                                                                                            ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

John Piper

1 Peter 2:1-3

Therefore, putting aside all malice and all guile and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, like newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the word, that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.

A great threat to salvation and to our growth toward salvation (v. 2) is what I would call spiritual fatalism -- the belief or feeling that you are stuck with the way you are -- "this is all I will ever experience of God -- the level of spiritual intensity that I now have is all I can have; others may have strong desires after God and may have deep experiences of personal pleasure in God, but I will never have those because . . . well, just because . . . I am not like that. That's not me."

Spiritual fatalism is tragic in the church. It leaves people stuck. It takes away hopes and dreams of change and growth. It squashes the excitement of living -- which is growth.

In this text God commands us not to be spiritual fatalists. Peter says in verse 2: "Like newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the word, that by it you may grow in respect to salvation." The word for "long" here is very simply the word "desire" -- it's a command to desire.

What this means is that if you feel stuck because you don't have the kind of spiritual desires that you should, this text says, You do not need to be stuck! It says, "Get them! -- Get the desires you don't have." If you don't desire the milk of the word, start desiring it. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________  John Piper is the Senior Pastor at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  To view the entire article entitled "Desiring the Milk of the Word"  click here.  Or visit www.desiringgod.org