A Shocking “Confession” from Willow Creek Community Church

Preaching, prayer and fasting. It can't be beat! :thumbs:

 

And also, Liberating Ministry from the Success Syndrome, by Kent and Barbara Hughes. God's definition of success is much different from ours.

My father never pastored a church larger than about 230, moved every five years or so, never preached in big conferences, was never given an honorary doctorate, and was quite downhearted later in his ministry because of how he had been treated. However, he faithfully preached the Gospel for 60 years! Hundreds were saved through his ministry, and thousands grew in grace. From the Willow Creek point of view he may have been a failure, but he's a grand success in my eyes because he was faithful with what he had and was--"She (he) hath done what she (he) could."

At his funeral I preached about Caleb and his mountain. When Dad visited us here in Japan he desperately wanted to climb Mt. Fuji, though I knew he wouldn't make it because of his age and his knee. So we took him to the mountain and let him start climbing. After the first "station" (rest stop), he realized he couldn't make it and we had to go back down. In my message I said that we climb our mountain as best as we can, as high as we can, and then the Lord comes down to where we are on that mountain and takes us to be with Him forever. Praise the Lord for His graciousness!

 

Amen, great story!

 

Well I don't know if it could be summed up quite so easily as I'm pretty sure there was plenty of "preaching" going on, and I would be very surprised if they weren't "praying" and I wouldn't be completely shocked if they had "fasters".

What is being preached and what we are praying for and why we are fasting are very important factors that can not be overlooked!

 

Sure, but good method+bad content=disaster. Good method must be coupled with correct content to see desired results.