The Cold Hard Truth

Someone once said, "Disciple does not mean Christian - it means "learner, student, adherent."

Dino Senesi made this statement, "Making disciples out of the harvest becomes one of the greatest and most often neglected challenges a church planter must face. Perhaps this is why so few are doing a good job at it. The body of evidence is compelling. We don't do well at making disciples."


*George Barna in his book Revolution, shares these dismal facts with us:

• The typical churched believer will die without leading one person to Christ

• Nine percent of born-again adults have a biblical worldview

• Churched Christians give away an average of 3% of their income

• One out of every six churched believers has an accountability relationship with another believer
• A church married couple is as likely to get a divorce as an unchurched married couple

Why do you think that true biblical discipleship is not being done in the average church? What does "make disciples" mean to you? How do we make disciples?

*George Barna, Revolution, (Ventura, CA: Barnabooks, 2005), pp 32-35


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Happy 53rd Birthday to my sister Nancy K. (Metcalf) Dupre of Bellingham, WA

Did Jesus Have A Last Name?

"She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus..."

Matthew 1:21a (ESV)

Mary and Joseph did not get to pick the name of their first born son. Had this been a traditional pregnancy following the betrothal of Mary and Joseph, Joseph more than likely would have called Jesus, "Joseph" after himself. Zachariah's family members wanted Elizabeth to name her baby, whom we know as John the Baptist, after his father. Interestingly enough it seems Mary and Joseph did not have last names. This might make it hard to look them up in the Nazareth phone book.

The first people to have used a "surname" or last name was the Chinese. The story goes that an Emperor named Fushi decreed the use of surnames or family names around 2852 BC. The Chinese people typically have three names. The surname, or last name comes first, that name is followed by a generation name, and then placed last is the given name, or the first name.

The Romans for most of their history had only one name. However, they eventually began using three names. The given name came first, as a first name, this was followed by the name of their clan, and the last name listed was to designate the family. History shows as the Roman empire declined the use of multiple names began to be discontinued and eventually there was a return to single names.

During the period of time we know as the Middle Ages people had a single name. Gradually another name of distinguishing people began to develop usage. Surnames or last names began to be attached to individuals. These names came from various sources; location, occupation, the use of the father's name, etc.

By the 12th century the use of a second name was so widespread that for some it was considered vulgar not to have a last name. Since this period most people are known by a first name and a last name. We have even gone so far as to add what we call middle names which derived from the earlier practices. While I don't have a generation name, I do have three names, Gregory Dean Metcalf. The Metcalf is our surname or last name. I don't know where or how it originated. The Internet tells me it is of English origin, probably from the area of Yorkshire. It may mean to fatten up a calf before it is eaten or in order to eat it. It may be an occupational name. It may be very appropriate, Lord knows I love beef!

At the time of Jesus, surnames were not ordinarily used. Jesus had just one name. However, if you listen to people today you could get the idea that Jesus did have a last name and that it was Christ. This comes from at least two (2) reasons: 

The word Christ, which is a title, is frequently attached to the name Jesus in many Scriptures throughout the Bible. It is so frequently attached that one might think Jesus name was Jesus Christ.

Unfortunately many people have learned to take the name of Jesus and use it as an expression of vulgarity. Any number of combinations of Jesus ___________ Christ have been concocted by a race of people who by nature hate and despise this lovely and beautiful name.

"Jesus" is a transliteration of the Hebrew word "Joshua." When those who translated the Hebrew into Greek came to the Hebrew letters that spelled Joshua, they simply took the corresponding Greek letter and made up the name Jesus from those letters. 

Jesus, or the Hebrew Joshua means "Jehovah is Salvation, or "is the Savior." This name was given to the Son of God in the incarnation as his personal name. 

The title Christ, Χριστος is the Greek word for "anointed one." It translates the Hebrew word for Messiah in the Septuagint, LXX. This term was applied to the priests who were anointed with the holy oil, especially the High Priest. The prophets were known as the christoi Theou, "the anointed of God." This title is used frequently in the New Testament with the article, "the". Thus, we would say, Jesus, the Christ.

So, in conclusion, Jesus is Jesus only name. Christ is a title designating him as the anointed one, and from this we take it to mean, the anointed one from God. 

This topic was suggested and requested by Brian Todd from Brian Todd Blog

Book Review: The Practice of Godliness

Jerry Bridges and NavPress have once again produced an extremely valuable tool for the ministry of discipleship. They have produced a product that incorporates the meaty material of Bridges book, The Practice of Godliness and a set of questions for study and discussion. This manual or guide also has been produced with wide margins for notes, outlines, questions, thoughts, or even prayers.

NavPress reduced the original eighteen chapters of Bridges book to twelve chapters or sessions specifically geared for individual or group study. Each session records one or two chapters from The Practice of Godliness. Those chapters are followed by a set of questions. Therefore one does not need to buy the original book and this manual.

This book is very easy to read and very easy to use. Anyone can use it for personal devotions and find it to be very beneficial. It can also be used as a real tool to facilitate discussion in a small group or Sunday school class session.

This book through its unique and ingenious format is designed to explore the means that the Holy Spirit produces the fruit of the Holy Spirit in a disciple’s life. The questions are designed to drive the student to the scriptures in order to “dig out” biblical truths and principles. They are also designed to develop and enhance discussion.

I highly recommend this small-group curriculum. It is affordable, practical, and well thought through.

I received a free book in exchange for this review and nothing else. I was not required to provide a favorable review in order to receive this book. This review is my opinion and not necessarily the opinion of Jerry Bridges or NavPress.

Epaphras: An Effective and Earnest Envoy

Acts 28:16 says, “…when we came to Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier that guarded him.” Acts 28:30 says, “He (Paul) lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and preaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.


Last week (see: From Jerusalem to Rome) I took the time to show you how Paul ended up in Rome. During his trial in Caesarea by Festus Paul appealed his case to the Emperor Nero in Rome. After a long and arduous voyage which included a devastating shipwreck on the Island of Malta Paul arrived at Rome and was placed under house-arrest in a home he rented. He was allowed to minister and entertain those who came and went.


I left you last week with the name of one of those individuals who was able to come to Paul and who was welcomed by him. This man was named Epaphras. Epaphras is not a well-known figure in history. We discover by reading the things recorded for us in the Scriptures particularly by the Apostle Paul  that Epaphras was a pastor who was faithful to his Lord.


Epaphras was the pastor of the church at Colosse, or as I would like to think it was called the Colosse Bible Church. It is quite possible that Epaphras was responsible for one or more of the several churches in what we know as the Lycus Valley in Asia Minor.


First, we need to state that we have absolutely no information on who founded the churches in the Lycus Valley. We do not know who started or began the church in Colosse, Laodicea, Heirapolis, Patmos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, Pergamum, or Smyrna.


We know that Paul did not found the church at Colosse. Paul identifies Epaphras as a Colossian (4:12) and that Epaphras was an "envoy" commissioned by the other churches in the valley (4:13) to see Paul. Paul stated that the Colossian church heard the word of God from Epaphras (1:7.)


Epaphras probably met Paul in Ephesus when Paul was preaching and teaching. He became a student of Paul and then an able minister. Epaphras probably left Ephesus and went back to the Lycus Valley and preached the gospel resulting in the founding of at least the Colossian church. Epaphras probably began this church some seven to ten years prior to Paul writing this letter, around AD 53-55.


When we read the letter to Philemon we discover that Epaphras was a fellow-prisoner of Paul, verse 23. We do not have any details of his arrest. Apparently for some reason unknown to us Epaphras was placed under house arrest with the Apostle Paul. 


What do we know of this Epaphras? He is mentioned four times in the New Testament. What we do know of him comes to us from Philemon 23; Colossians 1:7, 4:12, 13.


First, Epaphras was a preacher and teacher of the Lord Jesus Christ. (1:5,6) The gospel had come to Colosse. Epaphras taught the gospel in Colosse.


Second, Epaphras was a co-laborer with Paull. (1:7) Paul and Epaphras were harvesters in the same harvest. They served Christ together - yes in different fields, but they both preached the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.


Third, Epaphras was considered a faithful servant or worker for Jesus Christ. (1:7, 4:12) Faithfulness is a wonderful attribute and a magnificent way to be thought of or summarized by.


Fourth, Epaphras loved his people and missed them greatly. (4:12) Even in Paul's letter he had to say something to them, he had to greet them. He wanted to encourage his people and let them know he was OK.


Fifth, Epaphras was careful for his people.  (4:12) He prayed for his people and was concerned about the spiritual warfare he knew they were facing back home. He was gone from them and couldn't be there to watch, help, minister, and to protect his beloved people. Epaphras prayed diligently for his people as he prayed for their spiritual well being.


Sixth, Epaphras was a man of zeal for his people. (4:13) Epaphras was very zealous for the people at Colosse, Laodicea, and Hierapolis. Epaphras was quiet spunky. As a matter of fact the word used in our text is αγωνιζομαι (ag-o-nid’-zom-ahee) It means to fight or to strive fervently. It was used for contestants who contended or fought in gymnastic games. He loved his people and was very mindful of the spiritual warfare that his people were engaged in and he contended for his people.


Seventh, Epaphras was a man who knew when he was out of his league. At some point in his ministry false teachers invaded his church and the churches in the Lycus Valley and brought into the church damnable doctrines of demons. The teachers and teaching were beyond his abilities to deal with them. Epaphras having somehow heard that Paul was in prison in Rome traveled from Colosse to Rome to share with Paul the dangerous teaching that was molesting his people.


Paul had already had an encounter with a runaway slave from Colosse by the name of Onesimus.  How and why this slave named Onesimus and Paul were brought together is unknown to us. However, we do know that at least one reason God sovereignly arranged this meeting with Onesimus and the Apostle Paul. Onesimus had become a believer.Imagine that, you and I will spend eternity in heaven with a runaway slave who stole from his master and yet was graciously redeemed by our heavenly Father!


Paul wanted to keep Onesimus with him and more than likely train and disciple him. But he knew that Onesimus was the rightful property of Philemon. Paul wrote Philemon a letter asking him to receive this slave, not merely as a runaway slave, but to receive him as a brother in Christ. Paul was sending Onesimus and Tychicus to Collose with this letter to Philemon.


Paul decided to write a letter to the church of Colosse addressing the issues that Epaphras had shared with him. Paul wants these believers to ignore these false teachers and teachings and to press on to maturity in Christ by continuing in their battle against sin, pursing holiness, and learning to live distinctively as Christians. Paul intended for Tychicus to take this letter and deliver it to the Colossians. By the way, since Onesimus and Tychicus had to travel through Ephesus to get to Colosse, Paul decided to write to the church at Ephesus and to the other churches in the Lycus Valley.


Epaphras, a great pastor who loved his people dearly came to Paul for help. He needed help to defeat dangerously deceptive and destructive false teachings that plagued his dear people. Paul, under house arrest and able to receive all those who came to him, received Epaphras and ministered to him. For some unknown reason Epaphras was arrested and placed under house arrest with Paul. Paul decides to send Tychicus, his companion to Colosse with a letter dealing with these demonic doctrines.


To be continued...

Reading the Bible in 2011

I was very pleased with the response to my post yesterday concerning the setting of goals. I hope to have encouraged you to take some time and prayerfully consider what you would like to accomplish in various areas, including your spiritual life and growth next year. I hope that you will write them down, keep them close, and take them out periodically during a devotion and see how you are doing. 


Develop a means to monitor your goals by examining whether you are completing the steps in order to achieve your goals.


One goal that many people set, as The Old Geezer did, is to determine to read the bible through in a year. As I was responding to his comment and his permission to help hold him accountability the following information flowed into my email to him. As I typed this and re-read it I thought it would be a good blog.


I realize goal setting is just that - setting some markers of what I would like to accomplish in various areas during the coming year. I also admit that I haven't been successful in every area by keeping every goal. However,I find if I don't set any goals then I have a tendency to be reactive rather than proactive. I want you to be proactive in your spiritual development. I don't want you as Paul told the Ephesians, "...so that you are no longer children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes." My heart's desire and prayer for you is that you are, "...to mature manhood, speaking the truth in love,...grow up in every way into him..." Ephesians 4:11-16 (ESV)

I applaud those who set a goal to be faithful to read the entire bible each year. I think when it comes to scripture there are at least seven (7) areas that we need to be faithful in. In order to be faithful in these areas it takes discipline, planning or goal setting, monitoring, and yes accountability. We need to:

read the scripture - this builds familiarity and reminds us of various principles to live by each day

study the scripture - this is different than reading; here we take great pain and effort to study a doctrine, a book, a biblical character, Christ, etc.

meditate on scripture - this is where we talk it back to ourselves and reflect on its meaning through recitation, repetition, rehearsing, and realizing its meaning and application. This is helpful when we are having a hard time with a passage, understanding its meaning or seeking its application

memorize scripture - we need to regularly hide the word of God in our heart in order not sin against God, to have as a tool to ward off temptation and sin, to encourage fellow believers, to edify believers, to confront believers, to rebuke believes, and to evangelize the lost. I recommend you memorize one verse per week, or 52 a year.

obey the scripture - we read, study, meditate, and memorize in order to be obedient to the truths and principles of God's word. I know you know this but many times we look in the mirror and take no action and thereby we leave the house with breakfast on our shirt, hair uncombed, spinach in our teeth etc. We need to be doers and not just hearers.

share the scripture - this is related to our memorization, but we truly need to share what we have learned. We do not want to be Dead Sea Christians where water runs into the sea but never leaves the sea.

pray through the scripture - prayerfully read your passage, stopping to ask God through His Holy Spirit your teacher what that verse or paragraph meant and how does God want you to apply it to your life.

So, again I applaud you in setting a goal to read the scriptures through in 2011. 

First of all -  do not use a reading plan!!!!!!! Unless you are absolutely different than any of us you will slip into the legalistic habit of trying to read in order to check off the box, or color in the square. In other words reading plans lead you to miss the meaning of scripture because you are trying to catch up and complete the days reading.

Second - God will not love you any more or any less if you read everyday. You won't have a better day or a worse day if you miss a day in your reading. Please do not get on the "performance treadmill."

Third - reading here and there, piece-meal will not allow you to fully meditate on the context and find its meaning and application for our life. You need to read in context.

So what do you do?

Take a 3 x 5 or a 5 x8 card and write all sixty six books of the bible on it. Then each time you come to read, each day, read 3 or 4 chapters of a book of the bible you want to read. That is about 12-20 minutes for the average person. 

Read that book each day until it is completed. Then check off or cross off that book on your index card as completed. The goal isn't to read a certain section, or a certain number of passages, the goal is to read all sixty six books before December 31, 2011.


You get to pick and choose where you read. On one occasion you may feel like reveling in the Psalms or another time you may feel like tackling a doctrinal book like Romans. Just once you have read a book completely, cross it off the index card.

Enjoy scripture don't endure it.

What goals have you set to read the bible through in 2011? What plans have you used and what worked for you? Why? What would you recommend to others concerning reading the bible through?



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Happy 77th Birthday to my Mother, Evelyn L. Metcalf, in Modesto, CA. I love you Mom!

Spiritual Goals for 2011

Among many things, I live by a few axioms. An axiom is a self-evident proposition that needs no proof. An axiom is a universally accepted principle or rule. One of my favorite axioms, or principles that is self-evidently true, needing no proof is "If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time." Apparently this axiom is attributed to Zig Ziglar. As a result of the truth of this principle I set goals in almost every aspect or arena of my life. I don't always achieve the goals that I set. As a matter of fact in some areas I have failed miserably.

I am not disappointed nor discouraged by this revelation. I realize that I can't hit or achieve every goal I set for myself. I try to be careful in the setting of my goals and I use the following four (4) guidelines in setting goals:

• The goals I set must be for the glory of God

• The goals I set must be achievable or realistic

• The goals I set must be accompanied by practical steps or procedures to obtain the objectives

• The goals I set must be monitored in order to be re-evaluated, re-stated, or rejected

Each year during November and December I take some time to prayerfully consider the past year of my spiritual journey. I look to see where I failed, where I made slow progress, where I made progress, and how achieving some of the goals changed or affected me for Christ-sake and His glory. I then take some time and prayerfully set my goals for the next year.

I have set goals in the following areas for 2011 - Spiritual, Educational, Physical, Financial, and Personal.

Spiritual Goals - these goals include my devotional life, my reading list, what I want to study this coming year, and the utilization of my spiritual gift.

Educational Goals - these goals include the fact that I want to be more proficient in Greek, enroll in one or more seminary classes.

Physical Goals - these goals include planned weight loss and some dental work this year.

Financial Goals - these goals include selling my home and my giving to our God. Irene and I have worked hard to eradicate and eliminate credit-card debt, car payments, and loans. I want to wipe out a couple of debts related to a failed business next year if the housing market comes back in our area. Our home value dropped about 25% this past couple of years.

Career Goals - these goals are related to my need of finding employment and my desire to plant a church

Personal Goals - these goals are related to what I would like to do personally as a husband, father, grandfather, and pilgrim in this strange land as I await the return of the Lord.

I may not read all the books I have put on my reading list. I may not be able to sell the house in 2011 and I may fall short of the total weight I would like to loose this coming year.  I might not get to seminary next year, after all, due to being unemployed I did not achieve that goal this year. If I don't set goals, or put another way - if I aim at nothing for 2011 I will hit it every time.

I know that our Lord is sovereign. I know that He has predestined certain things to take place in my life. As a matter of fact I may not live to see 2011 or its completion. My life is like a vapor, it is here a short, and specific period of time, and my life is gone! At the same time I don't want to be like a leaf that is simply blown around by a wind with little or no direction. So, I set my goals, I aim at improvement, development, growth, and increased Christ likeness.

So, let me ask you - have you set some goals for 2011? Do you have some items specifically targeted that you are aiming at? Do you have steps or processes in place to help you achieve those goals? Do you have a plan in place to evaluate and monitor your progress?

What three (3) specific, spelled out, goals are you aiming at to improve your spiritual life in 2011?

Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Spurgeon (1834-1892) was born in Kelvedon, Essex, England, June 19, 1834. Since his father and grandfather were pastors, he was raised with the knowledge of God and the gospel. He was converted on a snowy January morning in 1850.

In August of 1850, Charles Spurgeon preached his very first sermon to a group of farmers. A year later a small village church called him to be their Pastor. In 1854, when he was only nineteen years old, Spurgeon was installed as the pastor of the New Park Street Chapel in Southwark, London. New Park Street Chapel eventually became the famed Metropolitan Tabernacle.

In January of 1855 Spurgeon's sermons were published each week. His sermons were published every week through 1916. This was twenty-four years after Spurgeon had died.

During Spurgeon's pastorate in London, he ministered to a congregation of approximately six thousand people each week. Spurgeon published a monthly magazine called The Sword and Trowel. He founded a college for pastors, two orphanages, a home for the elderly, and several mission points where the gospel was preached.

Spurgeon suffered greatly both physically and mentally during his life and ministry. He had many opponents who attacked him and his ministry. Spurgeon remained faithful to the gospel and the Word of God and preached until he died in January of 1892.

The keys to Spurgeon's "success" seems to be very simple: a life of regular and fervent prayer and a simple, yet profound faith in the grace of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.


There is no way on this side of heaven to measure, gauge, evaluate, or determine the impact of this man and his ministry to church and Christian community. One of my purposes for this blog is to expose you to Godly men of various generations and their legacy. The overwhelming majority of those who read this blog are familiar with Charles Spurgeon. However, even though you may be aware of him and some of his more popular quotes and quips you probably have not spent much time pouring over this man, his ministry, his messages, and his mission.

I encourage you to begin taking some time and study this great man - what drove him, what moved him, and become a benefactor of his books, sermons, lectures, and ministry. Begin with these links, book-mark them and visit them often:

The Spurgeon Archive

Wholesome Words

The C. H. Spurgeon Collection

Spurgeon.US

spurgeongems.org