I want people to be a really big deal at Trinity Life. Of course that is easy to say and anyone worth their salt would say the same thing. The question becomes, "So....what does that actually look like in real practice?" Let me list six values (3 now, 3 later) that I think capture the essence of how people are a big deal to Jesus and will be to Trinity Life Church.
1) Substance over Surface = Luke 18:9-14 "Two men went to pray...one an evangelical, the other a bar tender. The evangelical prayed, 'God thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterous, or even like this bar tender. I go to church every week and even follow Dave Ramsey's financial strategies.' But the bar tender would not even go into the church building, but buried his head in his hands saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!'" I tell you, this man went away justified rather than the other.... [modern equivalent version].
People are a big deal in that what is going on beneath the surface is more important than what is going on at the surface. At Trinity Life, how one dresses and whether they smoke is not going to be on the list for discipleship 101. There are bigger things to worry about like bitterness, rage, and pride. Even then, people need help and not someone telling them that they are on a quick road to hell (at least not so unsympathetically). Take time to know their story. Knowing their story I bet that we would love them. Loving them I suspect we would serve them (like helping them know more about Jesus' love for them).
2) Relationships over Ideals = Mark 14:27-28 = "And Jesus said to them, 'You will all fall away ... But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.'" Fascinating! Jesus knows they will fall away and deny him but looks ahead to their ministry anyway! When we choose ideals over relationships people get smashed. In choosing relationship over ideals we find that things get messy, and that lots of mercy and stamina are required. People are a big deal in that messiness is okay. We will mess up. Discipleship will look ugly sometimes. It will be slow and stubborn but we look ahead to the progress of God's Spirit in us that awaits as we stay faithful to one another. At Trinity Life, victory over some list of sins is not the litmus test for joining. Sanctification looks like struggling against the flesh. Do we want failure? No. Do we want broken, single parent families? No. But IT IS OKAY! Do we want people to be alcoholics, addicts, or homosexuals? No. But we want to come beside them and help them through it with the transforming work of the Gospel, recognizing that these battles or circumstances are sometimes life long war zones b/t the flesh and Spirit.
3) Essentials over Non-Essentials = Romans 14:5ff = "One man esteems one day as better than another, while another man esteems all days alike. Let everyone be fully convinced in his own mind." People are a big deal in that we recognize their freedom of interpretation within the body when it is not related to what we believe essentially (such as the Trinity, or resurrection, or incarnation, or eternity, etc.). Non-essential things are of little concern, such as how you understand the book of Revelation (pre, mid, post, or whatever). Or what version of the Bible you read. Or whether you think homeschooling is the biblical mandate. What we are concerned with is essential Christian faith as historically maintained. It is not that I do not have a detailed theology (I do in fact) but that being a part of Trinity Life is more about the vision of the Gospel and Mission than it is about whether you're pato-baptists or credo. Sorry, I'm just not going to die on that cross! "Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls" (14:4).
We want Trinity Life to be a place where it is okay to mess up and be messy and come from messy situations but where apathy is fought hard against through the Gospel of Jesus. We want victory over sin, but we want to be patient. Don't be afraid of your sins, confront them in the name of Jesus. We will listen, pray, and walk with you through the mess.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Furthermore
Title: Trinity Life Church
Tag Line: "Living the Life of God for the Life of the World
Vision: Know God, Love God, Serve God
Strategy: Gospel, Community, Mission
What this means is that we want to be a church that reflects the life of the Triune God by living life together as a community of truth, love, and mission as it is taught and reflected in the Gospel about Jesus.
Where our vision and strategy are in place, we should expect to see people growing in their knowledge of God in the Gospel, their love of God in Community, and their service to God in the Mission. We hope, then, to see the following signs of success:
Knowing God in the Gospel being demonstrated by:
Tag Line: "Living the Life of God for the Life of the World
Vision: Know God, Love God, Serve God
Strategy: Gospel, Community, Mission
What this means is that we want to be a church that reflects the life of the Triune God by living life together as a community of truth, love, and mission as it is taught and reflected in the Gospel about Jesus.
Where our vision and strategy are in place, we should expect to see people growing in their knowledge of God in the Gospel, their love of God in Community, and their service to God in the Mission. We hope, then, to see the following signs of success:
Knowing God in the Gospel being demonstrated by:
- Ability to apply the Gospel to ourselves and our culture
- Testimonies of ever-maturing faith in Jesus
Loving God in Community being demonstrated by:
- Environment of Mercy & Grace through Jesus
- Environment of Hope & Power through the Spirit
Serving God in the Mission being demonstrated by:
- Empowered witness for Jesus in everyday living
- Deliberate engagement in the culture of our city through the eyes of the Gospel
Monday, July 11, 2011
How do we help people Know God, Love God, Serve God?
Do you want to know what I really want of Trinity Life Church (what I think God wants)? I want to see people who do not really really love Jesus get an optimal opportunity to really really know about Him.
In my last post I said that if we do not serve God it is because we do not love God, and if we do not love God it is because we do not know God. We love God when we truly know who He is and what He has done for us. When we love God we cannot help but to serve Him. That is the Logic of Salvation. God moves toward us in love and reveals Himself to us. Only then can we begin to be what He has called us to be.
There is a catch, however. We cannot know, love, and serve God in just whatever way we want. This is God's thing. So how we know, love, and serve Him is up to Him. Makes sense, I think. I am fascinated at how often I hear people say something to the effect of: "I think of God as my friend because that is how I best connect with God." Once when I was with a friend snow shoeing in the mountains he said to me, "Here is where I know God" [paraphrase]. This type of thinking is a TRAGEDY OF AMERICAN RELIGION. So we want people to know, love, and serve God but in God's way, according to God's strategy. We do not know God in just whatever way we want; we do not love God in just any way that we please; and we certainly do not serve God according to personal opinion or cultural norms. So how then?
Gospel, Community, Mission. These are three of the most important concepts in the New Testament. These three, like KnowLoveServe are a logical sequence and so reveal the strategy of Trinity Life Church's vision to Know God, Love God, and Serve God. In the books of Acts we see that the rythm of apostolic ministry is 1) the preaching of the Gospel; out of the preaching of the Gospel a 2) Community of faith is created; out of the community of faith believers are 3) sent out on Mission to repeat the cycle of preaching the Gospel.
So you can see that in preaching the Gospel, people came to Know God; in Knowing God in the Gospel the people gathered together in Community to Love God; in Loving God in Community believers went out and fulfilled the Mission of God by proclaiming the Gospel; in Serving God in the Mission believers repeated the cycle begun with the Gospel in their own lives by now being the ones proclaiming it! See how discipleship works now?
We want people to Know God in the Gospel because that is how God has revealed Himself; it is how He has chosen to be known; it is in perfect harmony with who God is. So we do not want people to know God as if it didn't include a bloody cross; a crazy pentecost; or a bodily resurrection. How has He revealed Himself? That is how we want to know Him. See John 1:9-14; Romans 3:21-26, 5:6-21; 2 Corinthians 5:19; 1 John 1:1-4
We want people to Love God in Community because that is how God Himself wants to be loved; because that is how God expresses love (Trinity - see post on Living the Life of God for the Life of the World); because that is where our love for God matures and expresses itself. See John 17:20-21; Acts 2:44-47; Ephesians 4:1-16; *Hebrews 10:19-25; 1 John 1:3; 3:16-19
We want people to Serve God in the Mission because that is what God has called us to do. We have been set apart as a people bent on God's mission to the world. So we do not serve God by whatever fancy we choose but by planting signposts of God's coming kingdom through Gospel witness and living. See Matthew 28:18-20; Corinthians 5:13-21; 1 Peter 2:5, 9-10
Our vision is that people Know God in the Gospel, Love God in Community, and Serve God in the Mission. The first leads to the second and the second to the third. Getting to the third means that more people get to Know God in the Gospel and so on. So it is our vision, our process, and our strategy.
Everything we do will revolve around these three components. Even our services will move accordingly: Sunday service will be a proclamation & celebration of the Gospel where people increase in their knowledge of God. Community groups will be where authentic relationships are formed and the life of faith and struggle is shared; where the gifts of the believers are employed to build up the church. Outside of normal living relationships the mission of God will be fullfilled in some arrangement of participating in spreading the Gospel accross the city of Macon. Community Groups and Service are not required of anyone. The idea is that as people come to know God in the Gospel we will urge them to grow in their love by joing a community group; the third step of their maturity is to engage in intentional outreach to the unbelieving world.
In my last post I said that if we do not serve God it is because we do not love God, and if we do not love God it is because we do not know God. We love God when we truly know who He is and what He has done for us. When we love God we cannot help but to serve Him. That is the Logic of Salvation. God moves toward us in love and reveals Himself to us. Only then can we begin to be what He has called us to be.
There is a catch, however. We cannot know, love, and serve God in just whatever way we want. This is God's thing. So how we know, love, and serve Him is up to Him. Makes sense, I think. I am fascinated at how often I hear people say something to the effect of: "I think of God as my friend because that is how I best connect with God." Once when I was with a friend snow shoeing in the mountains he said to me, "Here is where I know God" [paraphrase]. This type of thinking is a TRAGEDY OF AMERICAN RELIGION. So we want people to know, love, and serve God but in God's way, according to God's strategy. We do not know God in just whatever way we want; we do not love God in just any way that we please; and we certainly do not serve God according to personal opinion or cultural norms. So how then?
Gospel, Community, Mission. These are three of the most important concepts in the New Testament. These three, like KnowLoveServe are a logical sequence and so reveal the strategy of Trinity Life Church's vision to Know God, Love God, and Serve God. In the books of Acts we see that the rythm of apostolic ministry is 1) the preaching of the Gospel; out of the preaching of the Gospel a 2) Community of faith is created; out of the community of faith believers are 3) sent out on Mission to repeat the cycle of preaching the Gospel.
So you can see that in preaching the Gospel, people came to Know God; in Knowing God in the Gospel the people gathered together in Community to Love God; in Loving God in Community believers went out and fulfilled the Mission of God by proclaiming the Gospel; in Serving God in the Mission believers repeated the cycle begun with the Gospel in their own lives by now being the ones proclaiming it! See how discipleship works now?
We want people to Know God in the Gospel because that is how God has revealed Himself; it is how He has chosen to be known; it is in perfect harmony with who God is. So we do not want people to know God as if it didn't include a bloody cross; a crazy pentecost; or a bodily resurrection. How has He revealed Himself? That is how we want to know Him. See John 1:9-14; Romans 3:21-26, 5:6-21; 2 Corinthians 5:19; 1 John 1:1-4
We want people to Love God in Community because that is how God Himself wants to be loved; because that is how God expresses love (Trinity - see post on Living the Life of God for the Life of the World); because that is where our love for God matures and expresses itself. See John 17:20-21; Acts 2:44-47; Ephesians 4:1-16; *Hebrews 10:19-25; 1 John 1:3; 3:16-19
We want people to Serve God in the Mission because that is what God has called us to do. We have been set apart as a people bent on God's mission to the world. So we do not serve God by whatever fancy we choose but by planting signposts of God's coming kingdom through Gospel witness and living. See Matthew 28:18-20; Corinthians 5:13-21; 1 Peter 2:5, 9-10
Our vision is that people Know God in the Gospel, Love God in Community, and Serve God in the Mission. The first leads to the second and the second to the third. Getting to the third means that more people get to Know God in the Gospel and so on. So it is our vision, our process, and our strategy.
Everything we do will revolve around these three components. Even our services will move accordingly: Sunday service will be a proclamation & celebration of the Gospel where people increase in their knowledge of God. Community groups will be where authentic relationships are formed and the life of faith and struggle is shared; where the gifts of the believers are employed to build up the church. Outside of normal living relationships the mission of God will be fullfilled in some arrangement of participating in spreading the Gospel accross the city of Macon. Community Groups and Service are not required of anyone. The idea is that as people come to know God in the Gospel we will urge them to grow in their love by joing a community group; the third step of their maturity is to engage in intentional outreach to the unbelieving world.
Saturday, July 9, 2011
How will we move people into a closer relationship with God?
Trinity Life Church - Living the Life of God for the Life of the World
But how?
The process of helping people grow into a more mature relationship with Jesus is what disicipleship is all about. How will we do it?
Answer: Know God, Love God, Serve God
Sound too simple? It is. These three steps must go in the same order they are stated. If you are going to serve God, then you will have to love Him. No one can serve God rightly if they do not do it out of love for Him. Do you know what friends you enjoy serving the most? It is the ones whom you love the most.
Think of the weight that is lifted off of your back when you think about serving out pure love rather than out of pure duty or fear. 1 John 4:18 states, "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and he who fears is not perfected in love." This is how God wants you to serve Him.
Some of you may be thinking, "Crap! I don't love God! Now I'm really in for it!" or "If I don't love God, then what? Can I make myself love God?"
Answer: If you are going to love God, then you must know God. No one just loves God. We love Him instead because of who He is and what He has done. 1 John 4:19 states, "We love, because God first loved us." It is only when really come to know God's love for us that we in return love Him and hence serve Him out of love. "So we know and believe the love which God has for us" (1 John 4:16).
Trinity Life Church will disciple people by helping them to Know God out of which they come to Love God out of which they are able to joyfully Serve God. We do not serve God because we do not love God. We do not love God because we do not know God.
But how?
The process of helping people grow into a more mature relationship with Jesus is what disicipleship is all about. How will we do it?
Answer: Know God, Love God, Serve God
Sound too simple? It is. These three steps must go in the same order they are stated. If you are going to serve God, then you will have to love Him. No one can serve God rightly if they do not do it out of love for Him. Do you know what friends you enjoy serving the most? It is the ones whom you love the most.
Think of the weight that is lifted off of your back when you think about serving out pure love rather than out of pure duty or fear. 1 John 4:18 states, "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and he who fears is not perfected in love." This is how God wants you to serve Him.
Some of you may be thinking, "Crap! I don't love God! Now I'm really in for it!" or "If I don't love God, then what? Can I make myself love God?"
Answer: If you are going to love God, then you must know God. No one just loves God. We love Him instead because of who He is and what He has done. 1 John 4:19 states, "We love, because God first loved us." It is only when really come to know God's love for us that we in return love Him and hence serve Him out of love. "So we know and believe the love which God has for us" (1 John 4:16).
Trinity Life Church will disciple people by helping them to Know God out of which they come to Love God out of which they are able to joyfully Serve God. We do not serve God because we do not love God. We do not love God because we do not know God.
"Living the Life of God for the Life of the World" - What does THAT mean?
1) Tag line: Living the Life of God for the Life of the World - Uh, do what?
I grew up in the holiness tradition where being holy was preached and valued. I still preach it and value it but it has its dangers if it is not grounded in the mission of God.
In the last post I mentioned that we are "Trinity Life Church" because we want to live a life together that models the life of God, and the life of God is the eternal love of the persons of the Trinity. But what does it mean to life like this for the life of the world?
Answer: it means that instead of sharing life together as an end in itself, we share life together so that we might go back into a dead world to breathe into it new life.
The life of God is perfect love and holiness, but the life of the world is pale, deteriorated, and deflated. In other words, the world is not alive at all, but dead. Out of God's eternal triune love comes life. He opens up his creativity and wills to create. He loves creating! He loves creation! He loves the potential! God's love is not a selfish love!
The danger is to live in community together, sharing the life of faith together without ever reaching out to the lost and dying and broken world in own back yards. Like God, we live in constant communion with each other but like God we also find delight in bringing life to the dead world around us by sharing the love of Jesus with others.
At the heart of Trinity Life Church will be missions, both local and international.
I grew up in the holiness tradition where being holy was preached and valued. I still preach it and value it but it has its dangers if it is not grounded in the mission of God.
In the last post I mentioned that we are "Trinity Life Church" because we want to live a life together that models the life of God, and the life of God is the eternal love of the persons of the Trinity. But what does it mean to life like this for the life of the world?
Answer: it means that instead of sharing life together as an end in itself, we share life together so that we might go back into a dead world to breathe into it new life.
The life of God is perfect love and holiness, but the life of the world is pale, deteriorated, and deflated. In other words, the world is not alive at all, but dead. Out of God's eternal triune love comes life. He opens up his creativity and wills to create. He loves creating! He loves creation! He loves the potential! God's love is not a selfish love!
The danger is to live in community together, sharing the life of faith together without ever reaching out to the lost and dying and broken world in own back yards. Like God, we live in constant communion with each other but like God we also find delight in bringing life to the dead world around us by sharing the love of Jesus with others.
At the heart of Trinity Life Church will be missions, both local and international.
Trinity Life Church ... What's the big idea behind the title?
I thought it would be helpful to lay out for some of you what Trinity Life Church will be about. I'll do this in several different posts starting with this one.
1) Why the name "Trinity Life Church"?
First, In 1 John 4:16 we read that "God is love". But how is it that God is love? Love is a relational term and if God is the only one who existed before the world was created then how could he be love since there was nothing else to love?
Answer: God is love because God is the three persons of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit who love and honor each other from all eternity. Hence, Trinity Life Church.
Second, In 1 John 4:9 we read that "In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him."
Answer: It is out of God's eternal love that life comes to be and that life is reclaimed. Hence, Trinity Life Church. Because God is love (b/c he is trinity) the world has life.
Third, In 1 John 4:7-8 we read that "Beloved, let us love one antoher; for love is of God, and he who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God; for God is love." So not only is God love but we are to model that love. How are we to model it?
Answer: We model God's love by loving the way God does - in community. When we love each other in community we are living like God does in the three persons of the Trinity. That is why we cannot help but love others in community if it is true that we abide in God. When we love in this way, it brings new life. Hence, Trinity Life Church.
We want to be a Church that models the life of the Trinity by being a community of love that results in giving life. So not only do we love the truth that from the Trinity comes life but we also want to live as a model of that eternal love that brings life.
1) Why the name "Trinity Life Church"?
First, In 1 John 4:16 we read that "God is love". But how is it that God is love? Love is a relational term and if God is the only one who existed before the world was created then how could he be love since there was nothing else to love?
Answer: God is love because God is the three persons of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit who love and honor each other from all eternity. Hence, Trinity Life Church.
Second, In 1 John 4:9 we read that "In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him."
Answer: It is out of God's eternal love that life comes to be and that life is reclaimed. Hence, Trinity Life Church. Because God is love (b/c he is trinity) the world has life.
Third, In 1 John 4:7-8 we read that "Beloved, let us love one antoher; for love is of God, and he who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God; for God is love." So not only is God love but we are to model that love. How are we to model it?
Answer: We model God's love by loving the way God does - in community. When we love each other in community we are living like God does in the three persons of the Trinity. That is why we cannot help but love others in community if it is true that we abide in God. When we love in this way, it brings new life. Hence, Trinity Life Church.
We want to be a Church that models the life of the Trinity by being a community of love that results in giving life. So not only do we love the truth that from the Trinity comes life but we also want to live as a model of that eternal love that brings life.
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Who is God? What is Church?
We beleive in one God the Father, Almighty Maker of heaven and of earth We believe in one Lord Jesus Christ through whom all things were made...
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of Life...
It has been my experience that the typical evangelical complaints of church members typically revolve around one of these three weakness. "My church doesn't teach [lacking in the component of truth] enough?" "My church is cold and legalistic [lacking in the Spirit component]." "My church is inward and doesn't do any missional work [lacking in the Deed or Missional component]."
I want to make clear that this does not mean that the complaints are justified. Sometimes a church is following these three principles faithfully and Scripturally regardless of their disgruntled members. However, where there is a genuine weakness, it usually revolves around one of these three. It is not always intentional but to be aware of these three components is to be on a right track towards wholeness. I challenge you to number in order which of these is strongest in your local church and which is weakest. What has been the effect? What are you missing because of this weakness? Which of these are you most comfortable with and which are you least comfortable with?
For any die hards out there, here is another chart that helps reveal what happens to our local churches when we get out of balance with regard to Spirit, Truth, and Deed.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of Life...
We believe in one holy, catholic, and apostolic church...
Nicene Creed AD 325
Who is God? God is Triune. Simply put (as if that were possible with the case in point), there is one God that is three Persons. The Persons are not merely different manifestations of God, but the makeup of God. And yet, the Persons are not three individual beings that inhabit the same space as if there were three Gods. Rather, the three Persons in and through each other (historically called "perichoresis") constitute God, but not in such a way that the distinctions of the Persons are lost. If you are not used to this language, it can be a bit confusing. One illustration of this is found in the Trinity Shield.
Each Person of the Trinity has some primary function in Creation. The Father makes the heavens and the earth but it is through the Son that all things are made (cf. John 1:1-5) and it is the Spirit who is the Lord and giver of life. The early church understood this as meaning that things are created by the Will of the Father, the Wisdom of the Son, and the Power of the Holy Spirit. Look at this way:
Each Person of the Trinity has some primary function in Creation. The Father makes the heavens and the earth but it is through the Son that all things are made (cf. John 1:1-5) and it is the Spirit who is the Lord and giver of life. The early church understood this as meaning that things are created by the Will of the Father, the Wisdom of the Son, and the Power of the Holy Spirit. Look at this way:Without each of these three being present, creation is hardly possible. Imagine that there is something that you are going to do with your life. Let's just say that you are going to "create" your life. In this case, you have the vision of what it looks like (wisdom), the freedom of choice and resources to make it happen (power), and you want to do it (will). Power and will without wisdom will result in chaos; power and wisdom without will means that I don't care to do it; will and wisdom without power means that I cannot do what I want. All three are necessary.
What has this to do with the Church? There is only "one" church (see Ephesians 4:4) made up of three components (holy, catholic, apostolic) just as there is only "one" God constituted by three persons.
1. To be holy means to be "set apart" but in the context of Scripture it means to be set a part for the mission of God. Are you a part of the Church? Then you and I have been set apart for God's mission in the world.
2. To be catholic is to be universal as opposed to local, meaning that the Church is not a small assembly in Macon, GA but all believers everywhere at all times created by the Spirit (see Ephesians 2:18-22 where it is by the Spirit that local churches are plugged into God's universal church). It is the Spirit that makes us Catholic. Are you a believer? Then you and I are a part of the same Catholic Church by the power of the Spirit.
3. To be apostolic means that the Church is based on the teaching and authority of the Apostles as recorded in the Scriptures. Are you in the Church? Then you and I base our practices and beliefs on the authority of the apostolic Scriptures.
Will, Power, Wisdom. The One Church is created y the will, power, and wisdom of God and it in returnreflects these attributes in the marks of the Chruch as holy, catholic, and apostolic. Notice that the apostolicity of the church looks a lot like the wisdom of the Son (truth being the common ground). Notice that the Catholicity of the church is a direct product of the power of the Holy Spirit. Finally, the holiness of the church is the Father's will being carried out in the mission of the church. The One Church is created by the will, power, and wisdom of God and it in return reflects these attributes in the marks of the church as holy (will of the Father in the purposes of the church), catholic (power of the Spirit in the creation of the Church), and apostolic (wisdom of God in the teaching of the apostles). So we are to worship God in Spirit and in Truth (Jn 3:23) and we are to love in Deed and in Truth (1 Jn 3:18). Do you see the overlap in terminology? Apostolic/Truth/Wisdom/Teaching - Catholic/Spirit/Power - Holy [set apart]/Will/Mission/Deed
Will, Power, Wisdom. The One Church is created y the will, power, and wisdom of God and it in returnreflects these attributes in the marks of the Chruch as holy, catholic, and apostolic. Notice that the apostolicity of the church looks a lot like the wisdom of the Son (truth being the common ground). Notice that the Catholicity of the church is a direct product of the power of the Holy Spirit. Finally, the holiness of the church is the Father's will being carried out in the mission of the church. The One Church is created by the will, power, and wisdom of God and it in return reflects these attributes in the marks of the church as holy (will of the Father in the purposes of the church), catholic (power of the Spirit in the creation of the Church), and apostolic (wisdom of God in the teaching of the apostles). So we are to worship God in Spirit and in Truth (Jn 3:23) and we are to love in Deed and in Truth (1 Jn 3:18). Do you see the overlap in terminology? Apostolic/Truth/Wisdom/Teaching - Catholic/Spirit/Power - Holy [set apart]/Will/Mission/Deed
Suppose we do an experiment now. Does your local assembly as a part of the Universal Church have these three marks?
It has been my experience that the typical evangelical complaints of church members typically revolve around one of these three weakness. "My church doesn't teach [lacking in the component of truth] enough?" "My church is cold and legalistic [lacking in the Spirit component]." "My church is inward and doesn't do any missional work [lacking in the Deed or Missional component]."I want to make clear that this does not mean that the complaints are justified. Sometimes a church is following these three principles faithfully and Scripturally regardless of their disgruntled members. However, where there is a genuine weakness, it usually revolves around one of these three. It is not always intentional but to be aware of these three components is to be on a right track towards wholeness. I challenge you to number in order which of these is strongest in your local church and which is weakest. What has been the effect? What are you missing because of this weakness? Which of these are you most comfortable with and which are you least comfortable with?
For any die hards out there, here is another chart that helps reveal what happens to our local churches when we get out of balance with regard to Spirit, Truth, and Deed.
Saturday, May 28, 2011
"But what about weird or stupid people?"
"I am under obligation both to the Greeks and to the barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish: so I am eager to preach the gospel to you also ...." Roman 1:13-14 RSV
OUCH! Imagine it, "I have to share Jesus with stupid people, so I hope to come to a town near you!" (I am curious whether you thought of yourself as the subject or object of the title.)
OUCH! Imagine it, "I have to share Jesus with stupid people, so I hope to come to a town near you!" (I am curious whether you thought of yourself as the subject or object of the title.)
Several days ago I was speaking to a very nice Christian person (let's call him BOB) who simply could not imagine having "those" kind of people (weird, stupid) in his house. Not long into the conversation he mentioned those people in his church who thought they were too good for my friend. Notice a trend? If I am smarter (or whatever term you want to use) than you, then you are beneath me. If you are smarter (or whatever) than me, then you are snooty. Hmmm.
This reminds me of the man who went to the doctor with pain all over his body. Everywhere he touced himself with his finger he hurt. The doctor informed him that his finger was broken.
I said in the last post that my vision for Macon, GA is God's vision (for everyone to love Jesus) applied to a particular place, working itself outward in a concentric fashion. Here I want to talk about my vision for God's church (partially).
First, normal people usually meet Jesus through relationships with normal people. This could be through family, co-workers, teachers, friends, etc.
Second, this does not mean that we all get together one Saturday a month and do Evangelism in the streets or parking lots.
Third, this means that people who love Jesus have more leverage in the culture for God's kingdom than is usually assumed by either pastors or congregants.
Two objections need to be answered. First, "Is evangelism for normal people? Isn't that why we hire pastors?" Second, "How in the world can I do what I expect my pastor to do when I don't have any spare time?"
In order to answer the first question we need to look closely at Ephesians 4. "But grace was given to each one us according to the measure of Christ's gift. Therefore it is said, 'When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.' ... And his gifts were that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the sainst, for the work of ministry ... until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God," (Ephesians 4:7-13 RSV).
Usually, we think of these gifts as being relegated to ordained leadership, but the text seems to indicate that God gives everyone something of these gifts for doing ministry (no doubt governing and teaching authority is a separate issue, see 1 Timothy 2). Paul speaks of this totality in verses 15-16: "Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every joint with which it is supplied, when each part is working properly, makes bodily growth and upbuilds itself in love." So Paul wants every believer (every) to "speak the truth in love" whether through evangelism or teaching etc; whether this is within the believing or unbelieving community. Each part has a part. (If you are thinking that Paul was talking about the inner relationships of the church body alone, then what place has Evangelism in verse 11 or the coming to a knowledge of Jesus in verse 13?) Want to grow you community of faith? Then everyone must do their part.
Second, there is simply not enough time. We barely have any time for our families, much less for our unbelieving communities. I admit, this is a real issue, but that is because we have bifurcated our normal lives from our church lives. I want to suggest rearranging how we think about normal life. Let give you an illustration and several questions to ask yourself along with one principle.
What this chart reveals is our concentric spheres of influence. In each sphere I am presented with a web of interactive relationships which we might call Kingdom Opportunities. Some of these relationships are more frequent than others. In some you have a voice of authority (family) or influence (employer). In some less frequent (market) you have contact but not authority. In others you have voice but not authority (hobby). These are the normal webs of relationship in every day life.
So how do we leverage the relationships we already have? Here let me insert the principle of intentionality. Where you are not intentional for sharing Jesus then you will not share Jesus. I suggest sitting down and filling in this chart in the following way.
1) List who your family is, what your job is, what your hobbies are, and where you shop. Now transfer the what and where to who. Who is in your family, who are you co-workers, who are you hobby mates, and who works at where you shop.
2) In each of these categories ask yourself four questions: where do I have authority, where do I have voice, where do I have influence, and where do I have contact. How I evangelize in my family will be different than how I evangelize shopping. The one may mean changing the nature of the events I do with my family (rather than adding more) while the other may be changing how I speak to my cashier (rather than chasing her into the bathroom with a tract).
3) Now ask yourself how you can be more intentional in each of these categories to share Jesus. For example: don't be in such a hurry when you shop; instead of asking someone to accept Jesus all the time, just ask them if you can be praying for them; see inconveniences as opportunities (when they involve people); use the same cashier over time (begin to ask questions and form a history); shop in the same places;
4) Finally, learn what the Gospel is and how to speak it into people's lives. You don't have to be a genius: "Jesus loves you and so do I, can I be praying for you?"
What have stupid people to do with this? Well, we tend to "avoid" people who we think are either better or worse than us, which is ....umm...everyone. Erase your prejudices, look at your young pregnant, teenage cashier at Hobby Lobby as a person that Jesus loves. Look at that idiot with his pants around his ankles at the mall as someone Jesus loves. See that snooty rich person on the side of the road who can't change his own tire as someone that Jesus loves. Your brat of a child? You have voice and authority; add intentionality to your relationships and share Jesus (however little of it you have).
Friday, May 20, 2011
The Vision = God's desire + God's provision + God's calling
"This charge I commit to you . . . my son. ... I urge that supplications, prayers, and intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all men ... This is good, and it is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator ... who gave himself a ransom for all ...." 1 Timothy 1:18, 2:1-7 RSV
VISION: Whenever I interview for a ministry position I am asked, "What is your vision for the church?" For sake of clarity, let's distinguish between a vision for God's people and a vision for a particular place. So I have a vision for Macon (which I will enumerate in a moment) and a vision for those helping me to carry it out (the core group which I will enumerate in a separate post). For example, a football coach may have a vision for his team but he may also have a vision for his conference in which the team is a part (Remember the Titans is a good example).
What is my vision for Macon, GA? My vision is God's vision for the world applied to a particular place. That everyone in Macon, GA would be rescued from their sin, discipled, and sent out with a vision for everyone in GA to be rescued from their sin, discipled, and sent out with a vision for everyone in the South to be rescued from their sin, discipled, and sent out with a vision ..... You get the point right? Salvation, discipleship, mission in an ever expanding concentric wave to the ends of the earth.
Simple right? Not so much.
1. Let me answer three immediate objections. OBJ 1:Perhaps you are thinking to yourself: "but isn't that what churches are doing?" Yes. I love a lot of MAcon, GA churches inlcuding my two home churches (First Pres and First Evangelical). I am merely joining their ranks with the recognition that there are people groups (a lot of them) that are not being rubbed up against with the Gospel except from a distance. (I will explain in the next post how some new understandings in missions should be effecting how churches engage the unreached.)
GOD'S DESIRE
OBJ 2: Perhaps you are thinking to yourself: "Are you saying that God will save everyone?" No. I am saying that God wants everyone to be saved. If this is God's heart, then it should be our heart too. "Intercession for all men could be justified only on the ground of God's willingness to save all" (Guthrie). We want to be sure that everyone has the most hopeful opportunity of being exposed to the heart of the Gospel. Simply knowing about it is not enough.
OBJ 3: Perhaps you are thinking to yourself: "But Jesus and Paul did not try to save every individual in their path or in the world. Jesus concentrated on 12 disciples, Paul on several cities. Are you not then going beyond the scope of the Bible?" No. Jesus chose the 12 as an exponential strategy as did Paul with the cities of Antioch & Rome. The hope is that in concentrating on certain strategic individuals and cities the message of Christianity would spread exponentially. Why a city? Culture always flows from the city to the country. Save the city, you get the country also. Save the country, and you may never get the city.
This exponential strategy is true for Jesus' choice of the 12 as well. When Jesus ascended, having concentrated his ministry on discipling the 12 he sends the 12 out in the following manner: "Go therefore and make desciples of all nations [Matthew 28:19] ... But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 2:8). Jesus focuses on the twelve with the intention of focusing in o
n all the nations in this concentric manner, working from their immediate context (Jerusalem) outward until the ends of the earth are reached.
Consider also the election of Israel. God forms the nations of Israel from scratch and plants them in the most culturally influential section in the ancient near east. Trade and culture flowed through Israel to the rest of the world.
The point I am making is that just because God elected Israel does not mean that God did not care about the rest of the world knowing him (cf. Isaiah 19:16-25). Just because Jesus chose the twelve does not mean that He did not care about discipling everyone else. Just because Paul concentrated on certain cities, does not mean he did not care to reach the rural villages. Instead, it is just the opposite. Israel is formed, the 12 are discipled, and the cities are reached strategically to reach the whole world. Is God slow? Not at all. He is "patient, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance" (2 Peter 3:9).
GOD'S PROVISION
2. Not only is it God's will for everyone to be rescued, but He has made provision for it through the universal ransom of Jesus: "For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all" (1 Timothy 2:5 RSV; cf. 1 John 2:2). "While we were yet helpless...Christ died for [in behalf of] the ungodly" (Romans 5:6 RSV) so that "just as one man's trespass [adam] led to condemnation for all men, so one man's act [Jesus] of righteousness leads to acquittal and life for all men" (Romans 5:18 RSV).
Why are not all men therefore saved? Because they must unite themselves to Jesus by trusting in Jesus' own work rather then their own. "Why [did Israel not get it]? Because they did not pursue it [righteousness] through faith, but as if it were based on works" (Romans 9:32 RSV). But does this mean they cannot be rescued who have depended on works rather than on Jesus' faithfulness? "And even others, if they do not persist in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again" (Romans 11:23 RSV).
So God desires all people to be rescued, he has provided for their ransom through Christ Jesus, but they must trust in Christ in order to activate God's ransom for them. Nevertheless, even when they fail to do this, they are not beyond recovery. Therefore we do not give up.
GOD'S CALLING
3. God's desire and provision (the Gospel essentially) are worked out in the world through his call. "Paul ... called to be an apostle ... to bring about the obedience of faith ... including yourselves who are called to be holy .... your faith is being proclaimed in all the world" (Romans 1:1, 5, 6). God's church is his missionary to the world (more on this later).
For me, God's calling is the application of God's desire and provision to the city of Macon. God wants every maconite to be rescued through the ransom of Jesus through the witness of his people. Then he wants to disciple them as his people so that they can in turn be a witness for every Georgian. Simple right? My vision is not based on doing church better than someone else. God has set the vision, God has given provision, God has announced his call. Equally, just because I imagine all of Macon worshipping Jesus does not mean that I focus on every maconite. Rather, I (we) focus strategically like Jesus and Paul. How this works itself out is the goal of my next post.
V=Gd & Gp & Gc
VISION: Whenever I interview for a ministry position I am asked, "What is your vision for the church?" For sake of clarity, let's distinguish between a vision for God's people and a vision for a particular place. So I have a vision for Macon (which I will enumerate in a moment) and a vision for those helping me to carry it out (the core group which I will enumerate in a separate post). For example, a football coach may have a vision for his team but he may also have a vision for his conference in which the team is a part (Remember the Titans is a good example).
What is my vision for Macon, GA? My vision is God's vision for the world applied to a particular place. That everyone in Macon, GA would be rescued from their sin, discipled, and sent out with a vision for everyone in GA to be rescued from their sin, discipled, and sent out with a vision for everyone in the South to be rescued from their sin, discipled, and sent out with a vision ..... You get the point right? Salvation, discipleship, mission in an ever expanding concentric wave to the ends of the earth.
Simple right? Not so much.
1. Let me answer three immediate objections. OBJ 1:Perhaps you are thinking to yourself: "but isn't that what churches are doing?" Yes. I love a lot of MAcon, GA churches inlcuding my two home churches (First Pres and First Evangelical). I am merely joining their ranks with the recognition that there are people groups (a lot of them) that are not being rubbed up against with the Gospel except from a distance. (I will explain in the next post how some new understandings in missions should be effecting how churches engage the unreached.)
GOD'S DESIRE
OBJ 2: Perhaps you are thinking to yourself: "Are you saying that God will save everyone?" No. I am saying that God wants everyone to be saved. If this is God's heart, then it should be our heart too. "Intercession for all men could be justified only on the ground of God's willingness to save all" (Guthrie). We want to be sure that everyone has the most hopeful opportunity of being exposed to the heart of the Gospel. Simply knowing about it is not enough.
OBJ 3: Perhaps you are thinking to yourself: "But Jesus and Paul did not try to save every individual in their path or in the world. Jesus concentrated on 12 disciples, Paul on several cities. Are you not then going beyond the scope of the Bible?" No. Jesus chose the 12 as an exponential strategy as did Paul with the cities of Antioch & Rome. The hope is that in concentrating on certain strategic individuals and cities the message of Christianity would spread exponentially. Why a city? Culture always flows from the city to the country. Save the city, you get the country also. Save the country, and you may never get the city.
This exponential strategy is true for Jesus' choice of the 12 as well. When Jesus ascended, having concentrated his ministry on discipling the 12 he sends the 12 out in the following manner: "Go therefore and make desciples of all nations [Matthew 28:19] ... But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 2:8). Jesus focuses on the twelve with the intention of focusing in o
n all the nations in this concentric manner, working from their immediate context (Jerusalem) outward until the ends of the earth are reached.Consider also the election of Israel. God forms the nations of Israel from scratch and plants them in the most culturally influential section in the ancient near east. Trade and culture flowed through Israel to the rest of the world.
The point I am making is that just because God elected Israel does not mean that God did not care about the rest of the world knowing him (cf. Isaiah 19:16-25). Just because Jesus chose the twelve does not mean that He did not care about discipling everyone else. Just because Paul concentrated on certain cities, does not mean he did not care to reach the rural villages. Instead, it is just the opposite. Israel is formed, the 12 are discipled, and the cities are reached strategically to reach the whole world. Is God slow? Not at all. He is "patient, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance" (2 Peter 3:9).
GOD'S PROVISION
2. Not only is it God's will for everyone to be rescued, but He has made provision for it through the universal ransom of Jesus: "For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all" (1 Timothy 2:5 RSV; cf. 1 John 2:2). "While we were yet helpless...Christ died for [in behalf of] the ungodly" (Romans 5:6 RSV) so that "just as one man's trespass [adam] led to condemnation for all men, so one man's act [Jesus] of righteousness leads to acquittal and life for all men" (Romans 5:18 RSV).
Why are not all men therefore saved? Because they must unite themselves to Jesus by trusting in Jesus' own work rather then their own. "Why [did Israel not get it]? Because they did not pursue it [righteousness] through faith, but as if it were based on works" (Romans 9:32 RSV). But does this mean they cannot be rescued who have depended on works rather than on Jesus' faithfulness? "And even others, if they do not persist in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again" (Romans 11:23 RSV).
So God desires all people to be rescued, he has provided for their ransom through Christ Jesus, but they must trust in Christ in order to activate God's ransom for them. Nevertheless, even when they fail to do this, they are not beyond recovery. Therefore we do not give up.
GOD'S CALLING
3. God's desire and provision (the Gospel essentially) are worked out in the world through his call. "Paul ... called to be an apostle ... to bring about the obedience of faith ... including yourselves who are called to be holy .... your faith is being proclaimed in all the world" (Romans 1:1, 5, 6). God's church is his missionary to the world (more on this later).
For me, God's calling is the application of God's desire and provision to the city of Macon. God wants every maconite to be rescued through the ransom of Jesus through the witness of his people. Then he wants to disciple them as his people so that they can in turn be a witness for every Georgian. Simple right? My vision is not based on doing church better than someone else. God has set the vision, God has given provision, God has announced his call. Equally, just because I imagine all of Macon worshipping Jesus does not mean that I focus on every maconite. Rather, I (we) focus strategically like Jesus and Paul. How this works itself out is the goal of my next post.
V=Gd & Gp & Gc
Monday, May 16, 2011
"REALLY Lord? Anything but that."
"Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah ... saying, 'Arise, go to Nineveh' ... But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish ... But the Lord hurled a great wind .... Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the belly of the fish ... and the Lord spoke to the fish and it vomited out Jonah" RSV
You know how it goes, right? "Just don't send me to....." And then he sends you there! One of the most difficult things in the last 6 years has been the waiting. "What am I supposed to be doing with my life Lord?" Only recently have my eyes been opened to God's work in the past and his calling in the present, but I did not welcome it at first.
For many years the longing to be in ministry has been met with constant confusion and a lack of outward confirmation (no one wanted my ministry). At one time I had a wide array of opportunities for doing ministry including starting a youth group, preaching revivals, working as co-director at a Christian camp, and doing youth ministry full time. Suddenly it all stopped. No opportunities, no one impressed. I think this was the hardest of all. I was so familiar with praise and a false sense of my own abilities and holiness that when God removed his blessing I was in total shock. I am in shock. In fact, I sometimes wonder if I am not kidding myself even now!
So what makes me think that I am called now to this work? Several things have been pointing in this direction for a long time. It started with my call to ministry when I was 18 (2000). I had been preaching revivals and doing ministry in my local town of Dekalb, MS. The Lord was granting much fruit and I understood that he was calling me out to do his work which I began to do. In 2002, the summer before I got married to my hot wife Julie, I was in my last class at Vennard College with Tim Roehl (co-author of TransforMissional Coaching) going through a MAPS assessment process. At its conclusion Tim asked me, "Kenny, why are you not planting a church?" Uh....
I was already on my way to Westcliffe, CO to be a youth pastor for two of the most influential men in my life - was I really going to change course? That comment planted a seed in my heart that would not rise again for several years. After three years of youth work I was sore at heart, young and immature but wanting to do something fresh. My wife and I and our two children moved back to Macon, GA where Julie had grown up. Several times we tried to move back to Colorado, once to Mississippi, and other places beside. Every time I tried to leave, the door was shut in my face. States Julie, "You're predestined for Macon." .....
After three years in Macon my seminary professor Matt Friedemann (syndicated radio talkshow host and author) pointed his obnoxious finger at me in class saying, "Kenny Johnston! Plant a church!" ....
Several months later I was really considering this possibility but the thought scared me significantly. During a rather serious week of considering a church plant I was surprised to have lunch at my in-law's house with a man named David Nicholas (co-founder with Mark Driscoll of Acts 29 church planting ministries)..... The timing was "uncanny" (wife quote). I was able to ask many questions and Dr. Nicholas gave me leave with a pamphlet on Calvinism that he authored saying to me, "let's get your theology right first." (Dr. Nicholas recently went home to be with the Lord)
Months went by and my fear kept me from pursuing it further. Planting is hard, risky, and not financially secure. As I pursued every possible avenue I was denied one time after another. Being asked to take an assessment I was found to be an ENTZ, which meant that I should be a teacher, CEO, Lawyer, or Dictator, but it also meant I was a perfect personality type for church planting....
Not long after I sat down with a District Superintendent of the Nazerence church who told me that I sounded like a church planter. His advice: "Find your calling, b/c it will keep you when all else will not." At his words I felt that the Lord was saying, "Yep, I'm calling you to plant a church." In my heart, I said okay. Two days later I was at a church in Columbus, GA called Christ Community Church. Sitting at the table a nice lady introduced me to her husband the Pastor. Asking me where I was from he stated, "Oh, we've been praying for several years now for someone to plant a church for us in Macon."......
And so it has been. These outward confirmations have been met with a deepseated peace along with a large amount of fear and trembling at what lies ahead. I won't lie, it scares me to death. What if I fail?
The years of waiting for clarity were necessitated by my own stubbornness of heart and the need to mature as a Christian, husband, father, and minister. My marriage had needs; my ego was far too inflated; and I had much to learn about "church". There were people whom I had to ask forgiveness for self-righteousness. Though I am still in need of God's grace in all these areas, yet he has been faithful to heal a multitude of sins. And there is still a lot to be done: prayer, formation of a team :) and training.
You know how it goes, right? "Just don't send me to....." And then he sends you there! One of the most difficult things in the last 6 years has been the waiting. "What am I supposed to be doing with my life Lord?" Only recently have my eyes been opened to God's work in the past and his calling in the present, but I did not welcome it at first.
For many years the longing to be in ministry has been met with constant confusion and a lack of outward confirmation (no one wanted my ministry). At one time I had a wide array of opportunities for doing ministry including starting a youth group, preaching revivals, working as co-director at a Christian camp, and doing youth ministry full time. Suddenly it all stopped. No opportunities, no one impressed. I think this was the hardest of all. I was so familiar with praise and a false sense of my own abilities and holiness that when God removed his blessing I was in total shock. I am in shock. In fact, I sometimes wonder if I am not kidding myself even now!
So what makes me think that I am called now to this work? Several things have been pointing in this direction for a long time. It started with my call to ministry when I was 18 (2000). I had been preaching revivals and doing ministry in my local town of Dekalb, MS. The Lord was granting much fruit and I understood that he was calling me out to do his work which I began to do. In 2002, the summer before I got married to my hot wife Julie, I was in my last class at Vennard College with Tim Roehl (co-author of TransforMissional Coaching) going through a MAPS assessment process. At its conclusion Tim asked me, "Kenny, why are you not planting a church?" Uh....
I was already on my way to Westcliffe, CO to be a youth pastor for two of the most influential men in my life - was I really going to change course? That comment planted a seed in my heart that would not rise again for several years. After three years of youth work I was sore at heart, young and immature but wanting to do something fresh. My wife and I and our two children moved back to Macon, GA where Julie had grown up. Several times we tried to move back to Colorado, once to Mississippi, and other places beside. Every time I tried to leave, the door was shut in my face. States Julie, "You're predestined for Macon." .....
After three years in Macon my seminary professor Matt Friedemann (syndicated radio talkshow host and author) pointed his obnoxious finger at me in class saying, "Kenny Johnston! Plant a church!" ....
Several months later I was really considering this possibility but the thought scared me significantly. During a rather serious week of considering a church plant I was surprised to have lunch at my in-law's house with a man named David Nicholas (co-founder with Mark Driscoll of Acts 29 church planting ministries)..... The timing was "uncanny" (wife quote). I was able to ask many questions and Dr. Nicholas gave me leave with a pamphlet on Calvinism that he authored saying to me, "let's get your theology right first." (Dr. Nicholas recently went home to be with the Lord)
Months went by and my fear kept me from pursuing it further. Planting is hard, risky, and not financially secure. As I pursued every possible avenue I was denied one time after another. Being asked to take an assessment I was found to be an ENTZ, which meant that I should be a teacher, CEO, Lawyer, or Dictator, but it also meant I was a perfect personality type for church planting....
Not long after I sat down with a District Superintendent of the Nazerence church who told me that I sounded like a church planter. His advice: "Find your calling, b/c it will keep you when all else will not." At his words I felt that the Lord was saying, "Yep, I'm calling you to plant a church." In my heart, I said okay. Two days later I was at a church in Columbus, GA called Christ Community Church. Sitting at the table a nice lady introduced me to her husband the Pastor. Asking me where I was from he stated, "Oh, we've been praying for several years now for someone to plant a church for us in Macon."......
And so it has been. These outward confirmations have been met with a deepseated peace along with a large amount of fear and trembling at what lies ahead. I won't lie, it scares me to death. What if I fail?
The years of waiting for clarity were necessitated by my own stubbornness of heart and the need to mature as a Christian, husband, father, and minister. My marriage had needs; my ego was far too inflated; and I had much to learn about "church". There were people whom I had to ask forgiveness for self-righteousness. Though I am still in need of God's grace in all these areas, yet he has been faithful to heal a multitude of sins. And there is still a lot to be done: prayer, formation of a team :) and training.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Why plant a church?
"...thus making it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on another man's foundation, but as it is written, 'They shall see who have never been told of him, and they shall understand who have never heard of him'" Ro 15:20-21 RSV
During the last several years I have sensed the Lord calling me to plant a church in or around the Macon, Ga area. For some, this might seem extremely naive or merely reactionary. At the least it seems unnecessary in America generally and in Macon, Ga particularly. In Macon alone there are 98,000 people with 663 yellow page listings of churches. That means that there is a church for every 150 people in the city of macon. Why does Macon need another church? Why not simply beef up the churches that we have? Additionally, isn't America known for being "Christian"?
In launching this announcement of a church plant I want to justify it by offering a few statistics:
First, churches are declining. "Studies show that if a denomination wishes to reach more people, the number of new churches it begins each year must equal at least 3% of the denomination's existing churches. Based on this formula, mainline denominations are failing to plant enough churches to offset their decline." (easumbandy.com) Basically, we are dying out.
Second, new churches have a greater effect statistically than do already established or large churches. "On a per-capita basis, new churches win more people to Christ than established churches," (Stetzer, Planting Missional Churches 7) Ed Stetzer quotes Bruce McNichol's research:
* Churches under three years of age win an average of ten people to Christ per year for every hundred church members.
* Churches three to fifteen years of age win an average of five people per year for every hundred church members.
* Churches over fifteen years of age win an average of three people per year for every hundred church members.
Third, the ratio of churches to the American population is decreasing. The North American Mission Board released the following numbers:
* In 1900, there were 28 churches for every 10,000 Americans.
* In 1950, there were 17 churches for every 10,000 Americans.
* In 2000, there were 12 churches for every 10,000 Americans.
* In 2004, the latest year available, there are 11 churches for every 10,000 Americans.
"The number of churches increased just over 50 percent while the population of the country has almost quadrupled." (9). No doubt macon, GA is high on the charts (there are 66 churches for every 10,000 people in macon). However the question of a church planter is: "who is not being reached? Let's go there." And Macon has unreached people and people groups.
Fourth, 663 churches does not indicate growing churches or even healthy churches. Where these churches are healthy it is does not follow that they are missional or intentional on reaching the lost (of course one wonders then if it is healthy).
Finally, the Lord has set me apart for this work. How can I not obey the Lord? He has called me to it, how can I not go?
During the last several years I have sensed the Lord calling me to plant a church in or around the Macon, Ga area. For some, this might seem extremely naive or merely reactionary. At the least it seems unnecessary in America generally and in Macon, Ga particularly. In Macon alone there are 98,000 people with 663 yellow page listings of churches. That means that there is a church for every 150 people in the city of macon. Why does Macon need another church? Why not simply beef up the churches that we have? Additionally, isn't America known for being "Christian"?
In launching this announcement of a church plant I want to justify it by offering a few statistics:
First, churches are declining. "Studies show that if a denomination wishes to reach more people, the number of new churches it begins each year must equal at least 3% of the denomination's existing churches. Based on this formula, mainline denominations are failing to plant enough churches to offset their decline." (easumbandy.com) Basically, we are dying out.
Second, new churches have a greater effect statistically than do already established or large churches. "On a per-capita basis, new churches win more people to Christ than established churches," (Stetzer, Planting Missional Churches 7) Ed Stetzer quotes Bruce McNichol's research:
* Churches under three years of age win an average of ten people to Christ per year for every hundred church members.
* Churches three to fifteen years of age win an average of five people per year for every hundred church members.
* Churches over fifteen years of age win an average of three people per year for every hundred church members.
Third, the ratio of churches to the American population is decreasing. The North American Mission Board released the following numbers:
* In 1900, there were 28 churches for every 10,000 Americans.
* In 1950, there were 17 churches for every 10,000 Americans.
* In 2000, there were 12 churches for every 10,000 Americans.
* In 2004, the latest year available, there are 11 churches for every 10,000 Americans.
"The number of churches increased just over 50 percent while the population of the country has almost quadrupled." (9). No doubt macon, GA is high on the charts (there are 66 churches for every 10,000 people in macon). However the question of a church planter is: "who is not being reached? Let's go there." And Macon has unreached people and people groups.
Fourth, 663 churches does not indicate growing churches or even healthy churches. Where these churches are healthy it is does not follow that they are missional or intentional on reaching the lost (of course one wonders then if it is healthy).
Finally, the Lord has set me apart for this work. How can I not obey the Lord? He has called me to it, how can I not go?
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)