THOUGHTS ON ‘THE WAY’

Acts 19 has been killing me lately.  The following story takes place in Acts 19:23-41, and reveals how ‘the Way’ was influencing the city of Ephesus.  So, for the next few posts, let’s embark on what it looks like to be a part of ‘the Way.’

Ephesus was a booming, vibrant, emerging city with several privileged and esteemed personalities. One of the most influential of these personalities was Demetrius, the CEO of a local blacksmith co-op. Demetrius’ company employed several skilled craftsmen, which means that this business provided a powerful reputation, a comfortable living, and I’m assuming, a more than a few fringe benefits. The entrepreneur leveraged his entire business on the production of quality material for the city’s largest attraction: the temple of the goddess Artimus. And business was good…

Until the Way began to emerge.

It seems that there was this grassroots movement which was infiltrating every fiber of the city’s existence, reputation, and structure. This movement was, of course, comprised of followers and believers of Jesus Christ, who were living their faith so passionately and boldly that their reputation began to be defined by their lifestyle. The Way was compromising and redefining everything.

Including Demetrius’ livelihood. Ever the market analyst, Demetrius’ assembled his skilled tradesmen together, a reactionary move to thwart the progress of the Way. It appears that when your business is the mass production of silver goddesses and her ornaments, it’s not good for business when there is a large following proclaiming that these relics are simply not what they claim to be. So in chapter 19 (vs23) of the book of Acts we come across this all-telling phrase: “Serious trouble developed in Ephesus concerning the Way.”

Side note to the story: I can’t help but be amazed that a powerful and prestigious business leader was concerned about a church. The Way was building momentum, and the city’s landscape was beginning to reflect that. The Way had undeniably come to town and set up shop.

Which makes me question: Are our churches really affecting our communities? We yell pretty loud, give some pretty convincing arguments, and picket a whole bunch of things. We knock on some doors, invite to VBS, and have a student ministry. But is the dynamic of our community and city changing because we’re gaining momentum and leveraging influence?

We’ve become really good at telling people what not to be, but are we teaching people who they are in Christ? Shouldn’t our churches should be causing radical grassroots uprising in our communities…not through picket lines, abrasive church signs, boycotts, or judgmental stances but rather through our radical pursuit of compassion, justice, and grace. Shouldn’t businesses, leaders, and dynamics that profit from the misguidance, misfortune, and mistreatment of fellow humans feel threatened by our message, lifestyle, and influence? The way of Jesus demands that “business as usual” not be “business as usual.”

Isn’t it true that we are often more concerned with our churches attendance and budget than we are with influencing our culture with this new, redefined way of living? Isn’t it sad that most of our churches teach a removal from culture rather than a leveraging of culture? Isn’t it humiliating that we hold up our traditions at the cost of reaching the next generations with the gospel of Jesus Christ? Isn’t it ridiculous that the church has become defined by our indifference? And doesn’t it suck that we don’t seem to really care all that much?

Maybe our churches are as in as much need for the Way as our culture is.

I digress. Back to Ephesus…

CATALYST BOUND

I’m somewhere in the Carolinas on my way to Atlanta for Catalyst (a conference for next generation leaders). I’m so amped for some ridiculous worship plus Andy Stanley, Francis Chan, Tony Dungee, and Louie Giglio (just to name a few)! I plan on blogging thoughts, quotes, and ideas…in essence taking you to the conference with me! Stay current with the conversation through this blog, or by following me on Twitter!

Let the re-blogging begin!

WHEN CHURCH BECOMES A DESTINATION

My friend, Adam Ellis, posted this quote from Brian McClaren on his facebook this morning: “What is the purpose of the church? [Is it] to enfold and warehouse Christians for heaven, protecting them from damage and spoilage until they reach their destination? Or to recruit and train people to be transforming agents of the kingdom of God in our culture? The missional church understands itself to be blessed not to the exclusion of the world, but for the benefit of the world.”

McClaren killed it with that truth. We have defiled the church’s true beauty and identity. We have made the church an entity, an enterprise, a social club, a gathering, a place….ultimately, a destination. I use “we” intentionally and not generically, because in my own life I have been a part of this abuse.

But “the church” is the body of Christ on this earth…it is the moving of His passion for His purpose, which is to be a seeker redeemer of all men and all women, not an aquarium for the saved. May we repent…may I repent…from turning the movement of heaven into a destination on earth.

Over the next couple of weeks I will be posting on some various things surrounding this question….”So, what is the church?” Would love your feedback!

SNIPETS FROM SUNDAY’S SERMON

If you’re a subscriber, and you’re getting multiple feeds from me today via email or facebook, I’m sorry about the mess.  Our student ministry is researching podcasting to launch this fall, and I’ve been toying around with how to best link or embed it on blogs and facebook profiles.  So…please excuse me! 

Sunday’s sermon kicked my tail…and I want to share a few of my thoughts with you for further discussion and thought.  Here they are, in no particular order:

• The church is really good at talking about faith, yet scared to actually live in faith.
• We tend to blame the culture for the ineffectiveness of our churches (i.e.,  this generation is too lazy, this generation is godless, this generation doesn’t care, etc.)
• The world has always been full of godless people who could care less about faith…when churches become living examples of faith, that excuse becomes our greatest attractor.
• We are more relient on our heritage, traditions, and practices than we are on Christ.
• What would happen if we let go of “the way things have always been” for “the way things can be”?
• What if we lived in a daily expectation of the impossible?  Wouldn’t that be what faith is?
• Unless we are dreaming impossibly as a church, then are we really trusting in God to make impossible things happen?
• Churches should not be static destinations or arenas of Christians…rather, churches should be living, breathing, evolving organisms of faith in Jesus Christ.
• When a world sees a church let go of it’s heritage with its’ saints to pursue a future with sinners, then the world sees a God who is unfailing in His love, kindness, and grace to this world.

Again, just a few thoughts from my sermon this Sunday.  Feel free to comment, add to, or add your own thought from Sunday’s sermon if you were @ Belpre.   If not, then here’s your thought for discussion:  what is it that holds the church back from living her true destiny?

VISION AND FAITH

Our student ministry is redefining the way that we do ministry.  It’s been a journey, and there are sure to be a few failures here and there, but for the most part we believe that our new vision and strategy will align our staff and students to fully experience God and fully display His fame.  This began when we started to realize that we were accidently aquiring new students, instead of new students being the norm.  Even though our numbers were fine, we weren’t accomplishing one of our goals of bringing new students in.  So we asked…why?

We were getting the exact results that we were set up to achieve. 

Ninety-five percent of our calendar and events was set-up to encourage growth of our current students, and not to actively attract and engage new students.  We had several excuses for this…including a tight budget, lack of leadership, established ministry (you name it, we could use it as an excuse).  In reality, we were hiding behind our comfort zones and playing it safe.

Safe ministry to those in the church doesn’t really accomplish much for the glory of God.

Which brings me to our churches.  If the church isn’t trying the impossible, are we really trusting in God?  Is faith simply expecting God to perform our desired outcomes to a specific circumstance, or is faith looking beyond today and imagining tomorrow?  And if our churches aren’t acting out of extraordinary faith and passion, how can we expect our members to do the same in their everyday lives?

Our churches are getting exactly what we’re set up to receive.

 

This is sort of rambling, but these are the thoughts going through my head for my sermon this Sunday.  Sorry for the absence from the blog…it’s been a hectic summer.  I would love to hear your thoughts.  So…for discussion:  what would it look like for a church to act of out of extraordinary faith and passion?

MORE SUNDAY SERMON THOUGHTS

Sunday’s sermon title:  Obsession and Redemption.

A few snipets that I’m processing.  Would love to hear your thoughts and inputs as well:

• The church should be obsessed with His agenda rather than our agenda.
• The church should make Jesus famous in all corners of this planet.
• The church should worship relentlessly.
• Most of our churches are doing the exact opposite of the above.
• Pride, stubborness, fear, and comfort are holding us back from living our destiny.

Just some snipets.  What are your thoughts?

SUNDAY SERMON THOUGHTS

I’ve been wrestling with some sermon prep for this Sunday @ Belpre…and the phrase ‘lift up the name of Christ’ keeps popping into my head.  What an amazing responsibility we have to constantly lift up the name of Christ in our places of worship, in our places of employment, and in our relationships.  When we have seen the power of Christ in our lives, when we have rested in His presence, when we have gazed His salvation…our response should be that we should lift up his name in all places in our lives.  So, what does that look like?

So, as I’m preparing…what is it that keeps us from lifting up the name of Christ?

And, p.s., I just found out that I’m preaching July 19th and 26th as well.  Ideas?

OVERWHELMED

Summer is here, which means my calendar is jacked.  Today I felt completely overwhelmed with upcoming tasks.  Balancing WorkCamp tasks, Summer Mission Xperience tasks, Marketing Adept. writing, a worship environment, two teaching environments, a small group…and church mission and strategy work…for some reason, just all hit me today.

I know I’m not the only one who has a lot going on, or a lot of pressure and deadlines on the schedule.  I’m not looking for sympathy…just wondering:  what’s your tactic for overcoming the feeling of being overwhelmed?

ONE MORE THING ABOUT MOVEMENTS

I’m a youth minister/pastor by trade.  The weird thing about youth ministry world is that its often driven by numbers.  We measure success by how many students show up.  We measure influence by how many students regulary attend things.  Youth ministry (especially old school) isn’t a fan of the movement concept.  As we talk about movements, we have to understand this one thing:

A movement isn’t determined by the amount of people, but the amount of influence.

The question isn’t, how many people know about us…but how many people are influenced by us.  There is a huge difference.  When you are a movement, you measure success by a different standard.  You channel influence differently.  You leverage your resources in a new way…all for the sake of expanding the influence of your movement.

Who’s ready to move?

FACILITATING A MOVEMENT…part 2

After the last post, it’s important to refine and clarify.  What exactly is a movment?  And how is it better than what you’re doing right now?

• Activities maintain and results are accidental.  Movements equip and results are unavoidable.
• Activities advertise.  Movements influence.
• Activities are generic.  Movements are planned and strategized.
• Activities can be duplicated.  Movements are unique.
• Activities breed friendships, or acquaintances.  Movements breed fellowship.
• Activities are time fillers.  Movements attract and compel.
• Activities use their resources.  Movements leverage their resources.
• Activities produce attenders.  Movements produce leaders.

Whatever your thing (whether you are in the business world, run a non-profit, organize community events, or volunteer with a church), you should never be satisfied with attendance.  You should be creating opportunities for people to become involved in your movement and passionate about your passion.  Entertainers do a great job at this…the goal of a concert isn’t to just get people in the door, it’s to put on such a production that people follow the band and buy their music and merch.  A devoted fan is more important to the band than an attender of a concert.

In your world, someone who is willing to leverage themselves for your cause is far more valuable than someone who just shows up at your stuff.