Part of this week's work is sifting through over 1400 emails to declutter my inbox. In doing so, I came across a forward from Pastor Mike. Someone in the church wrote this during our Generous Life series. I'm continually inspired and excited when I see our people having this kind of attitude! :
"This past Sundays sermon stirred my inner being and my spirit as did my wife's and we had great conversation around these questions. what more can we do? what can we afford? what sacrifices can we make? and I wish I could do more! Like many, we are struggling to make ends meet with the way the economy is currently.
Ultimately the conclusion to those questions was what if Christ had that same attitude? He gave it all! He didn't just have one hand nailed to the cross and say I wish I could do more. With that alone hanging over our heads and weighing heavy on our hearts we will be making some menial sacrifices.
We truly believe that Grace Fellowship is and will make a huge impact in Central Florida. God is working, living and breathing within its walls, its members, leaders and it is truly a blessing to be a part of His ultimate design and purpose. Leading others to the cross and helping them take those small yet gigantic steps. So if takes a little sacrifice we're in!
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Friday, April 10, 2009
Sin is Broken
After you've read the account of Christ's suffering and death today, spend a moment worshipping Him.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Two Problems with "Pastor Do it All"
This is NOT mine, I got this from the book LifeKeys, pgs 78-79.
"Thinking that leaders can do it all has two problems. First, when leaders think tehy have to do everyhitng, the results are often less than satisfactory. Perhaps a vsionary ministry led by someone with the gift of apostleship falters because of inherent disorganization; someoen with the gift of administration may have helped bring order to chaos....Maybe an education class falls short of its goal because the materials weren't ready for the teacher; someone with the gift of helps could have solved the problem....
"Second, an unexamined belief that a minister can do everything means that the leader isn't allowed to discover which gifts he or she really has. think of all the gifts that ministers can be called on to use: teaching, administration, leading, shepherding, mercy, knowledge, wisdom, helps, giving, encouragement....Let's be honest: most leaders lack at least some of these! We can force them to do it all, a pathway to exhaustion and defeat by the endless needs of the congregation. Or we can let them use the gifts God has given them and step forward with our own gifts to fulfill the roles God meant for us to play."
"Thinking that leaders can do it all has two problems. First, when leaders think tehy have to do everyhitng, the results are often less than satisfactory. Perhaps a vsionary ministry led by someone with the gift of apostleship falters because of inherent disorganization; someoen with the gift of administration may have helped bring order to chaos....Maybe an education class falls short of its goal because the materials weren't ready for the teacher; someone with the gift of helps could have solved the problem....
"Second, an unexamined belief that a minister can do everything means that the leader isn't allowed to discover which gifts he or she really has. think of all the gifts that ministers can be called on to use: teaching, administration, leading, shepherding, mercy, knowledge, wisdom, helps, giving, encouragement....Let's be honest: most leaders lack at least some of these! We can force them to do it all, a pathway to exhaustion and defeat by the endless needs of the congregation. Or we can let them use the gifts God has given them and step forward with our own gifts to fulfill the roles God meant for us to play."
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Christianese
I did a little search for this word and came across this funny dictionary. When, by God's grace, someone who has never been to church before walks through the door into your church, it really matters what message we send! We are their first encounter with Jesus. The nature of first impressions tells us we they will probably decide in the first 7 minutes whether they will come back a second time. We don't want to speak in a foreign language. Jesus needs to be accessible!
What other Christianese terms are out there?
What other Christianese terms are out there?
Friday, March 20, 2009
3 questions to ask yourself
I got these from a friend of mine on Monday. They can help us learn to walk with God moment by moment:
1. What would Jesus Do?
2. What does God think?
3. What is the Holy Spirit saying? What does He want me to know about Him and about myself right now?
1. What would Jesus Do?
2. What does God think?
3. What is the Holy Spirit saying? What does He want me to know about Him and about myself right now?
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Change or Die
On Thursday, Anne and I, and 14 other people from Grace, were in Anderson, SC listening to Perry Noble. One of the things he championed, as other church leaders have, is that the church needs to change or die.
Look at the new facebook that unveiled this week. It now looks more like twitter plus many of the extras we all like. It changed. It updated. It's creators saw that what they had going wasn't as effective as it needed to be.
Three weeks ago Andy Stanley related at Catalyst One day that even in the latter half of the 20th century, many church pastors built and conducted their ministries in much the same way for 20 to 50 years without much change. I saw an example of this when I went to Grand Rapids last month. While the church I visited has seen several new pastors, and a few aesthetic makeovers, it still looks like a church from 1970. The church has not added to their number. Seminary graduates still wax eloquent in the pulpit after a few "praise songs" sung along with the organ. I am not saying this to tear this local church down, (it's full of wonderful, simple, country-folk), but to challenge the process, or lack thereof.
Back in seminary the battle cry was "Semper Reformanda" (always reforming). But do we really know what that means? We say it, but what it actually looks like differs greatly among those who utter it.
The church at large is already fading into oblivion in the United States. But there are many churches who are seizing the opportunity, this moment in history. It is a critical one. The purpose and place of the church in the world has always been critical--people are dying and spending eternity in judgment and separation from God. But in this financial economy, in this information economy, in this idealogy economy, the message of Jesus Christ as the Way, the Truth, and THE Life needs to be heard.
I realize these thoughts are incomplete and would be better put into several blog entries. I just had to get them out though, and let you fill in the blanks. Please feel free to add to the discussion.
In closing, here are a couple questions for you: Does my church want to change? By change I mean: become "relevant" (for lack of a better term), to actually put the timeless gospel message in a context and language and experience that people can understand.
Secondly, do I want my church to change? Why or why not?
Perry Noble twittered this morning, "if a church wants to see change in the community, then it must be willing to BE the change that it wants to see!"
Look at the new facebook that unveiled this week. It now looks more like twitter plus many of the extras we all like. It changed. It updated. It's creators saw that what they had going wasn't as effective as it needed to be.
Three weeks ago Andy Stanley related at Catalyst One day that even in the latter half of the 20th century, many church pastors built and conducted their ministries in much the same way for 20 to 50 years without much change. I saw an example of this when I went to Grand Rapids last month. While the church I visited has seen several new pastors, and a few aesthetic makeovers, it still looks like a church from 1970. The church has not added to their number. Seminary graduates still wax eloquent in the pulpit after a few "praise songs" sung along with the organ. I am not saying this to tear this local church down, (it's full of wonderful, simple, country-folk), but to challenge the process, or lack thereof.
Back in seminary the battle cry was "Semper Reformanda" (always reforming). But do we really know what that means? We say it, but what it actually looks like differs greatly among those who utter it.
The church at large is already fading into oblivion in the United States. But there are many churches who are seizing the opportunity, this moment in history. It is a critical one. The purpose and place of the church in the world has always been critical--people are dying and spending eternity in judgment and separation from God. But in this financial economy, in this information economy, in this idealogy economy, the message of Jesus Christ as the Way, the Truth, and THE Life needs to be heard.
I realize these thoughts are incomplete and would be better put into several blog entries. I just had to get them out though, and let you fill in the blanks. Please feel free to add to the discussion.
In closing, here are a couple questions for you: Does my church want to change? By change I mean: become "relevant" (for lack of a better term), to actually put the timeless gospel message in a context and language and experience that people can understand.
Secondly, do I want my church to change? Why or why not?
Perry Noble twittered this morning, "if a church wants to see change in the community, then it must be willing to BE the change that it wants to see!"
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