A New Vision Regarding Something Old

It is so easy to think church and church planting is merely about finding a method, finding a few tasks, and then to strategize toward these.  I am convinced we haven’t done wrongly in our effort to search, research, view and review what the early church in the book of Acts did and even try to model much of our church/planting and lives after that.  It is amiable.  But, be challenged by this: they spent time with Jesus.  They spent much time with Jesus.  If we are going to try to take what they did and do it, we will miss entirely.  It will be powerless.  Indeed throughout Acts there is this underlying reality that the apostles KNEW Jesus.  They knew Him.  They spent time with Him. They learned from Him.  They marveled at Him.  They wondered about Him.  They talked often of the greatness of Him.  They asked of Him.  They didn’t somewhere get sidetracked by the fact that they had a task to do.  Indeed, the task was an overflow of their knowing Jesus.  And so rather than spend time figuring out how, we are going to a deeper question and more powerful source - Jesus Himself.  I trust the knowledge of Him will rightly inspire, motivate, guide, direct, consume, compel us.  Too there is a refining work He will do as we once again, for the first time, fix our attention on Him.  

In regards to vision - this is my vision: that we all see Christ better.  That we all delight in Him all the more.  That we know Him to be our sufficient, superior treasure above all else that this world has to offer us.  I am convinced that Christ our delight in Christ is our victory over the sin struggles we face.  A better view of Him will cause our lives to show increasingly who He is, just in our demeanor.  A clearer picture of Him will cause us to talk about Him, share Him, show Him.  And I believe an understanding of Christ and all He did to reconcile us to the Father, is the greatest reminder of who we are, and how we can do this thing called community, or life together.  

So consider some of the activities of the early church.  They would actually eat together in the homes of one another (Acts 2:42, 46).  It is easy to make that the template and seek to mimic it, without a deeper understanding of it.  It is not just about community, but it is an expression that bleeds the gospel.  Consider Christ.  He ate with the disciples.  In spite of how holy, how loving, how just, how infinite HE IS, He was still willing to step into a world of sinners, who hate, who are every bit unjust in a variety of ways, and who are mortal creatures.  An understanding of the gospel and of what Jesus did, even in something like meals together with those who were so different from Him becomes a model for us.  So let us put aside our gender differences, our political differences, our ethnic differences, and socio-economic differences, because ultimately Christ laid aside so much even to dine with them.  Further, consider for a moment the eagerness of the early church to sell what they possessed for the sake of others (Acts 2:45).  Rather than make this the template with no apparent reason other than the early church’s example, let us consider deeper the reality of the gospel in this.  Christ laid aside a throne in heaven to come to earth.  Christ laid aside the comforts of heaven for the pains of earth.  He laid aside a crown to instead wear a crown of thorns.  He took upon Himself our sinfulness so that He might make us righteous.  This is the great exchange.  So let not our efforts to meet needs of one another speak anything less than the gospel.  And on and on the activity of the early church profusely reflects the gospel.  Let us be sure we see the great gospel in all we are and in all we do, rather than just do things in which the gospel is not seen or understood. 

The Business of Being Sent

"Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt."   - Ex. 3:10

The word of God to Moses as he stood there on his bare feet in the sands of Midian was something surprising.  Moses is not seeking this encounter with God when he happens upon this burning bush.  He is engaged with the duty of looking after his father-in-law's flock.  Moses though wasn't about to take this news as something sad.  Indeed some 40 years prior he saw firsthand the oppression of his own people and tried to alleviate some of the oppression and deliver his own race by killing an Egyptian.  Moses would have most definitely received such a word of deliverance for his own people from the Egyptians as great news.  And now to think he would be involved in it.  

It seems simple.  All he has to do is go to Pharaoh and bring these people out of Egypt.  This one verse gives the objective of God's design.  It is very simple.  Or is it?  In just 20 words (fewer in the original language) God lays out this design of His, and yet it is far more weighty than we might think.  Moses has no clue of the when of this.  He has no clue as to what Pharaoh's response will be like.  He has no clue as to the difficulty of leading these people.  He has no definitive instruction on how long he will lead them and to where they will go.  He doesn't at this stage know just how God will bring them out.  He doesn't know the ensuing crossing of the Red Sea as a result of their exodus. 

This has ever been the conundrum in which we as humans find ourselves.  God lays out a plan.  We stand firm in conviction that it will be every bit as He said.  But then there comes a time in which we have to face the unspoken details of His design.  But there is something to be learned from guys like Moses who went before us.  He eventually learned and saw the 10 plagues.  He eventually saw and dealt with the obstinate heart of Pharaoh.  He eventually saw and dealt with the opposition of his own people as they journeyed.  He eventually learned where they were going.  

We think we would rather read this story and see God lay it out all at once, but He didn't do that.  He gives us the big picture, but no insight into details of this one early on.  That came though, over time.  The reasons for this are endless.  I'd briefly conclude that God's purpose for not showing all at once is: 1) for the development of our faith, 2) to surprise us and cause awe to fill our hearts when in His perfect timing He does what we never imagined.   

And so again my resolve is no less to plant the gospel here in Lee's Summit and watch God establish a church.  My heart has been burdened as such.  It was to this end that God moved us here.  Since then though He hasn't revealed a lot, but still I find: 1) Every day I depend upon Him and my faith is growing, 2) He is surprising us and causing us awe as we see things that He does as we go.  We press on in hope.  God spoke to my heart and convinced me to move here to Lee's Summit.  But rather than get down and worry about people, provision, a place to meet, souls to be won, when, how, where it will all transpire, I find myself rather saying, "I have all I need for now and in His timing He will unveil more, and so I will just keep on doing as He convicts my heart."

So press on believer.  Christ is coming back.  I don't know when, and in the meantime I don't know all the details of what this world, your life, my life will look like.  But I know He is coming back.  Let's help people get ready and get right with God through Jesus Christ.

I'm Going to Talk to Him Who...

I have thought far too little of prayer.  It has been every bit eye-opening as of late how miniscule my view of prayer has really been over the years, when for the first time I am beginning to pray with expectation.  Further, passionate prayers have been so much more prevalent as of late.  None of this to say I have arrived in the least bit.  

It is almost as though we can be deceived into thinking prayer is where the power is.  Don't get me wrongly, I am not dismissing prayer as powerless, my introductory words would seem contradictory if that is what you assume I have concluded.  But prayer is every bit powerless if it is done without faith, done without passion and expectation.

And then there is a deeper realization I am coming to in all of this.  And apart from this  understanding prayer is really impotent, but with this understanding prayer is every bit life-changing, and able to change our very circumstances as a result of this.  That is, when we start to realize who it is we are talking to when we pray.  

I found myself beginning a day in prayer recently with the words "I'm going to pray to Him who..." and then I went into a series of characteristics and accomplishments of GOD Himself.  Concerning God, I simply said, "WHO created all that is, WHO has no beginning, WHO cannot be measured, WHO is wholly other than anything or anyone I know, WHO has all power, WHO is love, WHO knows all, WHO has no rival, WHOSE kingdom reigns forever and ever."  Of course I could go on and on and on about more, but you get the idea.  In this I have realized something wonderful.  It is no longer about what I need, but the ONE I need.  It is no longer about my questions, but how I know the ONE who is the answer to my desires, pains, and hopes.  It is no longer about when I need this, but taking that very moment to delight in HIM.  And on and on and on my heart and mind got swept up not in "prayer" but in HIM to whom belongs all glory and honor, majesty and power, for all ages, now, and forevermore.  

Let the realization of WHO you and I appeal to inspire in us a deeper delight to ask big things of our immeasurable GOD who seeks to glorify Himself in us.

HERE

I am here.  But where is here?  This was supposed to be the place I came to meet God in a new way and see Him use me in the lives of people here.  Here doesn't feel like such a place though.  It is lonely here.  Oh God is every bit here, but never have I so questioned my purpose for being here.  As I am here I have thought often about how it might be for me over there.  But I am not there, I am here.  In here I find myself wrestling, struggling over all I am and am not certain.  I am frustrated here.  I am trying to be useful here but over there they are useful (or so it appears).  Here I pray often, out of passion, desperation, utter dependence.  Here I know Christ...better than I did there.  Here I desire Christ...more than I remember there.  Here I speak of Christ...more than I ever did there.  And so even if here doesn't provide the "proofs" like there, I will remain...here.

What if we actually prayed with expectation?

I can think of a few seasons in my life where prayer has had with it this immense hope and joy.  The story of asking God for my wife years ago (before she was my wife that is) was one of me crying tears, and pleading with God to give Emily to me.  I had never taken part in such.  It was as though God had given me a desire and the faith to ask for Him to grant me what I was pleading.  He answered, in His perfect timing.  I was gripped the other day again by this sort of burden, as regards the efforts toward the gospel and church planting.  I felt compelled to ask God and ask Him boldly.  I want to have some benchmark to determine what I see Him doing.  So I and those with me are committing to 40 days of commitment to pray, and EXPECT God to do far beyond what we are asking (til Nov. 7th).  

I have had to go back lately to Scripture, to records others in the faith left for us, the stories of those around us, and our own personal lives.  I cannot help but notice a great theme in all this: for those who pray, pray expectantly, in much faith, and pray often, God sure seems to do some wonderfully amazing things.  We all believe this, we have all seen it in some capacity, but our own ability to believe it is anything applicable to us is still yet another story.  But I want to see if my story is any different than those I read of.  I want to see if God's faithfulness is seen similarly to any objective observer when we commit to such bold prayers.

I am not about to say that we will pray hard for 40 days and then cease such.  Hardly the case.  Rather, 40 days is but an initial time period within we will labor in prayer, and at the end assess just what God has done, and further determine how we pray. In fact, I am already committed thereafter to another 40 days.  In all this we are showing commitment to depend on God's grace and mercy in personal, family and corporate prayer so that in all our blessings the Giver will get the GLORY.  And in the process He will shape us into becoming more like Christ even as He aligns our will with His perfect will.  

So join with us.  I am excited, expectant, hopeful, joyful, and eager to pray in much faith (which He has given me to ask of HIM) for all that only HE CAN DO.  So pray with us, in particular for: 

1) souls to be won, 2) a place to meet, 3) provision, 4) laborers for this work, 5) a constant devotion to center all of who we are upon Christ.  In 40 days I am eager to see HIS work among souls, guiding us, providing for us, adding to our number, and to cause us all the more to exalt CHRIST.  

God's Sovereignty in the Pity of Others

"...she saw the child...she took pity on him..." - Exodus 2:6

These simple words of the story from an early day in Moses' life ring profoundly concerning the sovereignty of God.  The one who saw the child and took pity on Moses was none other than Pharaoh's daughter.  But why should she care in the least bit about yet another Hebrew baby?  Likely she has been close enough to the Hebrew people that she has seen their increasing numbers.  Surely she's heard of what her father decreed concerning the destruction of all the Hebrew baby boys.  But apparently she didn't fully agree with it.  At least during this moment in time, for this one baby, Moses.  

Make no mistake about it, God was the one who had designed and appointed Moses to be the one to deliver His people from the oppression, slavery, and polytheism of the Egyptians (Stephen in Acts 7 develops this).  God ultimately hand-selected Moses.  His training in the elite schools of Pharaoh's house would go to serve him well years later.  The leadership characteristics accrued from his position in Pharaoh's house would go to serve him well years later.  And even throughout Moses' life, God was growing in him a heart to save, protect, and eventually deliver his fellow Hebrews.  You can't help but see how considerable it was the way God positioned him.

But what if...?  What if this story never quite panned out?  What if Moses' basket was overtaken by the current of the Nile?  What if Pharaoh's daughter never saw Moses?  What if she only saw him and thought nothing of him?  And what if upon seeing him she was moved for a moment, but upon bringing the baby back to her father he wouldn't allow her to keep this baby?  

Of course we have to pause and reflect a bit to further appreciate the depths of the necessary details of this story.  We would rightly argue that God's sovereignty kept the basket upright.  We rightly argue that God's sovereignty made for certain that Pharaoh's daughter would turn at just the right time to see this floating basket.  We somehow though cross over these words, "she took pity on him," and think little of it.  

Let us make much of God in this.  He did not leave the story of this floating basket down the Nile River up to chance, but up to His sovereignty.  He did not leave the selection of Moses up to chance, as if to say, "Well, if he makes it, he's my guy," but up to His sovereignty.  And so too in a most necessary part of this story, the very pity of Pharaoh's daughter, we rightly conclude that it was God's work in her heart to cause her to pity him and save his life.  

I am reminded of the unsuspecting nature of so many out there who are being used of God in a plethora of ways.  And as we continue to make efforts to make the name of Christ known in our community, at our work, where we play, even to see God plant Redemption Church, I am mindful that we are every bit relying not on chance, not on ourselves (though He does involve us), but most greatly upon the sovereignty of God.  He is the very One who for His own good purposes even causes those who are our enemies to show us pity.  That manifests just another dynamic perspective of His sovereign rule.  I look forward to watching God unveil the sovereign rule of His choosing in and among people believing and unbelieving to ultimately make the greatness of Christ known through us. 

Marketing: a Cheap Substitute for Making Disciples

Call me old-fashioned, I am not in the least bit offended.  I continually find it interesting (to put it gently) as to all the things going on in the church today that have little to nothing to do with the gospel.  Of course these who participate in a myriad of activities that have just become our common "church culture" seem to have a way of justifying a lot of it in the name of being relevant.  

I have had to look lately at the reality of what it is costing so many to plant churches around the country.  Granted the cost of living is a bit varied in these different corners of the country, but it strikes me as very wasteful to put the amounts of money some have toward "church planting."  I kid you not that I have recently seen beautiful presentations available online from various planters who indicate it will require even as high as $600,000 over three years to plant a church where God has positioned them.  Now I do not wish to overstate matters here.  Church planting should probably not be viewed as something we put no resources towards.  I speak personally of the difficulty it is to balance getting to know a community, ministering, casting vision, meeting new people, in addition to meeting the needs of my family.  I think God's people do well to take note and participate, knowing that no church planter is seeking to strike it rich, rather we just want to have time to do all the necessary things to which we sense we are called, and eventually there is a big breakdown of some or all of the above mentioned where a full-time or part-time job preoccupies time.  However, I am convinced it likely doesn't have to cost as much as we think either.  There needs to be a healthy tension in all this.  

A high part of the cost for many churches is their marketing strategy.  When did we think marketing was more effective than building relationships?  I am not denying it is wise to get the word out on who we are, but we are first called to be a mouth-piece for the gospel.  I do believe it can create a buzz and generate a following, but I do believe it is easy to start measuring success by the wrong standard (Sunday attendance).  I believe when the gospel is made known through our actions and supporting words some real powerful transformation takes place.  I am convinced that marketing at so many churches anymore is their effort to reach more Christians who are currently unhappy with the present flavor-of-the-month at the church body they are attending.  But we aren't called to that.

So it strikes me as exceptionally irreverent and borderline faithless when I hear of a church that for their first public service gives a new TV away (presumably to get more people to attend).  I am not so convinced this is good stewardship.  I am not so convinced this is a good precedent.  I am not so convinced this is any bit of what Paul had in mind of becoming all things to all people" (1 Cor 9).  I am convinced it is probably a fair way of getting a few more bodies in the seats.  Likely I will never have a TV to give away.  If I did I guess I hope we'd be the type of people who give it to someone who we meet who doesn't have one and has notable needs (don't hear me at all concluding that a TV is a need).  

I am increasingly convinced that our ability to engage in the Great Commission and see God establish new churches is every bit connected with our capacity to be relational, not marketable.  I am increasingly convinced that our boldness to put Jesus front and center with people as we listen, as we speak, and as we act will continually prove to be a display of God's great power at work, rather than our ability to superficially engage people with what appeals to their eyes, ears, and stomachs.  We can get people in the doors in a variety of ways, but since when did that become our goal?  We need first to open our own eyes and see the brilliance of Jesus.  Then we will finally see what will both now and forevermore satisfy the deepest longings within all humanity.  And then we need to let His beauty shine in and through all of who we are both on Sunday mornings, as well as the other 167 hours during the week.