A Church, the Unchurched Want to Be At!
A Church, the Unchurched Want to Be At!
- Hayden 8-8-17
On October 9th of this year, the city of Indianapolis is going to become host to the “Deep and Wide Tour” featuring pastor, teacher, and author, Andy Stanley and a gathering of other like-minded ministers. The theme of this conference is to help individual ministries to expand their reach into their communities and cities, drawing more unchurched people into our congregations. The theme is summed up in one sentence, “Create a Church, Unchurched People Love to Attend.” What a concept! Now I know that everyone in the world has different ideas of what church should be like, but I think I know what the leaders of this conference are trying to convey. We want church to be a place that people are drawn to, not a place they have to go to because of some sense of guilt or requirement. We want church to be a place they come to because it is irresistible!
So how do we make church irresistible? That is a good question and after I go to the conference, I plan on telling you exactly what I have learned. I am sure I will have a list of ideas to share. Part of the answer will certainly be to match the ministry style to the culture that the church resides in. That would include music styles, décor styles, and transforming the ministry atmosphere to something more relatable and relevant to multiple generations. In short, becoming real to the unchurched is key. Of course, those that are churched have to buy in to this concept for it to be effective!!
In 1 Corinthians 9:22 to read, “To the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men that I might by all means save some.” Paul made his ministry relatable and relevant to unbelievers for the sole purpose of reaching them. And in Matthew 7:28-29, Scripture says this, “And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, 29 for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” Here, Jesus is not concerned with doing things the way they have always been done by the Pharisees. He didn’t try to replicate the ministries of times past. He spoke to the lost in a way that they could relate to and was relevant to them and translated to Him being REAL with them. He spoke in such a way that they knew that He knew what He was talking about and why they should care. It might behoove us to follow these examples so that we also might reach the unchurched. We need to continue to be relatable, relevant and real more and more each day. Individually as well as a church body community, city and worldwide so that we might reach some!
Be blessed even more!!
Pastor Chris
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Unfinished
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Unfinished
- Hayden 7-20-17
This past Sunday I read from a book that challenges and motivates the Church for service to the Lord. Richard Stearns’ work both compels and encourages God’ s people to go from a simple church attender to putting all aspects of their lives, our money, our jobs, our possessions, our relationships, and so forth, under His jurisdiction. Here is am excerpt from Richard’s book, “Unfinished.”
“Now, here is a really important thing to understand. If you lay down all of these things in the service of Christ and His kingdom, He won’t necessarily take them away from you. He doesn’t ask us all to quit our jobs, leave our homes, and have an estate sale to liquidate all our earthly possessions. No, He only asks that we turn all of those decisions over to Him. If you have built a business that can generate great wealth, He may leave you right there so that the business can be used to His glory and to accomplish His purposes. If you are an investment banker at Goldman Sachs, He may want you to stay put and become a kingdom builder right where you are stationed by letting your light shine in a place where a shining light may be desperately needed. If you love your community, He may use you to help transform it and reclaim it for His kingdom. He might even use your addiction as a powerful tool of His restorative power to transform human lives. But he does require that the certificates of title be signed over to Him. He becomes the owner, and we become the stewards, not of our possessions but of the Master’s possessions.”
Colossians 3:16-17 says this, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” Everything we do, we do by the authority and will of God the Father, by the power of the Holy Spirit and through the grace and name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Until we have placed all things at His feet, we are yet, “Unfinished.”
Be blessed even more!
Pastor Chris
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Works of the Spirit or the Law?
Works of the Spirit or the Law?
C. Hayden 7-10-17
Galatians 3:3-6 says this , ”
Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the
flesh.
4
Have you suffered so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain?
5
Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
6 just as Abraham “believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”
In this passage Paul makes it clear that we are redeemed and continue to grow by the Spirit through our faith, not by the keeping of the law or any other ritualistic undertakings. In this passage we see Galatian Christians attempting to find approval with God by keeping certain Jewish practices. Paul gives a slight rebuke to those who attempt to do so with a question. “Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?” The obvious answer the Apostle is looking for is, “of course not.” We are saved by, as well as perfected by, the Spirit and never by keeping Levitical, Old Testament priesthood practices. Just as we no longer must sacrifice animals to cover our sins, we are no longer required to keep various dress styles, religious ordinances, nor dietary restrictions to please Him.
Galatians 5:1-5New King James Version (NKJV) confirms this point
5 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free,[a] and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. 2 Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. 3 And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. 4 You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. 5 For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
Circumcision was a requirement of all Jewish males, however, James informs the Church that Gentile believers are not required to join in this practice to follow Christ. And why? Because we have been set free from the law that we might serve Christ in the Spirit, never to be entangled again by trying to keep the law. “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made us free from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:1-2). We have been set free to serve God according to His Spirit and not by keeping the law.
Be blessed even more!!
Pastor Chris
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