Missional Church
There is a lot of talk today about “missional” vs. “attractional” church. This short video gives a bit of a synopsis as to the difference. Not that attractional ministry is wrong or ineffective overall, but evidence does seem to indicate that, the attractional model is struggling amongst younger generations who are looking for something authentic and relational. If anything it demonstrates that attractional event driven ministry is not the only way to do church.
Was Jesus Macho?
There is a lot of talk in Christian circles today about how the Church has emasculated (in the figurative sense of course) the men. And while I absolutely agree with that assessment, I’m not sure our idea of masculinity is all that accurate either.
Cole NeSmith wrote an excellent article for Relevant Magazine that I would like to share here. (more…)
What does it mean to be missional?
Ed Stetzer briefly explains the concept of missional…it’s pretty simple really.
What Does It Mean to Be Missional? from The Resurgence on Vimeo.
The gospel of Avatar
Director James Cameron had this to say about his new movie, Avatar,
“When people have an experience that’s very powerful in the movie theatre, they want to go share it. They want to grab their friend and bring them, so that they can enjoy it. They want to be the person to bring them the news that this is something worth having in their life.” (Quote is via Luke Simmons of Second Mile Church in Gilbert, AZ.)
This tells me a few things…
1. We are passionate about things that capture our heart. Has Jesus truly captured our hearts? Why do movies and fiction books move us in a way that the gospel and the Bible rarely do?
2. We talk about what we’re passionate about. I’m not trying to be legalistic here, just simply stating a fact. If I’m passionate about football, I talk about it, If I’m passionate about the environment, I talk about it…you get the point. And we don’t just talk to others who share our passions, we find ways to weave those things into everyday conversations. Shouldn’t this be equally true of Jesus and gospel?
The Avatar movie has taken our world by storm – I actually haven’t seen the movie yet so I’m clueless as to what all the hype is about. However I do know this. No movie, or book, or experience of any kind is greater than Jesus, and so my reluctance to to speak of Him at every opportunity only further reveals my idolatrous heart.
The Tiger Debacle
The Tiger Woods scandal is obviously an international saga. It’s on everyone’s lips – and has made for spicy water cooler talk over the last few weeks. Tiger is losing some of his large corporate sponsorship, Accenture being the first of what many feel won’t be the last.
How should Christians use the Tiger fiasco to point people to Jesus and the gospel?
1. Ask people why they care? Statistics tell us that infidelity is not uncommon, in fact more husbands cheat on their wives than don’t. Why is Tiger Woods unfaithfulness then cause for alarm? Is it because he’s a sports icon or is it because we really do believe there is a standard morality that each person should be subject to. And if there is a standard morality it demands there is Someone who established that law and holds humanity accountable to it.
2. Ask people why marital infidelity is wrong. Our culture preaches a subjective morality with the motto, “whatever feels good do it.” How then can we criticize Tiger for doing what feels good? Who decides that infidelity is wrong? You might say it’s wrong, but I feel differently and it really is all about how I feel. This can open up a discussion about common grace, and the fact that God has imprinted His standard upon our hearts. Which will hopefully give you an opportunity to lay out the gospel for them.
3. Tell people about God’s created goodness – He created marriage to be between one man and one woman. He intended marriage to be life long and monogamous. He instituted the covenant of marriage so that both the man and the woman could be fulfilled by one another. It’s only our rebellion toward Him and His created goodness that Has brought about the relational repercussions that so many (like Tiger and his family) have and are experiencing. Then tell them about Jesus and the gospel and His plan to restore His creation back to its intended created goodness.
4. Don’t elevate yourself above Tiger. Make it clear to your co-workers, friends, and family that it is only by God’s grace that you aren’t in the exact same boat (with far less publicity of course) and that it is only God’s grace that can restore such a terrible situation.
Here is a great article on this subject by Dr. Albert Mohler
Great Article by Mark Driscoll
Mark Driscoll is now writing for the Washington Post and here is his first article…it’s about the fact that Christianity at its core is about Jesus.
Period.
You can read the article here.
Weekend Services
We had a great weekend of celebrating the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
On Friday night we gathered for a time of worship, testimony, communion, and contemplation of the fact that our sins killed Jesus. Besides the nasty buzz we were getting from our sound system and some other logistical issues (lights going on and off when I wanted it dark the whole time) we had an awesome service that left us thinking about how wicked we are but how perfectly God loves us and how thankful we should be that we don’t have to face this righteous wrath.
On Sunday we had two services and both of them were really full. We began the services with this video and then incorporated a one man drama (the life of Peter) into worship. The drama written by our worship leader, Stewart White, and performed by a man named Blaine Jensen, from church, was abosolutely phenomenal. I then taught a very pointed and direct message from Acts 2…I probably offended some people but I cannot stand in front of all of those unbelievers and not deliver a candid call for salvation.
I know of at least one lady, who was previously a Mormon, who received Jesus yesterday. I didn’t do a formal altar call yesterday but I did clearly call people to respond to the gospel and I hope that many did.
If you would like to listen to either or both of these messages they are available for download or streaming in the media player on the home page of this blog.