We are getting ready to start a brand new intense series at Catalyst called "40 Days of Grace." As with many big things, I approach this with mixed feelings- both of excitement and apprehension. I am excited because if the church actually grabs hold of what we will be talking about over the next 40 days, God will move in ways I could never comprehend or imagine. I am apprehensive for the opposite reason- what if the church just says "ho hum" or we don't communicate it in a way that is relevant?
The combination of Sunday morning messages, daily devos, small group DVD lessons (all produced in-house with no outside help) represent six months of labor and study. What if the people don't get it? Even more terrible would be this: what if the people are the exact same after this series than before?
All these thoughts run through my head as we prepare to jump into this huge event in the life of our church. I have realized that I can't dwell on them. I can't make people learn or change. That is up to God. In other words, the success of 40 Days of Grace is not up to me. It is up to God. My job was to be faithful, to do the very best I can with what I have, and leave the results up to God.
I realize that this is also the way my walk with Christ is. Whether I do great things or small things for God, it is simply my job to be faithful. God wants faithfulness from me, not success. I think as Christians so many times we get caught up in whether or not we are successful in the Christian life. We look at our prayer lives, our struggles with temptation, our study of the Bible, and see no success at all. Thank God we will not be judged on those things. We will be judged on our faithfulness- did we love God with our heart, soul, mind, and strength? Did we answer when He called? Did we live with a single passion- to see the name of God glorified and known throughout His creation?
Faithfulness, not success, is the hallmark of the Christian life. Therefore, going into this series, I am praying for faithfulness, both in my church and in my life. I pray that through the 40 Days our church will become even more faithful to God. I pray that I will become more faithful to God. The results? Well, that's up to the Man upstairs.
Worship Night
Catalyst Christian Church, Nicholasville, KY
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Pirates
I was watching Pirates of the Caribbean (the first one), and the scene where Captain Jack Sparrow and Will Turner are stealing the British Frigate caused me to think about my faith in Christ.
After faking out the British and boarding the little fast ship, the first thing the two pirates do is to cut the ropes that were holding the two ships together. I can just see the close-ups of the ropes being cut, one by one, until all the things holding the two ships together were gone. Only then was the ship free to be under the direction of the captain.
I began to think that my life is one of the ships, and this world I live in is the other. I wonder how many "ropes" I have holding me to this world. I wonder how securely I am tied to this world, preventing me from being free, under the direction of my Captain. I think one of the most relevant statements to the Christian life is "In the world and not OF the world."
The Bible warns us that we are strangers in this world, travelers who are on their way through, and that this world is not our home. The Bible warns us not to get too comfortable here, not to throw ropes across and anchor our lives to this place. Yet everything I do seems to wed me more and more to this world. My concerns of money, my desire for comfort, my lack of passion for the calling of God on my life, my lack of concern for the next world, my being consumed with petty daily concerns- all serve as ropes to anchor me to a place I don't belong. I wonder how God sees my life- if He sees me as a ship who is so securely wedded to this world that I am unable to follow His direction, His will, His plans. Am I truly free?
After faking out the British and boarding the little fast ship, the first thing the two pirates do is to cut the ropes that were holding the two ships together. I can just see the close-ups of the ropes being cut, one by one, until all the things holding the two ships together were gone. Only then was the ship free to be under the direction of the captain.
I began to think that my life is one of the ships, and this world I live in is the other. I wonder how many "ropes" I have holding me to this world. I wonder how securely I am tied to this world, preventing me from being free, under the direction of my Captain. I think one of the most relevant statements to the Christian life is "In the world and not OF the world."
The Bible warns us that we are strangers in this world, travelers who are on their way through, and that this world is not our home. The Bible warns us not to get too comfortable here, not to throw ropes across and anchor our lives to this place. Yet everything I do seems to wed me more and more to this world. My concerns of money, my desire for comfort, my lack of passion for the calling of God on my life, my lack of concern for the next world, my being consumed with petty daily concerns- all serve as ropes to anchor me to a place I don't belong. I wonder how God sees my life- if He sees me as a ship who is so securely wedded to this world that I am unable to follow His direction, His will, His plans. Am I truly free?
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Dogs and Cats
This past weekend, I said in my message that there were two types of people in this world: dogs and cats. Whether you are a dog or a cat will affect how you view faith, God, the church, and just about anything else in life.
A dog looks at his master and says, "Wow. This person feeds me, gives me water, shelters me, scratches me behind the ears, and provides for my every need- he must be god!" A cat looks at his master and says, "Wow. This person feeds me, gives me water, shelters me, scratches me behind the ears, and provides for my every need- I must be god!"
Which are you? Do you look at the cross, at Jesus' ultimate sacrifice and the gift of eternal life, and say, "Wow. Jesus loves me, died for me, and has given me eternal life- He must be God!" Or do you look at the cross and say, "Wow. Jesus loves me, died for me, and has given me eternal life- I must be God!" Is the cross an echo of your self-worth, is eternal life something you feel you deserve, or is it simply a gift God has given you because He is God?
We have lots of cats in churches and Christian circles today. Cats feel entitled to grace, entitled to answered prayers, entitled to a place in heaven, and when it doesn't happen, get offended and mad. They sulk and pout. They may even criticize God for not giving them what they "deserve". Dogs, on the other hand, are just happy to be with the Master. Dogs feel it is a great honor to live in the home with the Master.
Though I deserve nothing, I have everything. Thanks to God, that is. Woof.
A dog looks at his master and says, "Wow. This person feeds me, gives me water, shelters me, scratches me behind the ears, and provides for my every need- he must be god!" A cat looks at his master and says, "Wow. This person feeds me, gives me water, shelters me, scratches me behind the ears, and provides for my every need- I must be god!"
Which are you? Do you look at the cross, at Jesus' ultimate sacrifice and the gift of eternal life, and say, "Wow. Jesus loves me, died for me, and has given me eternal life- He must be God!" Or do you look at the cross and say, "Wow. Jesus loves me, died for me, and has given me eternal life- I must be God!" Is the cross an echo of your self-worth, is eternal life something you feel you deserve, or is it simply a gift God has given you because He is God?
We have lots of cats in churches and Christian circles today. Cats feel entitled to grace, entitled to answered prayers, entitled to a place in heaven, and when it doesn't happen, get offended and mad. They sulk and pout. They may even criticize God for not giving them what they "deserve". Dogs, on the other hand, are just happy to be with the Master. Dogs feel it is a great honor to live in the home with the Master.
Though I deserve nothing, I have everything. Thanks to God, that is. Woof.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Heaven
I was watching a movie called "The Ultimate Gift" a few nights ago with my wife (if you haven't seen it, it's worth watching. It's very good). It's about a spoiled rich kid that has to go through a series of tests to get his inheritance.
One of the tests is that he is to make one true friend. As soon as he is given this challenge, his credit cards get cancelled, he loses his corner penthouse apartment, his car gets towed, etc. He has nothing. The next scene shows him calling all his "friends" to help him out, and none of them want anything to do with him.
What he found out was that his friends were only his friends because they could benefit in some way from him- they liked his parties, liked his apartment, liked his car, liked the money he spent on them, etc. When that was no longer an option, they didn't want anything to do with him.
I started to wonder if Christians are the same way with God. Are we "worshiping" God because we want the good things He offers? Or, like true friends, do we worship God because of who He is, regardless of how it might benefit us? What if the promise of heaven or the threat of hell were not in the equation? Would our churches still be packed with people? Would they be packed with people, not looking for anything in particular, but simply adoring and worshiping God because of how glorious and beautiful, almighty and wonderful He is?
I doubt it. I wish I could say otherwise, but I know my heart, and I know the hearts of people. That's why there are so very few real friendships we ever have in life. That's might be why the Scriptures tell us that the road to heaven is narrow and few find it. So let me put it this way, "If you could have heaven- no pain, no suffering, all your needs taken care of, beautiful paradise, etc- could you be happy if God wasn't there?"
One of the tests is that he is to make one true friend. As soon as he is given this challenge, his credit cards get cancelled, he loses his corner penthouse apartment, his car gets towed, etc. He has nothing. The next scene shows him calling all his "friends" to help him out, and none of them want anything to do with him.
What he found out was that his friends were only his friends because they could benefit in some way from him- they liked his parties, liked his apartment, liked his car, liked the money he spent on them, etc. When that was no longer an option, they didn't want anything to do with him.
I started to wonder if Christians are the same way with God. Are we "worshiping" God because we want the good things He offers? Or, like true friends, do we worship God because of who He is, regardless of how it might benefit us? What if the promise of heaven or the threat of hell were not in the equation? Would our churches still be packed with people? Would they be packed with people, not looking for anything in particular, but simply adoring and worshiping God because of how glorious and beautiful, almighty and wonderful He is?
I doubt it. I wish I could say otherwise, but I know my heart, and I know the hearts of people. That's why there are so very few real friendships we ever have in life. That's might be why the Scriptures tell us that the road to heaven is narrow and few find it. So let me put it this way, "If you could have heaven- no pain, no suffering, all your needs taken care of, beautiful paradise, etc- could you be happy if God wasn't there?"
Friday, August 20, 2010
What Can I Get?
Check out this killer quote from John Piper's "When I Don't Desire God":
"If Christ is followed only because His gifts are great and His threats are terrible, He is not glorified by His followers. A defective lord can offer great gifts and terrible threats. And a person may want the gifts, fear the threats, and follow a lord whom they despise or pity or find boring or embarrassing, in order to have the gifts and avoid the threats. If Christ is to be glorified in His people, their following must be rooted not mainly in His promised gifts or threatened punishments, but in His glorious Person. Oh, it is true that "Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them (Psalm 111:2). I do not minimize the joy of seeing the works of the Lord. But His works are great because they point us to the Lord Himself as our highest delight. The faith that honors Christ is the faith that sees and savors His glory in all His works, especially in the Gospel." (John Piper, "When I Don't Desire God," p 36)
Why follow Christ? Is it because we fear His threats or want His gifts? A faith based on either of those things is a faulty faith. I didn't marry my wife because of the good things I could get or because I was afraid of being lonely- I married her because I love her. We, therefore, follow Christ because we love Him and seek to see and savor His glory- to see Him high and lifted up as the most infinitely valuable, infinitely beautiful being in all creation. You know your faith is happening when you would desire this even if there was no promise of heaven and eternal life, or threat of hell and death. We worship God because it is the right thing to do- not because there is something in it for us.
We, as a church, need to get back to the absolute magnification and glorification of Jesus Christ and move away from the self-centeredness that marks the lives of so many believers. God is amazing.
"If Christ is followed only because His gifts are great and His threats are terrible, He is not glorified by His followers. A defective lord can offer great gifts and terrible threats. And a person may want the gifts, fear the threats, and follow a lord whom they despise or pity or find boring or embarrassing, in order to have the gifts and avoid the threats. If Christ is to be glorified in His people, their following must be rooted not mainly in His promised gifts or threatened punishments, but in His glorious Person. Oh, it is true that "Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them (Psalm 111:2). I do not minimize the joy of seeing the works of the Lord. But His works are great because they point us to the Lord Himself as our highest delight. The faith that honors Christ is the faith that sees and savors His glory in all His works, especially in the Gospel." (John Piper, "When I Don't Desire God," p 36)
Why follow Christ? Is it because we fear His threats or want His gifts? A faith based on either of those things is a faulty faith. I didn't marry my wife because of the good things I could get or because I was afraid of being lonely- I married her because I love her. We, therefore, follow Christ because we love Him and seek to see and savor His glory- to see Him high and lifted up as the most infinitely valuable, infinitely beautiful being in all creation. You know your faith is happening when you would desire this even if there was no promise of heaven and eternal life, or threat of hell and death. We worship God because it is the right thing to do- not because there is something in it for us.
We, as a church, need to get back to the absolute magnification and glorification of Jesus Christ and move away from the self-centeredness that marks the lives of so many believers. God is amazing.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Upcoming Fusion Series
Hey people,
Sorry it has been so long since I wrote- things have been pretty busy lately, but most of all, I've just been negligent. We are getting ready to start a series that will take Catalyst to the next level of reaching new people- a series about the church.
Back in the 90's, when I was in seminary, I was thoroughly schooled in the "seeker sensitive" church thing- you know, where churches needed to tailor messages and worship to people who were clueless about Christianity. A few years ago, Willow Creek Community Church, which was the most prominent proclaimer of this philosophy, publicly stated that the seeker sensitive movement was a failure. They had failed to create disciples.
First of all, what guts. That's pretty impressive to admit that. Second, I don't think it was a total failure. They did a great job of getting the church's focus off of itself and onto the people we need to be reaching. They just did it in the wrong way.
The reason why the seeker sensitive movement didn't work is they put the emphasis in the wrong place. They tailored the sermon and worship and everything else IN THE SERVICE towards new folks. The problem is- the new folks had already decided if they were coming back BEFORE they ever heard a word preached or song sung.
The part of church that needs to be seeker sensitive is the first seven minutes of the guest's experience at your church. Research has shown that the ease of finding parking, the ease of finding their way around the church, the friendliness of the first people they meet, the atmosphere BEFORE the service, hospitality such as donuts and coffee, and overall "feel" of the time before the service determines whether a person will return after a first visit. This is also the part of church that ministers neglect the most.
Most ministers spend hours and hours on a sermon. Worship teams practice throughout the week to be ready for Sunday morning. Tech teams rehearse sound, lighting, and presentation software for excellence in their areas. All of that is great. However, the church needs to be as focused on the pre-service greeting and warmth and the post-service follow-up as it is on the service itself.
That's what the Fusion series is going to be about. We are going to train our people to open their eyes to the first seven minutes of a guest's experience. What happens in the first seven minutes forms the lens through which they will view everything. If the sermon is on love and community, but the new folks were ignored in the first seven minutes, they will figure the minister is full of it.
I am excited about this series- I am excited about unleashing the power of hospitality at Catalyst. I think we do a decent job, but we haven't been intentional about it. Catalyst's hospitality has a great deal more to do with the wonderful laypeople living their Christian faith than it does with anything from the leadership. Looking forward to it!
Sorry it has been so long since I wrote- things have been pretty busy lately, but most of all, I've just been negligent. We are getting ready to start a series that will take Catalyst to the next level of reaching new people- a series about the church.
Back in the 90's, when I was in seminary, I was thoroughly schooled in the "seeker sensitive" church thing- you know, where churches needed to tailor messages and worship to people who were clueless about Christianity. A few years ago, Willow Creek Community Church, which was the most prominent proclaimer of this philosophy, publicly stated that the seeker sensitive movement was a failure. They had failed to create disciples.
First of all, what guts. That's pretty impressive to admit that. Second, I don't think it was a total failure. They did a great job of getting the church's focus off of itself and onto the people we need to be reaching. They just did it in the wrong way.
The reason why the seeker sensitive movement didn't work is they put the emphasis in the wrong place. They tailored the sermon and worship and everything else IN THE SERVICE towards new folks. The problem is- the new folks had already decided if they were coming back BEFORE they ever heard a word preached or song sung.
The part of church that needs to be seeker sensitive is the first seven minutes of the guest's experience at your church. Research has shown that the ease of finding parking, the ease of finding their way around the church, the friendliness of the first people they meet, the atmosphere BEFORE the service, hospitality such as donuts and coffee, and overall "feel" of the time before the service determines whether a person will return after a first visit. This is also the part of church that ministers neglect the most.
Most ministers spend hours and hours on a sermon. Worship teams practice throughout the week to be ready for Sunday morning. Tech teams rehearse sound, lighting, and presentation software for excellence in their areas. All of that is great. However, the church needs to be as focused on the pre-service greeting and warmth and the post-service follow-up as it is on the service itself.
That's what the Fusion series is going to be about. We are going to train our people to open their eyes to the first seven minutes of a guest's experience. What happens in the first seven minutes forms the lens through which they will view everything. If the sermon is on love and community, but the new folks were ignored in the first seven minutes, they will figure the minister is full of it.
I am excited about this series- I am excited about unleashing the power of hospitality at Catalyst. I think we do a decent job, but we haven't been intentional about it. Catalyst's hospitality has a great deal more to do with the wonderful laypeople living their Christian faith than it does with anything from the leadership. Looking forward to it!
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Church
I was wondering the other day, "When did church become an upper-middle class thing?" From mode of dress to politics to music to everything else, church in America has adopted an upper-middle class culture.
I wondered when this happened. It wasn't that way from the beginning. Christianity, from the beginning, was a movement among the poor, the outcast, the downtrodden, slaves, etc. As a matter of fact, Christianity was a radical movement that challenged the status quo at every turn and called its followers to radical commitment to Christ. I may be reaching, but I doubt that very many sociologists would consider an upper-middle class lifestyle to be radical. I think they would consider an upper-middle class lifestyle to be "comfortable."
I guess if Satan couldn't stamp out the church, he could tame it, pare its claws, castrate it, and turn it into something that would really not make much difference in communities in which they were. He was able to do this, not because he attacked the institution of the church, but by allowing the Christians to settle for less. Less surrender to Christ (because you are STILL going to heaven, right?), less concern for the poor (because you are STILL going to heaven, right?), less life change (because, you got it, you're STILL going to heaven, right?), less living by the power of the Spirit.
The true Christian isn't content with the prospect of simply going to heaven when he or she dies. That's great and all, but that's not the goal of the Christian life. The goal of the Christian life is absolute, 100% surrender to God. Heaven is just a nice perk.
I wondered when this happened. It wasn't that way from the beginning. Christianity, from the beginning, was a movement among the poor, the outcast, the downtrodden, slaves, etc. As a matter of fact, Christianity was a radical movement that challenged the status quo at every turn and called its followers to radical commitment to Christ. I may be reaching, but I doubt that very many sociologists would consider an upper-middle class lifestyle to be radical. I think they would consider an upper-middle class lifestyle to be "comfortable."
I guess if Satan couldn't stamp out the church, he could tame it, pare its claws, castrate it, and turn it into something that would really not make much difference in communities in which they were. He was able to do this, not because he attacked the institution of the church, but by allowing the Christians to settle for less. Less surrender to Christ (because you are STILL going to heaven, right?), less concern for the poor (because you are STILL going to heaven, right?), less life change (because, you got it, you're STILL going to heaven, right?), less living by the power of the Spirit.
The true Christian isn't content with the prospect of simply going to heaven when he or she dies. That's great and all, but that's not the goal of the Christian life. The goal of the Christian life is absolute, 100% surrender to God. Heaven is just a nice perk.
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