Shel: I may not be quite as “baptisty” sounding (He’s a Southern Baptist Pastor)…but there are some great points in this…the key is after reading it What are you going to do?

HOW TO INVITE PEOPLE TO CHURCH
Dr. Greg Tyree

It is a statistical fact that only ten percent of Christians have the “spiritual gift” of evangelism. It is also a fact that only five percent ever lead someone to Christ. This means that only 5 out of 100, or 1 in 20, will lead someone to Christ, and that only half of those who are “gifted” to, actually will!

But it is every Christian’s job to lead people to Christ, and part of that responsibility lies in inviting people to Church. Why should you invite people to church? There are at least five reasons:

1. They will hear the gospel at church; some may even get saved at church
2. They will connect with Christians at church
3. Felt and real needs may be met at church
4. Your church will grow by you inviting others
5. People are more likely to come to church when invited by an individual

Most Christians are nervous, or even a little “afraid” to invite people to church. They fear rejection, the loss of a friendship, or may feel that they will “mess things” up, due to a perceived lack of competence in this area. But you can invite others to church! You will be successful at this! People you love may come to Christ, and the church that you love may grow!

Inviting people to church is not so much evangelism/conversion as it is pre-evangelism. I deal with evangelism in another work; this pamphlet deals with the less-intense art of inviting people to your church.

Inviting people to church is not complex, and a simple “plan” may help you feel more assured and confident, and will certainly increase your effectiveness. I call this The 12-Step Plan to Inviting People to Church.

Step One: Have a Right Relationship with God

You must be right with God before you can genuinely and effectively invite others to church or to know Him. Let’s face it; if you feel that things are not right between you and God, you will not invite others to church. If you are truly right with God, you will certainly want to invite others to church!

Step Two: Have a Right Relationship with Those in Your Church
Likewise, you must be right with the people in your church. No one who is at odds with their brothers and sisters can effectively invite others to that contentious congregation. Be right with others, and you will surely want to see your church grow.

Step Three: Maintain a Positive Testimony Before Others

Your testimony at work, in your neighborhood, at school, in your family, an in society will have a great effect on people’s response to your invitations to church. When people see that you truly love God and others, they will be more likely to respond to your invitations to church.

Step Four: Pray That God will Give You a Burden for Lost People

You must truly love people to reach out to them. If you believe that people must be saved through Christ to go to heaven, and if you believe that people who die without Christ will go to hell, then you must have a burden that reflects this belief. If you don’t have such a burden, pray for it; God will give it to you! Remember, “You have not because you ask not.”

Step Five: Pray Consistently Regarding the Opportunity to Invite People to Church

Each day ask God to open doors for you that you might invite others to church (or to Christ). Pray that you will recognize those opportunities when they arise. Finally, pray that you will have the courage to follow through when God opens a door of opportunity. Look for windows in conversations. Listen for “life-events,” such as crises, trauma, conflict, or others, that may predispose someone to be more open to a church invitation. It is not rocket science; simply “ask.” Say, “My church may be a place that will help right now; won’t you be my guest this Sunday?”

Step Six: Try to Understand Lost (Shel: I think more of people that don’t know Jesus can be a central part of their life) People as Much as Possible

The biggest error many Christians make regarding their relationship with lost people is failing to understand how lost people think. Try to “stay in tune” with how your friends and relatives “think.” Read popular contemporary novels, listen to some secular music, watch some blockbuster movies, and just “listen” to what’s “out there.” The better you understand them, the better you can relate to them; the better you relate to them, the more effective you will be in reaching them. You can be in the world without being of it.

Step Seven: Get to Know “FRAN.”

FRAN stands for “friends, relatives, associates, and neighbors.” Make a list of all of these you would like to invite to church and get to know them better. Pray over this list, think about this list, and strategize how you will approach the people on your FRAN list.

Step Eight: Get to Really Know Your Church

You should really know your church. Know its purpose, mission, and vision. Know its programs. Know its facilities. Especially know the people at your church. Pay attention to your bulletin, and keep up with your church’s events. Surf your church’s website your church’s services, and participate in your church’s ministries. The better you know your church, the more effective you will be in inviting people to it.

Step Nine: Plan Your Work and Work Your Plan

People don’t plan to fail; they fail to plan. The same is true when it comes to inviting people to church. Most people simply don’t “plan” to do it. Be intentional about inviting others. Make a list of “prospects.” Think ahead of time how you will approach them. Build relationships that will open doors to conversations about faith. Hand out tracts, send cards or notes, and leave brochures or bulletins. “Plan” on reaching people and I am sure you will!

Step en: Be Prepared to Be Persistent

The honest truth is most people you invite to church will not respond the first time. Don’t be discouraged. They are not rejecting you. They are just as afraid as you are! If someone puts you off or flat out rejects your invitation, try again later. Use courtesy and old-fashioned common sense, but don’t quit on them! Also, keep in mind that you must invite many people to church to see one come! On a daily basis invite a few (or many), and in time you will see many of your invitees at church worshipping God!

Step Eleven: Have Faith that God Will Bless Your Efforts

It us up to us to “plant and water,” but it is up to God to “bring the increase.” Leave the results of your efforts in God’s hands. Have faith that He will honor your sincere attempts to reach lost people for Him. Have faith; God uses it!

Step Twelve: Share with Others What God is Doing Through Your Ministry of Inviting Others to Church

Be sure to share with others in your church about what God is doing in your ministry of reaching out to others. This will encourage them, challenge them, and perhaps give them confidence that they can do it, too! Remember, the more people who invite others to church, the more who will come to Christ!

Don’t let the 12-Step Plan intimidate you; it can all be summed up in the ABCs of inviting others to your church:

A- Always look for opportunities to invite others
B- Be ready to seize the opportunity when it arises
C- Communicate in such a way that says you care
D- Don’t be pushy; there may be future opportunities

For a very extensive treatment of evangelism, see my book, Winning at What Matters
Most: How to Lead Someone to Christ (www.leadingpointministries.com). In the meantime, get busy inviting your friends, relatives, associates, and neighbors to church! You can do it!

At Mercy Church we have since day 1 used the Christian/Church Year as part of our dating the sundays, readings and other aspects of worship. As we are now in the lenten season or the Great Fast, here is one person’s reflection on lenten fasting.

Today is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. Michael Scott Kelley

Ash Wednesday occurs 40 days (not counting Sundays) before Easter and is traditionally meant to be a time of reflection and repentance leading up to Easter. It’s called Ash Wednesday because of the primarily liturgical tradition of putting ashes on people’s foreheads in the shape of the cross during services on that day. The ashes are meant to symbolize repentance, an echo of the tradition of throwing ashes over your head to show humility and sadness because of sin. When the ashes are put on the forehead, the minister says, “Remember (O man) that you are dust, and to dust you shall return”, or “Repent, and believe the Gospel.”

That’s the start of Lent. And Lent is about remembering. And reflection. And repentance. It’s meant to be a time to focus for 40 days on the nature of the gospel, namely that Jesus was crucified for our sins. And we are meant to approach that reality which Easter marks with a spirit of humility. Traditionally, you’re supposed to “give something up” for Lent. It’s a fast for 40 days. (It’s called fasting in the church there are seasons of fasting with specific food items removed from the diet leading up to pascha/easter).

So why do this? Seems like a pretty outdated practice. And let’s be honest – we don’t like to fast from anything for any amount of time. So here’s a few reasons why I believe we should participate in Lent (and maybe fasting as a whole):

1. Lent reveals sin that we didn’t know was there. This is the case with all fasting. Let’s say you fast from food for a couple of days. You’re going to find yourself irritable and impatient. Let’s be clear, though – you’re not irritable because you’re hungry. The hunger has just brought to the surface these latent tendencies inside of you. So through fasting and Lent, you become aware of hidden sin lurking way, down deep.

2. Lent keeps the cross at the forefront of our minds. When you choose to go without something meaningful to you, you’re going to have alot of moments when you wish you could have it, whether it’s chocolate, meat, television, sex, or whatever else. Each and every one of those moments, you have an opportunity to think about the cross. It’s a steady and reliable reminder of the gospel and a way to ensure that we preach the gospel to ourselves every day.

3. Lent helps us be appropriately emotional about the gospel. A few years ago, I gave up meat for Lent. And every single time I saw someone eating a hamburger, I was sad. And then on Easter, when we had an 8 pound ham, I came down at 5:30 on Easter morning and ate with joy. As silly as that is, it helped me gain a small bit of sadness leading up to Good Friday and then a small measure of the great celebration of Easter Sunday.

4. Lent reminds us how reliant we are on God. You wouldn’t think that giving up sugar or caffeine for 40 days would be hard, right? But there are those moments when you’ve just got to have a Snickers. Or a coke. And in those moments, you have an opportunity to trust the Lord for the ability to say, “Wait.” It’s another way to move us (though in admittedly small ways) to remembering that we are completely reliant on God. After all, we can’t even stop drinking Mountain Dew for a season on our own.

So today is day 1. Let’s approach Easter and the resurrection of the Lord Jesus together. Mindfully.

Rob Bell on the Dangers of Video Preaching
from Out of Ur by A Leadership interview

He once planted a church by teaching through Leviticus. He can use a rabbit carved from a bar of soap to illustrate the nature of suffering. Google his name and the term “Sex God” will appear among the top entries.

Rob Bell is the most interesting preacher in the world.

The winter issue of Leadership features a wide-ranging interview with Rob Bell on the art and impact of preaching. His candid answers and down to earth advice for pastors may surprise you. Check out the entire interview at LeadershipJournal.net. Below is an excerpt where Bell discusses the unknown dangers of video preaching.

Your NOOMA video series has been popular. What do you think about the increasing number of preachers and churches using video technology to expand their reach?

It’s powerful but there’s also a dark side. Video is not church. You put images and music on a screen, and people will listen. But it’s also dangerous. You’re playing with fire. I think video technology deserves to be scrutinized heavily.

Go a little deeper. What makes video dangerous?

I don’t think we know yet what the long-term impact will be on disciple-making. In 10 years we may discover what particular kind of Christ follower is formed by video preaching. I see warning lights on my dashboard. It’s unclear what video may do to the ways we conceive of life together.

In the New Testament, there are 43 “one another” passages, and during a Sunday morning service you might be able to practice three or four of them. And as the service gets large, you can probably do fewer. A massive group setting is also dangerous.

You can come, sit, listen, and go home and think, I’ve been to church, even if you haven’t practiced any “one anothers.” And with video that only gets more intense.

I’m not sure that’s the direction we want to be heading.

We want to be calling people to deep bonds of solidarity with one another. We may gather in a massive group, but from the stage I often say, “This is just a church service. Church is actually about caring for one another, and serving one another, and speaking truth to one another in love. Don’t get the two confused.”

The evidence suggests that video can have a fast and broad impact. So what’s the alternative?

There is something more powerful than simply beaming yourself into other locations, and that is raising up disciples. Over time that will go farther and faster, but right now it will be more work and slower. With technology today it’s easy to spend all of your energies reproducing your own voice, but there is a longer view that says, what if instead of beaming video to those ten locations, we train ten people who can go there and lead? That’s a very basic question that should be in the mix somewhere.

Is developing other leaders part of your calling now?

That’s the reason we recently did “The Poets, Prophets, and Preachers” seminar, and it’s why I’ve got seminary students I meet with regularly. Meeting with them also changes my thinking because they ask great questions. There’s a reason Jesus sends his disciples out in pairs—everyone learns.

What do you teach these students about the spiritual side of preaching?

First, the public nature of preaching exposes you to a wide spectrum of feedback—from the really good compliments to really venomous criticism. Both can be dangerous because they lead to either pride or pain. We need to work at becoming the kind of person who is so deeply grounded in who we are, the work we are called to do, and the words we are called to speak, that the ambient hype that surrounds the preaching event doesn’t get the best of us.

It’s important to create a circle of trusting, loving people around you who will tell you the truth no matter what. They can help you think rightly about the criticism and keep you balanced. Preaching isn’t just about the sermon, it’s about becoming the kind of person who can actually handle the role. It’s like a Ferrari. If you don’t know how to drive the thing, you’re going to crash into a tree.

The Key to Everything
from Bill Easums Observations by admin

Every study shows that the most effective outreach/evangelism/advertising is friends inviting friends and networks. In fact, 85% of people who come to church do so because a friend asked them. Getting your people to invite their networks is the key to everything. The primary reason new church plants grow is because the pastor and key leaders are focused on inviting their networks to worship and the primary reason church plants plateau is because the pastor and key leaders lose focus on inviting people and begin to focus on the members.

So, what can you do to make this happen?

Here are some of the keys

* Passion about the Great Commission– your theology colors a lot of what your people think and do.
* Repetition — how often are you messages aimed at reaching the world for Christ?
* Ministries –What evangelistic outreach ministries such as “Servant Evangelism” do you have?
* Worship–how often do you mention in worship the need to invite friends and networks?
* Small groups– how often do they invite new people into their group?
* Staff–how often do you or your staff bring someone to church with you?
* Personal–How often do you or your staff actually lead someone to Christ?

Stott on How and Why Christians Should Debate Each Other

From John Stott’s book, Christ the Controversialist (Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 1970).

On what Christians should do when they disagree with each other:

The proper activity of professing Christians who disagree with one another is neither to ignore, nor to conceal, nor even to minimize their differences, but to debate them. (p. 22)

On why we should speak the truth in love, not being truthless in love or loveless in truth:

We seem in our generation to have moved a long way from this vehement zeal for the truth which Christ and his apostles displayed. But if we loved the glory of God more, and if we cared more for the eternal good of the souls of men, we would not refuse to engage in necessary controversy, when the truth of the gospel is at stake.

The apostolic command is clear. We are “to maintain the truth in love,” being neither truthless in our love, nor loveless in our truth, but holding the two in balance. (p. 19)

On the difference between a “tolerant mind” and a “tolerant spirit”:

We need to distinguish between the tolerant mind and the tolerant spirit. Tolerant in spirit a Christian should always be, loving, understanding, forgiving and forbearing others, making allowances for them, and giving them the benefit of the doubt, for true love “bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” [1 Cor. 13:7]. But how can we be tolerant in mind of what God has plainly revealed to be either evil or erroneous? (p.

I think Stott would have liked something G. K. Chesterton once said: “The object of opening the mind, as of opening the mouth, is to shut it again on something solid” (The Autobiography, vol. 16 of The Collected Works of G. K. Chesterton [San Francisco: Ignatius, 1988], 212).

Five Tests A Church Planter Will Face – Part Two of Two
from Perry Noble dot com by perry

Continuing yesterday’s post…

#3 – The Faith Test

Hebrews 11:1 says that faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

Hebrews 11:6 says that without faith it is IMPOSSIBLE to please God.

SO…if your vision seems “impossible,” if failure is absolutely certain unless God somehow gets involved…then I would say that you are probably on the right track.

(Please remember that there is a fine line between faith and stupidity…which is why it is SO essential to make sure you have heard from God and didn’t just eat some bad pizza!)

AND…church planter…the further along you get in the process the larger the steps of faith He commands us to take. Don’t EVER make the foolish assumption that one day the decisions somehow “get easier.” If we are walking with God He will always lead us to the place where we are desperate for Him!

#4 – The Commitment Test

There is a HUGE difference between a group of people who LIKE your church and then those who are actually committed to it…and sooner or later (usually better if you do it sooner) you’ve GOT to ask for commitment.

So many pastors are scared to do this because of a fear that they might scare some people away. Let me make you a promise…YOU WILL! BUT…as pastors and leaders in the church it is not our job to DO all of the ministry…but to train and equip the body to serve the body (see Ephesians 4:11-12.)

Too many professional church attenders are used to going somewhere where they “have their needs met” rather than being involved somewhere that allows Jesus to use them to meet the needs of others. Don’t be afraid to ask for a commitment early and often…Jesus wasn’t! (See John 6) Yes, He did lose some…but the ones who stayed with Him were able to see more happen and accomplish more than they ever dreamed possible. (See the entire book of Acts!)

#5 – The Focus Test

As the church grows there will be a temptation to do “more.” Questions will begin to arise such as…

* “When are we going to start a mid week service?”
* “When are we going to start a school?”
* “When are we going to start a mens/womens/singles ministry?”
* “When are we going to (FILL IN THE BLANK.”

For some reason church world has fallen for the lie that as a church grows it needs more programs and activities…which is why SO many churches get stalled out and stop growing. NOT because these programs are necessarily evil…but because they are simply not in the vision of what God wants for that particular church.

Every church planter/pastor needs to ask themselves this question, “Can God trust me with success?” BECAUSE…having success in ministry often leads to people completely losing their focus and they lead the people into being busy rather than being godly.

That is why a church planter has to KNOW what God has called him to do before he ever launches…because EVERYONE who walks in the doors of a church plant has a vision for it…and if you don’t KNOW what God wants (or if your scared to say no) then your vision will get hijacked and you will eventually be the pastor of a church that you hate!

He saved you…He called you…He has equipped you and He will sustain you…so focus on HIM and do what HE says!

Interview with Todd Hunter
from Reimagining Church by frankaviola

The following is an interview that I conducted with Todd Hunter recently. Todd was an influential leader of the Vineyard movement (a la, John Wimber). His story is interesting as he has journeyed from a Vineyard leader to the President of the Alpha course to being an Anglican bishop. After the interview I offer a few comments and reactions.

How and when did you come to Christ?

I came to Christ in the mid-seventies in the Jesus movement in Southern California at Calvary Chapel Riverside, now Harvest Christian Fellowship. Greg Laurie, the evangelist and radio teacher was and is the pastor. I was playing baseball in college and one of he guys on the team kept bugging me to go to church with him. I did and got converted. Lots of young people, Jesus music and Greg’s message—it was really simple.

Many people are interested to know why and how you moved from being a leader in the Vineyard movement to an Anglican priest. Can you share a bit of that journey? I tell this story in an upcoming book from IVP—The Accidental Bishop—due out late 2010. The title gives you a big hint, but the short story is this: it was completely unexpected. I was not a Robert Webber-ite or on the Canterbury Trail. I was not a charismatic or evangelical secretly looking to be more liturgical…or anything like that. After three intense decades in ministry, I was actually trying to semi-retire. I left as President of Alpha USA, I had turned down other high-level positions, and was looking to slow down, write, speak, teach as an adjunct and be at home more. But there was one more thing—and this is what tripped up my plan to semi-retire.

As much as I wanted to sit in my home office in Eagle, Idaho, stare out the window at the mountains and think smart thoughts and write them down or teach them, I did not what to become a loner. I wanted to do all that from the context of a local church. Thus I thought: maybe I could be a teaching pastor somewhere? That word go out and led serendipitously to conversations with friends attached The Anglican Mission. I resisted at first, but had a dramatic encounter with God that called me to plant, God helping me, 200 new churches on the West Coast of America. Readers can check out www.c4so.org for more our vision, values, etc.

Once I received that vision it became clear to my conversation partners in The Anglican Mission that I would need the appropriate ecclesiastical authority carry out such a vision. Thus The Accidental Bishop…

Along with a couple Catholics (Teresa and Dorothy Day), looking back I can see lots of Anglican influences in my life: John Stott, J.I. Packer, Michael Green, David Watson, Lesslie Newbigin, Roland Allen and Tom Wright, just to name a few. But still, I would have never connected those dots to think that I would one day be an Anglican—that was a big surprise.

What is your answer to those who would ask: “When you look back on the early days of the Vineyard where the miraculous was prominent, the meetings were informal and many participated in the gatherings, how do you view that in light of where you are at now in life?” One pithy answer is: spontaneity is over rated! Just look at American Idol verses Michael Buble. Seriously, I loved those times. I am not critical of the Vineyard of that era. I still employ the basic practices of hearing from God and seeking his power and gifts to minister his grace and healing to others. I have a chapter in Christianity Beyond Belief about this. But every model of ministry that I have ever seen has both strengths and weaknesses. I could easily be a Vineyard Pastor today. It just did not work out when I reached out to them in 2008 and I ended hearing this unusual call to plant Anglican Churches. But that is not a comment on, or rejection of the Vineyard. I did not “join” the Anglican Church as a consumer decision. I did not pick up a menu of ecclesiastical options and think, “I’ll think I’ll have Anglicanism”. I was called to it, and I accept it for what it is—with its particular strengths and weaknesses. My upcoming book from IVP—Giving Church Another Chance—spells out how I foresee using the various elements of liturgy as tools for evangelism and discipleship.

Tell us about your book, CHRISTIANITY BEYOND BELIEF. What is the main point of the book, and what has the reader response been like? It is kind of brain dump—sort of like “here is what I have been thinking about the past ten years”. I had been asked to write for many years, but I did not think I had anything original to say. Finally a couple mentors convinced me to write. With the help of a good agent and great editor at IVP, we formed a book that basically gives my spin on Wright, Willard, Peterson, Foster, Wimber, etc, all in way that says: Christianity is more than just what one believes. One would think that this does not need to be said, but evidently it does need saying. In the book I try to put “beliefs” in their wider story and context. I come out saying that to be a Christian means to have and live, through Christ, a certain kind of life. The New Testament calls this life “eternal life”. Thus I come out saying that to be a Christian means to be a cooperative friend of Jesus, who lives a constant life of creative goodness, through the power of the Holy Spirit, and for the sake of others. I then suggest a way of doing so within the rhythyms and rountines of one’s actually life. It is called Three Is Enough Groups. See www.3isenough.org

The reader response has been great. I get a lot of comments about putting into words what others have been thinking. Or I get complemented for writing a Willard and Wright for dummies. People tell me I make their work more accessible. I am happy to be their scribe and bullhorn. I very much doubt that I have ever had an original thought.

What are you most passionate about – what drives you? Evangelism and spiritual formation, learning an ever better way to understand the Bible and to communicate that to others in the cause of evangelism and discipleship. I would have rather been Billy Graham or even Greg Laurie, but it never worked out for me. Thus I have taken my twin loves of evangelism and spiritual formation, mixed them with my gifts and temperament and it has come out as “church planting” for three decades now.

What puzzles you the most about the Christian faith? Why it doesn’t seem to “work” better. That is the question I explore in Giving Church Another Chance. Why do people like Barna, Kinnaman, Pew, Gallop, etc, measure such low levels of discipleship? Do we have a deficient message? Model? Practices? Or What? I think this is why Foster, Peterson, Willard and Wright have meant so much to me over the last 19 years.

Who are the 5 people who have influenced your life and ministry the most, and how have they influenced you?

Chuck Smith/Greg Laurie: They gave me a love for and confidence in the Bible. They taught me how to teach it in relevant ways. They also modeled for me that peaceful, joy-filled evangelism can be done effectively through local churches.

John Wimber: Leadership; that leadership means risk; it means finding and following God. John taught us to trust the person and work of the Holy Spirit and to value the Kingdom of God as a present, but not consummated reality.

(shel: John was very ANABAPTIST in his views of the Kingdom of God AND old-school Anabaptist at that – believing the Supernatural exists as a sign of the Kingdom!)

N.T. (Tom) Wright: Tom is the most influential theologian in my life over the past 10 – 15 years. He gave me the Bible as a story from Adam and Eve to the renewed cosmos. He shows how Christians embody that story.

Peterson/Foster/Willard: In 1991 I was in a very low place. Foster, Peterson and Willard, through their writings gave me new life. We have since become friends. They are HUGE treasures in my life.

Max DePree: Max is the most influential author for me on leadership. His Leadership is an Art and Leading Without Power are must reads. He gives us an imagination for leadership that is simultaneously effective and ethical, results oriented and community building. He spirit, his ideas and his books are beautiful.

What do you hope to accomplish on this earth? What are your ministry goals? Be specific as possible. Many years ago I picked up a practice from my old friend Steve Sjogren of “Servant Evangelism” fame. Every time I see a penny on the ground I pick it up and say a prayer: “Lord, help me lead one more person to faith in, and followership of Jesus”. That’s it—everything else flows from that. No matter what role I’ve had over the years, I’ve tried to leverage it to that end.

Presently that translates to being the best pastor I can at Holy Trinity Church in Costa Mesa, California, the best bishop I can of C4SO to train and release new leaders, to write books that guide people to Jesus and, as an adjunct professor, to teach students at seminaries to do the same.

Are you working on any future books? If so, tell us about it. Thanks for letting me pitch my books Frank! Christianity Beyond Belief has been out almost a year. IVP is bringing out a paperback version of it this summer. Giving Church Another Chance will be out next month (February 2010) from IVP. The Outsiders Interviews will be out from Baker this spring. Using the groundbreaking research of David Kinnaman in Un-Christian, two friends—Jim Henderson and Craig Spinks—and I went around the country interviewing young outsiders and filmed and wrote-up the results. It is a “DVB”, a DVD and book together. I am really excited about it. I could help thousands of parents, grandparents, youth leaders and others understand the views of 16 – 29 year olds on Jesus and Christianity.

Reflections from Frank:

Thanks for this interview, Todd. I so appreciate your humility. And will point out that you and I share a lot of common ground.

For instance, I loved what you said about “eternal life.” The way I’ve put it for years is that eternal life is not just a description of longevity; it’s moreso a description of a certain kind of life-form. According to 1 John 5, eternal life is a Person. It’s Jesus Christ. He is eternal life. “I am the Life.” To me, the missing ingredient in the church today is understanding that the Christian life is living by an indwelling Lord. That’s’ my definition of “church” by the way also – a group of people who are learning how to live by God’s life together and display that life visibly.

Interestingly, Anglican theology is far closer to my views on God, community, and spiritual formation than what’s found in most of evangelicalism . . . that includes charismatic Christianity and its off-shoots.

I think this is why From Eternity to Here and even Reimagining Church are favorites among many Anglican believers. The difference in the latter book is that I personally believe that if we draw the theology of the mystery of the Godhead and community to its logical/practical conclusions, we end up with something more organic rather than systematic and hierarchical. Organic doesn’t mean that it contains no specific expression or organization; it simply means that the source is coming from the DNA of a life-form rather than the traditions of a system. And thus in the end it looks very different. SHEL: Now that cuts against all the arguments that Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholics tend to use for the exclusiveness of their churches!!!

The Accidental Bishop looks like a great read. I’ll add that one to my list.

One thing that concerns me deeply is the massive confusion over the word “church.” For instance, the title “Giving Church Another Chance” will mean different things to different people. This may sound odd, but that title could have worked just as well for my volume Reimagining Church, because I’m speaking of an experience of church-life that’s very different from the norm, but much closer to what I believe Jesus and the apostles envisioned church to be. Reimagining is also written for post-church advocates who have given up on any form of fellowship with the Body of Christ and would call Facebook chats “church.” Perhaps that’s part of your audience as well.

Those who are outside the institutional form of church and who are meeting in Christian community unto Jesus Christ as Head would probably want to retitle your book “Giving the Institutional Form of Church Another Chance” as it would be clearer to them.

I’ve written a piece that attempts to clear away the fog around the word “church” and how it’s being used today by those inside the institutional church as well as those outside of it. To my mind, it’s one of the most important articles I’ve ever written. It’s called WHY I LOVE THE CHURCH: In Praise of God’s Eternal Purpose.

Finally, I resonate with your observation about the Christian faith in its present form not making disciples. I have my own opinions on that, namely, that we’ve removed discipleship from its native/natural environment.

Well, those are my initial reflections. I really enjoyed what you had to say, and interestingly, some of the same people who have influenced you have also influenced me. John Stott, to my mind, is one of the finest biblical exegetes alive today. Wright has done some wonderful work. And I’ve always had great love and appreciation for John Wimber.

Five Tests A Church Planter WILL Face – Part One of Two
from Perry Noble dot com by perry

I love being able to chat with/dream with church planters…and one of the questions often asked by them is, “What is the one thing you would have wish you had known before you started?”

My answer is simple…I wish that someone had told me that the decision to launch the church was actually going to be the easiest decision in the process, that during the next year or so I would face five critical tests that I believe every church planter goes through…and failing these tests is NOT AN OPTION if I really wanted to see the church achieve its maximum potential.

Test #1 – The Financial Test

I believe that God tests every church planter when it comes to money within the first 12-18 months. I cannot tell you the number of conversations I’ve had with people who have said, “Things were going great until the biggest giver in the church got upset…and now I don’t know what to do because what he wants isn’t the direction I feel that God is leading the church…but he gives a huge percentage of the budget.”

First of all–EVERY church planter/pastor needs to understand that GOD IS THE BIGGEST GIVER IN YOUR CHURCH! If it’s God’s will then it is God’s bill…He knows how to take care of what belongs to Him. AND…if you sell God out and put your trust in a dude with a HUGE checkbook (and usually an ego to match) then you are nothing more than a prostitute. (Someone who is paid for a service in order to make another person feel good.)

We faced a financial test EARLY on when we started NewSpring Church. The people who were literally giving 65% of the budget and who were fully on board at the beginning began to back off as the vision of what we were going to do as a church became more and more clear. One night they asked me to come to their home, shared their feelings with me and let me know that they were no longer going to be a part of the church. (BTW…they did this in the godliest way possible, there were no hard feelings and verbal jabs on either side…and I still highly respect them to this day! AND…another btw…we hadn’t even had our first official church service yet!!!)

I would be lying if I said I didn’t have an “Oh crap” moment while hearing them share their hearts; however, I had made a decision early on that the vision of what God had placed in my heart was not for sale…it never has been and never will be.

Unfortunately, I’ve seen so many pastors fail this test because they depend on people way more than they depend on God. When your biggest desire is to keep the biggest givers in your church happy you have ceased to lead and are actually being led!

Test #2 – The Critics Test

One of the verses that has always amazed me is found in the book of Nehemiah.

Nehemiah is a guy who gets broken by God…who gets full of vision and passion…who risks everything to do a great work for God and provide help to a group of people who had all but given up. He wanted nothing more than to see the “impossible” happen and people have their hope restored…and yet some people had a problem with it! (See Nehemiah 2:10)

Dear church planter…you are foolish if you actually believe that everyone thinks that what you are doing is a good thing. SO…you had better learn early to develop thick skin and not lead through reacting to everything but rather by being proactive and moving on with what God has said…no matter what “they” say.

Your dream will be criticized…early and often. BUT…if God has set your heart on fire then DO NOT let those who have never actually done anything for Him define what they believe you can or can’t do in His name!

Seven Thoughts I’m Wrestling With
from Perry Noble dot com by perry
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#1 – Why is the church so content with being normal when God has promised the supernatural?

#2 – Why are some in the church obsessed with obtaining information but have no desire to live out the transformation that Jesus brings?

#3 – Why do some in the church excuse non excellent standards by saying phrases such as, “well, after all…it’s just church?” Our standards of doing things should not be lower than the worlds…they should be higher; after all, what the church does matters!

#4 – Why do we claim to follow a God who changes things…and yet often times we refuse to change things?

#5 – Why do we set our expectations on the lives that Jesus wants us to live so low when Scripture sets them so high?

#6 – Why does the church always try to control people when Jesus died so that we could be unleashed?

#7 – Why is it that so many church leaders would rather lead through imitation (becoming just like someone else) rather than revelation (listening to God and then doing what He says?)