Monday, December 19, 2011

Why Plant Another Church In Christian America (Part 4)


The most common question I’m asked these days about launching a church into Spokane is, “So, do you have a building?”  While this is obviously a relevant question, it definitely stirs my thinking since my own definition of “church” looks like people gathering together to worship and serve, not a building.  I think most people asking me about a building simply mean, “Do you have a place to meet together?” but it also speaks to the need for us to see church life through a wider lens. 

The frequent misconception of church as a steepled building is a big one in North America, where we have all-too-often altered Jesus’ words, “On this rock I will build my church,” to mean building a structure of brick, wood or steel, panes of glass, stages and lights, when He was actually talking about people being drawn together by His grace through faith in His saving power.  We may know this in our heads but here’s a reminder:  Church is people.  Church is a community of believers.  Church is about relationship, discipleship and mission together.  And that church can meet anywhere.  It can also go anywhere since the people aren’t limited to a facility.

Missional community
Every few weeks in Spokane a really cool thing happens.  Instead of holding their normal church gathering Vintage Church goes out on a Sunday morning for a church “scattering.”  They understand something that I hope we as a church will “get” as well.  The whole church, not just an exclusive or elite team, is involved in serving the community together.  There is an understanding that community is important and that a Christian community thrives best when it includes serving others together.

I dream about a vibrant community of believers like this that demonstrates genuine love for one another in the way we relate not only to each other, but also in the way we serve the people and community of Spokane.  Even while it is still barely more than a “twinkle in my eye” Grace Church Spokane already exists to serve.  I envision a community centered around Christ that turns to face outward, embracing neighborhoods, people groups and even other nations together.  I’d bet that many people who have said, “I like Jesus but I avoid the church,” haven’t experienced church like this.  We want to give them the opportunity.

Every Member Involved
While training is important and necessary, it doesn’t take a seminary-trained theologian to tell someone what God has done in his or her life.  While there are always more answers to be found to difficult questions, even the newest believer can share with a friend how God has changed his or her life!  Every follower of Jesus has a unique story to tell, and we want to equip and encourage people to share their own story of how Jesus has impacted their lives.  Through relationship, through service and even through structured invitational events there will be many opportunities to engage friends, family and neighbors with the power and grace of God.

Making disciples
In their book, Breaking the Missional Code, Ed Stetzer and David Putman say, “Making and multiplying disciples involves three things:  (1) living like Jesus lived, (2) loving like Jesus loved, and (3) leaving behind what Jesus left behind.”  To put it simply, we really want to do this!  We want to help others do this!  We want to see the people we love and serve become mature believers who live and love like Jesus, leaving behind things that stand in the way of His calling in our lives. 

·        We aim to be a missional community where every member is involved in making disciples of Jesus.

The more I think, dream, pray and plan toward leading and serving a church that embraces being a missional, disciple-making community the more excited and full of faith I become!  Please pray for my family and for those that are planning on coming with us into this new adventure in God.  Pray that God enables us to live out what we believe He is challenging us to do!  Allow me to be so bold as to challenge you to consider whether you may be called to be a part of this team!

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Why Plant Another Church in Christian America? Part 3


Do The Words Church And “Passion” Really Go Together?
When I was a kid I was passionate about baseball!  I was a Kansas City Royals fan and was especially proud of my George Brett rookie card.  On occasion I would join the enthusiastic crowds of Royals fans who would do the wave, catch peanuts from the vendors and cheer wildly for the team.  I spent most of my allowance money every month for four years buying trading cards, and spent many Saturday afternoons playing ball on the make-shift diamond my friends and I had created behind our house.  I even tried running a baseball card shop out of my bedroom.  You could say it was my “first love.”

Then there were things like golf.  And tennis.  And bass fishing shows.  For some reason my dad loved to watch these on TV, yet to me they seemed to involve a lot of sitting, waiting and being quiet (except for John McEnroe, whose antics broke the monotony!).  In my young view of the world, this so-called entertainment was best described by words like “dry,” “boring,” “slow” and “un-fun,” remarkably similar to the way many people think of church.  With that in mind, as Grace Church Spokane:

·        We purpose to develop passionate worshipers of Jesus who continually grow in grace, truth, gifting and service to God and to people.

Developing Passionate Worshipers
Wholehearted, passionate enjoyment of God and of the people of God is His plan for us even though, as I stated above, that’s probably not what would come to mind if one were to ask the average American his or her thoughts on church!  However, the Bible is clear that throughout our daily lives and when we come together to worship Jesus, being with Him should be characterized by words like “joy,” “amazement,” “celebration,” “awe” and “vision.”  Our songs should reflect that.  So should everything else we do.  So, what changes “stuffy religion” into a life of genuine passion about Jesus?

Passionately Growing in Grace
Understanding and experiencing the undeserved forgiveness and favor of God produces a grateful people!  The truth that we have been saved by God’s grace rather than our good works sets us free, and the reality of friendship with God will be increasingly demonstrated through our lives together.  As a gathered community who knows that God is pleased with us and actually likes us, we’ll be a “dangerous,” contagious bunch!  We hope the contagion of God’s grace inspires everyone who encounters Grace Church Spokane, and that our life together rings with the vibrant worship that comes from confidence in Christ. 

Passionately Growing in Truth
The message of God’s grace and love receives its potency by remaining firmly rooted and grounded in the teaching of the Bible.  In fact, if a people were to lose the moorings of Scripture they would soon find themselves losing the very freedom it declares!  Learning the depths of this freedom is no dry theoretical study but is rather the opportunity to engage with God Himself through His own words; to learn how He feels, what He thinks, and what His plan and purpose is for us and for the world.  It’s from growing in the truth that we find out about His plan to save sinners, heal the sick and broken-hearted, reconcile families and nations, and ultimately restore all of creation for His glory!  For this reason, we know passionate followers of Jesus will desire to continue growing in their knowledge of God. 

Passionately Growing in Gifting & Service
Jesus is a servant and He’s really good at it.  He came to serve through sacrifice, doing what only He could do – living a perfect life, dying as the perfect payment for our sin, and rising again from the dead, forever victorious over sin and death.  He knew His unique purpose that no one else could ever fulfill, yet He also served people in practical ways like washing their feet and feeding them, because He wanted to demonstrate God’s heart of love.  Now, as we spend time with Jesus we discover more and more the unique purpose for which He has created us.  We also find that we reflect more and more of His heart to serve others.  Not only do we find fulfillment when we develop what He has planted into us, but others are encouraged as well when we serve them.

I Want To Be A Part Of This
The people of Spokane are uniquely created by God.  We want them to know it, and to know God’s heart for them.  I believe this is best revealed through a Christian community that is passionately alive in Christ, rooted in the truth and power of His Word, and that serves the city in love.  I want to be a part of a church community like this.  I know there are people in Spokane waiting for something like this, even though they may not know it yet…  Next time, we’ll develop the idea of being a community on mission together in this wonderful city.