I am so excited to say that we have had an awesome last couple of weeks meeting on Sunday mornings. Over the last 7 months we had been meeting on Monday nights once a month and then eventually twice a month. So to take the step of meeting weekly has been an awesome undertaking as well as amazing opportunity to see God at work. Here are some things that I experienced today:
We have an amazing team of people that are taking the mission of “Developing relational environments where people can become followers of Jesus” to a Sunday morning.
Lives are being impacted by the Gospel. We are seeing people come face to face with Jesus in amazing ways.
The “Sex, Money, Power: A Man Series” GRUNT. Is being used to enable men to see specific areas of life through the Bible and the power of the Holy Spirit. We have been told of miracles in marriages being restored, Fathers seeing the need to lead spiritually in their homes, and hearts being softened to take deep steps in following Jesus.
That taking care of the custodians in the school we meet at is not an add on but a ministry that is breaking down barriers to the Gospel.
As we finish this series this Sunday on Halloween I am excited to all our families dress up for church and have fun as a team. It will be a great lead into Novembers series “NO PERFECT PEOPLE ALLOWED” I am so pumped to see what happens next.
I hear people all the time say that they don’t need to be a part of a church to be able to be a follower of Jesus. But there is a problem with that. All of the one another’s that Jesus talks about in the New Testament. Now I have to honest there are some people that think sitting in a booth at a restaurant is going to church. It is not going to church it is hanging out. We all need to be involved in a church body because the church body needs each of us.
Hebrews 10:25 (NLT) And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of his coming back again is drawing near.
I think that unfortunately most people that say they don’t need to be a part of a church is because they were hurt. They were not what the verse says above “ENCOURAGED”. What are the things that we can be doing to encourage people? What are ways that people can see the church as something special, something as a place to be encouraged not discouraged?
It is amazing to me that everyday we have the capacity to love and to hurt people. We are able to use the hands that the Lord has given to us to hinder or help. I pray that each and everyday that we seek to use our hands to love people to the place where they see Jesus. May we see each day as an opportunity to use our hands to love God and love others.
It was a couple of years ago that I was reading Erwin McManus’s book “The Barbarian Way” when I was struck with one of his chapters. At the beginning of the chapter there is an amazing picture of a tiger wearing a crown, the crown is made up of men wearing battle equipment. They are carrying swords, axes, and shields. He goes on to explain some of the names that go with groups of animals. Like most of us know that cows are a herd and we also know that sheep come in flocks. Then there are the vultures that are a committee and then there are the rhinos. These animals have amazing size and presence but they can only see about 30 yards in front of them. That is why this group of animals are called a CRASH.
Matthew 11:12 (NLT)And from the time John the Baptist began preaching and baptizing until now, the Kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing, and violent people attack it.
There are three thoughts that go with this verse. The one that I truly believe is that the kingdom of Heaven is crashing through this world. That since John began preaching about Jesus his kingdom is taking ground. What I also believe is that the church is suppose to be doing the same. The church is suppose to be advancing into the homes, communities, schools, and states through the lives of the people of the church. We are to be God’s people loving and advancing the kingdom in the lives of those around us. All I know is that I want to be a part of a CRASH! I pray everyday that God is leading this family, this church team, and this city to a place where it crashes into His grace and mercy.
Tonight is going to be the first major gathering that we have planned for Elevation Christian Church. It is amazing the feelings that I have been feeling over the last three days. I get excited about the possibility of a group of people that will be there that will rival most SUPER BOWL crowds. Then I go to the total opposite and think well what if it is just my family and I sitting there. Both are the pictures that run threw my head. But then I am reminded that I am only responsible to make sure that I care about one:
Matthew 5:16 (NLT) In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.
Everything that am to do in this life is to bring praise to my heavenly Father. I am to be concerned only that Jesus is praised and that am doing all I can to let people know about Him. But you know what it is still a struggle, but in this moment right now. I am living for an AUDIENCE OF ONE. This is the most freeing thought that I can carry with me and you can too. Make this second, minute, hour, maybe this day a priority to live for just one.
