Looking into the Gsopels, there are some important questions that arise as to how Jesus chose people to carry out his plans. What attributes was he looking for, and why would he focus on those?
In Luke 10, Jesus sends out the 72. He doesn't specifically say what attributes are needed, but we can infer what attributes they may have possessed based on what he expects these people to do. For example, he tells them, "I am sending you out like lambs among wolves," which insinuates a level of courage that must be present. Some other attributes he looks for are patience, humility, boldness, and resilience.
In Mark 5, we see that faith is essential to being a follower of Christ, and with great faith, great things can happen. There is a woman who has been bleeding and suffering for 12 years. Seeing that no doctor has been able to heal her, she seeks the healing power of Jesus by touching the fringe of his robe. Her faith heals her from the life of suffering she had experienced.
In Mark 7, Jesus shows us that we must be intellectual in our words and thought to be a part of his plan. A story is told of a Greek woman who seeks healing for her daughter from a demon. Christ tests her by saying, "it is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs," referring to the cultural barrier between the Jews and Gentiles. But knowing that Christ came for all, she replies with an intellectually sound statement, "but even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs." And for this reply her daughter is healed.
Christ does not list off all of the attributes that he wants in his disciples, but he lets us know what he expects by showing us what has worked in the lives of his followers. He shows us what people had to do to bear fruit, and through these examples we can determine the attributes that must be present in our lives to be movement leaders for Jesus.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Sunday, March 21, 2010
The Bridge - Silver Spring
Today I got a chance to visit a unique church plant in Silver Spring called, "The Bridge". The church was unique for a few reasons. To begin, it was located in a movie theatre on the downtown block. This is a trend for many church plants these days, but it still strikes me as a really innovative idea, having grown up in stand-alone church buildings my whole life. The movie theatre brings in a lot of people who wouldn't normally come to church because of its comfortable, casual, and entertaining feel. You never know, somebody could walk in planning to see a movie and end up getting a sermon instead. Another uniqueness about this church was the diversity present in its body. The Bridge ministers to people of different colors, ages, and social backgrounds. The diversity of the church overwhelmed me with a sense of awe for the way that God works in people of all walks of life. Sitting in a church in Silver Spring with people much different than I, I could still feel the presence of the same God working in the same way to different people. A final observation I made of The Bridge that I really enjoyed was the passion in worship exhibited. Not only did the church show passion in worship songs, but also in the sermon and in the prayers. We weren't there just be a fly on the wall, we were there to worship something greater than ourselves and it was clear by the passion exhibited.
After the service, we got a chance to have a conversation with lead pastor, Jumain Jones. He offered some insight on defining a personal spiritual path and also gave us a bit of background for The Bridge. Planting a church is not an easy task, but its amazing to see the power of prayer in this ministry. The ministry takes an active role in the community and serves people every day in some very unique ways. This church is a great example of a movement that is moving, there is still a lot to be done in Silver Spring, but it is catching fire.
After the service, we got a chance to have a conversation with lead pastor, Jumain Jones. He offered some insight on defining a personal spiritual path and also gave us a bit of background for The Bridge. Planting a church is not an easy task, but its amazing to see the power of prayer in this ministry. The ministry takes an active role in the community and serves people every day in some very unique ways. This church is a great example of a movement that is moving, there is still a lot to be done in Silver Spring, but it is catching fire.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
A Movement Ethos
"In order to recover the missional vitality of the early church, we have to reawaken a virile movement ethos in so many of the organizations we inhabit. And to do that we need to "shed all that which does not matter" and get back to the uncluttered way of Jesus." -Alan Hirsch, The Forgotten Ways
Creating a movement ethos is the best way for the church of today to get past the institutionalism that has been created over the years. There is a fine line that distinguishes the difference between movement and institution. Namely, the biggest thing from my point of view is that movements call for productivity, while institutions call for maintenance. Movements are more based on fundamentals and ideals presented in the Bible for how to best follow the way. Institutions tend to be based more on rituals, traditions, and structure, even if this means compromising solid opportunities.
Movement gets back to the core of what Christianity truly is, as presented by the early church in the book of Acts. Movement involves people who are committed to change, and are willing to engage others in influencing the spread of opposition to the established form. Movements are what becomes more visible to the rest of the world because they go against the grain to drive the point home. For example, movement is exemplified in many grassroots human efforts because they take people who are less capable and help them to get back on their feet and join the cause.
Institutionalism slows down and often halts movements. This occurs when programming, organization, and administration become the main focuses and replace the vision, mission, and beliefs that once started the movement.
The difference between movement and institution is similarly seen by the difference between liquid and solid church. Liquid churches are responsive to the fluid dimension the culture of our surroundings and time period. Liquid churches flow with the culture to work effectively among those within it. Solid churches are generally ones that remain more static through the ages. They do not flow with culture because they attempt to preserve tradition and live on past successes. Solid churches are institutionalized.
Liquid churches, or movements, are more closely aligned to what is seen in the New Testament. By following this model we are able to found the church "in Christ". When Christians are joined with Christ and joined to his church because of this, then we have the "body of Christ". Liquid churches are free to express themselves however the culture sees fit, so long as they remain in Christ. Therefore, the institutional image is let go as the Church can reestablish itself as a prominent and active part of society.
Creating a movement ethos is the best way for the church of today to get past the institutionalism that has been created over the years. There is a fine line that distinguishes the difference between movement and institution. Namely, the biggest thing from my point of view is that movements call for productivity, while institutions call for maintenance. Movements are more based on fundamentals and ideals presented in the Bible for how to best follow the way. Institutions tend to be based more on rituals, traditions, and structure, even if this means compromising solid opportunities.
Movement gets back to the core of what Christianity truly is, as presented by the early church in the book of Acts. Movement involves people who are committed to change, and are willing to engage others in influencing the spread of opposition to the established form. Movements are what becomes more visible to the rest of the world because they go against the grain to drive the point home. For example, movement is exemplified in many grassroots human efforts because they take people who are less capable and help them to get back on their feet and join the cause.
Institutionalism slows down and often halts movements. This occurs when programming, organization, and administration become the main focuses and replace the vision, mission, and beliefs that once started the movement.
The difference between movement and institution is similarly seen by the difference between liquid and solid church. Liquid churches are responsive to the fluid dimension the culture of our surroundings and time period. Liquid churches flow with the culture to work effectively among those within it. Solid churches are generally ones that remain more static through the ages. They do not flow with culture because they attempt to preserve tradition and live on past successes. Solid churches are institutionalized.
Liquid churches, or movements, are more closely aligned to what is seen in the New Testament. By following this model we are able to found the church "in Christ". When Christians are joined with Christ and joined to his church because of this, then we have the "body of Christ". Liquid churches are free to express themselves however the culture sees fit, so long as they remain in Christ. Therefore, the institutional image is let go as the Church can reestablish itself as a prominent and active part of society.
Evangelicals in the US
"From 35,000 to 15,000 Feet: Evangelicals in the United States and Canada: A State/Province, Metro, and County Glimpse" is a report and powerpoint presentation put together by The Church Planting Center, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and
Dr. J. D. Payne. The presentation displays an array of statistics based on the presence of evangelicals across the nation from state to state. It also provides more specific information discussing the presence within specific counties of each state. Payne states at the beginning if his presentation that the definition of "evangelicals" used for this study was very broad, and therefore, the numbers presented are actually much higher than they are in actuality.
That being said, the presentation is somewhat alarming to the evangelical christian movement. Take my home state, Maryland, for instance. Maryland, according to this presentation has a total average of 8% evangelicals. My county, Howard County, has just 5.8% evangelicals. These numbers, along with the fact that they are likely higher than in actuality produces some disheartening information to the Christian movement. It tells us that although many would consider America to be a predominantly Christian country, we are likely more a country of agnostics and apathetics. Not every state is similar to Maryland, however. In fact there are some states, such as Arkansas, that have evangelical populations in the 40-50% range.
Whatever the trends may show from state to state, it seems to me that there is a lot of work to be done even here in the United States to ensure that the gospel is shared and Christ's love is shown to all.
Dr. J. D. Payne. The presentation displays an array of statistics based on the presence of evangelicals across the nation from state to state. It also provides more specific information discussing the presence within specific counties of each state. Payne states at the beginning if his presentation that the definition of "evangelicals" used for this study was very broad, and therefore, the numbers presented are actually much higher than they are in actuality.
That being said, the presentation is somewhat alarming to the evangelical christian movement. Take my home state, Maryland, for instance. Maryland, according to this presentation has a total average of 8% evangelicals. My county, Howard County, has just 5.8% evangelicals. These numbers, along with the fact that they are likely higher than in actuality produces some disheartening information to the Christian movement. It tells us that although many would consider America to be a predominantly Christian country, we are likely more a country of agnostics and apathetics. Not every state is similar to Maryland, however. In fact there are some states, such as Arkansas, that have evangelical populations in the 40-50% range.
Whatever the trends may show from state to state, it seems to me that there is a lot of work to be done even here in the United States to ensure that the gospel is shared and Christ's love is shown to all.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
The Numbers
The church movement is not all about numbers, but looking at the trends of where churches are growing, stalling, or dropping can help us to better discover why movement is occurring in the manner it is. The great commission calls us to preach the gospel to all corners of the earth, allowing others to hear the word of God and accept Christ as their Lord and savior. Below are some statistics about the condition of the American church:
Reported from American Church Statistics:
* In America, 3500 – 4000 churches close their doors each year
* Half of all churches last year did not add one new member through conversion growth
* Churches lose an estimated 2,765,000 people each year to nominalism and secularism
Excerpted from The Condition of the Church in America, complied by Andy McAdams
* 1,400 pastors in America leave the ministry monthly.
* Only 15% of churches in the United States are growing and just 2.2% of those are growing by conversion growth.
* 10,000 churches in America disappeared in a five-year period.
Looking at these statistics is alarming to me. Even though the church I go to may be seeing more people accepting Christ every month, that doesn't mean that the same holds true for everyone else. Thinking about the American church in a broader spectrum, it is alarming to think that the body of Christ is not being nourished in America right now. Most churches are not bringing in the sick and making them well. A lot of churches can't keep their members coming back. Pastors are getting frustrated and leaving the ministry.
The American church is in a crisis right now. American culture is in a crisis right now. However, it is times like these when we, as a body of Christ, start to see how much we truly need God's grace to make any of His work possible. The numbers are tedious, they show us that something is wrong, but the numbers themselves won't answer the call of God. The numbers make us lose hope, when they display the quantitative facts. However, this doesn't mean God has "stopped working" in America, we just haven't looked at the qualitative facts of what God has actually done. God will work miracles in America, we just need to trust Him and keep living out His word, no matter what the numbers may indicate.
Reported from American Church Statistics:
* In America, 3500 – 4000 churches close their doors each year
* Half of all churches last year did not add one new member through conversion growth
* Churches lose an estimated 2,765,000 people each year to nominalism and secularism
Excerpted from The Condition of the Church in America, complied by Andy McAdams
* 1,400 pastors in America leave the ministry monthly.
* Only 15% of churches in the United States are growing and just 2.2% of those are growing by conversion growth.
* 10,000 churches in America disappeared in a five-year period.
Looking at these statistics is alarming to me. Even though the church I go to may be seeing more people accepting Christ every month, that doesn't mean that the same holds true for everyone else. Thinking about the American church in a broader spectrum, it is alarming to think that the body of Christ is not being nourished in America right now. Most churches are not bringing in the sick and making them well. A lot of churches can't keep their members coming back. Pastors are getting frustrated and leaving the ministry.
The American church is in a crisis right now. American culture is in a crisis right now. However, it is times like these when we, as a body of Christ, start to see how much we truly need God's grace to make any of His work possible. The numbers are tedious, they show us that something is wrong, but the numbers themselves won't answer the call of God. The numbers make us lose hope, when they display the quantitative facts. However, this doesn't mean God has "stopped working" in America, we just haven't looked at the qualitative facts of what God has actually done. God will work miracles in America, we just need to trust Him and keep living out His word, no matter what the numbers may indicate.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Apostolic Leadership
Bob Roberts Jr. describes that one of the greatest challenges of apostolic leadership is communicating what you sense and where you see God leading. Actually, he describes several great challenges to apostolic leadership, but I found this one to be the most personally striking. It hits me because I realize that when put in a situation where others are dependent on understanding the God story we've encountered, we better be pretty good at explaining that God story or we'll lose those followers. Sometimes its hard to exactly sense what God is telling us or where God is taking us. I know that personally, I am particularly hesitant to tell people about a calling or encounter I think I've felt from God, because there's always that bit of reasonable doubt within me that says maybe I'm wrong. However, we have to tell a story if we want our people to move forward. We have to try and understand where God is taking us if we want to catalyze those around us into action. The story of God's calling is vital in moving forward, so as apostolic leaders, we must learn how to put together the story that God has developed.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Ember Cast Goes to Philly
This weekend Ember Cast had an opportunity to head north to the City of Brotherly Love for a weekend of brotherly love with a group of high school sophomores and their leaders. The weekend was an unforgettable one, and certainly an eye-opener for everyone. Specifically, the weekend took place in Chinatown, paired up with a Chinese American Church led by pastor LT. LT was a guide for all of us suburban folk, providing everything from directions around the city, to history of the city, to where the best places to eat were. But this weekend was driven deeper than just to have a fun time in Philadelphia. The purpose was to drive our group towards a few biblical truths through physical immersion and real-world application. The trip was designed around the three themes of movement, contextualization, and artifact/symbol.
The few of us from Ember Cast arrived a bit earlier than the rest of the group on Friday evening. We got a chance to link up with LT at that time and share an authentic Chinese meal in Chinatown. Having been our first time in Chinatown Philadelphia, this was a time for us to see the area and ask questions as well. The group arrived soon after and the weekend began. The first assignment was for them to break up into a few groups and take 45 minutes walking Chinatown to observe all cultural differences they could find. We then regrouped and discussed how these differences develop a different context for how the Bible can be shared.
After these activities we were taken to the room we would be staying in for the night. It was close quarters, but we managed to fit everyone in, for the crucial sleep they needed before waking up at 6am the next morning. Before going to bed, however, we a group discussion and bible study. One of the main pieces that came out of this was a time for everyone to look inward and find something they will change in their lives from this weekend. We also had everyone share their comfort level with the city environment.
The 6am wake up call accompanied a quick clean up and morning prep before heading over to Sunday Breakfast Mission to help serve the homeless. This is a center that feeds somewhere in the neighborhood of 200 people every meal for 3 meals a day. They house over 200 every night, and provide services for getting people educated, and employed. We served the center in a few ways. Some of our students were actually serving food in the kitchen, others were moving different boxes of materials, and the majority of us got the bear of sorting out the abundance of food donations found in the pantry. The center pulls in monetary and food donation from approximately 30,000 sources, so needless to say there was a lot of food to go through in the 4 hour window we were there. A huge dent was made in the organization before another team cam in to take over for us. Before leaving the center and heading off for lunch, we were given a tour of the entire facility, providing some history and understanding of what the mission and values of Sunday Breakfast are.
Lunch break involved a journey to the Chinese supermarket to eat in the food court there. Certainly more culture was to be observed at this time, as well as more conversation about the the evangelical movements taking place in Philadelphia.
After lunch the group we brought got the opportunity to link up with the youth group from Chinatown for a scavenger hunt around the city. Not only was this a great time for everyone to see the city of Philadelphia, it was also a time to meet with other believers and develop new friendships. Unfortunately my team didn't fare too well in the competition, but the memories of running through Philadelphia were very much worth the loss. Following the scavenger hunt, the youth group students got a chance to hang out, while Ember Cast and leaders got to link up to share ideas for how to make our ministries more effective in reaching our students.
A trip to Philadelphia wouldn't be complete without Philly Cheesesteaks, so as we neared the end of our trip, we made sure to stop at Tony Luke's for their world famous cheesesteaks. Debriefing time accompanied our dining experience, and before we got ready to head back to Maryland, one more surprise awaited. We were lucky enough to catch social entrepreneur, Chris Marlow, right after getting off his flight to Philly. Chris spoke to the group about following God's plans, regardless of how distant they may seem. He encouraged everyone to maintain focus on God instead of the world because often we forget about God's plans when we focus on worldly ones. Chris also shared the story of his non-profit, HELP, which works towards aiding impoverished cities through the love and mercy of Christ.
Overall, the weekend was successful in immersing the group into a new culture to better understand ministry, as well as to serve the needs of the people through the compassion of Christ. It was also a fun time for the group to bond and grow closer together. Most people on the trip hope to go back to Philly sometime soon, and I know I would like to go back too.
The few of us from Ember Cast arrived a bit earlier than the rest of the group on Friday evening. We got a chance to link up with LT at that time and share an authentic Chinese meal in Chinatown. Having been our first time in Chinatown Philadelphia, this was a time for us to see the area and ask questions as well. The group arrived soon after and the weekend began. The first assignment was for them to break up into a few groups and take 45 minutes walking Chinatown to observe all cultural differences they could find. We then regrouped and discussed how these differences develop a different context for how the Bible can be shared.
After these activities we were taken to the room we would be staying in for the night. It was close quarters, but we managed to fit everyone in, for the crucial sleep they needed before waking up at 6am the next morning. Before going to bed, however, we a group discussion and bible study. One of the main pieces that came out of this was a time for everyone to look inward and find something they will change in their lives from this weekend. We also had everyone share their comfort level with the city environment.
The 6am wake up call accompanied a quick clean up and morning prep before heading over to Sunday Breakfast Mission to help serve the homeless. This is a center that feeds somewhere in the neighborhood of 200 people every meal for 3 meals a day. They house over 200 every night, and provide services for getting people educated, and employed. We served the center in a few ways. Some of our students were actually serving food in the kitchen, others were moving different boxes of materials, and the majority of us got the bear of sorting out the abundance of food donations found in the pantry. The center pulls in monetary and food donation from approximately 30,000 sources, so needless to say there was a lot of food to go through in the 4 hour window we were there. A huge dent was made in the organization before another team cam in to take over for us. Before leaving the center and heading off for lunch, we were given a tour of the entire facility, providing some history and understanding of what the mission and values of Sunday Breakfast are.
Lunch break involved a journey to the Chinese supermarket to eat in the food court there. Certainly more culture was to be observed at this time, as well as more conversation about the the evangelical movements taking place in Philadelphia.
After lunch the group we brought got the opportunity to link up with the youth group from Chinatown for a scavenger hunt around the city. Not only was this a great time for everyone to see the city of Philadelphia, it was also a time to meet with other believers and develop new friendships. Unfortunately my team didn't fare too well in the competition, but the memories of running through Philadelphia were very much worth the loss. Following the scavenger hunt, the youth group students got a chance to hang out, while Ember Cast and leaders got to link up to share ideas for how to make our ministries more effective in reaching our students.
A trip to Philadelphia wouldn't be complete without Philly Cheesesteaks, so as we neared the end of our trip, we made sure to stop at Tony Luke's for their world famous cheesesteaks. Debriefing time accompanied our dining experience, and before we got ready to head back to Maryland, one more surprise awaited. We were lucky enough to catch social entrepreneur, Chris Marlow, right after getting off his flight to Philly. Chris spoke to the group about following God's plans, regardless of how distant they may seem. He encouraged everyone to maintain focus on God instead of the world because often we forget about God's plans when we focus on worldly ones. Chris also shared the story of his non-profit, HELP, which works towards aiding impoverished cities through the love and mercy of Christ.
Overall, the weekend was successful in immersing the group into a new culture to better understand ministry, as well as to serve the needs of the people through the compassion of Christ. It was also a fun time for the group to bond and grow closer together. Most people on the trip hope to go back to Philly sometime soon, and I know I would like to go back too.
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