How Should We Then Worship?

A characteristic of Reformed churches is to think seriously about our approach to God in Worship.  Those who are new to the “Reformed tradition” might easily conclude that a Reformed service is simply a “style” called, “traditional;” as opposed to “contemporary” or “emergent” or “camp-style,” etc.

But that evaluation would not be fair to the historical and Biblical background for a Reformed worship service.

Consider first the context of the Protestant Reformation. The day was dominated by the practice of the Roman Catholic church. In response, the early Reformers did not simply say, “We don’t like that!” Or, “We can’t relate to this element of the service; let’s do something that appeals to our culture…” Their conviction was to consult the Scriptures alone to determine what it actually meant to worship God. The directives of the Old and New Testament worship of God were the foundation for a proper ordering (or liturgy) of a worship service.

What did this approach produce? From one “stream” of the Protestant church, the Lutherans developed a liturgy that is reminiscent of the Roman Catholic church in many ways. From another stream, the Anabaptists rejected almost entirely what was practiced in the Roman church. Again, other streams included or rejected existing forms, or developed new ones – yet all of them citing Scripture for justification.

The Reformation churches connected to Calvin’s Geneva had a simple worship service which included the following liturgical elements: Acknowledging the call of God to worship, confession of sin with the appropriate words of pardon, the reading of the law, the proclamation of the gospel, the recitation of corporate prayers and the Apostle’s Creed, the singing of Psalms, collections for the poor, participation in the Lord’s Supper, and a closing benediction. These elements have marked Reformation worship services for a half-millennia and are a matter of great importance because they reflect first of all, the directions for worship found in Scripture: THIS IS THE TRADITION of a Reformed church.

In some respects, these elements are not far removed from what is observed in Roman Catholic churches. In other respects, the “reason” they are observed is vastly different.

Is this a matter of theology or style? (More to come…)

Christian Worship Service

Twin Lakes Fellowship lake

Greetings again. 

So many wonderful things happening; but this post will be about my first attendance at the Twin Lakes Fellowship. 

This is a conference hosted by Ligon Duncan’s church in Mississippi (http://www.fpcjackson.org/index.html).   Sort of a “time of refreshment” for pastors.  I hope to update some links to all the presentations made at the retreat; but one of them was particularly satisfying, and that was by Terry Johnson of Independent Presbyterian of Savannah, Georgia (Yeah, I don’t get that name either, http://www.ipcsav.org/).  His message was on Reformed worship and could be summed up like this:  The worship of the Christian church should be based upon the Bible — Read the Bible, Pray the Bible, Preach the Bible, Sing the Bible, Recite the Bible, and if there is any liturgy required — make sure it is found…  in the Bible!

I was gratified by this message because it is a confirmation of what our services are like at Communion Presbyterian.  I invite you to link to our worship services and you will note that the whole service is DEPENDENT upon scripture (http://www.communionpres.org/service.html) 

And as the famous online video says, “If you are at a church, and you are not hearing the Bible… RUN!  GET OUT OF THERE!”

We pray that those who desire to be immersed in the words of the Bible will find a home with us at Communion Presbyterian (http://www.communionpres.org/).

2009 — Challenging Believers…

Here is the first entry for 2009!  I should have made it the first of the year; but today is gonna do.

The title for this post is the beginning of a phrase coined by the folks at Apologetics.com, “Challenging Believers to Think, and Thinkers to Believe.”

I mention this fine website and radio / pod-cast because it is a ministry populated with great folks who are on top of their game.  Of course, I’m foisting this adulation upon them because they have been gracious enough (Believe that!!) to have ME on their radio cast for a number of shows recently.  As a panelist, I have learned so much!  And I invite you to hit the following links so that you might become more familiar with this great organization.

Remember, you can always get this deft “expertise” every week at our church gatherings too

Happy listening:

Listen to RevK and friends discuss eschatology, the “End Times” as discussed in the Bible.
(Recorded February 7, 2009; 2 hours… Stay awake! The end is near!)
http://www.apologetics.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=320:eschatology-101-repent-the-end-is-possibly-nearer&catid=43:kkla-995-fm-los-angeles&Itemid=74

Listen to RevK and friends discuss the history and value of the Protestant Reformation.
(Recorded October 31, 2008; 2 hours… C’mon, indulge us!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBGzZYRVdWQ
or
http://www.apologetics.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=288:the-glorious-reformation&catid=43:kkla-995-fm-los-angeles&Itemid=58

Listen to RevK and friends discuss the impact of CS Lewis:
http://www.apologetics.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=297:always-winter-and-never-christmas&catid=43:kkla-995-fm-los-angeles&Itemid=74

Listen to RevK contribute to the show (via phone about 20 minutes in…)  ”Human Life and Human Rights”
http://www.apologetics.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=254:human-life-and-human-rights&catid=43:kkla-995-fm-los-angeles&Itemid=74

Listen to RevK and friends discuss,  ”Being A Missionary to the Missionaries: How Christians Should Answer The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints”
http://www.apologetics.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=228:being-a-missionary-to-the-missionaries-how-christians-should-answer-the-church-of-jesus-christ-of-latter-day-saints&catid=43:kkla-995-fm-los-angeles&Itemid=74

Listen to RevK and friends discuss, “20 Important Questions Every Christian Needs To Answer” (beware of the openning glitches…)
http://www.apologetics.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=188:20-important-questions-every-christian-needs-to-answer&catid=43:kkla-995-fm-los-angeles&Itemid=74

What’s the Reason for the Church?

I’m realizing that I am not a consistent blogger since I am usually writing in preparation for a sermon each week.  The sermons to which I refer are posted each week right here: http://www.communionpres.org/service.html .   The “highlights” from each sermon gets posted here: http://www.communionpres.org/readings.html .

At Communion Presbyterian, we concluded a series of messages entitled, “What’s the Reason…?”  This series tackled some controversial topics of our day.  (To listen to these sermons, check them out here: http://www.sermoncloud.com/Compres/ ) … Have I done enough promotion so far?

I’m posting a great portion of the sermon, “What’s the Reason for the Church?” so that readers might get my take (circa 2008) on the very reason for the existence of this entity called, “The Church.”   Happy reading!

 

INTRO… (a spoof article about a church that decided it was having more success as a coffee shop, leading us to ask the rather pointed question: What is the reason for the church?)

 

Are we simply a special interest group, a political action committee, a social club, a think tank, an artist’s community, or a relic of days gone by?

 

Again, the only way to answer that question with any specificity is to consult the scriptures and the history of redemption contained therein.

 

So a little review:  In the beginning, God created a place and put Adam and Eve there.  With those two people came the divine institutions of Family, Church, and Government.  Adam and Eve were to care for each other in the most intimate way as a family; they were to worship God in all their duties as the Church; and they were to manage the place where God put them as the Government.  All of this would be intensified as their family expanded.

 

Properly defining each of these institutions requires an understanding of the other two.  Therefore the church can be initialy defined as a family that is properly governed.  This is just a starting point – so let’s continue our review.

 

We know that Adam and Eve sinned, and lost their communion with God and each other.   As a result, all relationships are fallen, including the relationship among the BIG 3 institutions. 

 

However even as sinners, Adam and Eve teach their children to worship God.  Cain and Able bring sacrifices of thanksgiving to God. One receives God’s favor, the other does not.  Here is another defining characteristic of the church:  The church is a worshipping interprise – but some forms of worship are acceptable to God – others are not! 

 

Now, all of life is supposed to be worship before God – a reflection of how we value Him and His ways; but when the church gathers as a family, properly governed; we must do so in a way that God says is pleasing to HIM!  It cannot be the invention of our own imaginations or desires.  We must learn this from Cain and Able: that we must worship the correct God, correctly.

Because of Cain and Able, a division takes place in the family. God made a judgment upon Cain:  As a result, some of the people of the earth will be properly related to God because of how they worship Him, while the other portion of humanity, NOT properly worshipping God, will be under His judgment, because they refuse to worship and relate to God rightly.  

 

Problem is, who really wants to worship God rightly?  Especially when we all have so many new ideas about what life is supposed to be about and we have so many projects that are more important than religious observance? 

 

It’s because of this truth that God is required to step in in order to protect Noah’s family, and all humanity in a manner of speaking, by starting all over again –because no one seeks the standards that God has set for the world unless God graciously intervenes.

 

God makes another gracious move in calling and preserving Abraham and His family.  He establishes a unique relationship with Abraham so that through his faith and obedience, all the families of the world would be blessed by observing and following Abraham’s example.

 

Here we can expand our definition of the church:  A family properly governed, set apart by grace to worship the correct God correctly in order to be a blessing to the world!

 

Abraham’s family becomes the nation of Israel.  The core of Israel’s identity was their worship of the One True and Living God.  God installs three offices to guarantee the proper place of worship in Israel: the prophets, priests, and kings will all coordinate the devotions of Israel so that all of life would be worship before God (isn’t this just an echo of Family, Church, & Government? Prophet, Priest, & King?)

 

Even though the center of Israel’s worship will take place in the ceremonies of the Tabernacle and Temple – ceremonies that acknowledge sin, communicate reconcilation and express thanksgiving to God – EVEN THOUGH this was prominent, it was not the only place of worship for Israel – worship would also be expressed in everyday life – such as how Israel farmed and raised their children and kept their oaths and in how they cared for the alien in their midst.

 

Problem was, Israel didn’t maintain an exclusive relationship with God.  Not even the prophets, priests, and kings could keep their devotion to God’s standards, and Israel immitated the worship of other cultures and lost their unique identity, she failed in her mission, and forfieted her place of prominence in the world.

 

But God is faithful, and He again, will graciously accomplish His plans to bless the world through the remnant descendants of Abraham.  God would once again step in to protect a family line who would rightly worship Him.

 

Enter Jesus; the promised seed, the predicted heir, the anticipated anointed one, the prophet, priest, and king who would Redeem Israel.  Jesus, himself, properly worships God with his heart, soul, mind, and strength and loves God and neighbor truly.  Jesus is the true worshipper of God!  Jesus becomes the offering and sacrifice to bring reconciliation!  Jesus becomes the true source of all our thanksgiving to God for who he is and what he has done.  The New Israel, the Church, adopts Old Testament convictions as they worship God while finding Christ to be a fulfillment of all the ceremonies.

 

The point I’m trying to make is that God decides how to be worshipped. God graciously preserves a people to worship Him in spirit and in truth.  Those who do worship Him correctly become a blessing to the world.  This is the story of both Testaments of Scripture:  It’s all about the Lord calling a worshipping community to himself, and they act as a loving family – properly governed.

 

Now none of this is particularly earth shattering or revolutionary, it just happens to be the foundation for the church.  And since we call ourselves a church, we must determine what kind of church we must be.  And we won’t ever become the church Christ has promised to build if we ignore the proper foundation.

 

So what is the church?  A unique worshipping community that remains so, graciously, as a family – properly governed to be a blessing to the world.

 

When we see the New Testament church hatching out of the nest of Old Testament Israel, we find them instituting some practices that remain with us to this day because this New Church shares a common foundation with the Old Testament saints! Let’s look at their very first convictions and interactions at the very beginning:

 

^{Acts 2:38} And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. è Notice the call to repentance, promise of forgiveness, reception of the Holy Spirit.  Repentance and forgiveness were a part of the Old Testament, and so was the Holy Spirit, however, the Spirit would no longer be reserved for office holders, but for all who believe.

³⁹ For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” è The promise of salvation will be for everyone in the family, even children!  Why? How? Because they will be baptized into a new family.  What does the sacrament of baptism represent?  Being set aside from the family line under judgment and identifying with the family set apart to receive salvation.

⁴⁰ And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” è Look!  Peter is saying that there is a crooked generation not rightly worshipping God and they will be judged.  Leave that family and identify with Christ’s family in baptism and belief!

 ⁴¹ So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.  ⁴² And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. è What is the earlies activity of the New Testament church?  Devotion to the apostle’s teaching (the gospel), and to fellowship (mutual edification), breaking of bread (the sacrament of the Lord’s Table), and to prayers (for every aspect of God’s kingdom).  The question is:  If your church is not doing THESE THINGS as a church each time, then where are you consulting in order to organize your gatherings?

 ⁴³ And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. ⁴⁴ And all who believed were together and had all things in common. ⁴⁵ And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. è Listen, signs and wonders were an early sign of the church because the apostles were there.  This means that I won’t pray for the miraculous, but it does mean if a person demands “signs and wonders” in their church, I’m going to be contextually consistent and demand that they also have a “sell all your belongings and give to all in need,” in their church!

⁴⁶ And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, ⁴⁷ praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. è  Praise the Lord, He wants his church to grown; but not as a physical family but a spiritual one.

 

So here in Acts 2 we have described for us the commitments of the New Testament Church; but what is the REASON for the church?  Ephesians 2, starting vs. 4…

 

Ephesians 2:7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

 

2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

 

2:16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.

 

2:19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,

 

2:20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,2:21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. :22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. = speaks of worship

 

3:6 This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. = we must proclaim the gospel

 

3:9 and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, 3:10 so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 3:11 This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord,

 

è This is why we started from the beginning with Adam and Eve, God has an eternal purpose and plan for the world and beyond.  To establish a true family of worshippers who love the Father through the Son, directed by His word and Spirit; so that, whatever God is going to do in the world – WAIT, whatever God is going to do in the entire universe, He is going to do it THROUGH His children – His church!!

 

So what is the reason for the church?  To be worldly successful?  ABSOLUTELY!  As long as it is committed to her core identity: Proclaiming the Gospel of grace; establishing our uniqueness as a community that actually worships the true God!  Demonstrating our union, of which when celebrated in the sacraments of the church communicates gospel truths applied to believers, making them distinct from the world; and being disciplined in our calling to faithfully worship God as a family, to worship God by our obedience, to worship Him by being ministers of reconciliation — especially as we serve our fellow man in righteousness.  This is when we become a blessing to the world.

 

This means that we have some goals to accomplish our reason for being!

1 Worshipping the correct God correctly

2 Living as a family properly governed

3 Proclaiming the Gospel of grace and reconciliation

4 Graciously serving others so that we might be a blessing to them

 

How will we know we are accomplishing these goals?

-         Finding the directions for worship in God’s word

-         Acknowledging that we all play a role in the family

-         Living as witnesses to the reconciling power of God

-         Making sure that we reach every man, woman, and child within our circle of accountability with the opportunity to hear and respond to the Good News of Jesus.

 

I’ve always liked this description of the church best  è The invisible kingdom of God, made visible.  We become visible to the world when we worship faithfully – not just in a church service, as important as that is – but with all of our life, in every arena in which we live.  The primary place that we have always made a powerful impact in revealing this kingdom is in our families, properly governed.  This is why our first line of ministry and discipleship is to our families – when spiritually mature families gather for corporate worship they know how to demonstrate the priorities of reconciliation and the need and desire to minister outside the church walls to be a blessing to the world.

 

Congregational Meeting: September ‘08

Elder Sinemma gets graphic!

We had our 3rd “congregational meeting.”

The reason for the “quotes” is because we are not a full-fledged, particularized church — we are a mission church, an outpost for our denomination, working to become an “official” church.

If you visit us, you would think we’re a church.  We have a pastor, a board of elders (the session) and everyone in our fellowship is a “deacon” (we all serve the body in any way we can.)

But we are missing a key ingredient of a Presbyterian church = The congregation elects their own leadership! 

As a “mission” we have been supervised and supported by a presbytery which has appointed the present leadership.  Our elders (both teaching and ruling elders) are “provisional,”  serving until the “elected” leadership is raised up.  We have been existing with this organization for nearly 3 years now.  We have also been following a Church Plant Proposal first submitted to the presbytery and our launch team (this document explains our philosophy of ministry and includes annual budgets). 

Well, now that we are close to the end of a 3 year period outlined by our proposal; it’s now time to consider “particularization.”  But are we ready? 

Almost.  As far as sustainability is concerned, we could use a few more key families to help us meet our modest budget.  If our current rented space, program budgets, and financial obligations stay the same — we would be in survival mode for well over a year.  But we would really like to grow! We’d eventually like to find a place of our own too (but that kind of commitment, the purchase or long-time lease of a property, should really be a ”congregational” decision, and why we are now entertaining particularization.)

We would also like to expand our leadership.  Our provisional session has been tremendously faithful and well qualified for the task.  But there are only three elders at present.  It would be great to bring on more elders to help with the needs of the church and to promote the further growth we desire.  But new leadership should be elected by the congregation (again, the reason for particularization.)

So we pray that the Lord will accomplish two things for us: Allow us to grow so that we can continue to minister as a church in our community, and secondly, along with that growth, allow our congregation to discern who our future elders should be.

When we get closer to actually “particularizing,” we’ll outline how that process goes forward (Remember, it concludes with a huge balloon drop, so it’s pretty exciting .  Thank you for your support and prayers on behalf of Communion Presbyterian Church!

Golden State Tarnishing?

 I sure don’t want to sound negative because many things are going very well in life and ministry; but there is a hint of caution in the wind for Caleeforniya.

Busting deficits, renegade judges, fracturing cultural values, and the recent storm of foreclosures is pressing upon the public (not to mention that we have a “girly-man” governor — but I did!  And he is!)  Times like these might actually make people ripe for hearing the gospel message; but all indications point to a society that is becoming even more hostile to the Christian worldview — especially in California. 

All of this has led to a sad realization on my part:  I actually do not begrudge the several families who have left our congregation to find a new life outside the Golden State.  There has been a steady out flow.  A bit discouraging when attempting to grow something.  Some very wonderful people have “replaced” our movers — but there would be a POWERFUL community at our fellowship if everyone had stayed!!

This has been on my mind for a while, praying that a mass exodus doesn’t happen.  Then the other day, in a meeting with some local pastors and a lawyer arguing in the public square for historic Christian values; reported that we had better pray mightily for a number of cases working their way through the courts.  Cases that would increasingly marginalize the freedoms we currently possess as believers under our constitution.  The mantra, “As California goes, so goes the country,” was ever present…

Well if the whole lot of our nation is going to hell; where are we supposed to go?  Poland?

The Lord taught a prayer to his disciples.  The Apostle Paul taught a prayer to the church:

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Earliest 2nd Birthday EVER!

 We launched “publicly” on Palm Sunday, 2006 (that was in April!)  This year, Palm Sunday came on March 16 and caught us all by surprise!  It wasn’t the huge “bash” I had hoped for (that sort of happened on Easter with our best ‘post-launch’ attendance ever).  It really became a day of reflection for me personally to soak in the fact that we have been at this for over 2 years. 

Two years is really the length of time needed to  get all the “systems” in place (I don’t want to sound like a “wonk” here, but what I’m about to share took up so much of my time and attention in the first years.)  Here’s what I’m trying to say: by two years, the core church convictions should be rooted in everyone, the key assignments for weekly operations should be in place, and the default protocols for management should be guiding the ministry.  Did you understand that?  It basically means that the engine should be hummin’ and only requiring a little tinkering — no overhauls! (An overhaul after two years would mean needing another two years to get humming again!)

I mention this here because my work is becoming more manageable because of the aforementioned hum.  Despite the fact that there are still people needing visits, counseling, and prayer; and programs needing attention and oversight; the daily grind of “running the church” is noticeably less grinding now that everything and everyone is pretty much in place.

One thing that focused this for me was a presentation that I made at our “mother church” a few weeks ago.  I was given the opportunity to share the convictions of our church and the lessons we have been learning along the way.  Speaking to a group of people about our ‘reason for being’ focused my thoughts again on why we launched in the first place — and it was not to “manage a ministry!”  It was to proclaim Christ, to seek His presence in worship, and to make disciples (but these priorities are easily eclipsed  by so many ‘devils in the details.’)

By God’s grace, we are going to hit year three (by the Constantine’s Calendar, not the Jewish Lunar one) with new members joining, new opportunities to expand our reach, and new programs to tinker with as we seek to establish a church that reflects the visible manifestation of God’s rule — even at our young age.

New 2 Thousand 8 Year

Before the first month of ‘08 gets completely away, here’s an update on the latest.

1.  2.  3. 
4. 

1. Our 2007 wrapped up really well.  Our church plant has maintained growing and consistent numbers over last year at the same time.  Our Christmas programs were also “sharpened” and well attended.  The spirit of the congregation is positive and I am still personally energized about the work.  I truly believe that each Sunday is an opportunity for Divine appointments and a time to thank God for His Divine provisions.

2. Our January started with 3 important details of note:  First, my trip back to SC (with family) for the ARP’s Church Planter’s retreat.  We were hosted by First Presbyterian Church of Columbia and Dr. Sinclair Ferguson.  What a fantastic place and ministry!  The physical plant is phenomenal for an inner city church, and those who hosted us were incredibly gracious.  It was actually the best kind of vacation really: No planning, and just soaking in great teaching!  The wife and kids had a wonderful time receiving southern hospitality!

3. Secondly, My week-long trip meant another guest preacher =-) Dr. Timothy Finlay, my former Hebrew professor presented a message from Genesis 1 on the creation of humankind.  So many layers of insight from this passage to help us establish not only our worldview, but also our anticipation of Christ’s work for a fallen humanity.  One of our parishioners said, “Preaching like that makes me want to go back to college and learn so much more about the Bible!”  Very nice!  Thanks Dr. Finlay!

4. Finally, January is also “Founders Dinner” month.  This is a free banquet hosted by our church for the entire congregation designed to celebrate another year of ministry together.  The night features: our children singing, video reviews, encouraging statistics, recalling of our founding purposes, sharing goals for the future (chief among them: possible new staff position, and additional elders), and a gift to the congregation… a stylish T for wearing around town!

It was a very enjoyable night with more than just happy people — it was a gathering of thankful family members who know God’s unique call upon their lives.  We’ll post the videos on-line soon!  We trust that the Lord will make next January’s dinner a major, MAJOR event as we welcome more saints into this communion.

Peace,
RevK

Well Served by 3 Preachers

There is a leadership team at our church.  It is comprised presently of 2 elders and the Rev.  One of the priorities established by this team is to remain connected to our denomination — which is quite a task for a fellowship on the extreme west coast dealing with family on the extreme east coast.  As a result, I must make regular trips back east.  And as a further result, we must seek “pulpit supply” (folks to fill in when the Rev has his routine interrupted by travel, etc.)

We recently had 3 friends fill the pulpit:

 Dr. Ken Priddy– Ken is a “church growth” consultant with the ARP.  He’s got great credentials, and a very clear message on what churches need to do to remain healthy.  He also had a great topical sermon based on this:  Israel is found in the scriptures to be often alienated or dominated by a foreign culture.  This hinders them from pursuing the proper worship of God.  Folks like Moses and Ezra lead the Israelites out of the dominating culture so they can pursue the worship God proscribes for His people.  APPLICATION = Today’s church is dominated by a “non-Christian” culture (or should we say a ”hostile Christian” culture?)  What should our response to this be?  Nothing revolutionary people! “For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the LORD, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel.” Ezra 7:10

 Rev. Joel Pelsue — Joel oversees Arts & Entertainment Ministries in LA.  His message raised issues about Daniel in Babylon.  Joel established a premise proposed by Jonathan Edwards: The church properly functions when it accomplishes 3 things; 1) Pursues Theology, 2) Pursues Piety, & 3) Engages the culture.  When any one of these areas dominates or wanes, the effectiveness of the church wavers.  APPLICATION = Because of this trivium, Daniel would permit his name to be changed — it did not violate any of the 3; but when it came to eating certain foods, or bowing before an idol, or hindering his prayer life… these would have compromised one of the 3 priorities.  Because his convictions were set, his battles were defined, and though it brought conflict, as a result of it, he became a successful “minister” in 4 administrations.  Ergo, when the church maintains these convictions, they will equally gain success.

 Brett Bonecutter — Brett was called to pastor a church plant in the OC, one that HAD many goals similar to ours; but the project had to close down.  His blog speaks rather candidly about the things he has learned as a church planter, and in my opinion, his advise is sound and has been implemented in our work with success.  Brett preached an excellent message from Philippians, chapter 1: Reasons to Praise and Pray.  His sermon offered an excellent critique of what true “fellowship” is and how it is really lacking in the “mega churches” (or is it giga churches?)  APPLICATION = “Fellowship” cannot happen for 15 minutes after church with a cup of coffee and a danish.  Until we really serve side by side with someone and truly learn to love people “up close and personal,” only then will we capture what “communion” really is.

What did they all have in common?  Not to be too self serving, but they all commented very consistently at how impressed they were with the friendliness of our congregation, and with the “atmosphere / environment” that our people are creating.  APPLICATION = Thank You Lord for establishing this new work with people who are really seeking to welcome people into communion with them.

SDG,

RevK

Best Month Ever

We planted with an awesome launch team.  If you met them all, you would conclude, “This church cannot fail!  Look at the quality of people starting it up.” 

Well, that is human reasoning — and never the “factor” in a spiritual endeavor.  Our launch team, over time,  had a few strikes against it:  First, a number of families that helped us “plant” moved out of state, thereby, depleting our core group.  Secondly, almost all of them were driving into the community each Sunday — so they were not actively involved in the community or meeting with the locals outside of church events.  Third, we were comprised almost entirely of young families (which is great for a “family experience” at church, but most were committed to spending time at home with family rather than mid-week fellowships).  Fourthly, the pastor (yes, me right here) started his preaching campaign with some objectives not entirely embraced by new visitors (more on that another time). And finally, our initial location was a blessing, but not a source of excitement.

Well, by the time we made our move to a new facility (a year and a half after our start), the VAST majority of our launch team has stayed with our work.  We’ve also been joined by some wonderful people who have replaced the movers (a gracious blessing!).  Secondly, most of these new participants are from our surrounding community (with a mid-week meeting in the area starting to grow!). In addition to this, we are identifying local community events in which to attend, rather than designing our own outreach events focused primarily on our campus.  Third, our young families — they attract young families!  So yeah, our mid-week meetings are all young and childless; but having kids around means having fun around, even if it is just on the weekend (moms know how to get together on their own anyway).  Related to this, we are even more thrilled about our new facility and its childcare room.  Fourthly, the pastor has been implementing some personal guidelines in order to enhance his preaching (more on this later).  Finally, the new location is SO CHOICE!  Great street location, and just a more “church like” space (you should hear the congregational singing now!).  Each week, our “designers” make improvements, and each week we are feeling more like we are at home. (Still need to figure out how to deal with the sunlight filling the room and the A/C buzzing overhead).

All of that to say that September ‘07 brought us a lot of blessings in how a church plant measures growth and vitality.  Glory to God.  And may He grant us more favor as we seek to make His name known.

 View from the inside is a view to the outside

RevK