Good Intentions
Last month the Archdiocese of New Orleans announced the opening of their first offices on the Northshore. With the announcement came the stat that 91,000 Catholics live in St. Tammany Parish. With the population estimates at 261,000, that’s about 35% of the population. However, almost 50% of the population when polled claim to be Catholic. 22% claim to be Baptist, but actual attendance roles show only 7% of the population actually attending a Baptist Church at least 3 out of 8 weeks (3.3% weekly for Southern Baptist). Dave Olson’s research of actual attendance roles reveals that 24% of St. Tammany residents attend some kind of church at least once per month, but 64% claim to attend church at least once per month in our recent opinion poll.
Researchers call this the Halo Effect. We tend to give ourselves credit for our intentions when asked without knowledge of ability to fact check. Same holds true for voting. If polled 10-25% more people say they voted then actually did each election according to the voting rolls.
Question: What if we actually followed through on our best intentions? What if we actually did what we give ourselves credit for? What if we actually lived what we believe to be right and best for our families? Would the world be different? Would I be different? Would anything change? Is there a gap between your intentions and your actions?
James 4:17 says, “whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.”
Jesus can give us the power to close the gaps and live with intentionality, not just good intentions.
How to BLESS someone
Most people want to make a difference in the world. Ability, time, and permission is often in question among us church goers. How can I be a blessing to those around me? Here’s a simple strategy that anybody can implement. I heard this last week during the Verge Conference from Dave Ferguson. BLESS:
B – Begin w/prayer.
Pray for opportunities and open doors. Pray for the heart of God for those around you.
L – Listen.
If we’re willing to listen, people will tell us their needs, hurts, desires, questions.
E – Eat.
Build relationships. Do coffee or lunch. Invite someone over for dinner.
S – Serve.
When we listen and build relationships with people we will know what they need and can serve them.
S – Story.
It’s incomplete without sharing the story of Christ. His is the story promised to bring blessing to every nation.
What if you committed to do at least one of these each day? Just one. If so, you’d find yourself on the way to making a difference from where you are.
On Discipleship #verge2012
Got to catch a couple of sessions of the Verge Conference this week via Simulcast with some of our Northshore Church Multipliers. This conference and network has really stimulated my thinking over the past couple of years. Here’s a few big take away’s from the sessions we caught:
- “If God is a missionary God, we must become a missionary people. If God is an incarnational God, we must become an incarnational people.” ~Alan Hirsch
- The Jesus Mission = Reach, Restore, Reproduce ~Dave Ferguson
- “What if we took the words of Jesus seriously and didn’t water them down?” from the video Sara’s story. Incredible testimony. Watch it here.
- We all must live as missionaries. “A missionary sacrifices everything but the Gospel for the sake of the Gospel.” ~Todd Engstrom
- “Consumerism is a cancer that kills mission.” ~Jen Hatmaker
- “Live it or you have no hope of leading it.” ~Jen Hatmaker
- “If people imitated you, where would the kingdom be in five years?” ~Jen Hatmaker
- Does the church affirm comfort as a Christian virtue when Jesus affirmed death? ~Jeff Vanderstelt
- Most Christians are not willing to die for the one who died for them. ~Jeff Vanderstelt
- The Great Commission is to make disciples, not converts. ~Gilbert from India
- The fruit of the mango is a mango tree. The fruit of discipleship is a disciple maker. ~Gilbert from India
- Discipleship is leading people to an ongoing surrender and dependency to Jesus as Lord. ~Jeff Vanderstelt
- You will make disciples, but what are you making disciples of?
- We all look great from afar off, but are we willing to allow people to get close enough to imitate us? ~Jo Saxton
- You can’t be what you can’t see. From afar we can illustrate and inspire, but imitation can’t happen. ~Jo Saxton
“What if we took the teachings of Jesus seriously and didn’t water them down?” [VIDEO]
Sara’s Story. One of my favorite moments from the Verge Conference.
A few months back our church parked our trailer in a neighborhood under revitalization while we helped with some painting and home repair projects. The next week we got several lectures from Christians about how dangerous it was down there and how we should be careful. Sara’s question gripped me! “Who’s fearing for the safety of these kids?”
What would it look like for you to take the teachings of Jesus seriously and not water them down? Are we too concerned about our safety and comfort to reach out to people who need the Gospel and need real-time help? What if…
Multiplication Needed
We cannot fulfill the Great Commission simply through the expansion of existing churches. Nor can we accomplish our mission merely through the addition of new churches. We must focus on multiplication, planting a variety of dynamic churches that will grow and reproduce.
– Dr. Steve Ogne, via Dave Devries
Agreed. What if you had to fulfill the Great Commission through the people in your church? How would you plan to multiply?
Core Practices of Sent Living
We are saved to be sent into the world (John 17:18; 20:21; Romans 10:14-15). Unlike my email “DRAFT” box which is full of messages that are SAVED BUT NOT SENT, God desires that we live out our faith. How do I live sent? The past two months Bridge Church has studied the Core Practices of Jesus’ life and those closest too him. We’ve asked the question, “What DID Jesus Do?” Here’s the Core Practices of Sent Living and some of the resources we’ve gathered as we’ve journeyed through this series:
1) LISTEN TO GOD. Do I have a regular time I spend with God? Jesus spent much time away from the crowds connecting with the Father. If He prioritized it, how much more should I? Check out the booklet How to Get a Grip on the Bible for tips on starting a daily time with God.
2) BE INTENTIONAL W/PEOPLE. Do you see people as distractions or as people that God loves? Do others know you care about them? Jesus was always close to people who needed him. The Message Paraphrase of John 1:14, says “the Word became flesh and blood and moved into the neighborhood.” Are you intentional in your service and sharing with those closest to you? Here’s a booklet with over 100 ideas for Incarnational Living.
3) PUT YOUR FAITH IN ACTION. How are you serving others with your life? Can people see God working in and through your life? Jesus responded to the needs of people with compassion & urgency. 40 times in the Gospel of Mark the word “IMMEDIATELY” is related to Jesus’ ministry. What do you do IMMEDIATELY? SHAPEforMinistry on learning your SHAPE for ministry and consider getting involved in a church in a way that God has SHAPEd you.
4) GIVE IT AWAY. Do you live with generosity from your checkbook to your words? Do you live with open hand or closed fist? Jesus held nothing back for the needs of people, even when it meant giving his very life (Philippians 2:5-9).
5) TELL THE STORY. Can you share your testimony? Can you share the Gospel with others? Jesus shared the message simply everywhere he went. Check out http://www.WhatIValueMost.com for a great resource on sharing your testimony with others.
6) GO VIRAL. Do you have a desire to see the message spread and how are you using your relational influence to do that? Jesus started a movement not an institution. How are you extending the SPREAD of the Gospel from where you are? Check out this article on Utilizing Social Networking for Ministry for some tips on using your web influence.
7) LIVE SENT. What is God doing in the world? One answer: SENDING. God saw our deepest needs and SENT Christ (1 John 4:9-10). And today, he sees the needs of your neighborhood, work place, community and He has SENT you. Are you practicing SENT living?
Check out all the messages from this series and their intro vids here.
Saved, but NOT Sent
I’ve been pretty good at keeping up with email for most of my digital life, but lately my “Draft” box is filling up. That means I’ve started an email to you but I got distracted before I was able to complete it. If you’re waiting on an email from me, SORRY! These messages are SAVED, but NOT SENT.
Incidentally, I believe this describes many of us Christians in today’s Western church. We have been SAVED by God and put ourselves into the DRAFT box of church membership, but we’ve not seen the opportunities or necessity to be SENT by God into the world to used BY Him and FOR Him. Many Christians today are SAVED, but NOT SENT.
SENT is a key word in the Story of God. By nature God is a SENDER:
- He SENT Abraham away from Ur to find a promised land
- He SENT Joseph to Egypt to save his family from famine
- He SENT Moses to Egypt to rescue the Hebrews from slavery
- He SENT Judges to Israel to fend off enemies before the days of the Kings.
- He SENT Prophets to call the people to repentance and lead the people during the exile.
AND THE CLIMACTIC MOMENT:
- He SENT Jesus to die for the sins of the world and defeat sin and death through the resurrection.
- Luke 4:18, “He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind…”
- John 17:3, “this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have SENT.”
- 1 John 4:9, “In this is the love of God was made manifest among us, that God SENT his only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him.”
And He’s continued SENDING:
- He SENT the Holy Spirit to empower the church for ministry and multiplication.
- He SENT the Apostles to start a Gospel movement around the known world. Apostle actually means “sent one”
And continue through 1,000’s of years of Church History and you’ll find yourself in a long list of people that God desires to be SENT into this world for His Glory.
We are SAVED TO BE SENT into the world for His glory.
- John 17:18, “As you SENT me into the world, so I have SENT them into the world.”
- John 20:21, “As the Father has SENT me, even so I am SENDING you.”
- Romans 10:14-15, “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard?t And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are SENT?”
So God sees the needs of the world and His response – HE SENT YOU AND I. We are God’s response.
So are you living SENT? or are you content with SITTING and watching others? Is your church a SENDING church or a SITTING church?
This weekend Bridge Church finished up a series of messages called Core (get the series and their Intro Videos here). It’s all about SENT Living and this week’s message we’ll talk about some practical ways to Live Sent.
What are some ways that you’ve know people to Live Sent? How have you lived sent in your world? What are the implications of being SENT by God on our daily lives?
A great book on Sent Living is entitled Live Sent by my good friend Jason Dukes. Check out info and some of my big take away’s from the book here.
Viral Faith happens at the Dinner Table
“Pray that the Master’s Word will simply take off and race through the country to a groundswell of response” http://bible.us/2Thess3.1.MSG
In my last post I talked about 4 elements of Viral content. God’s design for the Gospel was for it to spread virally as we see in 2 Thess 3:1. Here’s one practical thing you can do to in this regard: have dinner with some friends.
One way the gospel spread in the New Testament was “house to house.”
- Acts 2:46 (NASB) “day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart”
- Acts 5:42 (NASB) “every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.”
- Acts 20:20 (NASB) “I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly and from house to house”
For the New Testament Church this was out of necessity – they had no buildings – and conviction – practicing hospitality was a core practice (Romans 12:13, Hebrews 13:2, 1 Peter 4:9). But there’s also a strategic advantage to using our homes and hospitality to spread the Gospel. There’s just something significant and sticky about sharing a meal with others that’s unforgettable and life changing. We tend to let our guards down around the dinner table and open up our lives to an extent that relationships are propelled forward and opportunities to share the gospel are cultivated. That may be why Jesus made this a core practice of his earthly ministry. One of my favorite post by Stuff Christians Like author Jon Acuff was about this:
What an ineffective communicator Jesus was by our modern standards of platform building. He could have spoken to hilltops of thousands of people each night, but instead he wasted time at dinner with a handful of tax collectors and strangers.
Want to change the world? It’s easy. Have a long, time-wasting, friendship-generating dinner with someone.
Alan Hirsch said it this way in his book Untamed:Reactivating Missional Discipleship:
If every Christian household regularly invited a stranger, or a poor person, or a work colleague into their home for a meal with the family once a week, we would literally change the world by eating!
Sounds like fun to me! Allow your home to be more than a refuge from the world. Use hospitality and meal making as a platform for your faith in Christ and a way to build relationships that will lead to the gospel spreading. So, pull out the favorite recipe’s, clear off the dining table, open up your life, invite a neighbor over, and go viral w/your faith.
Viral Faith
“Pray that the Master’s Word will simply take off and race through the country to a groundswell of response” http://bible.us/2Thess3.1.MSG
And that’s exactly what it did in the early days of the New Testament Church. But today we face slow declines. We bemoan the loss of Biblical values in the culture and it’s hard to see churches struggle to survive. But the worst part is that the message no longer races through the country, person to person, house to house, village to village, country to country.
Yesterday at Bridge Church we talked about how to have viral faith as part of our Core Practices message series. We know about 
viral things mainly from our favorite Youtube Videos that have been passed around through our social networks and email inboxes. Seth Godin mentions 4 things that have to be present for some content to go viral. His list is instructive in relation to the spread of the Gospel:
1. The content has to be understood. Recently our Association partnered with the LA Baptist Convention on a first of its kind opinion poll related to Northshore residents views on religion and church. One of the questions was: “How can a person become a Christian.” Over 80% could not explain how to become a Christian in the estimation of the operator. But interestingly enough only 31% of self-identified Southern Baptist, 34% of non-denominational, 8% of charismatics, 15% of Methodists could give a clear answer. Good question: Do I understand the gospel and can I explain it in a way that others can understand and can pass along?
2. There has to be a desire for others to know about it. We tend to pass on and create buzz about what is important to us. Today, church leaders are in the buzz creating business, but usually it’s creating buzz about programs that will keep us coming to church. There’s little desire to see the Gospel set people free around us. It was Charles Spurgeon who said, “Have you no wish for others to be saved? Then you are not saved yourself. Be sure of that.” Do I have a desire for others to know Christ? As a church leader is there a growing desire in my church for others to know?
3. There’s a belief that passing it on has personal and corporate benefits. What’s the benefits to spreading the Gospel? We have to look deeper than the skin and we have to be willing to look to others. There’s great benefit to obeying Jesus, like his promised presence with us and eternal reward for faithfulness (Matthew 28:19-20, John 14:21 & 23). And there’s the benefit to society of a message that can transform people and cultures. In our concern to fit church into people’s schedule and keep them coming through tangible earthly benefits, have we lost the viral advantage of eternal benefits and an other’s centered perspective on life (Philippians 2:3-4).
4. It can be spread affordably. Here’s a product that’s free and can be spread for absolutely free if so desired. It’s free to us and free to spread, but a high price was paid for us to have the opportunity to know and make it known. Jesus paid it all. Our cost now: people’s opinions of us – “I don’t want people to think I’m a fanatic”, time – “I’m just so busy”, concern for others – “That’s their problem, not mine.” Small prices to pay comparatively.
This week I’ll be sharing some practical ways to go Viral with your faith.
Back Yard Projects
2011 was a good year for Back Yard Projects. This warm weather’s got me dreaming again:
Club House. We’ve got a traditional swing in our subdivision playground, so I wanted to do something a little different. Found the plans here. Started on Memorial Day, finished on 4th of July. I know, I ‘m an amateur.
Garden Boxes. I grew up gardening for my grandparents for $5 an hour after school. Guess I got hooked. Contact me if you’d like some homegrown pickled okra, or get on my list for cucumber give aways starting in June. Great stress relief and many multiplication lessons learned.
Pergola. Thanks to Brad Gerken with Gerken Homes for this project. All Louisiana Cypress. Still have to get the rest of the concrete poured. And hopefully an outdoor fireplace and kitchen built under this.
With a third Corley Kid coming this Spring and more space needed, this picture posted by Ben Arment has me thinking about a 2012 project… The Office Shed.
