Jesus Followers and Church Goers

Church used to be simple. People who followed Jesus went to church. They shared a common life and weekly routine. They would laugh about the CEO (christmas and easter only) attenders and cry over the occasional "hypocrite". Church isn't simple anymore.

Jesus and Church don't always mix. I've observed 4 kinds of people...

1. Do follow Jesus, Do go to church.

The good ol' days! People follow the life and teachings of Jesus and unite with a group of others to do the same.

2. Don't follow Jesus, Don't go to church.

I respect these people's honesty. They don't follow the life and teachings of Jesus and don't waste their time pretending like they do.

3. Don't follow Jesus, Do go to church.

These people give me ulcers and adrenal fatigue. They are involved in the organization of the church but don't or half-heartedly follow the life and teachings of Jesus.

4. Do follow Jesus, Don't go to church.

The next generation. People are leaving church to follow Jesus. This is a call for us as the church to follow Jesus again in a kick butt fresh expression kind of way.

Nazarene Government and Infrastructure

Wondering why this has bothered me...maybe I figured it out.

It seems to me that this structure is an internally focused church and does not line up with our core value of Missional.

Parishioner vs. Missioner

I found a new word in the dictionary that lights my fire!

Old School Word:

Parishioner = a member or inhabitant of a parish (church)

New Word:

Missioner = a person sent by a church on a mission

In a fight, who would win?

Parishioner vs. Missioner

out of shape sitting in a pew vs. calloused hands helping others
sunday school answers vs. real life questions
invested vs. invested and involved
supports missionaries vs. becoming a missionary
comfortable with a busy life vs. life is busy bringing comfort

Disturbance in the Force, Glitch in the Matrix

Historical What Happened...

Israel was once a great nation. In 586 BC, the Babylonians conquered Jerusalem and forced many of the people of God into exile and the rest to scatter. This was a shocking event because the Jews believed as long as the Temple was in the city center their political/military greatness would never end. After the fall, Lamentations describes Jerusalem as a naked widow, abandoned by her lovers with her menstration sticking to her skirt.
This did not end their relationship with a faithful God but changed their religion. The Temple rituals and festivals were over and scholars believe this is when the idea of synagogue started.
With the Temple dysfunctional, people gathered, with a minimum of 10, as a house of prayer and house of study. The Temple was rebuilt and destroyed again and many people still are waiting for another Temple.

Contemporary What If...

The Church was once a great institution.
Is the church a naked widow?
Has culture conquered the church?
How do we respond to the church not being the center of society?
Should we learn to live as exiles?
How is the church dysfunctional?
How does this shift effect our worship gatherings?
Are the days of mega churches over?
What is the place of the house church?
Are we waiting to change the church while we should be wanting to changed the world?
With all the changes, how do we continue in relationship with our faithful God?

LIFE - Ministry - job

LIFE = Who I am
Ministry = What I do
job = Where I do it

Problems with my job:

· It doesn’t feel sacred
· I see no measurable success
· The Jesus community isn’t communing or commuting
· Marriage and ministry can be like oil and water
· It has taken my health
· Impatience with staff/ board/ leaders
· If I’m going to run a business I want to get paid
· Leadership development isn’t developing
· I see little life response (seek God, connect people, serve)
· Vision gets further away
· God doesn’t source everything I do
· I’m not good at half of it
· Pastors are hired to be fired, no job security
· Denominational utilitarian expectations
· It’s painful and lonely
· It’s more religion than Kingdom
· Is it the best expression of my life and ministry?

Am I Spiritually Exhausted? - Oswald Chambers

The everlasting God . . . neither faints nor is weary —Isaiah 40:28

Exhaustion means that our vital energies are completely worn out and spent. Spiritual exhaustion is never the result of sin, but of service. Whether or not you experience exhaustion will depend on where you get your supplies. Jesus said to Peter, "Feed My sheep," but He gave him nothing with which to feed them ( John 21:17 ). The process of being made broken bread and poured-out wine means that you have to be the nourishment for other people’s souls until they learn to feed on God. They must drain you completely— to the very last drop. But be careful to replenish your supply, or you will quickly be utterly exhausted. Until others learn to draw on the life of the Lord Jesus directly, they will have to draw on His life through you. You must literally be their source of supply, until they learn to take their nourishment from God. We owe it to God to be our best for His lambs and sheep, as well as for Him.

Have you delivered yourself over to exhaustion because of the way you have been serving God? If so, then renew and rekindle your desires and affections. Examine your reasons for service. Is your source based on your own understanding or is it grounded on the redemption of Jesus Christ? Continually look back to the foundation of your love and affection and remember where your Source of power lies. You have no right to complain, "O Lord, I am so exhausted." He saved and sanctified you to exhaust you. Be exhausted for God, but remember that He is your supply. "All my springs are in you" ( Psalm 87:7 ).

Church Visit

This past Saturday night, Kristan, the kids and I went to a worship gathering in Goodyear. The church we attended was Palm Valley Church. They are 8 years old and meet at a high school. I thought the pastor was genuine but the worship team entertaining. I was most impressed by their emphasis on the bible reading plan. (As a side note, I think that reading through the bible in a year is guilt producing and not life changing.)So overall not bad, not good, just contemporary vanilla with lots of people.

It seems there a similar ingredients in contemporary vanilla churches:

• Good location
• Hip pastor with fashionable clothes
• Use of technology - videos, extra screens, light shows, fog machines
• Kids rooms designed by disneyland or rainforest cafe
• Starbucks
• Multiple services
• Class 101, 201, 301
• Small groups
• Colorful signage and bulletins
• Topical Sermon Series about current events or sex

I think (which means I could be wrong) that contemporary vanilla is the new traditional. As we shift from a modern to postmodern culture in 20 years there will be few churches that will be hymnal led singing or legalistic preaching. Instead people will be fighting to keep a certain style, technology, program or coffee brand.