I am pretty pumped about this movie. I have read all the books to my oldest daughter and listened to the Radio Theatre CD's No, I'm not preaching a Narnia series and no I don't think this is the greatest evangelistic opportunity since "The Passion of the Christ".
But it's going to be good. I really enjoyed the book "The Last Battle". Can't wait to see if they make that movie.
Thursday, December 08, 2005
I want my church to grow pt 2
Hi.
So I have outted myself that I do want my church to grow larger. I also want it to grow stronger. It seems that Christians are heading toward two extremes. One extreme is God will forgive everything I can do what I want. It's my life and the all powerful god in people's lives is their happiness so divorcing their spouse is no big deal. I believe this has been called "licence". The other as you can guess is "legalism". I have heard things like "you should wear a suit", "the music needs to reverent", "You can't say sucks in church," "You can't say sex in church"! People tell me to be careful not to let the world in the church. It's funny how the "world" is typically only characterized by what offends your personal or political preferences. Sure I won't say "sucks" anymore but will you repent of your greed and pride because I don't want the world in our church.
I really am a nice man. Although I don't like dogs.
So anywho, I dream of stronger Christians who can live missionally and yet walk in holiness. Who can be all things to all people and continue to resist and forsake sin. You know how to be authentic in conversation and have a Biblically informed worldview.
So what is the best way to make disciples? People say it's "small groups" or "classes". I just don't know. There is no magic pill after doing this for over 10 years I know that. Discipleship, becoming a stronger Christian, seems to be a long messy process. I espeically notice that when I look at my heart. I want to be stronger. Stronger in my love and patience with people. Stronger in my discipline and evangelism.
I want Crossbridge to grow larger and stronger.
Till my next confession....
So I have outted myself that I do want my church to grow larger. I also want it to grow stronger. It seems that Christians are heading toward two extremes. One extreme is God will forgive everything I can do what I want. It's my life and the all powerful god in people's lives is their happiness so divorcing their spouse is no big deal. I believe this has been called "licence". The other as you can guess is "legalism". I have heard things like "you should wear a suit", "the music needs to reverent", "You can't say sucks in church," "You can't say sex in church"! People tell me to be careful not to let the world in the church. It's funny how the "world" is typically only characterized by what offends your personal or political preferences. Sure I won't say "sucks" anymore but will you repent of your greed and pride because I don't want the world in our church.
I really am a nice man. Although I don't like dogs.
So anywho, I dream of stronger Christians who can live missionally and yet walk in holiness. Who can be all things to all people and continue to resist and forsake sin. You know how to be authentic in conversation and have a Biblically informed worldview.
So what is the best way to make disciples? People say it's "small groups" or "classes". I just don't know. There is no magic pill after doing this for over 10 years I know that. Discipleship, becoming a stronger Christian, seems to be a long messy process. I espeically notice that when I look at my heart. I want to be stronger. Stronger in my love and patience with people. Stronger in my discipline and evangelism.
I want Crossbridge to grow larger and stronger.
Till my next confession....
Tuesday, December 06, 2005
Confession #1 - I want the church to grow!
My first confession is that I want Crossbridge to grow numerically. We run between 275-300 people right now (that includes children). We celebrated our third birthday in September. i know the average size of the church in America is between 75-90 so I should be grateful and I am. God has changed people's lives at our church and used a sap like me. This past fall I read through the book of Acts that there are many sections that says say things like "and the church grew in number or the word of God spread or the number of disciples increased". Usually following those statements were statements like "and the faith of disciples grew stronger, and fear of the Lord grew in the church." So as I read these texts I have begun to pray that Crossbridge will grow larger and stronger.
I want Crossbridge to grow larger because I want to see more and more people who do not know Jesus cross the line of faith. I don't want to go see Hybels, Stanley and McManus to hear stories about transformation, I want to see God move. I have seen people who one week thought the Bible was full of myth two weeks later profess faith in Christ and two years later are still walking with Jesus. Is it bad to pray and pursure 500 more like that guy. The area we live is full of people who have money, yet are in debt. It's full of families that aren't really loving and close. Men who are passive and give themselves to work. Women who have boob jobs to keep looking young and fit. Kids who drive hummers and take recreational drugs, and middle schoolers having oral sex. They need Jesus! They need to be saved from the penalty and power of sin. They need to know God! I want Crossbridge to be filled with these people.
So I am praying and planning for God over the next ten years to send us thousands of people who become transformed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
"To be continued"
I want Crossbridge to grow larger because I want to see more and more people who do not know Jesus cross the line of faith. I don't want to go see Hybels, Stanley and McManus to hear stories about transformation, I want to see God move. I have seen people who one week thought the Bible was full of myth two weeks later profess faith in Christ and two years later are still walking with Jesus. Is it bad to pray and pursure 500 more like that guy. The area we live is full of people who have money, yet are in debt. It's full of families that aren't really loving and close. Men who are passive and give themselves to work. Women who have boob jobs to keep looking young and fit. Kids who drive hummers and take recreational drugs, and middle schoolers having oral sex. They need Jesus! They need to be saved from the penalty and power of sin. They need to know God! I want Crossbridge to be filled with these people.
So I am praying and planning for God over the next ten years to send us thousands of people who become transformed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
"To be continued"
It's my first blog...be kind
Hi,
I am not sure who will read this but I'm here. My hope is to enter into the conversation that Pastors are having today. I feel many times like a man without a home. I am the Lead Pastor of a church in Sugar Land, TX called "Crossbridge Church". Our website is www.crossbridge.cc , you should check it out. Our church is three years old, we meet in a school and do all the normal things a church plant does.
I feel like a man without a home because I deeply want to reach people far from God. I dream of seeing hundred and thousands of lives transformed by Jesus using this church. I want to be as authentic as possible in this pursuit and be culturally relelvant and all that jazz. But there is something in me that is disturbed by much of what is going on in new church plants today. It seems we do cool things but are we loosing the Gospel. We are told things like "discover the champion in you" but if there is a champion in me do I really need a Savior or just positive thoughts? We can copy the culture and do a sermon series called "Extreme Makover: the Life Edition, the Heart Edition, the church edition, the family edition, and the do we have keep going edition" but are really presenting the message of Jesus and are we forming radically ever deepening followers of Jesus?
Are our churches becoming all about fun videos and cleaver rip offs of the culture or are we really presening the Bible. One pastor I admire says it is "lazy to preach through books of the Bible.", yet I feel guilty when I just do topical. Do I need medication? One pastor says preach book by book only, one says topical, and one says preaching needs to be "re-imagined." but what is the best way to proclaim the truth that God is glorious, we are sinful, Jesus came died, was buried and was raised from dead, He reigns on a throne calls all people to repent, He has sent His Spirit to dwell in His children, will return and get the girl, slay the dragon and live happily ever after.
I have read more books on the church that I can care to say. I am not a coffee shop, organic, house church guy but God bless them. I have read books about context and all that jazz. I have read "Good to Great" and Brian McClaren and Andy Stanley and even Richard Baxter.
So what does it mean to be faithful to the Bible yet be on mission? I know people out there have opinions and easy answers. I just want to confess that I am still seeking and still looking for what it means to follow Jesus and make disciples.
So let's rock!
I am not sure who will read this but I'm here. My hope is to enter into the conversation that Pastors are having today. I feel many times like a man without a home. I am the Lead Pastor of a church in Sugar Land, TX called "Crossbridge Church". Our website is www.crossbridge.cc , you should check it out. Our church is three years old, we meet in a school and do all the normal things a church plant does.
I feel like a man without a home because I deeply want to reach people far from God. I dream of seeing hundred and thousands of lives transformed by Jesus using this church. I want to be as authentic as possible in this pursuit and be culturally relelvant and all that jazz. But there is something in me that is disturbed by much of what is going on in new church plants today. It seems we do cool things but are we loosing the Gospel. We are told things like "discover the champion in you" but if there is a champion in me do I really need a Savior or just positive thoughts? We can copy the culture and do a sermon series called "Extreme Makover: the Life Edition, the Heart Edition, the church edition, the family edition, and the do we have keep going edition" but are really presenting the message of Jesus and are we forming radically ever deepening followers of Jesus?
Are our churches becoming all about fun videos and cleaver rip offs of the culture or are we really presening the Bible. One pastor I admire says it is "lazy to preach through books of the Bible.", yet I feel guilty when I just do topical. Do I need medication? One pastor says preach book by book only, one says topical, and one says preaching needs to be "re-imagined." but what is the best way to proclaim the truth that God is glorious, we are sinful, Jesus came died, was buried and was raised from dead, He reigns on a throne calls all people to repent, He has sent His Spirit to dwell in His children, will return and get the girl, slay the dragon and live happily ever after.
I have read more books on the church that I can care to say. I am not a coffee shop, organic, house church guy but God bless them. I have read books about context and all that jazz. I have read "Good to Great" and Brian McClaren and Andy Stanley and even Richard Baxter.
So what does it mean to be faithful to the Bible yet be on mission? I know people out there have opinions and easy answers. I just want to confess that I am still seeking and still looking for what it means to follow Jesus and make disciples.
So let's rock!
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