Well, we haven't died yet.

Hi,

We announced the move to 2 services this Sunday. To be honest I can't tell how people feel about it. I am seeing more and more the bad health in our church. i am seeing that people's first response is self-protection and skeptism.

I wrote a FAQ booklet for people. One of the questions I answered was "Is this God's will?" The answer I wrote there and here is "I don't know". Nelson Searcey on his CD of breaking the 250 growth barrier says that Pastors should believe it is God's will for our church to grow. I struggle. I struggle with not wanting the church to grow and to see more and more lives transformed by the Gospel. To see more men and women and children cross the line of faith and be baptized. I don't struggle with wanting to see more followers of Jesus be made and those followers getting stronger and stronger in the faith.

I struggle because the only thing I am sure about that is "God's will" is what is written in the Bible. I have been looking for the chapters and verses about how to pastor a growing church and I can't find it.

Is is God's will for Crossbridge to go to two services? I don't know. I do know that we are to serve the Gospel. That we have been entrusted with the Gospel and that the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation.

I don't know how this is all going to work out but I want to hide in the text, preach Jesus like a mad man, love people, and reach out to my community. I think that is God's will.

Where are the pastors who are God-Centered and Gospel-Driven that talk realistically about church growth. Who can mentor the young pastors in these transitions without giving me the cup of church growth watered down kool-aid that everybody else is drinking from?

I am rambling.

This is hard. This is exhilerating.

Church Planting.....I need a stiff drink.

Later

2 Services: Let's Pray We Don't Die

Hi,

I have not been writing. I have been trying to figure out the benefit of blogging and I think I am starting to get it.

Anyway after 3 1/2 years and now right around 300 people we are moving to 2 worship services on Sunday April 2nd. We have told a few of our leaders and the rest today and then the whole church this sunday. I also turn 35 this Sunday.

We just hired a dude to direct all the ministries and make this transition happen. He is awesome. Yesterday we sat down with his colorcoded timeline and walked through where we are at and what needs to be done. Wow! At the bottom of the timeline is our little staff slogan for this move, "Let's pray we don't die".

What we mean by that of course is that the church just sits there and says big deal we are not serving. We mean we hope we don't kill ourselves with all this hard work that will be happening over the next month.

As I am studying for my message Sunday I am beginning to see that there are in some ways I hope God doesn't answer that prayer. I am preaching through Colossians right now and will be in Colossians 1:21-2:6 this Sunday. In this passage Paul is sharing his heart and his commission to be a "servant of the Gospel". He writes about how he "struggled, and labored" in his ministry.

Ministry is work. Ministry is hard. In what ways do I hope God doesn't answer that prayer?

I hope God let's us die to consumerism and captures our heart with the attitude of being a "servant of the Gospel".

I hope God let's us die to our addiction to convience and gives us the power to live sacrifically to serve others.

I hope God let's us die to an inclusive atmosphere and gives us the power to reach out to people who are lost and needing to encounter the heart of the Father.

I hope God let's us die to a sacricity mindset. This mindset keeps us from stepping out on faith and saying God will provide the time, people, resources and rest for our souls as we seek to obey Him in kingdom ministry. May He empower us to have a kingdom mindset.

Bottom line - I hope God let's us die to sin. That we would put to death the things that keep us from loving God and loving people.

2 services for me isn't about becoming the biggest, baddest church in the area. It's about seeing lives transformed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For Crossbridge to become that kind of Gospel-Driven Church then some dying has to occur.

Let's pray we don't die.

Let' pray we do die to things that displease the heart of God.