A church can be a pretty peculiar thing to consider as it stands in our current society. What does it do? Why does it exist? What need in people's lives and in our world does it fulfill? Where does it fit among the other institutions, organizations, and agencies?
For many of us, "church" is never something we've really questioned or guessed about. It's always been "that thing" that we go to, do, and are members of. But I'm sure there are just as many among us and farther away who look upon the "churchy" world and wonder. Why would people go there? What do they do in there? How do people act when they're at church?
They're good questions. Unfortunately, although most of us may have trouble writing down on paper the answers to questions like that, internally, any of us who have been going to a church for a while have internalized the unwritten codes of "church conduct" that are often specific to each church. It's easy and clear for many just exactly what a person should do, how a person should act, and why a person should "go." Some may even say it's a "no brainer."
But I wish it weren't. I'd be excited to see a group of people daily questioning and contemplating how the church should be, how they should and can be at church, and what "being a part of a church" truly means. My reasoning for this is that too many times I feel that we've settled on the ideas of what church should be about to the point that we forget what it REALLY is all about.
All of this came from my recent reading through the Acts of the Apostles, or the Book of Acts in the Bible. It's easy to read through those 28 chapters and, although amused and captivated, pass off most of the "strange and radical" behavior of the early church as being only typical of the people who had no previous examples to work from, who had the rare energy that only those who are at the very beginning of things have, and who lived in a different time when religion in general was a top focus for nearly everyone.
I wish it weren't so easy to pass off. The Acts churches, in my mind, were the ones who were getting it right. They didn't have any previous examples to go from, so they were constantly consulting the Holy Spirit, God, and each other for direction. They didn't simply decide to add this new "church" thing to the many focuses and activities that they already had going; they let their new found passion, communities, practices, and beliefs become their focus and activity. Additionally, even at the beginning of this whole thing we call church, when reading in Acts (particularly in chapters 8-11), we find that they were dealing with many of the same things we're still dealing with today--conflict in the leadership, scruples over who is welcome and who is not, discrepancies over the laws of conduct and "proper" behavior, etc. The primary difference, however, is that they often concluded in a different way than we do today. The goal to practice and share Jesus' love and salvation with others nearly ALWAYS trumped other concerns, and their decisions were rarely, if ever, based on politics and money, instead of God's spiritual leading and blessing!
So I say, let us continually look at the raw and truthful examples of the Acts churches and consider how we might rejoin them in our own early journey of inviting others into that relationship with a God who transforms our lives in powerful ways! Church, let's get our "Acts" together.
More to come!
Jason <><
Monday, November 26, 2012
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Creeping on Facebook?
They say that too much preaching to the choir will make an unpleasant sound. But I say, choir or not, preach away!
As I was reflecting with some today after both services, several attempted to "catch me" in my secret scheming, asking if I had been snooping on their Facebook pages or checking up on them in other ways. How else could I give messages today and last Sunday that were both so personally directed toward specific people? I'll never forget the look on one woman's face today when I told her, "yes, I've been intently following the details of your Facebook for weeks now." She was horrified! I quickly assured her I actually hadn't been looking at her page. In fact, unless it were to say Hi or happy birthday, I'm not a very good Facebook creeper.
But this is what I know about how God works and why I DID prepare this and last Sunday's messages just for that woman, just for specific other people, just for you, and just as I prepared them for myself! In my world, the topics and lessons we cover in sermon series are set long before they get preached--months before. Rarely then, are they intended responses to things that happened within the week prior to the message. For each series, I spend some time in prayer, scripture, listening, and pondering developing a theme. From there, my ultimate goal is to discern where God is leading the theme and how the theme in turn will lead those who hear the messages. The end result, ideally, is that it's God's sermon series, not mine. I just do the preaching!
In that way, I am assured that what I talked about today, last Sunday, and the Sunday before actually was addressed toward those who needed to hear it--including YOU. God knows well before I do, and to a much greater depth, what each person needs to hear.
But there is a second reason that I can be pretty sure I was speaking directly to you and that it may seem as though I have been creeping on your Facebook. We're all in this together. Not one of us is above God's word, instruction, reminders, and direction--not even the pastor. That's right. Not even the choir! Most of the messages I feel God leading me to give are not simply lessons I've already mastered and wish the rest of the world to get as well. They're often things I too am wrestling with or have seen crop up in my own life. And if it's not in my life, we can be assured that what I teach about is something that has cropped in the lives of those who are close to me.
The truth is that I need the learning and lesson just as much as anyone else. And when some of us feel like maybe we've already got it, it rarely hurts to have a keen and timely reminder. In the end, my messages seem like they're addressing you personally because they're addressing me personally, and we're all in this together as the body of Christ. We move not on our own, but as one, together.
So, although I may not be creeping on anyone's Facebook accounts, I AM very interested in what you're all going through so that we can lift it up to God together for his guidance and direction.
With that, Sarah and I wish you all a happy and safe Thanksgiving! We also wish that over this holiday week you, as well as both of us, will find new chances to discover contentment for the glory of God!
More to come!
Jason <><
As I was reflecting with some today after both services, several attempted to "catch me" in my secret scheming, asking if I had been snooping on their Facebook pages or checking up on them in other ways. How else could I give messages today and last Sunday that were both so personally directed toward specific people? I'll never forget the look on one woman's face today when I told her, "yes, I've been intently following the details of your Facebook for weeks now." She was horrified! I quickly assured her I actually hadn't been looking at her page. In fact, unless it were to say Hi or happy birthday, I'm not a very good Facebook creeper.
But this is what I know about how God works and why I DID prepare this and last Sunday's messages just for that woman, just for specific other people, just for you, and just as I prepared them for myself! In my world, the topics and lessons we cover in sermon series are set long before they get preached--months before. Rarely then, are they intended responses to things that happened within the week prior to the message. For each series, I spend some time in prayer, scripture, listening, and pondering developing a theme. From there, my ultimate goal is to discern where God is leading the theme and how the theme in turn will lead those who hear the messages. The end result, ideally, is that it's God's sermon series, not mine. I just do the preaching!
In that way, I am assured that what I talked about today, last Sunday, and the Sunday before actually was addressed toward those who needed to hear it--including YOU. God knows well before I do, and to a much greater depth, what each person needs to hear.
But there is a second reason that I can be pretty sure I was speaking directly to you and that it may seem as though I have been creeping on your Facebook. We're all in this together. Not one of us is above God's word, instruction, reminders, and direction--not even the pastor. That's right. Not even the choir! Most of the messages I feel God leading me to give are not simply lessons I've already mastered and wish the rest of the world to get as well. They're often things I too am wrestling with or have seen crop up in my own life. And if it's not in my life, we can be assured that what I teach about is something that has cropped in the lives of those who are close to me.
The truth is that I need the learning and lesson just as much as anyone else. And when some of us feel like maybe we've already got it, it rarely hurts to have a keen and timely reminder. In the end, my messages seem like they're addressing you personally because they're addressing me personally, and we're all in this together as the body of Christ. We move not on our own, but as one, together.
So, although I may not be creeping on anyone's Facebook accounts, I AM very interested in what you're all going through so that we can lift it up to God together for his guidance and direction.
With that, Sarah and I wish you all a happy and safe Thanksgiving! We also wish that over this holiday week you, as well as both of us, will find new chances to discover contentment for the glory of God!
More to come!
Jason <><
Monday, November 12, 2012
I MUST get in a HOME Group!
How could anyone imagine what a HOME group (aka "small group") would do to a person's life until finally joining one? I couldn't. I had no idea. However, while I once was blind, now, I see!
What happens in a HOME Group is quite phenomenal to see. On Sunday mornings, I meet with a group of men who gather before the services to share, pray, and study scripture together. They may not formally call themselves a HOME Group, but they should. These guys have it going on!
At first, my concept, and most likely the concept of many as they decided to try it out, was that this Sunday morning men's group might be a good way to get into the scripture a little more and meet some other guys as well. But that's only the beginning. Over the last weeks, I have been utterly blown away by the camaraderie, faith, and trust of this group. They say that women share their feelings and develop close relationships much easier and quicker than men do, but this group disrupts all the norms.
The men in this group are willing and able to share everything on their hearts and minds. Each guy brings his honesty, heartbreak, joy, laughter, rowdy humor, prayer, questioning, witnessing, teaching, arguing, and life change to the group, and no one is forcing each other. They are friends, they are brothers, and their faith relationships are growing.
So now I see what being a part of a HOME Group means and why it has been a foundation for Horizons from the beginning. A HOME Group is probably one of the most authentically holy places I could imagine being, and I've seen how much it means to those who belong. As Sarah and I continue to get more settled and make it through the first 6 months here, we both are very excited to see how we help start and join new HOME Groups too!
More to come!
Jason <><
What happens in a HOME Group is quite phenomenal to see. On Sunday mornings, I meet with a group of men who gather before the services to share, pray, and study scripture together. They may not formally call themselves a HOME Group, but they should. These guys have it going on!
At first, my concept, and most likely the concept of many as they decided to try it out, was that this Sunday morning men's group might be a good way to get into the scripture a little more and meet some other guys as well. But that's only the beginning. Over the last weeks, I have been utterly blown away by the camaraderie, faith, and trust of this group. They say that women share their feelings and develop close relationships much easier and quicker than men do, but this group disrupts all the norms.
The men in this group are willing and able to share everything on their hearts and minds. Each guy brings his honesty, heartbreak, joy, laughter, rowdy humor, prayer, questioning, witnessing, teaching, arguing, and life change to the group, and no one is forcing each other. They are friends, they are brothers, and their faith relationships are growing.
So now I see what being a part of a HOME Group means and why it has been a foundation for Horizons from the beginning. A HOME Group is probably one of the most authentically holy places I could imagine being, and I've seen how much it means to those who belong. As Sarah and I continue to get more settled and make it through the first 6 months here, we both are very excited to see how we help start and join new HOME Groups too!
More to come!
Jason <><
Monday, November 5, 2012
My November GREAT 5!
God continues to rock my world and surprise me each day at Horizons! If Horizons is a child of God, created and made for something big in the world, then it is clear to me that God has decided it's time for this child to step into a new phase of its life!
Below are five things going on at Horizons that confirm this for me. Maybe they aren't necessarily the TOP, TOP 5, but they are certainly the first of many that have come to mind:
Below are five things going on at Horizons that confirm this for me. Maybe they aren't necessarily the TOP, TOP 5, but they are certainly the first of many that have come to mind:
- Sister Jesse spent time with us recently, and the hearts of Horizons offered over $3,000 to support that ministry, not to mention the huge number who are sponsoring one of the Orphanage's children for a year. Praise God for Horizons' generosity!
- Trunk or Treat rocked the house! Sarah and I had so much fun, and we loved seeing everyone's energy and creativity. Plus, a ton of people came out in spite of the chill. Wow!
- As we get ready for a powerful year of leadership in 2013, we have been amazed by the energy of all who will be joining existing and NEW teams and fulfilling our mission in even greater ways. Amen, thank you!
- We had a very positive response for commitment cards as so many have decided that God is going to work in Lincoln because of THEM and their generosity. We pray God will continue to lead others as well!
- The staff at Horizons, Amber, Nicole, Derek, Liz, Jill, Jamie have continued to amaze me and support Horizons in very gracious ways. I am thankful that I get to work with a great team. I'm also thankful for all the volunteers who make Horizons work on a daily basis!
I lift up all these things to God, and say thank you! And I trust that all that we do continues to give God glory. This is how awesome God is.
More to come...
Jason <><
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