ACCELERATE CHURCH

One Person + Christ = Making a Difference

JUST A NOTE! WITH MANY DEATHS AND A JAMMED CALENDAR - I HAVE NOT HAD TIME TO KEEP UP THIS BLOG. HOPEFULLY - I WILL BE ABLE TO UPDATE A BIT NOW!

Our last message in this series was Christianity: Does it Matter?  It seemed right to follow up that message with one that places an emphasis on the fact that one person, devoted to Christ, can make a difference for the Kingdom of God.  We used John 14:12 as an anchoring text. 

One of the misunderstandings of this text is that people often use it to say, "we can be doing greater things than the Lord did!"  That is a misunderstanding.  What is greater than raising the dead, walking on water, feeding the 5,000 - and if the verse means doing greater works than the Lord, why don't we see this daily?   There is something "greater" for me than doing the works Jesus did - it is doing what Jesus was doing when He did those great acts!!!! I know - a confusing sentence.  Jesus taught us that He came to do the will of the One who sent Him. He did not come to say what He wanted to say - but what God wanted Him to say.  He did not come to do what He wanted to do - but what God wanted Him to do. 

When Jesus ascended to heaven, He sent the Holy Spirit to live in us - and through us.  He enabled us to do the will of the one who sent us.  Jesus did all that He was doing to bring the world to salvation.  His acts of healing, ministry, and mercy were designed to reach people.  In the same way, if we have faith in Him, we will also do the will of the Father, we will also do great things to reach the world - and it will be greater in the reality that the Spirit is in us - enabling and empowering every moment.

When we recognize that God will use one or many to carry out His will, and that each one of us can be that one or a part of the many, we should leap at the opportunities to make a difference for Christ in the world.

More on Does Christianity Matter?

The message on "Christianity: Does it Matter?" was a powerful challenge for me personally.  It reminded me that Christianity that does not matter to Christians will not matter much to the world.  C.S. Lewis said, "Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, is of infinite importance. The only thing that it cannot be is moderately important."   Lewis steps right into the middle of the modern church, which has made an art out of "moderate importance." 

In asking the question - "Does Christianity matter to you?" - I asked a follow-up question.  How does the importance of Christianity manifest itself in your daily life? What is the evidence of Christianity's "infinite importance" in our daily life?  These are important questions to ponder - honestly.

Using Matthew 16:13 - 18, we made a few observations -
1. We (the church ) need to be on offense - not defense.
2. We need to truly evangelize (tell the good news) the world - not try to reform it.
3. We need engagement with the world - not isolation from it.

Christianity: Does it Matter?

This fourth message in our series "Accelerating Your Misssional Heartbeat" was difficult to prepare!  Christianity: Does it Matter? on face value seems such an easy question for the child of God to answer.  We look at the world around us and say, "YES!" Christianity definitely matters.

Then comes the excruciating part!  Does it matter to you?  How do we demonstrate daily that Christianity REALLY matters to us!  What is the manifestation of an extremely IMPORTANT Christianity in the life of the average Christian in America?   Saying it is so doesn't necessarily make it so! 

Certainly Christianity matters - but it won't matter much to the world if it doesn't matter much to those who claim it!  Has Christ transformed us? Do we act like, talk like, live like Him?   

We will be examining these important matters in our services tomorrow - March 2!

Heaven - Total Glory

Sunday, Feb. 17, we had our third installment in the Accelerating Your Missional Heartbeat series.  The topic of the day was Heaven: Total Glory! It was a fabulous topic.  Historically in the church, a strong belief in the reality of heaven has propelled Christians to endure enormous suffering, muster compelling courage, keep material things in a proper perspective, and has lit a fire under us to proclaim Good News to all we know.  Heaven is many things - including the place where God will walk among His people, dwell among His people, and lead His people in eternal worship.

My prayer for ABC is that we will recognize the brevity of our lives here - and that in light of that brevity and in full view of an eternity with God - we will strive to proclaim the gospel daily to all around us.  I pray that we will not be afraid of people or circumstances, but will allow God to use us wherever and whenever He desires. 

The challenge for me in this message was overcoming my deep roots in this world. I am too easily ensnared by this world - putting down deep roots at time.  Yet, in view of heaven, my time here is less than a passing vapor.  It makes more sense to spend far less time here building a life and gaining possessions.  Rather, I desire for God to empower me to store up treasure in heaven - where nothing corrupts, tarnishes, or fades away.  God be praised for the gift of Heaven.

NO LONGER IN PERIL ---- NOT!!!!

Yesterday, as we continued in the series Accelerating Your Missional Heartbeat, we looked at this subject: Hell: Total Tragedy.  It was a very humbling and burdensome message to preach. But it was truth.  I divided the message into three parts - 4 Demands for the Existence of Hell; 4 Facts About Hell; and 4 Imperatives for the Church In Light of Hell.   

The singular truth that kept spinning in my mind throughout the message - and I expressed it several times - is this.   If there is no hell, then people are in no peril.  If people are in no peril, then they need no Savior.  But, if there is a hell, then people are in great peril, and only a great Savior can rescue them.

Well, there is a hell - but somehow, today's church has lost this part of our message in presenting the gospel.  Without the warning of hell, mixed with the message of hope, people only receive half the gospel. Why turn to a Savior when you are not told there is anything from which you need to be saved?
Jude 22-23 teaches us to offer a message of mercy mixed with fear - the gospel mixed with warning - so that people may know the truth of what happens if Christ is rejected.

As the Hebrew writer exclaimed, How shall we escape, if we ignore such a great salvation? Hebrews 2:3   Escape what?  Judgement and hell, that's what!

So, if we the church really believe that people are in peril, then our daily aim and goal should be to proclaim the gospel message to as many as possible - mercy mixed with fear - until the Lord relieves us of duty!

Accelerating Your Missional Heartbeat

We have just begun a new series for February and March: Accelerating Your Missional Heartbeat!
What does it take to move every Christian into the reality that missions is not an added activity to our regular Christian life?  How can we grasp that being missonal is the same as being Christian?  What do we need to know to intentionally be "on mission" in our personal world 24/7? 

This series will help us come to an understanding of the Biblical view of the world we need to be missional to the core.  Our first installment was Jesus: The One and Only!  We will never be effective as God's children in touching the world for Christ if we believe anyone or anything else can take people to God other than Christ.   Christ, and Christ is alone is our APOSTLE (sent from God He became flesh and dwelt among us). Christ is our PRIEST (mediator to bring us to God).  Christ is our MASTER BUILDER (creating the world, laying the foundation of salvation).  Christ is the one and only SON OF GOD.

There are not many ways to heaven - Christ is exclusively the means of salvation for the whole world. If we believe anything less - if we believe there is any other way - some other plan - some equally appealing alternative - then we will not mount a credible effort to live for Him. 

We must believe (in action) in the uniqueness of Jesus Christ!

ACCELERATE 2008 - What's Next?

ACCELERATING YOUR MISSIONAL HEARTBEAT!  For the next two months, we are going to be "pumping up" our heart to beat for missions.  Not just the study of missions, not just an occasional missions activity - but to fulfill the mission of God in our lives.  It may surprise you what some of the topics will be.  Stay tuned.

Winning The Prize!

Sunday, January 27, in our Accelerating Towards the Goal series, we examined Winning the Prize - from Philippians 3:12 - 16. 

What did we learn?
1. As long as we live here - we have not finished the race!
    This is our opportunity - to continue to serve God, reach people, minister through love, comfort, encouragement, forgiveness etc.
    This is also our warning - we have not finished yet - and we need to finish well.
2. Forget what is behind you - I call this letting go of the Egypt syndrome. 
    We cannot win the prize while looking back.  Our past will only be a blessing blocker. It is gone!
3. Keep your focus on the prize
    Press on!  Strain ahead! Fulfill your spiritual purpose!
4. Acceleration is the attitude of the mature!
5. Don't give up ground already gained. 

Accelerate: Velocity Made Good

We learned a bit about GPS systems today.  There are two speeds recorded by many GPS systems - ground speed and velocity made good.   Ground speed is the actual speed of travel - say 50 mph.  Velocity Made Good, however, is the speed towards the destination. I may be traveling 50 mph, but if I am not traveling directly towards the target, my VMG speed may only be 36 mph. 

Then we studied the life of Joseph - Genesis 37 - 50.  Joseph had a life that put him in pit, had him sold to slavery, saw him placed over an entire household, found him falsely accused of sexual assault, placed in prison, saw him rise up in leadership over the prison, interpreted dreams that should have resulted in his release, found him forgotten by those he helped,  interpreted more dreams, then placed in leadership as a prince of Egypt.   It all began with his mean-spirited, hateful brothers who really wanted to kill him.
We learned:
1. The quickest path to the destination is not necessarily a straight line.
2. God purposes are not always immediately visible
3. Bitterness Will not Enable us to see any good in anything.
4. God makes all velocity good!
Our focal scripture was Genesis 50:15 - 21  especially v. 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

Accelerate - Pick a Ride!

On Sunday, January 13, we looked a "Picking a Ride!"  We centered on the text of I Corinthians 9:19-23. We centered somewhat on verse 22 "I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some." 

We learned that
1. The ride we start with may not be the ride with which you finish.
2. The ride must be suitable for terrain and / or the task.
3. The ride must be a means to an end or outcome - it should not be the end or outcome itself.

We learned that we can have multi-dimensional travel all at the same time - more vehicles than one at a time!
1. Cultural Vehicle - v. 20 Paul speaks of his relationship to the Jews and the Gentiles.  He was aware of the cultural vehicles and adapted his method to the culture he was trying to reach.  Not the message - but the method.
2. Servant Vehicle - v. 19 Though he was a free - he became as a slave to everyone to reach as many as possible.  Intentional service.  The kind of service that "self limits" our own freedom in order to reach others.  WOW!
3. Compassionate Vehicle -v. 22  He became weak to win the weak!  He restrained himself to engage people who are weak in character, morality, beliefs - to win them. This does not mean he acted in concert with them - he simply did not approach them in a condescending way!

Finally we learned that:

1. Every Vehicle Needs Certain Components - power, steering, control etc.
    We need Courage, Faith, the Holy Spirit
2. Vehicles that accelerate the most have some guidance beyond themselves - such as space travel.
    We must allow God to steer!
3. The more we learn - the faster we go - Paul was constantly learning how to present the gospel effectively to any who would listen.  We should too!