Have you ever sat back and wondered if we have got it right?
I am talking about this thing called 'church'...
I believe this is a valid questions for every generation, especially in the time we live.
Erwin McManus explains this really well in his book An Unstoppable Force.
He talks about our current generations being so different from each other.
When you compare them and attitudes from the 1800-1900's it is striking! It wasn't uncommon in past centuries to wear the same type of clothes your father or grand father wore. You were also comfortable with the same music and lifestyles.
Now we are normally poles apart. I personally do not want to wear the same style of clothing my father wears, let alone listen to his music.
With that in mind, we need to explore 'church' for this generation.
What is important?
What should it look like?
How will future generations look at it?
I don't want to assume that 'church' based on another generations model is right for us now.
I want to think, ponder and understand.
I want to take the good from the past but push on for the better that God has for us now!
Let's not be afraid to wrestle until we find God for our generation now!
Starting in July at Cafe Church we are exploring this in depth.
Looking at the early christian church you read in the Book of Acts.
Learning from them, but applying to the world we find ourselves.
Should make for an interesting journey!
Keep watching this space...
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Thursday, June 22, 2006
We live in a western world where 'war' is a dirty little word.
Where 'war' is something that should be avoided at all costs!
Since the 1960’s the ultimate goal of each western generation has seemed be something they call peace.
Because that call has been around for over 40 years and become embedded in our culture, there is an interesting unspoken philosophy in church circles that the ultimate goal of our lives right now is peace. With peace is the blessing of God.
But that doesn't line up with what I read in the Bible.
Yes, we should be at peace with each other, but not completely at peace.
Jesus said some interesting things...
Matthew 10:34
"Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword."
Luke 22
35Then Jesus asked them, "When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?"
"Nothing," they answered.
36He said to them, "But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don't have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one"
This doesn’t sound like things should always be about peace!
In fact, the Bible makes it very clear that there will be seasons for battles, for wars in our lifetime.
Judges 3:1-2
These are the nations the LORD left to test all those Israelites who had not experienced any of the wars in Canaan (he did this only to teach warfare to the descendants of the Israelites who had not had previous battle experience):
God knows we need to learn to fight.
What we fight for will mean something too us. What we don't have to fight for, we can take for granted!
If you haven’t guessed it, this is a call to fight!
For some of us it is simply a reminder
For others it is something new.
2 Chronicles 6:34-35
"When your people go to war against their enemies, wherever you send them, and when they pray to you toward this city you have chosen and the temple I have built for your Name, then hear from heaven their prayer and their plea, and uphold their cause."
So the expectation is when not if
So who are you supposed to be fighting?
Eph 6:12
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
There are things, forces, the devil even out there to destroy you.
It is one thing to become a disciple it is another to get involved in the fight.
The last thing the devil wants for you now is to fight. If he can keep you bound up and scared, or even tired and cynical…they you don’t pose much of a threat.
2 Corinthians 10:3-4
For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.
God has given us weapons to fight with…
And the most powerful one you have is your mouth!
With your tongue you can build up and you pull down.
When Jesus was tempted by the devil he used his mouth! He spoke the world of God and he overcame.
He didn’t just study it or even just understand it. He used it!
God is not looking at our generation and wanting us to enjoy peace at all costs.
Just like previous generations, we have a battle that only we can fight.
Whatever you are facing please fight. Fight for what God has for you!
Open your mouth and declare what God has spoken, what God has promised.
Stand and Fight.
Where 'war' is something that should be avoided at all costs!
Since the 1960’s the ultimate goal of each western generation has seemed be something they call peace.
Because that call has been around for over 40 years and become embedded in our culture, there is an interesting unspoken philosophy in church circles that the ultimate goal of our lives right now is peace. With peace is the blessing of God.
But that doesn't line up with what I read in the Bible.
Yes, we should be at peace with each other, but not completely at peace.
Jesus said some interesting things...
Matthew 10:34
"Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword."
Luke 22
35Then Jesus asked them, "When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?"
"Nothing," they answered.
36He said to them, "But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don't have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one"
This doesn’t sound like things should always be about peace!
In fact, the Bible makes it very clear that there will be seasons for battles, for wars in our lifetime.
Judges 3:1-2
These are the nations the LORD left to test all those Israelites who had not experienced any of the wars in Canaan (he did this only to teach warfare to the descendants of the Israelites who had not had previous battle experience):
God knows we need to learn to fight.
What we fight for will mean something too us. What we don't have to fight for, we can take for granted!
If you haven’t guessed it, this is a call to fight!
For some of us it is simply a reminder
For others it is something new.
2 Chronicles 6:34-35
"When your people go to war against their enemies, wherever you send them, and when they pray to you toward this city you have chosen and the temple I have built for your Name, then hear from heaven their prayer and their plea, and uphold their cause."
So the expectation is when not if
So who are you supposed to be fighting?
Eph 6:12
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
There are things, forces, the devil even out there to destroy you.
It is one thing to become a disciple it is another to get involved in the fight.
The last thing the devil wants for you now is to fight. If he can keep you bound up and scared, or even tired and cynical…they you don’t pose much of a threat.
2 Corinthians 10:3-4
For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.
God has given us weapons to fight with…
And the most powerful one you have is your mouth!
With your tongue you can build up and you pull down.
When Jesus was tempted by the devil he used his mouth! He spoke the world of God and he overcame.
He didn’t just study it or even just understand it. He used it!
God is not looking at our generation and wanting us to enjoy peace at all costs.
Just like previous generations, we have a battle that only we can fight.
Whatever you are facing please fight. Fight for what God has for you!
Open your mouth and declare what God has spoken, what God has promised.
Stand and Fight.
Thursday, June 15, 2006
Recently I have had the privilege of sharing with some people what we believe as Christians - as disciples.
You know, the very basics of our faith. Stuff that you can build on.
Now they tell me as we talk and study that they are learning a lot...but I am learning just as much, or should I say reminding myself?
From all that a phrase popped up that intrigued me.
It went along the lines of...'Christ needs to be the centre of who we are and what we do'
Step back from a phrase like this and ask why?
God is amazing in that he arranges simple teaching and instruction for us, not just to tell us what to do, but to benefit us greatly.
Christ being the centre is exactly the same. The why questions helps clarify the how.
When Christ is the centre, when he truly is the focus...it means we don't get caught up in dumb stuff.
As a guy I can be very focused on things I like!I love playing American Football on my XBOX. To the point that it takes up all my focus and I sometimes don't see other things around me.
When Christ is your focus and you really focus...all the other issues in life can seem a little different.
The problems that you may be facing might not take over your thinking so much. They even might be put into a better perspective.
The Bible encourages us to "fix our eyes on Jesus".
Why? Because it is the best thing to do!
Without it you can get distracted by other things that don't matter as much.
The Book of Revelation mentions several times about Jesus being "in the centre" and everything else revolving around him.
This picture of heaven showes where Christ should be for us personally and as the church.
With Christ as the centre of our lives everything else will fit into heavens plan.
...let's fix our eyes on him again...
You know, the very basics of our faith. Stuff that you can build on.
Now they tell me as we talk and study that they are learning a lot...but I am learning just as much, or should I say reminding myself?
From all that a phrase popped up that intrigued me.
It went along the lines of...'Christ needs to be the centre of who we are and what we do'
Step back from a phrase like this and ask why?
God is amazing in that he arranges simple teaching and instruction for us, not just to tell us what to do, but to benefit us greatly.
Christ being the centre is exactly the same. The why questions helps clarify the how.
When Christ is the centre, when he truly is the focus...it means we don't get caught up in dumb stuff.
As a guy I can be very focused on things I like!I love playing American Football on my XBOX. To the point that it takes up all my focus and I sometimes don't see other things around me.
When Christ is your focus and you really focus...all the other issues in life can seem a little different.
The problems that you may be facing might not take over your thinking so much. They even might be put into a better perspective.
The Bible encourages us to "fix our eyes on Jesus".
Why? Because it is the best thing to do!
Without it you can get distracted by other things that don't matter as much.
The Book of Revelation mentions several times about Jesus being "in the centre" and everything else revolving around him.
This picture of heaven showes where Christ should be for us personally and as the church.
With Christ as the centre of our lives everything else will fit into heavens plan.
...let's fix our eyes on him again...
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
There are many ideals we would love to live under or live in.
Some may be a perfect society where there is no crime or fear of crime.
Or maybe that families would always be safe and stay together.
Or maybe that as Christians we would see 'God Stuff' happening all the time...
The reality seems sometimes so far away from the ideal.
Does that mean we don't look for the ideal?
Does that also mean we don't expect it, or even give up completely?
Your answer should be NO!
God has placed us all here to change our current reality into His reality.
It is easy to see all the bad stuff in the world.
The challenge is what are going to do about it.
The questions from God to you, is what are you going to do about it?
I have learnt something over the years...
Just sitting around doing nothing achieves exactly the same, nothing!
You have to do something to achieve something.
I have grown up in christian circles hearing how God is like this and that. That he wants to do miracles. We have have been told again and again what Church should be like. But it doesn't always seem to be that way.
It would be natural to assume that if we put together a special prayer event that people would sign up as fast as possible. The reality is that only a few do. It is like we are waiting for something else? But I am not sure what it is?
We talk a lot about this generation making a huge mark in history. What scares me is that we might miss it. Why? Because we aren't always that aggressive in going for it. We are still waiting!
Can I encourage you to stop waiting (if you are?).
If you want to change this generation or society or even church then you need to do something about it. If you are hungry for God to move than you need to do something about it.
How you may ask? Well it is real simple!
Start with what you do know and let God do the rest.
How about this weekend you go after God with some renewed passion.
Get involved in the Global Day of Prayer...it is only 30 minutes out of an entire weekend.
Come along on sunday and be part of God doing something amazing things with us as a church.
Look what Jesus said....
Matthew 11:12 (niv)
From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it.
Remember...that ideal and reality are just two poles we live in between.
You can move between them in whatever direction you like. The choice is always yours...
Some may be a perfect society where there is no crime or fear of crime.
Or maybe that families would always be safe and stay together.
Or maybe that as Christians we would see 'God Stuff' happening all the time...
The reality seems sometimes so far away from the ideal.
Does that mean we don't look for the ideal?
Does that also mean we don't expect it, or even give up completely?
Your answer should be NO!
God has placed us all here to change our current reality into His reality.
It is easy to see all the bad stuff in the world.
The challenge is what are going to do about it.
The questions from God to you, is what are you going to do about it?
I have learnt something over the years...
Just sitting around doing nothing achieves exactly the same, nothing!
You have to do something to achieve something.
I have grown up in christian circles hearing how God is like this and that. That he wants to do miracles. We have have been told again and again what Church should be like. But it doesn't always seem to be that way.
It would be natural to assume that if we put together a special prayer event that people would sign up as fast as possible. The reality is that only a few do. It is like we are waiting for something else? But I am not sure what it is?
We talk a lot about this generation making a huge mark in history. What scares me is that we might miss it. Why? Because we aren't always that aggressive in going for it. We are still waiting!
Can I encourage you to stop waiting (if you are?).
If you want to change this generation or society or even church then you need to do something about it. If you are hungry for God to move than you need to do something about it.
How you may ask? Well it is real simple!
Start with what you do know and let God do the rest.
How about this weekend you go after God with some renewed passion.
Get involved in the Global Day of Prayer...it is only 30 minutes out of an entire weekend.
Come along on sunday and be part of God doing something amazing things with us as a church.
Look what Jesus said....
Matthew 11:12 (niv)
From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it.
Remember...that ideal and reality are just two poles we live in between.
You can move between them in whatever direction you like. The choice is always yours...
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
I have a relative who says...
"When I win Lotto, I am going to do this and do that"
The only problem is that they don't normally buy a ticket. So all they really have at the moment is wishful thinking.
Now I am not telling you go buy Lotto tickets. I am simply wanting to share with you the point that hoping, wishing, even dreaming sometimes is not enough to see something happen. You need a little more than that.
You generally will only get something when you go for it. When you work for it. When you pay some sort of cost for it.
Many times I have hoped to get something. Even sat around waiting for it...and guess what happened?
You guessed it...nothing!
Many years a go, God spoke to a young guy about something he wanted him to do.
I noticed that he didn't give him the '5 step plan', or a special 'thing' to achieve what God had for him to do.
The two things he gave him was His favour (spirit, presence, anointing) and advice. And that advice was pretty simple.
He said "be strong and courageous" (Joshua 1:6)
Simply having the idea to win battles or having the strategies were not enough for this guy called Joshua.
God told him to have some guts and get on with it. That way he would be successful.
For you, don't just sit around wishing.
If God has given you something to do, please just do it.
Please be strong and courageous. And then God can bless what he gives you to do.
What God spoke to a young Joshua, he is speaking to you today.
How about you encourage yourself with the whole passage of scripture?
I know God will speak to you through it!
Joshua 1:6-9 (niv)
6 "Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."
"When I win Lotto, I am going to do this and do that"
The only problem is that they don't normally buy a ticket. So all they really have at the moment is wishful thinking.
Now I am not telling you go buy Lotto tickets. I am simply wanting to share with you the point that hoping, wishing, even dreaming sometimes is not enough to see something happen. You need a little more than that.
You generally will only get something when you go for it. When you work for it. When you pay some sort of cost for it.
Many times I have hoped to get something. Even sat around waiting for it...and guess what happened?
You guessed it...nothing!
Many years a go, God spoke to a young guy about something he wanted him to do.
I noticed that he didn't give him the '5 step plan', or a special 'thing' to achieve what God had for him to do.
The two things he gave him was His favour (spirit, presence, anointing) and advice. And that advice was pretty simple.
He said "be strong and courageous" (Joshua 1:6)
Simply having the idea to win battles or having the strategies were not enough for this guy called Joshua.
God told him to have some guts and get on with it. That way he would be successful.
For you, don't just sit around wishing.
If God has given you something to do, please just do it.
Please be strong and courageous. And then God can bless what he gives you to do.
What God spoke to a young Joshua, he is speaking to you today.
How about you encourage yourself with the whole passage of scripture?
I know God will speak to you through it!
Joshua 1:6-9 (niv)
6 "Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."
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