Perhaps you've heard the old saying, "Money follows mission." In other words, when the church does what it is really suppose to do (go and make fellow disciples), some how, some way, God provides.
The Bible tells the story of the disciples fishing one long day, but its not going well. The professional anglers are getting shut out, which is not a good thing since that is how they financially support themselves and the community. In the midst of this despair, carpenter Jesus chimes in with his own fishing-tip-of-the-day, saying, "Hey guys, you should throw the nets to the other side of the boat!"
I'm pretty sure the bubble over everyone else's head read: "Thanks, carpenter, like you know anything about fishing." Peter, however, takes a different direction. He innovates, saying to Jesus, "Its tough out here...and your request goes against the common sense of the world, BUT since YOU said to throw the nets a few feet in a different direction, we will do so!"
HOLY TUNA FISH! In a moment's time the nets are so full of fish the nets begin to tear....
Friends: like the alphabet where O comes before P, the same is true when we are planting (fishing) churches. Obedience comes before Provision. Jesus sets the stage for a miracle. He then invites us to participate with him. As we trust and obey him, it breaks open the flood gates of heavenly provision!
Get it?
Here's one example: I'm always hearing church planters and even existing churches lament about their lack of money (fish). They are trying all their old methods of catching, but the lake seems to be dried up. I USE to say to God, "If only I had more money, THEN I would be able to _______(this is where you can fill in your own wrong answer). I always did...that is, fill it the wrong answer. I have discovered, however, that when we do what we are suppose to do (do mission as a lifestyle that leads to discipleship) God ALWAYS does what He promises to do (the needed provision!).
So, here are some thoughts for you to bait-up and throw into the waters: Instead of adding another full-time employee for working inside the temple, implement a training to send more equipped fisher people into the lakes. I have found that all sorts of folks WANT to be equipped to do ministry in their own spheres of daily influence. Their occupational pay in the marketplace now becomes the funding means for their Christian vocation! Likewise, instead of spending hundreds-to-millions by adding onto your existing facility, be innovative in how you can build your influence into an existing city facility or program that is already standing in the community. Yes, its more inconvenient, but it will also produce greater results in reaching the unreached. Again, I invite you to see yourselves as pastors that equip other anglers to be pastors. They have, after all, greater assess to the marketplace's fishing holes than pulpit pastors do! When we obey Jesus' Great Commission to GO TO the people as nets of grace, we will make the catch. This is crucial to obey since no longer are people just jumping into the boat (our Sunday morning gathering time), no matter how professional the anglers are.
In other words, I am inviting you to stop thinking that people showing up for Sunday morning worship is your only means of having a major net breaking catch. Instead, throw your net OUT and in a different manner. Obedience will over-come your own sense of what is "normal." Our God of the abnormal, will then supply the provision--- which is changed lives and transformed cities...not just more butts in the bleachers.
Money (or provision), will always follow Mission (or obedience) to Jesus. Try it. Throw to the other side...
NEWS and NOTES: The movie, Son of God, opens in theaters this Friday, February 28th. I have already heard great reviews! Also: I would appreciate your prayers as I travel this coming weekend to Salt Lake City to be the keynote speaker and workshop presenter at the 2nd annual Intermountain District meeting for LCMC churches in Utah and Idaho. On another note, do YOU have any prayer concerns you want others to pray into? Feel free to share on this blog as you see appropriate!
Sunday, March 2nd: Destaye Crawford is ordained. She is the planter of Every Tribe and Tongue in Minneapolis, MN. Also March 2nd: Hosanna! Lakeville, MN is launching its new satellite in Shakopee, MN.
Sunday, February 23, 2014
Sunday, February 16, 2014
Innovative Minds: part-2
Church Planter's Blog:
"...if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."
(The Apostle Paul, as recorded in 2 Corinthians 5:17)
Being irrelevant should be a Christian's worst nightmare. After all, we have the greatest message of life-blessing power in the history-of-all-history, and to dumb it down or relax it up is unthinkable. Yet, our faith can often hit the snooze button and a person (or a church) that was relevant 20, 10, or even 1-year ago, can now be irrelevant within the culture. I've seen it, experienced it, and I bet you have too.
Rick Warren describes irrelevancy in the church as this: "Irrelevance comes when the speed of change in a church is slower than the speed of change in culture." Of course, that also means the opposite is true--- and that's our hope because the Church is made for Gospel-relevant speed! Repentant, needful hearts for Jesus will always be changing...making us new creations in Him. When we are new creations in Christ, we are now world changers!
Remember our friend Martin Luther? He didn't invent the printing press. That was accomplished by a fellow German by the name of Johannes Gutenberg. Luther, however, quickly used the press to innovate the invention. To innovate is to expand the cause. Luther's cause was the furthering of God's kingdom presence, so he innovated the printing invention and distributed the printed Bible and other Christian materials to people who had never had such access. I'm sure Luther would have done the same thing with the invention of radio, television and the internet. His innovative relevancy is suppose to be the M-O of what it means to be a Lutheran Christian! Collectively, we are to be a think tank with God's mind to bless and reclaim the world!
Oh, oh....we've been in a pause mode, haven't we? We are guilty of clinging to our traditions that were innovative in the day, but are no longer relevant.
So what are we to do? Invent something new? Maybe...but perhaps more effective would be to innovate something that already exists and reclaim it for God's relevant glory! In other words, how about starting by stopping so we can start again?! Let's stop letting Hollywood do all the story telling, and let's start innovating movies and books and television shows. Let's stop letting technology be our enemy to our values; and instead, start innovating it to better communicate the Gospel. Let's stop inventing more government programs to care for people, by starting innovative businesses dedicated to kingdom investment. Let's stop bowing down to Facebook as people's first choice for relationships, and start innovating face-to-face friendships in our spheres of influence. Hear me now, I'm not saying the Church should replace those inventions, just be in them to innovate them. Christians in the marketplace are to become the influencers of culture and the agents of innovative change so the culture desires to follow the speed of Jesus' life changing blessings!
In my last blog I lifted up some simple ideas of what it means to be innovative in a church, and thus lead with Spirit-speed instead of always trying to fix the culture in our flesh. Therefore, I leave you once again with some faith points to practice:
1. Think inside the box. Instead of going outside the box for your innovative answers to solutions, look inside. In other words, let your church's various restraints foster creativity from inside God! Ask: how can I/we do a big ministry with a small budget, a small staff, or a small facility? Instead of looking outside the box for the answer, BE the answer for outside the box. Yes, it is possible.
2. Fear no failure. The ideas that are going to best influence our culture are going to involve risk. So what if something doesn't work the first time! Ask Gutenberg about that. There can be no Easter breakthrough without first going through a Good Friday death.
3. Define who you are. If your traditions are to run programs, you might be making great consumers. Trouble is, Jesus calls us to make great disciples. Be innovative in helping people hear Jesus say, "and teach them to obey everything that I have commanded you." IN NEXT WEEK'S BLOG, I speak more to that. For indeed, provision comes when we first learn to obey!
NEWS and NOTES: Destaye Crawford will be ordained on Sunday, March 2nd, at a 5:00 pm service at St. Paul's in Minneapolis. Destaye is the planter of Every Tribe and Nation, a church aimed at Ethiopians in Minneapolis. ALSO on March 2nd...Hosanna! of Lakeville, MN is opening up a new satellite campus in Shakopee, MN (about 20-minutes away). Hosanna! Shakopee is birthed to change the following problem: that Scott County has up to 200,000 unchurched people. AN EXCELLENT BOOK: Right Here, Right Now by Alan Hirsch and Lance Ford. I just finished this book in less than a week's time because it grabbed my attention. The book is a great inspiration to the importance of developing churches that are biblically missional for today!
"...if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."
(The Apostle Paul, as recorded in 2 Corinthians 5:17)
Being irrelevant should be a Christian's worst nightmare. After all, we have the greatest message of life-blessing power in the history-of-all-history, and to dumb it down or relax it up is unthinkable. Yet, our faith can often hit the snooze button and a person (or a church) that was relevant 20, 10, or even 1-year ago, can now be irrelevant within the culture. I've seen it, experienced it, and I bet you have too.
Rick Warren describes irrelevancy in the church as this: "Irrelevance comes when the speed of change in a church is slower than the speed of change in culture." Of course, that also means the opposite is true--- and that's our hope because the Church is made for Gospel-relevant speed! Repentant, needful hearts for Jesus will always be changing...making us new creations in Him. When we are new creations in Christ, we are now world changers!
Remember our friend Martin Luther? He didn't invent the printing press. That was accomplished by a fellow German by the name of Johannes Gutenberg. Luther, however, quickly used the press to innovate the invention. To innovate is to expand the cause. Luther's cause was the furthering of God's kingdom presence, so he innovated the printing invention and distributed the printed Bible and other Christian materials to people who had never had such access. I'm sure Luther would have done the same thing with the invention of radio, television and the internet. His innovative relevancy is suppose to be the M-O of what it means to be a Lutheran Christian! Collectively, we are to be a think tank with God's mind to bless and reclaim the world!
Oh, oh....we've been in a pause mode, haven't we? We are guilty of clinging to our traditions that were innovative in the day, but are no longer relevant.
So what are we to do? Invent something new? Maybe...but perhaps more effective would be to innovate something that already exists and reclaim it for God's relevant glory! In other words, how about starting by stopping so we can start again?! Let's stop letting Hollywood do all the story telling, and let's start innovating movies and books and television shows. Let's stop letting technology be our enemy to our values; and instead, start innovating it to better communicate the Gospel. Let's stop inventing more government programs to care for people, by starting innovative businesses dedicated to kingdom investment. Let's stop bowing down to Facebook as people's first choice for relationships, and start innovating face-to-face friendships in our spheres of influence. Hear me now, I'm not saying the Church should replace those inventions, just be in them to innovate them. Christians in the marketplace are to become the influencers of culture and the agents of innovative change so the culture desires to follow the speed of Jesus' life changing blessings!
In my last blog I lifted up some simple ideas of what it means to be innovative in a church, and thus lead with Spirit-speed instead of always trying to fix the culture in our flesh. Therefore, I leave you once again with some faith points to practice:
1. Think inside the box. Instead of going outside the box for your innovative answers to solutions, look inside. In other words, let your church's various restraints foster creativity from inside God! Ask: how can I/we do a big ministry with a small budget, a small staff, or a small facility? Instead of looking outside the box for the answer, BE the answer for outside the box. Yes, it is possible.
2. Fear no failure. The ideas that are going to best influence our culture are going to involve risk. So what if something doesn't work the first time! Ask Gutenberg about that. There can be no Easter breakthrough without first going through a Good Friday death.
3. Define who you are. If your traditions are to run programs, you might be making great consumers. Trouble is, Jesus calls us to make great disciples. Be innovative in helping people hear Jesus say, "and teach them to obey everything that I have commanded you." IN NEXT WEEK'S BLOG, I speak more to that. For indeed, provision comes when we first learn to obey!
NEWS and NOTES: Destaye Crawford will be ordained on Sunday, March 2nd, at a 5:00 pm service at St. Paul's in Minneapolis. Destaye is the planter of Every Tribe and Nation, a church aimed at Ethiopians in Minneapolis. ALSO on March 2nd...Hosanna! of Lakeville, MN is opening up a new satellite campus in Shakopee, MN (about 20-minutes away). Hosanna! Shakopee is birthed to change the following problem: that Scott County has up to 200,000 unchurched people. AN EXCELLENT BOOK: Right Here, Right Now by Alan Hirsch and Lance Ford. I just finished this book in less than a week's time because it grabbed my attention. The book is a great inspiration to the importance of developing churches that are biblically missional for today!
Sunday, February 9, 2014
What's IN these days for innovation?
Church Planter's Blog
The first of a mini-series on being innovative in the church....
Ever watch the television show, Shark Tank? I do, and I love it because the show features ordinary people doing extraordinary things. I'll admit that greed can be involved in the show; but even more so, I see innovative people looking to take a product to the next level of cultural influence.
An invention is often the creation of a new idea or product, but an innovation is to create a better use of that invention. An innovation is an intentional commitment to designing solutions for real problems or needs. For instance, thousands of years ago, someone created the cup. Since then, the cup has gone through several innovations--- including a variety of ways to keep beverages cold or warm or transferable, etc. Likewise, a few years ago churches were becoming innovative in worship by going with high-tech equipment: lights, sound, video. All cool stuff, but the question remains: did the cool stuff win more people to Christ, then disciple them to follow him? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Being innovative in the church is when the kingdom is advanced.
Many times I've caught myself saying "I'm innovative." It sounds good and is probably true to some extent, but if I don't articulate myself well, many church people are simply hearing me say, "I like doing the latest thing."
Being an innovative church planter, however, is more than the latest trend, style or program. Way more.
Being an innovative church planter means being an agent of change, but not change for the sake of change. It means leading people into a position to be radically changed by the Holy Spirit. It means following Jesus as a daily life style that radically shifts a negative tide to the side. Being an innovative church planter means advancing the cause...but first you have to know what that cause is! A "kingdom cause" means coming up with a niche that your church becomes known for in your community. It is a means and a movement of having a heart and a implemented plan for reaching the unreached and then training them to make more disciples!
When I started Rejoice! Church in Northfield, Minnesota, our initial niche was to be a church that trained people to live the faith and disciple others in the community. It was for more than just growing our Sunday morning worship affluence, but growing our Monday morning influence. In other words, Sunday morning worship in the church facility was for the sake of Monday morning worship in the workplace! We certainly didn't invent the Great Commission, but every year we sought to be innovative in how we were going to advance the cause and impact the city. Bottom line: the goal of being an innovative church is more than just inventing a new program, but innovating energy to advance scripture's old values of making new disciples.
You may be saying, "But we don't have the money or the people right now to be innovative!" Wrong! Being innovative is not about the resources you don't have, but working with the resources you do have! As believers, we have the Word of God. We have the supernatural advocate of the Holy Spirit. We have the promises of the cross and the presence of Christ. Therefore, we have abundance in Christ! Scarcity of worldly resources can bring clarity as we ask, "What is it, Lord, that you want us to do and be for you?" Lacking human resources allows us to depend upon the resources of God--- and when we obey Him to go and "invent" more disciples, we are given exactly what we need for real innovation that reaches the unreached.
To remind you of innovative possibilities, please consider the following:
1. Go to LifeTree.com and check out an innovative way to reach the unreached.
2. Calendar time might be running out, but you can still use Valentine's Day (or weekend) as a visionary catapult for a future marriage seminar or retreat for people outside your congregation.
3. The movie, Son of God is about to hit theaters later this month. Can you rally people to invite others to watch the movie together, then discuss if afterwards over pie? Can you join another church in your town to buy out a theater and then give away the tickets to those not in your churches?
NOTES:
I'm still looking for a gifted person to lead a new church in Oregon, Wisconsin. There are already 80 some younger people there to serve as a launch team. ALSO...the Lord is stirring up movement for a church plant in the Milwaukee area. A local LCMC leader is looking to rally churches and finances to make that happen. Interested? Contact God about it...then contact me!
UP NEXT: More thoughts on being an innovative church leader.
The first of a mini-series on being innovative in the church....
Ever watch the television show, Shark Tank? I do, and I love it because the show features ordinary people doing extraordinary things. I'll admit that greed can be involved in the show; but even more so, I see innovative people looking to take a product to the next level of cultural influence.
An invention is often the creation of a new idea or product, but an innovation is to create a better use of that invention. An innovation is an intentional commitment to designing solutions for real problems or needs. For instance, thousands of years ago, someone created the cup. Since then, the cup has gone through several innovations--- including a variety of ways to keep beverages cold or warm or transferable, etc. Likewise, a few years ago churches were becoming innovative in worship by going with high-tech equipment: lights, sound, video. All cool stuff, but the question remains: did the cool stuff win more people to Christ, then disciple them to follow him? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Being innovative in the church is when the kingdom is advanced.
Many times I've caught myself saying "I'm innovative." It sounds good and is probably true to some extent, but if I don't articulate myself well, many church people are simply hearing me say, "I like doing the latest thing."
Being an innovative church planter, however, is more than the latest trend, style or program. Way more.
Being an innovative church planter means being an agent of change, but not change for the sake of change. It means leading people into a position to be radically changed by the Holy Spirit. It means following Jesus as a daily life style that radically shifts a negative tide to the side. Being an innovative church planter means advancing the cause...but first you have to know what that cause is! A "kingdom cause" means coming up with a niche that your church becomes known for in your community. It is a means and a movement of having a heart and a implemented plan for reaching the unreached and then training them to make more disciples!
When I started Rejoice! Church in Northfield, Minnesota, our initial niche was to be a church that trained people to live the faith and disciple others in the community. It was for more than just growing our Sunday morning worship affluence, but growing our Monday morning influence. In other words, Sunday morning worship in the church facility was for the sake of Monday morning worship in the workplace! We certainly didn't invent the Great Commission, but every year we sought to be innovative in how we were going to advance the cause and impact the city. Bottom line: the goal of being an innovative church is more than just inventing a new program, but innovating energy to advance scripture's old values of making new disciples.
You may be saying, "But we don't have the money or the people right now to be innovative!" Wrong! Being innovative is not about the resources you don't have, but working with the resources you do have! As believers, we have the Word of God. We have the supernatural advocate of the Holy Spirit. We have the promises of the cross and the presence of Christ. Therefore, we have abundance in Christ! Scarcity of worldly resources can bring clarity as we ask, "What is it, Lord, that you want us to do and be for you?" Lacking human resources allows us to depend upon the resources of God--- and when we obey Him to go and "invent" more disciples, we are given exactly what we need for real innovation that reaches the unreached.
To remind you of innovative possibilities, please consider the following:
1. Go to LifeTree.com and check out an innovative way to reach the unreached.
2. Calendar time might be running out, but you can still use Valentine's Day (or weekend) as a visionary catapult for a future marriage seminar or retreat for people outside your congregation.
3. The movie, Son of God is about to hit theaters later this month. Can you rally people to invite others to watch the movie together, then discuss if afterwards over pie? Can you join another church in your town to buy out a theater and then give away the tickets to those not in your churches?
NOTES:
I'm still looking for a gifted person to lead a new church in Oregon, Wisconsin. There are already 80 some younger people there to serve as a launch team. ALSO...the Lord is stirring up movement for a church plant in the Milwaukee area. A local LCMC leader is looking to rally churches and finances to make that happen. Interested? Contact God about it...then contact me!
UP NEXT: More thoughts on being an innovative church leader.
Monday, February 3, 2014
Church Planting: it helps to be a bit crazy!
Church Planter's Blog:
I recently saw a fun sign posted behind the counter of a small town mom-and-pop restaurant. It read: "You don't have to be crazy to work here, but it sure does help!"
I laughed out loud and then thought, "Hey, that's a slogan every church planter should be wearing on a t-shirt!"
With that in mind, I invite you to ask yourselves, "Am I crazy enough to be a church planter? Do I know someone else that is?" Church planters have to be a bit crazy, but not insane. They don't do something crazy and then expect God to bless it. Instead, God blesses them to do something crazy, so they do it. To prove it, here are 5-points and 8-biblical characters who were "crazy in Christ." (My thanks to Geoff Surratt for the inspiration).
Are YOU crazy enough to...
1)....build like Noah and Nehemiah, even though everyone else thought they were nuts? God told Noah to build a really big boat, so Noah picked up a hammer and obeyed. Nehemiah was told by God to rebuild the Jerusalem wall. So he gathered together a rag-tag group of non-union workers and they obeyed in record time. Likewise, crazy church planters see a middle school theater and build a worship center. They find a bar singer and develop a worship leader. They see dismal stats and say, "We can still do this!"
2)...live in determination like Caleb and party like Matthew? Caleb was 80-years old when he demanded his dream of land become reality. When Matthew was called by Jesus, Matthew didn't sit down to plan a constitution with by-laws, but stood up to plan a party with people--- inviting fellow tax collectors and sinners. Likewise, crazy church planters are determined not to fail, seeking everyone as potential converts for discipleship and doing it in fun!
3)...lead a team of misfits like David and be passionate like Peter? David's "mighty men" were really law-breaking malcontents, but he captained them into greatness. Peter always seemed to move with passion, saying crazy things like "Let's build a tent right here!" Or, "Baptize me from head-to-toe!" Or, "I will never deny you, Lord!" He cuts off a soldier's ear, hops out of a moving vehicle to walk on water and deeply sobs at his betrayal of the Savior. Likewise, crazy church planters build leaders from soon-to-be former addicts, deadbeat dads and apathetic drifters. They do it with a cross-and-resurrection-passion because there is no such thing as a stoic church planter.
4)...serve with a soft heart and thick skin like the Apostle Paul? Paul was beaten, stoned, shipwrecked, starved, rejected, jailed and mocked. Yet, he was determined to move forward rather than quit and stay safely put. Likewise, crazy church planters are "all in" for their mission. They have the faith and the wiring to work hard and quickly adapt and change, so that more people can be reclaimed by the Word and discipled by the Holy Spirit.
5)...love your community like Jesus did? Jesus wept over the very city that would crucify him, yet he still trained, empowered and sent many teams into the mission field. Their job was to make contagious connections in the marketplace so the gospel would flourish through the city. Likewise, crazy church planters know they are not to be lone rangers, but team makers. They die to their egos because they are obsessed in seeing the marketplace of their city be transformed by a living faith.
Friends, you don't have to be crazy to be a church planter, but it sure does help--- especially when you live out your calling like the above biblical characters lived out their faith.
I recently saw a fun sign posted behind the counter of a small town mom-and-pop restaurant. It read: "You don't have to be crazy to work here, but it sure does help!"
I laughed out loud and then thought, "Hey, that's a slogan every church planter should be wearing on a t-shirt!"
With that in mind, I invite you to ask yourselves, "Am I crazy enough to be a church planter? Do I know someone else that is?" Church planters have to be a bit crazy, but not insane. They don't do something crazy and then expect God to bless it. Instead, God blesses them to do something crazy, so they do it. To prove it, here are 5-points and 8-biblical characters who were "crazy in Christ." (My thanks to Geoff Surratt for the inspiration).
Are YOU crazy enough to...
1)....build like Noah and Nehemiah, even though everyone else thought they were nuts? God told Noah to build a really big boat, so Noah picked up a hammer and obeyed. Nehemiah was told by God to rebuild the Jerusalem wall. So he gathered together a rag-tag group of non-union workers and they obeyed in record time. Likewise, crazy church planters see a middle school theater and build a worship center. They find a bar singer and develop a worship leader. They see dismal stats and say, "We can still do this!"
2)...live in determination like Caleb and party like Matthew? Caleb was 80-years old when he demanded his dream of land become reality. When Matthew was called by Jesus, Matthew didn't sit down to plan a constitution with by-laws, but stood up to plan a party with people--- inviting fellow tax collectors and sinners. Likewise, crazy church planters are determined not to fail, seeking everyone as potential converts for discipleship and doing it in fun!
3)...lead a team of misfits like David and be passionate like Peter? David's "mighty men" were really law-breaking malcontents, but he captained them into greatness. Peter always seemed to move with passion, saying crazy things like "Let's build a tent right here!" Or, "Baptize me from head-to-toe!" Or, "I will never deny you, Lord!" He cuts off a soldier's ear, hops out of a moving vehicle to walk on water and deeply sobs at his betrayal of the Savior. Likewise, crazy church planters build leaders from soon-to-be former addicts, deadbeat dads and apathetic drifters. They do it with a cross-and-resurrection-passion because there is no such thing as a stoic church planter.
4)...serve with a soft heart and thick skin like the Apostle Paul? Paul was beaten, stoned, shipwrecked, starved, rejected, jailed and mocked. Yet, he was determined to move forward rather than quit and stay safely put. Likewise, crazy church planters are "all in" for their mission. They have the faith and the wiring to work hard and quickly adapt and change, so that more people can be reclaimed by the Word and discipled by the Holy Spirit.
5)...love your community like Jesus did? Jesus wept over the very city that would crucify him, yet he still trained, empowered and sent many teams into the mission field. Their job was to make contagious connections in the marketplace so the gospel would flourish through the city. Likewise, crazy church planters know they are not to be lone rangers, but team makers. They die to their egos because they are obsessed in seeing the marketplace of their city be transformed by a living faith.
Friends, you don't have to be crazy to be a church planter, but it sure does help--- especially when you live out your calling like the above biblical characters lived out their faith.
Sunday, January 26, 2014
I can see clearly now, the REIGN has come!
Church Planter's Blog #7
I like talking about vision with church planters and existing congregations. All agree having a vision to clearly see a ministry direction is important, but few really know what to do with vision. Some may deny their need for an eye exam ("We don't need to change anything around here!"), while others simply want to wear the latest style of glasses that are available ("Let's change things up around here because that's what that other church is doing"). Some may want to just get some nice words scripted into their website to declare their visionary responsibilities are done, while others truly seek to equip the people to live out the visionary words in everything the church does--- inside and outside the facility.
This is how I "see it." Having a vision is not so much about being able to clearly look into the future and know what's going to happen, as it is to simply ask the Lord, "now what?..and then obey His direction.
At best, we can take some educated guesses at what might happen over the next 10-years in ministry trends for our churches, our cities, our nation or the world, but there is no guarantee any trend will be God blessed. So perhaps the best way to see what's needed for the future is simply be tuned into what's going on around you right now. In other words, its a bit easier to go someplace new if you know where you're starting from. (Just ask your GPS!). Combine what issues you see around you today, with God's biblical vision for what God wants to do, and BINGO; you have a MINISTRY VISION that is missional for the future, beginning now! What might that be for you and your church in the city in which you live?
The LCMC Vision to plant 1,000 new congregations over the next 10-years is a good example. I have no idea if we will achieve that mark or not...but I do know God's heart for discipling people and expanding His territory. How do I know? His Word says so! Therefore, we could say that having a vision is when we seek God's preferred biblical future, today! A preferred biblical future is to practice the Great Commandment and Great Commission. When we love God and others by modeling discipleship, new churches will be created. Five-years from now our vision will still be to plant 1,000 churches over the next 10-years. The number is not our goal, practicing the vision is!
Proverbs 29:18 declares, "Where there is no vision the people perish, but happy is he who keeps the law." A good translation of the word for vision is "a revelation of God's Word." In other words, the Bible says In Proverbs 29:18, "Where there is no revealed Word of God (in Jesus and his cross purposes), the people will have no lasting direction. But happy is he who obey's God's commandments by following His Son!"
Having a vision statement is a very good idea--- it keeps us focused on what we are to do and not do. This is crucial when starting a new ministry. But real Godly vision is living in the promises of God's revealed Word. For when we obey it, life in the Spirit is given into all we do for the sake of the future.
"Go and make disciples of all nations, says Jesus. Baptize them...and teach them to OBEY all that I have COMMANDED you to do!"
OPEN POSITION!
The state of Wisconsin is looking to develop two new starts in Madison, one in Green Bay and one in Wisconsin Rapids. All the sites have a planter in place except for Oregon, Wisconsin, a suburb of Madison. Right now, there is a solid "launch team" of 80 young adults. Let me know if you are interested in such a call...OR, you know someone who might be excellent! (dan@lcmc.net).
BABY GRAND PIANO
A baby grand piano is being donated to any new start that would like it. Contact me if interested.
Next Blog: "Being an innovative church."
I like talking about vision with church planters and existing congregations. All agree having a vision to clearly see a ministry direction is important, but few really know what to do with vision. Some may deny their need for an eye exam ("We don't need to change anything around here!"), while others simply want to wear the latest style of glasses that are available ("Let's change things up around here because that's what that other church is doing"). Some may want to just get some nice words scripted into their website to declare their visionary responsibilities are done, while others truly seek to equip the people to live out the visionary words in everything the church does--- inside and outside the facility.
This is how I "see it." Having a vision is not so much about being able to clearly look into the future and know what's going to happen, as it is to simply ask the Lord, "now what?..and then obey His direction.
At best, we can take some educated guesses at what might happen over the next 10-years in ministry trends for our churches, our cities, our nation or the world, but there is no guarantee any trend will be God blessed. So perhaps the best way to see what's needed for the future is simply be tuned into what's going on around you right now. In other words, its a bit easier to go someplace new if you know where you're starting from. (Just ask your GPS!). Combine what issues you see around you today, with God's biblical vision for what God wants to do, and BINGO; you have a MINISTRY VISION that is missional for the future, beginning now! What might that be for you and your church in the city in which you live?
The LCMC Vision to plant 1,000 new congregations over the next 10-years is a good example. I have no idea if we will achieve that mark or not...but I do know God's heart for discipling people and expanding His territory. How do I know? His Word says so! Therefore, we could say that having a vision is when we seek God's preferred biblical future, today! A preferred biblical future is to practice the Great Commandment and Great Commission. When we love God and others by modeling discipleship, new churches will be created. Five-years from now our vision will still be to plant 1,000 churches over the next 10-years. The number is not our goal, practicing the vision is!
Proverbs 29:18 declares, "Where there is no vision the people perish, but happy is he who keeps the law." A good translation of the word for vision is "a revelation of God's Word." In other words, the Bible says In Proverbs 29:18, "Where there is no revealed Word of God (in Jesus and his cross purposes), the people will have no lasting direction. But happy is he who obey's God's commandments by following His Son!"
Having a vision statement is a very good idea--- it keeps us focused on what we are to do and not do. This is crucial when starting a new ministry. But real Godly vision is living in the promises of God's revealed Word. For when we obey it, life in the Spirit is given into all we do for the sake of the future.
"Go and make disciples of all nations, says Jesus. Baptize them...and teach them to OBEY all that I have COMMANDED you to do!"
OPEN POSITION!
The state of Wisconsin is looking to develop two new starts in Madison, one in Green Bay and one in Wisconsin Rapids. All the sites have a planter in place except for Oregon, Wisconsin, a suburb of Madison. Right now, there is a solid "launch team" of 80 young adults. Let me know if you are interested in such a call...OR, you know someone who might be excellent! (dan@lcmc.net).
BABY GRAND PIANO
A baby grand piano is being donated to any new start that would like it. Contact me if interested.
Next Blog: "Being an innovative church."
Sunday, January 19, 2014
News and Notes
Church Planter's Blog #6
News and Notes from Dan:
God's richest blessings are shared with Pastor Fred Schumacher and Living Hope Church of Plentywood, Montana. Living Hope launched this past Sunday, January 19th.
Congratulations and hand claps for Pastor Jonathan Haseley, as he was ordained this past Sunday, January 19th, at St. Peter's in Sanborn, New York. Jonathan now begins his call to create a missional community aimed at Niagara Falls.
My thanks to Pastor John Foss of the Lutheran Church of the Cross in Aliso Viejo, California. John was the host this past week as I led a workshop on church planting with 6 local pastors. We also shared a seminar with 23 Southern California pastors to discuss the need for our LCMC churches to be strengthened by living-out the Great Commission, and not just speaking well of it. I can tell you that after serving for 11-months in this capacity as the national church planting coach, I believe the only way we will be able to successfully launch new churches is when our existing churches are missional over maintenance and transformational over traditional. We must take-on the DNA of churches birthing churches! So again, let's join together in prayer for our 700 congregations to realize that when they communicate and team-up with other LCMC churches in their city, state or district, that's when we can successfully pool our resources and bless new starts into a healthy family.
This coming Friday I'm attending a 3DM gathering, led by its international leader, Mike Breen. I have found the heart of 3DM to be something the LCMC must beat into. Some Lutheran Churches in Southern California and Minnesota are already moving into what I call, "a lifestyle training of being Jesus to others, rather than just developing programs of evangelism." (Don't know about 3DM? Check into it!) Also, be sure look-up LifeTree Cafe. I'm seeing it as a fantastic tool to start a new church that reaches the disconnected.
This coming Saturday, January 25th, I'm meeting with LCMC leaders in Wausau, Wisconsin, as the group starts a brand new district for the state. What I really love about the formation of this new district, is that it's focused on planting healthy churches in the land of milk and cheese! My challenge is for other LCMC Districts to live-out that same planting mentality!
Next Blogs:
1. What is Vision?
2. Are you a leader, or more like a manager?
News and Notes from Dan:
God's richest blessings are shared with Pastor Fred Schumacher and Living Hope Church of Plentywood, Montana. Living Hope launched this past Sunday, January 19th.
Congratulations and hand claps for Pastor Jonathan Haseley, as he was ordained this past Sunday, January 19th, at St. Peter's in Sanborn, New York. Jonathan now begins his call to create a missional community aimed at Niagara Falls.
My thanks to Pastor John Foss of the Lutheran Church of the Cross in Aliso Viejo, California. John was the host this past week as I led a workshop on church planting with 6 local pastors. We also shared a seminar with 23 Southern California pastors to discuss the need for our LCMC churches to be strengthened by living-out the Great Commission, and not just speaking well of it. I can tell you that after serving for 11-months in this capacity as the national church planting coach, I believe the only way we will be able to successfully launch new churches is when our existing churches are missional over maintenance and transformational over traditional. We must take-on the DNA of churches birthing churches! So again, let's join together in prayer for our 700 congregations to realize that when they communicate and team-up with other LCMC churches in their city, state or district, that's when we can successfully pool our resources and bless new starts into a healthy family.
This coming Friday I'm attending a 3DM gathering, led by its international leader, Mike Breen. I have found the heart of 3DM to be something the LCMC must beat into. Some Lutheran Churches in Southern California and Minnesota are already moving into what I call, "a lifestyle training of being Jesus to others, rather than just developing programs of evangelism." (Don't know about 3DM? Check into it!) Also, be sure look-up LifeTree Cafe. I'm seeing it as a fantastic tool to start a new church that reaches the disconnected.
This coming Saturday, January 25th, I'm meeting with LCMC leaders in Wausau, Wisconsin, as the group starts a brand new district for the state. What I really love about the formation of this new district, is that it's focused on planting healthy churches in the land of milk and cheese! My challenge is for other LCMC Districts to live-out that same planting mentality!
Next Blogs:
1. What is Vision?
2. Are you a leader, or more like a manager?
Sunday, January 12, 2014
Be a church that does, "What if?"
Church Planter's Blog #5
Perhaps you've heard of author and LA church planter, Edwin Raphael McManus. Recently he wrote, "We are residents of the future in present times."
That simple statement struck a complex chord in me. Maybe my internal wiring is just messed up, but I've always had the habit of living for the future, rather than just settling in the present. For example, I might preach a great sermon on a Sunday morning in the present, but I only enjoy it for a moment. Immediately after, I start moving into the "now what?" Don't get me wrong, I do appreciate the moments I'm going through--- whether its with my family or church family, but I quickly move to future thinking. In other words I go from "what is" to "what if...."
In my work of connecting with church leadership around the nation, I see a lot of church folks living in the past and stagnating in the present, all because they're afraid of the future. My heart breaks over that. After all, the hope of Jesus is to be received today for the sake of knowing his hope for tomorrow. His hope empowers us to storm the gates of hades with confidence! Time-and-time again Jesus says, "Be not afraid in the present, because your future is my future...and I am the way, the truth and the life to the Father!"
When churches get stuck in the past, or are stagnating in the present, they are missing the power of pushing into God's "what if" of future transformation. That's why churches that are strategizing their discipleship efforts today are not only the ones thriving in the present, but will be the ones driving into God's preferred future. They are "what if" church movements. They are incubators for birthing the world's very best ideas that lead to the very best actions of faith!
So, while scripture instructs us "to be still and know that I am God," its not for going to sleep. Yes, God instructs us to stop and smell the roses of His daily grace in the present, but only so He can engage us to join Him in unfolding a future of even greater grace.
Here's just one example of living into a "what if" scenario: Look around the nation and try to find churches that are making a daily faith impact with some lasting results in the marketplace. I said a daily impact that is lasting. Yes, many are doing great ministry moments, but not enough are imparting action plans that are paving into a greater future. For instance, we feed hungry people, but hunger continues. We assist people with money, but they still need good paying jobs. Its almost like Christians receive all God has for them on Sunday mornings in the worship center, but forget to impart-it-out on Monday mornings in the marketplace center.
This is why I am consulting the Lord on starting a Marketplace Ministry Church for the Twin Cities of Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN. As I continue to explore this God-idea with more "what ifs," perhaps it will serve as a national model for others. The Marketplace Ministry Movement of Minnesota would not be born to replace anyone's current home church, but to complement it. We would still worship, but would do so on a Monday night in a marketplace setting. We would still teach and proclaim the Gospel, but in a manner that leads to hands-on training for daily, on-going influence: in homes as well as in the schools, businesses and governmental spheres. In other words, "what if" I were to start a church with the laser-focus of maturing current believers so they could be more effective in the harvest field with those who do not yet know the lasting love of God in Christ Jesus? "What if" the church got ahead of the culture-curve and really led the way to lasting city transformation?
Friends: What are the "what ifs" God is placing on your hearts for planting new churches? I certainly encourage you to enjoy the precious "what is" moments of life...but then ask yourselves, "what if..." As you do, I'm convinced you'll become a powerful present instrument for God's preferred lasting future!
Perhaps you've heard of author and LA church planter, Edwin Raphael McManus. Recently he wrote, "We are residents of the future in present times."
That simple statement struck a complex chord in me. Maybe my internal wiring is just messed up, but I've always had the habit of living for the future, rather than just settling in the present. For example, I might preach a great sermon on a Sunday morning in the present, but I only enjoy it for a moment. Immediately after, I start moving into the "now what?" Don't get me wrong, I do appreciate the moments I'm going through--- whether its with my family or church family, but I quickly move to future thinking. In other words I go from "what is" to "what if...."
In my work of connecting with church leadership around the nation, I see a lot of church folks living in the past and stagnating in the present, all because they're afraid of the future. My heart breaks over that. After all, the hope of Jesus is to be received today for the sake of knowing his hope for tomorrow. His hope empowers us to storm the gates of hades with confidence! Time-and-time again Jesus says, "Be not afraid in the present, because your future is my future...and I am the way, the truth and the life to the Father!"
When churches get stuck in the past, or are stagnating in the present, they are missing the power of pushing into God's "what if" of future transformation. That's why churches that are strategizing their discipleship efforts today are not only the ones thriving in the present, but will be the ones driving into God's preferred future. They are "what if" church movements. They are incubators for birthing the world's very best ideas that lead to the very best actions of faith!
So, while scripture instructs us "to be still and know that I am God," its not for going to sleep. Yes, God instructs us to stop and smell the roses of His daily grace in the present, but only so He can engage us to join Him in unfolding a future of even greater grace.
Here's just one example of living into a "what if" scenario: Look around the nation and try to find churches that are making a daily faith impact with some lasting results in the marketplace. I said a daily impact that is lasting. Yes, many are doing great ministry moments, but not enough are imparting action plans that are paving into a greater future. For instance, we feed hungry people, but hunger continues. We assist people with money, but they still need good paying jobs. Its almost like Christians receive all God has for them on Sunday mornings in the worship center, but forget to impart-it-out on Monday mornings in the marketplace center.
This is why I am consulting the Lord on starting a Marketplace Ministry Church for the Twin Cities of Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN. As I continue to explore this God-idea with more "what ifs," perhaps it will serve as a national model for others. The Marketplace Ministry Movement of Minnesota would not be born to replace anyone's current home church, but to complement it. We would still worship, but would do so on a Monday night in a marketplace setting. We would still teach and proclaim the Gospel, but in a manner that leads to hands-on training for daily, on-going influence: in homes as well as in the schools, businesses and governmental spheres. In other words, "what if" I were to start a church with the laser-focus of maturing current believers so they could be more effective in the harvest field with those who do not yet know the lasting love of God in Christ Jesus? "What if" the church got ahead of the culture-curve and really led the way to lasting city transformation?
Friends: What are the "what ifs" God is placing on your hearts for planting new churches? I certainly encourage you to enjoy the precious "what is" moments of life...but then ask yourselves, "what if..." As you do, I'm convinced you'll become a powerful present instrument for God's preferred lasting future!
"We are residents of the future in present times."
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