As I pray and search for creative ways to infuse vision into the church, I've done a lot of research on the question, "what is the church?"
I think that is a good question.
If you go on youtube or blogs or any social network you can find quite a bit of different views to the question, what is the church? Everything from: street interviews with public opinion, pastors explanation, creative animations of explanation and so on.
There are a lot of thoughts around this topic. Rightfully so, I mean both sides of the issue have plenty of scripture to back up their views, so much so, that it can quickly become a debate.
And that's where a good question quickly becomes bad.
It's bad to create division, strife, debate over what the church is, who the church is for, what the church should look like, and who it's not for. (like I said, a lot of views out there)
Perhaps we have these strong feelings about church because on one side non-believers (as well as some believers) have a very negative view of the church. Then on the other side there are very strong and positive views of the church. Thus the debate.
See if you ask most people, "what is the church?' They will respond correctly, "it's the people who follow Christ." True? Then if you point at a building and ask, "what is that?" They will answer, "a church."
Very confusing eh? The church is the people not the building, yet we meet in a building and call it a church. Back and forth we go! (sorry, forgive me for being factitious....but I think you see what I'm getting at.) Which by the way let me add. I believe Christians should faithfully gather together in large venues as the church in a church. ;)
So, here is my thought. Maybe we have all these different feelings about the church because we've spent so much time asking the wrong question. Perhaps instead of asking "what is the church?" we should ask "what is our life about?"
Did you get that? As believers (who are the church) when we come together in a church (place where we gather) we should ask the question, "what are our lives all about?
The answer?
Life is about God and His Kingdom.
If we truly understood that concept then we lose the tags of a church being seeker sensitive, traditional, transformational, emergent, modern, and countless others. We would not argue about the programs, strategies, and order of service line up. We would not leave the church because of personal preference dislikes or offense and hurt. Instead we'd exercise the very things that makes us a church without spot or wrinkle, things like unity, love, long-suffering, patience, kindness, perseverance and so on.
When I read what Christ says the Kingdom of God is like, then I see what God is like. When I pay attention to what God is like, I learn what He likes.
The church is us and in that we tend to bring a very US mindset in how we think it should be done. But if we live with a mindset that we are about His Kingdom then church will be different because we will be different.
It's not about asking "what is the church?" It's about asking "what is His Kingdom all about?"
Showing posts with label Kingdom. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kingdom. Show all posts
Monday, July 11, 2011
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Victory in the Kingdom
As I mentioned in my previous post, I'm on my way to Lima, Peru. Right now I'm in the Miami airport enjoying a five hour layover in the "Admiral's Lounge."
So with some time to myself, I'd thought I'd share with you the message I'll be preaching tomorrow. Pray for me, because anyone who knows me knows I am not a morning person; I speak at 8:30am (that's 5:30am our time)
Qualities of a Healthy Team
The Apostle Paul said, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." 2 Timothy 4:7 Paul paints these word pictures to drive home the point that our faith is much like that of a ball game or sporting event. In Peru, soccer is to them what our Super Bowl is to us, so I'm relating my message in soccer terms to hopefully connect on a deeper level.
As Christians, people who follow the teachings and lifestyle of Jesus Christ, there are some things in this sporting event we call life that we need to understand if we want to have a win for the Kingdom of God.
Fouls and Outs
There are some characteristics we need to stay away from or not become in order to win.
1. Being a Free Agent: Believers who have not committed to a local church team.
2. People who want to be on the team but don’t want to play.
3. People who give up before the game is over.
4. People who talk negatively about their teammates and coaches.
Proverbs 16:28 A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends.
I really can't say enough about this subject. Too many Christians and churches are loosing and don't even know it because their mouth is so wide open it cause their eyes not to see clearly.
5. People who never practice and expect to do their best at the game.
6. People who quit and give up when things don’t go their way.
Scoring Goals and Winning
1. Commitment: People who are committed to give their very best.
2. Unity: People who recognize we are stronger as a team than we are as individuals.
Philippians 2:2-4 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
3. Diversity: People who have different skills, talents and abilities.
4. Relationships: People who value their friends and teammates around them.
“Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:1-2
Think about that for a moment. Look at the words that jump off the page, "caught in sin", "you who are spiritual," "restore gentle", "carry each other", "fulfill the law"......WOW!
What "law of Christ" is he talking about?
The law of sin and death. Jesus came to restore man to God.
God is in the restoration business; which leads to point number six.
6. Possibility: People who say, “We can do it.”
Why? Because it's not easy to stand for love and righteousness. You would think it is, but it isn't. Know that this type of living will cost you more than you know, but at the same time I can't imagine living any other way. It's why the Bible gives us so many challenges and encouragement to live a life that goes out of it's way for restoration and redemption.
A win down here is a victory in the Kingdom.
Colossians 3:12-14
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
So with some time to myself, I'd thought I'd share with you the message I'll be preaching tomorrow. Pray for me, because anyone who knows me knows I am not a morning person; I speak at 8:30am (that's 5:30am our time)
Qualities of a Healthy Team
The Apostle Paul said, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." 2 Timothy 4:7 Paul paints these word pictures to drive home the point that our faith is much like that of a ball game or sporting event. In Peru, soccer is to them what our Super Bowl is to us, so I'm relating my message in soccer terms to hopefully connect on a deeper level.
As Christians, people who follow the teachings and lifestyle of Jesus Christ, there are some things in this sporting event we call life that we need to understand if we want to have a win for the Kingdom of God.
Fouls and Outs
There are some characteristics we need to stay away from or not become in order to win.
1. Being a Free Agent: Believers who have not committed to a local church team.
2. People who want to be on the team but don’t want to play.
3. People who give up before the game is over.
4. People who talk negatively about their teammates and coaches.
Proverbs 16:28 A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends.
I really can't say enough about this subject. Too many Christians and churches are loosing and don't even know it because their mouth is so wide open it cause their eyes not to see clearly.
5. People who never practice and expect to do their best at the game.
6. People who quit and give up when things don’t go their way.
Scoring Goals and Winning
1. Commitment: People who are committed to give their very best.
2. Unity: People who recognize we are stronger as a team than we are as individuals.
Philippians 2:2-4 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
3. Diversity: People who have different skills, talents and abilities.
4. Relationships: People who value their friends and teammates around them.
“Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:1-2
Think about that for a moment. Look at the words that jump off the page, "caught in sin", "you who are spiritual," "restore gentle", "carry each other", "fulfill the law"......WOW!
What "law of Christ" is he talking about?
The law of sin and death. Jesus came to restore man to God.
God is in the restoration business; which leads to point number six.
6. Possibility: People who say, “We can do it.”
Why? Because it's not easy to stand for love and righteousness. You would think it is, but it isn't. Know that this type of living will cost you more than you know, but at the same time I can't imagine living any other way. It's why the Bible gives us so many challenges and encouragement to live a life that goes out of it's way for restoration and redemption.
A win down here is a victory in the Kingdom.
Colossians 3:12-14
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
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