Evagelism

insights, thoughts and ramblings

Total news: 20
Last news: August 27, 2010 13:00:01

We have so many talented people at Journey Church.  This week I had the distinct privilege to read  a very creative rendition of the Great Commission found in Matthew 28 by one our many talented people, Cole Harper.   I was talking to Cole prior to Sunday and we started talking about how the church in America has lost its first love and how we have distorted what the Great Commission embodies and have deduced the commission from our Savior Jesus Christ to something that is more focused on buildings, lights and HD videos cameras and a passionless life not focused on people who need Jesus.  Before all the emails and comments start coming in, I am not suggesting we can’t use buildings, lights and HD video cameras to promote the Great Commission but what is our motive, OUR kingdom or HIS Kingdom?  Without further ado, the American Spoiled Version of the Great Commission by Cole Harper.

Go therefore and make disciples of already lukewarm Christians, baptizing them in the name of cool buildings, consumerism and the fear of lost people, teaching them to ignore both the Gospel and that lost people go to hell. And behold, I am with you always [assuming your sound system is sweet] even as you pogo-stick aimlessly from church to church for the duration of your anemic, passionless lives.

Lets keep Jesus the main thing, shall we?  I can speak for myself and for Journey Church, we will not subscribe to this idea.  In fact, we will die flying the banner of Jesus Christ.  Who is with us?  The time is now.

Tweet This Post  Facebook 

Matthew 13:1 - 23:39
It didn’t take long for God to drive home a point from the scriptures so let do the same and get right to it.  In the first part of Matthew 14 we ready about John the Baptist beginning beheaded due to a dancer none the less.  In 14:12 the disciples took John’s body and buried him and then went to tell Jesus.  This is the point God revealed something awesome about our Savior.  When Jesus heard about John’s death he withdrew to a private place most likely to mourn but when he landed on the shore He had compassion on the people and began to heal them (vs. 13-14).  Wow, I would have thought Jesus would not have engaged in ministry so soon.  Why?  John the Baptist was a pillar for the faith.  John had faith before Jesus came.  He prophesied about Jesus’ coming, faithfully.  HE BAPTIZED JESUS!  Jesus could have stopped the work of the ministry because he felt sad for himself but He didn’t…and neither should we.  Press on through trials, live the Christ, much to gain and nothing to lose.

Romans 5:3-5
3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;4 perseverance, character; and character, hope.5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

Tweet This Post  Facebook 

I believe we need to plant churches like it is going out of style not only because its biblical but because its our only hope.  Here my top 5 reason why we need to plant churches.

1. Hands down most effective evangelism tool - in major denominations around 80% of the recorded salivations came from churches that where younger than two years old.  What does this tell us…? Church plants are more effective.  This doesn’t mean that established churches don’t have there place, they DO and they can have a big impact on the culture of church planting.  Lots of larger and more established churches can fund church planting.
2. We are commanded too! -  the results of the great commission ministry is discipleship and discipleship leads to congregationalism aka church.  So, if we are making disciples we are planting churches.  Right?  Its a natural progression.
3. Lots of lost people - the last stat I read was that there were over 120 million unchurched people in the United States.  This make us the largest mission field in the Western Hemisphere and the fifth largest field in the world.  Hmm, think we should be starting new churches?  Especially since we close somewhere in the neighborhood of 3500 churches each year.
4. Church plants reach younger people – A key characteristic of church plants is that their attenders tend to be younger than churches generally, with more than two-thirds (69%) of adult attenders being aged 15-49 years, compared with only 48% at churches generally.
5. It is the most exciting thing to do on the face of this planet (yeah I’m partial) – need I say more!!!

The fact is we need a reality check.  If we don’t plant more churches than close each year our children won’t have a church to attend.  Actually we need a GUT check.  If you feel like God is leading you to plant then I encourage you to begin the process of becoming a planter.  Here are some good questions to ask yourself before planting.

Tweet This Post Facebook

Its amazing what you can learn from your kids. Most of you know that I started a journey through the New Testament in 30 days. This has really opened my heart and mind to learning Gods word.

Just when I thought my weekly daddy daughter date night would turn out the same as most, I pulled out a Fun Dip and my daughter went crazy. You should have seen her face…it was priceless. As we started our sugar filled adventure I was attempting to teach my daughter the correct way to eat her newly acquired snack art and you could see the look of anticipation like never before. Not surprised my daughter was soon a pro eating her fun filled treat. Just like most of us, my daughter started eating the candy stick between licks and had soon resulted to her finger. I took a quick break to answer an email and when I looked up from my BlackBerry there was my daughter with her fun dip packaged ripped open with her head tilted back savoring every ounce of fun.

At that moment I thought we need to take the Fun Dip approach to learning about God.  When was the last time you were so overly excited with Joy to learn about God that you forgot what you were doing in the moment?  Why don’t we read scripture after scripture?  Why can’t there be a desire to not stop until we consume all the Scriptures much like my daughter would not stop until all off the sugar was gone?  We don’t rip God’s word open and tip back our head because we are so desperate to know Him.  Why?  Why?

Start today, never look back and change your world one lick at a time!  Challenge yourself now.

Tweet This Post  Facebook 

We all influence other people, sometimes it’s for the worse. I was sitting in Sam’s Club today picking up some tables for our Children’s ministry when I realized our circles of influence could be greater. Let me explain, I was in Sam’s Club for one hour and didn’t see one person that I knew. There is so much potential in our community to meet new people we just have to get of our spiritual couches and be intentional about meeting new people. Be intentional.

Jeff

Tweet This Post  Facebook 

I was recently talking on the phone to one of my good friends John Stamper and he reminded me of a story I told him one time about a personal experience I had growing up.  It’s funny how you will forget and someone else will remind you about yourself.  I told him a story one time about when I was working on a farm in High School.  I worked for an old school farmer who pretty much rigged everything he did.  We were walking a fence line one day repairing the barbed wire.  The old farmer would get me to place my shoulder behind the fence post and he would swing a SLEDGE hammer nailing the wire back to the fence post.  You can imagine that every time he swung I was praying that it would be the last because it would rock my world every time.  He was hitting me so hard that I kept falling down and all I heard him saying was “Buck Up Boy!” Swing after swing, “Buck Up Boy!” Its a funny story to laugh at now but the reality is the majority of people who call themselves Christians, need to “Buck Up Boy!”

Done are the days up pathetic Christianity.  I envision a group of believers not of afraid to speak the name of Jesus.  People who not afraid to stand up for what we believe in.  Dads, man enough to lead their families and do what is right no MATTER the cost.  DONE are the days but the reality is that we all need to buck up and take the bull by the horns.  Who will come with me?  Who will stand up and say enough is enough?  Now is the time, today is the day.

Tweet This Post  Facebook 

There is a show on TV called 1000 ways to die. It always catches my attention but I really don’t have a desire to see all the different ways to die. In fact it kind of freaks me out that there are enough people out there that want to fantasize about death but that is another post. We can focus on on the different ways to die or we can CHOOSE to focus on the one way to live. I chose to live, how about you?

I was recently motivated by a Bible study from the book of Philippians. Paul is in prison, in chains, and continues to preach the Gospel. Not worried about what the guards will think of him when he tells them about Jesus, he continues to preach (Philippians 1:13). Not concerned about the people preaching the Gospel with wrong motives, he continues to preach (Philippians 1:17). He wants to die but knows he will be used for the Kingdom if he stays the course, he continues to preach (Philippians 1:23). The one continuous theme we read through this chapter is that no matter what Paul is faced with he continues to preach the life changing message of Jesus Christ, crucified, laid to rest and raised from the dead. What is your message? What will you preach? I am convinced there might be thousands of ways to die but only one true way to life.

Tweet This Post  Facebook 

I will keep this short.

• Jesus is alive
• Three people stepped over from death to live today!
• Its time to come home
• We are not going to stop until we hit 0%

Expect God is do big things this week through our Journey Groups and next Sunday.  Looking forward to it.

Jeff

Tweet This Post  Facebook 

That’s right Journey Church is moving!  We’re Moving!  It is exciting to be a part of Journey Church and to play a small part in what God is doing.  I can’t tell you enough how privileged I am to serve as your pastor.  I wanted to take a moment and remind you that we are MOVING!  God has really provided an incredible facility for our church to use.  Here are some things this building will help us accomplish:

• The ability to focus on PEOPLE and not facilities (because the association is allowing us to stay rent free, this is a privilege!)
• Allow our core team (which is you) to grow in strength and numbers before taking our church public (launch - September 12th)
• Provides more stability as we grow

Once again, God is at work doing so much through our church.  The best thing we could do is get out of the way and let God do what He desires (this doesn’t get you off the hook from serving).

IMPORTANT DATES:
April 14th - Work day at our new building
April 18th - First Sunday in our new building

NEW ADDRESS:
615 Park East Blvd.
New Albany, IN 47150

Tweet This Post  Facebook 

As we continue to prepare for our Fall launch, September 12th, which basically means we are going to take what God is doing and go public (John 12:32) I want to encourage you to be at church this Sunday.  We are going to continue our “RE” series “RETrain” a look at spiritual disciplines.  We are also going to be starting something that will blow your mind.  Make plans to attend this “don’t miss Sunday.”

Tweet This Post  Facebook 

I am apart of a coaching network at Oak Leaf Church led by Michael Lukaszewski and a few sessions ago we went over a leadership lesson for completing a task.  I took this lesson and expanded on the concept.  When completing a task you can complete it three ways:

1. You Can Do It…out of desperation - There are time when, as leaders, we must just get the job done.  But this is not scalable and your ministry will not grow if you are always the one completing the tasks.
2. You Can Delegate It…out of dictation - Delegation is a common misconception in leadership.  We think we are leading if we are delegating our tasks out to someone else.  This is not biblical if you don’t believe me read Ephesians 4!  I understand that sometimes we have to delegate when we are in a pinch but this is not scalable.
3. You Can Develop A Leader…out of desire - When we are developing other leaders we are extending the life cycle of our church (and don’t kid yourself…every church as a life cycle) and its biblical, if you don’t believe me read Ephesians 4! Developing leaders will allow you to sleep well at night.

Do not hold the ministry God has given you with a tight fist.  Do it only if you have to, delegate on occasion and also develop other leaders.

Tweet This Post  Facebook 

Recently our church has acquired some new equipment that is going to help us reach our community.  We are having a tailgate party on Sunday to showcase some this this equipment.  God blessed us with donors to cover a lot of the cost of the equipment.  I can’t tell you everything we got you will just have to experience it first hand on Sunday!!  BTW we are going to provide all the meat and drinks for Sunday you just need to bring your favorite side and a chair.  See you Sunday.

Tweet This Post  Facebook 

I just wanted everyone to know that I am down in Orlando Florida this week at the Southern Baptist Annual Convention.  I will have the opportunity to meet lots of people who are interested in helping church plants just like Journey.  Be praying that God will open up doors and opportunities so I can build strategic relationships.  God is at work in our church and He will continue to work through our partnerships.

Tweet This Post  Facebook 

Tweet This Post  Facebook 

I believe there is an element where we have forgotten our own personal freedoms whether we’ve forgot the freedom the American Solider fought for or the freedom in Christ we have from the Cross. We have to balance the fact the we are dead in sin and that we have been set free in Christ through His sacrifice on the cross. Its easy to camp out on one side of the spectrum but I find it is difficult to live a balance between man’s sinful nature and the freedom of the cross.

My fear is that we live content with the vanishing thought of those who fought and paid the ultimate price for our freedom and an eternal tragedy if we forget the freedom found in Christ. What are your thoughts?

Tweet This Post  Facebook 

I am so pumped as we get closer to our “Grand Opening.” We are promoting the service as “Come as you are.”  We truly want people to come to church just as they are. They do not need to be cleaned up, perfect or polished before they come to Journey Church. We are jacked up people made clean by a perfect Savior, Jesus Christ. Here are ways you can help get the word out about our “Grand Opening” by taking a yard sign or signs this Sunday:

• Take a yard sign and place it in your yard!! (I know it rocket science)
• If your place of business is in our target area ask if you can put a yard sign up
• Ask friends and family members to place a yard sign in their yard even if they don’t go to our church (I know right…Christians working together!)
• Pick up a few extra signs and place them at busy intersections on your way home from church

It would love to be just driving down the road and say, “Hey, there is one of our signs!!”  I am so honored to be your pastor and I am so excited to see what God is going to do at our “Grand Opening.”

Tweet This Post  Facebook 

As Journey Church moves closer to our Grand Opening we wanted to dedicate the 30 days leading up to this exciting day by praying.  We will see God continue to move in our church as we join together and praying for our church, our families and community.

What Do I Pray For?
During our 30 Days of Prayer there are specific things you can be praying for.  Each day you will have a scripture to read and a suggested prayer.  While you are praying, be open to what the Spirit is telling you and start praying for specific request.  You might pray for:

• A family member that needs Jesus
• People to invite to our Grand Opening
• God to show up in a huge way leaving the only explanation that God showed up
• Mended relationships
• Personal renewal
• Favor

Tweet This Post  Facebook 

I truly believe the best is yet to come at Journey Church. God has been in the process of positioning us for a huge movement from God and here is why:

1. We have been faithful in the little – On March 14th we started with nothing, at least equipment.  However, we had the most dedicated team in the history of church planting.  We continue to elevate Jesus in our community while intentionally making disciples.  Matthew 25:23 tells us that if we continue to be faithful God will give us more Kingdom responsibilities.
2. God pours out His favor on those you seek Him – Jeremiah 29:11, probably one of the most misused verses, tells us that God has plans for us to prosper, plans of a future and hope.  If we keep reading in Jeremiah 29:13 we see that we will find God when seek Him with all of our hearts.  I can only imagine that when we experience God’s presence the only outcome can be a movement that changes our community.  God will respond to prayers of restoration so remain faithful and God will deliver his promises.
3. God is not done with His Church and neither are we - Matthew 16 assures us that the enemy will not over take the church so until the day that Jesus returns we are not going to stop elevating Jesus and disciple the saved.

Do you believe the best is yet to come?  If we continue in obedience, step aside and let God move then we will truly see great things in the future.

Tweet This Post Facebook

Most of the time we go through life not expecting anything to happen. The sad culmination is that when God does show up unexpectedly we are so caught off guard we miss the blessing.  What if everyday you started with the thought, “Today God is going to reveal Himself to me.” Would your prayer life change?  Would your weeks become shorter because you wouldn’t be drawn down but the mundane things in life?  I believe that we would be set free to serve our Lord to our greatest capacity if we prayed and lived with expectant hearts.  Every ordinary day has a miracle waiting to happen and I want to experience everything that God has to offer.

As we move closer to our Grand Opening at Journey Church we need to expect God to show up and take care of business.  Lives are at steak here.  Decide to change, to be different and experience God in the fullness of His Glory.

Tweet This Post Facebook