I love this video below. Get's me excited! But it makes me think...who is the Church for? Really. Can we draw this line in the sand? Is Church for the Christian or for the non-Christian? Do we spin our wheels making it so about programs, the latest fads, or transfer church growth and then wrap it up with words like "God is doing amazing things in our church?" Are we to be 100% about seeking and saving the lost or is that just supposed to be part of our programing or purpose statement strategy? 500 giving their lives for the first time in the last five months at Elevation Church...what do you do with that? I love the word Kingdom Multiplication...sounds a lot better than Kingdom Maintenance. Im interested in hearing your thoughts....if the church is not to be about seeking and saving that which is lost...what the heck are we to be about? Chime in Church.
Way of the Pastor,
Joe Drew (Click on Video below)
I like the idea that the church is for the lost. However, if there is no discipleship program (doesn't have to be formal) then you are not going to last long. Soon, you run out of sinners in your circle of influence. Yes, stay focused on outreach to "new" sinners giving themselves to Christ - but don't forget that the great shepherd is the one who left the 99 safe in the fold and went looking for that one lost sheep who had obviously been under the shepherd's care before. So - he seeks the sheep that had been in his fold but is again lost...to what? Take him back to the safety of the fold.
ReplyDeleteThe church is a group of individuals who have died to themselves such that they no longer live for their own desires in life but rather they live for others. Together, such people would help each other grow in righteousness until they become the fullness of Christ with every good gift and blessing. Such selfless light is extremely attractive or repulsive and the individuals naturally love and reach out to all around them. The church can only be made of those seeking righteousness and thus uplifting righteousness for all the world to hear such that anyone else desiring to live righteously might join.
ReplyDeleteIf the church isn't for the lost, Acts 2 seems a little off. If it isn't for the saved, Acts 4 seems little off. I prefer to think that we always have people at every stage in relationship to God - some who are far from Him, others who are deepening their walk with Him. It's tough, but we're attempting to structure our church so that it's balanced with the ultimate goal of being a lost-reaching body.
ReplyDelete