This interview was recorded at the 2008 Text and Context conference held at Mars Hill Church's Ballard campus.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Persuasion (Video) by Tim Keller
This content is from the Dwell Conference from 2008 in New York City.
Tim Keller - Persuasion
Dwelling in the Gospel (Video) by Tim Keller
This content is from the Dwell Conference from 2008 in New York City.
Tim Keller - Dwelling in the Gospel
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Gospel Hospitality in our Neighborhood
Earlier, I shared that I would write another post to describe how Jayne and I engaged in Gospel Hospitality in our neighborhood.
When we first arrived and got settled into our neighborhood, we had a house warming party and invited our friends and neighbors over for a party with good food and drink. We were very intentional to ask them about themselves, how long they’d been in the neighborhood and general questions about their life. Each time, we were careful to listen well looking for the opportunity to be a blessing to them with what God has given us.
Eventually, Soma began using the first Sunday of the month to do “scattered gatherings” in our neighborhoods instead of gathering in a building together. We trained the church in Hospitality and encouraged our people to open their homes on Sunday mornings for a brunch and invite neighbors to join them. Each of us served as host and provided some main dishes (not just some cheap donuts). Surprisingly, a majority of our neighbors attended (most were not a part of a church). And once again, we asked questions, listened and got to know our neighbors better. One of our goals was to get to know the stories of our neighbors as well as our neighborhood, always looking for an opportunity to be a display of God’s grace to our neighbors by the way we hosted and served and eventually through acts of grace according to their needs.
We realized that we needed regularity to this kind of activity so during the Spring and Summer we started doing a BBQ/Party every Friday night. The regularity was a key to making this happen (Too many settle for doing a party a couple times a year...this will not do it...there needs to be consistency to your hospitality). Eventually, everyone in the neighborhood had joined us and there was a genuine sense of connection and warmth between us relationally. Over time, others volunteered to host the parties so that our neighborhood started sharing the responsibility.
All of this would have been good neighborly activity, but not enough all by itself. It led to us getting to know the felt and real needs of our neighbors. We eventually started working on our neighbor Nicki’s home together since her home had fallen apart after the passing of her husband 15 years prior. During our times of serving together, we would often look for opportunities to share the Gospel reason for why we were serving. Most often, after serving we would invite people over for dinner and the conversations continued.
Our home became known as the house where you could find a party or a place to rest, converse, share a struggle or receive some prayer. We let people know that we had an open door policy – if you wanted to stop by and visit or join us for dinner, you were always welcome. This led to people stopping over after a bad day, losing a job, looking for advice on child rearing or crying over a broken relationship. If we needed to be alone for a particular reason, we would politely make that known, but many times the Spirit prompted us to set aside our own interests and pray for strength to love our neighbors when it wasn't always convenient for us.
Some people took us seriously…Nicki was one of those. She started coming over several times a week. Eventually, she became part of our family AND part of the family of God (this past November). Our neighbors across the street and down the road have also become a part of our family (eating with us at least once a week and often more)…not yet believing the Gospel…but hopefully on the way (three of them just showed up at our gathering the past couple of weeks after several years of parties, brunches and serving together).
There is so much more I could share about this…
As I was just talking to Jayne about this she said many people are willing to do the basics of hospitality, but shut down once it gets difficult and messy. It is at this point, where the Gospel gives us strength to continue AND where the opportunities to give a reason for our hope (1 Peter 3:15) open up because most people (believer and unbeliever alike) know how to be “good neighbors”, however, very few are willing to “suffer” (if we can call it that) for the sake of others.
We have found that the mess and the difficulty of loving hospitality done in the power of the Gospel is one of the most powerful witnesses we’ve had to our neighborhood.
When we first arrived and got settled into our neighborhood, we had a house warming party and invited our friends and neighbors over for a party with good food and drink. We were very intentional to ask them about themselves, how long they’d been in the neighborhood and general questions about their life. Each time, we were careful to listen well looking for the opportunity to be a blessing to them with what God has given us.
Eventually, Soma began using the first Sunday of the month to do “scattered gatherings” in our neighborhoods instead of gathering in a building together. We trained the church in Hospitality and encouraged our people to open their homes on Sunday mornings for a brunch and invite neighbors to join them. Each of us served as host and provided some main dishes (not just some cheap donuts). Surprisingly, a majority of our neighbors attended (most were not a part of a church). And once again, we asked questions, listened and got to know our neighbors better. One of our goals was to get to know the stories of our neighbors as well as our neighborhood, always looking for an opportunity to be a display of God’s grace to our neighbors by the way we hosted and served and eventually through acts of grace according to their needs.
We realized that we needed regularity to this kind of activity so during the Spring and Summer we started doing a BBQ/Party every Friday night. The regularity was a key to making this happen (Too many settle for doing a party a couple times a year...this will not do it...there needs to be consistency to your hospitality). Eventually, everyone in the neighborhood had joined us and there was a genuine sense of connection and warmth between us relationally. Over time, others volunteered to host the parties so that our neighborhood started sharing the responsibility.
All of this would have been good neighborly activity, but not enough all by itself. It led to us getting to know the felt and real needs of our neighbors. We eventually started working on our neighbor Nicki’s home together since her home had fallen apart after the passing of her husband 15 years prior. During our times of serving together, we would often look for opportunities to share the Gospel reason for why we were serving. Most often, after serving we would invite people over for dinner and the conversations continued.
Our home became known as the house where you could find a party or a place to rest, converse, share a struggle or receive some prayer. We let people know that we had an open door policy – if you wanted to stop by and visit or join us for dinner, you were always welcome. This led to people stopping over after a bad day, losing a job, looking for advice on child rearing or crying over a broken relationship. If we needed to be alone for a particular reason, we would politely make that known, but many times the Spirit prompted us to set aside our own interests and pray for strength to love our neighbors when it wasn't always convenient for us.
Some people took us seriously…Nicki was one of those. She started coming over several times a week. Eventually, she became part of our family AND part of the family of God (this past November). Our neighbors across the street and down the road have also become a part of our family (eating with us at least once a week and often more)…not yet believing the Gospel…but hopefully on the way (three of them just showed up at our gathering the past couple of weeks after several years of parties, brunches and serving together).
There is so much more I could share about this…
As I was just talking to Jayne about this she said many people are willing to do the basics of hospitality, but shut down once it gets difficult and messy. It is at this point, where the Gospel gives us strength to continue AND where the opportunities to give a reason for our hope (1 Peter 3:15) open up because most people (believer and unbeliever alike) know how to be “good neighbors”, however, very few are willing to “suffer” (if we can call it that) for the sake of others.
We have found that the mess and the difficulty of loving hospitality done in the power of the Gospel is one of the most powerful witnesses we’ve had to our neighborhood.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Gospel Conversations
I trained our Missional Community Leaders last night in how to engage in everyday Gospel Conversations. If you would like to listen to the recording please email me at: jeff@somacommunities.org and I will send you the link (we're not making this recording public).
Some of the basics were...
Some of the basics were...
- Love Jesus: Our conversation about him will be genuine if we really love him. Besides, we all talk about the ones we love the most. The reason many of us don't talk about him is because our affections are not that strong for him.
- Remind Yourself of the Gospel: If you're affections for Jesus aren't strong, remember what he did for you...everyday...throughout the day.
- Experience Ongoing Gospel Transformation: Continue to submit yourself to the truth of the Gospel and walk out ongoing repentance. If you're not experiencing the Power of the Gospel (Romans 1:16) yourself, you will not believe that the Gospel is powerful enough to save and change others. It is out of the overflow of your heart that your mouth speaks.
- Pray for Open Doors to Share the Gospel: If you do, you will have opportunities to share the Gospel. Jesus said if you ask according to his will, he will give us what we ask for. I've found that I get opportunities to share the Gospel whenever I ask God to open doors to share.
- Live a life that demands a Gospel explanation (1 Peter 2:11-12): Live the kind of life among unbelievers that can not be explained other than by the Gospel - live a life that demands a Gospel Explanation.
- Live as Gospel Metaphors: Take time to identify all that is true of Jesus in the Gospel (Advocate, Suffering Servant, Mediator, etc...) and then ask how you might be able to live as these descriptions with your neighbors so that you can display Christ then declare why (i.e. Be an Advocate for others...Serve even when it hurts...Mediate for Reconciliation between neighbors...etc...)
- Be Prepared to Share (1 Peter 3:15): Do you know the Gospel Story? Can you share the Redemptive plan of God from Genesis to Revelation? Practice articulating it with other believers so you are ready to give an answer when people ask.
- Ask your friends who are observing your life Questions and LISTEN: Don't just fill the space with words. Ask questions...then ask more questions...then more...seeking to discovering their deep longings, needs, disappointments, idolatry...looking for Gospel Need, common ground to start on, open doors to walk through...Get to know their Story.
- Listen to the Holy Spirit: Ask God's Spirit to show you the deep needs of their hearts AND ask the Holy Spirit to give you the question and words.
- Pay attention to others Personal Worldview and the Culture's Worldview: Everyone has a Creation - Fall - Redemption - Restoration Storyline...they just don't all see Jesus as the Hero of the Story and us as themselves as the Hopeless Culprit. Listen for where their storyline is out of line with the Gospel and what part is in line with it. Then start with the common ground and move to what is out of line with the Gospel from that place. For instance with Environmentalists it generally is: Creation (Mother Earth) - Fall (Humanity) - Redemption (Humanity) - Restoration (Humanity and Mother Earth). The Biblical/Gospel Storyline is: Creation (God) - Fall (Humanity) - Redemption (Jesus Christ) - Restoration (Jesus in and through us And Ultimately Completed by Jesus). So, start with the Fall as the common ground and move from there (you may need to listen to the training to understand this one more fully).
Friday, April 10, 2009
A29 Conference in London
On June 9-10, David Fairchild, Scott Thomas, Steve Timmis and myself will be training and serving leaders and potential planters.
If you know anyone who would be interested in this, please encourage them to join us in June.
Go here to register.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Gospel Hospitality
In this post I am going to define and describe what Gospel Hospitality is. I will follow this up with a post describing how our community has worked this out in tangible forms.
SO, WHAT IS HOSPITALITY?
In general, hospitality is about treating a stranger as an equal to the host by creating space for him to be protected, provided for and taken care of, all of which is followed by assisting and guiding him on to his next destination.
The Origin of Hospitality
Creation: God’s Hospitable Act
(Genesis 1-2)
How does Creation inform our thinking about Hospitality?
There is a lot of history to consider in understanding the act or art of hospitality, but it all goes back to the beginning…
Consider what God did in Creating the world, the garden and humanity to live in it. He gave them all they needed to enjoy life restfully while doing the work He created them for. He gave them space to be, enjoy creation and each other and to walk in relationship with Him. They were given both the space and the capability to create, work and exercise authority all while being graciously provided for so they had the resources necessary to do it.
Israel: God's Hospitable People
Consider God’s commands to His people regarding strangers: Leviticus 19:9-10, 33-34; Deuteronomy 10:18-19…
Q: How should this inform how we care for those around us?
God through Abraham and Sarah created a new nation to be His People blessed to be a blessing to all nations. He gave them all the resources and capabilities to exercise hospitality to the strangers, orphans and widows. Similar to the Garden, they were to be a people and place of refuge where people could rest and receive all they needed to enable them to do what God had created them for, but now this rest was in the midst of a broken, sinful world.
Israel: A People in Need of Rest
On the flip side, think of the number of occasions where Israel found itself as the strangers among a host people. In some cases they found a hospitable reception (Egypt with Joseph in charge; the spies and Rahab). In other cases they found themselves treated like enemies or slaves (Slavery in Egypt; Babylonian Captivity).
God had called them to be a hospitable people, yet they often failed to do so. Then, He places them in the situation where they are the recipients of Hospitality. Now, they understood the effects of hospitality personally.
God allows us to experience grace as recipients so that we might be distributors of grace to others. Hospitality for Israel is a clear example of God’s gracious gift given to move Israel towards generous hospitality.
They Failed to Enter Rest...
However, Israel failed to enter God's rest because of their unbelief and disobedience (Hebrews 4). So, not only did they not rest in the work of God, but they also failed to be a refuge people for the other nations. They needed one who would come fully resting in God in faith and obedience who would also be for the people a place of refuge and healing...
GOSPEL INFORMED HOSPITALITY
Jesus: Gospel Hospitality
Jesus entered into a culture that was informed by a variety of worldviews (Roman, Hebrew and Greek to name a few). In this culture, the concept of hospitality found its etymological roots from a few different streams:
He lives, loves, obeys, works, dies and rises again so that we might find a place of rest, renewal and recreation...ultimately so that we might be about God's purposes - saved to be His Hospitable People
The Church: God's Hospitable People
In light of the Gospel, we might define hospitality as the creating of space that allows people to BE themselves (come into the light of Christ), to BECOME renewed (changed by the work of Christ) and then to DO the works God has saved them for (Recreated in Christ for good works)…
TO BE:
Rested…
In a broken world, marred and diseased by the effects of sin, people need the space to rest. This is why Jesus called people who were weary and heavy laden to come to him. He would give them rest for their weary souls. Jesus calls us to rest in his work on our behalf so that we can be a people at rest who provide sanctuaries of rest for others.
Q: How do we create space for rest and restoration?
Our True Selves…
Before the Fall Adam and Eve were naked and unashamed. God had created a place and made space for them to be themselves without covering or facades. If we are in Christ we are clothed with His righteousness – we don’t need to cover up or hide. One of the ways we create space for people to experience and come to understand the Gospel is by creating space for people to reveal their true self and see that they are loved regardless of the “wrinkles and scars” of sin.
Q: How do we create space for people to be their true self?
TO BECOME:
Whole…
The Gospel isn’t only about loving and forgiving sinners. It is also about restoring broken and marred people into healed and whole people who grow up to become imitators of Jesus Christ – restored image bearers of God.
Jesus created space for people to be and to become (Think Mary, Peter, Thomas, the woman at the well, the blind man, the paralyzed, etc…). Gospel hospitality implies creating space for people to be known, to be real, to be loved and ultimately to be led with the Holy Spirit’s help to healing and wholeness through the work and person of Jesus Christ.
Q: How do we create space for people to be led toward healing and wholeness?
TO DO:
The works we were created for…
The movement of the gospel goes from who God is and what He has done on our behalf so we can rest in the person and work of Jesus Christ and move forward into the works He created us to do (See Ephesians 2:8-10).
This is the result of Jesus’ Gospel hospitality. He got on the same level with his enemy – becoming human. He became our servant – to the point of death. He spent all that he had in order to clean us up – by becoming our sin and giving us his righteousness (2 Cor 5:21). Then He sent us His Spirit to empower us to do good works for his sake so others could be welcomed in to the family. When we engage in gospel hospitality we are regularly asking ourselves this question:
Q: How do we create space for the stranger to be rested, restored, healed and prepared in Jesus Christ for the work God has called them to?
Coming...Soma's experience of Gospel Hospitality...
SO, WHAT IS HOSPITALITY?
In general, hospitality is about treating a stranger as an equal to the host by creating space for him to be protected, provided for and taken care of, all of which is followed by assisting and guiding him on to his next destination.
The Origin of Hospitality
Creation: God’s Hospitable Act
(Genesis 1-2)
How does Creation inform our thinking about Hospitality?
There is a lot of history to consider in understanding the act or art of hospitality, but it all goes back to the beginning…
Consider what God did in Creating the world, the garden and humanity to live in it. He gave them all they needed to enjoy life restfully while doing the work He created them for. He gave them space to be, enjoy creation and each other and to walk in relationship with Him. They were given both the space and the capability to create, work and exercise authority all while being graciously provided for so they had the resources necessary to do it.
Israel: God's Hospitable People
Consider God’s commands to His people regarding strangers: Leviticus 19:9-10, 33-34; Deuteronomy 10:18-19…
Q: How should this inform how we care for those around us?
God through Abraham and Sarah created a new nation to be His People blessed to be a blessing to all nations. He gave them all the resources and capabilities to exercise hospitality to the strangers, orphans and widows. Similar to the Garden, they were to be a people and place of refuge where people could rest and receive all they needed to enable them to do what God had created them for, but now this rest was in the midst of a broken, sinful world.
Israel: A People in Need of Rest
On the flip side, think of the number of occasions where Israel found itself as the strangers among a host people. In some cases they found a hospitable reception (Egypt with Joseph in charge; the spies and Rahab). In other cases they found themselves treated like enemies or slaves (Slavery in Egypt; Babylonian Captivity).
God had called them to be a hospitable people, yet they often failed to do so. Then, He places them in the situation where they are the recipients of Hospitality. Now, they understood the effects of hospitality personally.
God allows us to experience grace as recipients so that we might be distributors of grace to others. Hospitality for Israel is a clear example of God’s gracious gift given to move Israel towards generous hospitality.
They Failed to Enter Rest...
However, Israel failed to enter God's rest because of their unbelief and disobedience (Hebrews 4). So, not only did they not rest in the work of God, but they also failed to be a refuge people for the other nations. They needed one who would come fully resting in God in faith and obedience who would also be for the people a place of refuge and healing...
GOSPEL INFORMED HOSPITALITY
Jesus: Gospel Hospitality
Jesus entered into a culture that was informed by a variety of worldviews (Roman, Hebrew and Greek to name a few). In this culture, the concept of hospitality found its etymological roots from a few different streams:
- The idea of taking in a hostile stranger or enemy and treating him as you would yourself
- The Greek practice of hospitality where a stranger passing outside a Greek house would be invited inside the house by the family. The host washed the strangers feet, offered him/her food and wine and only after he/she was feeling at comfortably could be asked to tell his/her name.
- The above practice of hospitality stemmed from the thought that the gods mingled among men and if you played host to a deity poorly, you would incur the wrath of a god.
- Another shaping force in the concept of hospitality in Jesus’ day was the Hebrew understanding (as briefly considered in the passages above and demonstrated also in the story of Lot and the angels– Genesis 19)
He lives, loves, obeys, works, dies and rises again so that we might find a place of rest, renewal and recreation...ultimately so that we might be about God's purposes - saved to be His Hospitable People
The Church: God's Hospitable People
In light of the Gospel, we might define hospitality as the creating of space that allows people to BE themselves (come into the light of Christ), to BECOME renewed (changed by the work of Christ) and then to DO the works God has saved them for (Recreated in Christ for good works)…
TO BE:
Rested…
In a broken world, marred and diseased by the effects of sin, people need the space to rest. This is why Jesus called people who were weary and heavy laden to come to him. He would give them rest for their weary souls. Jesus calls us to rest in his work on our behalf so that we can be a people at rest who provide sanctuaries of rest for others.
Q: How do we create space for rest and restoration?
Our True Selves…
Before the Fall Adam and Eve were naked and unashamed. God had created a place and made space for them to be themselves without covering or facades. If we are in Christ we are clothed with His righteousness – we don’t need to cover up or hide. One of the ways we create space for people to experience and come to understand the Gospel is by creating space for people to reveal their true self and see that they are loved regardless of the “wrinkles and scars” of sin.
Q: How do we create space for people to be their true self?
TO BECOME:
Whole…
The Gospel isn’t only about loving and forgiving sinners. It is also about restoring broken and marred people into healed and whole people who grow up to become imitators of Jesus Christ – restored image bearers of God.
Jesus created space for people to be and to become (Think Mary, Peter, Thomas, the woman at the well, the blind man, the paralyzed, etc…). Gospel hospitality implies creating space for people to be known, to be real, to be loved and ultimately to be led with the Holy Spirit’s help to healing and wholeness through the work and person of Jesus Christ.
Q: How do we create space for people to be led toward healing and wholeness?
TO DO:
The works we were created for…
The movement of the gospel goes from who God is and what He has done on our behalf so we can rest in the person and work of Jesus Christ and move forward into the works He created us to do (See Ephesians 2:8-10).
This is the result of Jesus’ Gospel hospitality. He got on the same level with his enemy – becoming human. He became our servant – to the point of death. He spent all that he had in order to clean us up – by becoming our sin and giving us his righteousness (2 Cor 5:21). Then He sent us His Spirit to empower us to do good works for his sake so others could be welcomed in to the family. When we engage in gospel hospitality we are regularly asking ourselves this question:
Q: How do we create space for the stranger to be rested, restored, healed and prepared in Jesus Christ for the work God has called them to?
Coming...Soma's experience of Gospel Hospitality...
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Living Out the Gospel in the Everyday
"Living Out the Gospel in the Everyday"
NW Puget Sound Regional Training Luncheon
It's one thing to have people show up on Sunday and hear the pastor proclaim the Gospel during a 1-2 event. It's an entirely different thing to equip our people to display and declare the Gospel in the everyday stuff of life. Come and join other pastors and church leaders in the NW Puget Sound Region as we learn together how to live out the Gospel in the everyday rhythms of life and equip the people in our churches to live everyday life with Gospel Intentionality.
Host: Soma Communities
Location: 1601 6th Ave, Tacoma, WA 98405
Day/Time: April 28, 12-3:30 pm
Facilitator/Teacher: Jeff Vanderstelt
PLEASE RSVP Tabitha@somacommunities.org to ensure enough food for lunch AND to receive the pdf of the training materials
NW Puget Sound Regional Training Luncheon
It's one thing to have people show up on Sunday and hear the pastor proclaim the Gospel during a 1-2 event. It's an entirely different thing to equip our people to display and declare the Gospel in the everyday stuff of life. Come and join other pastors and church leaders in the NW Puget Sound Region as we learn together how to live out the Gospel in the everyday rhythms of life and equip the people in our churches to live everyday life with Gospel Intentionality.
Host: Soma Communities
Location: 1601 6th Ave, Tacoma, WA 98405
Day/Time: April 28, 12-3:30 pm
Facilitator/Teacher: Jeff Vanderstelt
PLEASE RSVP Tabitha@somacommunities.org to ensure enough food for lunch AND to receive the pdf of the training materials
A29 San Diego Boot Camp
Join us...
Acts 29 San Diego Boot Camp May 5-6: http://bit.ly/10RRiK
Missional Influence: Multiplying Leaders on Mission for the Gospel
Acts 29 San Diego Boot Camp May 5-6: http://bit.ly/10RRiK
Missional Influence: Multiplying Leaders on Mission for the Gospel
May 5-6, 2009
Host: Kaleo Church
New Life Presbyterian Church
5333 Lake Murray Blvd.
La Mesa, CA 91942
Cost: $149 each
10:00 am - 5:00 pm (each day)
Theme: Missional Influence: Multiplying Leaders on Mission for the Gospel
Primary Text: Book of Nehemiah (Gospels, Acts, Pastoral Epistles)
Premise: Jesus relies on leadership multiplication as His chosen vehicle to spread the gospel and to establish His church for His glory through redeemed lives.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Observations about Church Planting
Recently, I have engaged in a conversation with my Acts 29 brothers regarding the challenges of raising up indigenous leaders to start new churches. Many struggle to find the men, the resources (many reference the high costs to plant) and the means to identify, equip and release for the starting of new Gospel works.
Here are some of the observations/questions I shared with them as well as part of our (my wife and I) story:
First of all, I want to state that I realize that I speak from my perspective, experience, upbringing, training, particular gifting, etc... I am becoming more and more aware that each of us is unique and see things differently. Therefore, what I say I say with conviction, but I realize it is not the only way - I don't mean to imply that anyone who isn't doing what we're doing is wrong OR that others should do what we're doing.
With that said, I will share some observations/questions as well as our experience with planting in the NW South Puget Sound region.
Some observations/questions:
1. The Bible doesn't command us to plant churches, but "plant" the Gospel and make disciples. Churches grow up in that soil as Jesus builds his Church - So...Are we making disciples as Jesus defined disciples (Able to do all that Jesus commanded and trained his disciples to do – make disciples who make disciples)?
2. It seems that the large costs (referred to above) has a lot to do with planting services (the costs of buildings, supplies, equipment, a preacher, a worship leader, a children's ministry, etc...) and not making disciples who make disciples - Is it possible that Planting Churches could be a lot less expensive if our focus was on Making Disciples and not mainly on starting services? (I am not against the gathering, but my experience has been that making disciples cost less money and produces greater generosity to support the mission).
3. It seems to me that Paul didn't have much problem getting new works started and having sufficient leadership to put in place before moving on to the next place (granted it was hard work). I continue to hear a lot of talk about the lack of leaders and the difficulty of raising up leadership. So, I wonder: Do we have a non-biblical description of elder/leaders for the church? Is it possible that our description of who can lead a church is connected to our present model of Church (not the Biblical model) and therefore only "super-apostles" can lead? I have recently been asked to consider taking the position of lead pastor of a mega-church and as I read the job-description I was amazed at how far it had strayed from the Biblical requirements of an elder (Only Superman, Jesus, Donald Trump and Obama combined could have fulfilled this job description).
4. Ephesians 4 (And the testimony of Luke from the Acts of the Apostles) tells us that some of us are given to the Church (Apostles, Prophets, Evangelist, Pastors and Teachers) to equip the saints for ministry so that each member is ministering and eventually the Body is being built up not only/mainly by the Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, etc.. but by the saints equipped by them. Paul goes on to say that the Body connected to Christ builds itself up in love as each part is doing it's part. I have wondered for some time...Is it possible that some of us have been given to the Church (Big C) to start new churches and help others start new churches, then equip the saints to do the ministry, appoint elders, etc...and move on...while others are called to shepherd and pastor these new churches? What if those with mega-churches were never meant to mainly have one big church built around them, but rather to be released to continue doing the work of starting new works, equipping the saints and then appointing elders to oversee these new churches?
5. Lastly, if we were to start with the Bible and come up with a picture of the Church, what would we come up with? I have a feeling more people could lead that picture of a Church AND that we all have some of those leaders within our churches today. So, maybe we need to teach a Biblical picture of the Church to our churches and then equip and call our people to help lead these.
At our last NW regional, we talked about some of this and Dan Braga said something like this: “I think we all could equip and release people from our churches to start new churches if the definition of Church was more in line with the Biblical definition.” He went on to ask: “If we release people to lead smaller churches 20-50 people, does it count in A29?” To which I responded: “It shouldn’t matter to us whether it counts for A29. The ultimate goal is the spread of the Gospel in our region, not tallying how many count for our own records.”
Now, our Experience in the NW South Puget Sound region:
My wife and I started reaching out with Gospel Hospitality a little over 5 years ago. As God brought some to faith and others who were already Christians to join us in the mission, we began training a few to make disciples and lead others in the mission of the Gospel in their neighborhoods. When we "launched" Soma we didn't launch a service, we commissioned these disciples/leaders to begin leading people on mission with them in their neighborhoods out of their homes. At that point, we were about 40 in number. We continued weekly gathering for equipping, encouragement and exhortation in the Gospel. Along the way, we encouraged ongoing multiplication and release of leaders to start new works. Our second comission took place about 2 years in while we were about 200 (we release 50 people to the next work just 2 miles away). Our third commission took place about a year later (15 miles away). And each subsequent commission to start a new work has taken place in 6-12 intervals.
After 5 years we have 7 new “expressions” of the Church (that is our language for a new community of believers gathering together on the Gospel mission in a particular region under the leadership of elders) and over 40 missional communities led by 2-4 people trained and being trained to do the work of an elder over a household. We also have 2 more “expressions” ready to be released in the next 6-9 months. The equipping and releasing of more leaders/elders to start new works is growing now at exponential rates (faster and more each year) due to the nature of discipleship multiplication versus growth by merely attractional addition AND to the fact that what we are doing is not built mainly around the gifts of a few “stand-out” leaders. Instead those gifted more apostolically are giving themselves to equip the saints to live out the Gospel Mission and Preach the Gospel Message in their context faithfully so that everyone in the Church is participating in the mission.
As far as costs: The initial plant cost us the most ($150K over three years – half came from us cashing in our retirement and the other half from outside support) because I parachuted in and needed financial support for my family with no disciples in the context to fund the work. Now, most of our new starts are led by unpaid volunteers who have access to the “apostolic team” (our paid staff that is committed to the ongoing equipping and starting of new churches) to help them get started. After some time, each local expression begins to fund their own lead elder (most of whom are being raised up from within the context).
Our apostolic team gives most of it time to equipping leaders to start new works AND assisting them in the early stages of a new start-up. For instance, I spend 60-75% of my time weekly in leadership development, equipping and working with new core groups.
I am becoming more and more convinced that there are some guys, like myself, who are given to the Church at large to serve the ongoing equipping and multiplication of new Gospel works AND our local churches need to free us up to serve the larger context. Why else would God have given me such a strong entrepreneurial/pioneering skill (some would call it an apostolic calling/gifting)? To start ONE church? OR, to keep getting new ones started over and over again?
I believe I and many others have been given to the Church to equip for ongoing Gospel work and the starting of new churches through Gospel Discipleship.
Here are some of the observations/questions I shared with them as well as part of our (my wife and I) story:
First of all, I want to state that I realize that I speak from my perspective, experience, upbringing, training, particular gifting, etc... I am becoming more and more aware that each of us is unique and see things differently. Therefore, what I say I say with conviction, but I realize it is not the only way - I don't mean to imply that anyone who isn't doing what we're doing is wrong OR that others should do what we're doing.
With that said, I will share some observations/questions as well as our experience with planting in the NW South Puget Sound region.
Some observations/questions:
1. The Bible doesn't command us to plant churches, but "plant" the Gospel and make disciples. Churches grow up in that soil as Jesus builds his Church - So...Are we making disciples as Jesus defined disciples (Able to do all that Jesus commanded and trained his disciples to do – make disciples who make disciples)?
2. It seems that the large costs (referred to above) has a lot to do with planting services (the costs of buildings, supplies, equipment, a preacher, a worship leader, a children's ministry, etc...) and not making disciples who make disciples - Is it possible that Planting Churches could be a lot less expensive if our focus was on Making Disciples and not mainly on starting services? (I am not against the gathering, but my experience has been that making disciples cost less money and produces greater generosity to support the mission).
3. It seems to me that Paul didn't have much problem getting new works started and having sufficient leadership to put in place before moving on to the next place (granted it was hard work). I continue to hear a lot of talk about the lack of leaders and the difficulty of raising up leadership. So, I wonder: Do we have a non-biblical description of elder/leaders for the church? Is it possible that our description of who can lead a church is connected to our present model of Church (not the Biblical model) and therefore only "super-apostles" can lead? I have recently been asked to consider taking the position of lead pastor of a mega-church and as I read the job-description I was amazed at how far it had strayed from the Biblical requirements of an elder (Only Superman, Jesus, Donald Trump and Obama combined could have fulfilled this job description).
4. Ephesians 4 (And the testimony of Luke from the Acts of the Apostles) tells us that some of us are given to the Church (Apostles, Prophets, Evangelist, Pastors and Teachers) to equip the saints for ministry so that each member is ministering and eventually the Body is being built up not only/mainly by the Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, etc.. but by the saints equipped by them. Paul goes on to say that the Body connected to Christ builds itself up in love as each part is doing it's part. I have wondered for some time...Is it possible that some of us have been given to the Church (Big C) to start new churches and help others start new churches, then equip the saints to do the ministry, appoint elders, etc...and move on...while others are called to shepherd and pastor these new churches? What if those with mega-churches were never meant to mainly have one big church built around them, but rather to be released to continue doing the work of starting new works, equipping the saints and then appointing elders to oversee these new churches?
5. Lastly, if we were to start with the Bible and come up with a picture of the Church, what would we come up with? I have a feeling more people could lead that picture of a Church AND that we all have some of those leaders within our churches today. So, maybe we need to teach a Biblical picture of the Church to our churches and then equip and call our people to help lead these.
At our last NW regional, we talked about some of this and Dan Braga said something like this: “I think we all could equip and release people from our churches to start new churches if the definition of Church was more in line with the Biblical definition.” He went on to ask: “If we release people to lead smaller churches 20-50 people, does it count in A29?” To which I responded: “It shouldn’t matter to us whether it counts for A29. The ultimate goal is the spread of the Gospel in our region, not tallying how many count for our own records.”
Now, our Experience in the NW South Puget Sound region:
My wife and I started reaching out with Gospel Hospitality a little over 5 years ago. As God brought some to faith and others who were already Christians to join us in the mission, we began training a few to make disciples and lead others in the mission of the Gospel in their neighborhoods. When we "launched" Soma we didn't launch a service, we commissioned these disciples/leaders to begin leading people on mission with them in their neighborhoods out of their homes. At that point, we were about 40 in number. We continued weekly gathering for equipping, encouragement and exhortation in the Gospel. Along the way, we encouraged ongoing multiplication and release of leaders to start new works. Our second comission took place about 2 years in while we were about 200 (we release 50 people to the next work just 2 miles away). Our third commission took place about a year later (15 miles away). And each subsequent commission to start a new work has taken place in 6-12 intervals.
After 5 years we have 7 new “expressions” of the Church (that is our language for a new community of believers gathering together on the Gospel mission in a particular region under the leadership of elders) and over 40 missional communities led by 2-4 people trained and being trained to do the work of an elder over a household. We also have 2 more “expressions” ready to be released in the next 6-9 months. The equipping and releasing of more leaders/elders to start new works is growing now at exponential rates (faster and more each year) due to the nature of discipleship multiplication versus growth by merely attractional addition AND to the fact that what we are doing is not built mainly around the gifts of a few “stand-out” leaders. Instead those gifted more apostolically are giving themselves to equip the saints to live out the Gospel Mission and Preach the Gospel Message in their context faithfully so that everyone in the Church is participating in the mission.
As far as costs: The initial plant cost us the most ($150K over three years – half came from us cashing in our retirement and the other half from outside support) because I parachuted in and needed financial support for my family with no disciples in the context to fund the work. Now, most of our new starts are led by unpaid volunteers who have access to the “apostolic team” (our paid staff that is committed to the ongoing equipping and starting of new churches) to help them get started. After some time, each local expression begins to fund their own lead elder (most of whom are being raised up from within the context).
Our apostolic team gives most of it time to equipping leaders to start new works AND assisting them in the early stages of a new start-up. For instance, I spend 60-75% of my time weekly in leadership development, equipping and working with new core groups.
I am becoming more and more convinced that there are some guys, like myself, who are given to the Church at large to serve the ongoing equipping and multiplication of new Gospel works AND our local churches need to free us up to serve the larger context. Why else would God have given me such a strong entrepreneurial/pioneering skill (some would call it an apostolic calling/gifting)? To start ONE church? OR, to keep getting new ones started over and over again?
I believe I and many others have been given to the Church to equip for ongoing Gospel work and the starting of new churches through Gospel Discipleship.
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