From Control to Cultivate

In October I had the privilege to share a brief session at the "Multiply" conference in Colorado Springs. It was a conference with pastors, church-planters, missionaries, baristas and all sorts of people living on mission where God has placed them. I thought I would share my transcript with you from my talk during "paradigm sessions" which are 5 minute talks about how God has shifted our thinking in ministry. 

Ministry in an Increasingly Post-Christian Culture

Caveat – I am a young pastor and, believe it or not, I am fully aware I am not an expert. This is not a space for me to get preachy and offer advice to others in ministry but to present concepts and ask questions that have been important to me and ones I have been wrestling with during my experience in ministry in a post-Christian culture.  

America’s ever-changing religious landscape

One of the fastest growing religious groups in America is the “nones” (not nuns). While it is hardly a “religious” category it is a growing percentage of Americans who are choosing not to attach themselves to any religious group. This group of nones includes atheists, agnostics and what I describe as the “mehs” which are the folks that when asked if they think religion has any importance or bearing on their life they respond with something along the lines of “Meh.” This is a group that does not necessarily see the value of ascribing or aligning themselves to a particular religious belief system or worldview.  So, they simply don’t.

Rhythms – Practicing the Ways & Values of God’s Kingdom

Mission Trip Syndrome

If you were a youth group kid like me I am sure you are very familiar with “mission trips.” Growing up my high school youth group had a few mission trips that we went on every year and I can remember them like they were yesterday. I think I remember them so vividly because they were these monumental spiritual experiences for me. I have plenty of funny memories like being chased by llamas in Ecuador -you wouldn't think it, but a herd (pack? ... flock?) of llamas is pretty scary if they are charging you down a mountainside. But what I remember most was how impacted many of us were. It seemed like every time God touched peoples' lives on those trips. Without fail kids would come home on a “spiritual high." Unfortunately, in a similar pattern we cynically began to believe that it rarely lasted. People would be convicted or encounter God in a profound way and we would all confidently declare that things would be different – that we were finally going to take this Christian thing seriously. It had to be because of what we had experienced together. Some people had lasting change – but many of us slowly moved back to life as usual, like nothing happened except we went on a really fun trip with some good memories. I have since become less cynical and I sincerely believe people had real experiences on my high school trips. Real enough experiences where macho football guys were crying while sharing around a campfire (in front of girls no less).

 I think these experiences pose a big question in youth ministry or really any short term trip. It makes us wonder what’s up with these “spiritual highs” and why do they often wear off for so many of us?

Ekklēsia

Isn't that stinkin' pretty?

Ekklēsia

ekklēsia (Ek-lay-see-a)- meaning an assembly of people.

Ekklēsia (Strong's G1577 )  is the transliteration of the Greek word ἐκκλησία which is translated almost exclusively to the word "church".  In the simplest sense of the word, church means "called out". In context it is a gathering of citizens "called out" from their homes to meet and commune in the name of Jesus Christ.

For what ever reason God has given me a passion for the church, and more specifically the church in North America. I suppose it is because that is where I live, and so I have come to know more and more its beauty and its flaws.

Recently, after spending time working in ministry within the local church I have been thinking a lot about the church, asking myself a whole lot of questions that I have been wrestling with. Like...

• What is the Church really?
• Why the Church? 
• Why would God use the very people that have rebelled against him over and over again to embody him and his kingdom on earth? Why use us to bring about his kingdom purposes?  
• What is the Church's purpose and it's mission?
• What does it look like to be the Church? 
• What is the role of the Church in culture? 
• Has our culture shaped how we "do church" in a negative way?
• What does it mean to be the body of Christ?
• What does true Christian community look like in such an individualistic culture?
• Is the Church producing transformed, kingdom-minded, disciples or just converts to a religious thought?

Although I can answer most of these questions with short and maybe sufficient answers, I want to dig much deeper into the implications of each of these questions and other aspects of Church thought. I want to address the tensions and short-comings I see from the local church and I want to better understand God's desires for his people. The majority of my coming blog posts will be reflections on God's Church. I hope the blog can become a space where constructive dialogue can exist in how we can best be the Church in our current cultural context. I pray my questions and reflections are guided by the Holy Spirit and cause a stirring of your heart to pursue a deeper understanding of the church's purpose and mission (and your role inside it) within the whole of God's redemptive mission for world.