Church Multiplication and Giving Up Control

Church Multiplication and Giving Up Control

Dear Pastor, Jesus is King, and you are not.  

The hardest thing for people to admit is that Jesus is King and they are not. We all want to be in control.  We want to be the masters of our own destiny, but fundamental to Trusting Jesus is surrendering to Him.  It's no different for pastors. Pastors, like kings can fall into the self-deception that everyone is better off when they are in charge. "If everyone would just listen to me, everything would be ok." This is one reason why churches don't multiply. 

Multiplication means pastors aren't as important as they might think. It means their vision language will get diluted as the church becomes decentralized.  It means people won't hear their sermons every week.  It means they can't manage leaders within a church structure.  It means they lose control.  

I'm not saying pastors have sinister plans to control people. Their control doesn't usually come out of selfish motives...usually. It comes our of fear. They want the best for people, and they are afraid of what will happen if they aren't in control. They forget that Jesus has been leading the church since before they were born, and He will be leading it after they are gone.   

Rocks

Rocks

But what happens when they don't get better.  When your child is born mentally disabled, it is a life sentence.  I have a friend with a severely disabled son.  He isn't going to get better.  The trial isn't going to end.  He will need constant attention for the rest of his life.  Statements like, "just hold on" give no hope to situations like that.  Physical strain is compounded by fear in the form of questions like, "What if something happens to me?" or "What if I can't take care of him forever?" 

The same kind of long-term suffering comes with emotional and mental illness.  Christians think that depression is something to "bootstrap" your way out of.  Sometimes people tell you to just have faith for God's healing.  Others just dismiss you as weak.  The trial doesn't end.  

Sometimes in the midst of following Jesus, you find yourself beaten down by life.  I'm not talking about just a bad day or a bad week, though that fits too.  I'm talking about years of unending loss, stress, and trouble.  

It feels like being caught in a storm at sea and being thrown against the rocks again and again.  Before you have recovered from the last wave, you get hit with another and another for years.  

Where is God?  The question is inevitable. 

Decentralized Gospel Multiplication

Decentralized Gospel Multiplication

I am weary of hearing about the Church losing ground in the West while simultaneously hearing about churches focus on everything but the gospel.  In China and Vietnam, the church is booming.  They have very little money and very little safety, but the good news spreads like wildfire.  

Even in Syria an Saudi Arabia where you can be martyred for loving Jesus, the gospel spreads.  Trained pastors are few and far between.  Yet, the Jesus is made known.  I want to be like them.  

Here are a few principles to draw from them:

  • Decentralized.  Thery don't bring people to church; they take the church to people.  In Vietnam, they meet in houses and small buildings (I know of a chain of small, one room churches along the Ho Chi Minh trail).  When someone from another town Trusts Jesus, the church plants a house church there.  They don't ask them to travel long distances to get to church.  They establish gospel outposts wherever they can.  
  • Gospel.  They don't waste time debating the nuances of nonessential theology.  They don't have programs for every age group or affinity.  They make disciples.  They tell people of the saving work of Jesus, and invite people to follow Him.  Disciples make disciples.  
  • Multiplication.  The goal isn't bigger churches; the goal is to make disciples (Matthew 28:19-20).  As Peyton Jones says, the Church isn't supposed to grow big; it's supposed to grow out.  It isn't about a big pastor that everyone comes to hear; it's about multiple disciple-makers making more disciples.  The roles of teacher, shepherd, prophet, evangelist, missionary/apostle pop up in house churches everywhere.  

Restoration Church is about to take our next steps in becoming more like the Vietnamese church.  

God's People

Bad Experiences

Most of us have bad experience with church people.  It's almost universal.  We all have stories of the old deacon who scolded us for not dressing "right" on Sunday or the mean church lady who just hated kids.  I've known others that were abused in church, often by leaders.  The deepest cuts in their lives happened in a church building.  Church people can be wicked.  

Blessings

However, church is also where I've experienced the greatest blessings.  My parents love each other and love Jesus.  They didn't ever put on a show for Sunday.  They loved Jesus all week, and we got to see it lived out in our home.  The same goes for my grandparents and a whole lot of godly people we went to church with.  People prayed for me, supported me, went out of their way to help me, and were generally awesome.  Heck!  One time a guy in my church gave me a car.  He just gave me a car to help my family.  Another time, some dude wrote me a check and lovingly told me he would kick my ass if I didn't take it.  He had heard from God.  My car broke down the next day, and that was the exact amount I needed to fix it.  

I've had more good experiences than bad in church.  God's people are good, because He is good.

Here's the problem: not all church people are God's people.  Plenty of people go to church for all the wrong reasons.  Some people think it is a place where they can build power and prestige.  Others are looking to earn something they can never earn.  Some people just go because they thing they have to, though they hate it and everyone else there.  

This creates a pretty big problem since these people who don't necessarily love Jesus are still claiming to represent Him.  It's a real problem. 

So, how do we distinguish between "Church People" and "Christ Followers" while we are trying to figure out whether or not we are going to follow Jesus?  

Characteristics of jesus Followers:

  • Love.  Jesus said His disciples would be known by the fact that they love one another (John 13:35).  When a church is full of people who treat each other like crap, it means Jesus isn't being honored.  Don't waste your time trying to find Jesus there.  The Apostle Paul describes love in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a: "Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.  Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends."  Look for this kind of love in a church and jump in the middle of it.  Jesus is there.  
  • Fruit.  When a person Trusts Jesus, God (Holy Spirit) indwells them.  God's people, the people who follow Jesus aren't just on God's team, He dwells in them.  Over time, like a tree rooted in good soil bears good fruit, so God's people bear fruit because God is in them.  In Galatians 5:22-23, the Apostle Paul describes the fruit of the Holy Spirit: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."  God's people aren't perfect, but they should be growing in things like love, joy peace, patience, etc.  Don't look for perfect people.  Look for people who are increasing this fruit. Jesus is in them.  
  • Gifts.  In 1 Corinthians 12, the Apostle Paul talks about how as the Holy Spirit dwells in God's people, He does things through them that they couldn't do on their own.  There are times when this is genuinely miraculous.  It isn't like the bullshit on Christian television.  The focus is never on the person; it's always on God.  However, God still does miracles through His people.  Sometimes they pray, and people are healed.  Others follow God's leading and show up at just the right time with the right word of encouragement.  God's people do things that are from God.  Even simple things can be done in the power of God, and you notice.  

Experiencing Jesus is the first step in following Him.  If you are going to Experience Jesus, it helps to make sure that you are getting around HIs people.  I hope this helps.  My desire is for you to meet Jesus.  

 

Ride the Lion

Ride the Lion

Ride the Lion by Daniel Samms

If I were a man of mounted steed
I would not choose a horse to ride
For with a horse I'd choose my way
And safely I would stay

No, if I had a cause to ride
I'd grasp a beast of prey
For though I might not live to tell
Alive would be my day

I'd hold with all the might of men
Who wish for something real
And everything I did that day
Would be alive with zeal

The Lion is a kingly beast
The Sovereign of all things
No bridle built can tame this king
No man can tame His way

And if I grasp His mane today
I'll clench with all my might
We'll ride to places now unseen
We'll climb the highest height

The world will watch with joy and awe
And hope will boil free
We'll live and love and hope again
The Lion King and me

7 Things Jesus Did That Are Only OK if He is God

7 Things Jesus Did That Are Only OK if He is God

Very few people think Jesus was a bad guy.  Most people like to say he was "just a man" who had a lot of "good teachings."  People don't feel right labeling Jesus a false teacher, but they don't want to believe He was God.  So, they lump Jesus into the same camp as Gandi and Martin Luther King, Jr. 

C.S. Lewis addresses the problem with thins thinking: Jesus claimed to be God.  Jesus can't be just a good teacher.  Either He is the most devious liar in history, an insane person who should have been institutionalized, or He is genuinely Lord.  A man can't be a "Good Teacher" and claim to be God unless He really is God.  

Restoration

Last year I wrote a blog post about prodigals when LeBron James announced that he was coming back to Cleveland.  Essentially, I reminded everyone that in the story of the prodigal son, he returns to his father broken and destitute.  LeBron came back with an NBA title and more money than most of us will ever see.  I think that we forget that the story of the prodigal son is not about the son's return, but about the Father's extravagant love and forgiveness.  

“LeBron isn’t a prodigal son, I am. And, I’m thankful both of us came home. ”
— Restoration

Here we are stepping into the NBA Finals, and it feels like the city is united like we haven't been in a long time.  Nike ran this commercial, and it pretty much sums up how we all feel here in Cleveland.  I'll confess that I welled up when I first saw this commercial.  

I'm not a big sports fan.  I love watching a game with friends, but I'm not the guy who keeps up with teams.  For me, Cleveland in the Finals gives me hope for this city.  There is a deep sense of hope, that things are possible again, that the city is making a comeback.  

 

I like feeling hope.  We need it, and there is some real meaning in a city rallying behind a team.  It has become about more than a game; it's about a city hoping together again.  

It reminds me that hope comes before restoration, that making old things new has a lot more to do with relationship than with material things.  The city has come together for something.  There is a sense that we are all in this together.  Local rivalries are overshadowed by hope.  

Hope is powerful.  

But, NBA finals are temporary.  They make a mark.  They inspire a city, but they are gone next year.  Players get old, get hurt, or leave.  People move on.  Hope wavers with the winds of change.  Not long ago, we were burning "23" jerseys.  Today, all of Northeast Ohio is draped in wine and gold.  

So, I'm taking this opportunity to remind everyone that eventually this particular feeling of hope will pass away.  I'm not talking it down. I'm buzzing just like everyone else.  

Instead, I'm reminding everyone that there is a hope that does not disappoint.  Forgive the spiritual application, but the reality is that hope that is from God never ends.  

“And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”
— Romans 5:5

NBA titles give energy to cities.  There is no question they effect economies and moods from stadiums to living rooms, but Jesus is making all things new.  So, tonight let's hope for a big win.  But, when this series is over, Jesus will still be King, and He'll still be making all things new.  

“ And he who was seated on the throne (Jesus) said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’ Also he said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.’”
— Revelation 5:21

Hope boldly.  



7 Books to Help You Decide on Jesus

Books about jesus

Following Jesus is a journey.  Before you Trust Jesus, you may have questions about Him. Here are seven books to help you on your journey:

The Gospel of John.  The bible has four comprehensive accounts of Jesus' life.  Known as "the Gospels," (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) they each address Christ's life with a different focus.  John's Gospel was written for a global audience and spread quickly throughout the known world in the First Century.  Lot's of people start here, though all of the gospels are helpful.  

The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel.  This book was written by an atheist journalist who set out to disprove Christianity, but ended up believing in Jesus.  The book provides a compelling argument for faith in Christ.  While the book is very logical, it is also easy to read.  You don't have to be a professor to follow this one, but your mind will be stretched nonetheless. 

By This Name by John R. Cross.  There are a lot of different religions and a lot of different views of God.  Cross looks into various religions, addressing why Jesus is unique, and providing an argument as to why Jesus is the Truth.  Whether you are an agnostic, pluralist, or just have questions, this book will be helpful.  

Stranger on the Road the Emmaus by John R. Cross.  This book is written for people who have had some experience with Christianity but have questions about what it all means.  Cross uses the Gospel of John as a template to explain historical backgrounds and help you understand who Jesus really is.  This is a good book to read in conjunction with the Gospel of John.  

Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis.  Written by one of the greatest thinkers in Christian History, this book is both beautiful and insightful.  Lewis approaches the Christian faith from a philosophical viewpoint, giving a rational argument for every major aspect of the Christian faith.  His argument for God's existence based on human morality is quite compelling.  

The Historical Jesus by Gary Habermas.  This book is written for scholars.  It addresses the historical evidence for Jesus Christ, and establishes the New Testament's account of Jesus as the most reliable documentation of any First Century person. This book as well as other books by Habermas is valuable for the thinker who wants to dig deeper into the evidence for Jesus.  

Questions of Life by Nicky Gumble.  This book is essentially the Alpha Course in written form.  Gumble's approach is both conversational and rational.  Each section answers a question, making this one of the simplest and possibly the best books on the subject.  Of course, I recommend signing up for the Alpha Course, so that you get the full experience.  The course is offered all over the world. 

Ultimately, my hope is that you Trust Jesus.  That only happens as He reveals Himself to you.  However, books and evidence can help along the way.  Are there other books that have been helpful to your process?  

7 Ways to Experience Jesus Before You Believe in Him

7 Ways to Experience Jesus Before You Believe in Him

A lot of people have very little interest in spiritual things.  They may have some passive view of religion, but it doesn't influence their daily life.  It's more like a "good luck" charm to them.  Others see religion as a foolish or even dangerous thing.  Then, something happens.  They suddenly have an inexplicable desire to learn more about Jesus, not just spirituality.  They are drawn to Jesus.  Another time, I can explain what this is about.  The short answer is that God is drawing. 

Maybe this is happening to you.  You might be an atheist or an agnostic, but you find yourself drawn to church or to people people who love Jesus.  I've had conversations with people at church who said things like, "I hate all of this, but I keep coming back.  I don't know why."  More often, I meet people who were feeling drawn to be around God's people.  They couldn't explain it, but they felt at home. They asked questions and sensed God leading them in a journey to Truth.  

Here are some things that I recommend doing while you are on that journey: