Series: The Present Future: Tough Questions To Lead The Way
October 12
Why Doing Church Better is Not Better
Text: Luke 4:16-30
The church culture that has dominated the American scene for the last century is on its last legs. That may sound ominous at first, but only if we have confused church culture with biblical Christianity. The response of many to the collapse of the church culture is a panic-stricken attempt to get busier doing things to make the church culture that is failing, a better version of itself. They have collapsed the church on itself in attempting to build a refuge from the world that is trying to “de-church” everything from entertainment to political structures to the family. So, the goal has been to get people “churched.” The reality today is even if we built the perfect church, people in today’s culture, by and large, would not come. They are not looking for a better church. The biblical objective ought to be, as it was for Jesus, to join God in his redemptive mission in the world. The goal is to bring grace (be grace ourselves) to people who are far from God, NOT stand at a distance and call people to respond to him.
October 19 Why Growing Churches Bigger is Not Growing the Kingdom
Text: Luke 7:36-50
Growing the church bigger has become about how we go about getting lost people to come to us. It is about programs and staff and buildings and market position. It is about demographics and targeting worship styles. The real question ought not be how do we grow our church but how do we change our community? The real problem is one of vision. We don’t see the people we ought to see. The woman in the story in Luke 7 is commended by Jesus because she shows her love in an extravagant way. Her great love comes from having been forgiven much. Simon, the Pharisee, didn’t see his own deep need. That’s a vision problem. Further, he didn’t see the woman for who she was and what she represented. Religious people see causes, problems, programs, rituals, behaviors, stereotypes, but not people and not real needs. There is nothing wrong with large churches, however the objective can’t be to grow a large church, but to love people.
October 26
Why Doing More Church Work Does Not Accomplish the Mission
Text: Matthew 28:18-20
Getting people more connected to their gifts and calling is a good thing and a move in a right direction. The idea of the priesthood of all believers is biblical. However, we stopped short of what it meant. We have tied people only to ministry opportunities that are related to keeping the church programming wheels greased. We need to think of our members, not so much as human resources to keep church work going, but as missionaries in the world. To do that, they can’t keep adding church responsibilities to everything else they do. We have to help them focus on the most important things.
November 2
Why More Church Activity Does Not Mean Deeper Christians
Text: John 15:1-8
Being incorporated into a church that is very corporation-minded does not result in a wonderful, abundant, Christian life. It often leads to a treadmill of activity and a life that is wearing thin rather than filling up. What Jesus invited people into was a life-giving relationship. Abiding in him is the means to a fruit-filled life. Drawing closer to him is the means to greater effectiveness and joy in the Christian life.
November 9
Why the Best Churches We Can Build Are Not the Best Churches
Text: James 4:13-17
Planning and building are human attempts to predict and thereby control the future. What God wants of his people is prayerful preparation for his intervention.
November 16
Why Great Leadership In the Church Is Not Enough
Text: 2 Timothy 2:1-3
Leadership IN the church has always and WILL always be necessary to accomplish God’s purposes in the world. However, it is no longer enough to simply think about what leadership we are bringing inside the church. We must now be thinking about the spiritual movement that is being created in the world and what kind of leadership is being given it. Are we passing along what has been entrusted to us?
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