I vote for radical movement of Jesus. In fact, I desire to see our community shaken up by the number of people surrendering their lives to Christ and all take notice. With this being said, there are several things that come with being a part of a movement that you may have to truly look at:
1. It may call for sacrifice. This can mean sacrificial giving, giving up parking spots so more people can have parking spaces, serving in the children's ministry at one service so kids can be taught about Jesus and then attending a different service, helping start a new campus or new service time, and many other potential sacrifices.
2. You have to become an inviter. You see here's the deal, with nearly 300 adults in worship each week, if everyone brought someone, we would have 600 adults hearing the gospel. This is called EXPONENTIAL GROWTH. This isn't 10 new people on a Sunday, this is multiplication. These are the things that have to happen in order to begin igniting movements. Each one reach one. Who have you invited to church recently?
3. It may mean you don't know everybody you go to church with. A big misconception about church is that intimacy only happens when you know everybody you go to church with. The truth is: you can only truly know a few handfuls of people really well. You may have acquaintances, but genuine friendships are limited. This is why regardless of the size of the church, you can only really know a certain amount of people. This is another reason why small groups are so important.
4. It means you have to become more inclusive. The problem with churches is we like showing up and seeing all of our friends. This is a good thing and big reason why we stick to churches. The only question that should come to our minds is this: what about the people who just came in who don't seem to know anybody? Are we making them feel welcomed? Are we treating people like guests in our homes or like strangers we pass in a store? The answer should and must be: guest in our home. If someone comes to your home you don't go to the next room and leave them by themselves or simply let them show themselves around the house. You walk with them. The church that wants to stir a movement must be the same.
Will be sharing this with our leadership team tonight, Movement church, Richmond va
ReplyDeleteAt service, Sunday, you asked if people who don't follow Christ knew before stepping into a relationship with God that their lives may not change much other than knowing that He is always there, would they still take that step. I just want to say that even if their lives don't physically change as far as the fires they are going through, I don't see how it possibly could stay stagnant- not when you feel the love of God surround you. It consumes you, it makes you look at life differently, and it allows you to see that there is more to life than the negative circumstances you are presented with. Others will start to notice a change in you, physically, mentally, and spiritually. They will desire to be a part of what has changed your life so drastically. This is what I am willing to share with others to "ignite a Jesus Movement".
ReplyDeleteMolly,
ReplyDeleteYou are absolutely right...people who come to Christ will never be the same once they step into relationship with Him. The question I was posing was really to combat the consumer driven commitments to Christ that have become so prevalent in the Bible-belt. So many people give their lives to God on some type of condition or with some type of expectation that He is now suppose to serve as some kind of genie-in-a-bottle granted them wishes.
That is really what I was trying to address, but you are completely accurate in that when people experience the love of God, they will not remain the same.
Thank you for all you do Molly. It has been so cool to see what God is doing in you and your family. I'm just honored to get to be a part of it.
I am all in for Igniting a Jesus movement brother! You know how I feel about "igniting" anything anyways. Man I have worked with some guys that started coming to church or went to church back in the day and they want their lives to be better. They want to make things better with their wife or to stop drinking or whatever and they see God as a "Mr. Fit It" A+B=C, right? I get saved God fixes it. Igniting a Jesus Movement is about preaching the true Gospel of Jesus Christ that so many others are to afraid to bare witness too. We are called to pick up our cross and follow him! Matthew 10:37-39 reminds us of the commitment it takes to Ignite this Jesus Movement. "Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." The true Gospel calls us to another level of commitment. We have to show people the real deal or over time they will see through it. im out...
ReplyDelete