Monday, 02 February 2009

• i have a dream...

  i preached at mcc yesterday.  another 40+ minute look at God's word.  i enjoyed it.  i enjoyed seeing old (and by old, i mean from the past) faces.  i enjoyed seeing a few new ones.  i enjoyed confessing some sin from when i was there and having a few come up and thank me.  a few tell me they appreciated it and forgave me.  a few who told me they can tell i've really grown.

  it's been 4 (or was it 5) years since i've been at mcc.  a lot has changed in me.  things have changed at mcc too...kurt leaving, families leaving, a sweet new playground, the bass player in the band.  but a lot (and in my humble opinion, too much) has stayed the same.  same needs.  same problems.  same frusrtations.  so i get the chance to occassionally come back and speak.  (and yesterday lead the music in the second service).  i am free to say what i feel and say what i think scripture clearly teaches...all without the fear of ticking people off and losing my job.

  okay, so a few people came as guests yesterday and one of penni's friends (chuck) asked me about preaching.  i think penni put him up to it.  but i've told her and others there before that it would take a burning bush for me to put my resume in there and go back.  so chuck asked if it had to be "a literal burning bush"?  yes.  i told him it would be like elijah and me soaking a bush with water and seeing the fireball come from heaven.  "no person telling you as the burning bush?"  no.

  then i thought about it.  i changed my mind.  i would put my resume in at mcc or another church if it was a functional new testament church.  that would be a burning bush for me.  as group looked at ephesians last night, someone in our group (who has been to mcc twice) said that it seemed like mcc needed someone like paul to stand up and preach with conviction and power...not being scared of upsetting people.  seriously.  have you ever read paul's stuff?  he (as joey said) SLAMBASTS christians to do things.  there's no beating around the bush.  here's what the deal is.  now do it.  or don't but if you don't, don't pretend to be a follower of Christ.

  so here are some things that i feel are pretty clear "burning bushes" for churches today:

  • helping the poor and needy (no ties, no questions.  just help.  meet needs.  love them in Jesus' name.)
  • being led by the elders (not run by a board.  not having meetings to make decisions about the direction of the church.  not jumping through hoops.  elders as spiritual leaders.  really leading the flock.)
  • authentic worship (the message of Christ is held up and the methods are not questioned.  ALL methods are encouraged and explored if it helps deepen the love and relationship to Jesus.  this includes talking openly about failure because that helps in growth.)
  • prayer
  • accountability
  • discipleship
  • small groups (accountability and discipleship...in my opinion...only really happen here.)
  • Jesus is the cornerstone (no squabbles about opinions or preferences.  it's about Jesus.  everything else is measured through this.)
  • unity (because Christ has torn down the wall of hostility between us.  unity within the church, with other churches.  when there is disagreement, we still love.  we can hug and love through the differences.  we can even study both sides and either come to agreement or agree to disagree...like me and joe do about calvinism & baptism)
  • people can be themselves (in their brokenness.  in their success.  where a leader can have a beer with a pizza because it tastes good.  a guy can play cards or halo and not be shunned.  clothes, hobbies, money, job-status are not factors in church politics.  the bar is "are they following Jesus?")

  i'm sure there are more.  but this is a quick list.  my dreams for faith journey fellowship.  my dreams for the church universal.  i have a dream....

  • 2:02 PM
  • 43 Views
  • 6 eProps
  • 3 Comments