Four Questions Every Church Should Wrestle With - Part Three September 12, 2008

Last post on this from Romans 10:14-15,

#4 - “And how can they preach unless they are sent?”

Pardon me while I go “Rick Warren” and use an acrostic on this one!  S-E-N-T stands for…

S = Set On Fire!!!  Personal evangelism and inviting people to church MUST be regularly taught from the stage!  People have GOT to know that lost people matter to God (Luke 19:10); therefore they MUST matter to the church!

E = Encouraged!!!  Anytime you ask someone to invite people to church there is some excitement…but also discouragement because they begin thinking, “I’ve already asked them a hundred times and they won’t come!!!”

Encourage them…I always tell them that I am so glad that a guy named David didn’t give up on me!  Ever more specifically…I am glad GOD didn’t give up one me!!!

For those of you at NewSpring getting “no’s” for this weekend–don’t give up!!!  Sometimes it takes a while!  It did for me!

N = Necessary!!!  It is so necessary for a church to be obsessed with personal evangelism!  Heck, if the early church had been a bunch of guys who loves theology more than Jesus and had decided to get in a room with people who only thought just like them and solely focused on the “finer points of theology…”  Well, we’d have all gone to hell!!!

T = Tense!!!  Christians must understand that when we step out into the world and begin to invite people to church…there are going to be tense conversations!  AND…that’s OK!  We must remember that it should not be our goal to win arguments and distance people…but to work through the tension and allow God to use us to break down walls that people have built up.

Four Questions Every Church Should Wrestle With - Part Two September 11, 2008

Continuing the post from yesterday based on Romans 10:14-15,

#2 - “And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard?”  

If we truly want people to believe in Jesus then we MUST do all that we can to make sure they hear about Him!

I think one of the fundemental problems that exists in church world is that we have communicated very clear messages…however, very few of them actually have anything to do with Jesus.  We say things like…

• Do more, try harder
• Don’t do (fill in the blank!)
• This particular political party must be our obesssion.
• Don’t watch this movie or listen to this music
• Boycott this

I could go on and on…but I think we all get the point.  The church spends WAY too much time talking about what it is against and never gets to the heart of the message that can actually change people from the inside out–JESUS!

They can’t believe in Jesus until a church decides that HE is going to be their one obsession!

#3 - “And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?”

You and I are called to preach the Gospel every single day.

• How we treat the waiter or waitress this weekend is preaching a message!
• How we react when someone cuts us off in traffic is preaching a message (and our kids are on the front row!)
• How we talk about our spouse is preaching a message!
• What we are willing to say about others when they are not around is preaching a message!

Everything we do preaches a message…our lifestyle openly declares whether or not we love Jesus…or merely just the idea of Jesus!  If we claim to love Jesus but are not living for Him then we are nothing more than, as Craig Groeschel would say, a practical atheist!

Being a Christian is NOT about simply what we KNOW (none of us will ever know more than satan!)  It’s what we DO with what we know!
People outside the walls are “listening” to us “preach” every single day…and you and I need to be willing to (preach) live in such a way that shows the world that we believe!

Let’s do our best to live out to a watching world what it means to love Jesus…our life just might be the message that God uses to help someone cross over from death to life!

Four Questions Every Church Should Wrestle With - Part One September 10, 2008

In reading through Romans recently the Lord grabbed my attention through what the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 10:14-15, in these two verses there are four questions that I believe every church should obsess over!

#1 - “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in?”

Every church (well, nearly every church) would admit that they want to see people come to Christ, to “believe on the name of Jesus;” however, my fear (and frustration) is that many times we fail to understand that people who don’t know Christ simply do not BELIEVE that He is the answer to their issues!

Guess what…that makes is pretty much impossible for a Non - Christian to begin acting like a Christian.  (An agenda many churches seemed to be obsessed with!)

So where does that leave us?  Simple–we need to live our lives and preach the Gospel in such a way that people far from God don’t have a hard time believing in God because of they hypocrisy they see in our lives…OR because of the sub par standards we have set in our worship services!

It’s not that the Gospel is “unbelievable,” but rather the fact that often times we make it unbelievable.

Yes, I know that “salvation belongs to the Lord,” and that no one comes to Christ unless they are drawn by Him…it’s just that I think we need to do life and do church in such a way that when Jesus does draw someone to Himself He can draw them THROUGH us rather then sending them AROUND us.

Bob August 26, 2008

I have a friend who doesn’t know Jesus…I’ll call him “Bob” in this article, although Bob is not his name.

I first met Bob several years ago at the gym…and over time he and I began talking here and there for about five minutes at a time.

Let me be very clear…we have absolutely zero in common. He’s about 20-25 years older than me. He likes cats, he doesn’t sweat like me…you get the picture.

About a year or so ago I invited him to church…and he came! (it’s amazing what a personal invite will do!)

And then the next week–HE CAME BACK!

I think it would be safe to say that if Bob is in town–he doesn’t miss! EVER!

He always tells me when we talk about how much he enjoyed the service. AND…if he has questions he always asks.

One day I talked to him about his relationship with Jesus and he told me that he isn’t ready to make that decision…but, “I think I’m getting closer,” he always says.

There are weeks when we do not see each other…and then there are weeks when we see one another several times. He always smiles…and always tells me either, “I’ll see you this Sunday,” or, “I won’t be there this week…but I will make it the next.”

Bob doesn’t know Christ!

I’m glad he comes to church…but my prayer is that he ultimately will give his life to Christ.

I pray for this often!

We are supposed to go to lunch in the next month or so.

Bob doesn’t know Christ…but he needs to!

Here’s my question, “WHO IS THE ‘BOB’ IN YOUR LIFE?”

Who, in your life, needs Christ…but for some reason you have been unwilling to invite them to church…or even begin a conversation with them about Jesus?

Why? What’s holding you back?

I once heard Brad Cooper ask the question, “If you REALLY believe in the saving power of Jesus Christ then why in the world would you show up at church every single Sunday without a carload of people who need Him?”

Does Jesus save? ABSOLUTELY!!!

Does He change lives? ABSOLUTELY!!!

Has He called us to REACH OUT…or be obsessed with other things?

Jesus said in Luke 19:10 that He came to seek & save that which is “lost!”

If that was the heart of Jesus…and Jesus lives in our hearts…then that HAS TO BE IN OUR HEARTS AS WELL!!

We CANNOT claim to be followers of Jesus and NOT CARE ABOUT WHAT HE CARES ABOUT!!!

Who’s your Bob?

Who in your life, if they died today, would bust hell wide open?

What are you willing to do in order to be used by God to make a difference in their lives?

Here’s something you might want to consider…INITIATE a conversation, INVITE them to church. There has to come a day when we STOP USING, “Well, I’m prayin’ for them” as an EXCUSE!!!

Go for it!!!

Who’s your Bob?

Are you willing to get uncomfortable in order to reach out to them?

That’s EXACTLY what Jesus did in order to reach out to us!!!

Go for it! Today! Right now!!!

Let’s do what it takes to reach out to people far from God!!! They don’t need to change their life–they need Jesus–and HE WILL change their life!!!

By the way…the next four weeks here at NewSpring Church are going to be AWESOME opportunities for your friends and family members to hear the GOSPEL!

Once again–GO FOR IT!!!

Bob doesn’t know Christ!

Who’s your Bob?

What are you willing to do?

A Church Growth Rant!!! August 19, 2008

Since this is my blog…I’ve GOT to get something off my chest. (Please allow me this–I can’t afford therapy…this IS my outlet, Hi, my name is Perry…)

There is something that I’ve been hearing recently that is being used to attack growing churches and justify holy huddles…and they are…

“The house church is the wave of the future. After all, just look what it is doing in China. In fact, they don’t even meet in churches in China…it’s all done in the house church.”

Uh…the point here would be both strong and convincing…IF I was a complete idiot & didn’t know that THE reason the house church is experiencing growth and success in China is because it is ILLEGAL to ASSEMBLE as a church unless you have the governments approval! DUH!!!!!!!!

Folks, let me make you a promise…if communism collapses in China in our lifetime…the largest churches in the WORLD will all be located there. I seriously believe that if the Chinese were allowed to meet in public and worship Christ that we would see a church growth movement like the world has NEVER SEEN–EVER! We would see what Jesus said in John 14:12 come true!!!

Bet, before I close, let me share one more reason why this mindset bothers me.

People in China are being imprisoned, tortured and even killed because they are attempting to assemble together for worship and teaching. They have to sneak around and meet in unthinkable places. They don’t do this out of preference…but out of necessity. They are NOT a bunch of burned out bloggers and narcissists who are trying to make the world all about them!

However, self serving, self centered Americans take their “model” and blow it completely out of context. We live in a country that allows us the freedom to assemble together…but because MANY (not all) in the so called “house church” movement are nothing more that arrogant, judgmental, spoiled church kids who want nothing more than a holy huddle where wounds can be licked, “deep” teaching can be learned and the Great Commission of Jesus Christ Himself can be completely ignored!!!

To compare our situation here in America to the one in China is one of the most ignorant comparisons a person could make. And if you are doing that…please beg God to forgive you of your stupidity and remember that Jesus called us to reach the world…not to merely assemble and discuss theological fads!

WOW–that felt great! I think I’m all better now!!!

50K July 9, 2008

I am bothered…seriously bothered, and after this I hope you will be.

I read a statistic the other day that said 50,000 people die every single day without knowing Jesus Christ.

STOP…read that sentence again…now, one more time.  

Bothered?  You should be!

50,000!  FIFTY THOUSAND!!!

50,000 people step into eternity every single day without Jesus.

God’s Kingdom loses 50,000 a day.

Still not a big deal to you?

What if you had a business that lost 50,000 dollars a day?

Got your attention yet?

Would you changes some things?

I know what some of you are thinking.  “Perry, that’s a lot of people…and I am one person, how in the world can I make a difference in a number like that?”

It’s simple!  One life at a time.

You see, one day in that 50,000 figure is going to be your best friend, your uncle, your parents, your children, the person sitting next to you at work…and even you!

You can start with them!

Scripture says in Hebrews 9:27 that we die…and then we face judgment.  GAME OVER!  So, what are you willing to do about this.

I’m not asking you to get on a plane and take a mission trip halfway across the world.  I’m asking would you be willing to walk across the street…or to the office next door…or pick up your phone and break off a call.

We are called to make a global impact–but it needs to start with those who are the closest to us.

People need Jesus–and Romans 10:14-15 tells us both the urgency of getting this message out…and how God feels about those who are willing to take His message outside the walls of the church.

NewSpring…every Sunday we share Christ.  Every Sunday we tell people about Jesus.  Here’s my challenge–do WHATEVER it takes to get people to church THIS SUNDAY!

Don’t give up!  I have a letter on my counter in my office from a guy who I invited for over three years…one Sunday he came, received Christ…and his life hasn’t been the same since.

I’m glad I didn’t give up on him.

I’m glad my friend David didn’t give up on inviting me to church.

Someone will thank you one day for not giving up on them.

Let’s do all that we can.  Right now–STOP!  Pray, ask God who it is that you are supposed to be reaching out to!  Seriously!  When He shares the name with you–invite them!!!  Seriously!  Go all out.  If God shares a name with you then don’t delay!!!  Don’t ask Him to tell you someone’s name if you intend on doing NOTHING about it!

50,000!  I’m bothered!

Let’s go all out!  I believe with God’s power and our willingness to obey Him that we can significantly reduce that number.

I’ve dedicated my life to it!

Will you?