Weekend Recap

This weekend we talked vision and strategy at all our campuses. Because of the importance of this topic, here's a recap:

• We need to have the same definition of "church" as the Bible.
  
  
  
  • From Ephesians 1:20-3:10, we arrived at this definition: God's display of transforming "dead me" into a "living we" for a "watching they"
  
  
  
  
• This definition forces us to think of church as a mission, not a meeting. The church is God's demonstration community.




• When church is nothing more than a meeting of individuals, it is easy to excuse lack of participation and tolerance of sin.


• When church is a community on a mission with God, everyone is significant as a display of God's grace to make known the "immeasurable/incalculable" riches of Christ.




• Four things the "watching they" needs to see from us:




• They do not need to see us disqualify ourselves.
  
  
  
  • Because of fear and insecurity some sit on the sidelines which betrays the power of God's grace and resurrection in our lives.
  
  
  • Some fail to pursue holiness, and live in sin while claiming to be Christians. This mocks God's grace and says God is less than satisfying and His grace is less than sufficient.
    
    
    
    • To clear: Christians are not perfect but are called to pursue holiness and fight sinfulness
    
    
    • For those living in blatant and obvious sin, there are 3 choices:
      
      
      
      • 1-Stop it.
      
      
      • 2-Seek help. Fighting sin is often a community affair through confession & accountability.
      
      
      • 3-Stop claiming to be a Christian and consider you may be "dead" as described in Eph. 2:1
      
      
      
      
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  


• They need to see life.
  
  
  
  • The church proclaims life and displays life change through its members.
  
  
  • As a result, church should be exciting and full of passion.
  
  
  • We should expect to see people saved and baptized.
  
  
  • Worship should be an expression of passion and affection.
    
    
    
    • We should never appear to be "bored" with God's grace when the Bible says we will enjoy it for eternity.
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  


• They need to see a strategy.
  
  
  
  • Without a strategy to church drifts into "me" mode (selfish, independent) or "me & we" mode (country club, clique-ish)
  
  
  • Our strategy:
    
    
    
    • We pray.
    
    
    • We proclaim Jesus when we gather (in large & small groups) and when we scatter (to our locations and vocations).
      
      
      
      • We invite. We talk about Jesus relationally and casually but intentionally displaying His grace to us.
      
      
      
      
    
    
    • We repeat.
    
    
    • We multiply.
      
      
      
      • Disciples. Small groups. Services. Campuses. Churches = Kingdom impact
      
      
      
      
    
    
    
    
  
  
  • Rock Bridge Easter goal: 5000 in worship!
    
    
    
    • Bring an unchurched friend with you.
    
    
    • Have a strategy to be involved in making Easter invitational and evangelical, not just traditional and cultural.
    
    
    • We need some people not to come on Sunday during optimal times (9:30/11:00) so we have room for guests.
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  


• They need to see sacrifice.
  
  
  
  • My greatest fear as a pastor is we lose our sacrificial mindset.
  
  
  • We must resist the urge to be comfortable and complacent.
  
  
  • Sacrifice is always a tension between what feels safe vs. what God asks ... Go with God!
    
    
    
    • Take the mission trip. Make the ask. Serve with passion!