At the conference I recently attended, one of the most convicting things I learned was how very important shepherding the flock is. Jim Putman, author of "Church is a Team Sport" spoke very emphatically about this lost effort in today's American churches. Church in many places has become "a show" where there's an expectation for a dynamic, uplifting message, impressive music, and an hour or so to get "recharged" on Sunday mornings. According to many of the statistics reported (in several seminars at the conference), the culture has definitely worked its way in to a vast number of churches (they have lost their effectiveness and impact) across the country and one has to wonder, how has it come to this?
When I consider River of Life, the ministries, and level of involvement from the body, I too become concerned...are we headed down this self-serving path where church is more about me (and what I can get out of it) than we (in relationship with God and each other)? Are we more impressed by what we hear and see in the media and at the water-cooler than what Jesus called us to do? When I read our 5 values and hear the heart of our leaders (staff, elders, ministry team leaders) however, I am still convinced that we are on the right path, the path of relationships NOT show or performance.
Still, as a church of possibly 400 people or so we have alot of gaps, a lot of people not known or cared for. As September arrives, so do many opportunities for people to get connected. Community groups are the ideal place for this to happen. They are safe settings where folks can share their challenges and victories, be cared for,encouraged and reminded of God's great love and grace...kind of like contemporary shepherding I would say! We need to make it a priority to stay on the right path in this fast-paced culture that puts so many other paths before us. We need each other on this journey so we can better stay on course and be a better witness to a lost and dying world. It is impossible to shepherd, if the flock is so scattered they cannot be gathered. Let's not be sheep who have gone astray, let us gather at the foot of the cross alongside our brothers and sisters, where our ultimate Shepherd loves us into His fold and guides us with grace and purpose!
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Famous Last Words
I recently attended a conference about small groups and discipling. I am still in the decompressing mode; praying and sifting through all that I learned in an effort to discern what God is calling me to do and impart in response. Interestingly enough, God had been working on me and challenging me on this subject for more than a year. Even with all the resources and possibilities to consider, one thing remains very simply constant; and that is what Jesus emphasized as His great commission to "therefore go and make disciples of all nations..."Matthew 28:19.
What I do know is that we as Christians all need to be in relationships where we are free to be ourselves and help each other on this journey so we can indeed be and make disciples. It is at the heart of our vision and purpose here at River of Life to be very intentional about this. As we have grown, there are many in our flock who are not connected or known. It is our desire that everyone who calls River of Life their church home will meet with others on a consistent basis. And, this is the same priority for anyone who comes through our doors.
Please join me in PRAYING for our body in this sense, that we will take the Lord's "last words" to heart and respond with love and obedience.
More to come in regard to opportunities for relationships and growth this fall! Stay tuned.
"Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain." Psalm 127:1
What I do know is that we as Christians all need to be in relationships where we are free to be ourselves and help each other on this journey so we can indeed be and make disciples. It is at the heart of our vision and purpose here at River of Life to be very intentional about this. As we have grown, there are many in our flock who are not connected or known. It is our desire that everyone who calls River of Life their church home will meet with others on a consistent basis. And, this is the same priority for anyone who comes through our doors.
Please join me in PRAYING for our body in this sense, that we will take the Lord's "last words" to heart and respond with love and obedience.
More to come in regard to opportunities for relationships and growth this fall! Stay tuned.
"Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain." Psalm 127:1
Friday, August 7, 2009
Contagious Glowing and Radiant Living!
God has been impressing on me how amazing the power of His Holy Spirit is by showing me in many ways (both large and small) how incredibly active He is in and around me! I have witnessed some transforming events in several friends and in my daughter who recently returned from a missions trip to Seattle. He has revealed to me in His Word that "He delivers me from my fears... and those who look to him are radiant..." (Psalm 34:4,5). Another dimension of this is described in more detail by Paul who says"we who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord who is the Spirit", 2nd Corinthians 3:17 & 18.
When God is (and He always is) doing a good work in people that cross my path, they start to glow...and amazingly enough I catch some of it and even feel a little of the heat myself! When I spend a good amount of time praying and meditating on God's Word and eternal promises, I catch a little more. When I listen to someone's story and have a sense of how God is growing them, and I speak to this, I catch even more of His contagious spark! Even with my many faults, mistakes and unattractive behaviors, when I confess, The Lord's grace pours over me and I experience another level of His light. Light that shines out of that awful darkness of my sin.
I can NOT, no matter how much I would prefer to, do all this alone. I need to not only be relationship with God, but with others. When I am, His radiance becomes more and more brilliant! God's glory is indeed reflected through US in a dark and hurting world, - wow! Oh to embrace the possibilities of this magnificent truth He's entrusted to us. Let us know and love our Savior and each other better - if only by His grace. 'For God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness", made his light to shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ." 2nd Corinthians 4:6.
When God is (and He always is) doing a good work in people that cross my path, they start to glow...and amazingly enough I catch some of it and even feel a little of the heat myself! When I spend a good amount of time praying and meditating on God's Word and eternal promises, I catch a little more. When I listen to someone's story and have a sense of how God is growing them, and I speak to this, I catch even more of His contagious spark! Even with my many faults, mistakes and unattractive behaviors, when I confess, The Lord's grace pours over me and I experience another level of His light. Light that shines out of that awful darkness of my sin.
I can NOT, no matter how much I would prefer to, do all this alone. I need to not only be relationship with God, but with others. When I am, His radiance becomes more and more brilliant! God's glory is indeed reflected through US in a dark and hurting world, - wow! Oh to embrace the possibilities of this magnificent truth He's entrusted to us. Let us know and love our Savior and each other better - if only by His grace. 'For God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness", made his light to shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ." 2nd Corinthians 4:6.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Fruit of the Workers
I love this time of year as summer winds down and the faint cool breezes begin to usher in the evenings - signaling that fall is around the corner. It's during this season we (ministry leaders and teachers) begin to kick off our school year ministries--I can't help but enthusiastically envision how the Lord will work amongst us! As many of you may know, Pastor Rob will be introducing a new message series on spiritual growth early in September. We will have many community groups scattered throughout the valley - meeting different nights, places and times so there should be one that works for everyone. These groups will be safe places to discuss, and apply the concepts Rob will be addressing. This is a great opportunity for us to come alongside each other to learn and be challenged in our relationship with God and each other.
It is such a sublime notion that our God and creator is in His very nature relational - and He is actively inviting us into that intimate existence with Him as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. All the power, holiness, and mercy is then best manifested through us as we live out that immeasurable love with each other. As Paul said; "God's love has been poured out into our hearts by the Spirit" (Romans 5:5). Interesting too (in keeping with our current study in Galatians 5) that all but, the last of the nine fruits of the Spirit focus on how people relate to one another.
As author Scott Boren puts it in his book The Relational Way, "The fruit of the Spirit manifests as we relate to one another." For us to experience the fullness of a relationship with God and His love, it is essential we intentionally include others by engaging in their lives. We have an optimal environment for this to happen within our community groups. But the idea is that it does not end there. By the power of God in us, we can better extend this love to those around us who don't yet know the Lord. We can draw strength and purpose from God through each other that has potential to change the world.
As fall quickly approaches, and we ponder on the harvest of the season, can we too pray and invest ourselves in working towards a great abundance of fruit by how we live in and out of church? Its a task worth our best in time and attention! Let's step up to the challenge - there's no better time!
It is such a sublime notion that our God and creator is in His very nature relational - and He is actively inviting us into that intimate existence with Him as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. All the power, holiness, and mercy is then best manifested through us as we live out that immeasurable love with each other. As Paul said; "God's love has been poured out into our hearts by the Spirit" (Romans 5:5). Interesting too (in keeping with our current study in Galatians 5) that all but, the last of the nine fruits of the Spirit focus on how people relate to one another.
As author Scott Boren puts it in his book The Relational Way, "The fruit of the Spirit manifests as we relate to one another." For us to experience the fullness of a relationship with God and His love, it is essential we intentionally include others by engaging in their lives. We have an optimal environment for this to happen within our community groups. But the idea is that it does not end there. By the power of God in us, we can better extend this love to those around us who don't yet know the Lord. We can draw strength and purpose from God through each other that has potential to change the world.
As fall quickly approaches, and we ponder on the harvest of the season, can we too pray and invest ourselves in working towards a great abundance of fruit by how we live in and out of church? Its a task worth our best in time and attention! Let's step up to the challenge - there's no better time!
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Workers in Progress
Well, thanks to our more computer proficient staff (thanks Brian and Dave), I'm off and running - to improve this "construction project". Finding a name for my blog was pretty fun. I used a play on my name Cher which is what my family calls me (when they're not mad) with one of my favorite subjects "The Harvest"....So actually my idea is that we (the body at River of Life), take on the challenge together to "share (cher) in the Harvest"! - novel, I know.
But, seriously, I am so looking forward to this venue to address the relational aspects of becoming an authentic community of disciples. The seeds are being planted, many are taking root- all around us. Are we equipped to take on the task of harvesting? Think on the relationships God has established in your life that have inspired you to draw closer to the Lord. I am proposing that these relationships are a very significant part of the training we experience in preparing us for the work of the harvest! Relationships, disciples, and the harvest - Oh, the possibilities!!
Consider:
When He saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field."
Matthew 9:36-38
But, seriously, I am so looking forward to this venue to address the relational aspects of becoming an authentic community of disciples. The seeds are being planted, many are taking root- all around us. Are we equipped to take on the task of harvesting? Think on the relationships God has established in your life that have inspired you to draw closer to the Lord. I am proposing that these relationships are a very significant part of the training we experience in preparing us for the work of the harvest! Relationships, disciples, and the harvest - Oh, the possibilities!!
Consider:
When He saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field."
Matthew 9:36-38
Monday, July 7, 2008
A Work in Progress
...I'm much like this blog - in the process of being designed. Maybe someday this will look like a masterpiece similar to how the Lord is creating one out of my life! Ephesians 2:10. Please note: this blog is temporarily "under construction" Stay tuned for more on what authentic communities have to do with passionate disciples!
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