good enough vs. spirit alive

Too often I'm willilng to settle for for a cut-rate version of Christianity. I hate that tendency in me. I call it "Good Enough Christianity." Good-enough Christianity, for me, mainly consists of belieiving the right things and keeping busy doing "churchy" things. The Good-enough version moves me toward focusing on the wrong things--even though they may be "good" things--ministry, for example, or at least some self-contrived, overrated idea of ministry...or worse, it usually causes me to lose focus of the most important thing: leading people into a growing relationship with Jesus.

It's such a rut, this Good-enough Christianity. The place I want to be, and I'm good at talking the talk (or even blogging about it)--but far too often I'm far from it, is what I call Spirit-Alive Christianity. Spirit-alive Christianity, I think, has three main components:

1. God-hunger. C.S. Lewis said, "Put first things first and second things are thrown in. Put second things first and you lose both first and second things." I put second things first way too much. Matthew 6:33 says, "Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." That's where I want to be: so hungry for God that he is first--always.
2. Kingdom-hunger. This means that I long to reveal God to others no matter how they treat me. I've got a long way to go with this one.
3. Holiness-hunger. This means to hate sin more than loving the pleasure it brings. Ouch.

Yeah, I'm hungry. Maybe I'm just not hungry enough.

read the gospel according to mark lately?

The Gospel according to Mark. What a powerful, incredible book. I hear a lot of preachers, most in fact, tell new Christians or seekers to begin reading the Bible starting with the Gospel of John. I don't think that's bad thing...but I would start with Mark.

Mark was probably written 65-68 A.D. And to our best knowledge, Mark was probably just writing down Peter's sermons. What I like most about Mark is that it is a "story" being told rather than a writing. See, Mark is meant to be heard rather than read. When we read it, we should read it to transform rather than inform.

The goal of Mark is to explain who Jesus is. If you really study it, you'll find that the first half of Mark is all about Who is Jesus? and the second half deals with Why has he come?
I think it helps to view this gospel through this lens.

I love Marks accounts of Jesus' miracles. One thing I find very striking in Mark's accounts are that miracles seem to always come when situations appear hopeless. Seems like hopelessness is always a prerequisite for Jesus' miracles? Which kinda creates a paradox: need a miracle? Be hopeless...but you're never really hopeless because when you get to that hopeless situation...that's when Jesus comes through--if you trust him. I love the fact that apart from Christ there is the potential for hopelessness...but with him, there' s really no such thing.

That's my quick take on Mark's Gospel. I invite you to read it paying careful attention to who Jesus is, why he came, and his miracles. It can change your life.

tell me what you measure

I came across this quote from Randy Frazee. Randy and I became friends (more like solid aquaintances, actually, after I stalked him for a while and finally convinced him to let me take him to dinner. We talked about authentic community...and a bunch more stuff. Randy has been a huge influence on me and our small groups ministry at NPCC. Anyway, here's the quote:
"Tell me what you measure and I'll tell you what your mission really is."

That's rock solid right there. So, of course, I began thinking about the things that we meaure here, in the Group Life department. Curious? Here are our big three:

1. How many people are going through Starting Pointe?
2. How many people are getting connected to a small group?
3. How many people are we baptizing?

We measure these because life-change is what's most important to us. Starting Pointe is a great first step for many people. We feel that if we can get them to join a SP group, they're going to get a solid foundation--a framework for spiritual transformation. With small groups, we're just convinced that there's no better environment for spiritual transformation to occur. We realize we can't force that kind of change in a person, but we can help them get in the kind of enviroment that makes it most likely to occur. Finally, baptism is so important to us because it's a public acknowledgement that a person has put their faith in Christ. That's the win--when a person publically identifies themselves as a full-on follower of Jesus Christ.

Tell me what you measure...and I'll tell you what your mission really is.

starting pointe

I'm meeting with a team that's helping me write our own curriculum for our Starting Pointe groups. I think we've gotten off to a great start. We're not going to change the main idea of Starting Pointe--that is, finding your place in the story that God is telling. But here are a couple of changes we're making: We're moving from 13 weeks to 10 weeks. We'll also be using our own NewPointe messages as a part of the curriculum. It's going to be a challenge but I'm confident we'll do it right.

If you're not familiar with Starting Pointe, here's a quick overview:

SP's mission is to lead people into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ by creating a conversational environment where they can explore faith and experience community.

What Starting Pointe is not: It's not an introduction to Christian doctrine. It's not a church membership class. It's not Sunday School. It's not an introduction to small groups (although it's a good step toward a small group).

So far over 300 people have gone through Starting Pointe at NPCC. New groups start every month. Our target audience for SP is: Seekers (those who are investigating church, Jesus, or the Bible), Starters (those who are new to a relationship with Jesus Christ), and Returners (those who have some church experience but have been away).

Starting Pointe is one of my very favorite things about NewPointe Communtiy Chruch. And the SP rooms are very visible in our new building. Stop by and check them out. And if you haven't come to a SP orientation yet, join us! Orientations are open to all. The next orientation is January 7 at 10:10 in the SP orientation room (right behind the SP meeting rooms).

quite possibly the best small group study i've ever done

How's that for an endorsement? My best estimate is that I've participated in over 90 different small group studies/curricula. While I'm sure it's far from the world record, it's still a decent amount. And the study that my group is currently involved in is perhaps the best one yet. It's thought-provoking, challenging, convicting, and it's a great catalyst for group discussion. And best of all, there are practical life-application steps that make it real for all of us. You're curious now, aren't you?

It's just really, really good.

Here's an overview:

Overloaded? Maxed out? Our culture encourages us to live as if we have no limits. So we fill up our schedules and empty our bank accounts. We do as much as we can, spend as much as we can, and acquire as much as we can—all in an effort to get as much as we can out of life. This six-part DVD shows that the secret to getting more out of life is not by doing more, but by doing less. Its companion study guide is complete with a leader’s guide and six lessons, including conversation-starting exercises, discussion questions, and application steps. You’ll learn to create the margin you need to live the life God intends for you.

Man, it's speaking to me...challenging to look at my priorities, the way I handle my money, my relationships, moral boudaries, etc.

Do I even need to say that I highly recommend it? We currently have two of these studies in our small group leaders curricula library (unfortunately both are currently check out--one of them, obviously, is at my house). NewPointe small group leaders can contact Teresa Raber(traber@NewPointe.org) to get on the waiting list for this study.

discipled through relationships

It occurs to me--more and more--that people are discipled through relationships. Have you stopped to think about this: the bulk of scriptures gives account of peoples' lives rather than a more systematic approach to biblical principles. Some examples are:

• David and Jonathan
• The disciples jockying for positions next to Jesus
• Jacob and Esau

Intrestingly, often times the Bible reads more like a novel than a holy book. I mean, the fact that God reavealed truth to humanity through the stories of people--their triumphs and failures, their joys and sorrows, their relationships--testifies to the value He places on being connected to us. The very nature of the the Trinity itself suggests to us that above all things God is relational.
Think about this: Jesus, if you read the Gospel accounts, seems seldom to have convened Bible study meetings and discipleship groups...but nearly everyone who was around him changed. He was intentional and directional. If we are intentional and directional in our relationships with one another, discipleship will happen.

just can't get this off my mind

Today I just can't stop thinking about how good God is. My heart is full and I just need to express it...so I'll blog about it:

He is the reason that we live, and move, and breathe.

He is the reason we sing. In fact, I think if we all sang more and talked less, the world would be a better place. Sing your praise to the Lord!

He is the reason the sun came up today. He's the God of new beginnings, of fresh starts, He created the universe and the whole if it declares His glory!

He is my forgiver. He's my friend. He's my help. He's my very breath. He's life. He's hope. He's the answer. He's real. He's an up-close God. He cares. He comforts. He gives. He corrects. He fills me with joy. He leads. He heals. He redeems a life like mine...one that is not deserving of grace yet he offers it freely.

He's trustworthy. He's faithful. He's just. He's worthy of my praise. He's who we worship. He's who we live for. He's who we sing to. He's who we dance for. He is good!

He blesses. He protects. He hears my prayers and He responds.

He gives...and gives...and gives.

He humbles me. He instructs me. He speaks to me. He treasures me.

He's worthy of my followership.

He's God. THERE IS NONE LIKE HIM!

equipping the whole group

Last Sunday evening we had our final EQUIP small group leaders gathering of the year. Scott Bell did a great job putting it together. Dr. Kindra Browning spoke to us about community and wellness--how the two go hand in hand and how we can lead our groups better by understanding the relationship between the two. There were updates, stories, prizes, contests, and, oh yeah...gourmet cheesecake! Nice.

One of my favorite things about EQUIP actually happened prior to the meeting. At First Wednesday, one of our couples small group leaders approached me asking if there would be any childcare available at EQUIP. He said his group just needed to make the necessary arrangements if there was no child care. I told him, no, we don't offer child care at EQUIP meetings and that he should tell his group not to worry because EQUIP is primarity for leaders and apprentices (I thought maybe he misunderstood who EQUIP was for...and that he was planning to bring his whole group when they're not all required to be there). I was wrong. He said, "Oh no, we're all coming. See, that's the thing about the group I lead...I'm training them all to be small group leaders so, in a sense, they are all apprenticing with me."

Isn't that great? And yes, the whole group was there, sitting at a table together. I love it when leaders "get it" like that.

Check www.SmallGroupLeaders.com for more info about EQUIP.

a 20-year streak comes to an end

Until yesterday I had quite a streak going: 20 years without puking. The last time I hurled I was 17--a senior in high school.

There are a couple reasons for the no-puke streak. First off, I don't get sick very often. Secondly, when I am sick--even with the flu, I just don't usually feel the urge to throw up. I've never tried to not throw up. I just haven't needed to...until yesterday.

I was sitting in my office at about 1:45 and all of the sudden I felt dizzy...just, boom! Out of nowhere. I didn't think much of it. I ran home to let the dog out (Jenny was out all day) and the dizziness started getting worse. I decided to lay down to see if it would go away. It didn't. I COULD NOT get the room to stop spinning.

I have no idea what caused it but a couple hours later, I found myself hunched over the toilet, heaving uncontrollably. Nice, huh?

And, of course, I'm thinking, Man! There goes my 20-year non-puke streak...right down the toilet.

I called Jenny a few minutes later. When she answered I said, "The streak is over." And she new exactly what I was talking about.

I feel better today...I just hope I can go another 20 years before the next time. It was NOT GOOD.