“Those People”

 Church, Jesus, Missional, READ THIS!  9 Responses »
Sep 252007
 

I was involved in a conversation recently where a person who has grown up in church and claims to have been a Christian most of their life made an interesting statement.  The conversation was moving in the direction of how Christ-followers are responsible for building relationships with people who don’t follow Christ.  Then came the statement that is still ringing in my ears, “I just don’t cross paths with ‘those people’ in my circle of friends.” 

I just about came unglued!  I felt like Bobby Cox probably feels when he comes out of the dugout after an umpire clearly misses a call on the field.  It was all I could do to keep my composure, but because I am a good pastor and want to stay in the good graces of the people in this community, and largely because I don’t want to go to jail, I kept my composure and have waited until now to fully address the comment.  To that person who doesn’t cross paths with “those people”:

  • ‘Those people’ are created in the image of Almighty God.
  • ‘Those people’ simply need to hear that their creator loves them and created them for a relationship with HIM.
  • ‘Those people’ are who Jesus Christ died for on the cross.
  • ‘Those people’ are all potential children of God.
  • ‘Those people’ are dependent on YOU to authentically and genuinely show them the true character of Jesus Christ.
  • ‘Those people’ are why I, Craig Story, and more than a dozen families left the secure confines of a wonderful, established church home to launch Church at the Grove.
  • ‘Those people’ are why we will resist the distractions of becoming a “comfortable” church that exists for those inside the church rather than those outside the church.
  • I used to be one of “those people” and if it wasn’t for a brother inviting me to his church and a host of ‘church people’ who opened their arms to this “those people”, I would not be a Christ-follower, much less a church-planting pastor. 
  • God loves “those people”.
  • We all were one of “those people”. 

Now, to the person who made that statement:  If you are not willing to get off your lazy, affluent-American Christian, “I need another Bible study”, “I don’t give a rip about people dying and going to hell” BEHIND, then politely take the fish off your car and turn in your tithing envelopes! 

Jesus came to seek and save that which was lost.  Check out Luke 19:10.  What was lost was a connection with HIS prized creation on earth: HUMANITY! 

Charles Spurgeon said that if all of the elect had a stripe painted down their back, he would spend his life running up and down the streets pulling up shirt-tails and sharing the gospel. (paraphrased)

If we can’t get that simple truth and apply it to ALL that we do as the CHURCH, we simply need to close up shop and go home.

Whew!  Man I feel better!  Have a nice day!  Oh, and go walk across your office, street, or neighborhood and have a conversation with one of “those people”. 

 Posted by at 8:22 am

Core Values (Ministry Filters) Part 2

 Church at the Grove, Church Planting, READ THIS!  1 Response »
Sep 132007
 

As we celebrate the past year in the life of Church at the Grove, we are taking a look at the Core Values, or ministry filters as we like to call them. 

  • Authentic Relationships

Among the characteristics of the Buster (Gen-X) and Bridger (Millennial) generations is the longing desire for meaningful and accepting community.  Church at the Grove desires to be a community of acceptance and belonging for those outside the faith.  Christ places such an emphasis on our relationships with one another that He makes them the litmus test of true spirituality.  It is amazing and challenging.  Clearly, He meant for our relationships to each other, and our willingness to serve each other to be the greatest apologetic of the Christian faith.  Huge Groves of red cedars dot the western coast of the United States.  From a distance they appear tall and sturdy and strong.  But underground, their roots are shallow.  When  one falls, others often follow.  The only thing that holds up these majestic trees is that they lean on each other.  Their branches literally reach out and touch one another.  Their roots intertwine and support one another.  Not one of them can stand alone.  The journey of life is too difficult to make alone!

  • Intentional Simplicity

One of the unique characteristics of Church at the Grove is found in our intentional effort to accomplish more by doing less.  This focus on simplicity will empower us to do the few things we do with excellence, and empower individuals and families to pursue missional ministries in their neighborhoods and circles of influence.  We will seek to maximize the time of individuals and families by maintaining a very simple calendar so they can use their time effectively to impact their community. 

  • Faithful Stewardship

Stewardship is defined by how Time, Talent, and Treasures are handled.  Church at the Grove will seek to manage God’s resources with integrity and balance.  In addition, we will seek to lead people to faithfully manage their valuable resources in ways that honor God and most effectively fulfill His purpose. 

 Posted by at 8:07 pm

Core Values (Ministry Filters) Part 1

 Church, Church at the Grove, READ THIS!  No Responses »
Sep 122007
 

Filters

We launched a church, CATGrove, a year ago.  In light of being into this endeavor for one year, I have been reflecting on our vision, mission, and strategy.  We have six core values (or ministry filters as we like to call them).  These filters are in place to help us focus and say “NO” when necessary.  Everything we do “filters” through these values.  I will post 3 today and 3 in the next day or two.

Biblical Faith

God has revealed himself through the Living Word of Jesus Christ and through the written Word of Scripture.  The first and most important filter is the Bible.  We receive the scriptural mandate to take the gospel to all people from God’s Word.  Matthew 28:18-20  It is the final authority on matters of faith and practice for the ministry of Church at the Grove.  While our methodology may be non-traditional, it will be filtered through the value of Biblical Faith.

Persuasive Compassion

Matthew records Jesus moving through the towns and villages teaching and healing the sick.  He states that upon seeing the crowds, “Jesus was moved with compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (Matthew 9:36)  Compassion can be defined as being moved deeply to the point of hurting in your stomach for someone’s plight and pain.  Compassion doesn’t stop there but responds with action toward those in need.  Compassion is “simply being broken to the core to the point of action”.  Persuasive Compassion is an intentional response to those in need for the purpose of bringing them to Christ.  The first generations born and raised in a post-Christian culture will need persuasive compassion from a community of Christ-following believers. 

Missional Responsibility

We desire to fulfill the mission God has given the Church. See here; and here and here. In both Old and New Testaments we encounter a God who is on a redemptive mission in the world.  In fact, we are astounded at the lengths to which God will go in pursuit of his mission to redeem the crowning achievement of his creation — people.  In North America, the term “mission” has been associated with either sending called people to other parts of the world or giving financially toward reaching others around the world.  With the United States now being among the largest mission fields in the world, and the fact that there are now multiple generations born and raised in a post-Christian culture, we must address the need for churches to think “missionally” in a local context.  What if each individual believer and household could see their home as a “base” for missional operations to reach the entire neighborhood for Jesus?  This is a core desire for Church at the Grove!

 Posted by at 4:46 pm

Keep it SIMPLE to accomplish the mission

 Church at the Grove, Church Planting, Missional, READ THIS!  No Responses »
Aug 242007
 

Church at the Grove is now over 11 months into the beginning of a new church.  I have been reflecting on the past year and I continue to evaluate our mission and future for this community of faith. 

If our MISSION is to develop people who follow Jesus and Make Disciples, HOW will we accomplish our mission?  If the church has taken a simple mission (the Great Commission), and made it overly complex, how can we accomplish the mission and yet keep it simple? 

Here is HOW we will accomplish our MISSION to develop people who follow Jesus and Make Disciples:

  • We will Create Environments where people can explore faith. 

Our primary environment is created at our Sunday morning Gatherings at Youth Middle School and includes services at 10am and 11:15am.  We believe it should be Christ-centered and biblically-focused.  It includes dynamic and relevant music and it is a fun and engaging environment.

  • We will Encourage Relationships, primarily through Community Groups that will meet in homes and other locations for the purpose of discipling followers of Christ and connecting with unconvinced people.  We believe that spiritual growth happens best in the context of relationships.
  • We will Start Discussions in the community that lead to sharing the hope found in Jesus. 

We will intentionally engage our circles of influence as individuals and as a community of faith through acts of kindness and meeting practical needs.

This is it!  This is how we will accomplish the mission God has given us.  No More-No Less!

We want to lead people to Explore Faith, Encounter Community, and Extend the Love of Jesus to their world.

Explore, Encounter, Extend

Got it!  Now go do it!

 Posted by at 10:22 pm
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