On Sunday, our AMx (American Missionary Experience) interns conducted a survey among some of our neighbors. The survey goes something like this:
Neighbor Survey:
"Thank you for opening the door. We are not here to sell you anything or ask for money, we would just like about 3 minutes of your time to ask you 5 questions.
1. What are the problems, concerns, or issues that you have about this neighborhood (or community)?
2. Have you thought of solutions to these issues?
3. Do you think the Bible has anything to say concerning these problems?
4. Have you read the Bible yourself?
5. Would you be interested in meeting together with some of your neighbors to discuss the solutions the Bible has to offer?
6. (If yes) Would you be willing to host such a meeting in your home?
At the end of the survey we mention that a group of our friends are praying for this neighborhood and we ask the person if there is anything they would like us to pray for. If they share something with us, then we ask to pray with them on the spot. Of course, we will be faithful to pray for their needs as well with the rest of our group.
I know what you're thinking, (well, maybe)! This would never happen. Well, we're not sure yet if it will, but let me tell you what has happened so far.
In 1 -1/2 hours time, our interns visited 66 houses. There were 31 homes that answered the door (47%). Out of the 31 people that answered the door there were 16 that participated in the survey (52%). Out of those that participated in the survey, there were 6 people who said "yes" or "maybe" to the idea of meeting together with neighbors for a Bible study (38%). Out of those who said they were interested at some level to participate in a Bible study, 2 people said they would consider hosting such a meeting in their home (33%).
In this particular area of focus, there are actually 200 homes (approximately). If these percentages remain true, then we could be looking at 19 people interested in participating in a Bible study with 6 or 7 being willing to open their homes. And, that is just 1 neighborhood!
Dream with me just for a minute. If those 19 people brought only 1 or 2 friends or family with them, then there could be 38 to 57 new people meeting together as neighbors around the Bible, trying to search for ways for the community to be better. And, again, this is just 1 neighborhood!
Of course, we know for the community to change, we must change. That is where the gospel and love and grace of Jesus comes in.
We believe that God takes the initiative and then we have the opportunity to respond. God's initiative of love and grace + a person's response of faith and obedience = TRANSFORMATION.
We don't know how this will turn out, but we'll keep you posted. No matter where you're at in your journey, it is God's desire for people to experience connection and care among their neighbors. Perhaps this survey can be a catalyst for such an experience.
If you're reading this post and "took" the survey yourself, maybe you are interested in a "neighbor group" as well. If so, just click the link at the top of the page for contact information.
Happy neighboring!
Beyond Sunday Church's Fan Box
Monday, August 31, 2009
Monday, August 11, 2008
Embracing His Eternal Purpose
I am very much aware that God’s purpose is not something that can be fully comprehended. His thoughts are far above anything we can understand. His ways are unexplainable! Yet, God calls us to be fellow laborers together with Him. He promised His Spirit to walk alongside us but He also desires that we walk alongside Him.
Trying to comprehend where he wants to lead us is a daunting task. However, it is His desire to reveal his plan to us. Perhaps His desire is to reveal his plan not only “to” us, but He desires to reveal His plan “in” us. As we embrace relationship with Christ, the Spirit of God is at work to bring glory to the Father in our daily lives. Wow, what a thought! The creator God wants to perpetuate is eternal plan through me and you!
We must embrace his plan. We must embrace His will. We must embrace His work. What has God placed in your heart to be and to do for His glory? I encourage you to lay down your fear, inadequacy, weakness, and short-comings and embrace by faith His ability to perfect His eternal plan in you.
Trying to comprehend where he wants to lead us is a daunting task. However, it is His desire to reveal his plan to us. Perhaps His desire is to reveal his plan not only “to” us, but He desires to reveal His plan “in” us. As we embrace relationship with Christ, the Spirit of God is at work to bring glory to the Father in our daily lives. Wow, what a thought! The creator God wants to perpetuate is eternal plan through me and you!
We must embrace his plan. We must embrace His will. We must embrace His work. What has God placed in your heart to be and to do for His glory? I encourage you to lay down your fear, inadequacy, weakness, and short-comings and embrace by faith His ability to perfect His eternal plan in you.
Friday, May 09, 2008
All Sales Final
Perhaps you have heard about the special, blowout sales that various retailers, usually furniture or R.V. dealers will use to move there "overstocked" inventory. The basic idea is to advertise a sale that will take place on a Saturday for instance, but, before the sale that will open to the public there is a special preview just for "special" customers that may want to get first pick. Because if you wait until the big day on Saturday, everything will be sold.
I used to sell pianos and organs and we used to do the same thing. We were taught to create a reason for customers to buy and to cultivate urgency or them to buy now. It was important to try to answer all the objections, answer questions, and meet all of the needs of the buyer.
Isn't interesting that our attempts in the church to convert a sale, or close the deal when we are sharing our faith look similar to the sale motif above. I have heard recently that it takes 52 people in the church to produce one convert. The church advertises special moments designed to capture the attention of the "buyer." We create reasons for people to "buy". We try to cultivate urgency. We package ourselves in such as way to attempt to answer all objections, answer all questions, and meet all of the needs of the "buyer." We have countless events to allow people to preview the merchandise, hoping they will like what they see.
I was wondering! Does a consumer really buy into the reasons suggested by a hungry retailer? When we buy something is it because the advertising has worked, or is it because we just took advantage of the opportunity, knowing all the while that the "cover story" the retailer has given is really just a ploy for our attention. What about the convert? Why does the church continue to think that people will respond in such a manner. I think there will always be some who respond but the "some" is still the few.
I think the Spirit of God desires a more authentic, pervasive approach. If the people of God were living in such a way that the forgiveness of Jesus translated into forgiving one another then more people in need of forgiveness would search for it. He placed us in the world to live among the people to be "witnesses" of a life alive in Christ. The kind living experience that creates a buzz. Most retailers will tell you that the best advertising is word of mouth. How can we live in such a way among our neighbors that Christ will be seen and the church will no longer need to resort to special tactics to get peoples attention?
I used to sell pianos and organs and we used to do the same thing. We were taught to create a reason for customers to buy and to cultivate urgency or them to buy now. It was important to try to answer all the objections, answer questions, and meet all of the needs of the buyer.
Isn't interesting that our attempts in the church to convert a sale, or close the deal when we are sharing our faith look similar to the sale motif above. I have heard recently that it takes 52 people in the church to produce one convert. The church advertises special moments designed to capture the attention of the "buyer." We create reasons for people to "buy". We try to cultivate urgency. We package ourselves in such as way to attempt to answer all objections, answer all questions, and meet all of the needs of the "buyer." We have countless events to allow people to preview the merchandise, hoping they will like what they see.
I was wondering! Does a consumer really buy into the reasons suggested by a hungry retailer? When we buy something is it because the advertising has worked, or is it because we just took advantage of the opportunity, knowing all the while that the "cover story" the retailer has given is really just a ploy for our attention. What about the convert? Why does the church continue to think that people will respond in such a manner. I think there will always be some who respond but the "some" is still the few.
I think the Spirit of God desires a more authentic, pervasive approach. If the people of God were living in such a way that the forgiveness of Jesus translated into forgiving one another then more people in need of forgiveness would search for it. He placed us in the world to live among the people to be "witnesses" of a life alive in Christ. The kind living experience that creates a buzz. Most retailers will tell you that the best advertising is word of mouth. How can we live in such a way among our neighbors that Christ will be seen and the church will no longer need to resort to special tactics to get peoples attention?
Sunday, May 04, 2008
A Terrible Accident and a transformed man
It was Thursday night and I received the phone call from my brother that there had been a terrible accident. Mark (my brother) is guardian of two young ladies who became a part of our family about 3 years ago as young teenagers. The girls father, Ringo, had been killed while driving a tractor at work. According to the newpaper, Ringo was working on the side of a sump pond and the it gave way. The tractor fell into the pond and Ringo couldn't get out in time. Such a sad tragedy.
I was around Ringo about three times personally but Mark knew of the transformation that God performed in this man's life. The Bible says it is shameful to mention what the disobedient do in secret, therefore I will not share the details of his life before Christ except to say there were many reasons for Ringo's captivity to sin. However, in the last 5 or 6 years, Ringo came so far in just a short period of time.
Isn't a testament to God's grace that we can begin on such a dark path but end in the presence of God. His death was tragic indeed, but his life was neither sad or tragic because of God's grace. Please remember the girls in prayer as they grieve. And remember the place that God has brought you from and give him praise for his grace in your life.
I was around Ringo about three times personally but Mark knew of the transformation that God performed in this man's life. The Bible says it is shameful to mention what the disobedient do in secret, therefore I will not share the details of his life before Christ except to say there were many reasons for Ringo's captivity to sin. However, in the last 5 or 6 years, Ringo came so far in just a short period of time.
Isn't a testament to God's grace that we can begin on such a dark path but end in the presence of God. His death was tragic indeed, but his life was neither sad or tragic because of God's grace. Please remember the girls in prayer as they grieve. And remember the place that God has brought you from and give him praise for his grace in your life.
Monday, April 21, 2008
The "ice cream" social has a new meaning!
Recently I asked a question of our directional leadership team for our church plant. What if we had a community that was made up of believers and non-believers? As we gathered, this past Sunday, we got a chance to see what such a notion would look like. As I drove up, I noticed right away that there were two individuals in the front who were there for the first time. A young lady that attends another Church of God about 50 south of Fresno, brought two of her friends. I came to find out as I talked with the three that this young lady promised a trip to Baskin Robbins for ice cream and somehow ended up at our gathering. Besides the fact that they passed several Baskin Robbins in several cities before they arrived, I was amazed that they stayed through the entire experience. It was obvious that they didn't have a clue what they had gotten themselves into but I was impressed at their willingness to brave through it all.
As usual we begin with a full meal that is shared by all and a time of fellowship. The young men had already eaten so they waited patiently. I talked with them and found out that they were former high school classmates with three of our Mission California students. Maybe this is why the were willing to stay.
The setting was casual and everyone was seated around tables with a band set up in the front with a extra room in front for the night for a human video to be performed later. We began with music and corporate worship, then a moment of singing and a story for the children. We had more worship and then I spoke followed by a personal testimony from one of our leaders about an experience she had at a women's conference the day before. At this point I prepared the people to share in communion and then Mission California did a human video. We then shared in communion (the boys did not partake) and continued to worship in singing.
As we sang many individuals began to weep and experience the presence of the Lord and others began praying with one another.
At the end of the service I went and thanked the young men for being there and told them I was happy to meet them because I had told the young lady that I was hoping to meet some of her friends. It was interesting that when I said that, one of the young men was surprised. Surprised that I was interested in meeting their friends because he said they were pretty scary. I supposed he expected me to be shocked.
I was blessed.
I don't think the young lady should have misled these two but I must say, having them there was the coolest ice cream social I've ever been too.
You may want to join us in praying for Jay and Faust. Two men who shared a meal with us, watched us sing, listened to me speak (and wrote notes while I was doing that), and sat in the presence of the Lord, and had NO ice cream.
jet
As usual we begin with a full meal that is shared by all and a time of fellowship. The young men had already eaten so they waited patiently. I talked with them and found out that they were former high school classmates with three of our Mission California students. Maybe this is why the were willing to stay.
The setting was casual and everyone was seated around tables with a band set up in the front with a extra room in front for the night for a human video to be performed later. We began with music and corporate worship, then a moment of singing and a story for the children. We had more worship and then I spoke followed by a personal testimony from one of our leaders about an experience she had at a women's conference the day before. At this point I prepared the people to share in communion and then Mission California did a human video. We then shared in communion (the boys did not partake) and continued to worship in singing.
As we sang many individuals began to weep and experience the presence of the Lord and others began praying with one another.
At the end of the service I went and thanked the young men for being there and told them I was happy to meet them because I had told the young lady that I was hoping to meet some of her friends. It was interesting that when I said that, one of the young men was surprised. Surprised that I was interested in meeting their friends because he said they were pretty scary. I supposed he expected me to be shocked.
I was blessed.
I don't think the young lady should have misled these two but I must say, having them there was the coolest ice cream social I've ever been too.
You may want to join us in praying for Jay and Faust. Two men who shared a meal with us, watched us sing, listened to me speak (and wrote notes while I was doing that), and sat in the presence of the Lord, and had NO ice cream.
jet
Friday, April 18, 2008
I Have TOO MUCH power!
In our gathering this week we discussed the scriptures recorded in Acts 3 and 4. Our approach is simple, we read, we think, we speak, we listen. We are intentionally trying to listen to Jesus as the leader/head of the church/body in order to discover fresh experience with him and each other.
As the leader, there is pressure to know where we're going with the study and to be able to relate the Bible to people’s lives. Except this week I realized that I don't (if I'm completely honest) relate to the passage myself in many ways. Let me show you what I mean.
If you read these two chapters you'll see recorded the story of Peter and John going to the temple during the hour of prayer, finding a beggar at the gate asking for help. Peter responds directly to the man, a miracle takes place and what follows is the "fall out" from this action. The apostles are confronted by the religious leadership, they preach a sermon of sorts in response to their accusers, and once they are released, they return to "the fellowship" and commence praying for more confidence and the Lord shakes the place and fills them with the Holy Spirit.
There are three scriptures that are commonly quoted found in these two chapters. I’ll take the first one in this post and leave the other two for later.
The first (Acts 3:6) says, " But Peter said, I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene-walk!"
Growing up as a "PK" I heard this story probably more than any other as it was one of my dad's favorites to preach. How many times have you heard this preached with fire and passion about the power that a Spirit-filled believer should and can have? I realized, as I was sharing this with my friends the other night, that I'm not sure I can really relate to Peter in this instance as a "Pentecostal" believer. Do you think Peter really didn't have any silver and gold to give? Do you think he was simply a person that depended on Jesus and he recognized that Jesus was truly the only solution? I think Peter had resources other than Jesus and he could have chosen to help this man in a different way. He was also connected to a community which we found out in Acts 2:42-47 was a tight-knit, loving, caring community with resources to help those in their need. But for some reason he saw calling upon the name of the Lord as the only option here.
I find myself under conviction. When confronted with someone's need, I have a tendency to first attempt to help them with what I have. If I don't have enough of what is needed, then I look to our new faith community (and their resources) to find a way to help. Unfortunately, the second thought is, "Well, we've done all we can do! Let’s pray and ask the Lord to help." This is usually when, I check out of the moment and the opportunity to see a miracle disappears.
This story isn’t about power. It’s about dependence on the Lord. It’s following Christ with boldness and faith. It is not about not having enough resources and calling on God. It is about having something to give that is beyond us, even if it is at a moment’s notice.
We have church full of “Spirit-filled” believers who are not dependent upon God with tremendous resources with pews full of “lame” people. What is the significance of this story? Is the significance of what happened at the gate called beautiful the power of God in the life a Spirit-filled believer? Or, is it the entrance of the kingdom of God into the life of a broken person due to the humility and dependence of another person upon God?
I think I feel a burst of rambling coming on so I’ll leave it at that for now?
Signed,
I have too much power!
As the leader, there is pressure to know where we're going with the study and to be able to relate the Bible to people’s lives. Except this week I realized that I don't (if I'm completely honest) relate to the passage myself in many ways. Let me show you what I mean.
If you read these two chapters you'll see recorded the story of Peter and John going to the temple during the hour of prayer, finding a beggar at the gate asking for help. Peter responds directly to the man, a miracle takes place and what follows is the "fall out" from this action. The apostles are confronted by the religious leadership, they preach a sermon of sorts in response to their accusers, and once they are released, they return to "the fellowship" and commence praying for more confidence and the Lord shakes the place and fills them with the Holy Spirit.
There are three scriptures that are commonly quoted found in these two chapters. I’ll take the first one in this post and leave the other two for later.
The first (Acts 3:6) says, " But Peter said, I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene-walk!"
Growing up as a "PK" I heard this story probably more than any other as it was one of my dad's favorites to preach. How many times have you heard this preached with fire and passion about the power that a Spirit-filled believer should and can have? I realized, as I was sharing this with my friends the other night, that I'm not sure I can really relate to Peter in this instance as a "Pentecostal" believer. Do you think Peter really didn't have any silver and gold to give? Do you think he was simply a person that depended on Jesus and he recognized that Jesus was truly the only solution? I think Peter had resources other than Jesus and he could have chosen to help this man in a different way. He was also connected to a community which we found out in Acts 2:42-47 was a tight-knit, loving, caring community with resources to help those in their need. But for some reason he saw calling upon the name of the Lord as the only option here.
I find myself under conviction. When confronted with someone's need, I have a tendency to first attempt to help them with what I have. If I don't have enough of what is needed, then I look to our new faith community (and their resources) to find a way to help. Unfortunately, the second thought is, "Well, we've done all we can do! Let’s pray and ask the Lord to help." This is usually when, I check out of the moment and the opportunity to see a miracle disappears.
This story isn’t about power. It’s about dependence on the Lord. It’s following Christ with boldness and faith. It is not about not having enough resources and calling on God. It is about having something to give that is beyond us, even if it is at a moment’s notice.
We have church full of “Spirit-filled” believers who are not dependent upon God with tremendous resources with pews full of “lame” people. What is the significance of this story? Is the significance of what happened at the gate called beautiful the power of God in the life a Spirit-filled believer? Or, is it the entrance of the kingdom of God into the life of a broken person due to the humility and dependence of another person upon God?
I think I feel a burst of rambling coming on so I’ll leave it at that for now?
Signed,
I have too much power!
Sunday, March 30, 2008
What IF?
What if we had a church where all first-time visitors already knew someone "in" the church? What would that church have to be like to accomplish this goal? Conventional wisdom says to have a great location, visible signage, friendly greeters, a welcome center, church brochures, contact cards, a follow-up plan, an assimilation plan, etc. BUT, what if all the energy spent doing these things was spent on building relationship with people we already know. What if the church body was so active outside the building that when the time came to actually gather everyone that came was already known by someone in the church?
What do you think?
What do you think?
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