GUEST-POST: City Saturation = Prayer Saturation x Christ Saturation

1. Above all, you need to start by saturating your own life with more of who Christ is today.

To enlarge and enrich your own vision of and passion for the majesty and supremacy of God’s Son today so that, in turn, you can share this with others, go to ChristNow.com. Scroll down to “Exalting Jesus: A 21-Day Video Journey Into More of Christ” and click on the button—and get ready to be saturated with much more of our Lord Jesus Christ!

2. Next, try to saturate fellow believers with more of the wonders of Jesus that you have uncovered.

3. Form a Christ Awakening Servant Team (CAST) inside your church to transform your church.

4. Subscribe for free to the Christ Now Resources Catalog so you can keep growing in your life in Christ.

5. Pastors and other Christian leaders should definitely consider drawing on the in-depth teaching found in “The Christ Institutes Video Training Series.“

About the Author

Over the past 50 years, David Bryant has been defined by many as a “messenger of hope” and a “Christ proclaimer” to the Church throughout the world. Formerly a minister-at-large with the InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, president of Concerts of Prayer International (COPI), and chairman of America’s National Prayer Committee, David now provides leadership to ChristNow.com and Proclaim Hope!, whose mission is to foster and serve Christ Awakening movements. Download his widely read ebooks at ChristNow.com. Enjoy hundreds of podcast episodes. Watch his weekly vlogs at David Bryant REPORTS. Meet with David through Zoom or in-person events through David Bryant LIVE!

Church Growth: The Road Less Traveled 

Does Your Church Position God Alone as Father? The Bible leaves no doubt about the identity of those who follow Jesus.  We are God’s children.  He is our Father.  Satan’s perpetual lie since the dawn of time is that our Father cannot be trusted.  Religious leaders throughout history have questioned our identity and access by positioning themselves as intermediaries between the Father and His children.  Christ came to prove once and for all that His Father (and ours) loves His children personally, unequivocally, and unconditionally.  Often unwittingly and unintentionally, church leaders divert attention from the Father to themselves and churches in ways that undermine our relationshipwith Him.  The result are churchgoers not grounded enough (in their status as a son or daughter) to represent Christ well, fueling popular perceptions of Christians as hypocritical and judgmental. Our Heavenly Father Produces Faithful Children Our Father knows His children and they recognize His voice.  If parents are rarely fooled by their kids, the Father is never deceived by His.  Jesus looked at the heart, merciful to those acknowledging their weaknesses but reserving His harshest words for those projecting under false pretenses.  Genuine Christ-followers pursue the Lord with all their hearts and seek His righteousness, not self-righteousness.  Our Father is interested in authentic Kingdom advancement, not the size of a church’s congregation or number of confessions of faith.  He is looking for true disciples, not cultural Christians, who embody… Growth – To find out “who was who”, Jesus preached His most challenging sermon at the height of His popularity.  His objective was relational, not numerical, growth.  How often do pastors “preach a church down” on purpose to weed out the insincere or (perpetually) unrepentant?  Losing excess weight typically makes people, and churches, healthier.  Jesus didn’t entertain (or, in some cases, tolerate) those only interested in what He could do for them, not a relationship with Him.  He knew who was seeking a favor (temporal help), not God (eternal hope).  Our Father is about depth, not breadth. Sincerity – In the early Church, no distinction existed between “disciple” and “Christian”.  A public profession of faith in Christ could be a death sentence.  Anyone that courageous was desperate for a relationship like Jesus had with His Father.  Persecution forced believers into small, house churches.   In America, where conspicuous church buildings dot the landscape and Christians are just beginning to experience relatively mild forms of persecution, it’s more difficult to tell those who has surrendered from who’s simply going through the motions. Obedience – We want our children to obey because they love us, not to get something or avoid punishment.  Their motive for obedience becomes more important than obedience itself.  Agape love, the purest of all motives, is the Greatest Commandment.  Jesus exposed those strictly following the law to appease God or impress people.  In today’s culture, sin has left our vernacular and society flouts and celebrates violations of God’s commandments.  Authentic Christ-followers repent, transform, and even love those who hate them. Discipleship – Jesus provided a vivid example of how to live out the Great Commission.  His discipleship approach was personal, intensive, and multiplicative.  Christians who don’t become a disciple or make disciples aren’t one.  We discover who truly walks in Jesus’ footsteps by how they respond to adversity.  Do they cower, revile, defend, or view disappointments as God’s appointments? Compassion – The Greatest of All identified Himself with the “least of these”.  Jesus’ economy flips ours on its head – rich is poor and poor is rich.  He modeled healing and feeding to open ears before disclosing who He is (i.e. the Gospel).  The implication of Jesus’ parables of the Good Samaritan, Sheep and Goats, and Rich Man and Lazarusis clear – no genuine Christ-follower will ignore the (materially) poor.  For roughly 1,900 years, churches took those warnings seriouslyyet few churches and Christians today make them a commensurate priority. Any intermediaries or impediments in our lives that operate outside the bounds of Agape will inhibit our relationship with the Father.  Their lack of authenticity will diminish ours as distance from Him impedes our growth, sincerity, obedience, discipleship, and compassion. Spiritual “Fatherhood” Produces Spiritual Orphans Intimacy with the Father suffers when churches repair the curtain (separating us from Him) that tore when Jesus was crucified.  Our last blog post listed 25 ways in which churches today insert themselves between man and God, redirecting attention from the Father to the institution.  It becomes difficult to sense the Lord pursuing us (as a child) when the church is pursuing us (as a member).  It’s hard to distinguish our love for our Father from our love for our church when both are asking for our loyalty and allegiance… Growth – While Jesus humbled spiritual “fathers” and demanded commitment to the Father, many churches today elevate pastors and emphasize commitment to the church (invite/involve/invest).  There’s nothing wrong with numerical growth if it’s attained despite regularly challenging members to follow Jesus’ non-negotiable call to authentic discipleship no matter the cost. Sincerity – While Jesus invested in those desiring God for who He is and not what He can do for them, most churches exhibit transactional behavior.  Services have been reduced to an hour, salvation to repeating a phrase, evangelism to extending an invitation to church, and metrics to achieving commercial objectives.  “Kingdom” and “Church” often take a back seat to “kingdoms” and “churches”. Obedience – While Jesus wants love to fuel our obedience, which is normally the case for aspiring pastors, temptations lurk once a church becomes “successful”.  We are to call no man “father”, but leaders can evolve into spiritual “fathers”.  They can begin to believe their own press and become less dependent on their Father.  Spiritual “children” of church “fathers” can be pulled away from our Father as reverence and affinity for pastors grow. Discipleship – While Jesus instructed parents to disciple their children, churches who don’t disciple members aren’t preparing them to disciple their kids.  Instead, parents drop them off at children’s ministry and youth group, counting on church to assume their discipleship role as spiritual “fathers”.  However, churches that don’t disciple adults don’t disciple children either (to ensure they have fun and want to come back next Sunday). Compassion – While Jesus treated those He healed and fed with dignity, most churches conduct local missions transactionally and paternalistically.  We are to love our neighbors year-round, but occasional outreach events that “check the box” perpetuate (rather than alleviate) poverty by fostering dependence. Contemporary church growth models encourage treating “church” as a place, members as “customers”, worship services as events, and metrics as a business.  Pastor-led churches can look like a “genius with 1,000 helpers”, drawing attention away from the Father and toward spiritual “fathers”. How Churches Can Position God as Father The following are steps pastors can take to ensure they’re positioning the Father as “Father” and members as His children (not their own): Growth – Risk losing lukewarmchurchgoers and all they’ve worked so hard to build by leading like Jesus, who loved His followers enough to challenge them and hold them accountable, finding out who truly is a child of the Father. Sincerity – Disintermediate by flattening the hierarchy, equipping and empowering members to resume their rightful responsibilities for living out GC3 (Great Commandment, Great Commission, Great Calling) all week, not just on Sundays. Obedience – Repent of a Priest/King dichotomy.  Swim against the cultural “current” by decentralizing “Church as We Know It”, relinquishing ownership of the “priestly” role and dependence on “kings” to staff and underwrite the operation. Discipleship – Reintroduce personal and intensive discipleship, starting with leaders, but quickly multiplying through parents to children and then to families, coworkers, and communities (reaching those who wouldn’t come to your church). Compassion – Plant or support ministries year-round that serve the materially poor, risking the culture shock of welcoming into the congregation those who look little like your average member, realizing we’re all in some form of poverty. Few church leaders would argue with that roadmap, yet it remains the road less traveled.  Prevailing church growth models encourage dependence on pastors and loyalty to church – undermining authenticity and intimacywith the Father. It’s Your Turn… Does your church position God alone as Father and Christ-followers as His children? The post Does Your Church Position God Alone as Father? appeared first on Meet the Need Blog. Read in browser »

You have subscribed to this list from our blog, blog.meettheneed.org Our mailing address is: Meet the Need, Inc 7853 Gunn Highway #254 Tampa, FL 33626

My 10 Commandments for God

Phil Miglioratti * Reimagine.Network

Context: I firmly believe in the God of Genesis 1:1 and the original 10 Commandments. I do not believe the Creator necessitates ten suggestions from me or anyone else. I do not believe a list like this provides God with new ideas. My sole (and soul) purpose is to invite readers, especiall those who are skeptical about God, to consdier these assertions as a way to reimagine God... and faith. 

1. I want to believe in the God of all gods, the God who created the gods, if they exist. And even if there’s a God who created the God who created the Earth, that’s the God I want to believe in. The Uncreated One. The True Self. The One Way-The Only Truth-The Life Source God.
2. I want to believe that God is real; not vapor, not chemistry nor technology, and certainly not mythology. This God would be the way to authentic truth about real life.
3. I want to believe this God expresses omnipresence (True Self is not limited to a body in form or function), omniscience (True Self knows all  that needs knowing) and omnipotence (True Self is almighty), each from a source of pure, holy (perfect) True Love.
4. I want to believe God makes every decision on the basis of love; a quality of love that demonstrates the beauty of the creation ("the land and the sky" of Genesis1:1) and who’s love is the guiding purpose and principle for all life; the model for all human interactions. This God cannot not love, even when destroying evil.
5. I want to believe in a God, who is just in character and action. True Self is righteous in motivation and methods and means. This God, rightly so, abhors evil as the cancer of the spirtual life of humans.
6. I want to believe God reveals the True Self in the majesty and beauty of every created thing and person.
7. I want to believe in a God who is knowable, wants to be known, and initiates communication with every created being. People have an all access pass to communicate with True Self through meditation and contemplation, praise and prayer, and through fulfilling their unique purpose.
8. I want to believe in a God who is our advocate, not an accuser, manipulator or deceiver. A rescuer who is also a redeemer, releasing us from all dis-ease, evil, and everything death-producing.
9. I want to believe in a God, who is a judge; a judge of all that is evil. A God who will defeat evil and one day destroy it forever. This God will also offer people the spiritual surgery necessary, so that they do not die with that evil, soul-cancer disease.
10. I want to believe in the almighty God people have no need to fear because the True Self is loving, forgiving, a source of true empowerment, and in whose presence is real peace. The True Self is the God all humans (and even creative things nonhuman) long for. If God has a name, that is The Name I will believe in, which I will pray in, and I will seek to bless and love and serve others.

If you can, read this list and agree with each of these “commandments” you are close to faith n the God I find in the Bible.

You are not searching for a religion. You are seeking, even yearning for, a relationship with the One walks with us along the way of truth that breathes life into our bodies-souls-and-spirits.

No matter what adjective you used to describe yourself (religious, political, philosophical; theist or atheist), this ancient wisdom may be a good place to (re)start:

You must trust the Lord
    and not your own judgment.

Always let him lead you,
and he will clear the road
    for you to follow.

Don't ever think that you
    are wise enough,
but respect the Lord
    and stay away from evil.

Proverbs 3:5-7

Jesus was right when he told us to "Seek God first ... live righteously ... and God will give you everything you need" (Matthew 6:33).

God is real and has revealed True Self -  "Without faith no one can please God. Anyone who comes to God (wanting truth, hope, peace, love, forgiveness, eternal life) must believe that God is real and that he rewards those who truly want to find him." (Hebrews 11:6) - This God I want to believe in wants to be found . . .

NEXT>>>You Are Noble; So Be Generous!

"Quote/Unquote" ~ 
Phil Miglioratti @ Reimagine.Network Interviewed Jonathan Friz, Author of "10 Days: The Unlikely Story of a Global Movement Longing for the Return of Jesus."

"10 Days: The Unlikely Story of a Global Movement Longing for the Return of Jesus

is the story of almost twenty years of attempting to follow Jesus

in pursuit of a radical vision to see cities stop, repent, and worship King Jesus."

PHIL>>> Your book has several critical components. You present a specific strategy but this is much more than a guide for those leading a "10 Days" initiative. Tell us how reading it will:

• Inspire us in our personal story by hearing about your "unlikely story."

Jonathan>>>Much more than a story about a specific prayer strategy, this book is about what it looks like to follow Jesus.  This includes incredible miracles and answers to prayer alongside massive failures and unexplained set-backs. I think this story will inspire believers to keep following Jesus and take larger risks in following Him, knowing that He really is faithful in the long-term and that incredibly painful losses and setbacks, even if they are never explained, can be part of the larger story God is writing with our lives.

I think it's also a candid look at the danger in the journey. Some people don't end well, and i certainly came close a number of time. So, part of the inspiration may be disabusing us of our naive views of what it means to follow Jesus.  As C.S. Lewis famously said, "He is not a tame lion." We can expect lives that are in step with Him to also not be tame.

• Challenge us to rededicate ourselves to discipleship by learning from your "almost twenty years of attempting to follow Jesus."

Jonathan>>> To be a disciple at its most basic level means to be "with Jesus" and to "follow Jesus". Following means going where He goes.  As we go where He goes, we learn all kinds of things. My biggest encouragement from the book, or discipleship "tool" if you will, is to set-apart long periods of time to spend with the Lord, either on your own or in community with other people.  These catalytic, extended seasons of prayer, worship, scripture, and silence are often life-transforming and leave us with a better sense of how to hear the Holy Spirit for ourselves.  

• Prompt us to reimagine God's vision for our lives as we read about your "pursuit of a radical vision."

Jonathan>>> In the book, I talk about my heart's desire to live a life "like people you read about in the Bible." At the time, that desire seemed like a massive reach. As I reflected on the journey through writing the book, it was clear that God had responded to my prayer as a young person--we have seen God do so many incredible things. If there was one desire or prayer I could pass on for people to reimagine God's vision for their lives, maybe that would be it: Lord, let my life be like someone from the pages of the Bible. If some of us are older or younger, let's remember that many of the journeys we hear about in Scripture, whether Joseph and Josiah or Abraham and Moses, begin when people are "too young" and "too old". It's never too late to start walking more closely with God.

• Cause us to "see" our "city" (neighborhood, community); one Church praying with one voice. 

Jonathan>>> As I pursued my God-given desire to see an answer to Jesus prayer in John 17, "let them be one as we are one," I began noticing the ways that Church in cities and neighborhoods was already expressing unity, and the key leaders that we already bringing the people of God together. As I listened to other believers, I started to hear "assignments" and "callings" coming from them. I realized these people were hearing from God just as I was, and responding in faith. If we can start hearing what God is doing in and through others in our city or neighborhood, this will give us new eyes to understand God's plans and purposes for our communities.

• Lead us to live out Romans 12:2 (transformed, not conformed); to "repent" change the way we think).

Jonathan>>>  Often times we are afraid to repent because we are afraid to be wrong. However, repentance is a glorious exchange where we bring God our bad ideas and ways of thinking and receive His thoughts and ideas, which are always better and life-giving. Repentance is exchanging our bondage for the glorious liberty that is ours in Christ. Some of the repentance we need to do is at a very deep level--we may not be aware of how deeply we have imbibed the world's way of thinking and how far we are from God's way of thinking. The book shares how extended seasons of worship and prayer where we step away from the world can be catalytic to deep repentance, change, and transformation.

• Bless us with a fresh awakening to "worship King Jesus."  

Jonathan>>>  Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is a resurrected, Jewish man who now lives in heaven and has all power and authority. Father God has chosen Him to return to rule the whole earth with Justice and to unite heaven and earth. He is worthy to rule and worthy to bring justice to the earth because He gave His live and His blood as a ransom for all of us. How can we not love a man like this, who willingly gave up His life as a sacrifice for us? How could we want a greater, kinder King?

PHIL>>> As leaders read, they are constantly asking (in thought and in prayer) how what the author is presenting can assist them in their ministry. How can this book equip::

• Pastors

Jonathan>>> For pastors, I think the messiness of the stories in the book will encourage them to keep following Jesus. Pastoral ministry often feels like a lot of pain and very little reward--caring for broken people and pointing them to Jesus can be incredibly painful. Hopefully, this book is a reminder that there's nothing better we can give our life to than loving God's people.

• Prayer Champions

Jonathan>>> For younger prayer champions, I hope there is a lot of learning from my early mistakes, including judgmentalism, pride, and a foolish approach to prophecy and spiritual gifts. Spiritual people have different temptations and make different mistakes from worldly people. Hopefully, you can avoid some of what I did! I also really hope that there is an impartation of faith for the father to answer Jesus' prayer in John 17. We need to have confidence that Jesus will receive the answer to His prayer.

• DiscipleMakers

Jonathan>>> While it's not a topic featured in the book, 10 Days is actively partnering with disciple-making movements around the world, especially global simple church movements. If we are serious about making disciples, we need to use the "technology" of the New Covenant and put people directly in touch with "the teacher" who is the Holy Spirit. Prayer, in community, is probably the best way for people to get to know the Holy Spirit, learn to hear His voice, and follow Him. So, I'd say Christ-centered, Spirit-filled prayer is central to the life of any disciple.

• Ministry/Mission Outreach Leaders

Jonathan>>> I hope this book inspires you to dream bigger and also to be more patient than you thought possible in pursuit of a God-sized vision. So, that you'll both have a larger vision and be more patient than ever for God to fulfill that vision.

PHIL>>> One more thing from the author to the reader...

Jonathan>>> I feel so honored to have seen and participated in incredible acts of God in my lifetime. My prayer for the reader is that they'd go forth and do the same...and even greater things. 

PHIL>>> Jonathan, please write a prayer we can pray with you about inviting others to follow Jesus...

Jonathan>>>  Father, would you gather your family together from every tribe, people, language, and nation and would you make us one in Jesus Christ, your only-begotten son, who has all authority in heaven and earth. Would you a spirit of repentance and times of refreshing, and most of all would you send Jesus, whom heaven must receive for a time, but who is returning once again to restore all things (Acts 3).

10 Days: The Unlikely Story of a Global Movement Mourning for the Return of Jesus is now available!

Starting in 2004 with a visionary experience, this account tells both the good and the bad of a journey with God to see a seemingly impossible vision come to pass. The book highlights not only supernatural signs but also tragic mistakes, painful trials, and bewildering pitfalls that lead to what looks like complete failure. Through it all, the incredible faithfulness and miraculous provision of God are on display in some of the least likely situations.

This book will be especially helpful for those who have experienced both a deep passion and love for God as well as significant setbacks that have left them perplexed. It shows how God's faithfulness can operate through human weakness, but also how our growth in wisdom, discernment, and spiritual maturity is essential if God is to fulfill His great and precious promises in us. In a larger sense, it also paints the picture of the growth of a global movement that is filled with longing and expectation for the fulfillment of God's prophetic promises and ultimately the return of Jesus to rule and reign!

Bulk Ordering at a Discount is now available! Check out our Bulk Order Page for more information.

BUY KINDLE

BUY BOOK

I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow. The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work. 1 Corinthians 3:6-8

#ReimagineFutureChurch Eblast

The Church is the answer ... But what is the question?

Start here>>>

#Pastors #Church #ChurchLeadership #Prayer #Discipleship #Outreach #Evangelism #Ministry #Missional

-Adam and Eve disregarded God’s warnings

-Cain murdered his brother Abel

-The Babylonians​ erected ​a stairway-to-heaven to glorify their achievements in a way that ignored God.

​"Late in the afternoon, ​a strong wind began to blow​, and the man and woman heard the Lord God walking in the garden​ and God said: "Where are you?"" (Genesis 3:8-9)

Guest Post: #ResetYourChristianity…”Deinstitutionalize”

When You #Reimagine...

People Of Focus TargetPoint by Vince D'Acchioli VINCE D'ACCHIOLI DEC 29     READ IN APP   NOTE: A hidden message from our Lord awaits you below When you observe the world through the lens of your soul you will often experience confusion and despair… when you view the world through the lens of your spirit, you will have discernment and hope. Jesus makes it very clear that we must be born again. He tells us that when we are, the Holy Spirit dwells within us and will ultimately bring us the proper perspective on life. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. John 16:13 As believers we are called and expected to see life through a lens unfamiliar to us before we received His Spirit. We see everything through the lens of our soul (our mind, emotions and will). It is only as we allow the Holy Spirit the rightful position in our life that we are able to see a whole new perspective… His. Consider the example of looking at something through a microscope. When you turn the dial to move the lens, you are changing the focal point of your view. As you do that everything in you see changes—things that were in focus begin to blur and something you have never seen emerges, often with great wonder. That is the way it is supposed to be in the life of the believer. We are to adjust our focal point from our soulish view to a spiritual one. But this begs the BIG question on the minds and hearts of most of us, how can I do that? I want to help us answer this important question but before I do let’s take a brief look at where we are. As we enter this new year it might be good to look back over the last several years and examine what we have experienced. For me, over the past 3-4 years, I do not believe I have ever encountered so much doubt and confusion. It seems like any semblance of normalcy, if there ever was, is gone. There is not enough room in this article to talk about all the distortion and lies that have been perpetrated upon us as a people. Many have lost all confidence in the media, government, politicians, big business, the medical industry and especially our educational systems. The general level of trust for all of these is at an all-time low, and for good reason. We have been in a matrix of smoke and mirrors that is controlled by forces that are not out for our best interest. I want to suggest that our frustration level here is directly related to how we are viewing what is happening. What is your focal point? For too many of us we are looking at all of this through our soul. When this happens, we are left with a view that simply reflects the condition of our soul. My friend the battle lines are drawn. The forces arrayed against us seem overwhelming, but they are nothing in the sight of our God. The question for you and me is this, do you want to be a casualty in the battles yet to come—or a mighty victorious warrior in God’s army? The answer is not complicated. It lies in our willingness to step up our game going into this new year. It means drawing ever nearer to Him (James 4:8) and being in His word every day (Romans 12:2). It also means praying specifically for His Holy Spirit to give you the proper spiritual view and an understanding of how He wants to use you in His unfolding plan. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2 Some tips entering this new year: Pray your problems in life last as long as your new-year’s resolutions do—in other words, don’t make resolutions—make commitments. List all the changes you need to make to get closer to God and sense His Holy Spirit in you. Pick up a one-year Bible and determine to read every day, Prepare a place in your home that is your personal go-to every morning to start your day reading the word, praying, and worshipping Him. The below image has a message for you from Jesus Himself. To see it you need to focus in a very particular way. Whether you see it or not, the fact of the matter is, it is there. This is also true of God’s vision for your life. God is calling us to focus with our spiritual eyes to discover it. If you end up seeing His message, please let us know. You can also help others by sharing how you adjusted your focal point. Please leave your comments below.   If this TargetPoint has inspired you in some way, please forward it to your friends.

Happy Renewed Year!

Watch for:

• Thought-Leaders, Risk-Takers, Paradigm-Shifters
• Their One Life-Changing, Ministry-Transforming Question
• WHAT? - What is the question we need to be prayerfully asking?
• SO WHAT? - What makes this an urgent need for leaders to ponder/pursue/pray into?
• NOW WHAT? - What action do we need to initiate?

Our Church ADVENTure

for Christmas 2023

Composed by Pastor Rande Smith

Daily Devotions

to #ReimagineCHRISTMAS

√here for Our Church Adventre.docx

GUEST POST: "Christianity is no longer the norm"

By Curtis W. Freeman

...research professor of theology and director of the Baptist House of Studies at Duke Divinity School. His book Pilgrim Journey: Instruction in the Mystery of the Gospel

was published in September by Fortress Press as a sequel to Pilgrim Letters: Instruction in the Basic Teaching of Christ.

This proposal for reordering in discipleship isn’t an attempt to be “seeker-sensitive,” in the worst sense of the phrase, giving nonbelievers less to disbelieve. It’s a realistic response to our society’s profound cultural and political shifts. It’s a recognition that Christianity is no longer the norm and, therefore, does not feel normal to many of our neighbors.

We can no longer assume a basic familiarity with our faith that makes a sense of belonging, at least superficially, relatively easy to achieve. We must start with belonging in the sense of “faith as trust” in God and membership in God’s family, not belief in the sense of “faith as understanding,” because getting to the doctrinal affirmations is a much longer journey than it used to be. In post-Christendom, occasional church attendance is not a sufficient basis for making Christians—if that attendance happens at all.

Moreover, the disciple-making process is not about enculturating people into an affinity group of support and togetherness. It’s about cultivating a community committed to following Jesus as the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6). In a secular society, to believe and behave, we must be able to grasp that we belong not only to that community but to God who created us and demonstrated a profound love for us in Jesus Christ.

Belonging, then, is not simply a matter of church attendance or even membership. It’s a covenant relationship based on trust and commitment. It’s deeper than cultural similarities or consumer attraction to a congregation’s programming. It’s belonging to God and one another in the ties that bind our hearts in Christian love. It’s the fellowship of kindred minds. It’s bearing one another’s burdens and sharing the joy of blessings. It’s a common journey and a common hope.

Read complete article here>>>

March For Jesus

1 – Our 2024 “Share the Vision” video, Spanish Version, is now on our website.

            Marcha por Jesús 2024 - ¡Gracias Jesús!

2 – The  March for Jesus 2024 Informational Zoom Conference is on our website.

 March for Jesus 2024 Informational Meeting

3 – Reminder, our monthly prayer zoom the first Wednesday of every month at 1:00 pm EST.

Home      Who We Are      Contact Us

Thank you for continuing your prayers for us and for our beautiful city! We are tremendously thankful for you. We pray that the Lord would bless you and your family this week for Thanksgiving. 
Please join us on the Prayer Partners Zoom Tuesdays 9:30-10:00 a.m. to pray for Together Chicago if you can. We would love to have our Prayer Partners on this weekly prayer zoom. 

Prayer Partners Zoom Link: https://us05web.zoom.us/j/88659293151?pwd=56TU70RD1vNdMaWJ425t93B7wVP7sH.1 Meeting ID: 886 5929 3151 Passcode: gKsZ54

ABOUT US   Together Chicago exists to be a catalyst for lasting change by reducing gun violence and increasing thriving communities in our city. We catalyze faith, business, community, and government leaders to inspire hope and affect peace and justice in the communities we serve.   We focus on five areas: economic development, educational achievement, violence reduction, gospel justice, and faith community mobilization.   CONTACT US   Together Chicago 200 W Adams St, Suite 2950 Chicago, IL 60606 US info@togetherchicago.com (312) 332-5713

Who We Are   | Contact

GUEST POST ~ "They just don't know how"

But How?

SCOT MCKNIGHT's BLOG

By Mike Glenn

Every parent has made the mistake of asking their children to do something the child wasn’t quite ready to do. Maybe it was bringing in a bag of groceries before the child was quite strong enough to carry it by themselves. Maybe it was getting dressed before they understood the tag always goes in the back. The child understood what needed to be done. They just didn’t know how to do it. 

I’m afraid this is true in most of our churches. Every Sunday, our members leave the worship service, inspired by the sermon, committed to doing something differently in their lives, but not knowing how they are to do the new thing they want to do. 

The pastor said in the sermon we need to pray more. The members want to pray. They just don’t know how. 

They’ve heard a sermon convincing them they need to read the Bible more. Again, every member wants to. They just don’t know how. 

Discipleship, for most of us, has become a matter of information. Our depth of discipleship is determined by how much trivia we know about Jesus and the Bible. If someone can rightly point out the wise men visited Jesus in a house and not the stable, they are considered to be a serious student of the Word. In other words, they are real disciples. 

This knowledge, however, never seems to transfer to the way these Bible quoting disciples  actually live their lives. During my ministry, I have been repeatedly surprised to find my Scripture quoting members were some of the meanest people in the congregation. Why this disconnect?

Because we saw success in the church as people being able to quote the text, not necessarily live the Way. If someone could quote 1 Corinthians 13, they didn’t necessarily have to love their neighbor. They just have to know the words. 

This happens when we become overly concerned about good works actually saving us. So, we focused on “belief” which means being able to repeat the discipleship lessons we’ve learned. To be able to say it meant we obviously believed it. True belief is confirmed in the doing, not the talking. All of us would agree good works don’t save us, but we forget good works are the evidence of our salvation. What we know and believe about Christ blossoms into the choices and actions lived out in our  lives. We love our neighbors because we do loving things towards them. We love Jesus if we do what He teaches us to do.

That brings me to my point. How much time do we spend talking about how we do the disciplines of the faith we talk so much about? How many of us have spent time working with someone teaching them how to pray? How much time do we spend working with a class teaching them to read, study, understand then apply the learned truths to our actual living? How many times have our people left the church after hearing an inspiring sermon and realized they have no idea what to do with what they’ve just heard?

Paul reminds the Philippians to do whatever they have seen him do. I used to think this was an arrogant boast on behalf of Paul, but when I became a father, I understood his statement. I can’t remember the number of times I would say to one of my boys, “Do it like this. Watch me.” They learned to wash their hands, brush their teeth, tie their shoes, comb their hair, read their Bibles, love their wives and yes, become fathers to their own children by watching me. I had to show them how to do the things I wanted them to do and how each desired action should be done. 

Why  are we surprised we would have to be shown how to love our neighbors, pray, or study the Word? After all, we should remember, none of these actions come naturally.

I guess the only thing more surprising is realizing how little of our time is devoted to helping new or young believers actually do what we’re asking them to do as followers of Christ. No one is born being good at being a disciple. No one is born knowing how to pray or study Scriptures. All of us have to be taught. 

Every good teacher I know is very patient. None of this stuff is easy. There will be days when our young disciples are brilliant. There will be other days when they don’t have a clue. Teaching – and learning– these skills takes a long time. In fact, learning them well takes our entire lives. The second quality good teachers have is intentionality. They have a goal for their student and they are determined to get their student to achieve that goal. 

To know and not do, a wise man said, is the same thing as not knowing. Knowing the Word is proven by living the Way. Discipleship happens when disciples live out the teachings of Christ, not when we have memorized the words. 

So, ask yourself, how well are you teaching the application of the teachings of Christ to those you are discipling? (You are discipling someone aren’t you? Every disciple makes a disciple…but that’s another blog). If your disciple can’t do what they believe they should be doing, it may be because they don’t know how. 

Most people are living the best way they know how. The great thing about Jesus is He has a better “how.” Make sure your friends know how to do His “how” the way He would do it. This makes all the difference. 

Getting revitalization right 

By Gary Reinecke on Aug 17, 2023 09:57 am

The post Getting revitalization right  appeared first on Christian Coaching Tools.