Archive for August, 2009

25
Aug

Twinkle of His Eye

By Chris 1 Comment
Categories: Church Plant, Ethics and Faith

In October our little community will have its first wedding.  A special couple will be getting married after preparing for over two years.  Summer and I will have the privilege of being apart of this celebration of two lives coming together as one.

Something that is obvious about any wedding is that it’s mostly about the bride and some about the groom.  She does most of the work and He does most of the _____ (you fill in the blank).  On the big day the attendee will smile when they see the groom, but they will stand in respect when they see the bride.  She is beautiful, pure, and glowing; just what a bride should be.  When Jesus walked the earth there was a betrothal period during which the bride and groom were separated until the wedding. It’s this imagery and symbolism of marriage that is applied to Christ and the body of believers known as the church. These are those who have trusted in Jesus Christ as their personal savior and have received eternal life. In the New Testament, Christ, the Bridegroom, has sacrificially and lovingly chosen the church to be His bride (Ephesians 5:25-27).

Recently in our gatherings we have discussed Colossians – Christ is enough.  We have been reminded that Jesus is the Head of the Church, He is everything.  But personally I have been asking the question, “What is the Brides responsibility?”  Just as there was a betrothal period in biblical times, so is the bride of Christ separate from her Bridegroom during the church age.  So our responsibility is to be faithful to Him (2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:24).

Before I expound let me say I love the Church.  I think she is beautiful in spite of everything.  But no one should find her more beautiful than the Bridegroom (Jesus Christ).  Actually I think sometimes He is the only one that finds her stunning.  But over time I found we tried to make her more attractive.  I guess a little make-up can’t do too much harm, unless we try to make her more attractive for the wrong reasons. 

The point I want to make is that we can become so in grossed in making the church more attractive to people that we take away from make makes us glow – Jesus. When people hear the good news it should be about Jesus and not the church.  Jesus is our hope of salvation.  We exist as the church because He lives.  Simply put it’s more important we are attractive to Jesus.

10
Aug

When Your Wife Sticks It to You

By Chris 0 Comments
Categories: Church Plant, Faith and Family

About two years ago Summer (my wife) and I decided to quit building churches (not literally, but figuratively).  We simply looked and found Jesus was very clear: He builds churches, we make disciples.  I know what you’re thinking, “Churches make disciples!”  When I hear that I start squirming in my seat, because I don’t believe it’s actually happening effectively.

Here is how I was taught to make disciples.  Once someone makes a decision to follow Christ you invite them to attend a discipleship class (these classes have different names but do the same thing).  The class instructs the new believer how to “be different.”  The problem is you don’t learn to be a disciple, you must live it.  Being a disciple and making disciples is about the going: not to church, but going as the church. As you live with people becoming disciples (this is called making disciples and it’s messy) you notice this band of people become much more than friends, they are your church.  I could say a lot more…but let’s stop here.

Because recently I have been discouraged, not at any one particular person or event, just false expectations I have created.  It’s hard to go through de-toxic of everything you’ve come to believe about the kingdom of God. My biggest down fall has been relationships.  I’d developed a “pulpit pastor” mentality about people over the last ten years.  Stand in the pulpit and tell them how to think, act, and respond to God – but at all cost guard myself from actually openness about my own life.  I feared rejection or worse lost disciples.  It’s hard to make disciples if you’re afraid of people.

Last week as I whined, Summer asked the big question:  Who are you discipling?  Who are you meeting with daily or weekly?  I had to confess no one regularly (sigh).  She really stuck it to me.

But as much as it hurt to answer – I respect her more than anyone.  She practices making disciples.  That is what is so attractive about her.  She surrounds her life with people becoming disciples.  Not viewing them as teacher/student, but as equals.  She is a true model of what Jesus called us to do: go and make disciples.

I have an amazing wife that not only challenges my life but has all my love.