Wednesday, July 11, 2012

What A Grace Saturated Community Looks Like:

2 Peter 3:18 (NIV) says, "…grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen."

So, what does life in a "grace-saturated" community look like?  Here are nine thoughts about or nine aspirations that describe what we want a2 Church to be like. 

A grace-saturated community:
  • lives with open arms and open hearts. It follows in the footsteps of Jesus who was known as “a friend of sinners” by creating an environment and atmosphere that welcomes and accepts broken, sinful, messed up people.
  • nurtures authenticity so that there is no pressure to perform or pretend. It encourages people to be “real,” transparent and vulnerable. By giving people “permission” to be “real,” it keeps them from lying about themselves and attempting to convince others that they are better, holier or whatever, than they really are.
  •  is made up of broken, sinful, messed up people who become equipped to meet the needs of broken, sinful, messed up people just like themselves by serving them with practical acts of love and sharing the gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit.
  • isn’t intimidated or turned off by the “messiness” of sinners. It isn’t overly concerned about what other people will think when it gets involved in unconditionally loving, accepting and ministering to the needs of broken, sinful, messed up people.
  • is concerned about the interests, needs and wellbeing of other people – especially outsiders, instead of being self-absorbed and narrowly focused on the interests and needs of the insiders who already belong.
  • isn’t preoccupied with “what people have to offer,” but is focused on extending the same extravagant grace we have received to as many as possible, regardless! It doesn’t what something “from” people, it wants something “for” people.
  •  creates a culture of repentance where people don’t avoid sin, but confess it and forsake it!
  • extends forgiveness and seeks reconciliation when someone is hurt or wronged. It refuses to allow conflict to go underground, but attempts to resolve it quickly and thoroughly.
  • keeps the focus on the life, death and resurrection of Jesus! It realizes that it’s all about Jesus! It’s always about Jesus! It’s only about Jesus! It constantly reminds people that our fundamental identity if found in who we are in Christ and what He has accomplished for us by dying for our sins, in our place and being raised again to life!  

Saturday, July 7, 2012

Making The Most Out Of Your Weekend Worship Experience:


1. Build EXPECTATION through God-centered, mountain-moving PRAYER! 

Prayer is essential! Pray for your pastor, your friends, the Guest Services team (greeters, ushers, parking), the entire children's team - (nursery, preschool, elementary), student ministry, the worship team. Pray that God would bring people from "the north, south, east and west" (Isaiah 43:5-7). Pray that God's presence would saturate all aspects of the worship experience (2 Chronicles 5:13-14). That everyone who gathers would experience JESUS.

2. Put your FAITH into action by INVITING people to join you! Invite your family, friends, co-workers, neighbors, the cashier at Walmart or Target... You get the picture... (John 4:29-30)

3. PREPARE your heart through WORSHIP. That's right! Great public worship experiences are usually the result of consistent personal / private times with God.

4. Arrive EARLY! Avoid the chaos of getting up late, arguing with your spouse, fussing at the kids, getting mad at the dog, getting a speeding ticket on the way to church, etc., by making it a goal to get up early, prepare your heart through Bible reading, prayer, worship and by ARRIVING EARLY. This will give you an opportunity to get a cup of coffee, talk with friends and get engaged in the worship experience from the first word or note.

5. Focus on GOD! 

It's easy to get distracted by the person with the cool tattoo in front of you, weird hair to the side of you, music that's too loud, music that's not loud enough, lighting - you name it! Deal a death blow to all these frivolous distractions! You're not there to check out body art, ogle someone's new hair style, check out someone's cool outfit or to be a music critic! You're there to WORSHIP GOD! Get in the game! You can download with someone about body art, hairstyles, clothes or the football team, after the worship experience. But when it's time to worship, IT'S TIME TO WORSHIP - BIG TIME! GO FOR GOD!

6. Be sensitive to the HOLY SPIRIT. Remember, sometimes our greatest experiences in worship are the result of being sensitive to the Holy Spirit convicting us of sin, convincing us of righteousness, reminding us of our identity in Christ or prompting us to reach out to someone else! Don't miss the Holy Spirit's promptings. Stay tuned to the Spirit's voice. (Ephesians 4:30, 1 Thessalonians 5:19, 1 Corinthians 14)

7. SURRENDER to God! Worship should always lead to increasing surrender, greater consecration and deepening devotion! Before, during and after you arrive for your worship experience this weekend - SURRENDER EVERY ASPECT of your life, your dreams, your heart, your work, your desires, plans - you name it - to GOD!

"...here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him." - Romans 12:1 (MSG)

I look forward to seeing you at a2 Church tomorrow at 9:45 am! Uh, that's 9:35 for those of you who want "to make the most out of your worship experience."