
Answering the “Why”

This question represents the power of any kind of discovery. Just going through the motions of the process, without knowing the reason behind it, wastes time and emotion. Because of the key nature of this question, I “hit pause” on our forward movement and attempted to answer the “why” of it all. I turned to Paul’s defense of his actions in his first letter to the church at Corinth to discover the missionary strategy.
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The Kingdom Concept: Defining our Area of Operations

The first step toward understanding our place in God’s Kingdom is to determine our place in His world. Called the “Local Predicament,” we are looking to truly know our area of operations. Who lives in the area God has entrusted to us for disciple-making? What are the strongholds or markers of sin in our area? What opportunities exist for us to exploit for the sake of the Kingdom? These questions and more allow us to really grasp our ministry/mission field.
In pursuing these questions, we discussed some of the different ways for us to understand our immediate context of missional ministry: Concord and Cabarrus County. Relating to size of population, we found out that 79,000 people live within a five-mile radius of our church. The average age of those folks is 37 years old. The ethnic makeup of our field is 64% white, 18% African American, and 13% Hispanic. In the entire Cabarrus County, the population is 206,800 people strong.
After establishing these demographic markers, I asked a series of questions meant to establish two thought: what needs exist around us and what opportunities do those needs offer? Below are lists for our collaborative answers from the past two Wednesdays:
Needs Opportunities
Concord becoming a transient population Organized Visitation
Surrounded by young unchurched families Ensure each home has a bible
Boys/Girls Clubs demonstrate poverty Economic Boost
School system makeup demonstrates poverty Healing of families
Drugs, addiction, pre-natal addiction Christians modeling Christ-likeness
Increasing jail population Organic outreach
Increasing # of microbreweries Sharing the Gospel
Wrong view of the gospel Free tutoring
In addition, when prompted about our location in Concord, we noted: close to schools, centralized location, facility that accentuates hospitality, music opportunities, location for “tent revival,” and opportunity for homecoming.
I list all of these because they tell us what our congregation thinks about our location in the world. Over time, we will try to match up the opportunities and the needs so that we can understand why God has put us here.

Beginning the Journey…

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Attempting Focal Unity

As we grapple with the concepts on Wednesday evenings, I won’t expect (or even ask) our church members to read the book. What I will ask is that those present will actually participate. Collaborative in nature, the interaction will allow our folks to “remember when” and dream dreams of “what if we….” The product of this venture will provide a sense of unity: unified understanding, unified language, and unified future.
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Willing to Give.

19 For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. 20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. 21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings. 1 Corinthians 9:19-23
As I examine God’s calling on my life and dream about my future, I often wander back to this passage of Scripture from Paul’s pen. I don’t always like it, I certainly don’t always live it, but I DO always believe that it serves as a model for our ministries. To sum it up, “I surrender my freedom (rights, preferences, desires) to reach others with the Gospel.” That’s it. Easy-peasy.
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Celebrating our Risen Lord!

Yet, we have to intentionally set before us the reason for this time of year. We must consider that at the heart of this celebration we don’t find eggs, or candy; rather we find a bloody cross and an empty grave. Our risen Lord Jesus, who will soon return riding a horse and judging the nations, reigns
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God Has Spoken
“Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” – the Serpent
Did God actually say? These four words preface the Serpent’s overture to Eve in the garden. Adam and Eve had received instructions from God on how to please Him and live in harmony in His creation. With these words the Serpent enticed the couple to disobey. With these words the Serpent persuaded humanity to reject His will and succumb to their own desires. With these words all of ordered creation was thrown into disarray and cursed by its Creator.
This question – Did God actually say? – is the most important question for humanity. Not just for humanity, but each one of us as individuals must grapple with this question. Churches – and even denominations – must decide the answer to this question. In fact, every other decision, mission statement, or life-plan runs its course based on one’s answer to this question.
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When Herod has had enough…

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Church and Inclement Weather

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Intentional Discipleship
Thanksgiving arrived earlier than I’m used to this year. It gives us this squirrelly week that we have now; it’s after Thanksgiving but it’s still November. So, instead of turning my thoughts toward Christmas (which I’m wont to do the week after Thanksgiving), I will bring my last thoughts on discipleship for this calendar year.
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