I’m always challenged when I talk with pastors who are thinking and leading “outside the box“. I love the edge that comes with a passion to see God change lives and a willingness to risk everything to follow that dream. Today I spent some time with a pastor who is moving to a new state to be a part of planting churches and new ministries to reach people. Just listening to his love for what God’s doing and the particular ministry he’s called to encouraged me.
I believe he has what many people in life and ministry have lost: passion. There’s nothing about him that communicates playing it safe. He and his wife just want to be where God is - investing in changing lives.
What is your passion? Are you loving God because you’re suppose to, or because you want to and can’t help it? Are you loving others, and if so is it because the Bible says to, or because God is doing something so deep in you that you see people the way he does? The Bible says I am to love my bride, but there’s a big difference in doing that out of obedience and doing it out of heart-felt passion.
I purpose to surround myself with people of passion. People who are doing life in drive and moving in the direction of abandoning comfort for real life-change. Last Sunday I shared the platform at C3 with some of these people - our Management Team. Barry, Darrell, and Travis have this contagious passion. God uses them not only to help me lead C3, but he uses them in my life to keep the edge of faith sharp. Their willingness to be stretched and give their best to becoming the church God had in mind helps to keep me focused. They are relentless in their pursuit of the vision regardless of the cost.
I’m grateful for all the people in my life who aren’t missing the ingredient of passion (which is more caught than taught). Let’s be passionate about investing and inviting - Sunday is going to be awesome. I’ll be talking about a very personal issue we all deal with and looking at how to overcome it. I can’t wait!
I don’t know if you can feel it. There’s this anticipation… we know it’s coming. The next few weeks and months are going to be the most exciting we’ve ever experienced at C3! We are implementing new phases and systems for continued growth. One of the things that is critically important is the atmosphere of our worship experiences.
As we’ve been evaluating (i.e. remember “Two-A-Days”) we saw some areas we needed to give more attention. One area is our student ministry. Travis has doing a kickin job and I want to give him the tools to kick it even more. So, we are putting some things in place to make us more effective. You may remember Riverdale, who led worship for our student camp and has been to C3 and led Sunday morning worship. Their lead vocalist and guitar player, Josh Wilson, is moving to Orlando and joining the C3 team as one of our worship leaders. We are in the process of building a band around Josh that will enhance the Sunday night experience for our students. I love Josh’s heart for the C3 vision and the gifts God’s given him to invest in and through this ministry. Hang on, we’re making the band and …it’s coming!
Have you ever been on the wrong end of a big wave? You feel the power as it knocks you off your feet and tosses you head over heals underwater. You’re desperate to find the surface, and when you do, here comes another one! If we’re honest, life can bring the same struggles. We can find ourselves frustrated by wave after wave of disappointment and discouragement.
How do we navigate the rough and choppy waters of our life? What if we could position ourselves where instead of being pounded by the waves, we actually rode them? What if instead of dodging waves, we became wave makers? You’ll be amazed at the direction Jesus provides when it comes to facing WAVES. Don’t miss it beginning this Sunday! Invest and Invite.
Jesus seemed to have this priority in his life and ministry. While crowds were part of his norm, he had a unique ability to focus on one person at a time. Think about it:
- Jesus encountered one religious leader at night (Nicodemus).
- He talked with one woman at a well.
- He told one blind man to go wash in a pool.
- Some friends lowered one lame man through a roof for Jesus to heal.
- He challenged one rich young ruler.
- Jesus loved to tell stories, and one was about one widow who gave everthing.
There’s such power in one. I don’t believe he saw crowds; he saw one, and one, and one. I’m not saying numbers don’t matter - numbers mean everything because of what they represent. One life. One life at a time. Jesus was consumed with this mission of changing lives. His focus was clear. Jesus was observant and very intentional. He wasted no time trying to reconcile with Judas, because he was focused on reaching one more, then one more, then one more, then you and me.
What is your focus?
To be like Jesus, in part, is to be consumed with one. What one person are you investing in - building a relationship with so that you can invite them to C3 or to meet Christ. You and I have this one life, this one moment to be a part of this one movement to become the church God had in mind. A church with one purpose - being the relevant church tirelessly devoted to changing lives. Who in your life needs you to see one? Who is it that is counting on you not to be distracted with the Judas’ of your life and circumstances because they desperately need to be seen? Who has God placed in your life that you’ve not really noticed yet? Who would be the one that would come with you to worship this Sunday if you’d just see them as God does and love them and invite them. Just do it - invest and invite!
OK, I’m already having the “Monday” moment - did I really say some of that this morning…?
Seriously, I love C3! As I think about 1 year as a church, it’s been CRAZY - 178 new members and 154 people becoming Christ-followers - WOW!!! I’m really lit about this coming year and all that God has in store.
Remember, it’s all about ONE. ONE God. ONE vision, ONE life at a time, ONE chance to make a real difference in East Orange County. This week, ask God to remind you everyday to invest and invite - next Sunday will be awesome. I believe God has strategically placed us in relationships to impact people’s lives.
I’m tired and I feel old - but I’ve never been more excited about life, church, and ministry. Peace Out…
