mark of discipleship

It was a success!!  We had our first special event as renovate, a baby dedication/worship gathering last weekend.  We had about 40 people there who came to celebrate with our friends, as they committed themselves and their baby to the grace of God.  It was a very special evening.  (You can read about it at The Speakman Family in the links to the right.)

 

We are looking forward to the future as we will plan other events and worship gatherings as teasers of things to come.  These event/worship gatherings will give our lead team a time to practice and flesh out what it is that we feel God has called us to do and to be as a church and the flow of what our ministry times should be like. 

 

As a lead team, our group is beginning to work through the essentials of team building and what it looks like to work as a team in community, not just to come together and get something done, but to really live and support one another in life as well as in ministry.  It is our desire to build a community of leaders upon which our community of faith can grow. 

 

So many church plants, at least ones I've been around in the past, started with a dynamic speaker/pastor/apostle and maybe a few followers committed to starting a work, renting a building and putting out a sign saying "we're a church, come and find God."  Not that I'm saying that's all they do, because most have rigorous evangelism tactics and outreaches, but the thrust of the church start is based on having a building, holding services, and promotion. 

 

The way we're approaching this ministry is that we have found life and grace and support in the community of friends that we've built over the last few years and we want build upon that community.  (Some of our friends have been friends for 14 years!)  We believe that people are not looking for something to believe in as much as they are looking to belong to something.  It is when they first belong to something (have that connection of belonging to a group or community) they will begin to believe what they've experienced. 

 

Our postmodern culture says, 'let me experience it, then I'll believe it.'  As much as our tradition mindsets, rooted in the modern movement of Christianity, would condemn such statements, I believe it is something that Christ understood when he taught the disciples: "They will know you are my disciples, by your love for one another." 

 

Surprising note, at least to me, is that Jesus didn't say, "by your love for the unchurched ones."  (Not that we should love everyone, please understand.)  He was talking specifically to the premise that people would be attracted by their community, by their relationship with one another.  This would be the sign of their discipleship, of true Christianity.

 

It isn't the flash of our ministry that will draw people.  It will not be how slick our promotions and our promises.  I admit those things will draw a crowd, but only really draw more consumer-like followers waiting for the next flash and promise.  But Jesus was telling the disciples: if you learn to live out the principles of love, agape unconditional love, within your community of like faith…outsiders will see and know you are truly my disciples. 

 

This is what the heart longs for, a fellowship that is deeper than coffee after Sunday service.  To be loved and known by other people who care about your life and what is happening to you is real community.  So this is what we desire to become.  But it's not an easy process.  Even when you've known people for years, it's hard sometimes to become vulnerable. 

 

As a leader/pastor/whatever my job, it can be hard to step outside of people's perspectives of me and let them see me for who I am, warts and all.  But if I don't, and if our team can't, how will our community of faith ever have an authenticity which will envelope those looking for faith and love and grace?

 

My prayer is that renovate will bear the true marks of a discipled, authentic community of faith.