establish the kingdom, build the church

Some really good thoughts from “Permission Granted to Do Church Differently in the 21^st Century” by Graham Cooke:

“There will be hundreds of different types of churches, all finding their place together in the Body of Christ. The next dimension will be taken up with a very strong Kingdom ethos. No single Church will rise up with the whole revelation, anointing, or understanding of what God is doing.

No single church will be the prototype. In cities, towns, and rural areas we will find numerous types of church, each holding a piece of the jigsaw. It will only be when we bring the pieces together in a Kingdom setting that we will begin to demonstrate the Kingdom desire that sits closer to the heart of God.

Building church without a desire for the Kingdom puts a restraining order on it from heaven in terms of how far the work can go. If we do not build with Kingdom in mind, then we build something that reflects our own ego. What we are constructing has its foundation in empire—a personal domain of the anointed man of God whose own anointing is greater than the church he has built because the people are passive observers of all that God is doing with him. How tedious it is to be part of a church where the anointed one is sold out to his own ministry.

In his mercy, the Lord has allowed us time to grow up and work these things through. Transition is about the destruction of empire and the refocus on Kingdom. It is better for us to fall on this rock and be broken and humbled before God than for it to fall upon us and crush all that we have built in the name of Jesus...but with an eye out for ourselves.

We must humble ourselves and put everything into his hands so that he can decide whether we are trustworthy. If God did not own the getting of our ministry, He will not own the having of it—not without making Himself unrighteous. If we cheated others, broke our word, trod on people, used and discarded people, or promoted ourselves to get where we are, we need to repent right quick! Make restoration where God leads, because the shaking has already begun.

Other churches matter. Say it every day: “Other churches matter. The kingdom is more important.” Establish the kingdom and build the church, in that order. As you build the church, build kingdom into your people. Other churches matter. Pray for them; have a heart for their growth. Have a desire to participate in the development of the whole body of Christ across the whole area.”

(Italics and bold, mine.)

Thanks to Emerging Grace for turning me on to this book. It’s been exactly what I needed!

off-road review

I want to share a review of a great new book for emerging leaders and those seeking to understand how to minister to our culture today. It is called: "Off-Road Disciplines: Spiritual Adventures of Missional Leaders" by Dr. Earl Creps.

I have been reading emerging ministry books, postmodern ministry books, etc. for about 5 years now and it is what has helped to define me and remind me that I'm not crazy for feeling the way I do about church and Christianity as we know it today. This book is one of those books that have helped to redefine me once again.

After reading so much stuff that comes out, you begin to hear the same things over and over again, but this book is fresh. It is packed full of truth and application, not just a bunch of observations from an ivory tower.

I appreciate Dr. Creps' ability to be a "doctor" but not sound like one. I appreciate his ability also to be humble in his observations of himself as well as this new world/culture in which we live. I love his handling of ministering to the "sought." Not the lost, or the heathen, or the sinners, but the "sought," because we have so forgotten with our own spiritual lives and ministries, that there are whole lot of people out there that the Father is looking for, and He wants us on the search party.I also appreciate the separation of the personal and organizational "disciplines." So many books focus only on the organization or only on the personal, but for any ministry to have balance, one must have both arenas of disciplines operating.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who truly cares to make an impact on the world as it is now. The world has changed and it's time the church take notice. If you haven't noticed it, or want to know about it, check this book out. Maybe you're already involved in "emerging/postmodern" ministry, this book will help to connect you and solidify you in understanding who you are and where we're going. Thanks, Dr. Creps. You have helped me.