Holy Discontent
I’ve been earnestly praying with the Grace Place Senior Leadership Team about the future of our church every week since January. I am convinced that God is preparing to birth something new and fresh and meaningful in our midst. I’m tired of business as usual; tired of “American Christianity” which is often just a low cost, optional, add on to an otherwise overcrowded secular, materialistic, entertainment-driven, worldly lifestyle that many so-called Christians are living.
I was asked to share here some of the questions that I mentioned in my message last week that I am asking right now: What does it mean to be a true Christ-follower today in this culture in this generation? What does it mean to lay down my life for Jesus, to deny myself, take up my cross and follow him? What does it mean to make a difference for him with my one life to live? What does it mean to love God with all my heart, mind, soul and strength? What does that look like in this culture? What does it mean to “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness” in every area of my life? What does it mean to love him to point of being willing to be a martyr for him?
What does it mean to quite playing church and build authentic community? What does it mean to take off masks and become real with each other; to know and be known, to love each other like ourselves, to truly care for each other, support each other, encourage each other, hold each other accountable, to mentor and be mentored?
What does it mean to not just “get saved” but be transformed by the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit, to live a life that is ever increasingly marked by the fruit of the Spirit, equipped by the gifts of the Spirit, victorious over sin by the power of the Spirit, and witnessing for Christ with courage in the world by the anointing of the Spirit?
What does it mean to unite with other kingdom warriors on a epic adventure where the stakes are high—life and death; to open our hearts and church to the full power of the Holy Spirit, to pray earnestly for and receive holy boldness from on high—to be truly shaken and stirred for him; to give our lives for the mission of Jesus—to seek and save the lost, realizing that every day around us there are people who are facing a Christ-less eternity unless they hear and understand the life changing message of the gospel and surrender their lives to Jesus as Savior and Lord?
These are the type of questions I’m wrestling with personally and with close associates. If you resonate with these questions, please join me in prayer. Let’s not be satisfied with status quo!
April 2nd, 2009 at 5:06 pm
Clay I love you and your Openness please does not change that!!
Forgive the rambling but here it goes…………..
I do not have all the answers; I really like the list of questions.
In fact those questions lead to a fact that we as a body of Christ need to be more plugged into people and the Holy Spirit and avoid playing church!
Sacrifice TIME for our own “stuff” and focus Instead on others.
Stop watching the clock and start listening for the HOLY SPIRIT!
Put aside our own Intentions (usually selfish?) and ask God His!
The list of these questions and the discussions they could produce would and should keep home groups going for a years worth of material! Home groups are just like the meeting in the upper room or at least they should be.
Plan ways pray out ways to serve and to reach the lost not just in Christ’s name
But by demonstrating HIS Very actions led us to and that saved us!
Being an example in all ways not thinking of our selves as somehow better.
In some cases the only thing different between us and them might be our salvation,
So be humble and kind.
Never forget to let God through the Holy Spirit direct your steps.
End rant…. God bless
Jeffrey<