spiritual formation
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I’m Back…And Nationwide
January 4, 2011 – 5:43 pm
You can’t really go wrong with a ZZ Top reference to start the year.
This year, the Church Council is getting focused on answering the questions – what does a spiritual leader look like and HOW do we become that, how do we model that, how do we reproduce that, celebrate that, and empower that? If we are going to be a Love, Live, Serve church that impacts our city (and beyond) it’s crucial we know and become deeper servant leaders. Can’t reproduce what you aren’t, right?
So this morning was our first gathering attempting to seek God’s answers to this question. We meet twice a month, once solely for study and prayer, the second for study and decisions. Here are most of the thoughts that hit the floor this morning.
I put them out here for a couple of reasons. First, I want our congregation to know that leadership is more than just making decisions and meeting once a month. At least it’s more than that here. It’s about character development, it’s about creating a culture where God gets the last word. It’s having the audacity to say “I don’t know, I need some clarity from God on this.” Second reason is often times the journey is just as important as the destination.
At some point in this coming year, we will have some answers to those questions. And those answers will drive us to the next step at Western Hills in what we do in reproducing spiritual leaders. Those answers will define what programs we do and don’t do, what projects we tackle and which ones we pass on. But for now — we’re seeking, we’re listening. And that’s okay…and that kind of discipline is best done in community.
So consider this an invitation to listen with us.
Tuesday, January 4, 7:00 am
Opening Question:
What is a spiritual leader? What does he/she look like? What scriptures help form this kind of person?
1 Peter 3:1 - Wives submit to your husbands. (This was given by a woman around the table, by the way.)
“There is a need for us to understand the goodness of submission, especially submission to Jesus. We submit because He loves us, He leads us. He wants best for us. Submission is at the heart of servant leaders.”
“Not compartmentalized in their understanding of God.”
“Faithful in small things.”
“Can hold the paradoxes of our faith humbly. Truth AND grace.”
Galatians 2:20
“Famous first part of verse most of us know — it is not I that I live but Christ in me. Larger focus needs to shift to second half of verse – the life I NOW live, I live by FAITH in the Son who loves me and gave Himself for me.”
What do we do with those people who see and hear the truth of deeper spiritual waters but won’t go there? Not the people who CAN’T go there – because of hurt and need healing. But rather those that willfully say – “No, don’t want any of that kind of Jesus?”
How do we get people to the place of maturity in Christ?
What are the gauges for us to know if we are heading in the right direction?
What thermometers are there for us to let us know if we are doing this right?
Do we know where that place is well enough to start with? If we can’t answer the WHAT, it doesn’t matter how we answer the HOW.
Most people are sick of church, tired of church. Is it possible to be a spiritual leader without the Church?
GE: This is a question we need to return to again. Lots of implications in this question…
Colossians 4:1-6
Spiritual leaders pray and seek for the opportunities to speak about the ‘mystery’ of God wherever they are. They church where ever they find themselves.
What scriptures have formative power over us? What scriptures have challenged us to change and be better people and leaders?
GE’s thoughts:
This is a starting point. We have to be able to answer the WHAT question before the HOW. What are we trying to reproduce in the life of another believer? This is by no means a final answer but a starting point for us as we seek to articulate God’s grid for Western Hills and what it means to be a spiritual leader here.
Being a spiritual leader is multi-faceted to be sure. There are some skills and competencies that I’d like to see but the baseline is character. The stuff that is harder to see and evaluate. Paul gives his list in Ephesians.
Ephesians 4:1-6
Walk in a manner that is worthy of the calling….
7 key thoughts of what it means to walk worthy of the calling…
1. humility – self-explanatory, not self-serving, not false humility
2. gentleness – the lack of an edge with people. There is no way to get around the stumbling block of Jesus. Just let that block be Jesus, not my personality.
3. patience – Am I as long suffering with others as I pray God to be with me?
4. accepting with love – everybody has baggage. love them anyway, in spite of their junk.
5. diligent about unity of Body – diligence not about status quo but unity and….
6. Unity is based on Christ – not on traditions, programs, my ego, etc.
7. lives with knowledge that God is in all, around all – non-compartmentalized
Great starting point…more to come.
Trumpet Practice and Reason #30 of Why I’m In A Life Group
November 30, 2010 – 12:27 am
Camber is learning the trumpet. She’s very good at it…considering that she’s only been playing since August. She comes home every afternoon and practices. She’ll do her scales, she’ll warm up, then she’ll tackle her music.
And I’ve been impressed with the progress. Yes, those first few practices she sounded like a harpooned whale on life support in an Seinfeld episode. But she kept blowing that horn and now – she’s good. I can recognize the tunes. And they are in time. And she likes playing.
But having a trumpet player in the family means that the whole family is committed to the process. You don’t secretly practice the trumpet. It doesn’t happen. We don’t have to ask Camber if she’s practiced her trumpet. We know. When she is about to start, she walks through the house warning us – “I’m about to rattle the roof with the awesomeness of the brass horn!”
And the more she practices, the more enjoyable it is. For us all.
This is the idea behind Life Groups. We know if someone is practicing because we’re around. We see it. We hear it. We experience it with them. It’s the idea of practicing our serve or other spiritual discipline. It’s awkward at first but the more we practice, the more enjoyable it is for us all.
And because life-change is a public thing, we see and hear and taste and know the difference. It’s obvious. And we want to celebrate it when it happens well.
Just another reason.
Reasons 14-29 of Why I Am In A Life Group
October 26, 2010 – 1:48 pm
You can check out the first 13 reasons if you missed them. After that conversation, I’ve been asking folks the same question when I remember. Here are more of the answers.
14. I know I have others praying for me.
15. And with me.
16. My kids get to have cool friends.
17. My older kids get to learn how to serve younger kids.
18. I don’t have to pretend to be okay with these people.
19. Finally found another adult to play Halo with. (names are withheld to protect the guilty.)
20. Gives my kids access to other adult believers.
21. I’m learning to be a better parent.
22. I’m learning to be a better spouse.
23. I feel more connected to God.
24. I have free emergency baby-sitters.
25. I now know how to pray to God.
26. I know someone I can borrow power tools from.
27. It’s where I can learn about Jesus without all the big, churchy words.
28. I feel more connected on Sunday morning.
There aren’t too many situations more intimidating than walking into a room full of people and not knowing the name of single person. It’s like that dream of showing up at school with nothing on but your underwear. And don’t lie to me either, we’ve all had it. That feeling of being exposed, vulnerable. HATE IT!! I had a friend tell me this week that looking for a church home was harder than finding a home to live in.
A Life Group is huge in bridging this gap on Sunday morning. It’s going to be difficult to feel connected without deep, meaningful relationships. A Life Group is THE way to develop these kinds of relationships.
And it doesn’t have to always be serious stuff. I know a life group that is going to carve jack-o-lanterns together this weekend.
Reason #29 – Learn how to carve a pumpkin.
We Still Doing See You At The Pole?
September 23, 2010 – 7:37 am
As I was dropping Cooper off at school yesterday, I noticed about 12 to 13 students gathered around the flagpole.
“Holy cow, man. How did we miss this? Today is See You At The Pole?”
Cooper: “Yeah…I guess it is.”
We just sat there for a moment and then Coop said, “Should I go to that instead of my club meeting?”
“Do what you think God is telling you to do.”
“I’m going on to my club meeting.”
“Great choice.”
I then hugged him & kissed him and told him to make wise choices in a loud voice.
Okay – I didn’t do that last line. Would never do that.
But as far as choices go, Cooper made a great one right then and there. Go to a club meeting with other students where the vast majority do NOT know Jesus and be the church with them? Or withdraw around a pole to pray for the school then never engage in NON-believing relationship the rest of the year?
I’m not anti-SYATP. I just don’t want to hear how it’s one of the most important things a student or a student pastor can do on a middle school or high school campus. It’s not. It’s not even in the top 200. And what started out as a cool tool to connect other student believers at the beginning of the school year, has morphed into a combative standoff with school administrations in some cities. Isn’t that the exact OPPOSITE of what we’re supposed to be doing?
If we really want to see God change a campus, join a club or a team and start being the Church in that context. SYIOCISIJN is what we need… See You Involved On Campus In Something In Jesus’ Name. And it needs to be all year long as we teach and coach students how to church in their school, how to be a person of blessing in Jesus’ name on their team, in the classrooms, with their friends.
The LIFE Series takes a twist
September 16, 2010 – 11:24 am
Our current series has an interesting story behind it. Our mantra at Western Hills is Love God, Live Connected, Serve All. A believer needs to traveling in these three key areas – worship, transformative small group, and service – for them to be maturing in Christ Jesus. The church then is a conduit to participate in these activities. Those two simple statements pack a lot of punch in terms of programming (or lack thereof) and preaching. Quite bluntly it means asking the question is what we do and what we say line up with Love, Live, and Serve?
Take our current series (LIFE: Living Connected in a Disconnected World) for example. When we put this on the calendar (last year) it was a value decision. If Love, Live, and Serve are real values and really core, we are going to HAVE to teach on them…consistently and creatively. Not enough to JUST illustrate them, put them on the walls, in the bulletin, and in the announcements.
While the last 4 weeks of this series have been good, I’m amped about how we are closing out the series over the next 4 weeks. We’ve looked at the theoretical and practical implications of living connected and why it’s important. Now it’s time to hear some real life stories how a life group experience really changes people and how that change impacts the world around them. Here is the journey in front of us for the next 4 weeks. I’m super amped about the twist in the series!!
John Mark – how he discovers his identity and gifts.
Barnabas – how an investor of resources and time develops others.
Ruth & Naomi – how fierce loyalty and belonging led to believing.
Zipporah – how keeping others accountable led to the Exodus.
Reggie McNeal and the Future of Church
September 15, 2010 – 9:39 am
I had the incredible honor of listening to Reggie talk yesterday. I’ve read his books, I’ve heard him multiple times – he never gets old. It’s like listening to Yoda…and he’s about that same height. My favorite quotes from yesterday.
Being missional starts with the understanding that Christianity is not a western philosophy but an encounter with the real person of Jesus.
I’m not here to help you do church better. I’m here to challenge you to BE the church FOR your community, not just IN your community.
The Church, not A church. When people say “a church” they reveal that they don’t get it. We are THE church. We church wherever we go.
Missional Church is a redundant term.
Missional is simply the people of God partnering with Him in His redemptive mission in the world. He is already at work, we are to be a people of blessing in that work.
The Church is a people of blessing. This mission predates the church because blessing is the character of God himself. See Genesis 12.
How can we practice being the church? Start asking “how can we be a people of blessing?” How can we bless at our jobs, schools, clubs, social circles, city, community?
Every church ought to have at least one school they have adopted. Showing up at a school once a year to paint the playground is NOT a partnership. Pray for those teachers, provide school supplies, ask them – “what do you need to help you overcome the obstacles that you are facing?”
The problems of our community first manifest themselves in our schools.
We aren’t the point. The Church isn’t the point. Thinking the point is the church is like thinking the airport is the point of travel. We go to places and the airport is the means to the ends. It’s a vital part of our journey but the journey isn’t about spending time in the airport. The Airport is a tool. Same for church – she is a connector to real LIFE and Kingdom.
One of the largest obstacles we face in the West is the Outsource Mindset. We outsource everything – car maintenance, lawn mowing, education and even spiritual formation. Program based churches feed this monster. What is needed is more people-development, more life on life, as we go, in the middle of life church.
The Nines Highlights, Part 1
September 9, 2010 – 1:48 pm
This isn’t all the speakers but these were the ones that resonated the most with me.
Dino Rizzo
1 Samuel 15. Stay small so that God can stay big. The big hinges on the small. The small is – writing thank you notes, shaking hands, being available, staying connected, noticing people.
Jenni Catron
Real leaders navigate through the gray. Nehemiah did this, beyond the problem to the solution to HOW the solution should be pursued. Gray is an opportunity to hear God and obey Him.
John Bishop
Until he dealt with his own son’s addiction to heroin, he never really understood the heart of the Father in Luke 15. Then we did it changed everything. Risk everything so that everyone can know Jesus.
Frank Turk
Loved this guy — simple concept of gamechanger — treat people as if they really exist and they belong to Jesus.
Dave Ferguson
A movement requires a YES reflex. When we ask HOW we sow seeds of doubt. HOW is a strategy answer to a VISION question. YES does NOT mean we fund it or staff it. YES is permission to dream and explore. YES is a coute de ta against clergy only ministry.
Eric Bramlett
The importance of saying NO. Funny. Not sure how many people got his humor at our site.
Scott Williams
Personally — my favorite one this morning. Change your perspective, change the game. What you see is often what you look for. “Is this a black church or a white church?” That’s the stupidest question ever. What he was really asking was – “Will I be accepted there?” Diversity on the stage will equal diversity in the pews.
Jorge Acevedo
Move from a heroic solo leader to a team generative leader. Can’t have every single decision flow through one single person. Set up processes and teams that elevate and advance the vision and values.
Troy Gramling
Don’t trust a spiritual leader without a limp. Not all pain is good pain but some pain must be endured because it helps us heal faster.
Toby Slough
Powerful story of the awesomeness of authenticity in leadership.
LIFE Week 2 Thoughts
August 31, 2010 – 8:57 am
The progression seems simple enough –
We are spiritual beings first therefore real meaning of life is going to found in the spiritual.
We were created and designed for intimate relationships. Relationships have great meaning to us.
God designed these relationships to be both vertical (with Himself) and horizontal (with others).
The best way to develop and deepen these spiritual relationships is in the context of a smaller group.
The purpose of a Life Group is to connect with God and others for the purpose of life change – to look more like Jesus.
2 Incomplete Small Group Experiences that get confused for a Life Group.
#1 – Ministry Teams – groups that are organized and function around a task.
#2 – Bible Studies – groups that are focused on knowledge.
It’s possible to be active in both of these of groups and never connect with God or experience life change.
The key to it all is authenticity. When we take off our mask and reveal who we really are – our hurts, fears, failures.
The mask we wear is a double-edged sword. We wear it because it does offer some form of protection. One of the greatest fears we have as people is if they knew who I really was, they wouldn’t want anything to do with me.
The same mask that offers a little protection is also the exact thing that prevents true healing. Jesus will always demand that the mask come off first.
Mark 5 is a tragic tale of an entire community that didn’t want to be authentic.
Authenticity will cost you something. It’s expensive. It’s worth it – but it does cost something.
My Thoughts About The New Series: LIFE, Week 1
August 25, 2010 – 4:19 pm
Our new series LIFE got a HUGE start with the help of the Creative Team turning our entire set into a kitchen and then our fine actors knocking the drama right out of the park.
As our actors so wonderfully asked — is this all there is to LIFE? I have a nagging feeling there is more to it than what I know and am experiencing.
Some of the nuggets said on Sunday morning…
Humanity’s search for happiness and meaning is hindered by two fatal blind spots.
First, we are spiritual beings with a body, not a physical being with a soul. Therefore, first priority should be given to our souls. More often, the physical/temporal gets priority over the spiritual/eternal.
Second, we were designed by God for intimacy. Relationships that are vertical and horizontal. It’s why the Greatest Commandment were about intimacy vertical (love God) and and horizontal (love others).
How Jesus established His ministry and His Church addresses these two blind spots. His focus on the Word of God and the use of a small group of disciples.
The decision to use a small group as basis for His Church and discipleship model was purposeful and still useful for the church today. And it’s why we do Life Groups at WHBC.
It is impossible to be mature in Christ without a small group experience. The large communal worship time is the appetizer to the main course. Live, Love, and Serve can best be incarnated in Life Groups.
Good start to what I think is going to be a fantastic series.
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