Let's talk about connecting at church
As humans, we are hard-wired to seek connection with other humans. It’s just the way God made us. And the church Jesus had in mind would be the ultimate source of restored connection between redeemed people.
But in our highly individualistic culture, creating connections is daunting work.
As church leaders, we can’t make people do life with other people, open up about their pain, or serve others with their hands. We can’t force community to happen.
But we can set the table.
Through preaching, small groups, special events, recovery ministries, etc. the church gets to face the loneliness epidemic head-on.
While it’s tough to get all the structural details right, there is a message that everyone needs to hear from time to time that might just propel a movement toward genuine community. That message is…
Other people need you.
You have something to offer. God created you to add value to others that no one else can add.
And the other side of the coin is something we need to be remind of as well: You need other people, too.
If you’ve been around very long, you’ve probably heard me talk about “relational currency.” We build “relational currency” with others when we recognize the other person and invest in them. Of course, this can take on many forms. For example…
remembering someone’s spouses and kids names
listening to understand, not just respond
offering to pray during difficult circumstances
reaching out in love expecting nothing in return
When it comes to our evangelistic efforts (a.k.a. inviting others to follow Jesus), we can easily bankrupt a relationship if we have not taken the time to make relational deposits.
With this in mind, as a Pastor, I have to be especially careful and deliberate about how I choose to spend my “relational currency” (or trust equity) and the ways in which I utilize my influence within the church.
It’s been said that politics and preaching don’t mix. And it’s safe to say folks are divided on whether pastors should address politics from the pulpit or not.
But let’s not forget that the word “pastor” is an old word that means shepherd. A pastor’s role then is to…
(1) lead the flock: spiritually and directionally, leading them to obey Jesus’ Great Commission and his Great Commandment.
(2) feed the flock: this involves not only teaching the Bible but also providing essential spiritual nourishment and guidance to help individuals grow in their faith. It also includes offering protection from misleading beliefs and false doctrine that can stray them off the right path.
As we approach another general election in a divided nation, as a pastor I can either choose political avoidance or to shepherd the church. Because I recognize God’s calling on my life, this Sunday we’ll begin a four week series on The Church, Culture, and Politics.
Let me be absolutely clear: I sincerely want the left and the right, the reds and blues, the liberals and conservatives ALL to show up together this coming Sunday and come to the beautiful realization that Jesus is indeed King. He is supposed to receive our supreme allegiance. It’s under the cross of Jesus that we can be united.
The bullseye (as we spoke about last Sunday) is Matthew 6:33…But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Please remember me in your prayers as I diligently seek to speak truth with integrity, avoiding any partisanship, and guiding our congregation to be more deeply transformed by the incredible power of God’s Holy Spirit. Your support means so much to me as we embark on this important journey together.
As the leaves begin to change and the air begins to turn crisp, I feel an excitement for the Fall season and the Christmas season that follows. This time of year brings a unique opportunity for us to engage with our community through our “Not So Scary” Trunk or Treat on Sunday, October 27th. I see this event as one more opportunity to engage with new families in our area, as well as, continue the relationships we’ve begun with our Parking Lot Party and Light The Night events.
With the political season approaching, he sees a chance for deeper discussions about values and beliefs, encouraging everyone to grow in their faith while navigating the complexities of the world around them. It's a season of unity, reflection, and renewed commitment to uplifting one another as they all strive to make a positive impact in their community.
As a church, we regularly support Convoy of Hope and various other ministries around the world that are dedicated to meeting urgent needs and uplifting the name of Jesus in their communities. Through our partnership, we aim to make a positive impact and share hope with those who need it most.
If you would like to financially give and support projects and meaningful ministries like Convoy of Hope, please select the fund labeled “missions” when completing your donation. Your contribution can truly make a difference!
If you’ve been around very long, you’ve probably heard me talk about “relational currency.” We build “relational currency” with others when we recognize the other person and invest in them. Of course, this can take on many forms. For example…
remembering someone’s spouses and kids names
listening to understand, not just respond
offering to pray during difficult circumstances
reaching out in love expecting nothing in return
When it comes to our evangelistic efforts (a.k.a. inviting others to follow Jesus), we can easily bankrupt a relationship if we have not taken the time to make relational deposits.
With this in mind, as a Pastor, I have to be especially careful and deliberate about how I choose to spend my “relational currency” (or trust equity) and the ways in which I utilize my influence within the church.
It’s been said that politics and preaching don’t mix. And it’s safe to say folks are divided on whether pastors should address politics from the pulpit or not.
But let’s not forget that the word “pastor” is an old word that means shepherd. A pastor’s role then is to…
(1) lead the flock: spiritually and directionally, leading them to obey Jesus’ Great Commission and his Great Commandment.
(2) feed the flock: this involves not only teaching the Bible but also providing essential spiritual nourishment and guidance to help individuals grow in their faith. It also includes offering protection from misleading beliefs and false doctrine that can stray them off the right path.
As we approach another general election in a divided nation, as a pastor I can either choose political avoidance or to shepherd the church. Because I recognize God’s calling on my life, this Sunday we’ll begin a four week series on The Church, Culture, and Politics.
Let me be clear: I want the left and the right, the reds and blues, the liberals and conservatives ALL to show up on Sunday and come to the realization that Jesus is King.
The bullseye (as we spoke about last Sunday) is Matthew 6:33…But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Please remember me in prayer as I seek to speak truth without partisanship and lead our congregation to be more deeply formed by the power of God’s Holy Spirit.
We have a divine King who is our highest authority, representing what is right and true. He will return to create His glorious kingdom of righteousness and peace. Until then, we pray for our leaders as the Scripture asks, and we look forward with hope for our Savior, Jesus, to return.