So I'm reading a couple books right now. Mark Driscolls The Radical Reformission and Dan Kimballs They Like Jesus but Not The Church. In the Radical Reformission Driscoll points to the fact that its simply about Jesus and his call to us to: 1. Love God. 2. Love our neighbor 3. Love the church. ( the people, not the building or programs or what it can do for you, and by the way thats "the" church... all of it)
He goes on to talk about how western Christianity fails to fulfill this call because various Christian traditions are only faithful to one or two of the counts.
Gospel +Culture-Church= parachurch
Culture+Church-Gospel=Liberalism
Church+Gospel-Culture=Fundamentalism.
I say all of that to get to this... I'm reading in chapter 2 and 3 about How Billy Graham and the guy who wrote the original 4 spiritual law tracks ( his name slips me ) wrote for the people they were trying to reach. For instance Mr Graham spoke a lot about the peace of God due to just coming out of the wars. The 4 spiritual laws came out of a science and physics driven culture.... so in regards to the culture we currently live in Mark Driscoll poses an interesting set of questions at the end of one of the chapters. He talks about the 4 Gospels and how the writers wrote for a specific culture and in a way that the people would understand. He has a great breakdown in the book of how that fleshes out.
The questions are If you were to write a Gospel for the people in your culture.
Where would you start?
How would you explain sin?
How would you explain Jesus
What in Jesus's life would they most resonate with. What would they struggle with?
This begs me to ask a lot of questions. Do I really know who the people in my culture are ? How do they think? What do they do? Why do they do it? How do I tell them about Christs Love in a way they understand, not in the way I understand (and Im not talking about watering it down or changing truth) . How am I going to get to know these people and love them... where they are?.... hmmm let the perculating begin.
So last weekend was pretty hip.We did True Crossroads Stories, where people tell what God is doing in their lives. It always just blows me away what people deal with, what is dealt to them and how God pulls them out. 7 people got baptized. J and his team edited together roughly 35 minutes of finished video... crazy..... After church we stuffed 65,000 eggs for our Nighttime Flashlight Egg Hunt this weekend. It was amazing... a small candy fight broke out between our table and few others.. I think we won. Here is a shot of young one stuffing eggs. I have also attached the Quentin Tarentioesque video's that the creative team put together to advertise for the egg hunt. Jason and Mike did a bang up job shooting it raw and animating them...This week is Easter... it's going to rock, were shooting all week and we got some cool stuff coming for main stage and Kid Crossing so if you haven't invited anyone do it today... could make a difference forever.
Ok so this is so stolen from here. But its a great list and worth thinking about. One of the things we always say in our creative team meetings is there are no bad ideas.... oh how I'd love to be able to go and take back every time I have said or thought one of the following.....
100 Ways to Kill a Concept:
the boss won?t go for that.
the lawyers won?t go for that.
the accountants won?t go for that.
the client won?t go for that.
the salespeople won?t go for that.
the investors won?t go for that.
So and so won?t like it.
It?s not us.
It won?t fit into our system.
We?re not ready for that yet.
I don?t think it will work.
I don?t understand.
Do you understand?
Will anyone understand?
What will they think of next?
It?s politically incorrect.
It?s too complicated.
It?s too late for that now.
It?s too expensive.
We?ll lose money.
Why?
What!?
Who says?
nobody will want that.
Where are you coming from?
It can?t be done.
Have the committee review it.
Let?s do more research.
Let?s take a vote on it.
Let?s play devil?s advocate.
I?ve never heard of such a thing.
We?ve already tried that.
that?s been done before.
It?s not how we do things here.
We?ve never done anything like that.
We?ll get back to you.
that?s a subject for another meeting.
It creates more problems than it solves.
Sounds like too many problems.
that only solves some of the problems.
that?s going to cause problems.
Here we go again.
that?s unique, but . . .
Very interesting, but . . .
I understand, but . . .
I love it, but . . .
Great idea, but . . .
Yes, but . . .
Sounds simple, but . . .
But . . .
It?s just not for us.
try again.
that sucks.
needs more pizzazz!
I don?t like it.
Have you thought it through?
It won?t sell.
Maybe next time.
Another day.
What are people going to say?
People will think we?re nuts!
that?s BS.
Be realistic.
How about this instead?
Get a grip!
Are you serious?
that turns me off!
the client is too liberal for that.
the client is too conservative for that.
What else do you have?
So!
So what?
Oh . . .
Oh?
Oh, really!
Get real, it?s not feasible.
Sounds crazy!
nobody does that.
Are you kidding me?
that?s too off the wall.
You can?t argue with success.
You can?t fight City Hall.
We don?t have time to do it.
Let?s not reach beyond our grasp.
We?re overextended already.
Let?s wait ?til we see the numbers.
You?re proposing what?
Let?s not rock the boat.
Silence.
Laughter.
Boos.
Where did that come from?
I?ve got a better idea.
Hey, there?s a recession going on.
We?ve never done anything like that.
the press will kill us.
that?s not your decision to make.
We?ll step on too many toes.
Just leave it to me; I?ll take care of it.
You could lose your job for that . . .
Identifying and defining the problem...helps to find the solution. Asking the right question... helps to reveal the correct answer. (this is a way of being creative, that anyone can do). ~Michael Iva
Ever try cracking this thing called “shepherding?” It’s pretty Biblical, but I’ve always thought for us nonagrarian, neighborhood types, there are some assumptions.
So, Serving Team leaders, suit this one up and see how it fits. You’re not shepherds. You’re SGSTLers. I think it’s pretty cool because I’m always impressed with people who have lots of random letters after their names. Not so random here, however. I think of you as Small Group Serving Team Leaders. Sure, you have your tasks - your “To Do” lists that help you accomplish your tasks. No question. Those are critical. But they’re not the end all. If the To Do lists are where you end your serving team leadership, you’ve actually cut yourself out of the greatest kick in serving leadership. Think of it like creating the world’s greatest gourmet feasts and never tasting a bite, week after week.
Think like small group leaders and you’re stepping out of the food prep area and right into the main dining room. Bring on the prime rib and enjoy. That’s what can happen among your serving team if you’ll add to your To Do list a small group leader perspective.
Check this out as a way to describe it: “And may the Master pour on the love so it fills your lives and splashes over on everyone around you, just as it does from us to you.” 1 Thessalonians 3:12 If you think that sounds like The Message, bingo.
Here are some ways to pour on the love to your serving team:
When I’m weary, you encourage me.
When I’m looking for another serving team position, you guide me.
When things are falling apart, you listen and pray with me.
When I’m in the hospital, you’re with me.
When a family death occurs, you’re asking what you can do.
And splashing?
When I’m here, you greet and welcome me.
When I’m not here, you follow up with me.
When my birthday/anniversary rolls around you remember.
When a teammate is having ?life? speed bumps, you alert me.
When a team celebration occurs, you include me.
And please, avoid the trap of thinking only you can do all these things for your serving team. Even if there are only two of you on your team, take turns!
When everything’s said and done, you’ve shown me that I am more important to you than what I do. You’ve shown me that pouring and splashing are what I can expect to receive and give while being on your Serving Team.
