Spreading themselves thin: A deception of college-aged believers
I have noticed that college aged believers have a tendency to be less focused on the local Church than they are on their ministry.
They try to be involved in as many areas as possible, spreading themselves very thin. They feel as if they are strengthening the Church, but often they are weakening it as they neglect the needs of their Church for an opportunity to have more attention.
Giving their money to causes, neglecting the ministry of their Church.
Sometimes they are not even partners (members) of a Church.
Their loyalty often being to the Passion Conference (or some other popular gathering) which occurs once a year.
An example worth following
There is a girl in our community named Lacy Gatlin. Lacy is an extremely passionate and devoted follower of Christ who is also very talented/gifted.
Lacy is involved in several ways in the community and uses her gifts to strengthen other Churches.
But, she is completely faithful and loyal to Emmanuel Baptist Church (my second favorite church in Crestview). She only helps in other Churches on Sundays that she is not being asked to be in her church. She is plugged into community and has people who hold her accountable in her Church. She is submissive to the leaders of her Church.
This past Sunday, she played guitar and drums at Mosaic, and after she was done breaking down, still attended her Church.
Not weakening the Church by spreading herself too thin, but using her gifts in other areas when her Church does not need them and with the blessing of her leaders.
So College-Age students
If you want to change the world the way God said to do it. Commit to a Church; Serve, give and growth there. Then think about other opportunities to serve.
Leadership Advance Action Items
Here are some of the BIG Action Items for our Church’s Leadership. Pray for us and let me know if you have any ideas or can help in anyway!
Sponsor Classrooms at Antioch Elementary
Develop training for one on one discipleship
Develop a new logo
New website
Connection Table with easy steps to get connected to Mosaic
Amp up Children’s registration, parent connection
Improve atmosphere of worship room
and much, much more.
THE VOW, a new step for Mosaic.
Starting in February (the 12th to be exact), we are beginning a new series called “THE VOW: 30 days to an incredible marriage.”
The goal of this series is for:
Broken marriages to take a big step towards restoration, good marriages to know what it takes to be great and Singles to know what it takes for a great marriage and to be better prepared.
This will be one of the most powerful series we do at mosaic and we have a lot of surprises in store!
I am especially thrilled that Christie will be teaching with me for the entire month!
So, three more weeks of #winning! (which is going great) and then THE VOW!
Things that I am really looking forward to in 2012
Mosaic’s Annual Leadership Advance (January)
Lead/Teach “THE VOW: 30 days to an incredible marriage” with Christie. (February)
Preach at “Pause” with Tripp Battle (March)
Easter (April)
Finish my Masters of Divinity (May)
Go on our first trip to India to begin a missions partnership (June-October)
Turn 30 years old (August)
Hopefully, pay off our van (by October)
Hopefully, run my 1,000th mile of the year (by December)
Christmas with Mosaic and family (December)
-Growing in my relationship with God, being Christie’s husband, being a part of Cameron, Nathan and Lilly’s growth and Pastoring an incredible Church!
your relationship with God is probably not as personal as you think…
I feel comfortable saying that a lot of Christians (particularly under the age of 55) believe that the Church isn’t that important. They would answer questions about why they don’t serve, tithe, or even attend a Church by saying that their relationship with God is personal.
There is some truth to that: Each person is held accountable by God for their life and He is the only judge of righteousness (2 Timothy 4:8)
But our relationship with God is anything but personal and most of the Bible (which guides) us was written to a group and not to an individual, so when need to be careful when applying Scripture to our lives.
Examples:
Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
I have often heard people quote this about their specific destiny, not considering that their “destiny” fits in with the Church as a whole. This verse is written to Israel who were God’s people, which is now the Church (Christians). If you are quoting this, you are quoting that God has a plan for the Church. In fact many people’s role in advancing the Church has involved dying.
1 Corinthians
Ok, I could have actually said all of the letters Paul wrote to the Churches; Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians and then the other books written to a group like 1 and 2 Peter, Hebrews, and James. Be careful applying the teaching of these books to you personal life alone, remember that they are written to people who are connected to the big picture.
Matthew 7:9-13 Pray then like this: ”Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
When Jesus teaches us how to pray (if anything is personal, its prayer), He is actually teaching people to pray with the group in mind (maybe corporate prayer). Our Father, our daily bread, our debtors, lead us not into temptation.
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I hope that when you read the Bible, you are always thinking of personal application and then thinking of others. Even in the passage where Jesus tells us to remove the plank from our eye before removing the speck from our bothers, we are still to remove the speck from our brothers; Jesus just wants us to be able to remove specks without our sin getting in the way. (Matthew 7:5)
Any thoughts/questions?
Baptisms are a big deal….in fact, they are THE BIG DEAL!
This Sunday night we are baptizing a few people and having a celebration. This should be THE THING that believers celebrate. Changed lives is the goal, it is the win, it is what should excite us!
When your team wins (or even scores), you celebrate.
When your kids make good grades, you celebrate.
When you get a promotion, you celebrate.
When you make a big purchase, you celebrate.
So, when people profess faith in Christ. When they are baptized to symbolize that they realize their is no hope in their way of living and have trusted in Christ for new life……this is a reason to CELEBRATE.
THIS IS THE REASON TO CELEBRATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Christians should be more excited about this than pretty much anything! So, are you?
YOU ARE INVITED TO PARY WITH US ON SUNDAY NIGHT as we celebrate GOD’S Working in the lives of these people!
1 out of 100
For every 100 people who visits Mosaic (or another Church) about 10 stick. Out of those 10 about 1 devotes their life entirely to Jesus.
That 1 person is worth it!
That 1 person has to be what drives you to press on when others are criticizing you.
That 1 person makes dealing with people who go back and forth about God and your Church worth your time and energy.
That 1 person makes all the set up, all the structure, all the preparation a success.
That 1 person has a name and you will get to know it.
That 1 person will become a part of your band, one of the Church’s biggest givers, a part of your leadership team.
So, whatever is going on in your life; whatever you are getting discouraged about in your church, when you are feeling a little frustrated about there not being enough volunteers and all the serving you have to do;
Remember that 1!
going through the motions
Hosea 6:6 For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice,the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.
WHY are you a Christian?
God does not want us to go through the motions. He wants us to love Him, like really love Him. He wants us to get to know Him and not just do things for Him.
The WHY matters to God. a lot.
Church people It is easy to see the people who attend a “fancy” church, get all dressed up and think they are better than others as people who go through the motions. (and honestly, a lot of them are)
“Free” Christians But, there are a lot of people who consider themself to be a Christian but want to be free from Church (in actuality God). They loosely affiliate themselves with a church, attend off an on, serve every one in a while and put a few dollars in the offering plate. The go through motions because this justifies their life lived for themselves.
There is no difference. They are both just going through the motions.
God wants people who are in love with Him. He wants people who are spending time WITH Him. People who are starting to do/give/go because of who He is to them.
so WHY? I pray that you will examine much of your life and ask WHY!
Friday Five ADJECTIVES about my day
1. Overslept, so I missed my morning run. Lame
2. Matisyahu was in Crestview Starbucks today. Weird.
3. Spent time talking with Michael McDuffie about how Mosaic is going to get involved in international missions. Awesome.
4. Met with a friend who is resigning as Pastor this Sunday and getting out of vocation ministry for at least a short time. Sobering.
5. Working on my sermon for Sunday. Exciting!
What is 40 days in Hell?
You will be hearing a lot about 40 days in Hell over the next months. What is 40 days in Hell? (copied from 40daysinhell.com)
“40 days in Hell” is a journey through what Hell is like and what we can learn from it.
There are three ways that you can be a part of the journey that begins on Sunday, September 18th.
Attend Mosaic Church of Crestview for seven enlightening and relevant sermons on Hell.
September 18th: What the Hell? (an intro) September 25th: Who in the Hell? (why people go to hell) October 2nd: Hell on earth (what bad times on earth teach us about eternity) October 9th: Hell is uncomfortable October 16th: : Hell is full of worship October 23rd: Hell is full of prayer October 30th: Hell is real
Read through “40 days in Hell”. Beginning on September 19th there will be a daily reading posted on this site at 6:00am everyday. It should only take a minute or two to read and will inspire and challenge you to live the way that God intends for you to live.
For more information about “40 days in Hell”, Mosaic Church of Crestview or if you have any questions; visitwww.mosaiccrestview.com or drop us a note on the form below.
