Sunday download
• pre-Sunday action: preached at a porn shop last night. Well, a former porn shop at Surfers' Church last night in Wahiawa. My good friends, Tom and Cindy Bauer, founders and directors of Surfing the Nations are doing some incredible, transformational work in Wahiawa. Go check them out.
• It was a good finish to our "Unshakeable" series today.
• Felt like the message connected. Bottom line to this series is even though we go through shaking and uncertainty, God is the One who is Unshakeable.
• Hit small groups today in the message. We experience God's presence in fellowship, so get to a group for processing, prayer, and encouragement. Man cannot live on Sunday alone.
• Overheard a conversation after church that went something like this: "Church isn't about Pastor Mike, it's about Jesus." Yes!! I love it. They get it. GBCK is all about discipleship which means we follow Jesus and help others do the same.
• Mel and Cher did a great job leading worship today. They are long-time worship singers, but now they're starting to lead worship. They nailed it!
• Got a call after church from one of our leaders about a GBCK member with cancer that is spreading. They found it in his kidneys now. Gotta admit that it wrecked me a little. Had a good cry and prayer for him. I hate cancer. Too many of our people are getting it.
• We gotta respond to this wave of cancer. Feeling we need to call a special prayer focus. Can't just take it lying down.
• One of my greatest joys is seeing people step-up in ministry. I love that ministry doesn't revolve around the pastor.
• Super positive response to the opening of 3rd Cup Café & Venue. This is our coffee shop that will pour all its profits into the community. It's "coffee with a cause." We open in 2 months. Yeah!
• Please pray for the 3rd Cup. It's a huge project but things are moving forward. Super big thanks to Mel Reyes who is helping with the business end of things, and to Pastor Dane and the GBCK staff who are doing a great job helping with the church-side of things.
• Excited to celebrate GBCK's 5th anniversary next Sunday, Sept. 25. Hard to believe it's been five years already. Stoked to Pastor Norman from GBC Pearlside come and speak at the anniversary. To all GBCKer's: Be in the House this coming Sunday! Bring a friend too. Let's pack it out!
• Good night and Good luck!
Small groups are important
I love Rick Warren's post on six important reasons you need a small group. Here are the six in a nutshell:
1. It’s the classroom for learning how to get along in God’s family.
2. A small group helps me develop spiritual muscle.
3. A small group confirms my identity as a genuine believer.
4. A small group is the best way to take my God-given mission in the world.
5. A small group will help keep me from spiritually backsliding.
6. The Body of Christ needs me!
At GBCK, small groups are a big part of our discipleship process. We see that deepening our connection with others is vital to growing as a Christ-follower. It's a mistake to think that a relationship with Jesus is a personal and private matter. Following Jesus is communal and public, and the Gospel should move us toward each other, not toward isolation.
Every time someone tells me they feel detached from church, almost 100% of the time they are not in a small group. My encouragement is to review Rick's reasons for small group above, and to let the Gospel move you toward connecting in a community.
Youth
I'm stoked about what our youth are planning to take this ministry to the next level. Dane, Malen, and Josh are doing a great job developing this ministry. One thing I really love is that the youth are running the same offense as the rest of the church. Our "faith, connection, life" discipleship strategy is not just for adults. It's great to see how the youth are incorporating FCL to reach and disciple young people. In the end, discipleship knows no age groups. We are called to make disciples no matter the age.
You can read the latest about the youth here.
Defining moments
Defining moments are those times in life that determine or alter your life's course. Defining moments can be big decisions or events such as getting married, having a baby, or choosing your career. These are defining moments that definitely determine your life's direction.
However, defining moments also happen in smaller, less tangible ways, yet they can have huge outcomes, both good and bad. For example, the small, simple decision to read the Bible daily has massive benefits for a person's relationship with God.
I feel GBCK is emerging into a defining moment in her history. While there's no big event or decision that I can specifically point to that makes this a defining moment, I feel we're at a time that we will look back on as a game-changer. How will it be a game-changer? All I can say at this point is GBCK will be a church that is more and more glorifying to God. I think this defining moment is a culmination of the lessons we are learning as a leadership, the clarity of our mission, the people God is reaching and sending to GBCK, our passion for the Gospel, and God's sovereignty.
So, what do we do? Nothing different. We just keep making disciples by reaching and leading others to develop their faith, to deepen their connections, and to devote their lives to God's mission.
Five Major Trends for Amercian Churches…
There's an interesting article at the ChristianPost.com about research that identifies five emerging trends in U.S. churches.
Here are the five:
1. Our nation will see the emergence of the largest generational mission field in over a century.
2. The dominant attitude of this huge generation toward Christianity will be largely indifferent.
3. Senior adult ministries in churches will experience steep declines.
4. The large Boomer generation will become more receptive to the gospel.
5. Family will be a key value for both of the large generations.
The question is how do churches adjust to these trends? Should churches adjust? How should churches respond?
Here are some of my thoughts:
• Whatever the trends are, make sure the gospel is preached. Self-improvement messages are catchy and attractive, but the gospel is God's power for salvation.
• People reach people, methods and programs do not. Continually communicate the truth of every believers responsibility and privilege to reach out to others.
• Prayer. No matter the flow of the cultural current, prayer is the driving force that transcends culture. More prayer, more power.
• Focus on making disciples. It's our job description. It's easy to be distracted by more "flashy" programs and events because disciple-making is repetitive and lacks pizazz. But always remember: changed people change culture.
You can read the full article here.
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