We’re not called as preachers to be inventors of sermons, but disseminators of truth.
Archive for February, 2009
Adrian Rogers Quote on Sermon Preparation
Posted: February 18, 2009 in PreachingTags: adrian rogers, Preaching
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Fear is a shorter word than FAITH, however, we fear fear much stronger than we embrace FAITH. Case in point: We are launching a new church the Sunday before Easter, April 5. Our intent is to have the momentum of a launch followed by the natural momentum of Easter. Here’s where fear kicks in; summer is just a month away from April. Oh no, then what happens for a newly launched church through those months……….then, fear gets really going; “We shouldn’t launch, we don’t have enough funding, we have too few people, we’re not ready, etc.etc.etc.” That same emotion radiates when you consider marriage or having your first child. Same thing! What do you do? Well, for us, God is helping us realize that it doesn’t have to be perfect and never will be. We would have been in preparation for 20 months when we launch in April.
We’ve prayed, loved people, placed ourselves under good coaches, assembled a launch team (would love for it to be bigger), networked, sowed into our community (and we’re just getting started), and, with all of that, there is still fear. It can be paralyzing…..in this case, we have talked to God, asked His opinion, and our sense is, we must press on, move forward, and begin in April. Life-change is in the balance. You know what the real stem of this fear normally is: Fear of failure, not enough show up, we can’t pull it off, etc. etc. etc. But, our God asks us to do a simple act: Obey! That, we will, have been, and plan on continuing to do, regardless of any outcome! Now, that, is the way to live! BTW: I’m speaking to me!
How do I become a member at Origin Church?
Posted: February 16, 2009 in FAQTags: church, membership
You will soon be able to go right through a series of questions related to Origin Church, on our website, and join the Origin Church online. It is very specific and will let you know what to expect as new member at Origin Church. We love the simplicity of the system.
We will post a new link soon for you to use to invite your friends via email to RSVP for the launch of Origin Church. I didn’t realize you could not RSVP on the facebook page if you do not have a facebook account. Stay posted. You can help us by spreading the word, sharing links and times, etc. for launch day. Thanks in advance!
We are ready! Please reserve your FREE tickets to the launch of Origin Church on Sunday, April 5 @ 10:30 a.m. in downtown Ringgold, GA. Go to our website at www.originchurch.tv for a map and RSVP right here today: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=52924236407&ref=ts
After you RSVP, please email us at: originchurch@gmail.com and let us know how many tickets you will need. Children don’t need tickets…..no one will be turned away, of course, but this will greatly help us plan for this big day! Thanks in advance!
Use the above link and send it to all your local friends that might have interest in a church for the bad, the broken, and the bored. We’ll change the way they think about church!
Thanks to Paul Peterson, he’s just stated what we all feel, have felt, or will feel as a church planter. I don’t think anyone can improve on this blog: http://paulpetersonlive.com/2009/02/10/starting-something-new/
This clip by Life Church will help us all realize that we can quickly become ineffective, IF, we stop learning. It’s a reminder that if we do not evaluate what we do as a church, consistently with added change, we will be on a fast-track toward ineffectiveness. Be honest; how many of the churches of the 90′s are as effective now, as what they were then? Know any?
“I won’t go to church; against my beliefs.” “What about all these churches with scillions of dollar buildings and people are hungry?” “Church people are such hypocrits.”
If there’s anybody that has disliked the “religion” of life a ton, it has been me. I’ve just never liked the political skyclimbing, the bureaucratic fakery, and the less than real preachers I’ve mostly seen. I’ve been a pastor for almost 20 years and have had many great victories, but many failures along the way. Personally, I’ve been bored at most churches. One thing I haven’t had is any patience with inauthenticity and posturing. I found more real people on my Russell Hall floor at The University of Georgia who were drunk most weekends, than I have found in churches. Seriously! They never tried to act like they were something they were not, they never found it hard to tell the truth (good or bad stuff), and they never went behind a friend’s back.
What I would say to you that have the above excuses, don’t! Believe it or not, you need to keep looking for a community of authentic people who are pursuing the plan that God has for them. God does have this big plan for you whether you believe that or not. These communities are out there and we’re doing our part to try and create, yet another one, right here in the Ringgold, GA-Chattanooga, TN area. Just so we understand: everybody is a hypocrit! Can’t get around it because there are no perfect people. We just naturally lean toward doing the wrong.
We’re all at a different season of life…..embrace where you are, accept others where they are, BUT, reach higher because there’s more for you! Trust me, you will find in your path one day, a REAL Christian, who really cares about you as a person, whether or not you ever embrace Christ. When you do, run toward them and take their advice. You may not meet another one!
Church Planter Reminder
Posted: February 9, 2009 in Church PlantingTags: Church Planting, kristin avery
Our new friend Kristen Avery said it well; “If your new church starts and it’s just one family that God had in mind to be impacted by the church, then you have done what God asked you to do.” We often forget the obedience factor, the bigger picture factor, and the Kingdom factors. Let us not beat ourselves up over what’s not happening, but let us be encouraged by what is happening!
Our Last 7 Months
Posted: February 6, 2009 in LaunchTags: change, Church Planting, strategic evaluation
Our team has been on the road most Sundays visiting other church plants……….it has been a real treat! I have never had the opportunity to be in so many different churches. It’s really shown me that strategic evaluation should be a large system in our churches. We’ve learned a lot! What I mean is, get out of your church and go visit, and you will come back with a better view of your own ministry. What happens is, what we do works for a good while, and we keep doing the same thing, because it’s comfortable and our people seem to embrace it, but, it slowly and surely becomes ineffective and we don’t even know it. Things in our world change everyday in small increments because generations are changing. The only way to see it, is to get away from your own church. You will then become more effective. Keep this in mind: Don’t ever say, “It’s just not me.” It is you, IF, it means adding value and reaching people. I like Vince Antonucci’s statement: “We’ll do anything short of sin to reach people.”
