Only seven weeks have passed since the launch of Relevant Church. I am overwhelmed at the favor God has shown us. I truly do love my church. We are currently in the middle of a series entitled "Life in a Small Town" and God is really changing lives and perspectives about how to live our lives in a small fast-growing suburban south ATL town. In the last 2 weeks we have baptized 9 people and have seen 25 people receive Christ (that makes 61 in only 7 weeks in a new church). Our attendance has better than I could have ever dreamed (over 200 weekly) and we have seen a total of about 50 new workers get involved this month. I can't wait for this weekend as I will share on the topic of "Stuck in This One Horse Town." We are launching a brand new series in December that I will tell you about. We are truly going to touch some lives in this Christmas season. See you Sunday!
Check Relevant Out on iTunes
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Blog is Back Up and Running
Hey Guys,
Sorry for the emails... Thanks Google!!!. The blog is back up and running. Shouldn't have anymore issues.
Carl
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Why The Church and Pastor's Have Lost Influence - Part 3
Here is a follow up to the previous 2 posts...Wireless was down for 2 days so here is the final 2 reasons I see that the church has lost its influence...
5. Lack of Absolute Truth - This is a double edged sword. Unfortunately we live in a culture that has become a culture of tolerance to a fault. Everything is accepted as okay and truth has become relative to the individual and his or her circumstances. The church must stand for the truth found in God's Word and must not compromise in the name of tolerance. I once heard someone say that tolerance is simply listening. One can tolerate the viewpoint of another without embracing it or condoning it. On the other hand, the church must not make up truths that are not found in God's Word. There are absolutes and there are opinions and or convictions. When it comes down to it, truth is a person, not a set of ideas or beliefs. Truth is Jesus. Jesus said in John 14 "I am the way the truth and the life." Truth is found in the person of Jesus Christ and Christ-followers should strive to model their lives after Him.
6. Lack of Intentionality - The church was established by Jesus in the New Testament as the agency for carrying out His mission. As a Christ-follower, we are apart of what the scriptures call the body of Christ or "the Church." As a local church (group of believers) it is our responsibility to be intentional when it comes to reaching our community. Its easy once a church becomes more established and routine to get distracted and unfocused. I myself find this to be true on a personal level. A mentor of mine once told me that everything drifts towards complexity...life, jobs, family, businesses, and yes churches. Andy Stanley says a church "must narrow the focus by doing a few things well." As a church we must be intentional about what we decide to do and what we decide not to do.
A Side Note...
There are many great churches in our country today, and many Godly men who are role models. I believe that the local church is the hope of the world and I am passionate about seeing Jesus Christ modeled in the community in which I live. The last few days have simply been observations from my experience and the culture at large. No matter what side of the aisle we find ourselves on, one thing is clear to me...many people have been hurt or burned by church and church leadership because of many reasons that may or may not have been mentioned above.
Thoughts????
5. Lack of Absolute Truth - This is a double edged sword. Unfortunately we live in a culture that has become a culture of tolerance to a fault. Everything is accepted as okay and truth has become relative to the individual and his or her circumstances. The church must stand for the truth found in God's Word and must not compromise in the name of tolerance. I once heard someone say that tolerance is simply listening. One can tolerate the viewpoint of another without embracing it or condoning it. On the other hand, the church must not make up truths that are not found in God's Word. There are absolutes and there are opinions and or convictions. When it comes down to it, truth is a person, not a set of ideas or beliefs. Truth is Jesus. Jesus said in John 14 "I am the way the truth and the life." Truth is found in the person of Jesus Christ and Christ-followers should strive to model their lives after Him.
6. Lack of Intentionality - The church was established by Jesus in the New Testament as the agency for carrying out His mission. As a Christ-follower, we are apart of what the scriptures call the body of Christ or "the Church." As a local church (group of believers) it is our responsibility to be intentional when it comes to reaching our community. Its easy once a church becomes more established and routine to get distracted and unfocused. I myself find this to be true on a personal level. A mentor of mine once told me that everything drifts towards complexity...life, jobs, family, businesses, and yes churches. Andy Stanley says a church "must narrow the focus by doing a few things well." As a church we must be intentional about what we decide to do and what we decide not to do.
A Side Note...
There are many great churches in our country today, and many Godly men who are role models. I believe that the local church is the hope of the world and I am passionate about seeing Jesus Christ modeled in the community in which I live. The last few days have simply been observations from my experience and the culture at large. No matter what side of the aisle we find ourselves on, one thing is clear to me...many people have been hurt or burned by church and church leadership because of many reasons that may or may not have been mentioned above.
Thoughts????
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Why The Church and Pastor's Have Lost Influence - Part 2
Here are a few additional reasons that I see that the church in America along with it's leadership have lost Influence in culture...
3. Lack of a Servants Heart - The come and see mentality has been embraced by churches to a fault. When Jesus was alive, He had crowds that followed Him to hear Him teach as well as see the miracles He performed. They asked Him questions and He had influence within His culture. He didn't always make people, (especially religious people) happy, but nonetheless He had influence. It came directly from His heart for people. He said in Matthew 20:28 that He came not to be served but to serve. He lived a life of service and thus people listened. He had a voice in His culture. This leads me to the next point...
4. A Conditional Love - The church as a whole has placed conditions on love. Do we really love people, or are we building an institution. The love that Jesus had was a love of inconvenience. One that caused Him to abandon everything for the sake of changing some one's life. When Jesus spoke, His motives were pure. They were focused on the unconditional love He and the Father had for them.
The church and leaders lose their voice when we attempt to run a well oiled institutional machine called a "church" instead of being a life-giving movement that embraces people and loves them in spite of their weaknesses and in spite of what they can "bring to the table."
Thoughts???? More Tomorrow...
Carl
3. Lack of a Servants Heart - The come and see mentality has been embraced by churches to a fault. When Jesus was alive, He had crowds that followed Him to hear Him teach as well as see the miracles He performed. They asked Him questions and He had influence within His culture. He didn't always make people, (especially religious people) happy, but nonetheless He had influence. It came directly from His heart for people. He said in Matthew 20:28 that He came not to be served but to serve. He lived a life of service and thus people listened. He had a voice in His culture. This leads me to the next point...
4. A Conditional Love - The church as a whole has placed conditions on love. Do we really love people, or are we building an institution. The love that Jesus had was a love of inconvenience. One that caused Him to abandon everything for the sake of changing some one's life. When Jesus spoke, His motives were pure. They were focused on the unconditional love He and the Father had for them.
The church and leaders lose their voice when we attempt to run a well oiled institutional machine called a "church" instead of being a life-giving movement that embraces people and loves them in spite of their weaknesses and in spite of what they can "bring to the table."
Thoughts???? More Tomorrow...
Carl
Why The Church and Pastor's Have Lost Influence
Over the last few decades the church in America has lost it's voice and influence. For the last few months I have made note of numerous conversations that have given me more clarity as to why this is true. Over the next few blog posts I will share my thoughts. Many of these thoughts have helped us determine the type of church that Relevant Church seeks to be.
Reasons the church and pastors have lost influence...
1.Lack of Authenticity - From narcissism in leadership to simple lack of integrity our culture is simply tired of a faux faith. We all desire authenticity and look for someone to model our life after. As pastors and leaders, we must peel back the masks and let people see us for who we are. We must also get to the point that our image doesn't matter. A church or pastors success is not defined on the number of people who attend or the size of the facility you have. What matters most is what people see in you. Are you who you say you are? Do your messages on Sundays, your blogs throughout the week, and the way you treat your family model the life of Jesus Christ?
2.Lack of Relevance - Lights and music, jeans and t-shirts do not necessarily equate to relevance. What does the church do to relate to the community throughout the week. It seems more and more we strive to be relevant for the sake of drawing a crowd and not for the sake of making an impact on those who actually show up. Do we speak on Sunday to grow our church or to grow the people in our audience toward a relationship with Jesus? Do we build relationships in our community to further our agenda or to be an example of Jesus to them?
Thoughts??? More tomorrow.
Carl
Reasons the church and pastors have lost influence...
1.Lack of Authenticity - From narcissism in leadership to simple lack of integrity our culture is simply tired of a faux faith. We all desire authenticity and look for someone to model our life after. As pastors and leaders, we must peel back the masks and let people see us for who we are. We must also get to the point that our image doesn't matter. A church or pastors success is not defined on the number of people who attend or the size of the facility you have. What matters most is what people see in you. Are you who you say you are? Do your messages on Sundays, your blogs throughout the week, and the way you treat your family model the life of Jesus Christ?
2.Lack of Relevance - Lights and music, jeans and t-shirts do not necessarily equate to relevance. What does the church do to relate to the community throughout the week. It seems more and more we strive to be relevant for the sake of drawing a crowd and not for the sake of making an impact on those who actually show up. Do we speak on Sunday to grow our church or to grow the people in our audience toward a relationship with Jesus? Do we build relationships in our community to further our agenda or to be an example of Jesus to them?
Thoughts??? More tomorrow.
Carl
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Sorting Out The Chaos
Five months ago today my family relocated back to GA for the purpose of launching a church that unchurched people love to attend in Henry County. I am trying to sort through all the things that have happened in 5 months and thought I would share a few thoughts...
•To date we have raised a total of $220,000 for the first two years of Relevant Church. Our goal is $250,000. In a down economy this is encouraging, but your prayers and gifts to help us reach this goal will be greatly appreciated.
•As of today 24 people have committed to being a part of the team that launches Relevant in October. There are an additional 10 people who are interested and our prayer is they will come on board within the next few weeks. Our goal pre-launch is 75 people.
•This past Friday we hired a Children's Director that I believe will be a huge asset to the team.
•We have plans to take a team of as many as possible to Tampa in June for training and visiting a partner church plant.
•We are still in negotiations with 3 facilities for a possible launch. Facilities are very difficult to come by in south Henry County, especially for a decent rental rate.
Thanks so much for your prayers and support...To donate visit http://tinyurl.com/yabxvu4 . Any gifts are appreciated.
Carl
•To date we have raised a total of $220,000 for the first two years of Relevant Church. Our goal is $250,000. In a down economy this is encouraging, but your prayers and gifts to help us reach this goal will be greatly appreciated.
•As of today 24 people have committed to being a part of the team that launches Relevant in October. There are an additional 10 people who are interested and our prayer is they will come on board within the next few weeks. Our goal pre-launch is 75 people.
•This past Friday we hired a Children's Director that I believe will be a huge asset to the team.
•We have plans to take a team of as many as possible to Tampa in June for training and visiting a partner church plant.
•We are still in negotiations with 3 facilities for a possible launch. Facilities are very difficult to come by in south Henry County, especially for a decent rental rate.
Thanks so much for your prayers and support...To donate visit http://tinyurl.com/yabxvu4 . Any gifts are appreciated.
Carl
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