Ever have your mind seemingly be in a spin cycle? Whirling around and around? That has been my mind this week. I have been gearing up for 2019. While getting things ready to close out 2018, I also work on 2019. It is our hearts, as Pastors and Shepherds, to seek out God for direction and discernment. The weight of heartfelt conversations, reading and praying have led me to ponder and wonder, what is it people need? What do they truly need? The Churched and the UnChurched- What do they need? What is the role of the church in today’s world? What do folks need from their pastors? Where and how do you see yourself in the church?
I have my own ideas what the answer should be to each of these questions. I would like to hear from you. Take your time. Really think on these things.
My heart can grow heavy with these questions. But what keeps coming up in my spirit is this, as followers of Jesus Christ we are to model ourselves after Him. Ever played follow the leader as a child? You took the same steps, walk the same direction and did exactly as the leader. Where have we gone in thinking we know better than our leader? Of course, our leader is Jesus Christ. What people truly want, I believe, is to know they are loved, have hope and place to belong. But how do we do those things? There is only way -through Jesus. John 12:32 “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”
I am the way, the truth and the life. John 14:6
People need Jesus. We need to fall in love with Jesus,again. It is what people are starving for. “For God So Loved the world, that He gave…John 3:16.” No greater love than that. But what does the love of Christ look like? His love brought so many things to the table: peace, forgiveness, correction, mercy, grace, his promises, eternal life and so much more!
If we really want to follow the leader, then let’s do it completely and not selectively. As John 12:32 says it is when we lift up Jesus that draws them to Him. We don’t have to be “PC” (politically correct). Let’s face it, there was nothing “PC” about Jesus. While He loved them in their sin, He wasn’t about making them comfortable in their sin. (Insert a big shout out to the Holy Ghost for making us uncomfortable to want to come out of our sin).
I have asked a lot of questions throughout this post. Please take the time to ponder and respond. I truly want to hear your thoughts. Leave your responses in the comments section, along with your email address.
Thank you for pondering along with me. #ButGod
When I think on the questions that you have posed…I agree that Jesus, our true leader, has given us every answer. Whether it is in a direct command or by parable, He teaches with truth, love and always with our salvation in mind.
I think sometimes we can put too much emphasis on all the “consumerism” side of church planning. What I mean by that is this: we focus a lot of time and energy on what “we” think will bring people to church, keep people in church or make people want to be there. We can sometimes stray from the message of Christ in all of that… And when we stray we lose what the church is about. The church is about the gospel. It is about Jesus Christ himself, coming down, saving us, restoring and redeeming our lives! I wonder sometimes — why isn’t this enough for us? Why isn’t what he did enough to drive us to community with other believers? My heart needs Him not another program…but with that said…Offering extra opportunities for believers to gather together in fellowship, in Worship, and in growing in our faith are also valuable. Maybe I made this more confusing!! I love learning what Jesus teaches. He is all I need.