by Jason Joyner | Aug 26, 2013 | Blog, Jesus, missional, organic church, Outreach Saga
A cool thing about our Outreach Saga is that I don’t have to carry the load. I do a lot of the teaching, but others step up when they have something from the Lord to share.
A couple of weeks ago my friend Cyndi Gavin shared. She talked about the worth we have to God. What she shared was so good I had to pass it on:
If you could do anything, what would it be? That was the question she posed to us. We had a paper and pencil to write down what we would do if we could do anything we wanted. Then she talked for a bit about how we get our sights on things that aren’t worthwhile.
She pulled out a fifty dollar bill and asked if anyone would want it. Many hands shot up. What if it was dropped in the mud? There were still takers. Now if a one dollar bill was in the mud, you’d consider whether it was worth it. Not with the fifty. It’s gone.
Then she came back to our papers, with our one wish on there. She asked this question: How much was it worth? Was it worth giving the life of your child for it?
No one said yes.
But God said yes.
He said we were worth enough that He would sacrifice His Son for us. And He did just that.
That is how much we are worth.
So, know that you are loved today. And no matter how bad things may seem, God thought you were worth it.
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by Jason Joyner | Dec 17, 2012 | Blog, Jesus, links, Mission Monday, missional, organic church, resources
Hey all. Mission Monday has taken a hit the last few weeks due to schedule issues. I’ve got some resources for people today.
This year has thrown a group of us into a wild adventure with God. A small group of us separated from our previous church and came together to see what the Lord had for us. Through this we started meeting at a local park to reach out to a nearby apartment complex, and thus the Outreach Saga was born.
I’ve been spending time on the internet looking for resources to help us understand this journey and the new way we feel Jesus is leading us. We’ve stumbled by accident into a way of doing things that has been called organic church or simple church. We’ve gained a heart to really see people discipled in Kingdom ways. So here are some resources that I’ve found to be helpful in our six-month adventure.
Alan Knox is a PhD student in theology who writes very gracious but challenging posts on New Testament practice and how it relates to modern church practice.
Frank Viola is a prolific author. He has written numerous books and keeps up a daily blog. He’s written a lot about organic church but has moved to a fuller study of the person of Jesus. His book, Jesus: A Theography is on my Christmas wish list.
A book recommended to me a year ago became very helpful when we started this summer – The Forgotten Ways by Alan Hirsch. It is a thoughtful challenge to the body of Christ and a book that I would highly recommend.
I’ve followed CMA Resources on Twitter and found many encouraging links and articles posted through their work. They have a whole training setup there for people interested in organic church.
Neil Cole is associated with CMA Resources and is another frequent author passionate about organic church and seeing multiplication of disciples. His book Church 3.0 was another intriguing read with some practical advice for those investigating this way of doing church.
The Verge Network has a subscription required for premium content, which I haven’t done yet. Still, there have been free videos released from the likes of Francis Chan and Neil Cole that have been challenging and exhorting for the church to really reach out.
I’ve begun to pay attention to the blog Church In A Circle. Would it be better for the body to interact in a circle than with one person in front speaking to a bunch of rows? That question and more on organic church is discussed here.
There’s a wealth of wisdom and insight above. I hope if any are curious about what we’ve doing will check some of those out. I believe God can use any church for His purpose, from a traditional style of meeting to one that meets in a park with a free-flowing format. It is up to us to be sensitive to what the Holy Spirit is saying to us and be willing to take risks for our Lord Jesus. That’s my prayer for all of us in the coming year.
Hope this helps!
If you have any feedback on this, please share below!
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by Jason Joyner | Aug 27, 2012 | Blog, evangelism, Jesus, links, Mission Monday, Verge Network
I’ve been following the Verge Network on Twitter (@VergeNetwork) all summer. They post some thought-provoking articles on missional life and discipleship. You have to pay for full access, but some gems have popped up on the free side.
This inteview by Rick Warren of Asian church planter Ying Kai is eye-opening and simple. When doing evangelism:
- Tell a story
- Don’t ask for permission to share
Check out the video in the link below for the explanation. Makes sense, and I’ve tried it. It works!
http://www.vergenetwork.org/2012/05/29/simple-ways-to-share-your-faith/
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What say you? Have you found any successful ways to share your faith?
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by Jason Joyner | Jun 25, 2012 | Blog, Jesus, Mission Monday, missional, organic church, Outreach Saga
Another Mission Monday. Another series in our Outreach Saga.
The link there will catch you up if you’re so inclined. The basics so far – I’m in a home group/church that has decided to meet out in a local park for the summer. We’re meeting next to a set of low-income apartments on Sundays, inviting the people to a “BBQ for Jesus” and hanging out with them.
My last two Monday posts have talked about our first two experiences relating to what we have done with the people there. Yesterday was another good day where we were able to bless people relationally, financially, and spiritually. I had a great conversation with some guys discussing our souls, forgiveness, and cremation(!).
The outside manifestation of what Jesus is leading us to do is cool enough. However, I am seeing an equally important side-effect.
I am being transformed.
I have been a faithful church attender since high school. I went to church when my mom had given up on it long ago. I’ve been through church splits, highs, lows, and anywhere in between. The Lord has been walking with me all along, through the trials and blessings. However, over the last several years I have struggled at church. I knew that I was not going to get milk. I wasn’t a new Christian, and I felt that I needed to reach out and be a blessing to others. I taught Bible studies and Sunday school classes. I filled in for the pastor if he was gone. Why, I even acted as a “lay pastor” when we were 5 months in between ministers.
Still, it was more of a duty going on Sunday mornings. I felt it was my fault. I needed to pray more prior to church. I had to get my “heart” right. It was on me.
Now that we aren’t doing church as usual, I think I’m seeing something.
Since we don’t have a strict format, since we’re going week by week trying to listen to God and do whatever is set before us, there is a difference in my heart.
There’s an excitement. There’s a renewal of a passion that had cooled.
There’s a new dependence on Jesus.
We don’t know what is going to happen each time! We have done a variety of things so far. I can’t plan – I can’t use my prior knowledge of the Bible or church to guide me. (Certainly I’m leaning on the Word, but it isn’t where I plan a three-point sermon or lesson).
It is staying sensitive to the Spirit each time we’re out there. It is crying out to Jesus through the week, recognizing that I am in over my head! I need Him to walk with me through this.
I am being changed again.
I have had the privilege of many different experiences that have strengthened my relationship with Jesus. A mission trip, nine months of Bible school, and my long history in church walking with some dear people.
It reminds me of my physician assistant program. The first year was almost all classroom. We took in so much information it was like drinking from a fire hose. The second year was our clinical year. We worked with doctors, PA’s, or nurse practitioners to take care of patients. I was part of a team that helped people, and it made the classroom learning real, because it was applied learning.
I feel like our little group is in clinicals right now. We’ve had many years of going to church, learning and building up our knowledge base and our spiritual lives. Now we are in the practical stage. It is time to go out and do.
It is a challenge. It is frightening at times. It is also exhilirating. I know Jesus is helping us as we try to obey as best we can. I’m learning more and more the truth behind this verse:
“With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” (Mark 10:27)
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by Jason Joyner | Jun 25, 2012 | Blog, Jesus, Mission Monday, missional, organic church, Outreach Saga
Another Mission Monday. Another series in our Outreach Saga.
The link there will catch you up if you’re so inclined. The basics so far – I’m in a home group/church that has decided to meet out in a local park for the summer. We’re meeting next to a set of low-income apartments on Sundays, inviting the people to a “BBQ for Jesus” and hanging out with them.
My last two Monday posts have talked about our first two experiences relating to what we have done with the people there. Yesterday was another good day where we were able to bless people relationally, financially, and spiritually. I had a great conversation with some guys discussing our souls, forgiveness, and cremation(!).
The outside manifestation of what Jesus is leading us to do is cool enough. However, I am seeing an equally important side-effect.
I am being transformed.
I have been a faithful church attender since high school. I went to church when my mom had given up on it long ago. I’ve been through church splits, highs, lows, and anywhere in between. The Lord has been walking with me all along, through the trials and blessings. However, over the last several years I have struggled at church. I knew that I was not going to get milk. I wasn’t a new Christian, and I felt that I needed to reach out and be a blessing to others. I taught Bible studies and Sunday school classes. I filled in for the pastor if he was gone. Why, I even acted as a “lay pastor” when we were 5 months in between ministers.
Still, it was more of a duty going on Sunday mornings. I felt it was my fault. I needed to pray more prior to church. I had to get my “heart” right. It was on me.
Now that we aren’t doing church as usual, I think I’m seeing something.
Since we don’t have a strict format, since we’re going week by week trying to listen to God and do whatever is set before us, there is a difference in my heart.
There’s an excitement. There’s a renewal of a passion that had cooled.
There’s a new dependence on Jesus.
We don’t know what is going to happen each time! We have done a variety of things so far. I can’t plan – I can’t use my prior knowledge of the Bible or church to guide me. (Certainly I’m leaning on the Word, but it isn’t where I plan a three-point sermon or lesson).
It is staying sensitive to the Spirit each time we’re out there. It is crying out to Jesus through the week, recognizing that I am in over my head! I need Him to walk with me through this.
I am being changed again.
I have had the privilege of many different experiences that have strengthened my relationship with Jesus. A mission trip, nine months of Bible school, and my long history in church walking with some dear people.
It reminds me of my physician assistant program. The first year was almost all classroom. We took in so much information it was like drinking from a fire hose. The second year was our clinical year. We worked with doctors, PA’s, or nurse practitioners to take care of patients. I was part of a team that helped people, and it made the classroom learning real, because it was applied learning.
I feel like our little group is in clinicals right now. We’ve had many years of going to church, learning and building up our knowledge base and our spiritual lives. Now we are in the practical stage. It is time to go out and do.
It is a challenge. It is frightening at times. It is also exhilirating. I know Jesus is helping us as we try to obey as best we can. I’m learning more and more the truth behind this verse:
“With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” (Mark 10:27)
—
by Jason Joyner | Jun 18, 2012 | Blog, Jesus, Mission Monday, missional, organic church, Outreach Saga, parks are cool
Two down. Not sure how many more to go.
So far this is a three week series. In the first post I explained how a group of friends in Christ decided to do church a little differently. Last Monday I told the story how we didn’t even get the right date on our invitations, but God showed up anyway. Also some people.
We decided last week to meet again at this local park. It is in the midst of a low-income housing area, with over one hundred apartment complexes. In our city it is known as a rougher area of town. The thing we found last week is that people were receptive to us coming and spending time with them.
After some preparation and more invitations (with the right date, thank you very much) we showed up again on Sunday morning. The first gentleman I talked to asked what denomination we were with.
“Well, we’re just a home church trying to do something a little different.”
We had another good day. People came back from last week. New people showed up. We prayed for people, made arrangements to help one person move, and ran out of hamburgers.
The takeaway point for me was one woman saying, “Our complex needs this. Thank you for making a little community time together.”
There are many people out there who are proponents of home church who say it is the only way to do things. I’m not in that camp, but I think our modern American lifestyle does not allow for true coming together as neighbors. We don’t sit on the front porch anymore – we huddle in our backyards behind privacy fencing. We don’t go to the local church – we drive 30 miles to the one that “makes us feel good” and “meets our needs.”
I know we’ve only done this twice, and I can’t make too many generalizations from just a couple of events. However, it seems that people are hungry to find some grace out there, and I would suggest that the followers of Jesus are the ones to bring it.
A minister friend of mine, Tom Brock, says something to this effect: “Belong, Believe, Behave.” We need to make people feel that they belong, that they are welcome and that they are worthy. If we help them belong, then they will come to believe. Out of that, they will learn to behave. So many of these folks have gone to church, sought after God, and have been rejected.
It grieves my heart.
We’re on a little adventure right now. I know we’re going to that park again on Sunday, and after that we don’t know. I’m not sharing this because I have some secret or that we’re doing things “the right way.”
We’re doing things one way, and God is showing up. It is refreshing. It brings life. I hope to share a little of what we’re learning here is all.
And if you’re bored on Sunday, drop me a line. I know a cool place to hang out.
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