My mind has been spinning around way too much these days (probably due to the fact that I have contracted sinusitis and am out of commission for a day or so). The primary thoughts that are driving me are in relationship to Passions that move God's people, Perspectives that have shaped God's people and Prescriptions from His Word that should form God's people - for His Glory in this world!
So, today I want to begin a discussion about the Passions that drive us as God's people, particularly the passions that drive a local congregation and its leadership. I believe the everyone, all of us, has a God given passion to be lived out in this life that we must discover to be fruitful in ministry and effective in life. You don't have to look far into the Word to see that God has created us and knows us intimately and that He has created us for good works in this world. The question I believe we all have to answer is what are those good works and how are they lived out within the context of the local church and the communities in which God has placed the local church!
Further, I fully believe that each local church will have a different set of Passions based upon several things, but primarily upon the perspective of the community and the prescriptions of God's Word. In my own ministry I have found that my passion begins around the concept that God's people must experience the richness of His Word on a daily basis and the challenge of living out that richness in life and ministry. As I look back over my ministry these days I understand that my heart conviction or passion is that those who sit under me are encouraged, challenged, equipped and empowered to 'live out' the richness of God in their life in a way that makes a difference - a significant difference in the relationships that Christ has given them. I have variously referred to this as 'incarnational' living or more commonly as connecting what happens on Sunday to life change on Monday.
I get excited when one of my church members calls, emails, texts, twitters (pick your poison) me with a testimony about how God is moving in their life, community, work, school, etc. I am deeply moved when I hear about our own folks who are living out the great commission and striving toward the great commandment and then seeing the blessing of God over both. So, I have learned that I have a passion in this area - the area of God's people living out His reality in their life in such a way as others notice and those who don't know Him begin to open up and receive His gift of salvation - that's is it - that is what life is all about. I love this when I see it in my home as well - when my wife lives out her passion through her gifts and when my kids notice things around them that aren't quite right (like brokenness, pain, suffering, poverty) and then ask, 'dad, what do we do about this as Christians.' That is Awesome!
On my white board in my office I have a list of four qualities that I look for in people that have really caught the heart of my ministry and how God has called me to conduct ministry. The first of those qualities is this: A Westside Community Church Disciple is a person who is ACTIVE and ENGAGED in 'market - place' ministry - they are living out the Great Commission and Great Commandment and taking their faith into Christ's world! I look for this, I long for this and I, quite frankly gauge the entire effectiveness of my ministry around this passion that drives me!
Now to some questions that follow: First, if you are not a 'westsider' and you are reading this blog, I want to ask you if you even know the Passions that drive your Senior Pastor and the Senior Leadership in your church. If not, take your pastor out for a cup of coffee and ask the question: 'what is it that drives you, your life and ministry.' Now, if you are a westsider let me ask you a question: do you see ministry that is being conducted from this passion? Can you see the mark of this passion in our ministries and are you, as a result of being discipled in this ministry, closer to this reality today than you were before you got here? If not, why? What can I do as your pastor and what can we do as your church to move you down the road that Christ has already laid out for you?
One step I want you to take is to get more involved in the life of Westside! This week we embark on new journey together. A journey of becoming Fully Engaged! We begin by looking at how we can be Fully Engaged with our Friends and Family. Then we will move to being Fully Engaged in our Walk with Christ, we will then wrap it all up with How we can be Fully Engaged in our Communities! Our new journey also begins with Pierre and Mikelann this weekend - what a blessing it is to have them on board. I am excited about getting to know not only them, but also the passions that drive them in life and ministry for as we experience their own passions for Christ and His Kingdom, I believe we might move closer to our own God given passions - wouldn't that be awesome - that you and I will grow closer to Christ because of their presence with us and their leadership journey in our midst at this time in the life of this great congregations!!!!
So, there you go for my 'Passions' Blog - next one will be perspectives that have formed us - that should be a fun one, because they are certainly varied and vast! Come Sunday - it's time, Westside, to get Fully Engaged and to beging that Engagement with discovering your God given Passion!
Fully Engaged, October 09!
Biz
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