You heard about the party, right? And the five candles (that you can't blow out)?
Mission Catalyst turns five on August 9, and the candles are for the party. But we're not just eating cake and blowing noisemakers. We are planning an announcement that changes everything. It's a big deal.
What do we mean? You'll know on August 9. In the meantime, let your mind take you back to 50 days after Passover. The believers came together in thankfulness for the first harvest, and strange things started to happen. Flames of fire appeared out of nowhere (no one could blow them out), the noise of a Katrina-like hurricane roared through and, without the benefit of Rosetta Stone CDs, people started sharing the gospel in languages they had never spoken before. The result? Several thousand skeptics crossed the line of faith and became fervent followers of Jesus. Pretty cool, huh?
Can it happen again? Of course. "In the last days," God says, "I will pour my Spirit upon all people" (Acts 2:17). We believe Him. We think conversions ought to be normal. We pray and expect that God will use leaders today to create prevailing churches where God is the hero and believers love nothing more than helping skeptics learn about Him.
We didn't coin the term "prevailing church," but we like it. We use it all the time around Mission Catalyst because it captures what we sense God is calling us to create. We are thankful for every church that lifts up Jesus ("wherever two or three are gathered"), but we will pay just about any price to build a prevailing church. Here is what we mean. See if it sounds exciting to you.
· The church ethos is unselfish: It's all about the next person who needs to meet Jesus.
· The church understands and connects with the culture through music, technology, preaching, and the arts.
· A high percentage of attenders had no church background before finding this church.
· Authentic Acts 2 community happens (largely, but not exclusively) through its system of small groups.
· The stories of supernatural life-change and radical discipleship are countless.
· The church never stops reaching more people. Whatever the church's age, it continues to grow.
· The church has an increasingly significant footprint in the community. You can't miss it.
We want to hear your feedback. And, we'd like to hear whether you know of a church that fits this description. Maybe it's your church or a church you've visited. And stay tuned for August 9.
"Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you." Joshua 3:5
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3 comments:
Could you please be more specific about the terms used below? I don’t think you could possibly mean what I think you have said.
“Don't get nervous, because we're not yelling at random passers-by through open windows or contemplating carnage (in fact, we are smiling, high-fiving, and having the time of our lives!). But we're done making excuses. Churches that worship on Saturday (and hang on to some other teachings) will never break through and become prevailing churches."
Done making excuses for what? Please be specific.
Breakthrough what? Please be specific.
“Prevailing Churches ?” Please give your definition.
Why would anyone want to forgo worship on Saturday and hanging on to “some other teachings” so they “break through” and become a part of the “prevailing church” ?
“We will not listen to the people who say, "It cannot be done. Truth is unpopular. The road is narrow.” ??
What people will you not listen to? Mathew, Mark, Luke, and John ? Jesus himself ?
Truth is unpopular! And the road is narrow! Do you not have a Bible?
Matthew 7:14
…. strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Socialism is popular. Spiritual Relativism is popular. Churches that function as social clubs are popular.
Indulging in rebellious, pretentious, offensive, embarrassing, disrespectful, worship is popular.
This is what makes the “prevailing church” popular. This kind of church must not, and will not prevail !
Revelation 18:4…… Come out of her ( prevailing church), my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
Could you please be more specific about the terms used below? I don’t think you could possibly mean what I think you have said.
“Don't get nervous, because we're not yelling at random passers-by through open windows or contemplating carnage (in fact, we are smiling, high-fiving, and having the time of our lives!). But we're done making excuses. Churches that worship on Saturday (and hang on to some other teachings) will never break through and become prevailing churches."
Done making excuses for what? Please be specific.
Breakthrough what? Please be specific.
“Prevailing Churches ?” Please give your definition.
Why would anyone want to forgo worship on Saturday and hanging on to “some other teachings” so they “break through” and become a part of the “prevailing church” ?
“We will not listen to the people who say, "It cannot be done. Truth is unpopular. The road is narrow.” ??
What people will you not listen to? Mathew, Mark, Luke, and John ? Jesus himself ?
Truth is unpopular! And the road is narrow! Do you not have a Bible?
Matthew 7:14
…. strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Socialism is popular. Spiritual Relativism is popular. Churches that function as social clubs are popular.
Indulging in rebellious, pretentious, offensive, embarrassing, disrespectful, worship is popular.
This is what makes the “prevailing church” popular. This kind of church must not, and will not prevail !
Revelation 18:4…… Come out of her ( prevailing church), my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
Read the message again. You totally missed the point.
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