A few weeks ago, Christy and I had the
opportunity to go to the NewSpring Leadership Conference in Anderson, South
Carolina. It was refreshing and
recharging and I could not have asked for a better conference to attend.
The speaker line up was full of some of the
best church communicators out there today. Perry Noble (pastor at New Spring Church – SC), Jud Wilhite
(Pastor at Central Christian Church – Las Vegas), Steven Furtick (Pastor at
Elevation Church – Charlotte) Mark Driscoll (Pastor at Mars Hill – Seattle),
Andy Stanley (Pastor at NorthPoint Church – Atlanta), Judah Smith (Pastor at
City Church – Seattle) and Craig Groeschel (Pastor at LifeChurch –
Oklahoma). While they all brought
great messages of encouragement and challenge, I think the overall theme came
down to one question that Judah Smith asked during his message… “When did Jesus
stop being enough?”
While it wasn’t the theme, as I read through
my notes on the plane ride home, it seemed to me that every speaker’s message
revolved around that idea.
As I started to think about our new series
that starts this week called NOT A FAN. I began to think back to that question…
“When did Jesus stop being enough?”
When did church become about “everything”
instead of just the “one thing?”
When did it become about programs and special events and the idea of
“what’s in it for me” instead of being about Jesus, and Him alone?
Sometimes people think if we are not DOING a
bunch of everything, then we are failing somehow in ministry. I want to say that is wrong
thinking. Open up your Bible or
open up a new tab on top to Matthew 28:18-20. I’ll give you a minute. Alright, read it?
If not, here
it is - 18 Then Jesus came to
them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of
the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching
them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always,
to the very end of the age.” (NIV)
I would like
to HIGHLIGHT a few words here… Jesus does not tell us to go and make programs
or bigger churches or fans of Him… he calls us to make disciples (fully devoted
followers of Him) and teach them about Him and pass on His commands.
While it is great that churches provide all
that they do, we really need to be careful to not let those things become
priority or the reason why we go to church or do church. Church is not about us. We are not there to be
entertained. That is a FAN
mentality that cannot be, because Jesus didn’t ask for fans, He has challenged
us to be followers and to make them.
Starting this Sunday we will be discussing
the difference – I hope you join us this Sunday as we kick this series off.
