Over the summer, we have been working hard to develop a city-wide campaign to mobilize thousands of believers to live like Jesus and share His love. There is one thing for sure, many Christians today need to move from just believing in Jesus to behaving like Jesus. One of the priorities of Jesus was to live life beyond himself. This same lifestyle is so essential into becoming the Jesus follower He intended us to be. For many believers, trying to find ways to love on people seems complicated and intimidating.

Therefore we have put together hundreds of ways for ANYONE to get involved in making a difference in the lives of others. You will want to check out all the details to this great movement  at www.livelovemovement.com and see how you might get involved.   We are encouraging everyone, regardless of where the attend church, or for that matter, whether they attend at all, to find a way to get involved in touching the lives of thousands of needs in the Portland/Vancouver metro area.

Please take some time to add some comments to the site as well as share it with your Facebook and Twitter friends. I shared with the CBC family on Sunday night all the ways they could get involved.

Take a few minutes and watch the video below:

Live.Love SSN – for Marc Estes / Craig Wishart from City Bible Church on Vimeo.

“I GOT TIRED OF THE CHURCH ALWAYS ASKING FOR MONEY.”

We spend half our lives putting down cash or swiping our pieces of plastic for absolutely everything we consume. Yet, somehow we have this notion that church should be a place where we can get entertained, cared for, taught the Word of God, and served when we have trouble – but it should all come free. True, some churches, do a lousy job of the “ask,” or rather, the “check-out line.”  But if a church is wise, it will point out that giving a part of what you have back to God (who gave it to you anyway) is actually a way to thank Him for His provision.

Many churches also state that giving an offering (a monetary contribution you give when the basket gets passed) or actively tithing (committing ten percent of your income to the church) is an act of worship for those who call that particular church, “home.” As a visitor, you are not expected to participate at all unless you’d like to . That should remove some of the pressure, right? Churches sometimes do discuss monetary or budget issues during a service, mostly because it’s the one time everyone is there! (Kind of like calling a family meeting.) If you are not a member of the church, you’re actually welcome to tune out that portion of the service.

Once you become an active apart of a church, giving will become more natural to you as you feel the desire to give a part of what has been given to you back to the church. At any rate, you should give joyfully, never out of obligation. God loves a cheerful giver. He talks about money ALOT in the Bible, reminding us constantly that everything we have is provided by Him. Once we truly recognize this, we gladly share our resources. We also learn that taking money from the “worldly”  realm and investing it into God’s realm multiplies it in our own lives and in the Kingdom in ways that far exceed any investment bankers calculations! Remember the stories in the BIble  you heard years ago? You know, when Jesus took the loaves of bread and a few fish and fed thousands? That could not have happened if someone didn’t first offer to share what was in his lunchbox!

Jesus said, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treaures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where theives do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart wil be also.”

A church can’t continue to thrive and carry out its mission without funding. Like any company or even non-profit, it needs resources to sustain it. The church is also unusual – it’s the only organization that exists for the benefit of those who are not yet members! Think of that. So if the church is to take God’s message to a hurting world and reach out to thousands who need Christ, the members – the family- have to help make it happen. They do this by sharing what God provides to them as individuals, so that the money can be used for God’s work of building the Kingdom.

Hopefully, these thoughts have helped everyone reading about the right people have to give to their church and for the church to ask for it!

This Fall, our church put together a promotion called, “Rediscover Church.” Our goal was to help those that had become disconnected with the local church get reacquainted with the idea that church matters. There are a variety of reasons why people no longer attend church. Many of their reasons are legitimate, but upon further reflection may need some reconsideration.

Outreach Magazine produced a campaign called, “Back to Church.” In their materials they developed a booklet that deals with the top ten reasons why people no longer attend church. I thought I would share a few with you over the next few posts.  Here is one of the main reasons why people no longer attend:

“I DON’T BELIEVE IN ORGANIZED RELIGION”

Popular culture is full of loose terms. Many people throw out “organized religion” without much thought. What exactly is “organized religion?” Perhaps it means that a governing body of sorts – a group of leaders or rulers – unilaterally determines what is and isn’t right for people. Or, maybe your understanding of the term is related to previous experience of denominational culture, the different way, “things are done” by Methodists, Presbyterians, Catholics, Baptists, and many more.

Let’s dig a little deeper into the term “organized religion” itself. The trouble is, church by its very nature has to be organized. “Religion” is the real issue. In fact, Jesus spent more time rebuking the Pharisees on this topic than anything else. The Pharisees were the “organized religion” of that time, and they had made it all about rules and do’s and dont’s at the expense of a realistic understanding of the love of God. (Yeah, I bet you still know some of them, right?)

The church of today still has its share of Pharisees. It’s sad, but true. Just like in government, you will always have somebody in every church that is too conservative, too rigid, and resistant to change. You’ve probably even worked with people who have a “my way or the highway” mindset, and of course, you are always on their wrong side, because you don’t measure up to their definition of what  you’re supposed to say, do, or be!

“Organized” religion is not really what it’s about; discovering God and meeting Him in the person of Jesus is what it’s about. sometimes this means rising above a few Pharisees you meet along the way.

So, what would dis-organized religion look like anyway? “Anything goes!” “Hey, buddy, if it feels right, it much be OK, right?” “Any way you choose is OK, as long as it make you feel good.” While these paradigms can seem freeing and easy to embrace at first, you’ve probably discovered that they deliver a pretty empty, unfocused life. You quickly find out why these attitudes are not what God desires for us.

Church are places where people, and their issues, gather. God purposely designed people to fine Him through an organized, imperfect group called the church. Otherwise, we can’t authentically share the truth of God, experience His love, connect with others who feel the same, and implement His way of living in an imperfect world. Yes, organized religion may be a faulty term, but organized churches really are essential to helping you find God again.

There are many varying views on the definition and importance of church.  There isn’t a day that passes where I don’t find myself baffled with the responses of people concerning this vital topic. As society continues to become increasingly secular, the need for Christians to understand the perceptions of the unchurched increase dramatically.  Statistics show that only 15% of those under the age of 35 have any Christian influence in their lives. Times have certainly changed.

I felt it was important to address this subject with the college students in my Personal Evangelism Class. After putting my thoughts down on paper, I felt it would be good to put them into the hands of anyone that would be interested in sharing with others, ‘why church is important and how to deal with some of the rebuttals from the unchurched.’

Here is a link to download the notes, and you can find them on my Resource Page as well.

Combatting Perspectives of the Church – web

 

In Christendom, controversy is wide spread concerning exactly what the church is to be and what it is actually supposed to do. There are those that believe the church to be the ‘universal’ expression of God’s purpose (big ‘C’) and that the local church (little ‘c’) is simply man’s interpretation and attempt to regulate and control God’s people. There are others that believe that the local church (little ‘c’) is God’s eternal purpose and his final instrment and the universal church (big ‘C’) is a culmination of all the local churches. Two extremes, both with huge ramifications as to how they are lived out in our lives.

 

Outside of the world of Christian debate there are those that don’t claim, nor desire to be called a Christian. They stand on the outside, looking in to our world, beliefs and lifestyle with their own opinions of the church and are asking a pretty big question that we had better be able to answer, “Why does the church even exist?” Many of them would define the church as irrelevant, introverted and religious. Others would say the church is a place for weak, feeble-minded people who are simply out of touch with reality.

 

As we continue to drown in the sea of personal opinion and global debate as to what the church is to be and do, it might be wise to see what Jesus thinks the church is and supposed to be. Jesus made a very thought provoking statement to His disciples regarding this thing called the ‘church.’ He did have an opinion! He says in Matthew 16, “This is the rock on which I will put together my church, a church so expansive with energy that not evern the gates of hell will be able to keep it out. And that’s not all. You will have complete and free access to God’s kingdom, keys to open andy and every door; no more barriers between heaven and earth, earth and heaven…”

 

Jesus seemed to think, as well as promise, that there would be this ‘thing’ called the church, and that it would be a part of God’s ultimate purpose and plan. In fact, the entire Bible has much to say about this area of controversy. Maybe, just maybe, there is something in God’s plan and Word that should get our attention as to what ‘HE’ thinks about church, its definition and purpose. Are you game?

 

Over the next few months, I would like to dialogue with you out in blogsville the issue of, “the local church.” As we journey together, I would welcome some thoughts from you as to what you think the local church is to be? Is there a Univeral church only, or is there a plan explained in God’s Word for the local church? And, if there is a local church, what does it look like? Give me your thoughts and lets see if we can together get this thing straight once and for all. Our lives depend on it, as well as the lives of all those who need Christ. The lines are now open! Let ‘er rip.

I think we do not only need the local church, but should love it! Jesus gave Himself for her. As Christians we might want to follow His example, as that is what the term ‘Christian’ means.

Rick Warren says, “A Christian without a church home is like an organ without a body, a sheep without a flock, or a child without a family. It is an unnatural state.”Without a local church, our lives are incomplete. You may have needs that aren’t being met through your local church, but God intends for it to provide the following needs:

• An environment of spiritual growth.
• An atmosphere of God’s presence.
• A place to belong to a genuine community.
• A family to help meet your needs.
• A place of covering and protection.
• A place for accountability and safety.
• A place for wisdom, direction, and counsel.
• A place to make a difference.
• An opportunity to pour your life into others.
• A safe atmosphere to raise families.
• A place to give of finances, time, and energy.

If you can think of anymore or would like to give me your thougths, let ‘er rip!  Marc

What if we were to ask Jesus the same questions today? “Jesus, do you love the Church?” Scripture answers that one quickly, “Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her” (Eph. 5:25, TNIV). Next question: “Jesus, how passionately are you involved in serving and supporting the local church?” Again, Scripture answers, “Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them” (Heb. 7:25, TNIV).

It seems pretty clear. Jesus died for the church, and He also lives, always interceding, for her. Jesus loves the Church. As a young boy at the age of twelve, Jesus’ parents thought He was lost, so they went on a massive search to find him. Three days later they found Him. Where? In the Jewish Temple! He said to them, “Why were you searching for me? Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” (Luke 2:49, TNIV). His answer states the obvious.
On many occasions Jesus referred to the Church as His bride. I have been to many weddings in my life, perhaps hundreds. While the crowd stares at the beautiful bride walking down the aisle, my eyes are set on the groom. Oftentimes he is crying, overwhelmed with emotion, as the love of his life walks down the aisle to be presented to him. As an illustration to help us attempt to comprehend Christ’s love for the Church, God compares it to a man’s love for his bride. In his book, Stop Dating the Church, Joshua Harris says, “Is it possible that God didn’t get His inspiration for loving the church from marriage, but the one reason He created marriage was to illustrate His love for the church? God invented romance and pursuit and the promise of undying love between man and woman so that throughout our lives we could catch a faint glimmer of the intense love Christ has for those He died to save. What a passion He has for His church. The strongest argument I know for why you and I should love and care about the church is that Jesus does.”