Changing Church Incorporated: 2009

Friday, July 31, 2009

A church with an answer

The Rolling Hills Baptist Church in Fayetteville, Ga, is a church answering some of these questions. The decided to sell up their church and focus on what is really important and in the eye of God - people.

Here's a list of answers from their pastor's blog:

It’s not about how many people come to our church services – it’s about how many people our church serves.

It’s not about our seating capacity – it’s about our sending capacity.

It’s not about being “attractional” – it’s about being “incarnational”.

It’s not about making decisions – it’s about being disciples.

It’s not about building a monument – it’s about being a movement.

It’s not about being an organization – it’s about being an organism.

It’s not about keeping pace with the Joneses – it’s about keeping pace with Jesus.

It’s not about competing for members – it’s about creating partnerships for mission and ministry.

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Money or Goods?

When you give, do you think about whether you give money or gifts?

When you give, think about this – money is easy to give, but things take thought and time. If you give money it is practical, but not really personal.

Give money and you provide … Give things and you provide …

Daily expenses --------------------------- Delightful experiences

Provisions --------------------------------- Great Pleasure

Requirements ---------------------------- Remembered treasures

Support ------------------------------------ Surprise

Every day expenses ---------------------- Everyone’s enjoyment

Supplies ------------------------------------ Smiles

Treats --------------------------------------- Treasure

Help ----------------------------------------- Hope

Loyalty -------------------------------------- Love

Relief ---------------------------------------- Rich memories

Top up of funds --------------------------- Thankfulness

Money --------------------------------------- Miracles

Monday, March 23, 2009

Since when

….did living in the “fire of the Holy Spirit”, become “living in the light of
our own fires”?
….did Church become “a place to be entertained” rather than “entering into the Holy Of Holies”
….did “talent” replace “tongues (and interpretation)
….was church focused on making you “feel good” rather than “seeking God”
….did “glossy news letters to read” seem more spiritual than “Bibles that were worn out from reading”

Since When

.... IN JESUS DAYS WAS BIG –BETTER?
I know that there are ministers and ministries whose life is Christ, their congregation, the community, the lost and hurting. To those people I admire your tremendous efforts, tireless work and absolute dedication. But I feel some churches are slipping into a very dangerous illusion of what church should be like in this day and age. I wonder if some of those actions are misguided. SINCE WHEN….
…did a “church of influence” become a multi million dollar building, rather than “building lives by teaching them to count the cost of being a Christian”?
…was “stepping up to the next level” more important than “getting down to the level of others”?
…was money meant to flow in to building funds, rather than out to missions, orphans, widows and the fatherless?
…did a superficial presence of decorations and flashing lights supersede the awesome presence of God?
…when was it decided that multimedia presentations should be longer than time given for prayer?
SINCE WHEN…
…was a professional image more important than inviting in “those from the highways and byways”?
….did “The best is yet to come” mean more self fulfilment rather than “The second coming of Christ”?
…. did it become a goal for leaders to strive for greater recognition over and above “repentance, and purity of heart”?
… did the word “Blessed” come to mean “more possessions” instead of its deeper meaning of “More Joy?
….. was it decided that the offering message should never be left out, but praying for the needs of the congregation could be pushed aside for “lack of time”?
SINCE WHEN…
…did unity mean a logo T/Shirt for the leaders, workers and the choir, instead of “giving the shirt off your back to those who have so little”?
….did worship become all about “catchy songs” and “selling albums” rather than giving song from a heart of reverence?
…. did God become an indulgent father who inspires neither “Reverence nor Holy fear”?
…did music need to be loud because it is all about “being contemporary” and less about “Stillness of heart”?
…did Vision Sunday become all about hype, glitz, gloss and motivational speaking, yet talk of “Jesus” is no where to be heard?
SINCE WHEN…
…was it decided that Pastors salaries and entitlements should never be revealed yet the money comes from peoples pockets, not profits?
…was it decided that Congregations should be constantly bombarded with “giving more”, to keep the “church machine running” when Paul was making tents so as not to be a burden?
… did the phrase “Serving in the House” mean leaving some people exhausted, fatigued and disillusioned after years of giving time; attending numerous meetings costing time spent with the family, and for some “working” on their only day off?
….were leaders to position themselves as “kings” and being part of a “Big Boys Club” while the rest of the congregation become servants and subjects?
…was “delivering a well rehearsed sermon” seen as more important than the “ministry of deliverance” to those who are oppressed by the enemy? SINCE WHEN…
…did the ministry of the Prophet become the ministry of Profit.?
…did teaching on End Times, Hell and Satan become seen not only as negative but irrelevant?
….did the gifts and ministry of the Holy Spirit become shunted aside for once a month appearances during “Holy Spirit meetings”.
… did those that are “sitting comfortable”, become out of touch with the average person “sitting with daily struggles”?
SINCE WHEN…
…were large collections agreed on to be taken up for Pastors to take holidays, while members in their congregation remain who haven’t been away on holiday for a single night in years? …. did a “corporate image” come in and “living in the image of Christ” go out? ….was it decided that the “offering message” should now be every Sunday and “Communion” now be only once a month?
….did strobe lights and disco lights take centre stage while a wooden cross is no where to be seen?
… did Christianity’s hidden agenda ashamedly become “What God can do for me”? Instead of “The sacrificial way of the Cross”?
SINCE WHEN…
…. did the church become "hollow" instead of "Hallowed "?
…..did the "love for many" get changed to the "love of money”?
…. did the manifestations of the Holy Sprit become “annoying” while His “anointing” we no longer seek?
… did the church claim to be the “New Israel”, the chosen, when God said of the Jews that forever they are his and this truth for eternity is frozen?
…. was the bride replaced with Pride? For Israel has never been pushed aside.
…. did “positioning yourself for greatness” become the latest phrase while “Humbling yourself for His service” go out of fashion
…. did claiming God’s promises on things that please our eyes, rather than pleading the cause of the oppressed.

I often wonder how differently it could all be done so that the focus of attention is once more God's only Son; where the fruits and gifts of the Spirit have freedom of speech; so that the Lost and Hurting are once more within our reach.

We could repent, but I wonder …………….WHEN?

Changing Church Incorporated