Posterous theme by Cory Watilo

mckaycaston.com

Living All of Life in View of the Cross

Filed under: church

Should We Stop Planting Churches?

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Before my family moved to Dahlonega, GA, to plant a church, a friend of mine told me not to plant a church. He wasn't saying for me not to move to Dahlonega or that he didn't want a new church established there. He simply said, "Go live the gospel (teach it and preach it as the solution for my own need, not just theirs) and just maybe a church will spring to life around you." 

That's not terrible counsel. After all, what is a church? It is a community of gospel-affected people who do life together on mission. You can't plant that. A church is the result of planting the seed of the gospel—the message of the cross—that takes root in the hearts of those who receive the gift through faith. So, church planters, let's become gospel planters. Let's stop planting churches and start planting the seed of radical grace through things like weakness evangelism. Then, as others are affected, we'll see churches begin to sprout and flourish in the power of the Spirit. 

Of course, for those of us in the church planting world, we are talking semantics. No church planter in the network with which I am associated is neglecting the gospel in an effort to establish an organization. After all, a cotton farmer is known for what results from his planting. He is not a cotton seed farmer; he is a cotton farmer. The plant assumes the seed. The same is true in church planting. We are sent out to establish churches. The seed of the gospel is assumed. So what we call church planting and gospel planting are not mutually exclusive.

The point is priority. As we focus on sowing the seed, we will have opportunity to tend the plant. For naturally, as the seed grows into a sapling, there will be an organism whose growth we are called to steward. That is where we begin dealing with organizational issues such as budgets, services, facilities, staffing, programs, etc.  But let's not overlook the organic roots of the organism—the seed. In this sense, it seems as if we should first and foremost be planters/sowers of the gospel and then cultivators of the new communities of gospel-affected people who begin to gather as a church.  

If we make it all about the gospel—all about Jesus—all about grace—then we are contributing to the healthiest possible plant. One that prayerfully will reproduce as seed is scattered all over the community, region and, ultimately, the world. 

SDG

A Word of Thanks to Our Team

I'm in the Creekstone office tonight, and one of our team leaders, Jim Keane is in the next room laminating photos for our information kiosk tomorrow. He has been up here the past two Saturdays. But he is only a representation of the many folks giving a great deal of time and energy toward advancing the mission of Creekstone Church, which is to glorify God by helping people come alive to the wonder of the Gospel.  So as I sit here thinking about just what it takes to make Sundays happen at Creekstone, I want to thank some of our leaders who serve as volunteers.

Matt Stevenson serves as my Pastoral Assistant and handles a lot of administrative details that, if he quit, would put me under my desk in the fetal position.

Jesse Turk serves as Worship Arts Coordinator. No way to calculate the hours he has put in. 

Elijah Merrett serves as Ministry Coordinator, overseeing all of our Sunday ministry teams. Without him, we would not be meeting on Sunday mornings.

Jay Smorey is the new coordinator of our Sound and Light Ministry. He defines professional.

Kira Barcus leads our Children's Ministry. Enough said!

Jim Keane, and his wife, Janet, oversee our Facilities team. They are behind the scenes ministry gurus.  

Tommy Jones oversees the collection of our Offerings and Keeping in Touch forms. Needless to say, that is a vital detail on Sundays.

Robin Howell coordinates our Greeter Team. These are the first faces folks see on Sundays. Thanks for being there, y'all, and for coordinating, Robin!

Joan and Alex Flewelyn coordinate our Hospitality Ministry, which provides coffee and snacks on Sunday mornings. Without y'all, most of us would be asleep!   

I wish that I could name everyone who serves on these various teams and all of our musicians. Please know that I appreciate each and every one of you, and can't wait to celebrate the gospel with you in the morning!

 

Let's Set Sail! (or, Four Kinds of Churches)

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According to Len Sweet in his book, Soul Tsunami, there are essentially four kinds of churches. 

 
1. Mission churches. These churches are on the front lines of gospel expansion. They have a radar for the "ungospelized," and desire to have others discover the joy of the gospel by serving, reaching and discipling these new, unreached people. These churches take risks, often steping out onto the water to walk with Jesus.
 
2. Ministry churches. These are churches that provide lots of activities for those within the church. If they reach out, it is primarily to those who are like themselves and are already reached. There is little gospel risk in these churches.
 
3. Maintenance churches.  These are churches that play it safe in the harbor, and are content with preserving customs. They seem to have life, but it is a cruise control type of life. These churches often envy ministry churches and are suspicious of mission churches. 
 
4. Monument churches. These churches are fully ingrown and ultimately dying, living off of the memories of the past.  These churches are jealous of maintenance churches, suspicious of ministry churches, and fear mission churches. 
 
Every new church is either a ministry church or a mission church. However, over time, most have a tendency to slip into maintenance mode... or worse!  Most of my pastoral experience has been with ministry churches, and so I am inclined to lead Creekstone in that direction. 
 
However, as I reflect and pray, I am not satisfied with that track. I want to be missional. This does not mean that we neglect the core, but that we equip the core to be Jesus-centered, gospel-centered, grace-centered, and cross-centered!  Then we will love each other in a way that is compelling to the outside world. We will serve the out side world in such a way that they ask questions. We will invite. We will give. We will repent. We will forgive. We will love. 
 
What will this mean for Creekstone. Wow, I'm not sure. The harbor is calm (and honestly, I like calm), and the sea of mission is turbulent. But that is where Jesus is, and it is where I want to go. So, if you are willing, let's set sail and pray for the wind of the Spirit to lead us!

Post-Game Message Review: "It Takes a Team"

Last night's message was from Ephesians 4:11-16, entitled, "It Takes a Team." 

11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. (ESV)

The main idea of the message was that, in order for Creekstone to fulfill its mission to glorify God by helping people come alive to the wonder of the gospel, it will take a team.

Here are some of the key thoughts:

1. God has given various offices in the church, one being the teaching pastor (v. 11).

2. The teaching pastor's primary role on the team is to function like a coach, equipping the members through teaching (v. 12a).

3. Every member has a role/position to play on the team (v. 12b). The traditional model of "hiring a pastor to do the ministry" is tragically unbilbical. Actually, ordinary Chrisitans ("saints") are to be equipped by the teaching pastor so that they can fulfill their own various ministries in the context of the church.  Each role is significant and necessary in order to see the mission fulfilled.

The five Ministry Teams that we have right now are:

  • Music & Worship
  • Tech (Audio/Visual)
  • Greeter / Welcome
  • Set Up / Clean Up
  • Children & Nursery

You may sign up for a team on our website (www.creekstonechurch.com)

4. We can know that the church is making progress as a team when "there is unity of purpose and mission (v. 13) based on the gospel (vv. 13b-14) that leads to relationships that are governed by grace (vv. 15-16)."This means that there will be plenty of opportuntiy to repent to each other, forgive each other and encourage each other as we pursue mission collectively and individually.

5. The theological unbrella under which the team approach takes place is that the Christian's relationship with God is one that is governed by the gospel (truth and love displayed in the cross), giving us a framework of grace from which to function as we live out our roles on the team.

If you were present and have any questions, comments, suggestions or reflections, your comments are welcome.

How an Idea Becomes Reality (Mark Driscoll)

Mark Driscoll, Preaching Pastor at Mars Hill Church, recently wrote an article on turning an idea into reality. I've summaried his mental process in some areas and quoted him in others. Thanks, Mark!


1. Begin with Vision

What do we want to accomplish? What is our dream?

2. Develop a Plan

What are the practical steps to seeing the vision a reality? What is my role in the process? What do I need to delegate? What other key leaders will be required to see the plan implemented?

3. Implement the Plan

"The idea has been justified, planned, and approved; it now needs to be launched as a reality. The plan needs to be executed and at this phase, the hard work begins in an effort to build momentum and make the idea a reality." - Mark Driscoll

4. Manage the Plan

"At this phase, the idea has become a new reality but shortly thereafter the ministry will likely lose momentum as the work becomes routine, the systems that were planned need to be upgraded for efficiency, and faithful people need to ensure the ministry continues forward and that the devoted people serving do not grow weary or lose heart" - Mark Driscoll

5. Review

"At the six-month and one-year marks of each ministry (as well as other designated times), the leader of that ministry must ensure that accurate and meaningful reviews are conducted to answer the following questions and determine if the ministry should continue, be changed, or cease." - Mark Driscoll

  1. Have you met your objectives?
  2. Why or why not?
  3. Should this ministry continue?
  4. How can you improve?
  5. What changes must be made?

Imagine a Church...

At Creekstone, we are imagining and dreaming, that by grace alone, we will be a church that...

1. GLORIFIES God by tying and tethering everything about its ministry to the life-revolutionizing power of God's grace in Jesus.

2. EMBRACES both the authoritative truth of the written Word and the active ministry of the Holy Spirit, where sound doctrine and vital experience converge to form a mighty river of true spirituality.

3. PROMOTES an impassioned orthodoxy, which is manifested corporately in the context of holistic, God-centered worship that is characterized by the fullness of religious affections: awe and intimacy, reverence and celebration, sorrow and joy, humility and boldness, etc.

4. VALUES authenticity, humility, community, mission, mercy, compassion, repentance, creativity, faith, love, generosity, teamwork, testimony, beauty, truth, grace, etc.

5. ENJOYS a sense of unpretentious, genuine community that is characterized by spiritual and relational vulnerability.

6. ATTRACTS spiritually thirsty people who are looking for an oasis of grace; a place where sinners can come as they are to drink from the spring of living water as they rest in the shade of the cross.

7. PURSUES the next generation with practical, incarnational, grace-centered ministry.

8. APPROACHES post-modernity not only as a challenge to the Gospel, but also as an opportunity for the Gospel.

9. CELEBRATES its place in the drama of God's redemptive story by appreciating the traditions of the past, incarnating the Gospel in the present and adapting ministry in the future.

10. ENGAGES the culture with thoughtfulness and respect as it seeks not only to defend, but also to commend the faith to those who do not yet believe.

11. LEADS people into a genuine faith-love relationship with Jesus by discipling each member in a depth-understanding of the Gospel and its life implications.

12. EQUIPS members to serve as missionaries in their natural, organic social networks.

13. RELEASES every member into his or her area of ministry passion and giftedness.

14. SERVES its community through deeds and ministries of mercy and compassion.

15. FACILITATES unity and cooperation among a network of likeminded, Gospel-centered churches because it longs for an effective community-wide church rather than merely an effective individual congregation.

16. RECOGNIZES the spiritual dynamics behind material realities, and consequently bathes all of life and ministry in God-centered, kingdom-advancing prayer.

17. MENTORS leaders with an intentional plan to develop them into mature and equipped pacesetters who have the gospel as their True North for life and ministry.

18. MULTIPLIES the mission through an aggressive approach to church planting and renewal, promoting God-centered, Spirit-filled, grace-driven, faith-motivated, joy-saturated missional communities in the entire region and ultimately, the world.

One Church, Many Places

I am starting a new church, and one of the questions that I get asked almost every day is "which denomination are you." Baptist? Presbyterian? Methodist? Episcopalian? Non-denominational? Although Creekstone does have a denominational affiliation for theological accountability and practical support, I like the atitutde of the 18th century revival preacher George Whitefield, who said,

"Father Abraham, whom have you in heaven? Any Episcopalians? No! Any Presbyterians? No! Any Independents or Methodists? No, no, no! Then whom have you there? We don't know those names here. All who are here are Christians... Oh, is this the case? Then God help us to forget party names and to become Christians in deed and truth."

Now, I recognize the necessity of and even the value of denominations (especially for theological accountability), including my own (for which I am deeply grateful). However, I don't care whehter someone is baptist, presybyterian, pentecostal, methodist, etc. In fact, I hope no one IS any of those, since IS is a word of identity. For the Christian, idenitity is not a matter of denominational affiliation, but of Jesus affiliation. I suppose we could say that I have an association of necessity with my denomination, but an association of identity with Jesus. As helpful and nurturing as my denomination has been to me, only Jesus is my righteousness. He is the one who died, rose, lives and reigns.

This is why I prefer to spell denominations with lower case letters (like "small p" presbyterian, "small b" baptist, etc.), and reserve the caps for JESUS, PROPITIAION, CROSS, GOSPEL and words like that. Naive? Maybe. But as Os Guinness says in The Call, "In the New Testament, it is not so much that there are different churches in different places as that there is one church in many places."

Counting is the Chief Pleasure of the Miser

In his book On Church Leadership, Mark Driscoll provides statistics on church sizes in the US. Check out some of these numbers:

  • 25% of US churches have fewer than 45 attendees weekly
  • 50% of US churches have fewer than 75 attendees weekly
  • 75% of US churches have fewer than 150 attendees weekly
  • 95% of US churches have fewer than 350 attendees weekly
  • Less than 2% of US churches have more than 800 attendees each week, and the percentages go way, way down after that.

This means that in light of high profile mega, or uber-mega, churches (which in many cases have an incredibly authentic and helpful ministry, Perimeter Church for example), those of us who lead the vast majority of US churches no longer need to think of ourselves as part of a small church, but a rather normal sized church. And when we consider the fact that THE church is not merely local, but universal, well, you see what I mean. By the way, I find it interesting that we have no idea concerning the actual numeric size of any church in the New Testament. Yes, we read of staggering numbers being converted in unique contexts such as Pentecost, and that the church grew steadily. But actual church sizes or numbers? Nada.

Os Guinness warns us of the tendency to count people too closely. In his book, Dining with the Devil, he says, "Counting is... the chief pleasure of the miser and money is the most pleasureable counting of all. Thus people and things are annihilated in the process of counting. They lose their true purpose and joy and become mere status symbols" (p. 50).  He is saying that just as a miser counts his money and finds life in his possessions, so too a pastor can find his life in Sunday attendance. I'm guilty as charged and will be perpetually tempted to draw my life from numbers—especially in a church plant, where tragically, numbers often define success. I suppose it is not wrong to have a head count as long as there is also a heart count.  Nevertheless, I ask that you would pray that I would be given grace to see people as humans to love and serve, not as numbers to count and use. Thanks.

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