This thought really appeals to me. It’s fantastic to see our church growing (and growing, and growing) and people are meeting Christ. But, the concept of house churches has always appealed to me. Maybe there’s something everyone else knows and I don’t (please share) – why aren’t house churches all the rage?
Alternatively, what do you think of Jeff Vanderstelt’s crazy(ly awesome) idea for small groups: How would you conduct this group if it was the core group for a church plant? Do that. And if it’s working – plant a church. (from this conference message: audio | video.)
I paid extra for an extended warranty on my new iPod (Woo!). The fine print reveals that it doesn’t cover ‘acts of God’.
So is the warranty worthless?
He’s not infallible, but he’s right on this one.
Dan preached a cracker of a sermon last night. Here are my notes:
2 extremes of Christian living: embracing all culture or fleeing all culture. Where do we fit?
It’s easy to live in Christian bubbles – the ‘sneaky amish’. If we never engage with the world, we will never be persecuted; but salt’s actually gotta touch the meat to be useful. Our world needs salt. So, don’t stop being salty – leave a good taste of God’s grace with everyone you meet. Light stands out in darkness. Church is not a Christian club.
Practical stuff: Have conversations more than 3 sentences long with everyone you meet. Intentionally build relationships – eg only buy petrol at one servo. Pray for opportunities to share the good news of forgiveness of sins through Jesus, for courage to take them, and that your life will shine like a city on a hill.
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rustdestroy and where thieves break in and steal [or economies collapse], but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal [or economies collapse]. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” — Jesus
There aren’t many things that make me deeply fearful, I mean to my very core. The current financial crisis does. It feels like this thing is big, unlike anything ever before, and no-one seems to know what to do. It’s very possible that this could affect my life in drastic ways.
It’s amazing, then, to have a firm rock beneath my feet: my God works all things for my good, nothing can seperate me from his love, my Saviour has filled my every need, regardless of any earthy circumstances. I can and will be content in him, though the storm may rage.
“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.†– Jesus.
Cling to the rock.
