Climb Higher Go Farther - Columbia Life Church

Common Motivation #2 - Community in Jesus

2010-05-20T16:00:00.000-07:00

Motivation: a feeling of enthusiasm, interest, or commitment that makes somebody want to do something, or something that causes such a feeling.

Our second common motivation is our community in Jesus with our church family. In the gospels Jesus calls the disciples to Himself, but because He called more than one the automatic result was that these men became a community as they followed Jesus. They were given a choice to follow Jesus but they didn't have a choice in who would be in their community. In fact the one time the disciples tried to get Jesus to define the community in the way they wanted He simply told them that anyone who wasn't against them was on their side.

The connection to us is that when we respond to the invitation to follow Jesus we are also called into community with others and that community is called the Church (ekklesia) and within the Church there are smaller groups that gather together in congregations. Columbia Life Church is a congregation and it is our church family. Here's the rub, in a sense we get to choose which church family we'll become connected to but we don't get to choose who else will be part of our group. Jesus still reserves that decision for Himself and the reason is because He knows all too well that if we get to choose we'll only gather with people who are like us.

A quick reading of the gospels will reveal that Jesus intentionally chose very dissimilar people to be His disciples. He brought together fishermen, tax collectors, zealots, doubters, bothers, and even a traitor. Then He placed them in situations where they had to forge relationships and become a community centered on their relationship with Him. Then He led this community into situations where they were forced to interact with people who were even farther outside of their own social circle. The obvious lesson was that this community was His and it was open to anyone who would follow Him.

Our church family is given the opportunity and the responsibility to reflect Jesus through our community together. In the epistles the phrase 'one another' is used 54 times and it's used to describe the relationships and responsibilities of those who are part of a church family. Jesus Himself said that people would know we are His followers by the way we love one another. Its not by what we say and the lip service we give about our love for Jesus. The evidence of our love for Jesus is our love service to one another.

Now imagine with me for a moment what it would be like to be part of a community of Christ followers where love was a lifestyle and people genuinely cared about one another. Wouldn't that be great? Of course it would but that kind of community doesn't just happen. People don't naturally form the kinds of bonds that Jesus requires it's a messy process. Building community is kind of like making sausage the result is delicious but the process can be messy. That's why there are 54 'one anothers' in the New Testament each one represented a problem that needed to be corrected or an encouragement to do something differently in order to become a community of Christ followers who would be lights in a dark world. Keep in mind that what makes the church community unique isn't the absence of conflict, there will always be issues that crop up between people, even the disciples kept arguing about who was the greatest even though they were a bunch of losers. Rather a community of Christ followers have to learn how to love like Jesus so they can work through their issues in a way that brings glory to God. This is possible because Jesus has sent the Helper, the Holy Spirit, to empower us. Through their struggles the first disciples forged a community that stayed together even when they faced their toughest test. When it seemed that they didn't have anything else, they still had each other and because of that relationship together they experienced the resurrection power of Jesus.

In a world that's becoming more and more isolated because people have been hurt, burned, stabbed in the back, abused, and rejected the one place they can find a refuge for healing, redemption, and restoration should be a local church community. Our church community.

Common Motivation #1 - Communion with Jesus

2010-04-23T10:51:00.000-07:00

Motivation: a feeling of enthusiasm, interest, or commitment that makes somebody want to do something, or something that causes such a feeling.

Our first common motivation is our communion with Jesus in Spirit and truth. In the Church communion has come to mean the partaking of the bread and the cup, which is a symbol of communion but not communion in and of itself. The word communion comes from the Latin word communio which means mutual participation. The idea expressed here is that communion represents our mutual participation with Jesus in His death and resurrection. He invites us to share in His death and His new life and in doing that He is inviting us to leave our old crummy, unfulfilling lives behind.

If it wasn't so sad it would be funny how much we fight entering in to this transformational relationship. Just like the Israelite slaves who kept looking back at the good old days of bondage in Egypt after God had given them freedom and joined Himself to them in covenant relationship. Like them we're often more drawn to the familiar comfortable of our past bondage than the transforming freedom that Jesus offers us in communion with Himself. Why do we fight so hard to keep what we really don't want?

When we mutually participate with Jesus it can be a little unsettling because everything becomes new, which also means different. Our old desires are being replaced by new one. Our old habits are being broken and new ways of doing things are being installed. We are such creatures of habit that any changes to our routine can throw us into a crisis and we don't like crisis. But it is precisely into crisis where Jesus leads us and the biggest one is our identity crisis. The Apostle Paul wrote in Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Since my identity is no longer defined by who I am but instead by whose I am it challenges me to the very core as whose I am begins to change who I am.

Now this transformation has a huge impact on our church family. As we mutually participate individually with Jesus we are inevitably drawn into mutual participation with one another. But this can create conflicts and challenges because we aren't exactly perfected yet and we like things our way. The problem is that we all like things our way and the way we like them is different than the way others like them. Jesus not only leads us into crisis with Him, He leads us into crisis with each other and all the while He's transforming us and defining us differently than we define ourselves. We are no longer defined by who we are but whose we are and that challenges us as whose we am begins to change who we are.

In the middle of all of this something else is going on as we mutually participate with Jesus and one another. Sometimes almost imperceptibly, and other times with near catastrophic tremors we are being changed from the inside out and self motivation is being replaced by Christ motivation. We still do battle with our flesh, but day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute we can see the glorious promise of the kingdom of God becoming reality in our hearts as we are joined together in true communion with Jesus.

Anyone up for a crisis?

Three Common Motivations

2010-04-16T10:41:00.000-07:00

Motivation: a feeling of enthusiasm, interest, or commitment that makes somebody want to do something, or something that causes such a feeling.

There are many reasons why we do the things we do. Sometimes we do things because we have too, such as getting a root canal or our car repaired. Other things we do because we want to do them. But some things we do because we're passionate about them and that passion is compelling and contagious.

As a church family 'why' we're motivated to do something is just as important as 'what' we're motivated to do. We have been challenged to share Jesus with reckless compassion but that will never happen if we're not passionately compelled by a motivation that comes from outside of ourselves. Individually we may already be passionate about sharing Jesus with reckless compassion, but as a body of believers that can't happen unless we are all motivated by the same things.

I believe that there are three common motivations that we need to experience together so that we can become the church that Jesus has called us to be:

Our communion with Jesus in Spirit and truth
Our community in Jesus with our church family
Our commission by Jesus to share the kingdom of God in word and action

These are like the legs of the proverbial three legged stool. If any one of them is missing then the stool falls over. When it comes to our envisioned future as a church family if any one of these motivations is missing then the whole thing fails to click and we end up as a group of disconnected individuals who show up once a week to gather together but stay isolated, unmotivated, and dispassionate.

For the next three posts I'll be digging into each of these motivations a bit more.

What are your thoughts?

Bold Declaration #2: Called to Incarnational Commitment

2010-04-06T00:09:00.000-07:00

In our first bold declaration we are called to seek, touch, invite and in our second bold declaration we will have 8 families sharing Jesus with reckless compassion in overlooked places of our community.
Most of the time when we think about outreach and service we think in terms of big events and one time opportunities. Just look at how many churches hold easter egg hunts in order to 'attract' people to their church. It's a one time (every year) shot at the community that will hopefully bring in a few families who don't already belong to another church. That's all well and good but what about all those people who won't show up?

Here's a thought, what about incarnational commitment instead? What if we decided to find people in places where no one else seems to be looking and instead of trying to attract them to come to us we make it a point to make a long term commitment to serve them? Instead of visiting the elderly in the nursing home we could make it our mission to build a relationship with the residents. Instead of giving gifts to needy children and families once a year at Christmas we could give ourselves to them as friends.

It says in John 1:14 And the Word (Jesus) became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. What that means is that when Jesus came to the earth as a man He was practicing incarnational ministry. He came to stay awhile and serve those who where left out and overlooked.

That is my desire for our church family. My prayer is that we'd have at least 8 families who are willing to commit themselves to serving the people that Jesus misses the most those who are overlooked and left out because they don't look like 'church-y' people. You don't need permission to do it but you will need passion; a passion for Jesus that creates reckless compassion for others who need a friend who cares about them even though they have nothing to offer.

Bold Declaration #1: Called to Seek, Touch, Invite

2009-10-06T13:57:00.000-07:00

Ezekiel 34:11 ‘For thus says the Lord GOD: "Indeed I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out.

Luke 19:10 "for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost." (italics added)

These two verses give us a powerful look into the heart of God. In fact if you read the gospels it becomes clear by the stories that are used to describe Jesus that finding lost people is an obsession with God. Luke 15 provides us with three stories that show God's intense passion for seeking the ones who have wandered away from Him.

Since that's God's passion shouldn't it be ours as well? As God's called out people we have been found because He never gave up searching for us. His passion was revealed in His personal mission to find you, touch you, and invite you back into relationship with Him.

But are we passionate about seeking the people who God misses most, His wandering children? Are we passionate about touching them with the love of Jesus? Are we passionate about inviting them to follow us home to the Father?

Are we passionate enough to look in places that others overlook because it doesn't match the right demographic or is a little too far out of the cultural comfort zone? Are we willing to seek, touch and invite people who, even though they don't want to be found, are being sought by the Father?

This raises a question that's difficult but important: where should we be looking? What are the overlooked places in our community? I'm not sure because like most people I've overlooked them myself. But I know someone who knows! The Father knows and He's just waiting for us to ask Him where they are. When I ask a question comes back to my heart: "Where are there people who are lonely and longing for personal time and companionship? Look for these and you'll find those I'm seeking."

God has challenged us to go, to seek, to touch and to invite His lost ones. What will we do?

Two Bold Declarations

2009-07-15T13:58:00.000-07:00

Declarations are dangerous things. Take for example the Declaration of Independence. When the founding fathers of the United States signed their names to this document they were doing more that just putting pen to paper, they were commiting themselves to a cause that would require sacrifice and possibly even death. While they looked upon this document as their stated objective to live free, those to whom in was addressed saw it as an act of high treason. Signing the Declaration of Independence meant that there was no turning back.

As a church family we have made two bold declarations from which there is no turning back. To see them come to pass will require commitment and sacrifice to a cause that is born in the heart of God.

The first declaration can be summed us in three words: Seek, Touch, Invite.

We have been called together to seek out overlooked people and places offering the compassionate touch of Jesus and inviting people to go with us on our journey of discovery, restoration, and healing in the power of the Holy Spirit.

The second declaration is that within one year we will have 8 families sharing Jesus with reckless compassion in overlooked places of our comminity.

Now to some reading this these might not seem to be very bold at all. But rest assured if our church family will truly make these two declarations their own we will see that they are bold indeed....

In what ways can you make these declarations your own?

Share your thoughts below....

Where We're Going

2009-07-07T13:40:00.000-07:00

One of the challenges a church family faces is how to know if we're making progress toward what God has challenged us to be and do. But because we're so accustomed to thinking of our walk with Jesus as an individual pursuit we often overlook, or even ignore the fact that when we enter into relationship with Jesus we enter into relationship with His other followers. What that means for us is that our walk with Jesus is no longer only about us and where we want to go, but rather about us together and where Jesus wants us to go together.

This may seem like a strange thing to say considering our cultural ideals of independence and isolation, but those two ideals go against the current of what Jesus desires. It's clear from scripture that He asks us to enter into a dependent relationship with Him and with other believers.

Having said that when we are asked to describe how were doing in following Jesus we look at that questions as an individual instead of as a part of the ekklesia (assembly of believers) that God has called us to be dependent upon. Consider the letters to the seven churches in The Revelation. The diagnosis of each church was based on the church together not individuals. He didn't call out "Joseph of Laodicea" as being lukewarm, He called out the church together. That seems to indicate that the church isn't measured on merits of one or two but rather on the faithfulness of the whole to the specific calling that each church has received.

What that means for the church family at CLC is this: We are called to share Jesus with reckless compassion. That being the case we better be aware of whether or not we're being faithful. One of the ways we'll know is by determining how many of our families are stepping out of their comfort zones and recklessly serving others in our community.

Know where we're going as a church family is important if we're going to be faithful to the calling that Jesus has given us. To help us understand it we'll look at two bold declarations in the next two weeks.

Share you comments and thoughts below....

Reckless Compassion 2

2009-06-27T19:25:00.000-07:00

Reckless compassion is something that causes us to evaulate our priorities. We can't say we're compassionate if we find ourselves constantly finding excuses for not touching hurting, lonely people. Let's face it there are always reasons for not doing things, but reckless compassion doesn't really allow us to make excuses for not doing something, rather it challenges us to make excuses to find ways to serve others.

So what will we do?

Post your comments below......

Reckless Compassion

2009-06-18T14:01:00.000-07:00

Sharing Jesus with reckless compassion is our one reckless ambition as a church. Of course the idea of being reckless might surprise some and raise a few eyebrows, but when you think about it the whole idea of following Jesus seems a little reckless to those who don't understand. Just look at some of the ways Jesus described the idea of following Him. He said that we have to lay down our lives, take up our cross and follow Him. Not exactly as safe sounding propostion. Think about what the disciple's families thought when they took off with this new 'messiah' and left them alone for long stretches of time. It probably seemed pretty reckless.

So with that in mind sharing Jesus with reckless compassion means that we're willing to do some things that others might assume are reckless. In fact when we leave our comfort zones to serve others with the love and compassion of Jesus we might think we're bing a bit reckless ourselves. But when it all come together the idea of reckless compassion is all about leaving the false security of routines and rituals in order to touch hurting people who need to experience the compassion of Jesus.

In the C. S. Lewis classic "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" Lucy asks Mr. Beaver if Aslan the lion is safe and Mr. Beaver answers "Safe?' said Mr. Beaver...'Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. but he's good."

Maybe Mr. Beaver is onto something.

What act of reckless compassion is Jesus prompting you to do? Share your thoughts below.....

The Yearning

2009-06-05T11:59:00.000-07:00

Sometimes when we find ourselves struggling in the journey of going farther in compassionate service we find ourselves yearning to climb higher to the mountain top of authentic worship. The mountain tops symbolize the refreshing presence of God and the freedom to rest and commune with God. But we can never forget that in the valley of service Jesus has provided us with springs of living water to refresh and rejuvenate us in those difficult times of struggle and toil.

If you're in the valley find the spring and drink deeply and find rest for you soul....

Where do you find the springs of living water on your journey? Share your thoughts below.....

Life in the Valley

2009-05-28T11:27:00.000-07:00

To go farther in compassionate service means that we will have to intentionally spend more time with people who hurting and in places that are difficult. In fact we can be sure that we will also endure some loss and pain as well. Go farther has a kind of 'adventurous' sound to it but soon enough we discover that there are challenges, threats, and dangers awaiting us. Consider the great explorers like Columbus or even the U.S. space program all accomplished amazing things, and they also suffered major set backs and painful defeats. Yet through it all their focus remained fixed on the prize and because of that they persevered and discovered new worlds.

Go farther requires us to stay focused on the commission that Jesus has given to us to go into all the world... that world begins right outside our front door and we enter it when we make intentional steps to engage and encounter those who are hurting.

What's an intentional way that you go farther in compassionate service?

Share your thoughts below.....

Both And, Not Either Or

2009-05-22T11:37:00.000-07:00

When we consider the need to climb higher in aunthetic worship and go farther in compassionate service we have to remember that both are necessary for us.

The mountains are places where we can survey the horizon and get proper perspective. It's in these intimate moments with God that we can experience true inner healing and restoration. But what you notice is that nothing grows on a mountain top. We can't live on the mountain top, even Moses and Elijah eventually had to descend into the valley. But what they gained on the mountain top was the strength they needed to live and serve in the valley. While the mountains are barren they do gather snow and when the snows melt they provide water to the valleys. The mountains also serve to create climates that support life and growth. The winds and the rains are affected by the mountains.

In the valleys we experience growth. Its there that the sun, soil, water, and toil all come together to bear fruit. While the valleys are hot and difficult they are also the places where we enjoy the fruit of our labors. We see in the harvests how God has been at work through our efforts bring life out of the death and seeing our lives enriched. We often resist the valleys because the represent change and work, but when we descend from the mountain top with a heart strengthened by our encounter with God we can see real growth and power in our service to others.

Share some of your recollections of personal mountain top experiences and seasons of valley growth below......

Going Farther in Compassionate Service

2009-05-15T11:48:00.001-07:00

When Jesus called His followers together on the mount of ascension it was loaded with meaning. As I mentioned in my previous post to this blog the mountain top has a spiritual connection that crosses cultural lines. In the Bible God often calls His people to the mountain in preparation for sending them to 'go out' on assignment (Abraham, Moses, and Elijah come to mind) which creates the natural/spiritual connection between climbing higher in authentic worship and going farther in compassionate service.

As followers of Christ it's always tempting to try and dwell in the 'mountain top' experiences of our walk with Jesus. Those times of incredible intimacy with our Creator and Lord are truly inspiring and energizing. But, while we walk this earth our times of worship and intimacy are the fuel for our seasons of compassionate service.
We're reminded of this in Acts 1:8 when Jesus tells His disciples - my paraphrase - "You will receive power after the Holy Spirit comes upon you (climbing higher) and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the world(going farther)."

What are some ways that you can prepare your heart to transition from times of authentic worship to seasons of compassionate service to others?

Share your thoughts below.......

Climbing Higher in Authentic Worship

2009-05-06T12:05:00.000-07:00

Then the LORD came down upon Mount Sinai, on the top of the mountain. And the LORD called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up. Exodus 19:20

Then the servants of the king of Syria said to him, "Their gods are gods of the hills. Therefore they were stronger than we.... 1Kings 20:23a

These two passages reveal an interesting concept. Somewhere deep within us there is a recognition that we look up when we look for God. Even though we know that God is omnipresent (present everywhere) we still have this innate sense that God is above us.

God called Abraham and Moses to meet with Him on a mountain. Jesus called His disciples to Himself on a mountain. Jesus was crucified on a mountain and ascended to heaven from a mountain. All of this to say that there is significance to the idea of climbing higher in authentic worship. We don't have to climb a mountain literally, but it does suggest that there are obstacles and challenges that we have to overcome in order to climb higher.

Some common obstacles are everyday distractions that crop up and steal our time and focus. But one major obstacle that stands in everyone's path is authenticity which means to act in good faith and sincerity of intention. Authenticity in worship means that we approach God with an open heart and open ears allowing Him access to our deepest inner being.

That sound easier than it actually is and I believe the primary reason we so often miss out on this incredible depth of relationship with God is because authenticity takes time. I know I'm guilty of trying to develop and deep and intimate relationship with God in my spare time as I wander through life from day to day.

Authenticity in worship requires an intentional mindset that set aside time for God to examine my heart and address the things He finds there.

Authenticity in worship requires me to often pass through some discomfort as God tests my motivations and desires.

Authenticity in worship requires that I get to the point where I allow God to shape and form my heart to beat in rhythm with His.

Authenticity in worship requires me to ............... (you fill in the blank)

Climbing Higher,

Pastor Jerry

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Climb Higher. Go Farther

2009-05-04T14:29:00.000-07:00

Climb Higher. Go Farther.

This is the theme for the Columbia Life Church community. It is my desire and hope that we will embrace not the small, hopefully, 'catchy' phrase but the larger passion that it represents.

Climb higher. Go farther. isn't doing more or becoming more self aware it's about allowing the Holy Spirit to lead us into a fresh encounter with God that will ignite a passionate response within each of us to climb higher in authentic worship and go farther in compassioante service.

When we climb higher in authentic worship we open ourselves to the all of the possibilities that God has planned for us. Far to often we approach worship with a mind toward what's in it for oursleves. We come to God in worship wanting to feel closer to Him or to gain something from the encounter. Yet authentic worship reaches far beyond self absorbed 'me-ism' to a heart that cries out to God because HE is worthy. When we strip away all of our preconditions and allow ourselves to worship God not for what we hope to gain but out of a pure desire to exalt His name, we become the worshipers that God seeks, those who worship Him in Spirit and truth.

When we go farther in compassionate service we are opening ourselves to the suffering of others the way that Jesus did. While its true that we can't meet the needs of every hurting soul, God doesn't expect us to. His desire is that we'll go into the world as His representatives, His called out ones, who become His hands extended and when we go in His name then His power is provided, His resources are unlocked, and His Name is exalted. We decrease so that He can increase and be seen by those we serve.

Climb Higher. Go Farther. It's not about us, it's about Him. It's not something we create it's a call we answer. God is calling out to us will we follow?

Climbing Higher. Going Farther.

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