In Austin churches partner together more than any city I’ve ever lived! Together several churches have discovered a remarkable woman who has allowed us to partner with her as she meets the needs of those she serves in East Austin.

After being displaced by Hurricane Katrina, Lola moved from New Orleans to Austin. She opened a restaurant called Nubian Queen Lola’s Cajun Soul Food Cafe. Not only is the food delicious, she gives it away to those who cannot afford to pay.

Lola has been nominated as a finalist in the Say Thanks Austin campaign. For every vote she receives, she will receive $1 to help her help others. The finalist with the most votes will win $10,000!

VOTE HERE!

Watch below to see and hear from Lola along with Steve and Karen Markham, the Gateway Network Leaders who have mobilized us and inspired us to serve with her.

As a sports fan, I could not help but be inspired by the story of Vernon Davis. After a game-winning touchdown last weekend against the Saints, Vernon Davis broke down in tears. Those not aware of the challenges he’s faced at the 49ers over the past few years probably thought his response was disproportionate to the moment. It was a big moment, but you don’t usually see grown men break down quite like that.

Why was he so emotional? In an article called “49ers’ Davis grew up after Singletary’s tough love”, Randy Covitz gives us the context:

“Three years ago, San Francisco 49ers tight end Vernon Davis was kicked out of a game by his own coach.

Mike Singletary, an intense, no-nonsense Hall of Fame linebacker as a player, was in his first game as the 49ers interim head coach in 2008 when he banished Davis from the sidelines and sent him to the locker room after Davis drew a 15-yard, dead-ball penalty for taunting when he reacted to some trash talking by grabbing the face mask of a Seattle player.

An incensed Singletary, in his postgame comments, said the 49ers could not win with a selfish player like Davis and would be better off playing with 10 men than with Davis, at the time an underachieving first-round draft pick.”

As a Mike Singletary fan since his days playing football at Baylor University, I was impressed with his boldness but wondered if he may been too hard on Davis in that game 3 years ago.

Fortunately, Davis responded in a healthy way to such a strong rebuke.

Covitz continues: “But Davis, who took Singletary’s discipline to heart rather than rebelling against it, has transformed from a locker-room cancer who fought teammates on the practice field to a team captain and major reason the 49ers will play in the NFC championship game on Sunday against the New York Giants

Singletary’s discipline of Davis changed his career and perhaps the course of the 49ers.

‘Coach Singletary definitely touched my life,” Davis said earlier this season. “He taught me to put others before myself.’”

Email me at eric.bryant@gatewaychurch.comwith the number you’d like to order and your U.S. mailing address. Include your phone number if you’d like for me to call you before mailing your order once I find out how much the postage will be for the shipment.

I’ve had people order the books for a sermon series, those in their small group, their small group leaders, their pastors, and their ministry staff.

This fall “Tearing Down the Walls” Small Groups helped us get so many people connected!

• For the small groups materials, go here: Tearing Down The Walls weeks 1 – 5
• As part of the Walls series at Gateway Church, Eric Bryant shared on “The Walls Between Us.”
  Click here for the video of the message
• For the notes on this message, go here.
• For notes on the other messages in this series, click on the “Gateway Church” category at www.ericbryant.org.

At a training event sponsored by In the City For the City, a group of Austin area pastors and ministry leaders, John Burke, our lead pastor at Gateway Church shared on the topic of “Missional Living: Grow Your Church Out of the Culture.” Here are some of his insights he shared:

The church in the Western world is in decline. The U.S. is becoming more and more post-Christian. We need to see ourselves as missionaries in our culture.

2 overarching questions to consider:

1. How do we remove barriers between the message of Jesus and those who want and need to hear it?
   “It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God.” – Acts 15:19
   If only 10% of our city shifted to follow Jesus out of those who don’t already, an entire city would be transformed! Just 10% is the tipping point for social transformation.
2. How do we build bridges? (Acts 14, 17)
   In Acts 2, those hearing the message of Jesus already knew the stories of the Old Testament. When Paul was in Athens, he acknowledged the new context and built a bridge from where they were (quoting one of their poets) to the full message of God expressed in Jesus.

5 Barriers to Faith Created by the Postmodern Experiment:

1. Trust - more abuse and more divorce than ever before plus a distrust of those in authority. Build a bridge to help others see that God’s ways are for their protection and the result of His love. Recognize where people are at and still welcome them.
2. Tolerance - the two most common questions from the culture include: what do you think about those who live a different lifestyle & what do you think about other religions? The way we answer will either shut the door completely or keep the door open for more conversation and opportunity. Tolerance is a cheap substitute for grace, an undeserved love. People long to experience grace, but because they haven’t experienced it, they settle for tolerance.
3. Truth- This isn’t as big of a barrier as you’d think. More than truth, people are repelled by arrogance. Too often Christians give off a vibe that we don’t have anything to learn from others. Being willing to listen changes this misperception.
4. Aloneness -People long for community even as they struggle to trust others. Community is an incredible apologetic. We should be experts at creating community! People should be allowed to belong before they believe. Jesus did this – He allowed Judas to be in his small group, and He made him the treasurer.
5. Brokenness – The cost of the postmodern experiment has been brokenness. Here is what our culture looks like:

• 1/3 of women have had an abortion
• 1/4 of women have been sexually molested
• 1/2 of people will have lived together before marriage
• 1/5 of people will struggle with substance abuse
• 1/5 of people smoke
• 1/2 of marriages end in divorce
  If our churches don’t look like this then either people are hiding their brokenness or we aren’t connecting with our culture.
  We all have areas of brokenness. Even “the rigtheous” weren’t actually healthy (they were the ones responsible for crucifying Jesus) when Jesus said: “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick…. For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Matthew 9:11-13).

4 Ways to Create a Culture of Growth:

Church culture can be your greatest ally or your greatest enemy for the mission of Jesus. God causes the growth (1 Cor. 3:6-9). We have a part to play – creating the environment where people can grow up best.

1. Leadership mindset – A mature Christ-follower is on mission “to seek and to save what was lost” (Luke 19:10). A person cannot claim to be spiritually mature and not be about what Jesus was about.
   So how do we respond to the Christ-follower who says: “feed me more!” Jesus reminded us that the food for the mature is doing “the will of God” (John 4:32-36). Maturity equals obeying the Scriptures not knowing about the Scriptures.
2. Training and values – help people understand why you do what you do and what you are called to do. Do our people have friendships with others in the culture?
3. Visionary storytelling – help people see hope in who they can become and remind those in faith where they came from and why you’re doing what you are doing.
4. Organization – The church is to be an organism not an institution. Are you organized in such a way that you can follow what God wants you to do?

3 Ways to Create a Culture of Grace-Giving Acceptance:

The world totally gets this: “I really want to do what is right, but I don’t do it.” – Rom.  7:15
The world does not naturally understand this: “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ.” – Rom. 8:1

1. Accept the person first. (Romans 15:7)
2. Have a process view. Look at the masterpiece which is covered by the mud. How long is too long to invest in someone?
3. Create a culture of dialogue. Allow people to ask their questions and share their doubts.

For more resources from John Burke, check out:

• No Perfect People Allowed: Creating A Come As You Are Culture in the Church
  
• Soul Revolution: How Imperfect People Become All God Intended

Here are seven principles for Catalyzing Community whether you are trying to start a small group, ministry, a non-profit organization, or a church:

Principle #1: Cause creates community.
Our cause = moving people to become the person God created them to be.

Principle #2: Meet the needs of those around us.
We need to seek to meet the physical, emotional, economic, and spiritual needs of those around us. We should be pursue helping change the environment and change the individual who is looking for change.

Principle #3: Reach out to Xenos
Hospitality means loving strangers. A similar word, “hospice,” means “a safe place.” Our homes, our businesses, and our churches should become safe places for strangers to experience kindness and love.

Principle #4: Develop authentic friendships with those you know.
Are we loving, serving, and influencing our family, neighbors, co-workers and friends?

Jesus was willing to ruin His reputation to reach out to others who were far from God.

Principle #5: Allow people to belong before they believe.
We should never allow our convictions to become a litmus test for friendship. In fact, we should actively pursue friendships with people – even people with whom we may disagree. Go to www.mosaic.org/faq for more on the staff process at Mosaic.

Come as you are, and you don’t have to stay that way! (see www.gatewaychurch.com/podcast)

Principle #6: Raise up a team of leaders to replace you
MPAC = Ministry through a pastor, assimilator, and catalyst
We need to make decisions based on who is not yet here rather than who has been here the longest.

Principle #7: Start Over

**For the rest of the notes, email eric.bryant@gatewaychurch.com with “Catalyzing Community” in the subject or you can listen to the conference call on Catalyzing Community – 2nd audio from the bottom. You will also find interviews with Dan Kimball, Kevin Harney, Erwin McManus, and many others.

What have you seen bring people together?

Dan Kimball is on staff at Vintage Faith Church, a church in Santa Cruz, CA planted in 2004. He is the author of books including They Like Jesus, But Not The Church and the forthcoming Adventures in Churchland. He has joined George Fox University in a part-time capacity as professor of missional leadership and as leader of a new center focused on the future faith of young Americans.

Here are some excerpts from the message he shared at the Organic Outreach Conference:

When Dan first walked into a Christian gathering he noticed lots of pastel colors and the music sounded like commercial jingles.  His 2nd experience was very formal with a pastor wearing robes like Hugh Hefner speaking in hushed tones.  Not sure why they were supposed to be kneeling at the front and not sure what they were supposed to say when passing the communion cup.  Dan’s friend passed the cup saying: “the cup of wonder.”  So much of what we do doesn’t make sense to someone who is new!

Principles to apply to be on mission:

1. If we love Jesus , we must love the church despite our messiness.  Too often we have unrealistic expectations.  Leaders are people too.  We need to create space for people to ask questions.

2. We need to listen more than we talk. So much damage has been done in the name of Christianity that we need to regain credibility by listening and serving before we do anything else. Are we asking the young people in our churches if we are communicating in which they can connect? If the church would biblically judge the judgmental Christians then the church wouldn’t be known as judgmental.

3. We can hold the church’s historical view of the Scriptures and not be a fundamentalist or hateful.  Do the people we serve understand how to interpret and apply the Scriptures (rather than quoting verses out of context)?  We should be teaching about difficult issues proactively.

4. We need to rethink our roles and move from leading a church to leading a community of missionaries. We need to make decisions based on the people not yet connected to our community rather than for what we want.

5. Church leaders need to avoid getting sucked into the Christian sub-culture. When is the last time you spent time with someone who did not believe the same things that you do?

“Organic outreach isn’t a program or method or something you memorize. Organic outreach is a natural way of connecting with others spiritually and helping others connect with God.

There are specific attitudes we need to become organic in our outreach to others:

1. Reckless Generosity – We get so excited about the new band or the new restaurant that we find so we tell everyone we know about it. Why is it that we are so quiet about talking about things that really matter?

We need to be reckless with our generosity, grace, care, and love for others!

Luke 8:5 The farmer generously threw seeds all around him. Rather than being stingy or even “strategic” with where he planted the seeds, he threw the seeds in all types of different soils. This was not the norm! We aren’t smart enough or discerning enough to know if someone is spiritually open or closed, so we should share the love of God with anyone.

People are eager for a spiritual connection. Too often we are too self-absorbed to see that and help others.

2. Passionate Love Reflecting the Very Heart of God – When we aren’t sure what to do, we should pray to God asking Him to help us love God, love the church, and love people. Connecting deeply with God propels us outwards to love and serve others. Do you realize God loves you?

1 John 4:11 ‘Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. ‘

When we are overwhelmed with the love of God and a love for people, we cannot help but serve others.

3. A Humble Awareness of Our Partnership with God – God cares more for the people around us than we do. He is pursuing the people around us with His love.

‘I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.’ – 1 Cor. 3:6

We should never try to make people change. Instead, we should love and serve people knowing that when they want to change, God can and will transform them.”

Our world is changing in dramatic ways!

When I was a child, the big bad guys included the U.S.S.R. and Moammar Gadhafi. As of yesterday, all three are now gone. Sure there have been other bad guys who have risen up (and some others taken down like Saddam Hussein and Bin Laden), but the dramatic evens in Libya yesterday just remind us of how different the world is today.

Even today, the people of Syria continue to march for their freedom. Their efforts have been oppressed by President Bashar al-Assad. So far, it is estimated that 1600 protestors have been killed by the government’s crackdown.

The Middle East stands on the bring of a very exciting yet unknown future. Could the fall of Gadhafi in Libya and Mubarak in Egypt be just the beginning of a time of freedom and peace in the Middle East? Will there be a genuine freedom of religion and the end of oppression towards women? Or will those who do not embrace freedom for all rise to power? Or will fighting erupt among the many different tribes in these areas?

My trip through Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, and Turkey in the summer of 2000 remains one of the highlights of my life. One of the most vivid memories includes the hospitality, warmth, and passion of the people we met.

We also could see and feel the oppression.

With troops holding their weapons at the ready seemingly everywhere, it was hard to ever feel truly at peace.

These uncertain times remind us of those who fought for freedom in our country, but they also remind us how rare and fragile freedom truly is.

In the Middle East, will these uprisings be like the American Revolution or like our Civil War or like something completely different?

See also:

“Our Wars Are Against Terrorists Not Muslims”

“Kidnapping a Muslim?”

Our new “Tearing Down the Walls” Small Groups started this week, and so many new people have gotten connected!

One group went from 2 people to 11, one from 6 to 28, and many more had new people connect with them. We had 14 new people at our place in Barton Hills next to downtown Austin on Tuesday night and 17 people at our new East Austin small group last night!

Here is a brief explanation of what we are doing (feel free to use the material and adapt it to your area):

“Churches across the Austin area will join together to tear down walls that separate us from one another. More than a Sunday morning message series, Walls is a journey for those who are ready to explore and live the life God intended. No longer will
spiritual barriers keep us from trusting God and the promises He has made. We long to see the church of Austin love God, each other and our surrounding neighbors.

Overview:
Invisible Walls (Sept. 11th) – Not Like Me: Introduction & chapter 1
Naming Our Walls (Sept. 18th) – Not Like Me: chapter 2 & Conclusion
The Walls Between Us (Sept. 25th) – Not Like Me: chapters 3, 6, & 7
Walls Between Church and Community (Oct. 2nd) – Not Like Me: chapters 4 & 9
Breaking Down Walls (Oct. 9th) – Not Like Me: chapters 5, 8, & 10

Week 1: Invisible Walls

At times we struggle to reach our potential because of walls (unseen and spiritual barriers) that hold us back.

1. What is one of your favorite childhood memories?
2. Can you describe a time in your life when you had high expectations about an event, experience, or a person that ended up leaving you disappointed? How did you respond to the disappointment?

Read Romans 12:2 and 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
1. How does the world teach us to respond to painful experiences and disappointment?
2. Have you ever seen someone create a wall as a way to protect himself or herself after having a painful experience?
3. Have you ever done this? If so, what happened?
4. If we are supposed to examine every thought (and wall) that we create by the truth that God reveals, how can we do that?
5. How do God’s ways in handling difficult situations differ from the ways the world teaches us?

Assignment:
As we go through this Walls series together, we are asking each person to make this a season of spiritual reflection and preparation. We have created a “Spiritual Exercise” to guide you in the process. Each week there is a brief scripture reading and time of response to God. This is a critical part of the Walls experience. Please join us!

Supplemental Spiritual Exercise Part I and Part II

Bonus Questions:
• What insights did you gain from the Gateway Inspire service and what action steps can you take?
• What insights did you gain from Not Like Me (Introduction & chapter 1), and what action steps can you take?”

For the rest of the materials, go here: Tearing Down The Walls weeks 1 – 5

This book reminded me of Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence People which highly incluenced me as I was writing Not Like Me as a guidebook to help people who follow Jesus overcome the negative Christian stereotype.

At Mosaic in Los Angeles, Erwin McManus always taught us that the two main ingredients needed to reach someone included likeability and accessibility. This book helps with the one of those key ingredients.

Here are some insights:

Likeable People:

• Bring out the best in others.
• Get recognized.
• Outperform.
• Overcome life’s challenges.
• Enjoy better health.

Studies have found that “organizations with positive employee relationships produce 15 to 25 percent more productivity.”

“The choices you make don’t shape your life as much as the choices other people make about you.”

Before making a choice, people listen, believe, and assess value.People listen, believe, and value likeable people.

The Four Elements of Likeablility:

• Friendliness – “expressing a liking for another person” or “communicating welcome”
• Relevance – the extent to which a person connects with another person’s interests, wants, or needs.
• Empathy – “an identification with and understanding of another’s situation, feelings, and motives”
• Realness – someone who is genuine, true, and authentic

If you would like the full book overview, send me an email to eric.bryant@gatewaychurch.com with the subject “Likeability Factor.”