In culture today, we are so careful to be politically correct for fear of offending someone. 

No matter what is done or said, it seems to offend someone these days. Anything is considered offensive now if one person claims to have been offended. That's all it takes.

We are so careful to be offensive to someone or be offended ourselves. Especially when it comes to religion. 

I think that is so interesting when the Gospel we believe in is the most offensive. If we don't feel personally offended every time we read scripture and allow it to analyze our hearts and lives, then we are reading it wrong.

In John 6 we find a story of Jesus preaching in a synagogue. What he is teaching makes quite a few people upset. 

Jesus claims that He is the "living bread" in verse 51. He then says that "this bread is his flesh" and that you live forever when you eat it. Then he goes on to say to drink His blood. I can only imagine what this crowd was thinking.

Jesus is asking a lot from them. This is how they respond to all of it... 

These followers of Jesus were just confronted with something that didn't quite make since. It made them a little bit uncomfortable.... well maybe a lot.

Jesus has quite clearly offended the crowd. He's about to offend them even more...

Jesus calls out the ones that are questioning him. He is about to see who is here to just to see some cool things and who is really here to follow him. 

These people are now confronted with the decision to allow this offensive truth filter through their life and put their faith to action... or give up and leave.

The truth of the Gospel always demands a decision and it always weeds out the spectators from the players. 

Only the original 12 remained. 

It's scary to see the response from these so-called followers. They were amazed at what Jesus just did by feeding the 5 thousand earlier in this chapter... but as soon as Jesus said something to make them uncomfortable it changed everything for these followers.

I am concerned for our own churches today. I am so afraid that we have so many spectators that are just hanging around for all the great things that God will do, but the moment it becomes a little hard to obey and follow they will give up and leave.

You know, it's interesting that as Christians we call ourselves "followers of Christ". To follow means you have to actually be moving and pursuing Christ. Following takes action. So, if being a Christian means to follow Christ and there is no active movement is there a Christian? 

I am so frightened that our churches hold far too many people who are watching Jesus and they think that's good enough. 

The Gospel is offensive! It creates tension in our lives not to bring us down, but to build us up. This tension is called conviction and conviction is when we allow the Truth of God to be a mirror into our life. Once we see the ugliness of our sin we can claim victory over it in the name of Jesus and grow. 

I am burdened for the ones that do not allow conviction to change them. They run away and hide from it as if ignorance is bliss. 

We can't afford to water the Truth down. We can't afford todays culture of political correctness to stop the True work of the Gospel and the Holy spirit in our lives. It's not supposed to be easy. It's not supposed to be comfortable. It's just simply supposed to be Truth and that Truth moves us closer and closer to our Creator. 

We were created to live in unity and community. 

Theoretically, that is the same thing because community is simply common unity. It is all throughout the bible. We belong together, and we are better for it.

Paul talks about this in Ephesians 4. In verses 11 and 12 he talks about how Christ gave us our guides in the faith.

Christ gave these people so that they may help build the entire body of Christ. They are equipping us as followers of Christ to be able to equip others with our own gifting to continue to build the body of Christ. 

So, Paul first talks about community being built through teaching and equipping.

He gives the reason why in verse 13.

Paul packs verse 13 with so much great content! The point of coming together to learn from the equippers is to bring unity and grow in our knowledge of who God is. When we experience this kind of unity, Paul says we start to attain the full measure of God.

This means that when we are not in one of these Christ centered communities then we are missing a part of Christ.

​Paul gives a great illustration of this in verse 16.

Paul uses the example of the body fitting together like ligaments. These ligaments are what helps the body function as a whole because we are uniquely designed to fit in our area of the body. When one ligament is not attached the body can't function properly. But when it is attached properly all functioning the way each part was designed we see an incredible picture of movement.

The Christ centered community that we are in should move together in love as it grows and matures. 

If you aren't in this kind of community, you need to be!

Here’s why:

 1. You are choosing ignorance

Paul says in verse 11 and 12 that our community is meant for us to know more about God. By not being in this type of community, you are choosing to not know Christ on a deeper level.

Some of you may say that you can learn all you need on your own time. You really can learn a lot and you should strive to know him more on your own time as well. But each of us was designed for a specific purpose. We all have different ways that we think, process, live. We have different backgrounds, personalities and stories, and everyone offers something. 

When we are in a community we began to see God in everyone’s eyes and I believe God reveals Himself to us more through that.

2. You are missing out

In verse 13 Paul talks about this unity that comes from Christ centered community. It's a unity that builds us up together with the purpose of "attaining the full measure of Christ".

When you aren't in community than you are missing out on knowing Christ on a whole other level!

3. You are choosing to limp 

Paul uses the perfect picture of the body of Christ in verse 16. It's a picture of all the perfectly designed ligaments coming together to create action. 

When you aren't in Christ centered community you are choosing to limp through life. You are not the whole body! You are a piece of it that is losing out. Not only are you personally losing but you are making others lose as well.

You were created for a purpose and that purpose was designed to function in the Body of Christ. So, if you aren't attached the rest of that body is missing a vital piece. 

Community is key, and you cannot afford to not live in this type of intentional, Christ centered community.

The latest mega church, moral failure is no secret anymore. Bill Hybels and Willow Creek church have been plastered all over the news.

It is yet again a hit against the church but more importantly a hit against Our Creator whom we represent. 

Bill Hybels is credited for a lot of great accomplishments and one of the biggest ones is the Global Leadership Summit. This leadership conference has touched the world and is probably more well known then Willow Creek is. 

Bill will be remembered for his quote...

Hey, I've even been known to quote this one. It sounds so great!

But ever since light has been shed on his past... I can't help but say the quote in my head and now something just sounds wrong.

Clearly EVERYTHING does not rise and fall on leadership. 

I think we are using the wrong words. The more I think about it and look into it, the more I see a lack of integrity. 

These situations always make Christians ask what went wrong and could this happen to me? And we should ask those questions! 

The answer is, we are human and yes it could happen to us. We need to look into our lives and begin to ask God to reveal to us where we lack integrity in our lives.

My dad always told me and my siblings to "do what's right, when it's right, even when nobody is looking". This is how I see integrity.

So let's start to look into our lives now. It's the little things that matter really. It is the things that we know are wrong, but we don't think are a big deal, or we think we can handle it. 

Once we make a little decision that doesn't seem like a 'big deal" or we just think that people are up tight... we start down a slippery slope. 

I have been known to say stuff like that. But the more I see these types of failures in life the more I wonder if it all started from one little decision that wasn't a "big deal" for them. 

Maybe everything doesn't fall on leadership... Maybe everything falls on Godly integrity and character. 

When little decisions come up in life that require an opportunity to sacrifice your integrity, just ask this question... Is it pleasing to God? 

It's so simple! You aren't being over spiritual either! If you have trouble saying yes, then don't do it! 

Ask yourself this question and then commit to the answer. I am not claiming to have all the answers, but I do know that something needs to change. We can't afford to miss the little things anymore because they more turn into something bigger.

Everything rises and falls on Godly integrity and character.

This is part three of the blog series I am doing! Checkout part 1 and part 2! 

​In part 1 we talked about one of the greatest problems in the church today. We have a lot of spectating rather than getting in the game of sharing Jesus. We looked at the first section of Acts. As an institutionalized church we have communicated a very unbiblical model of evangelism..."just bring them to church and we will take care of it from there!". Whether or not that was said, that's been communicated. 

We need to get back to being the Church rather than simply going to church.

In part 2 we talked about how some of us have put ourselves in a "Christian bubble". We aren't even around people that don't know Jesus, so we are missing a whole part of this Christian thing altogether. 

One day I will have to stand in front of God and answer for every missed opportunity I had to share His Great Name... and so will you.

In part 3 we are going to look at how we can do this! 

We talked about the problem, then we evaluated ourselves and now it's time to get to work! In part 2 we made a list of people that we know that don't know Jesus and that we come in contact with every day. If you were like me, you're going to have to get creative and put yourself in an environment intentionally to share Jesus.

For me I quit my job at the church office and went to work at Starbucks. You don't have to necessarily quit your job for this! Maybe you can reach out to your neighbors, go hang out at a coffee shop, join a local club or sports team. Whatever it is just go do it! 

​In 1 Peter 3:15 it says, 

This hope is Jesus! 

So now that you are intentionally heading into an area to share the light of Jesus be ready to give a reason for it. 

Here are some things you can do to start intentionally being the Church:

1. Find Your Place

First, you need to find your place!

Where are you going to intentionally build relationships? Your school? Your job? Your neighborhood? Your sports team? Your chess team? Shuffle board? It doesn't really matter! just go where they don't know Jesus!

2. Pray for the People

Begin praying for the people you will come in contact with. If it is an area that you already have relationships start praying for a specific name. If it is a new place where you are planning to go for the first time and you have no relationships, start praying for God to reveal someone to you.

I mean really pray! Pray like you believe it's going to happen!

I heard a story about a pastor in India who has started over 1,000 house churches... crazy right?! He starts these churches by leading someone to the Lord and discipling them and it grows and then he hands it off to one of them in the group and he goes and does it all again. 

Every time he gets down on his hands and knees and prays that God will show who to share His Great Name with. After he gets done he gets up and walks out and he truly believes that the next person he sees is that person.

3.  Be Intentional

Now that you have your place and you have prayed for the people, be intentional with every moment you have with them.

I'm not saying to shove the Bible down their throat. I mean truly love on these people. Care for them and about them. Get to know them. Get into their heart and mind. 

These people aren't projects! They are human beings in need of a Savior just like me and you. We don't have all the answers, but we can walk with them to find the answers. 

4. Go

Ok... it's time now. We've spent enough time talking about it. It's time to get back to being the Church. 

The word Christian literally means, little Christ. If we are going to give ourselves that title, we better steward it well. 

Let's do this! It's a new generation for the Church in America and it starts today!

This is part two of a blog series about being the church rather than simply going to church. You can go check out part one here!

In my last post we exposed one of the biggest problems with the church today. I don't think this is new or ground breaking but it is something every bereaver needs to think about. 

Ask your self these questions...

"How am I going"?

"How am I doing at being the church"?

Checkout the first couple chapters in Acts to see how the early church was launched and look at what they did and how they acted.

We were pretty rough on pastors last time so lets start taking responsibility for ourselves. The reality is each one of us will have to stand before God and answer for why we didn't follow Jesus' command to Go... our pastors won't have to answer for us.

That being said, where do we start? What do we do?

On my first trip to Togo, West Africa I came full force with a startling reality.... I am prepping to head over to Togo to help lead a church planting movement in an unreached people group where I will be a part of seeing an unbelievable amount of people place their faith in Christ for the first time.... yet I could count on one hand how many people I was involved with seeing their lives changed by Jesus back home. 

When I went to a prayer service held at our first church plant in Togo, I was startled to this reality. You can read the full story about the prayer time here. I went home from that service and was so overwhelmed I just fell into bed and cracked open my bible to Acts 1:8.
​This is part two of a blog series about being the church rather than simply going to church. You can go check out part one here!

In my last post we exposed one of the biggest problems with the church today. I don't think this is new or ground breaking, but it is something every believer needs to think about. 

Ask yourself these questions...

"How am I going"?

"How am I doing at being the church"?

Checkout the first couple chapters in Acts to see how the early church was launched and look at what they did and how they acted.

We were pretty rough on pastors last time so let’s start taking responsibility for ourselves. The reality is each one of us will have to stand before God and answer for why we didn't follow Jesus' command to Go... our pastors won't have to answer for us.

That being said, where do we start? What do we do?

On my first trip to Togo, West Africa I came full force with a startling reality.... I am prepping to head over to Togo to help lead a church planting movement in an unreached people group where I will be a part of seeing an unbelievable amount of people place their faith in Christ for the first time.... yet I could count on one hand how many people I was involved with seeing their lives changed by Jesus back home. 

When I went to a prayer service held at our first church plant in Togo, I was startled to this reality. You can read the full story about the prayer time here. I went home from that service and was so overwhelmed I just fell into bed and cracked open my bible to Acts 1:8.
​
 

I quickly realized that I skipped over being a witness in my Jerusalem. I was headed straight for the ends of the earth! I started to right down people that I knew that didn't know Christ.... going to Christian college and working and living in the same place, I came up with a grand total of 5. That's a start! Then I looked at the names and realized that these people live all over the country... I concluded that I am not around people that don't know Jesus... I put myself in a Christian bubble for so long. 

That night I couldn't sleep thinking about this terrible reality that I created. Something had to be done.

When I got back to Jacksonville, I immediately quit my job on campus and got one at Starbucks. 

I worked there for a year and a half and it was one of the best decisions I have ever made.

Tomorrow we are going to talk about HOW we can reach our Jerusalem... but today, I want you to think about how you are doing at this yourself.

Have you put yourself in a Christian bubble like I did?

Are you around unbelievers but no one even knows that you know Jesus?

Take out something to write on and write all the names of the people that you know that don't follow Jesus.

Now cross out all the names of the people you don't come in contact with on a regular basis. All your Facebook friends that you haven't spoken to since Kindergarten are out.

Now you have a place to start! 

If some of you are like me and you have no one... well it's time to be intentional about who you surround yourself with. Be intentional in your neighborhood. Get a different job if necessary. Just hang out at a local coffee shop and meet people there! 

It's time to GO be the Church! Look at the world around you... it doesn't have the luxury of waiting for us, the Church, to BE THE CHURCH! 

I have to stand before God one day and answer for every missed opportunity of sharing His great name... and so do you.