Finding a Church

My biggest challenge for the last 6-8 months is finding a church.
Mostly because three years before that we were planting a church
and two years before that I wasn't going at all,
and the transistion has been less than smooth.

While the overwhelming excitement of a new adventure has been reinvigorating,
the process of finding a place 
to connect with
community
service and
worship
is becoming stressful

It's like you have to start over from scratch
While trying to keep the community and mission that you started over three years ago

What should we look for in a church?
What are the signs of a healthy growing church?
How do you go from leadership to a visitor?
If I get everything that a church service can offer from outside sources...do I need to go to church?

Reflect God

I was listening to Judah Smith this morning.
He was at Passion 2013 this year talking about community

My thoughts that came from his sermon are reflected in my
blog posts community Part one and Part two

While I was re-listening to his sermon
a major point stood out to me

Our main purpose is to reflect God.

When He created adam
there was one thing that God
said that was wrong with this picture

...he was alone

Everything else that God had made
reflected God's glory
except that Adam was alone

We were made in God's image and because of that
it was not good that we were alone.
God isn't alone
He's got the trinity
God knew that if people were going to truly
reflect who He is 
then theres no way that they could do it alone
...because God in Himself is not alone
God in Himself is community

So if we are called...to what could arguably be our greatest purpose
theres no way that we can do it alone

Theres no way that this world can see who Jesus is if we're alone
Because Jesus isn't alone

This is why I love the church
Because without it we cannot show the world who Jesus is

and while there are some weird strange, bizarre, mean, overly critical people our there
We need them and they need us

not to fulfill some emotional need
but because we cannot do what God has called us to do

because of this the excuses of 

"I can worship Jesus more in my boat than with a church"

or

 "I don't need the church to worship/love Jesus"

Don't have a leg to stand on

You do need people and the church
Don't believe the lie
Don't be deceived into the doctrine of isolation
because...in all reality...it seems easier but
...to put it how God put it...
It is not good for man to be alone

proverbs says

the man who isolates himself seeks his own desires and rages against all wise judgement!

Don't let the dirtiness and the brokeness of people
lead you away from the pack

And I'll tell you what...
I give you permission to give up on people and their brokenness
if God gives up on you and yours.

Don't give up so quickly on what God has called us to do
because this will help you complete the greatest purpose
of your life.

It's simple I seriously need you
and you need me

What are some reservations that you have about maybe being in a community
or investing in the people around you?
(Please answer in the comment section)

-Sam

Divine Babysitters

In late november me and by friend Sean Bean,

along with some other great teams of people,

started on this journey of apartment ministry.

Up until now my plan to show people Jesus

was through relationships.

While my plan is a relational strategy, I am more concentrated

on a certain location.

Making friends....I'm good at

being organized

having to communicate

planning things....

....not so much

But that's all a part of being a team.

God has shown us a few cool things while we've been here.

I think the coolest thing that God has been doing is sending people to us.

Here's a cool story:

This past sunday afternoon me and Sean

spent our day like any other 22 year old college students

watching TV

hanging out at the apartment

and

babysitting....

yea babysitting

is definitely not what I thought what my strength was. lol

but God provided.

My friend Greg is a minister at a church that is local.

He is also apart of our ministry team.

He called me that afternoon to tell me that

there was a pregnant woman with her two kids who

went to his church

lived in my apartment complex

and couldn't get into their apartment because her husband was sleeping.

So we had them come over to our apartment complex

Greg bought pizza

so we took care of the kids

while their mom tried to find a way to get into their apartment

God gave us 4 hours with those kids and that mom.

That gave us a chance to do what we do best.

We got to talk to them about Jesus

and play an impromptu concert for the kids...

they loved that!

eventually they got back into their apartment

and we told them goodbye.

But it looks like we have a promising career as 

babysitters lol

Then at the last minute some loving women from the mom's sunday school group brought over some toys

and other baby supplies for them.

somebody is going to walk in our apartment

and think that one of us has a kid. haha.

God has a way of using our weakest attributes for His glory.

Mine is kids.

I'm 6'3.

kids are scared to be around me.

I'm not sure if God is calling me to divine babysitting...

but I do know that:

God is working

We're joining Him!