But fall is also a great time to hear Jesus' call into a larger game--the game of changing the world. His two word call, "Follow Me!" really asks us THE question of life: "Are you Ready for a Reckless Faith?" Are you tired of a tepid faith? Are you frustrated from reading in the Bible about all the great stuff God did through ordinary people like us and wondering why it doesn't happen for you? Are you tired of sitting on the sidelines while others around you take up the cross and impact the world?
I'm currently leading your staff through a leadership experience written by John Maxwell (I'm also taking a group of your lay leaders through it). Maxwell offers an interesting perspective on leadership that translates well into faith. He says that leadership is a Process. It's not an Event. Leadership happens over a life time, not in an hour or two. Too many people, he says, look for drive-through leadership. We want to order it and pick it up in a bag, consume it in 5 minutes, and then lead. But it doesn't happen that way.
Too often people look at following Jesus in the same way. We want to live the dynamic Christian life right now. Instantly. We want the high powered worship event that will transform us into spiritual super heroes. That will feed our souls for a week (or two weeks or three weeks!) We're looking for the fast-food Jesus fix that will propel us into the abundant life. But as is true with any fast food, it's fast, it tastes good (Chipolte anyone?), but it doesn't last.
Jesus understood the power of both the event and process. He used events to inspire and call. But he used process to transform. Maxwell provides this helpful chart:
Event Process
Encourages decisions Encourages development
Motivates people Matures people
Is a calendar issue Is a lifestyle issue
Challenges people Changes people
Is easy Is difficult
Thousands attended the Jesus events 2000 years ago. But only 12 went through the transformational process. And it was the 12, not the crowds, who changed the world. A healthy Church provides both powerful events and a profound process.
Grace does events well. Great worship. Great activities (concerts, model rockets, block parties, the Christmas show, etc.). These events provide a place for us to be re-motivated to follow Jesus and provide great entry points for our friends and neighbors.
But if we're going to change the world, we need the courage to follow Jesus into reckless faith, and that's a process--a process few US Christians make. But those who do never go back. They're too busy changing the world around them.
This fall we're beginning to up our game in the process area--providing more and more opportunities for you to move from event to process to world changer.
For the men: We have our manhood class on Thursdays, 6:15 am (contact tim@faceofgrace.org). We also have a men's small group that meets every other Thursday at 6 am (contact Joe at jhertel1127@msn.com).
For the women we have several new opportunities including the Lineage of Grace study that launches on Wednesday, September 11, starting at 6:30 (contact Kimberly at women@faceofgrace.org).
Coming soon: the Financial course--I was broke but now I'm not!
For many of us, committing to several weeks in a row is, at this time, impossible. But not to worry--we're doing a new 1st Wednesday Experience every first Wednesday of the month (hence the title)--a cross between event and process to help us begin to move forward in following of Jesus. Tomorrow night (Wednesday) is our first 1st Wednesday. It will feature two seminars for adults: An Intro to the 2nd Coming of Jesus; and, How to Lead Your Children in Devotions at Home. The kids will have a high energy experience built around Tae Kwon Do. And we'll have nursery as well. We begin at 6:30 and it will run an hour. Come at 6 for hot dogs and chips (for a modest price).
To follow Jesus is to dive into the process of reckless faith. It's to power up at events and then stretch and grow through a life-long process of learning and serving. Paul says it this way: As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord (event), so continue to walk in him (process); rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. (Colossians 2:6-7)
Are you ready for Some Reckless Faith?
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