What to look for in a church?

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Lucas Bearg forwarded this blog to me from a guy I do not know, but I liked him after I read his "16 things to look for in a church". I thought he must have been talking about Olathe Life Fellowship. Have a great day!


If I were looking for a church to attend in the morning, here is what I’d look for:



1. When I enter do I hear laughter?
2. Are people greeting me as a job or a joy?
3. Does the place look like they were expecting me?
4. Are people buzzing as they greet each other?
5. Is there spirited music playing as people gather?
6. Does the music move me?
7. Do the people on stage look real and engaged?
8. Are the announcements short, strategic, and to the point?
9. Is there a printed outline with Scripture already printed on it?
10. Does the pastor smile?
11. Does the message title promise a relevant topic I am interested in?
12. Does the pastor speak with humility and authority?
13. Do I feel the presence of God?
14. Are people listening and engaged?
15. Is the service no more than 71 minutes?
16. Does it pass by fast?



posted by David Foster at http://www.davidfoster.tv/



Abortion Clinic Bombing

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I was just thinking how messed up people must be to justify blowing up an abortion clinic in the name of "pro-life" or in the name of "God". I've always believed that "2 wrongs don't make a right".

But don't we all get confused at times and justify our ungodly stupid behavior? I think we do!

I know that a few months ago I was bashing right-winged-conservative-legalistic Christians in an attempt to correct their judgmental attitude. But I soon realized I was doing the very same thing to them that I was accusing them of doing to me. Ha! Aren’t we all whacky sometimes?!

We must all remind ourselves of these scriptures when dealing with people.

Luke 6:37 "Do not judge and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

Mark 12:31 “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Luke 6:31-33 “Do to others as you would have them do to you. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners' do that.”

I think a good rule of thumb for us Christians is to be people of unimaginable love.

Questions Christians should be asking

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I think the questions we ask are very important. The questions we ask tell a lot about us; like what's important to us.

Being a church planter (that's just a person who has started a church) now for just 4 years I am seeing church, Christians, seekers and the de-churced in a whole new light. And it is causing me to ask lots of questions... like:

  • What can we (the local church) do to reach people who are not even looking for a "great church to plug into"? I am learning that seekers aren't really seeking many times. We call them seekers, but they are fine to do a million other things on a Sunday morning besides seeking a church service to attend.
  • How can we better recruit and equip Christians to lead (volunteer and serve)? Our culture in KC is "Christians come to church to be fed". And that is just not biblical. Christians are here to do the same thing as Jesus; He came to serve... He came to seek and save the lost... He came to make a difference. So should we!
  • What great innovative idea have we not thought of yet to accomplish the great commission?
  • How can we get Christians to become missionaries in their circles of relationships?
  • How can we purge selfishness out of people's hearts?
  • What can I DO to be a better Christ-follower in and through my local church?
  • What is not getting done in my church because I am not using my talent or gift to do it?
  • What does God think of Christianity? Is it what He intended?
  • What things is God really interested in?
  • What risks does God want me to take for Him and for His kingdom?

My Prayer

Dear God, help me and those around me to ask you the right questions, and I pray that we would ask from you the answers to those questions. Help us to be thinking people. People who are committed to following you no matter what. We truly want to be people of significance, people of passion, people of impact! At the end of the day God, we want you to smile on what we have done, because we have done what you have asked us to do. In Jesus name, Amen!

UnderSTANDing Leadership

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“Leadership is the challenge to be something more than average” – Jim Rohn


I am intrigued by this thing called leadership. I often wonder why some do, and some don’t. Why some learn and others don’t.

Leadership is ultimately influence. But I believe great leadership is influence to do good. Too many people in this culture are poor leaders; leaders who influence people for bad.

When I was younger, even in my 20’s I had a desire to be famous. I guess I am not alone. Many people I have spoken too have wanted to be a “rock star” of sorts. This explains the popularity of American Idol show. But I have matured, at least some what; now rather than being famous I want to be influential. I want to help people have a better life.

I believe that in each person’s core we want to be a force for good rather then evil.

So that thought out; how can we grow our leadership muscle? Become more influential? Truly help people?

1.) Prayer – I know I know this seems so trite! But it’s easy to say, easy to write (or type) but not so easy to do on a daily basis! Start today!
2.) Study God’s Word – Another easy thing to say, yet difficult to find time in our busy schedules to do. Start today!
3.) Sincerity – 1 & 2 done on a regular basis will make this one really easy!
4.) Practice – Do leadership. Start small, and God will give you bigger stuff!


“The key to great influence is being great at whatever you are doing now”
– Timmy Gibson

Those who GOSSIP to you gossip ABOUT you

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GOSSIP - small talk, hearsay, palaver, chitchat. Gossip, scandal apply to idle talk and newsmongering about the affairs of others. Gossip is light chat or talk: to trade gossip about the neighbors. It is rumor or general talk that is damaging to reputation; it is usually more or less malicious.

I have learned in my 38 years of life, "those who gossip to you gossip about you". What is even more disconcerting is that Christians engage in this SINFUL behavior with NO GUILT! It's just nuts I tell ya, just nuts! It's Christian Tabloids!

It's like a Christian who justifies an adulterous affair (and says, "but I love her"), or a Christian who legitimizes stealing from work and says ("because they don't pay me enough").

Romans 1:29 "Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip."

2 Corinthians 12:20 "For I am afraid that when I come I won’t like what I find, and you won’t like my response. I am afraid that I will find quarreling, jealousy, anger, selfishness, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorderly behavior."

Besides GOSSIP being a dark evil sin that we've all engaged in at some time, it's bad for 3 reasons:

1.) It distracts us from doing the things that are really important; loving and caring for people, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, praying and reading the scripture!

2.) It is murder with the tongue. It seperates close friends, and it breaks relationships!

3.) It tears down people! Gossip produces nothing good in a persons life, period!


How to know when you've stumbled upon a GOSSIP:

1.) They gossip to you!

2.) The are unhappy. (typically about many things)

3.) The world is just out to get them.

4.) They do not have any TRUE friends. (have you ever had a friend gossip to you about another friend? That is not friendship!)

5.) Gossip follows gossips! (so if you are always in the midst of gossip... it's YOU! You are the common denominator!)

Typically, gossipers attract other gossipers. So if you find yourself in a gossip crowd, I would recommend you inform your "friends" (if you can call them that) and challenge them that you want to be a true Christ follower and that you feel that gossip is not doing anything positive in or for your life and will discontinue partaking in the sin of gossip!


"Small people talk about others,
Medium people talk about things,
And big people talk about dreams and ideas"

Let's be BIG PEOPLE!

Church should be like a Hospital

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It’s interesting that Christians, who should know better, who only think of church from the perspective of; what's in it for me? Especially those “Christians” who consider themselves “mature” ought to know WE ARE BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING. I am reminded of the great reality found in the Gospel of Luke:

Luke 12:48 “When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required.” -NLT

I also think of the famous words, “ask not what your country can do for you, but ask what you can do for your country” and how if you change just a few words it applies to church; “ask not what your church can do for you, but ask what you can do for your church”.

I am not sure just where the issue comes from; is it our consumer culture that has messed us up to think church is about “getting” something, rather then “giving” something. Is it because most churches exist FOR the Christian, rather than FOR the lost person? Almost like church has become a gathering place for Christians, rather then a hospital for the hurting?

I see church being a lot like a hospital; a place where the doctors, nurses and staff are the Christians serving and helping to heal, feed, love, and serve the patients… rather then a Doctor/Nurse convention. There are far too many churches who function a lot like a Doctors Convention.

Now, don’t misunderstand me here! Church should “give” you opportunity to use your gifts to serve others, and “give” you opportunity to reach people for Christ, and “give” you challenging life-applicable biblical teaching to encourage you to live a godly life, and “equip” you for kingdom stuff.

Ephesians 4:11-12 “Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.” –NLT

I know you want to be a self-less person who lives their life to serve God by serving others and helping people find a meaningful life in God.


"When you die you will not be known for what you acquired for yourself, but you will be known, loved and admired for what you did for others" - Timmy Gibson

Give God Your Best

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So I did my morning devotional and it was on the famous Cain and Able story, where we witness the first murder. The story is found in the first book of the bible:


SCRIPTURE:

Genesis 4:3-7 3 In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. 4 But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. 6 Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it."

OBSERVATION:

This story has stumped and even eluded some of the greatest theologians of our time with the one question; why did God look on Abel’s offering with favor and not Cain’s? That is a great question and I am not sure I have the answer, but I can just tell you what I see that stands out to me.

I think it’s very simple if you do not read a bunch of stuff into it.



  • First, Cain brought “some of the fruit” of the soil. Not that the fruit of the soil was bad, but Cain brought just “some” of the fruit. Almost like when you donate to a clothing charity and you give them the clothes you would have sold in the garage sale, or maybe you would have thrown them away because they didn’t fit, or were out of style. This is how I read this. Cain didn’t give his best fruit; he just gave “some” of his fruit.



  • Secondly, Abel brought “some of the firstborn” of his flock. I do not have time to get into the biblical significance of the firstborn, but it hints on the fact that Abel gave from the “first” of what he had rather then just “some” of what we had.



  • Thirdly, had Cain just done what was right (possibly given from the “first” or “best” of his fruit his offering) he would have been accepted. Sometimes we think God asks us for too much. But when you have a proper perspective on it you realize all we have is given to us BY God and we are only stewards of it, not owners.



  • Lastly, Abel’s offering was accepted. I think what you see in this story is the reality of what matters most; to be accepted by God.

APPLICATION:

Cain’s sin of not giving God his best led him to murder his very own brother. Just as God said to Cain, “But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.” Sin leads to more sin.


PRAYER:

God help each of us to give you our best in every area of life!




Did God Follow Us Here?

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So I am having my routine "God talk" with Vandon this morning; I prayed with him and after I finished the prayer he said, "can God hear us clear in Kansas City?" I said, "God is in Florida too... !" He said, "Oh, did He follow us here?" I said, "yes He did... He is wherever we are".

I am reminded of what Jesus told his disciples in the Great Commission"...

Main Scripture:

Matthew 28:16 - 20 "16 Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him—but some of them doubted! 18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations,[b] baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

Here is is clear that no matter where we go, God is there! I am convinced that this is good news not only to a 5 year boy, but to all of us... "God Followed Us Here"!

So when you are having a tough time, or have left your faith behind... remember God is not far behind! God is with you wherever you are!


Additional Scriptures:

Hebrews 13:5b "...I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."

Proverbs 18:24 "A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother."

James 4:8 "Come close to God, and God will come close to you."

- Timmy