Blogs

Seeker Sensitive

In recent years, some churches have either been labeled or labeled themselves, as seeker sensitive churches. I have often wondered what this means, because like any other term, it can mean so many different things to different people.
While talking with my youth pastor the other day, the conversation turned to getting people connected to the church and terminology thats inviting, engaging and encouraging. I said “what are we seeker sensitive or something?” While the words were still flowing from my mouth the thought immediately came to my mind and I answered my own question.

I thought about the words of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ when He said to Zacchaeus salvation has come to your house because “the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10 NASB. So if seeking was so important to Jesus then it should be important to us. Sometimes people come to our house and sometimes we have to seek after them and when we find them we shouldn’t run them off. How exciting to think that someone can come to our house and we tell them that today Jesus wants to come and stay in your house.

Likewise the Father is also about seeking. As Jesus shared timeless truths with the woman at the well, the word was presented to her concerning worship. While many think that the Father seeks worship and we say that He desires our worship, the truth of the matter is, He is seeking worshippers. "But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. John 4:23 NASB

Notice in this verse that the Father is seeking the person. Our father is really not interested in what we can offer Him or what we can do for Him, He is completely in love with us and it is us that He desires. He has been seeking and chasing after us since the time that He asked Adam where are you until the day that He asked you and sought after you and found you. So what’s my definition of seeker sensitive? It’s simple, having a broken heart for the lost and doing all I can to find and restore them.

Hello My Name Is

 
Over the next several weeks, I’ll be sharing about the life change that takes place when we commit to being a disciple of Christ. When God does something, it is big, sweeping, and radical. While the sanctification process may take a while, there is a noticeable difference that should happen when your priority changes.

When you commit to being a disciple of Christ, the first thing that changes is who you are. In 2 Corinthians 5:17, the Word says, “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creation: old things are passed away; and behold, all things are made new.” That sounds pretty radical to me. Did you know that when you say yes to Jesus as Savior, you are also saying yes to Him as Lord?

The Lordship of Christ is all a part of the disciple making process. We have to be willing to become what He desires for us. You see, when God calls you and changes you, He also gives you a new name. You will no longer live according to your old name, but according to your new name.

So, as you allow the Lord to shape and make you into this new creation, receive your new name. Embrace the newness of who God is making you into. You have been made alive in Jesus, the mysteries are being revealed, and the destiny and plans for your life are made known. It’s an awesome place to be and it’s just good “to be.”

Pastor G.

The Disciple Transformation

 I’ve been doing some studying lately about becoming a disciple of Christ. My good friend ken Adams has been sharing some great thoughts with me about moving from discipleship programs to actually making disciples. You see Jesus did not command us to start a program, He commanded us to start a spiritual revolution.

Discipleship is not a program, it’s an intentional, hands on, in your space and face infusion of Jesus. We are talking about a process that transforms people from being fishers of food to fishers of men. The discipleship process is not real unless those that you disciple are able to do with others what you have done with them.

In my upcoming blogs I’ll share four things about the life change that takes place when you submit to being a disciple of Jesus Christ. There is truly a transformation that happens. Be blessed and be ready to be transformed.



Pastor G.

So You Think You Can Dance

Some churches may tell you not to try this at home, but at The Verge we welcome your creative dance ability. I’m sure that judges will fill some seats and evaluate the authenticity of your moves but don’t let those judges and stiff bones stop you from busting a move when they crank up your favorite worship song!

Dancing in Church can be a hot button topic. Some may feel it’s irreverent and we should be more at a place of bowed obedience than wild exuberance. I mean really though, who else was like David. Do we take this one character and build a whole liturgical doxology on this one individual. Well we kinda did that for the one named Jesus, but then again, He was, sorry, is Jesus.

It’s hard to determine a persons intention in dancing in church. I’m speaking exclusively from a pew participation place, not the professional streamer swingers and leapers that wear the matching outfits. I mean just a pew person that wants to express with their body in a worship service, their love and adoration toward the Lord. 

As for me, I love it. I love to see the saints free to dance and shout and spin and jump. It’s refreshing to know that people are truly glad about the goodness of the Lord. So if you think you can dance, bring it to The Verge we’ll give you an opportunity to express yourself. However we do reserve the right to ask you to stop if it’s simply a hott distracting mess. 

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