RMCN News

Can we discuss an incident that has been making headlines lately?  I’m talking about the home run ball controversy, taking place during the game between the Phillies and Miami Marlins on September 5 at LoanDepot Park in Miami.

In the fourth inning of the game, Phillies outfielder Harrison Bader launched a solo home run over the left-field fence to give his team a 5-1 lead.  Numerous fans flocked towards the ball in an attempt to grab it, and a man wearing a red Phillies shirt ultimately took possession of the ball before handing it to his son, Lincoln.

“I’m moving to my right, and I went down to where it was going to land. It went into an empty seat and did a quick bobble and settled. And as it settled, I grabbed it,” Drew Feltwell said in a television interview with NBC. “When I went to pull away, other hands came in, but I had already turned around and headed towards [Lincoln].”

One of those hands belonged to a woman who has since been dubbed online as “Phillies Karen.” She walked over to the man and demanded that he give the ball to her after he had already placed it in Lincoln’s glove.

Drew resolved the situation by plucking the ball away from Lincoln and handing it over to her.

Fans booed, and two Miami Marlins fans came over and presented Lincoln with a ball.  Then the Miami Marlins organization quickly caught wind of the incident, and a staffer gave him a gift bag as an apology — and also a birthday present, as Lincoln was celebrating his special day that night.

The Phillies also chipped in to make the night one to remember, allowing Lincoln to meet Bader after the game was over.  Bader gave the boy an autographed bat.

The big question in this story was, who?  Who was that lady?  But my question is, who are you in this situation?  As I look at this incident, who am I, who are you, and who do we want to be?

For some answers, let’s look at a story from the life of Jesus, a healing of a paralyzed man, an episode recorded in the books of Matthew, Mark, and Luke.  Here is Luke’s version:

Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a sleeping mat. They tried to take him inside to Jesus, but they couldn’t reach him because of the crowd. So they went up to the roof and took off some tiles. Then they lowered the sick man on his mat down into the crowd, right in front of Jesus. –Luke 5:18-19 (NLT)

They made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it –Mark 2:4 (NIV)

Can you imagine?  I can.  About ten years ago, I was working away at my desk in my home office when all of a sudden I heard a loud boom.  My ceiling had opened up, and a five-gallon bucket of water crashed to the floor.

When we bought the house, there were some roof leakage issues, and evidently someone had placed a bucket under where it was dripping. After years of accumulating, it fell through the ceiling.  (We actually paid for a home inspection before buying, I guess they missed this.)

Everybody who saw the hole in the roof uttered the same two words: “Dam!” I am assuming they were referring to the damage to the ceiling.  And “Skylight!”

Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man, “Young man, your sins are forgiven.”  But the Pharisees and teachers of religious law said to themselves, “Who does he think he is? That’s blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!”   Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you question this in your hearts?  Is it easier to say ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up and walk’?  So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” And immediately, as everyone watched, the man jumped up, picked up his mat, and went home praising God.  Everyone was gripped with great wonder and awe, and they praised God, exclaiming, “We have seen amazing things today!” –Luke 5:21-26 (NLT)

Here are the “who” questions that come to mind:

1. Who are those guys?

Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. –! Corinthians 9:19 (NIV)

The four friends understood who they were—they understood their role.  They were servants.

The big issues from the homerun fiasco have to do with who questions.

The lady thought she was the queen.  She came off as an entitled, unaware bully.  It appeared she thought it was all about her.

The Dad, in my opinion, feel free to disagree, came across as a wimp, scared, an abdicator who was trying to diffuse a situation instead of standing up for his kid.

The Miami fans who gave Lincoln the ball, the Marlins organization, and Harrison Bader came across as servants, understanding their role is to serve and to give.

Who am I?  What’s my role?  I’m a servant. 

What is my role in the Charlie Kirk death, or the Jimmy Kimmel saga?  I am a servant.  I’m not to emulate the lady who stormed over, pointed fingers, and tried to set everyone straight.  I am a servant, doing my best to bring people to Jesus.

2. Who does that?

Who cuts a hole in a building?

We do.  Our church just cut a huge hole in our building to put a coffeehouse in.  We tore up part of this place.  Why?  It’s not about the coffee.  If we had done this fifteen or so years ago, we maybe would have put a donut shop in, because donuts were hot.  Then it was frozen yogurt, then cupcakes, then Boba, not coffee. Matcha is coming. 

But it’s not about the coffee or the matcha, it’s about doing everything we can to bring people to see Jesus!

Our network does this.  Every time we start a church, we are cutting a hole somewhere to help people see Jesus.

CT Studd said, “I’ll continue to go down into the deepest hole with the gospel, if you hold the rope.

3. Who paid for the damage?

The story doesn’t tell us.  Was the property owner yelling, “NO!”  Evidently not. He wasn’t in California, so maybe his property insurance was up to date.

Who paid?  The investors paid, the men paid, the owner paid.  It was worth it to see someone come to Jesus and get healed.

These men invested time, energy, muscle, ingenuity, risk, reputation, and ridicule.

Warren Wiersbe noted, “You are a Christian because somebody cared. Now it’s your turn.”

Who are we?  We’re the ones who pay.

4. Who complained?

But the Pharisees and teachers of religious law said to themselves, “Who does he think he is? That’s blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!” –Luke 5:21 (NLT)

Did you notice who complained?  The Pharisees and religious leaders. 

Karl Roth says that Pharisees are those who know the Bible but don’t share their faith. 

This passage implies that if someone is complaining—even when good things are happening—they just might be a Pharisee.

The Apostle Paul warned:

If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. –Galatians 5:15 (NIV)

5. Who performed the miracles?

Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you question this in your hearts?  Is it easier to say ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up and walk’?  So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!”  And immediately, as everyone watched, the man jumped up, picked up his mat, and went home praising God. –Luke 5:22-26 (NLT)

We’re not the miracle workers—Jesus is.  Our job is to get people to Jesus, then we let him work.

We don’t need to have all the answers; we don’t need to be perfect.  Were those four men theological geniuses?  Were they brilliant folks who rarely messed up?  I doubt it.  They just wanted to bring their friend to Jesus.

6.  Who needs Jesus

All of us. 

If we’re paralyzed physically, emotionally, or mentally, we need Jesus.

If we’re desperate to help a friend, we need Jesus.

If we’re thinking we’re entitled to someone else’s baseball, we need Jesus.

If it’s our birthday, we need Jesus.

If we’re a parent, we need Jesus.

If we’re tempted to abdicate, we need Jesus.

If we’re complainers, we need Jesus.

If we’re breathing, we need Jesus.

Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man, “Young man, your sins are forgiven.” –Luke 5:20 (NIV)

Jesus saw their faith.  The paralytic believed, but so did his friends.

Our faith can have a huge impact on other people.

Did you notice that Jesus started with forgiveness?  It is our biggest need.  Jesus offers to wash away all of our sins.  Wow!  And he asks us to forgive.  He can also heal.  Some of us have been miraculously healed.  Jesus can do that.

Who am I?  Hopefully, I’m not an entitled bully, an abdicating wimp, or a constant complainer.  I’m called to simply be a servant who helps other people and brings them to Jesus.

You’ve heard the story of the new pastor who stood up on his first Sunday and declared, “It’s my goal to bring this church into the twentieth century!’  Someone interrupted, “Don’t you mean twenty-first century?”  The pastor replied, “We’ll take it one century at a time.”

Churches can get stuck in a rut of irrelevance.  The number one reason Americans do not attend church in the 21^st century is it is, according to the unchurched, irrelevant.  The typical comments include, “It’s a waste of time.”  “The church just isn’t pertinent to my life today.”  “I have more important things to do.”  “It doesn’t make any difference in my life.”

I grew up in an environment where the church valued tradition over relevance.  We sang centuries-old songs, sat on centuries-old furniture with a strange name (pews), and used centuries-old languages (Old English and Latin).  And I wondered if the issues we discussed were ever important.  I had a desire for God, but the boredom tended to squelch it.  When I finally turned to God in college (outside of my traditional church) I became passionate about spiritual relevance.

Clearly, God is relevant.  The Bible is relevant, and the Gospel is the most relevant news in the world.  So here’s the question, how can we as churches (and followers) stay relevant?

Thom Rainer says one of the top questions churches need to ask is:  Are you addressing the real issues of real lives?

How can we address real issues and remain relevant?

The Apostle Paul had some ideas:

“Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.”–1 Corinthians 9:19-22 (NIV)

Paul valued relevance.  And in this passage, he outlines at least five keys to staying up to date.

1.  Know your role

The Message Version says:

“Even though I am free of the demands and expectations of everyone, I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: religious, nonreligious, meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, the defeated, the demoralized—whoever. I didn’t take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ—but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I’ve become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life. I did all this because of the Message. I didn’t just want to talk about it; I wanted to be in on it!”–1 Corinthians 9:19-23 (The Message)

Paul describes himself as a servant.  His role was to serve others intentionally.  Relevance demands that we put our preferences, our style, and even our rights aside. Paul gave up his rights for relevance:

“Yet I have never used any of these rights. And I am not writing this to suggest that I want to start now.”–1 Corinthians 9:15 (NLT)

William Temple observed, “The church is the only cooperative society in the world that exists for the benefit of non-members.”

To stay relevant the church needs to take on a servant role and to embrace the truth that the church exists for others.  But sadly, most people never get there.  Most believers never progress from spiritual adolescence to servanthood.

George Barna states that 90% of the Christians in America see their local congregations existing primarily to meet their needs.   If we’re going to stay relevant that needs to change.  We need to get the message across that church isn’t for us.

In “Deliberate Simplicity,” Dave Browning writes, “A big part of a pastor’s job is to keep the church swimming upstream because the natural current takes us to a place of inward focus.  We buy new chairs not so we will be more comfortable but so our neighbors and friends will be when they finally arrive.  We pick songs not with just our ear in mind but for those who are about to come.”

We have to reframe our role as one of a servant to others if we want to be and stay on the edge.

2.  Know your audience

“I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: religious, nonreligious, meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, the defeated, the demoralized—whoever.” 1 Corinthians 9:20 (The Message)

A scuba diver was enjoying the aquatic world 20 feet below the water line when he noticed another man the same depth—but he had no scuba gear at all.  The diver went below another 20 feet, but moments later the same guy joined him.  The diver went down another 25 feet, but again the other guy showed up.!  This confused the scuba diver, so he took out a waterproof chalkboard set and wrote, “How are you able to stay under the deep without any equipment?”  The guy took the chalkboard and wrote, “I’m drowning!”

We need to understand who we are talking to.  Relevance is relative.  We have to go out of our way to understand our target and go out of our way to communicate to them.

It was a typical summer day in Texas–about two hundred degrees with two hundred percent humidity.  I was uncomfortable and beginning to perspire when a couple of my buddies said they were making a Starbucks run.  They asked if I wanted anything.  “Great, thank you,” I said.  “How about a venti passion iced tea with two Splendas and lots of ice.”  That’s my typical order.   They returned and handed me a hot tea.  I was confused, I never drink hot tea, and who drinks hot tea on a summer day in Dallas anyway?  I thought, “Know your audience!”   To be fair, they did bring me a cup of ice because they thought I must be nuts wanting hot tea in hot Texas.    I must not have been very clear.  But the point is it is often difficult to understand our audience, but relevance means we work at it.

3.  Know the times

“The “Men of Issachar…understood the times and knew what Israel should do.”–1 Chronicles 12:32

We need to know the Bible and the times.

I like this Anthony Myers quote:  “Not a lot of people know this about me, but I’m a time traveler. The only catch is that so far, I can only travel through time at the same rate everyone else is going.”

I suspect a lot of churches travel through time slower than everyone else.

Eric Hoffer suggests:  “In times of change, learners inherit the Earth, while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists.”

I don’t want to lead a ministry that is beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists.  So I need to know the times.

4.  Know the message

When she got flowers from her husband on their anniversary, my daughter’s friend quickly opened the card. All it said was “No.” What did that mean?   She called her husband, who said, “I didn’t attach any message.  The florist asked if I had a message and I said, ‘No.'” 

Do we have a message?  Do we know what it is?  Paul did:

“It is the opportunity to preach the Good News …”–1 Corinthians 9:17 (NLT)

Paul embraced a message of good news.  Have we?

The number one reason why people don’t go to church is they say it is irrelevant.  Reason number two is new:  the church’s anti-gay stance.  Reason number 3:  “Everyone is a hypocrite.”  Reason 4: “All they want is my money.  And the fifth reason why people in America don’t go to church?  They say, “The church is gloomy and all they talk about is death.”

Amazingly, the church is now known for bad news, when our message is supposed to be good news.  If we become known for what we are for rather than for what we are against, we’ll probably be a lot more relevant.  Let’s concentrate on the good news.

5.  Know the goal

 “I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.”–1 Corinthians 9:22 (NIV)

Paul’s goal was not to be hip, it wasn’t to be politically correct, it wasn’t to be liked, or even right.  His goal was to win people to Jesus.

Now we know that Paul doesn’t win them, you and I don’t win them–God does. 

“I do all this for the sake of the Gospel, that I may share in its blessings. Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.” 1 Corinthians 9:23-24 (NIV)

Paul knows God wins them, but he also knows he is a partner in the process and he takes his responsibility seriously and with a sense of urgency.

Henry Trumbull made this sobering observation:  “Unless a man is ready to work for the salvation of others, it may be questioned whether or not he himself is saved.  He who wants only enough religion to save himself is not likely to have even that much.”

That’s tough stuff.  But perhaps if we, like Paul, were so committed to outreach that we would do anything short of sinning to save folks, we might be even more effective. 

So let’s continue to know our role, know our audience, know the times, know the message and know the goal–all of that will go a long way toward helping us stay relevant.

Years ago, one of my sisters happened to be in town, so I invited her to stay with us.  We talked into the night about anything and everything when the topic of politics emerged.  She started to talk and I immediately got a sick feeling inside.  We disagreed on just about everything. There were really no solutions or resolutions.  And there seemed to be, maybe for the first time in our relationship, some sort of wedge between us.

I didn’t sleep very well that night.  One question kept popping up in my head, how important is politics?  Should politics be able to tear us apart?  What role should politics play in our lives?

My sister had a birthday a few months later, and I happened to be in her town, so I took her out to dinner.  We’re in the middle of one of those seemingly endless election seasons, so the subject of politics came up again, and amazingly, my sister still didn’t agree with my wise, well-thought-out, obviously correct political views.  Again, the question arose, what role should politics play?

It’s a relevant question.  This election is dominating the news.  Our country is more polarized than ever.  The media is getting great ratings pushing the frenzy and it is easy to get caught up in it, it is easy to get angry at all those ignorant people who don’t believe exactly like I do.  But let’s take a step back.  I don’t care if you are a Republicrat, a Demoderm, or a Librarian, take a beat.  Maybe you’re a Trumper, a never-Trump person, maybe you think it’s time for a woman to have a turn.  Maybe you just want to see some national peace for a change.  Or maybe you just don’t care, you don’t buy into the “end of democracy” threat that each side is warning will occur if they aren’t elected. 

How important is politics?  How important should it be in our lives?  What role should politics play?

Let’s look at one story from the life and teachings of Jesus for an answer:

Watching for their opportunity, the leaders sent spies pretending to be honest men. They tried to get Jesus to say something that could be reported to the Roman governor so he would arrest Jesus.—Luke 20:20 (NLT)

It seems that there are a lot of folks, “pretending to be honest” these days.  They are asking numerous “gotcha questions.”

 In a parallel passage, Matthew explains that the religious leaders were setting a trap for Jesus.  They wanted to embarrass him, ruin him, and render him ineffective.

Then the Pharisees met together to plot how to trap Jesus into saying something for which he could be arrested.  They sent some of their disciples, along with the supporters of Herod, to meet with him.—Matthew 22:15-16 (NLT)

The story continued:

“Teacher,” they said, “we know that you speak and teach what is right and are not influenced by what others think. You teach the way of God truthfully.  Now tell us—is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”  He saw through their trickery and said, “Show me a Roman coin.  Whose picture and title are stamped on it?” “Caesar’s,” they replied. “Well then,” he said, “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.”  So they failed to trap him by what he said in front of the people. Instead, they were amazed by his answer, and they became silent.—Matthew 20:21-26 (NLT)

The religious leaders were afraid of Jesus, they were insecure, thinking he was going to take their jobs.  So they tried to trap him.  They attempted trickery.

Did you see it?  Did you notice how they tried to ensnare Jesus?  This passage gives us a dose of clarity.  Politics can be a trap!

The topic of politics can embarrass us, ruin us, and render us ineffective if we are not careful.  Let’s be very careful that we do not walk right into a trap because someone is out to get us.  Let’s be wary.  Political posts on social media can be like stepping into a trap—even the ones that begin with, “I don’t usually post my political views, but…”  Watch out!  It might be, it could be, it probably is…a trap.  Let’s think twice about what we say to a sister, it can be a trap.  Let’s not get tricked, politics can be a trap!

“How many politically-correct people does it take to screw in a light bulb?”

“Look, I don’t know, but that’s not funny.”

Jesus concludes with:

“Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.”—Luke 20:25 (NLT)

We tend to stop there, but Jesus’ statement begs two questions:

Question #1.  What are we supposed to give to God?

Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’  This is the first and greatest commandment.”—Matthew 22:37-38 (NLT)

Jesus quotes Deuteronomy 6:5 and says that God gets all our love, all our heart, all our soul, all our mind.

We’re supposed to give God everything.  If we expect the next politician to be our savior, we will be incredibly disappointed.  Only God can save us.

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need.—Luke 12:31 (NLT)

Question #2.  What are we supposed to give the government?

Let me make some suggestions based on New Testament teachings:

Taxes:

On their arrival in Capernaum, the collectors of the Temple tax came to Peter and asked him, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the Temple tax?”  “Yes, he does,” Peter replied. Then he went into the house.  But before he had a chance to speak, Jesus asked him, “What do you think, Peter? Do kings tax their own people or the people they have conquered?” “They tax the people they have conquered,” Peter replied. “Well, then,” Jesus said, “the citizens are free!  However, we don’t want to offend them, so go down to the lake and throw in a line. Open the mouth of the first fish you catch, and you will find a large silver coin.  Take it and pay the tax for both of us.”

—Matthew 17:24-27 (NLT)

Why does a slight tax increase cost you two hundred dollars and a substantial tax cut save you 30 cents?

“Everybody should pay their taxes with a smile,” said Bob. “I tried it but they wanted cash.”

Prayers:

I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. 2 Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.—1 Timothy 2:1 (N:LT)

Maybe the government is in sad shape because we’re not praying.

Responsibility

Be a good citizen. All governments are under God. Insofar as there is peace and order, it’s God’s order. So live responsibly as a citizen. If you’re irresponsible to the state, then you’re irresponsible with God, and God will hold you responsible. Duly constituted authorities are only a threat if you’re trying to get by with something. Decent citizens should have nothing to fear.

Do you want to be on good terms with the government? Be a responsible citizen and you’ll get on just fine, the government working to your advantage. But if you’re breaking the rules right and left, watch out. The police aren’t there just to be admired in their uniforms. God also has an interest in keeping order, and he uses them to do it. That’s why you must live responsibly—not just to avoid punishment but also because it’s the right way to live.  That’s also why you pay taxes—so that an orderly way of life can be maintained. Fulfill your obligations as a citizen. Pay your taxes, pay your bills, respect your leaders.—Romans 13:1-7 (The Message)

We need to be responsible citizens.  If you are into politics, if you’re a political junkie, fine—don’t get trapped—be responsible.  If you don’t care all that much, fine—be responsible.

Respect

Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.—Romans 13:7 (ESV)

Jay Leno quipped, “If God wanted us to vote he would have given us better candidates.”

We still need to honor the office and honor the person.

Here is the Big Challenge: Let’s avoid the political traps around us.

I was sitting in a restaurant talking to my sister about politics and the tension was mounting.  Was this difference in our political views going to ruin our relationship?

Suddenly both of our cellphones started ringing and buzzing.  She picked it up and screamed, “Yes!  Yes!”  “What’s up?” I asked.  She yelled, “The Rams are moving back to LA!”

We both shouted, and then we hugged.  I was an LA Rams fan as a kid, she stuck with the Rams even after their move to St. Louis.  We were both ecstatic.  As she drove me to the airport she kept saying, “I can’t believe it, the Rams are moving back to LA!” 

How important is politics?  I had my answer.  I hugged her goodbye and concluded, “It doesn’t matter who wins the election, the important thing is the Rams are in LA!”

I need to treat my political views like I treat my football views.  I have my team.  And if someone roots for the 49ers or the Raiders or the Steelers or the Broncos or even the Seahawks, we can talk, we can kid, we can even agree to disagree.  I can let them be wrong and remain friends. 

I’ve got my political views, but if someone roots for another party or view or team, I can accept them and let them be wrong.  But I need to be careful not to let that ruin my relationships, my reputation, or more—I need to be careful.  Politics can be a trap.

The Major League Baseball Playoffs are upon us, and I am reminded of an experience I had at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles a while back.  I jumped at an opportunity to do something I hadn’t done before, or since:  I attended Dodger Stadium two nights in a row.  One night, I sat in the lower section—field-level box seats.  The next night, I sat much higher up in the fourth-level “Reserve” seats.  It soon became apparent that there are two versions, two variations, two varieties of Dodger Stadium.

The lower level is predictable, unchanging, and safe.  It’s the same now as it was in 1962 when the Angels played there.  The upper level is unpredictable, constantly changing, and even a bit dangerous.  Nothing is like it was in 1962.

With lower-level tickets, you might get “Preferred Parking.”  Everything is laid out neatly, you bypass the traffic, park close, and follow the clear signs to your section.  Upper-level seats tend to come with “General” parking.  General is a Latin word that means “In a different county.”  The parking space is typically further away from the stadium than the freeway off-ramp, you have to walk up 142 steps unless you can find the escalator which is specially designed to be moving in the opposite direction than the direction you want to go.  It seems like down is up, and up is down.   Nothing is neatly laid out.  Most folks seem pretty confused.

On the lower level, they warn you gently about batted balls being hit into the stands.  On the upper level, they do not warn you about anything.  If you are wearing the garb of another team, you will be heckled.  If you wear a Giants or Padres cap, you might be beaten—so you better be on the alert at all times.

On the lower level, it’s the same people every time—many patrons know each other, they are season ticket holders.  Everyone feels privileged because they paid good money—big money–for the experience.  In the upper levels, it’s a different crowd every game, nothing belongs to you, so you just might feel disenfranchised.  And chances are somebody gave you the ticket.

In the lower level, everyone looks the same.  In the upper level, diversity reigns.

In the lower level, everything is in English.  One orders a “Dodger Dog” and a Blue Moon, which comes with an orange slice.  In the upper level, not much is in English.  There’s a good amount of Spanish and other languages that are difficult to decipher.  In the upper level, you order nachos, the Vietnamese rice bowl with peanut sauce, or the latest tuna poke bowl.

In the lower level, you watch the game.  In the upper level, you watch the crowd.

In the lower level, the bathrooms are spotless and clearly marked.  Pleasant bathroom attendants make you feel special.  In the upper deck, you are not sure which bathroom to use, so you just hold it.

In the lower field level, you can see everything.  In the upper level, you are fortunate if you can see the sky.

In the lower level, it appears that there are no broken people.  In the upper level, most people seem broken.

In the lower level, the values are universal, and Christianity is the dominant culture.  In the upper level, there are competing values and Christianity means little.

When it comes to the church planting world, when it comes to ministry and spiritual leadership, we no longer live in a lower-level environment.  Christian leaders must recognize that the world has changed and is changing. 

Consultant Bill Easum says, “It’s not a ‘National Park’ world anymore, it’s a ‘Jungle’ out there.” 

It’s not 1962, it’s 2024.  Unless we are flexible, nimble, and alert, we may end up with an experience that is negative for everyone.

One last contrast:  In the lower level, you can go alone.  In the upper level, you probably won’t make it if you are on your own.

That’s why the Rocky Mountain Church Network exists.

We exist to help.  When I sat in the lower level, I showed up by myself and met some people there.  When I sat in the upper deck, I had my wise nephew—one who attends dozens of games each year—accompany me.

The RMCN church planting philosophy of ministry comes from Acts 13.  The church in Antioch was enjoying its lower-level status when the Holy Spirit spoke, “Set apart Barnabas and Saul for the work I have for them.”—Acts 13:2 (NIV)

The church kept fasting and praying and sent the two church planters out into an upper-deck world. 

And they supported them.  As leaders, the world may be changing, unpredictable, and even confusing.  But if we support each other, we can have a great time and make a big impact.

Is your church called to send leaders into an upper-deck world?  I suspect it is.  If you’d like to explore opportunities to reproduce, we have started a Parent Church Cohort where we can collaborate to meet the needs of a changing world. 

We will talk through where we are and where our church leadership and members are on the road to reproducing. As well as:

  Money/Budget

  Expectations

  Planter selection

  Fears

  Resistance

  Metrics

  Timelines

  Next Steps and more

If you are interested in joining this cohort, please contact me at JDPearring@gmail.com.

Several years ago, my wife, Lori took me on a date to a surprise location.  She told me to wear workout clothes.  We ended up arriving at a kickboxing gym.  The trainers sold us hand wraps and boxing gloves and got us all signed in.

“One more thing,” said the owner, “we need a nickname for you.”  “What’s that now?” I asked.  “Your nickname will be displayed on the big screen every time you work out.  What do you want us to type in?”  “Can I have a minute to think about it?”  “Nope.”  “Lori, did you come up with something for you?”  “Yep.”  Not helpful.

Honestly, I froze.  I’ve been called a lot of things and had a few nicknames—most of which are inappropriate to be displayed.  I had no clue, then suddenly it came out of my mouth.

I will tell you what I said, what my moniker is, but let’s admit those kickboxing people raise a pretty good question:

What do you want to be known for?  If you could choose one word to describe your life or what you want your life to be, what would it be?

What Do You Want to Be Known For?

The good news is Jesus handed us the answer.  In one of his more famous teachings, Jesus tells us what not to be known for, and what to be known for.

“Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds.  As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them.  Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow.  But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn’t have deep roots, they died.  Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants.  Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!  Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.” –Matthew 13:3-9 (NLT)

This story called for some clarification:

“Now listen to the explanation of the parable about the farmer planting seeds:  The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message about the Kingdom and don’t understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches away the seed that was planted in their hearts.  The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy.  But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word.  The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced.  The seed that fell on good soil represents those who truly hear and understand God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!” –Matthew 13:18-23 (NLT)

What moniker do you want to be known for?  Jesus suggests four possibilities.

1.  Resistant

The hard path where some seed fell represents the hard hearts of those who hear the words of God, but then the devil comes and steals the words away and prevents people from believing and being saved. –Luke 8:12 (Living Bible)

Some of us have hard hearts.  God’s Word and God’s love have not penetrated our lives.  We’re resistant, callous, harsh, rigid, and inflexible.

And it might not be all our fault.  The devil has stolen our joy and our hope.  Extenuating experiences may have caused us to be closed.  But some people are just plain hard to deal with.

2.  Shallow

Comedian Pat Paulsen once admitted, “Deep down, I happen to be very shallow.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson put it this way: “Shallow men believe in luck. Strong men believe in cause and effect.”

Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. –Mark 4:5-6 (NIV)

Some of us are shallow.  We’re superficial and flutter from one thing to another.  The roots are thin, short, or maybe non-existent.  Many folks wither when the heat is on.

3.  Stunted

The seeds that fell among the thorns represent those who hear the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so they never grow into maturity. –Luke 8:14 (NIV)

We all possess wonderful potential, but some of us never reach anything close to it because of three issues: 1.  The cares of life; 2. The riches of life; and 3. the pleasures of life.  Those concerns choke us out, crowd us out and curb our growth.

The best player on UCLA’s Ultimate Frisbee team I played for suddenly up and quit.  I questioned him as to why, and his answer stuck with me: “I came to UCLA determined to be the best doctor I could be, now all I want to do is get high.”

His smoking was choking him.

One last label is seen in the punchline of the story:

Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown.”—Mark 4:20 (NIV)

4.  Fruitful

We are like plants from a seed.  Will we be fruitful?

When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. —John 15:8 (NLT)

Here is the question:  Where are you?  How is your heart?  And where is your church?

Are you hard?  Are you stubborn, resistant, crusty, set in your selfish ways?

Are you shallow?  Are you always looking for the next trick, the next big thing?  Do you get distracted easily and tend toward withering?

Are you stunted?  Is life, both the good and the bad, choking you out?

Are you fruitful?  Are you producing a crop?

Where are you?  And where is your church?

I suspect all of us want to become fruitful.  But how do we do that?

How Can We Become Fruitful?

Those in the resisting, rigid stage simply need a breakthrough.  They need patience, maybe a little plowing.

Sometimes the breakthrough is preceded by a breakdown.  Tom Petty may have been on to it when he sang about a breakdown: “It’s alright.” 

Those in the shallow stage frankly need deeper roots.  Start reading the bible more, get in a group with other believers and leaders

Those in the stunted stage need to—and this is difficult—discard something.

It might be to cast that worry up to God.  He can fix it, or make it turn to good, we can’t.

It might be to give something away.  Riches get a hold of us; generosity loosens its grip.

It might be to fast from something.  Give up that pleasure for a time.

Those in the fruitful stage simply need to keep it up.

But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop. –Luke 8:15 (NIV)

Fruitfulness takes time, patience, a noble and good heart and hanging in there.

Back to the kickboxing nicknames.  The first thing that came out of my mouth was, “Preacher.”  Lori confessed, “That’s not like you at all!”  It’s not a great label, but it clearly establishes that I’m a believer and I hope to have a positive influence on others.  The name actually has opened up a number of doors so I can attempt to make a difference at the gym.  When folks call me “Preacher” or “Preach” it also reminds me that there are people sitting and watching on my front row.

Lori chose a better nickname.  Hers is “Progress.”  I wish I had thought of that.  We don’t have to be perfect, but we can make some progress.

We can move from hard and closed to open and teachable.  We can move from shallow to rooted.  We can move from preoccupied with the worries, riches and pleasures of life to more passionate about the things of God.

And we can make progress in bearing fruit.  We can exhibit the fruit of the Spirit in our lives.  Perhaps we could influence one life, then another, and perhaps even thirty, sixty and a hundredfold.

One of our goals in the Rocky Mountain Church Network is to plant new churches.  We know that God causes the fruit, but as we allow God to transform us into those who are good and noble, as we allow him to spread his love through us, hopefully we will be known as fruitful leaders.

Part of what we’re about in the Rocky Mountain Church Network is reproduction– helping churches partner with and parent new churches.    Some congregations are ready and excited about the possibilities of multiplying.  Others seem disinterested in church planting.  Still others find themselves in the middle of those options.

In working with churches and pastors over the decades I’ve discovered what I call the different

STAGES OF REPRODUCTION:

Resisting

Some churches are currently resisting reproduction.  Like couples who have decided against having children, these churches do not want to reproduce.  Church Planting expert Bob Logan uses the term “hostile” to describe how some pastors and churches respond to the idea of parenting a daughter church.  One famous pastor of a mega-church in our country once remarked, “We came dangerously close to planting a daughter church.”

Questioning

Other churches find themselves grappling with the clear Biblical command to “go forth and multiply.”  They are starting to wonder why this hasn’t been part of the natural development in their church.  They are asking questions, checking studies and beginning to realize that they do not want to be, as multiplication specialist Red Ensley put it, “a dead-end link on the chain of Christianity.”

Not Now

Many, if not most churches find themselves in the “Not Now” stage.  They realize that health leads to reproduction.  They know that they need to parent a church someday.  But they are caught up with other things right now.  These folks typically say things like, “As soon as we get our facility built, we’ll consider a plant.”  Or “We’re not large enough yet.”  Or “When we get our staffing, or program, or financial issues remedied, we’ll look into it.”

Something

Many churches have moved to the stage where they are actually doing something.  They might be financially supporting a church planter or two.  They may open their facilities to a church plant in their area or perhaps they’ve given gently used equipment to a new church in the region.  They have jumped into the game.

Aunt/Uncle

Other churches have moved to the point of being an Aunt or Uncle church.  They might not feel ready to parent, but they are willing to generously support a planter.  They’re having planters up front in their services and are growing in support of a church planting movement.

God Parent

Some churches have moved a bit farther along the reproduction journey.  They’ve become that special Aunt or Uncle–the God Parent.  They are praying and giving and are available for special appeals by church plants for one-time gifts over and above previous commitments; to send people to help out with a preview service; or to have a baby shower to buy items for a church plants nursery.  Our church in Elk Grove, Journey Church, has this special relationship with a plant back east.  We’ve told them to consider us to be a rich uncle who lives in California.

Parent

Some churches have moved to the point of daughtering a church.  Like having kids biologically, this might be a deliberate, planned, thought-out strategy.  A parent church might have the clear approach that they will give $50, 000 to $100,000 and 50-100 people to get a church launched.   Or it might be more of “an accident.”    They might only be able to give a few bucks and a few people, but they are responding to God’s personal call to them to be parents.  They may or may not be joined by another parent church, but they’ve taken responsibility to help a church get going.

Baby Machine

Some churches have had such a good parenting experience, that they have plenty of kids.  My four sisters have had seven kids, seven kids, six kids, and four kids respectively.   And I’ve joked that they are baby-machines, constantly pregnant.   Some churches are like that–they’ve become multiplication centers.

Mini-Denomination

And some have multiplied so much that they’ve approached becoming a denomination unto themselves.  Their kids are having kids.  Some are reproducing like wildfire, leaving a lasting legacy.

Churches range throughout these stages, from resistant to rapid reproduction. 

The application is clear:  let’s identify where our church currently finds itself along the reproductive journey.  Is your church resistant?  Questioning?  Waiting?  Involved?  Moving toward parenting?  Cranking them out?

After identifying where we are, there’s one last application I’d like to challenge you and your church to take:  consider making some movement further along the reproductive line.  If you’re thinking, “Not now,” I’d encourage you to rethink that and at least do something–support a church planter, give something.  If you’re doing something, consider taking on the challenge of being a Godparent.  Or perhaps it’s time to daughter that first church–or that second one.

Let’s move along the reproductive journey.

JD Pearring, RMCN Director of Church Planting

Life and ministry often seem complex. We juggle decisions, conversations, and responsibilities at a rate that can seem overwhelming. In Mark 4, Jesus brings clarity to the jumble of our lives by highlighting two responses to being changed by the truth of God’s Word.

And he said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket, or under a bed, and not on a stand? For nothing is hidden except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret except to come to light. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” And he said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you. For to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away” (Mark 4:21-25 ESV).

The first response that Jesus highlights is “Be Intentional.” You were created for a purpose, and you received the truth of God’s Word for a purpose. When we forget that the core of everything that we do should be God’s glory, the distractions can overwhelm us. By being intentional in our actions, decisions, attitudes, and words, we give meaning to everything we do and order to the chaos around us.

The second response that Jesus highlights is “Be Generous.” Generosity means much more than the way we use financial resources, although God calls us to be generous with what he has given to us. We should also be generous with our time, being willing to be interrupted for the Kingdom’s sake; many of Jesus’ miracles were interruptions to what seemed to be his agenda for the day. We should be generous with our grace; imagine where we would be if God were not generous with his grace toward us. We should be generous with our forgiveness; in forgiving we express our image-of-God-bearing the most.

These responses apply to people who are following Jesus and to ministries who are pointing others to him. How can you be more intentional? How can you be more generous?

John Craft, the new Regional Executive Director of the Rocky Mountain Church Network, shares about his new role, a new year, and seeing God in “the land of the living.”

We continue to pray for those impacted by the Marshall Fire. We are starting to make contacts to see who is on the ground and who would be good to partner with as Louisville and Superior start the recovery process.

In the meantime, you can contribute to fire recovery efforts through the ACTS Fund, which is managed by our national partner, Venture Church Network. Visit https://venturechurches.org/venture-church-network-ways…/ to give. Simply choose the ACTS Fund in the drop-down menu and write “Colorado Fire Relief” in the memo.

When I was the mayor of a small town in Wyoming, I had become an officer in the state-wide association of elected officials. I once approached the leader of the organization to talk about our relationship in the organization. I stated that I hoped we could work together as a team.

His response was to say that we had to define what kind of team we would be. I remember thinking that it was simple. Being a Colorado native and life-long supporter of the Bronco’s, of course, my mind went to the offensive side of a football team. I had in mind imagery of the quarterback as a leader and all the supporting roles of team members working together to score more points than the opposition to win. I wanted him to know that I understood my position and gifting of being a lineman, wanting not only to make sure that the organization succeeded but that he succeeded in his role.

His response was not what I expected. He stated that he was all in favor of being a team; the team model he had in mind was a golf team. I understood that to mean that his team model is the sum of the individual player’s independent game. If you think about it, they are two radically different concepts of team, albeit two different kinds of sports.

If I may, let me extend the metaphor to the church. To put it simply, church is a team sport, and though many may perceive it as a golf team, I see it more as a football team. 1 Corinthians 12:12-31 makes it very clear that there is a connectedness between the individual members of the body of Christ, the church. This body has one Head, Jesus, and all the individuals serve their unique and interrelated roles or parts as members of that body. I see this as the difference between an incarnational team and a team of individuals.

So here is my question for you, “How much of a sense of team is embodied within your church?” Another way of asking this is, “What is the team culture of your church in general, and specifically within your governing board and ministry leaders?” 

(For clarity’s sake, let me remind you that ministry leaders are church staff, whether they are compensated or not, so the team principle is not dependent on church size.)

My observation is that many pastors, board members, ministry leaders, and church members are playing a team sport much more like golf than football.

Let me offer a few suggestions on your congregation’s team culture.

1. Leaders need to do some soul searching to determine what kind of team and team player they are or want to be. I find it hard to avoid an incarnational team model picture when reading passages like 1 Corinthians 12:12-31, Ephesians 1:23, 4:11-17, Colossians 1:24-29. There is a danger for pastors to become enamored by our ability to communicate or lead and to become a team of one in which everyone else in the church is there to support and advance our game.

A question I have been recently pondering as I work with churches is, “How much of a Sunday morning, sermon-centric church is this?”

2. Leaders must steward an incarnational team culture. I like the word steward or stewardship. I understand the term is somewhat archaic to our current culture, but stewardship speaks to intentionality, responsibility, and accountability. If you do not intentionally build an incarnational team culture there will be a high price to be paid (accountability) in the dissension, division, and discord of missional dispersion. I believe it is the pastor’s responsibility to develop a body equipping ministry (Eph.4:11-12).

How much time and effort of intentionality are you investing in an incarnational team culture?

3. Use the Ministry Leader Summit to build your team culture. We have heard many a pastor declare the benefit of bringing board members and ministry leaders to the summit. Time together at the conference or even during the commute builds relationships. A shared experience is a good tool for build camaraderie, cohesiveness, and clarity of identity. This year, one goal I have for our time together is to create space for dialogue, the proverbial “iron sharpens iron” (27:17) idea.

Who could you bring with you to build a greater sense of team?

I still do not think golf is a team sport.

The crew served in several locations throughout Montrose as well as at the church.  They were served meals each day by Shepherd’s Hand, our local homeless ministry that provides food and other essential services to less fortunate individuals.  They performed several projects at Shepherd’s Hand.  They painted at WAGEES, a ministry designed to help new parolees fit back into society by giving them training and spiritual guidance.  Tammy (pictured) spoke to the youth about her experiences as a former addict and current parolee at the meal RCF prepared for them.   

Several families from Church on the Hill were blessed by the group performing all kinds of tasks at their homes.  One evening at the meal RCF prepared for our church, three of our families shared what the Lord was doing through them in our Montrose community.  One of these was from a longtime leader in our church, Wayne Schieldt, who new John Craft as our youth pastor.  Another family shared their foster care experiences, and the other testimony was from our children’s director, Ken Kiehlbauch. 

The blessings poured both ways, therefore, between RCF and the Montrose Community.  It was a refreshing example of cooperative kingdom work between faith-based organizations and churches. We are stronger and more effective together as we cooperate and encourage one another. 

Personally, I am deeply grateful for pastor Caleb for bringing the group and Pastor John for initially making the connection.  As one of our moms, Julie Hines (Cooper) with teenagers said, “I was hoping John and Lori would be here. I was in his youth group.”  When we invest in ministry and serve one another, the blessings continue to flow both ways generationally.  To God be the glory.

Pastor Mike Lundberg
Church on the Hill
Montrose, Colorado