Uncategorized Murray McLellan on 10 Dec 2007 02:56 pm
Mmmmm… Dec. 10, 2007
Monday, Dec. 10, 2007
Good morning, redeemed of the Lord!
Please make sure to read last week’s M-letter if you haven’t already. Also, when you read the “Evangelism” article, please leave a comment so that I know who has read it. Don’t slip in and out without leaving a comment! My goal in providing you with this type of material is to equip you for the work of the ministry to which Jesus has called us.
IDSC Winter Seminar
I am looking for feedback – for the In-Depth Studies Canada winter seminar.
Possibilities – Feb. 15-16 or Feb. 22-23
If we chose one of these 2 weekends – it would be our traditional Friday evening – Saturday format … six sessions with long breaks for interaction.
Another option would be 2 – 3 Sunday afternoons (say 2-4 p.m. and run every second Sunday for 2 or 3 sessions … 2 sessions each of the Sundays).
My topic is tentatively going to be something like: The Missional Church in the 21st Century - “Mission through Community and Community in Mission”
I have started puttering around with the values I would like to see in a church planting movement beginning in Saskatoon. What is church? What are we about? What are our distinctives? What are our priorities? What are we aiming for? This would be good for teaching and unifying us on a common mission – with common values. It is always good to be singing from the same hymn book!
The more I study the Word – especially Acts and the epistles – the more I am driven back to some of our original goals in looking to Saskatoon around 10 years ago. Now things are becoming clearer – more focused, and the movement from enjoying the “concepts” to a belief in the heart that drives the life. It is one thing to come along for the ride, it is another to actually order our lives with the gospel as priority. How will this further the gospel of the kingdom? Is this best means to attain the goals we are trying to accomplish for our King? It is truly hearing statements of our Lord when He declares, “For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it” and “..whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple” that causes us to realize that if we do not order our lives for the sake of the church Jesus is building, it is because we do not believe the gospel. What drives our decisions? Only the gospel can move us to choices the world considers radical… where we make intentional – gospel-driven - choices for the sake of the mission upon which Jesus has sent us, and for which He has equipped and empowered us by His Spirit. This is more than simply having some “kingdom reasons” to justify what we are planning or doing, but it is really examining to see if this is the best way to corporately accomplish the mission for which Jesus has sent us and empowered us - it is having the God-centered goal and then seeing how best to get there.
Prayer and Planning
In the past, we have had a prayer and planning meeting at the beginning of each year. I would love to see this become a monthly evening where we set aside say two hours (half for prayer half for planning – not necessarily in two even blocks – but intersecting throughout the evening). These would be our leadership meetings and ministry team meetings rolled into a new look– and open to any and all who would like to come and get involved in the mission of Grace Fellowship.
The Mission
In the new year I am hoping to have around 5 community groups begin – perhaps set on different days and times to provide more flexibility. These would focus on “The Gospel-centered life.” Thus, they would be great for gathering seekers, doubters, unbelievers, new believers, old believers – the topic applies to all. I have already had a couple of people from outside of our local church ask if they could direct some unbelievers to one of our community groups once they get going. It is these informal gatherings that are the heart of the church-planting mission. Our desire is that you would help “sell” the vision to others and extend the invitation to them to join us as we seek to work together for the furtherance of the gospel and God’s glory in and through Jesus Christ, by multiplying a network of household churches, as opposed to planting one church.
The material I have is set for 9 sessions – with perhaps the 10th being a fun wrap up with either each group or with all the groups connecting together – perhaps for a big Q and A and fellowship. The material is well laid out – to save each couple or person leading a lot of prep time. It interacts with much of what we have been talking about as we have moved through the book of Jonah – idolatry; religion, and the gospel – three ways to live. It is cross-centered (i.e. Jesus centered or gospel –centered) and looks at who God is and who we are. The gap is huge – one that only Jesus can cross! (Pun intended!) There is an article to read each session as well as questions to consider and to help lead the discussion. It is a time of “hanging out” together – with a focus! :-) Each group could decide if they want to gather weekly or bi-weekly. Our regular bi-weekly community group in Saskatoon would be on hold until afterwards. Once “The Gospel-centered Life” is over – we will have a few of the groups go again (perhaps after a break). Others will hopefully continue in our sermon-based groups which will pick up again. Lord willing, some will be added into the Community on mission for the glory of the Head of the community – Jesus.
No Sunday morning gatherings for January, February, or March
Now that I have your attention, I have a question for you. Is church for you, our Sunday morning gathering? Would we still be a growing, Word-centered church in community on Jesus’ mission even if we did not have a Sunday morning meeting? Would the saints still be getting together centered around Jesus and His wonderful gospel? Are we meeting together for teaching, prayer, relationship building outside of Sunday morning? Are we carrying forth the gospel mission of church planting together as “one body” working in harmony – coordinated together – outside of Sunday morning? Does our mission hardly miss a beat – even without a Sunday morning gathering?
Wild Bill Heads West
Bill Wepfer will be here for a brief visit from Dec. 14 – 17. The tentative plan is to go bowling with Bill on Friday the 14th. This will give more people opportunity to meet and connect with Bill while he is here. On the Saturday, Bill will likely be headed north for some time on the farm at Larry and Jan’s. Lord willing, everyone will get to meet with Bill on the Sunday morning.
Christmas is For-giving
On that Sunday (Dec. 23rd), we will have a special message that focuses on the life transforming gospel. Invite some of your social network to this gathering to meet and connect with God’s redeemed people as we celebrate God for giving His Son that we might be forgiven all our sins – forever. Please gather early to meet and connect with people before our singing to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in our hearts to the Lord.
Prayer
A few of us have begun to meet at 9:25 a.m. before our Sunday church gathering to pray for God’s purposes regarding Grace Fellowship in Saskatoon. We meet in the kitchen and spend around 15 – 20 minutes participating in the privilege of prayer with our heavenly Father. If you are a little late – come on in anyway. Do not be afraid that you will interrupt us. Feel free to just listen and pray along with us in your heart to the Lord. You do not have to pray out loud. Perhaps you might just add in a quiet “yes” or “amen” to anything you whole-heartedly agree with!
Now for this week’s prayer and requests provided by Julie Cortens. May it be an inspiration to us as we seek to remember one another in prayer this week, and that God would be glorified in our lives and in His world. Thanks again, Julie. May this lead us to be more faithful as a church that prays in right dependence upon our Lord.
E. M. Bounds…
“God’s house is the house of prayer; God’s work is the work of prayer. It is the zeal for God’s house and the zeal for God’s work that make God’s house glorious and his work abide”
Lord of all being,
There is one thing that deserves my greatest care and that calls forth my ardent desires, that is, that I may answer the great end for which I am made…..
…to glorify You who has given me life
…and to do all the good I can for my fellow men;
Life is not worth having if this is not my purpose.
Yet, Lord how little are these the thoughts of mankind.
Most live for themselves without much or any regard for Your glory or the good of others. They desire and pursue the riches, honours, pleasures of this life as if these things could make their immortal souls happy.
These are false delusive dreams and those that sleep in them will one day be miserable. For all our happiness is in loving You and being Holy as You are Holy.
Lord may I never fall into the tempers and vanities, the sensuality and folly of this present world! It is a place of inexpressible sorrow, a vast nothingness.
Give me grace Lord to always glorify You and to reject as delusions the vanity and pride together with all the sinful pleasures.
Help me to know continually that there can be no true happiness, no fulfilling of Your purposes for me, apart from a life lived in and for the Son of Your love.
Valley of Vision
(And Murray adds) … and Lord, may we do this in community as You have purposed
Lord, we pray for Ken in his travels to Tacoma – bless his time there and allow him to be a blessing to Brian and his family. Bring him back safely to us.
We pray for Michelle and ask you to bring fast healing to her painful broken rib. Cause her to be drawn closer to you as she suffers. Give her relief and Your comfort.
We pray for the family of David’s Uncle Russ. Use his death as opportunity for them to hear a Gospel message – to be wary of the finality of death and to trust fully in the only Saviour that can bring salvation. We pray also for David’s brother Philip who has bad health. May this time be a time of preparation of his heart to hear Your truth.
We pray for David as he continues to seek new employment – we trust fully in Your provision.
We pray for students going into final exams this week and ask you to help them stay focused on You and to bring glory to You in their studies and efforts.
We pray for Mike and Amy and their new lives in Wilkie. Cause them to be a light for your Gospel in their new home town. Give them each peace and enjoyment in their new jobs and help them to trust in You during trials. Help them to grow in You, Lord.
We pray for each visitor You will bring to Grace Fellowship on Sunday Dec 23. We ask that You prepare their hearts, even now, to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ and His forgiveness for those who will trust in Him. We pray also that you will prepare each of us to minister to our visitors, to live out the Gospel in our hearts as testimony to the gift of salvation You have given us. Use us Lord.
We ask again for your mercy to fall on our loved ones – that You would open closed and hardened hearts to hear the Gospel.
We pray for Murray as he prepares his sermon for the 23rd. Bless his toils that they may bring honour and glory to You. Help us to daily pray for Murray as he studies the Word to be Your messenger to us.
Keep us steadfast daily, in Your Word and in prayer, that we might run the race You have set before us.
It is in Your Son’s name we ask these things,
Amen.
May we love God, one another, and the city of Saskatoon.
Jesus, build your church in Saskatoon for the glory of our heavenly Father.
Much love in, and dependence upon, the Savior,
Murray
“Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God
and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ…”
Acts 28:31
“The story continues…”
on 10 Dec 2007 at 4:24 pm 1.Jan P. said …
Hi Murray,
Printed and ready to read….also did the evangelisim article and the week’s mmmmm…for dad and mom and Michele.
Jan
on 10 Dec 2007 at 6:16 pm 2.Julie Cortens said …
Hi Murray,
My thoughts/comments….
In-Depth Studies Canada winter seminar - either weekend works for us- I may need to be in Victoria with my parents - but no plans as of yet. I am thinking the Fri/Sat format might keep us more focused on the task at hand.
“Only the gospel can move us to choices the world considers radical… where we make intentional – gospel-driven - choices for the sake of the mission upon which Jesus has sent us, and for which He has equipped and empowered us by His Spirit.” AMEN!
Regarding our 5 community groups in the New Year. I feel that this is a foundational but huge undertaking which needs preparation if we are going to be effective leaders in our group. I fully agree that this is the heart of the church-planting mission. But if we are to “sell” the vision to others, we need to be well equipped to do that. We need to be grounded in what that vision is and right now I am not sure we have that vision clearly articulated and then solidly in our hearts as well as our heads.
Re No Sunday morning gatherings for January, February, or March. Good questions…and I am afraid the answers to your questions are not very positive. The reality is we need scheduled time together and Sundays are the most convenient given the way the world tends to operate. I need Sunday morning to grow - I need a lot of other stuff too like time in the Word and prayer - but I need Sunday mornings too.
Can we plan some sort of lunch on Sunday when Bill is here? David and I were away last time he visited and so have not had opportunity to meet him.
Blessings!
Julie
on 10 Dec 2007 at 9:19 pm 3.Julie Cortens said …
Murray,
Some of my rambling thoughts
Dave
Evangelism Article
Comment
Read it…and it makes a good point - you need relationships, if you want people to open up to the truth of the Gospel
IDSC Winter Seminar
Comment
I prefer the Fri night/Saturday option – and would suggest Feb 15/16, if only because the sooner you speak on these topics, the better off we are all are. Are you thinking this would be just you teaching – or are you thinking of involving Fellowship Baptist (Marvin?) in some way? Are thinking of doing it at Sutherland Hall or in a private home?
Values
Comment
Lots of good questions on Values – and tough ones to answer. This looks like a topic we should be chewing through at one of our prayer and planning sessions.
Prayer and Planning
Comment
I am in favour of more regular interaction, but I wonder if one/month is too much? Why not every 2nd months to get a better gap between actions and outcomes?
The Mission
Comment
Julie made a good comment – maybe we first need to go through the material – before opening it up. It may be optimistic to hope for 5 groups….doesn’t it depend on actually how many people we can get to attend?? Re ‘sell the vision’ – something about that word ‘sell’ that bothers You don’t sell a vision to unbelievers – most of the time you just try to excite them to look into these matters of truth. As for believers that may be inclined to attend this kind of 9 week session, it may be that we find them aligned, but not necessarily working within our small fellowship.
No Sunday morning gatherings for January, February, or March
Comment
More good questions, and yes of course we should be thinking about all these things on a 24/7 basis. But, we are a little group, and so it seems we need our Sundays – that one day of the week at least where we can (or should) say there is no other responsibility. Also, our little ‘band of believers’ usually does not interact all week, if for no other practical reason of being in different locations and/or life circumstances.
If/when we have functioning community group studies etc going on; maybe we could say that there is better evidence of a mission in action.
Wild Bill Heads West
Comment
Sounds like a good plan – look forward to it.
Christmas is For-giving
Comment
I’m having trouble finding someone who will say yes. I reminded my friend Johnny X – who now says he is away that weekend
on 17 Dec 2007 at 3:00 pm 4.Jan P. said …
Glad to read your comments Dave and Julie!! Hope to get mine on soon, or at very least talk with you Murray.
Jan
on 17 Dec 2007 at 7:23 pm 5.Murray said …
So far the majority seem to like the Feb. 15-16 weekend.
For the community group outreach, there is a sense in which we have been training all our Christian lives. We share and teach out of who we are in Christ every time we interact with the intention of “gospelizing” one another (believers and unbelievers). The “gospel-centered life” material is straight forward, and the “prayer and planning” meetings provide opportunity to ask questions and gain encouragement for the the mission. Taking a role in the mission also creates a “need” for ongoing informal discipleship with one another where we spur one another onward as we seek to minister to others with the gospel.