Why We Do What We Do...
Typically, I write to our church family weekly through emails like this one. For a little over nine years, I’ve written to our church family about matters pressing my heart. Some weekly emails have been written to encourage, some to challenge, others to communicate about current events, and always to keep everyone up to date on what’s happening in and around Mountainview. While many receive my emails, I’m fairly certain only a handful of you actually read and digest what I write. As for others, I’ve heard things like, “nobody reads it”, “it's just too long”, or “we don’t do email anymore.” Be that as it may, I’ve tried to use this weekly email to fulfill what Paul said to the Christians in Thessalonica…
Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well. 1 Thessalonians 2:8 NIV
These weekly emails, in many ways, have been my attempt to share my life with you. My goal has been to let you in on the way God has been working in and through my life. This week I wanted to continue sharing about what I’ve been learning from the book of Revelation, but after a few conversations with several people this week, I decided it was important to share some thoughts about the church. Maybe this will answer a few of the questions I've gotten about why we do what we do.
First, I believe the Gospel is absolutely enough to change the world. We don’t need the cool factor, cutting-edge worship style, videos, fancy lighting, or thankfully, attractive leaders. Jesus is enough! Paul said…
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation for everyone who believes…
Romans 1:16 ESV
Second, because I believe the Gospel is enough, we strive to be laser-focused on the Gospel all the time. The world is filled with distractions. Our enemy is masterful at creating anything to keep us from being focused on Jesus. We can’t let any of the enemy’s distractions keep us from being Gospel-centered and Jesus-focused. When our aim strays to anything besides the Gospel, our church will become human-focused.
Third, the Church has significant issues and hasn’t always done the best job of representing Jesus Christ. But the Church is referred to as the Body of Christ and the Bride of Christ! We must love His Bride, and take care to build it up rather than tear it down. When the people in the Church grumble about the Church to those outside of it, they damage our witness about the Bride of Jesus. Any changes we make in His Body and Bride must be motivated by Biblical conviction, nothing else!…
Fourth, prayer has to be essential in our church. Otherwise, our church won’t be essential. I never ever want to try to accomplish the mission God has given Mountainview without daily, consistent, passionate, intense prayer. Let’s say it like this… If we can accomplish our mission without prayer, then our mission is weak.
Finally, Jesus’ life mission is the method we should follow to fulfill the Great Commission. Luke 4 describes Jesus being tempted by Satan in the desert before beginning His ministry. As Jesus went into His hometown of Nazareth, He went to the synagogue. Jesus stood up to read from the scroll of Isaiah, Jesus read…
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. Luke 4:18-19 ESV
I wish you could have a sense of the way I feel as I type these words… When I read Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John to learn The Way of Jesus, I find an intense longing for our church to affect life change the way Jesus did. But too often, I have found myself combating distractions, deceit, and discouragement.
I resonate with the words of Paul in Acts 20…
I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the Gospel of the grace of God. (verse 24)