The Emergent Church

Hi Friends,

I attended a conference put on by the Northwest Ministry Network of the Assemblies of God in November ’09. The conference was called “Calibrate” and was on the topic of the emergent church movement. I’m pleased to share with you the following link to the messages (it’s free):

http://www.calibratenw.com/ee/index.php/calibrate/register/

[Instructions: Register your name and e-mail and on the next page click the messages link from the ’09 conference]

The speakers were:

• Mark Driscoll – Mars Hill Church

• Ed Stetzer – Lifeway Research

• Jeff Vanderstelt – SOMA Communities

• Ryan Meeks – Eastlake Church

• Jim Tomberlin – Third Quarter Consulting

The conference was a bit “outside of my box” as different methods were related in sharing Christ with others in our changing world. I’ve been reading some books on this subject but found this event to be extremely helpful. Here are some of the surprises I found:

• There was some course language used by a couple of the speakers, which I am not used to coming from a minister of the gospel. No, I don’t condone that behavior, but understand where they are coming from and why they do it.

• Many emergent church leaders believe they are the only people who are right. Some despise the traditional church; if you are not like them, YOU ARE traditional church.

• As a group the emergent church believes that they are highly Biblical. In many respects they are just that. They literally have focused on stripping away “cultural” American Christianity, attempting to move toward a purity of the gospel. However in some instances I think that they’ve left out all the Scripture dealing with holiness, course talking and the like. And yet I would suggest that from their paradigm, they’ve re-defined what holiness is.

• They are “body of Christ” centric instead of “building” centric. It’s all about the Church being the Church wherever the people are.

• They do discipleship with the time we spend doing “traditional” American church stuff.

• On one end of the spectrum in this movement, deep theology is taught on Sundays; on the other, what I would describe as a ‘feel-good,’ watered down gospel is presented (see, just like the ‘traditional church!’)

• Clothing/attire: I drove directly from the conclusion of church at Faith in Bend to get to the location just North of Seattle. I was five minutes late for opening session. When I walked in I realized that there were only two people in the room wearing slacks, me and the president of Northwest University. Further, everyone from 20 to 70 was wearing jeans (dark with fading) and an untucked button up cotton shirt. About 50% of the room had faux-hawks (your hair gathered up into a ridge over the middle of your scalp). It shocked me to see men with white hair sporting this coif. I’ve often said I would wear a clown suit on Sundays if it would help me present Christ more effectively. That’s what they’re doing.

I think that you’ll find these messages challenging and an excellent resource to you in regard to culture and the controversy over how this movement does church. You will disagree with them in several areas, but there are more than a few nuggets to mine for your ministry where you are right now.

Blessings!

“In Everything You Do, Give Thanks,” Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving 2009, Sunday, November 22, 2009, Faith Christian Center, Dr. Mike Johnson, Lead Pastor

“In Everything You Do, Give Thanks” 

1 Chronicles 16:34

1 Chronicles 16:8-12

Psalm 106:1

Psalm 107:1-8

I.              We Give Thanks Because We are the _______________ of the Lord Whom He has Delivered from Trouble.

A.           We give _______________ to Jesus!

B.            The redeemed give thanks because they are _______________.

C.            The soon-to-be-redeemed cried out to the Lord in their trouble; and God delivered them.

D.           Not only were they _______________, thereby becoming the redeemed, God showed them they way to go.

Psalm 119:105 - Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. ESV

E.            And so we give thanks to God for His _______________ love towards us.

Galatians 3:13-14 - 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree"— 14 so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith. ESV

·        I am redeemed from _______________.

II.        God’s Will is for Us to Give Thanks in _______________.

1 Thessalonians 5:12-22 -

Conclusion/Action to take:

Answers:  Redeemed, thanks, redeemed, delivered, steadfast, Everything.

Faith Journey Group Discussion Questions for Deeper Study

1.     What are your plans for Thanksgiving this year?  What are some traditions that you enjoy?  What would make Thanksgiving this year extra-special? 

2.     What is the single most amazing thing that has happened in your life that you are most thankful for, except new life in Christ?

3.     Look up the following passages of Scripture and talk about being thankful as it relates to their context.

          1 Chronicles 16:34

          1 Chronicles 16:8-12

          Psalm 106:1

          Psalm 107:1-8

4.     The Apostle Paul’s letter to the Church in Thessalonica concludes with a significant listing of admonitions for the people.  Read that passage below, divide out the topics and discuss how they work in the Christian life.

          1 Thessalonians 5:12-22 -

5.     If you are comfortable in doing so, share what you wrote in the blank space that Pastor Mike provided in the outline during his message.  That blank looked like this:

·        I am redeemed from _______________.

Was what you wrote about the past or the future?  If it was about the past, what steps do you need to take to overcome this area of weakness?  If it is about the future, what steps do you need to take in order to see it come into being/fruition?

6.     Conclude our time together receiving prayer requests and praying over needs.

"Born Again," Part 2, John 2:1-21

“The Jesus Story: 20 Days that Changed the World,” Dr. Mike Johnson, Lead Pastor,John 3:1-22; Message #10, November 15, 2009

"Born Again," Part 2
John 2:1-21

John 3:1-8
John 2:23-25
John 3:1
John 3:16
John 3:2

I.  Signs Point to the _______________ of the Almighty.

A.  Nicodemus pointed out to Jesus how “_______________” knew he was from God through the miracles He performed.

B.  People are looking for hope – which IS God’s presence _______________.

C.  But be reminded that this part of the discussion by Nicodemus was _______________ the gospel – or what Jesus was all about.

II.  What Do the Signs of Our _______________ Say About Us?

A.  How do people know that _______________ are from God?

B.  What are the “_______________” within our lives?

1 Corinthians 11:1 - Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. ESV

1 Corinthians 11:1 - Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. NIV

Philippians 3:17 - Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. ESV

1 Timothy 4:12 - Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. ESV

Titus 2:7-8 - 7 Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, 8 and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us. ESV

III.  What Does God _______________ About Us?


Homework:

• Make a list of what you believe are signs of the presence of God in your life and in others. Support these observations with Scripture.

• Strive for these signs in your own life.

• Make your own list of “life-signs.” Ask others in your life to be honest and do the same for you.

• Ask the Lord to help you with how you represent Him.

Conclusion/Action to take:


Answers: Influence, “they,” manifested, not, Lives, we,“life-signs,” Say

Faith Journey Group Discussion Questions for Deeper Study

1. What is the world’s understanding of Jesus? (1st sentence of verse 2)

2. How did the people know that Jesus was from God?

3. How can people we meet see that we are from God?

4. How can we be born of the spirit?

5. Does the world understand what being born of the spirit means? How can they understand this?

6. Jesus asks a question in verse 12. Do you think the world understands what it means to live by faith? Do we? Discuss this focus and what it means, giving examples from your own life. What is an area that you want to show greater faith in and why?

7. Are our lives examples of what Jesus is trying to explain to Nicodemus? How and why? How do our lives today translate to this event 2,000 years ago?

8. Can the world understand what it looks like to your life by faith if we simply show up? What does our life tell others about us?

9. What does our life tell others about Jesus? What are our “life-signs” that tell others about our lives?

• Make a list of what you believe are signs of the presence of God in your life and in others. Support these observations with Scripture.

• Make your own list of “life-signs.” Ask others in your life/FJG to be honest and do the same for you.

• Pray, asking the Lord to help you with how you represent Him.

10. Why does the world seem to misunderstand Jesus’ words? Do we have anything to do with that?

"Born Again," Part 1, John 3:1-21

“The Jesus Story: 20 Days that Changed the World,” Dr. Mike Johnson, Lead Pastor,John 3:1-22; Message #9, November 8, 2009

“Born Again,” Part 1
John 3:1-21

[A "special message," there were no fill-in-the-blank notes or PowerPoint for this message, just a blank page for personal notes.]



Conclusion/Action to take:



Faith Journey Group Discussion Questions for Deeper Study

By Isaiah McGarry

1. Getting to know you: What is the favorite place that you’ve ever lived and why?


2. What was the name of the man that came to visit Jesus in verse 1?


3. What does he say to Jesus in verse 2?


4. What conclusions has he already come to about Jesus?


5. In verse 4 Nicodemus seems confused by what Jesus is telling him. So Jesus clarifies for him. What does Jesus say a person must specifically do to enter the kingdom of God?


6. How many things does Jesus say we must do to enter the kingdom of Heaven? What are they?


7. Re-read verse 3 and verse 5. Is Jesus simply re-stating his point to Nicodemus or is there another condition to gaining acceptance into heaven?


8. How can we be born again like Jesus is saying in verse 3 and 5? (2 Corinthians 5:17, Romans 6:3,4)


9. In verse 6 what two things is Jesus contrasting?


10. How does Jesus respond to the fact that a “teacher” of God’s own word could not understand how to be saved?


11. In verse 14 Jesus describes an Old Testament event (read Numbers 21:8) How was Jesus lifted up just like that snake? (read John 12:32,33)

"Life from the Inside Out," John 2:13-25

“The Jesus Story: 20 Days that Changed the World” Dr. Mike Johnson, Lead Pastor John 2:13-25; Message #8 November 1, 2009

“Life from the Inside Out”
John 2:13-25

John 2:13-25

I. Jesus Knows the _______________ of Man.

Sample Scripture about the Millennium: Isaiah 2:2-3; Zechariah 14:8; Matthew 19:28; Isaiah 11:6-11

A. We have a _______________ problem.

B. The battle for our _______________ and our _______________.

Jeremiah 17:9
Deuteronomy 6:4-9

II. Jesus Died and Rose Again to _______________ the _______________ of Man.

Isaiah 1:11-17
Additional Scripture: Hosea 5:6-7; 8:13; Jeremiah 7:22; Psalm 51:16

III. Jesus is Still Performing _______________ and _______________.

A. Mankind seeks a sign because they are looking for _______________.

B. _______________ and _______________ are visible demonstrations of the reality and power of Christ.

C. _______________ and _______________ flowing through the life of a Christian are a powerful _______________ tool.

D. How do we get _______________ and _______________ flowing through our lives?

1. Ask Jesus to clean up your _______________ _______________.

2. Clean up your _______________ _______________.

3. Ask Jesus for _______________ and _______________ to follow your life.

4. _______________ that signs and wonders will follow your life.

5. _______________ _______________ _______________!
Now What?

Ask Jesus to clean up your mind and heart – your motives and thought life.
Take steps to eradicate your life from mind and heart “pollutants.”
Focus on Jesus rather than yourself.
Believe Jesus for more of the miraculous than you are presently experiencing.

Besides the Bible, an additional resource to encourage your faith: http://www.youtube.com type in “Bethel Church Redding, California” or “Bill Johnson.” You will see a number of amazing stories of healing and miracles that will build up your faith to believe that the impossible can happen through your own life.

Conclusion/Action to take:



Answers: Heart, sin, heart, motives, Redeem, Heart, Signs, Wonders, hope, Signs, wonders, Signs, wonders, witnessing, signs, wonders, spiritual house, physical, house, signs, wonders, Believe, Go, for, it.



Faith Journey Group Discussion Questions for Deeper Study

By Isaiah McGarry

1. Getting to know you: What pets do you have in your home? Why do you have that specific kind of pet? Is there a pet you would like to have? What is the biggest benefit of having your pet(s); the biggest drawback?

2. What did Jesus find in the temple courts of Jerusalem?

3. What was Jesus’ response to what was happening in the temple courts? Was his reaction justified? (Mark 11:15; Matthew 21:13; Isaiah 56:7)

4. How did the Jews react to Jesus?

5. Read Psalm 69:9. How does this verse relate to what Jesus did in the temple? (Hebrews 2:9).

6. What did the Jews demand as proof for Jesus’ authority to drive out the merchants?

7. When Jesus answered the Jews in verse 19 what did he say to them?

8. The Jews did not believe that Jesus could do what he said. Did they misinterpret what Jesus was saying? Do you think he is capable of actually doing what he said?

9. How long did it take the disciples to truly believe the written Scriptures about Jesus?

10. What event had to occur for the disciples to remember Jesus’ words?