Now my friend did it...He really did it this time!
I have a new friend in the Missional community. You can read the rest of the story and meet Lance F. on his blog at www.SENTralized.typepad.com
Lance writes:
" In light of all the deconstructionism conversations going on concerning the church, I thought, “why not just go ahead and say it.” Here’s the deal—among the plethora issues with the way we’ve done church, I am not hearing anyone talk about this one. So… here goes. The pulpit is overrated and probably the biggest waste of time and energy of anything we do in churchanity today. If we are honest about it we must admit that the insipidness and powerlessness of Western Christian norms and forms are the result of the failure to take serious Jesus’ command to make disciples. We don’t make disciples, we start churches. Think about it preacher dudes… what would happen if the time you spend on crafting that gourmet sermon (that you just know if the right publisher heard would sign you up for a book deal in a NY minute) was spent with little squads of a handful of guys and gals, really pouring your life into them? People don’t get discipled from the pulpit. They just don’t." (it gets better, check out the article link above.)WOW - Lance said it, "we don't make disciples, we start churches." You are the real DUDE!
posted by Bob Carder @ 5:29 PM
1 comments
1 Comments:
I had a great conversation with a friend of mine recently. He had started a church which unfortunately didn't last very long.
As we discussed why the church closed - he told me this: "It was because I didn't care that people were going to hell." He admits that he was so focussed on preparing great sermons for his "little flock" that he didn't share the Gospel. It is only the Gospel that will save anyone. It is the Gospel that is the power of God unto salvation.
I praise God that my friend is now actively involved in telling others the Good News and making disciples! He is also training others how to proclaim the Good News all over Southern California.
Bob, your friend is right - too many pastors spend too much time on "crafting that gourmet sermon" and not enough time on making disciples. I'd have to admit that I was one of those pastors for a season, too.
May God enable us to experience missional transformation - so that we get on with the mission of making disciples who make disciples...
Dave DeVries
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