tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3092233049004863717.comments2013-03-24T21:57:34.421-07:00Missional MeditationsMissional Meditationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08858715481279526639noreply@blogger.comBlogger105125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3092233049004863717.post-69863125040829123962013-03-24T21:57:34.421-07:002013-03-24T21:57:34.421-07:00Bill keep serving God and doing what Christ has in...Bill keep serving God and doing what Christ has instructed you to do. Remember God is in control and His will, will be done!Missional Meditationshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08858715481279526639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3092233049004863717.post-34911692662667016442013-03-24T21:56:34.237-07:002013-03-24T21:56:34.237-07:00I am so glad to hear that this blog has re-invigor...I am so glad to hear that this blog has re-invigorated you. That's my aim and goal to encourage all of Christ's followers to be obedient to all Christ has commanded us.Missional Meditationshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08858715481279526639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3092233049004863717.post-24196627583721631232013-03-23T23:38:16.883-07:002013-03-23T23:38:16.883-07:00This is spot on. I appreciate you saying the thing...This is spot on. I appreciate you saying the things I do not have the freedom to speak about with exception of The Parkland House! Bill Wagnerhttp://parklandhouse.webs.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3092233049004863717.post-9576581027410967562013-03-23T09:32:35.304-07:002013-03-23T09:32:35.304-07:00Wow! I have never read such a absolute categorizat...Wow! I have never read such a absolute categorization of what is truly happening in the North American church. You have not only hit the nail on the head, but driven it straight through the board. Thank you. I am re-invigorated. Be blessed, Jay!Michael Duncanhttp://www.michael-duncan.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3092233049004863717.post-63788487548756496592013-03-22T22:10:26.008-07:002013-03-22T22:10:26.008-07:00Jay, this is so right on! My husband and I see th...Jay, this is so right on! My husband and I see this in our town constantly. We will be in Tucson May 16-18 for our District Assembly, which will be held at Oro Valley Church of the Nazarene. Maybe we could get together, catch up and talk about these things over lunch?Cindy Cunninghamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756152469609945028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3092233049004863717.post-50864455708174323982013-03-22T20:28:08.231-07:002013-03-22T20:28:08.231-07:00Make the most of every opportunity because the day... Make the most of every opportunity because the days are evil, short and <br />the harvesters are few. But you better be led as a true disciple by the Holy Spirit<br />or you will fall flat on your face. So, apostasy is here and now. So what. Do what you can while you can. Few walk the narrow path. Only a few will find life. <br />Isn't that what the Scripture says. The Lord told us we would" have the light just a little while longer". To walk by the light while we have it before darkness over takes us. The Lord is certainly able to separate His sheep, those he foreknows.<br /> http://heavensees.wordpress.com Gary Bertnickhttp://www.silvercordspirit.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3092233049004863717.post-9781663034061509612013-03-19T13:31:29.131-07:002013-03-19T13:31:29.131-07:00Well put Jay. I've tweeted that out to those I...Well put Jay. I've tweeted that out to those I know as great word in season!<br />@AnthonyRimellAnthonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15122237410561472372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3092233049004863717.post-41076048073418803082013-03-15T09:39:17.768-07:002013-03-15T09:39:17.768-07:00Well said, Jay.Well said, Jay.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13589808079148067574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3092233049004863717.post-40679620370859236282013-02-23T21:59:14.954-08:002013-02-23T21:59:14.954-08:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3092233049004863717.post-71081675055173922352013-02-23T21:58:08.477-08:002013-02-23T21:58:08.477-08:00Jay, I can see what you're saying about the si...Jay, I can see what you're saying about the sifting process that Jesus did. He came for the sick, for the thirsty. I was just talking today with a friend about a successful drum center here in town, and I see a parallel, and it makes sense because this is how God made people. The center attracts people by letting them come in and see people playing expertly, they can "hear the music", they can see what is possible (COME AND SEE). There is a weeding out process in that the people who really like what they see stay and find out about how to sign up for lessons, and pay for lessons; otherwise they just listen and then walk away again (the weeding out). So the people who sign up for lessons, that is the COME & FOLLOW. They have to actually go through, starting from the very beginning, learning the basic elements of drum playing. Those who don't want to do the work don't keep staying. Then finally, after a lot of practicing (not just learning ABOUT drums, but actually DRUMMING, but also, not just trying to make music without training, but TRAINING) there are the few (more weeding out) who actually become great drummers, those drummers who, when people hear them play, they know, even though they don't know how they know, that this person really is a great drummer and they want to become one too. The neat thing is that Jesus does that with us, training each person to become the person He made them to be.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3092233049004863717.post-64850118727320705342013-02-19T10:35:20.512-08:002013-02-19T10:35:20.512-08:00I agree with Randy. Most western church planters ...I agree with Randy. Most western church planters and pastors of existing churches think they are successful if they can build a CROWD of people to attend their religious services week after week. But Christ did not command us to build a CROWD but to make DISCIPLES. Gathering a crowd (for people to COME & SEE Christ) for short periods of time was part of Jesus' strategy for making disciples but was never the final goal. He gathered a crowd together to sift through them to find those whom the Father was working with ready to surrender their lives over to Jesus and to find the Person of Peace who would be willing to open their home and influence others to come and be part of the COME & FOLLOW GROUP. This come and follow group would hold each other accountable, learn the life of Christ that is to be lived and learn to be obedient to all that Christ commanded. From the COME & FOLLOW GROUP Jesus (& His disciples) sifted through them and through prayer & observation of faithfulness to Christ & His lifestyle) would gather a few would be the ones to train up and unleash to do what Christ had done and what the Apostles did so that the movement would multiply. So the 3 groups (COME & SEE; COME & FOLLOW & COME & BE W/ME) were Jesus' strategy to sift through the masses of people to make disciples and identify apostolic (missionary) leadership.Missional Meditationshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08858715481279526639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3092233049004863717.post-3706346416462545712013-02-18T17:15:21.108-08:002013-02-18T17:15:21.108-08:00David, I would love to read your DMin Project and ...David, I would love to read your DMin Project and the results from it. Do you have it in print somewhere or able to email a copy of it?Missional Meditationshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08858715481279526639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3092233049004863717.post-16444048568082392702013-02-18T13:18:52.161-08:002013-02-18T13:18:52.161-08:00Thanks, Jay ... part of the foundation of my DMin ...Thanks, Jay ... part of the foundation of my DMin project in evangelism was to attempt to discern what Jesus specifically did to make disciples, and look for examples where people are doing exactly that process and what results they are getting. The results were interesting ... but giant third world cell churches and CPM house churches, plus folks like Neil Cole, seemed to come very close to the model I saw in the NT.David Oliver Kuekerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13692962423911775174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3092233049004863717.post-42034894692322632482013-02-18T12:29:41.165-08:002013-02-18T12:29:41.165-08:00As you say, Christ invited people to join him as h...As you say, Christ invited people to join him as he went through all 3 aspects of disciple making. I honestly believe that the vast majority of western Christianity is barren of new disciples becasue it has been literally captured by the 1st phase, the "come and see" aspect. The "come and follow" step does not happen because most western "church leaders" have ascended to their positions without engaging in personal disciple-making. (In spite of it's own trials and difficulties, aspiring to become a church leader in a western context, requires much less personal sacrifice than becoming a successful new disciple-maker. So the "come and follow/learn from me how to make new disciples" phase is simply replaced by piously echoing Christ's command: "Go" But, as Jesus demonstrated, this is where the tough, costly, sacrificial aspect of the Christian life becomes more than an academic lesson, it becomes real, effective, and reproductive with regards to expanding the Kingdom. Unfortunately local church leaders have learned to survive (and even thrive through transfer growth) on the contributions of those that become mutually satisfied and safe within the "come and see" aspect. I truly believe most church leaders want their congregations to be disciple-makers, but congregations must be taken to the harvest fields and taught how to do this by someone who is sacrifically passionate about the lost. If this second phase doesn't happen correctly, ironically it doesn't stop the third phase "come and be with me" aspect from happening, but the results which are modeled are eternally deadly just the same. Large numbers of people wanting to "come be with" their leaders, just reproduces more leaders and churches like we already have....Churches full of people who endlessly aspire and labor to obtain higher and higher ministry roles, while their neglected communities continue to go to hell.Randyhttps://www.facebook.com/IAMSENTTOYOU?ref=hlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3092233049004863717.post-33488799997492074662013-02-18T00:12:49.678-08:002013-02-18T00:12:49.678-08:00Absolutely...I feel that God speaks to us in profo...Absolutely...I feel that God speaks to us in profound ways using the scriptures. Wow...great job Jay...way to see the scriptures as a current day evangelistic tool to the current day church. I have forwarded this to all. Keep up with the mind of Christ...I love it 1) COME AND SEE 2) COME AND FOLLOW 3) COME AND BE WITH ME ....PEACE JENJennifer Hope Websterhttp://www.chatwithgod.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3092233049004863717.post-44933430062460700472013-02-17T21:23:58.870-08:002013-02-17T21:23:58.870-08:00David you allude to a very important point in this...David you allude to a very important point in this process and that is all of these invitations are going on at the same time but to different groups. While some are receiving the invitation to COME & SEE you can also have some who are at the COME & FOLLOW and help to reach the come and see group and others can be at the COME & BE WITH ME. I's a very fluid strategy and possible can become messy at points. Thanks for your great insights.Missional Meditationshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08858715481279526639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3092233049004863717.post-82721393397285839442013-02-17T21:19:34.248-08:002013-02-17T21:19:34.248-08:00I agree with you Hal that Christ's command and...I agree with you Hal that Christ's command and commission to His followers is to "GO" but what I find interesting in these 3 invitations the first two are not to those who have become His followers but to those who are investigating Christ and deciding what they will do with him. So Christ's invitation to them would quite naturally be to come to Him. But the second and third invitation of "COME AND FOLLOW" & "COME AND BE WITH ME" is to those who are his disciples and to some who would become his apostles. Christ's invitation to them was to be with him and join him on his mission. To join Christ was go where he goes which is to the lost. <br /><br />I like our discussion!Missional Meditationshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08858715481279526639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3092233049004863717.post-38169682148864293762013-02-17T18:25:56.077-08:002013-02-17T18:25:56.077-08:00Jesus, as His Father throughout Scripture invites ...Jesus, as His Father throughout Scripture invites people to come to Him. However, His command to us is not "Come" bunt "Go". <br />Many of us grew up with the idea of evangelistic outreach as having the goal of getting the prospect to church. Coming together for discipling is important, but no substitute for going to those who are far from God.Halhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05237012916599144878noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3092233049004863717.post-33422250060788429202013-02-17T18:24:11.708-08:002013-02-17T18:24:11.708-08:00A New Testament pattern ... let's construct so...A New Testament pattern ... let's construct some containers and see how we can sort the verses of the gospels into places where things happen.<br /><br />Come and See: this could correspond to Jesus teaching in the temple, typically at Solomon's Porch. Plus more intimate conversations, including events where Jesus encounters people as he travels from place to place. In these, he comes to you.<br /><br />Come and Follow: Jesus heads out into the wilderness, and it costs something to be a part of this event. People go without food for several days, so Jesus even feeds the 5000. This sort of event self selects for those who are seriously committee - like a 5 am or all night prayer meeting (common in Korea) or a Saturday morning bible study. <br /><br />Come (away) and Be with Me: Time with Jesus on a consistent basis. The twelve. Mary, Martha, Lazarus. Community ... sometimes in a house (Mary & Martha), the Upper Room of John 13-17, or on a Mountain of transfiguration. There is intimacy and little structure. Mark 6:31 And he said to them, "Come away by yourselves to a lonely place, and rest a while." <br /><br />Come, take up your cross and go missional: One level that is missing is Matthew 10/Luke 10, where the disciples are sent in pairs to preach. Jesus does NOT go with them, but these alternate with "come away" times.<br /><br />When we've sorted out the verses into these containers, what's left that Jesus did in the making of disciples?<br /><br />There could be a few combinations ... when Jesus goes to Jairus, to them it's a Come and See, but for the disciples it's a time of learning and teaching. Modeling.<br /><br />There are some modern examples of similar places. Yoido cell church has the ministry visitation of the cell leader (along the way) and the cell meeting (come and see), plus the 5 am and all night prayer meetings (come and follow), a retreat center called Prayer Mountain (come away with me), plus the supervision and training of the cell leaders/deacons (go missional). Saddleback has their five purposes: Fellowship & Worship(come and see), Learning (Come and Follow), Missional gift oriented serving, and Evangelism (mentoring disciple makers).David Oliver Kuekerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13692962423911775174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3092233049004863717.post-16709026088001512772012-09-15T19:57:39.165-07:002012-09-15T19:57:39.165-07:00Come on all you readers. It's time to make the...Come on all you readers. It's time to make the commitment to start a new church! Will you take the challenge. These blogs are designed to help you in the processMissional Meditationshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08858715481279526639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3092233049004863717.post-29742200033205212822012-08-30T20:15:50.554-07:002012-08-30T20:15:50.554-07:00I too stand amazed! I am amazed at what God has d...I too stand amazed! I am amazed at what God has done in my life...the rescue, the recovery and the restoration. I am amazed at what he continues to do in my life everyday...the healing (inside and out), the provision and increase and especially the peace and joy that I get to walk in EVERYDAY in spite of what the world tries to use to take me down. I continue to be amazed at the hope and future he has promised me. I am committed to continuing to learn and grow in my ability to communicate what God has done, is doing and will do for anyone and everyone that turns to Him! Thanks Pastor Jay for your obedience to God's calling and for sharing it with me!Deborahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06457965650594292704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3092233049004863717.post-36450364930231139722012-08-30T14:12:04.770-07:002012-08-30T14:12:04.770-07:00Very inspiring.
EricVery inspiring.<br /><br />EricEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05142449322250740597noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3092233049004863717.post-62639426484398618462012-08-30T05:50:15.346-07:002012-08-30T05:50:15.346-07:00Thank you so much for sharing this story! It sound...Thank you so much for sharing this story! It sounds so much like my personal story of losing everything to the point of separation, a restraining order, job almost lost and to the point of suicide. When I met Jesus, gave everything to him, including my marriage and he restored me, put me to work in the prayer booth several years at Promise Keepers and now have had a profession change to full-time ministry. God is so good and I want all to know! <br />-Tim CoffeyT Coffeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10191728947660435663noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3092233049004863717.post-68376050754905824492012-05-16T09:19:18.961-07:002012-05-16T09:19:18.961-07:00"Make no mistake. We as Bible-believing evang..."Make no mistake. We as Bible-believing evangelical Christians are locked in a battle. This is not a friendly gentleman's discussion. It is a life and death conflict between the spiritual hosts of wickedness and those who claim the name of Christ. It is a conflict on the level of ideas between two fundamentally opposed views of truth and reality. It is a conflict on the level of actions between a complete moral perversion and chaos and God's absolutes. But do we really believe that we are in a life and death battle?" Francis Schaeffer, The Great Evangelical Disaster<br /><br />Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.<br /><br />Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division: For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.<br /><br />These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.Ehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05142449322250740597noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3092233049004863717.post-42600249860296994092012-05-09T21:32:46.533-07:002012-05-09T21:32:46.533-07:00AMEN! Lets RUN to the battle! The gates of Hell ...AMEN! Lets RUN to the battle! The gates of Hell SHALL NOT STAND!Darrell Kilcupnoreply@blogger.com