Over the course of 16 years of doing ministry, I must confess that there were times I knew Jesus wouldn’t do it this way. I would be sitting at my desk, pouring over some administrative paperwork KNOWING Jesus would do it differently. My insides would be screaming “Get out of the office and hang out with people.” Or I can remember times I spent a good 20 hours preparing for a message: creating an outline, writing small group discussion questions and developing my power point for a 35 minute (all right I spoke for 43 minutes) sermon. Was that really the best use of those 20 hours? What kind of impact did it have? How many lives were changed? I might not know till judgment day. Then I read in Acts where Paul spent every day with people in the Halls of Tyrannus in the City of Ephesus teaching his disciples. By that means all the Jews and Greeks in the whole province of Asia heard the word of the Lord!  I bet he didn’t spend 20 hours on each message.

As I am in transition right now for my next ministry assignment, the word I keep hearing from the Lord is “new wineskins.” To actually apply some of the lessons the Lord has been speaking to me about, will require new forms and structures. Most churches do not have the “stretch” to accommodate a radical shift in how to do ministry. I sense the Lord saying, don’t you dare go to an existing church and try to implement these things. You will ruin the existing church and all this new wine will be spilled on the ground and ruined. IF I am hearing the Lord right, either I have to find an existing church with the same values and structures that are needed...or I have to start new.

Some of the core values I think the Lord is looking for includes: a multiplying movement of “house church” size groups where radical body life ministry happens,; releasing the people in their priesthood; a leadership characterized by servanthood, humility, able to hear the voice of God, inclusive of men and women; a worshipping community; a healing community that transforms lives spiritually, emotionally, physically, and relationally; a house of prayer; releasing all the gifts of the Spirit; a church without walls- that is the people live in the world and minister in the world; a simpler model of church; a church with the parents discipling their children.

I guess I am tired of the church seemingly treading water when it comes to impacting our world. Can we truly say that the gospel is really radically changing our community?  I’m hoping to see the Lord come in power and authority! I think it will take new wineskins for the work He wants to do.

Come Lord Jesus! 

Have you ever wondered why our ministry efforts seem so lacking and powerless? Have you ever been disappointed in the lack of life change you have seen in yourself and others? When you read through the Book of Acts does it make you think somehow, we are missing something?

I have to think that as tough a place as Santa Cruz county is to minister, the first century world of Asia, Macedonia, and Achaia had to be equally hard. Yet we see the gospel springing forward, lives changed, miracles happening, and the Word and the Spirit alive and active. Spiritual power was very evident in the early church as was its commitment to the Word of God. I wonder if people would describe our churches in that way. Do they see a wonderful expression of the Spirit of God transforming lives, empowering ministries, convicting of sin, and revealing truth. Do they experiencing the relevant, authentic, captivating, and practical teaching and study of God’s Word?

For the churches along the Central Coast to eventually make inroads into our culture, I think a renewal of the dual emphasis on the Word and Spirit will need to happen. That will require leaps of faith, huge risks, humble service, and a listening ear cocked towards heaven. I hope we all wrestle with the great gap between biblical Christianity as displayed in Scripture and what we “accept” as tolerable Christianity here today. May the Spirit of God cause great unrest in the Body of Christ until we are desperate for a renewed expression of God’s work.