Notes from Renovare - The Jesus Way

Last week I had the opportunity to attend the Renovare - The Jesus Way conference in San Antonio. Great stuff. Over the course of the next few blog entries I'll share some of the notes I wrote from the sessions. And away we go...

From Eugene Peterson's message "The Jesus Way: What is it? Why do I care?" (The following are all Peterson's words)

• We live in a spiritually thirsty, God curious culture.
• The Jesus Way is a Human Way: The easy part, God becomes human in Jesus and doesn't ask us to be divine. Jesus was grounded in his humanity as we are and that makes it easy for us to identify with him. The hard part, when it comes down to it, I think I would rather be like God than have God be like me. The Serpent's promise to "be like God" is still pretty attractive. However, God fantasies leave us less human.
• The Jesus Way is a Conversational Way: The easy part, Jesus speaks in a language that I am already fluent in, an everyday language of personal conversation that makes me a speech partner with the Word made flesh. We are drawn into a conversation with God. The hard part, it is a lot easier to use language impersonally and functionally. Personal engagement requires something beyond information and explanation.
• The Jesus Way is an Ordinary Way: The easy part, this is an ordinary, well worn path that millions have walked. I don't have to be a super-athlete, a mountain climber. I can do this. It is a "feet on the ground" way. The hard part, "ordinary" is boring. I'd like something that gives me an edge on the common humdrum of life. A little excitement and the spice of entertainment.

Perfect churches are like perfect families, or a bit like the Blue Ridge Mountains. They only look blue from 50 miles away, but when you get up close...

What if Starbucks marketed like a church?

Shared power

"I've got the power."

That's what my VBS shirt says. Right there on the left side of my chest, white letters on a fluorescent green.

that But...before I get a big head, and begin to build my kingdom...I look around and acknowledge all of our VBS shirts say the same thing. They all say, "I've got the power." Ok. Now I'm confused. Who has the power? We all do.

God's design for the church is for us to share power, God's power, and use that power to love and serve each other.

We don't insist on our own way, boast, keep records of wrongs, delight in evil, or fly off the handle. Instead we humbly share power through kindness, humility, patience, and forgiveness (1 Corinthians 13).

It's not simply that the pastor(s), a group of leaders, a single leader, a long time member, or the most vocal, or most influential who hold power. That's not the way God's designed the church.

The Spirit in all its fullness comes to each one of us in baptism. God breathes on all of us equally.

Who's in charge?

While we share the power, we must recognize the source of our power is Jesus Christ. Before his ascension Jesus said to the disciples, "All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples..." (Matthew 28:18) Jesus, who holds power over us, commands us to go. We go and advance God's kingdom with boldness and graciousness.

Remember, we're all in this together.

Mike

Advice or direction?

When praying, do you find yourself asking more for God's advice on a subject or situation? Do you ever find yourself saying, "I really should get God's opinion on this situation?"

I've done it and at times I still do, and I don't think it's right.

Behind asking for God's advice is a belief that I'm really in control and ultimately responsible. I make things happen, and I'm just a bit confused. If God could just dispense a bit of help I'd be better off. If I pray a little prayer at the beginning of a meeting or as I face a decision I'll be better off.

And then I was reminded yesterday of Jesus' words, "...the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does" (John 5:19)

Jesus then tells us, "Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me...Apart from me you can do nothing" (John 15:4,5)

We're not simply to ask for advice, we're to humble ourselves before God consistently as a way of living. We acknowledge that we absolutely, positively need God...we need advice, yes, but what we need more is God. We need his completeness and his presence to move through us and in spite of us. What if we approached prayer with that type of attitude?

Prayer requests or demands

How many times have you entered prayer with a list of demands instead of a list of requests for God? Too many times for me. What's the difference between asking/praying with boldness and confidence and demanding that God deliver?

If we approach God like a vending machine dispensing blessing on demand, then we'll treat God with disrespect.

But, if we approach God in humility and honesty, asking God for what we hope and desire and leaving it in God's hands to work his purpose out, then we'll have the proper perspective. It's like Jesus praying in the garden of gethsemane. He didn't want to die a painful, agnonizing death...that was his desire, but he tempered it saying, "Not my will but yours be done."

Bottom line: Prayer emerges and is evidence of a relationship. I don't have a relationship with a vending machine. I have a relationship with God who desires to have a two way communication between himself and his people.