Have trouble reading the Bible?

Do you have a hard time reading or understanding the bible? I want to tell you about an idea that we had the other day...

What if we as a church decided to all read the exact same thing everyday... and what if we taught everyone in the church a simple and easy way to study the bible? We could all read the same thing and study it in the same way every day. And what if Brett, Rick, Tim, and myself posted our thoughts from each day's study on a blog? So if you get stuck on a passage you could get on the internet and see what Brett thought about it or Tim or Rick or me. 

Tell me what you think... joshburnett@mac.com

Big Stuff

I have been reading the book of Joshua for two days now. One thing that has struck me is how early in the chapter God prepares Joshua to go into the promise land (see chapter 1:1-9). Joshua is encouraged and then gets everyone together to cross the Jordan and then they go for it. It is strangely familiar to my life in the past few months. (Maybe I am just making the relation because the names are the same in this story as they are in mine...) I have felt for the past few months that God was preparing me for something that was going to have a huge impact for Him and His kingdom. On Monday I found out what that was. New Life is going to launch a third service in Centreville. I have been asked to spear head this initiative. I feel a little like Joshua must have I would bet. Scared about what is to come. I also realize as I am sure that he did as well that I can't do this on my own... We are going to need a big team of people to help make this a success. If you are interested in knowing more about this let me know! joshburnett@mac.com

Reproducing Church

The other day we had Dave Ferguson in the office. Dave is the sr. pastor at Community Christian Church in Naperville, IL. He talked to the staff about being a reproducing church. At the risk of stating the obvious I will state the obvious- a reproducing church is a church that reproduces itself. This might not sound like a big deal but when you consider how far this one principle has taken Community it makes you want to ponder the reproducing model.

The basic premiss is that the church would produce more churches. Something I think most people can buy into especially when your vision is as powerful as New Life's. But the reproducing principle goes deeper than just the church. It really starts at the top with the sr. pastor saying I am going to take one person and help them learn how to do what I do. This trickles down to the staff. Which trickles down to coaches. Which trickles down to small group leaders. Which trickles down to apprentices. 

This reproducing model isn't just for small groups either. It is something that community has said is a value - and even a requirement for every volunteer and staff position in the church. So if you make coffee on sunday morning who are you training to make coffee? Who is going to replace you? 

This is my dream for New Life. That we would become a reproducing church in every way. That our life group leaders would reproduce themselves in apprentices who go out and start new groups. That service leaders would reproduce themselves in others around them and take on greater ownership in the church. 

Reproduction is the essence of church. It is what Jesus did. Check this out - John 20:21 Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you."

Lets be a reproducing church! If you have questions about how to do this just shoot me an email. Joshb@newlife4me.com

blogging is hard...

I have been so busy working on discipleship stuff lately I have neglected to blog about it...

I am working on brainstorming a list of discipleship initiatives for 2008. Basically asking the question what can I do in 08 to get more people connected to Jesus in a more real way? Exciting question to ask. I can't wait to see what we come up with! 

One idea that I have is to have a quarterly meeting where all of our life groups come together at a venue and everyone who is interested in a life group can come and check out all the groups we have / just get plugged into a group near their home.

just one idea... if you have others shoot me an email with them. You never know it might make the list.