A Church and Their Pastor Part Two: Making Leadership a Joy

The author of Hebrews, writing in the first century, reminds Christians that they have great power to affect their pastor’s experience of leading: “Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you” (Hebrews 3:17).

My previous post explained that a pastor (called an “elder” in the New Testament) is someone who fulfills a leadership role in the church according to their own gifts and personality, and whose main purpose is to equip and release others to continue Christ’s mission in the world. That is the “work” of a pastor. So how can members of a church ensure that this work is a joy, and not a burden? 

This post will explore six ways people in a church can do this, taken from the Bible and my own experience as a pastor. And while the truths are universal, I will apply them to our current experience as a church welcoming a new pastor in the midst of the COVID lockdown.

This post will explore ways you can help make your pastor’s work a joy, with particular application to our church as we welcome our new pastor, Simon Flint, this Sunday. Along the way, I will often refer to an analogy I introduced in my last post: the church as an orchestra, playing music composed by Jesus, recorded in the Bible, with the pastor serving as the conductor, and the world around us the audience.

While there are certainly others, here are five ways you can make your pastor’s work a joy:

1. (Re)Commit to the Church’s Mission

As explained in the previous post, a pastor needs a committed group of Jesus-followers (a church) like a conductor needs an orchestra. Our church, like many, has not been at the top of our game lately when it comes to participation and commitment level. After some difficult times in 2019, we were just getting “reoriented” to our mission and vision when COVID hit us and knocked the wind out of our sails. In the midst of that we found out that both of our pastors (myself and Peter) were transitioning out of their roles. And so, while a small group of leaders have led the search for a new pastor and kept the church running for the last year, most of us have drifted away to some extent. But as Simon comes in as our new pastor, we need to come back together as a church. He needs each one of us to decide whether we’re “in,” ready to reengage in our mission, or if we want to stay on vacation. As a “conductor,” he needs to know whether we’re part of the orchestra or the audience, so he knows what kind of pieces he can choose for us.

If you’re undecided and waiting to see what happens before you dive back in, that may be okay—just make sure you’re honest about it and actively seeking God’s direction about what he has for you. There are times of rest and phases of life that mean less commitment and involvement is possible. There are also ways to be involved in the church without taking on an official role—just by using your gifts in the context of relationships. But it’s important to understand that as a follower of Jesus, he has a place for you on stage, to be a part of his music. 

2. Offer Your Gifts so the Pastor Can Use His

In addition to a general commitment to the mission of the church, it is also essential that we discern the specific part God has called us to play. Every Christian is given gifts they can contribute to the body—some up front, some behind the scenes, some miraculous, some mundane. But every gift and every person is as essential to the church as a hand or foot or eye or nose is to the body (which conveys an even greater level of importance than an instrument in an orchestra!). It is each person’s responsibility to discover the gifts God has given them, and offer them to the church and the pastor to be used as part of the larger mission. How do we do this? Prayer, conversation, reading, experimentation, and careful observation of how God works through us. It doesn’t happen overnight, but if we make an effort clarity comes over time.

Two major issues can develop when people don’t use their God-given gifts in a church. The first is that there are “holes” in the orchestra that cause the music to suffer. It’s not that the music can’t be played without certain instruments, it’s just that it won’t sound the way it was intended by the composer. Something will be missing, and the performance/mission will be incomplete. This leads to the other issue, which is that when there is something missing, it is human nature to try to fill it in. And because the conductor is familiar with many instruments and has lots of experience, they are often the ones who fill in—whether or not it is an instrument they know well or enjoy. Sooner or later, they end up covering for so many missing members that they can no longer give attention to their own gifts, or to their primary role as the conductor. 

In the same way, pastors, who often have experience in many areas of ministry and church life, end up doing all kinds of things that are outside of their own gifts or skillset—simply because there is a need, and they can do an adequate job. This ends up robbing them of their joy and causing their work to become a heavy burden—even if it is not immediately evident. While all pastors have to do some things that are not joy-giving and not according to their primary gifts, the church needs to make sure that the majority of their work is in keeping with who they are and how God has designed them. Of course, the primary way that people in a church do this is by offering their own gifts so the pastor doesn’t have all those “holes” to fill in! But it also helps to know your pastor and how they are wired, to help them avoid this burden. As you get to know Simon, ask him what his gifts are, and what drains or energizes him in ministry.

3. Trust God by Trusting the Pastor

The passage we started with implies that the primary way we can make our leaders’ work a joy is by having confidence in them and submitting to their authority. These are words that are tough for us as Canadians. We have an ingrained suspicion of leaders, and words like “confidence” and “submission” are outside of our comfort zone. But imagine an orchestra that refused to follow the conductor’s instructions? The conductor spends considerable time choosing a piece of music to play—but then each instrumentalist decides to improvise their own tune to their own beat. What would be the point? God gives leaders to churches in order to unify them and help them work together to play his music/accomplish his mission. But for pastors to be effective, we must trust and follow their lead. This doesn’t mean we follow them brainlessly, like zombie cult members—but it also means we don’t resist the direction they are taking us if it is in keeping with the music of the Kingdom.

But how do we trust a new pastor—someone we don’t know, and who doesn’t know us? Shouldn’t we adopt a “wait and see” attitude and decide in a couple of years if we have enough confidence to submit to their authority? Actually, the clue to this answer is found in the passage itself, which says to submit to leaders “because they watch over you as those who must give an account.” In other words, pastors have their own overseer: they answer to Jesus, the head of the body of Christ. He’s the true leader of the church, and has seen fit to send his church (us) this pastor to lead us at this time. So our trust in Simon’s leadership is rooted in our trust that Jesus has brought him to us and will use him to lead us. Again, this doesn’t mean unquestioning subservience, but it means that we can have much greater confidence in his leadership than we would otherwise. We trust God by trusting that Simon is the right person for the job, and letting him lead us into the future. In this way we can make his work a joy and not a burden—by looking to him as our God-given leader.

4. Honour the Pastor Through Appreciation and Accountability

“The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. For Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” and “The worker deserves his wages.” Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses. But those elders who are sinning you are to reprove before everyone, so that the others may take warning.” (1 Timothy 5:17-20).

Honor is not something we think about very often in our society. It involves showing respect and appreciation—not taking someone for granted. Paul is concerned that people in churches recognize the important and difficult role their elders/pastors play—so much so that he calls for “double-honor” to be paid to them. The most obvious implication in the passage is that churches do this by paying them well for the work they do. Taking care of a pastor’s financial needs so they can devote themselves to the work of the kingdom is a natural responsibility of those he or she serves. But this should be undertaken not with the attitude of “how little can you survive on,” but “how can we show you honour in the generous way we pay you.” I’m not talking about supporting a televangelist lifestyle, but I do think that things like cost of living, typical income of people in the church, retirement, and vacations should be accounted for—not just the basics of food and housing. There’s probably something wrong if the pastor is the highest- or lowest- paid member of the congregation, and so great wisdom is called for.

Of course, today this admonition is largely for those on church boards and finance teams who have the sensitive responsibility of deciding pastoral remuneration. So how can the rest of the congregation show “double honour” to their pastor, apart from financial considerations? There are a number of ways, but I want to consider two: appreciation and accountability. I use these words to mean two types of feedback—positive and negative, both of which can be ways of honouring a pastor and making their work a joy, not a burden.

We all need people to express appreciation to us—it’s part of our God-given need for community and relationships. But there are reasons why this is particularly important to pastors. Ministry is a profession/career that carries with it very little respect (and in fact, a whole lot of baggage) in today’s culture, and so pastors are constantly being bombarded with the message that their job is not valued, not important—it is, in fact, a waste of life and potential. To make matters worse, it can be very difficult to see any tangible, meaningful changes as a result of pastoral work. When I painted houses, I could clearly see at the end of the day the difference I had made—and it was almost always a satisfying feeling. As a pastor, not only is it difficult to see what kind of difference I make in one day, it’s often hard to see much progress in a year or over several years! This means that most pastors wage a constant war against discouragement, wondering if what they are doing matters.

When you share stories of how God is using that pastor in your life, you give your pastor the same feeling of satisfaction I had after a day of painting. That we make a difference—a real difference—in the lives of people we serve is the fuel that keeps us going and helps us fight discouragement. “I liked that sermon” is nice to hear, but it’s doesn’t give the kind of lasting satisfaction as “I’ve been putting that sermon into practice, and God has changed my life through it.” In the same way, while tokens of appreciation like gifts or baked good are great, even better are the questions and deep conversations that demonstrate you’re taking your faith seriously and doing the work to learn and grow.

Of course, feedback can’t always be positive. Sometimes a pastor needs to hear constructive criticism—things they may not have noticed, that could be dangerous issues if left unaddressed. No pastor has all the gifts or all the knowledge they need, and so they must rely on others for feedback. Sometimes (as in the passage above) a pastor even needs to be confronted for sinful behaviour. This is an essential aspect of being part of the body of Christ, and something we are all called to do for each other as an expression of love.

Negative feedback can be just complaining rooted in perfectionism, and that has the power to make a pastor’s job a burden like few other things can. But when offered in love, gentleness, and respect, critique can communicate to the pastor that what they do and who they are is important to—important enough for the person to have a tough conversation with them. And while negative feedback almost always triggers an immediate defensive reaction, once that has passed, it really can be received as an expression of love and honour.

So, how do you know the difference between helpful, loving accountability/critique and the kind of critical grumbling that makes pastors want to find another job—any other job? Always bring the situation to God first, asking him for his help, and for wisdom on what to do. It can be helpful to consider the following questions:

Is it in the pastor’s power to make a difference in this situation?
Am I asking the pastor to do something outside of their gifts?
Am I making comparisons to other pastors or churches?
Am I personally willing to be part of the solution, or am I dumping it in their lap?
What exactly do I hope will happen as a result of this conversation?
Have I given adequate support and positive feedback to earn the right to critique?
Would it show greater love and honour to the pastor to approach them, or to let it go?

I have often had people approach me to complain about something the church lacks. But not only is it not something I could actually “fix”, the person making the complaint was not willing to do anything to help fix it themselves. The icing on the cake was usually a comparison to another church that was doing better—often a larger church with multiple staff members. If that’s you, take the message of our opening passage to heart—it does no one any good if the pastor’s work is a burden. 

5. Give the Pastor Grace and Space to be Human

The final way that people in a church can make their pastor’s work a joy is by recognizing that they are human beings like everyone else, and adjusting their expectations accordingly. This may come to a surprise to some who have been taught that clergy have a special calling that rests on them like a magical “power-up” that gives them invincibility against typical temptations and weaknesses. But the reality is that when a normal human being is ordained or hired as a pastor, there is no instantaneous zap of the Holy Spirit that makes them somehow fundamentally different from others.

This means that, if you give them a safe place and allow them to take off the “clergy mask,” you will find that your pastor is often just as frustrated, selfish, petty, insecure, and struggling as you are. They lose their temper, they wrestle with sinful thoughts, they experience depression and other mental health issues, they have unproductive days and weeks, and they sometimes wish they could quit their job. The list goes on—if you feel it in your life and job, chances are your pastor does too (a friend of mine used to say, “pastors are just like everyone else—only more so!”).

The New Testament instruction to “bear with one another and forgive one another” (Colossians 3:13) applies to your relationship with your pastor too. That’s because if you relate to a pastor long enough, you will have opportunity to forgive them—they will let you down, just like any human leader will. That’s why the trust and confidence mentioned above is not given to them based on their own perfection, but based on God’s call and his trustworthiness.

Another aspect of allowing them to be human is giving them space to rest and replenish, times when they can take off the “role” and just be themselves. Most pastors have one day every week they take “off” from the church as a Sabbath. If you’re a part of their congregation you need to know what day that is, and avoid contacting them unless there is a dire emergency. If you find yourself starting a message with, “I know it’s your day off, but…” you probably want to delete it and wait. The temptation for pastors who love their congregation is to leave their phone on and still be available “just in case.” So if it’s their day off, don’t rely on them to decide whether to read your text or not—just don’t text them at all. Let them disconnect completely, even if you know you’re not one of “those people” in the church who are a “burden” to them. Of course, the same principles apply to vacation. 

It is also important to know and respect their communication preferences. Smart phones are an incredible tool for ministry. Pastors can now carry the whole congregation in their pocket or purse wherever they go, whatever they are doing. While being connected is essential for pastoral work, constant availability has some negative implications as well. This is particularly because, while the church is the pastor’s “day job,” it is part of the personal life and evening/weekend routine for most people. So a pastor can work all day, then come home and respond to volunteers all evening. As an introvert, I found it exhausting to always be available and connected, which is why I asked people to email me regarding “church stuff” rather than text.

It’s easy to turn off notifications for email and ignore it when I’m “off work” or focusing on other things. But texting (as well as FB messenger and some others) presents a challenge. No matter what I am doing—preparing a sermon, sitting with someone in crisis, spending time with my family, grocery shopping, sleeping—that text comes in and interrupts me. Even if I don’t look at it, it sits in my brain, eating at me until I know who it is from and what they need. If I don’t reply right away, it becomes a source of stress to me, to try not to forget. Text are much harder to ignore—which is one of the reasons people use them!

Of course, the easy solution would have been to turn my phone off when I’m off work. But as most of us know, it could come in pretty handy when I needed to text questions home from the grocery store, or call my mom, or look at Google maps when I was lost. I was too cheap to get a second phone for those things, so I risked having that one text come in and ruin my day. Fortunately, most people respected my request to email. As Simon comes in, we all need to learn and respect his communications preferences, making sure we don’t expect him to always be “on.” Of course, in the event of a real, time-sensitive emergency, most pastors would be offended if you did NOT contact them on their day off or while they’re on vacation—and I expect its the same with him.

Wrapping Up

The statistics on pastoral burnout and those leaving ministry are quite sobering. I think one of the reasons is that people in churches don’t adequately understand a) that they have a responsibility to make their leaders’ work a joy, and not a burden or b) how they can do this. I’m sure the five areas I’ve explored are incomplete, but if churches could start there, I think pastors in general would have an entirely different experience. As welcome a new pastor, may we recommit to the church, offer our gifts so he is free to use his, trust his leadership, honour him through appreciation and accountability—and give him the grace and space he needs, as a fellow human being.

A Church and Their Pastor Part One - The Pastor's Role

When many people hear the word “pastor,” they think of a kind, gentle, smiling face—always understanding, always patient, always encouraging. They think of a soft, reassuring presence in times of grief and crisis, a bastion of faith, spirituality, and biblical knowledge. They think of someone who, if they experience typical human struggles with temptation, depression, anxiety, greed, or anger, are relatively unphased by them and always emerge victorious. They picture someone who is a counselor, preacher, teacher, pray-er, worshiper—equal parts scholar, empath, monk, social activist, and (more recently) YouTuber. The problem with this picture is that not only is it unrealistic, it is also not biblical. So what do the Scriptures teach about the role of a pastor.

Unfortunately, if you search for the word “pastor” in the Bible, you will not find many passages—in fact, only one! The reason for this is simple: the term the New Testament writers used to refer to the leader of a church was not “pastor,” but “elder” (or sometimes “overseer”). We read in Luke’s account of the early Christian movement: “Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for [the new disciples] in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust” (Acts 14:23). Elders were simply leaders entrusted with responsibility over a particular congregation. There may have been one or several elders in a particular church, but one was usually chosen as the point person (what we might call the “lead” or “senior” pastor today).

The term “elder” (presbyter in Greek) was borrowed from Judaism, where it referred to communal and spiritual leaders who were respected and followed because of their wisdom, experience, and spiritual maturity—not necessarily their position or education. In the same way, elders in the church were chosen not because of a particular gift or skill set, but because of their solid Christian character. If you look at the requirements for elders in Titus 1:5-9, you will see that most of what is laid out could apply to all Christians: excellent moral character, Christ-like relationships, a firm belief in the gospel, etc. A leader in the early church was expected to be a “lead disciple”—not perfect, but a few steps ahead on the journey of following Jesus.

What Do Elders Do?

So what exactly did an elder/leader in the early church do? Ephesians 4:11-12 (which contains the above-mentioned solitary occurrence of the word pastor) is a good place to start. “So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up” (Ephesians 4:11-12). Although the word elder doesn’t appear, and “pastor” is one of five different gifts mentioned, clearly this passage refers to leaders in the church, and so offers some helpful insights:

First, Paul calls the church “the body of Christ,” a metaphor he employs throughout his letters to describe an organic, interconnected, interdependent group of people, each with something unique and essential to contribute to the whole (see 1 Corinthians 12). Besides the normal differences of personality and temperament, the New Testament describes a number of “spiritual gifts.” Each disciple of Jesus has unique ways that the Holy Spirit works through them consistently—from seemingly ordinary gifts of serving, administration, and encouragement, to more peculiar gifts of miracles, healing, and prophecy. 

The second thing to note is that particular spiritual gifts are mentioned that seem to predispose people to leadership positions. In this passage Paul mentions five: apostleship, prophecy, evangelism, pastoring, and teaching. There is not time to define each term or consider whether this is a complete list. However, we can note that “eldering” is not mentioned as a spiritual gift—here, or elsewhere. That is because “elder” is not a gift but a role. People with very different personalities and spiritual gifts are called to fulfill leadership roles in the church according to their unique design. What this means is that the person you call “pastor” (who is actually an “elder” by biblical terms) may actually not have the gift of pastoring at all. Rather, they lead according to their own gifts—perhaps as an evangelist or prophet.

The third important takeaway from this passage concerns the purpose of leaders within the church. Too often we assume that “ministry” is something a pastor does. But according to Paul, ministry is something that leaders in the church facilitate. They are given by Jesus to “equip his people for works of service”—with the Greek word for “service” being the same one used for “ministry.” Even more important than using their own gifts, the main job of a pastor/elder/leader in the church is to equip, train, and release the people in the church to use their own gifts in their shared mission. Unfortunately, too often churches expect their pastors to have all (or most of) the spiritual gifts, and to do all (or most of) the work of the church. These misguided expectations have kept many churches and pastors unhealthy and ineffective. 

An Analogy

The following analogy can be helpful in understanding the role of a pastor/elder. Imagine the church is like an orchestra that comes together to play the music of the Kingdom of God. Jesus is the composer, who wrote the Kingdom music that has been played for two thousand years; the Bible is the score (or collection of scores) by which the music has been handed down through the centuries; and each member of the church is an instrumentalist with a unique and essential part to play. While there are occasions for a brief solo, and instrumentalists can play some melodies and parts on their own, only in the context of the whole orchestra, playing together as one unit, does the full beauty of the Kingdom music come through. 

The audience the church plays for is the world around us. We may enjoy coming together to play music, we may be moved to tears by its beauty, but the primary reason the orchestra exists is to present the composer’s music to a new audience, who may have never heard or appreciated it. The church’s job is to help the people around us fall in love with Jesus’ music, with the ultimate goal that they would become part of the orchestra. 

What, then, is the role of the pastor/elder in this analogy? They are the conductor, the leader who helps the orchestra play in tune and in time. The conductor, more than anyone else, focuses on the music as a whole, ensuring that each instrumentalist knows their part, and that all come together to create beautiful and unified music. The conductor studies the score, chooses the pieces, and challenges the members to grow and learn. 

Could an orchestra function without a conductor? Of course. Everyone has the score. Everyone plays an instrument. They could play familiar pieces simply by following each other. But with a conductor—with someone standing in front of them all, acting as a point person, keeping time, and directing the big picture—the orchestra thrives. In the same way, while full-time, paid pastors are not necessary for churches, they can be very beneficial.

However, consider the opposite question: Can a conductor function without an orchestra? Absolutely not. The very title “conductor” implies he or she has people to “conduct.” Without instrumentalists, the conductor becomes at best, a soloist; at worst, a lunatic waving his hands to a silent and empty stage! In the same way, churches are absolutely necessary for pastors (elders) to do their job. And by “churches” I do not mean groups of people who gather to hear the pastor speak each Sunday, but groups of disciples who are committed to Jesus and his mission, who pool their time, money, and emotional resources to accomplish it, and who are committed to each other quite apart from whatever pastor/elder/conductor happens to be leading at that time. Too often, though, Christians fail to understand what it means to be the church.

Consider this scenario: A new conductor is hired to oversee an orchestra. He arrives to lead his first rehearsal, excited to see the potential in these musicians. But when he walks into the auditorium, all of the chairs on stage are empty. He looks around, wondering where everyone is, and he hears a voice calling from the house seats: “Don’t worry, we’re all here. We’re just kind of tired of playing the music. We heard you’re a great violinist, and we thought maybe you could just play us some songs while we just sit here and enjoy the music.”

Perhaps it’s true—he is a world class violinist, fully capable of entertaining a crowd with his skill. In fact, this is one of the reasons he was hired, because not only can he take occasional solos, but he can use his expertise in this area to develop other violinists—the whole string section, in fact! But his primary job is not to use his own gifts and talents, but to help others bring theirs together in the service of the music the composer meant to be played by a unified, multi-faceted orchestra—not a bunch of soloists.

In the same way, a pastor/elder may have incredible gifts they can use together with the other members of the body of Christ. But his/her main job is not to highlight or solo their own giftedness, but to release and mobilize the giftedness of others. A conductor needs an orchestra, not an audience; and a pastor needs a group of people who are willing to work with him to continue the mission of Jesus.

Summary

An elder (what we call a pastor, priest, or minister) is someone who fulfills a leadership role in the church according to their own gifts and personality, and whose main purpose is to equip and release the people of the church to use their diverse and essential gifts to continue Christ’s mission in the world together. The next post will consider the responsibility of the orchestra/church members to their conductor/pastor.

Who We Are: Finding God in Nature

My first exposure to “up north” (as we called Muskoka and the surrounding areas where I grew up) was camping in Algonquin Park with my church youth group in Grade 9. I was immediately captured by the sparkling lakes, the crystal clear water, the rolling granite hills, the endless forests. I had always connected with God in nature, but there was something special about this area that felt like the Artist was showing off—making his Presence known in a powerful way.

I would guess I’m not the only one that feels this way about the place I now call home. I once read a book that suggested that God had particular redemptive purposes for different geographic areas. In my mind, it seems clear that he has designed Muskoka and the surrounding areas to be a place of refreshment and renewal, where worn out souls can retreat to meet with him and be restored. Of course, not everyone who comes here is consciously seeking God. There are many reasons people love “the north,” but I think underneath it all there is an indefinable, quasi-spiritual, “something” that keeps them coming back year after year. And I believe that “something” is actually a Someone—the God who created it all, and who is making his presence known to them because he desires an ongoing personal relationship with them.

From the beginning it was part of the vision of MCC to help people connect these dots. Beyond our mission to reach people in Muskoka with the Good News of Jesus, we also wanted to help the many cottagers and tourists who were drawn here by Creation realize that it is actually the Creator their hearts are longing for. We envisioned sending them back to their cities and towns with a fresh sense of God’s love for them, and helping them become part of churches there. 

Because of this, our very first services were held at Arrowhead Provincial Park, with some simple acoustic music in the outdoor amphitheatre followed by a spiritually-themed guided hike. Over the course of the next few summers “Church on the Trail” grew until we had to separate attendees into four different hikes (and eventually do away with this component altogether). We loved worshiping in that amphitheatre, with the sun shining through the trees, the cool breeze blowing—and the hordes of mosquitoes swarming all around (how many churches offer bug repellant for their guests?).

Eventually we moved these services to River Mill Park along in downtown Huntsville in an effort to be more accessible to our local community and more effective at reaching people who weren’t already Christians (we found that the vast majority of people who would attend a church service while camping were, in fact, church people). “Church in the Park” was a great success—attracting not only tourists and cottagers, but locals who could check things out from nearby apartments or the playground without having to actually “attend.” The atmosphere wasn’t quite as serene as the Arrowhead amphitheatre, but it combined two elements that were important to us: nature and community. And there were no bugs!

For a number of reasons it’s been a couple of years since we’ve done Church in the Park, but I hope we will continue to consider ways we can help people connect to their Creator through his creation—whether through outdoor services, spiritually-themed hikes and paddling trips, or other creative approaches. Every summer, people come to Muskoka seeking “something.” I am convinced that one of the reasons God has placed our church here is to help them find what they’re looking for.

Romans 1:20 - Since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made…

Who We Are: Doing Things Differently

Muskoka Community Church has always marched to the beat of a different drummer—not in terms of our beliefs or theology, but in the way we approach and carry out our disciple-making mission. Never was this more clearly illustrated than when we launched our public services at Riverside Public school in the fall of 2008. 

There is a fairly established pattern for starting new churches, with some very basic “rules” about what is needed for success. One of the most important tasks is the recruitment of a core team of people who would help get the church off the ground. These should be people who were not only Christians, but who were willing to give up time, money, and emotional energy because they believed in the church’s mission and thought God was calling them to be a part of it. When we moved to Huntsville in July 2007, this was our primary goal. We made every effort to get connected with as many people as possible—both to get to know our new community, and also hoping and praying that God would miraculously connect us with people who would help us start the church.

But a year later, it was a dismal failure. And not for lack of effort on our (especially April’s) part! We could make a list of well over 200 people who knew us by name and knew what we were hoping to do. However, the vast majority of these were not churchgoers (and not particularly interested in changing that). The few Christians we did meet were happily involved in their own church.

By the spring of 2008 our core team consisted of seven adults in addition to April and I. By the summer, that had dropped to three adults as one couple moved away, and another decided this wasn’t for them. Conversations with mentors and denominational liaisons were getting serious. What were we going to do? Was it time to throw in the towel, since we did not have enough support to even host one worship service, let alone a church as we envisioned it? Clearly, according to all conventional wisdom, we were not ready to launch, and yet...

We decided to go for it. It was do or die, start or quit. So we began to plan for a fall launch of public worship services at Riverside Public School. April would lead the children’s ministry, and I would oversee most other aspects. But who would help us with the kids, music, sound, video, greeting, setup, teardown, pulling the trailer? Well, our tiny core team for one. But we hoped that maybe a few of our non-churched friends would come to our rescue. 

Because I am a chicken and didn’t want to face verbal rejection, I made my request by mass email. The gist of it was something like, “You know that April and I are here with the goal of starting a new church, and we know that is not something you are interested in, but we really need help to get things going. Would you consider lending us a hand by….?”

One of the first to respond was a good friend who had only ever stepped foot in a church once in his life (for a wedding). His response was along the lines of, “Jeremy, you know that I am an atheist and consider myself anti-religious, yet because you’re a good friend, I could help you run your sound board for the first few weeks.” His wife’s response followed not long afterward:, “I guess since he’s helping with sound, I could help sing your hymns” (at that time, she was not aware that modern Christian worship music existed). 

Side note: That one threw me for a loop. An atheist on the sound board seemed okay, but in my past experience there were certain “standards” for those who were “up front” in a church—they should at least believe what they’re singing! But as I prayed about it, I felt like Jesus reminded me that none of his disciples were Christians when he called them, and they really didn’t believe the “right” things until after they had been with him for a couple of years, and had done all kinds of ministry stuff along the way. So I decided it was okay (and did I mention how desperate we were for help?).

To my surprise, many other responses came in, and so when we held our first public service on October 19, 2008, the vast majority of the volunteers who were greeting at the door, holding babies in the nursery, handing out bulletins, running sound, and singing in the band were non-Christian friends who were just lending a hand (if you’re reading this and were one of those friends who helped us out—thank you!).

I’d love to report that all of them stayed at the church and became dedicated followers of Jesus, but that isn’t what happened. Most of them served for a while until new attendees took their places. But what their involvement did accomplish was to shape our culture in ways that reinforced what we had known from the beginning—that this was to be a church for people who weren’t church people. When you get up to preach, or do announcements, or lead worship, and you see a bunch of your non-Christian and atheist friends in the small crowd, you automatically translate the “Christianese” into language they can understand.

And so, like many things in the life of our church, God turned what seemed like an obstacle (the lack of a core team) into a tremendously positive opportunity. Not only did this odd launch team help our church get off the ground, and imprint it with a unique culture, but that it also planted some seeds in the lives of those who wouldn’t otherwise have come to church. I know that for my atheist friend, while he did not become a Christian, he told me his view of the church had become much more positive. And that’s good progress!

This also started a pattern that has held true, and that is that we are a church that does not do things the “typical” way. That isn’t to say we're radically different from the other great churches in our area, but simply that there have been many other times along the way where “conventional wisdom” or “tried and true methods” have not applied to us. God seems to like stretching us and using us as a laboratory for kingdom experiments. Over the years I’ve come to greatly appreciate the creativity and sense of adventure this brings, and I hope that as we continue to grow and mature, we continue to live on the edge, take risks, and do things that are unusual—for the sake of Jesus and his mission.

Who We Are: Missional Clarity

In an earlier post, I described how the initial “vision” for Muskoka Community Church was to quench the spiritual thirst of those who did not know God in Huntsville and the surrounding area. There were several other “signs” along the way that confirmed this, and so when we arrived in Huntsville, we were very clear on our target: people who didn’t already go to church. This was going to be “a church for people who weren’t ‘church people.’” 

April and I had spent several years at Grace Community Church in Winchester, VA, a church plant led by Mike Woods that had been based on the Willow Creek seeker-targeted model. I remember them saying, “we’ll do anything short of sin to help people understand the gospel and join God’s family”—and they lived this out. They started services with relevant secular songs, because these could build a “bridge” into the world of those who might not know the religious songs. They used humour, drama, movie clips, and accessible language free of religious jargon. They served the community. They encouraged casual dress to make outsiders feel comfortable. They always made it clear that people at any point on their spiritual (and life) journey could come “as they were” and be welcomed and loved. At Grace, I learned what it was like to attend church with addicts, atheists, pluralists, seekers, new Christians who were getting it wrong, and old Christians who were both excited and confused by this “different kind of church.”

Coming to Huntsville, we knew this was the kind of church God had in mind—not necessarily a clone of Grace or the seeker model, which itself had greatly modified its strategy over the years, but one which kept its unique DNA. So from the beginning we made it clear—in our advertising, literature, and conversations—that we weren’t trying to attract Christians into a cool new church. I introduced myself to the other pastors in town, and explained we weren’t there to try to reach their members—and was welcomed with their support and prayers. When people did wander in from other churches, I would have frank discussions with them about why they should probably stay where they were (though recognizing that God was sometimes calling them to join us at MCC). 

We advertised regularly in the newspaper and on the local secular radio station, and intentionally decided not to place ads on the Christian radio station. We sent out mailers to the community that invited non-churchgoers to try us out, offering events (our Easter Egg Hunt) and teaching series (“Why Church?”) that might be interesting to them. We spent thousands of dollars on advertising to non-Christians, and it was worth every dollar as we saw the Holy Spirit work through it to bring people into our services. We often started with secular songs, and every service was planned, prayed, and executed with the non-Christian visitor in mind. In the way we interacted with and presented ourselves to the community, I always said that I would rather be misunderstood by other Christians in town, than somehow offend or put an obstacle in the path of someone seeking God. 

We were on a mission, and we were quite clear what that mission was. We weren’t trying to make our own “church people” happy or serve all of their needs, because we didn’t have any! If God sent us people who were already Christians, we invited them to join us in the mission. We made it clear that we were not just another churchy restaurant where they could come and sample our liturgical hors d'oeuvres, but a spiritual soup kitchen where we focused on nourishing those who were starving for God. If we got “fed” along the way (and we always did), that was a tremendous bonus. 

Like most church plants, that initial clarity of target and purpose has faded over the years. We were forced into the “real world” of liability, insurance, budgets, buildings, personality conflicts, systems and structures—none of which are bad or unimportant, but all of which can distract from the clarity we had at the beginning. And of course, we faced the tension that all mission-oriented churches face regularly: How do we continue to reach more and more people with the Good News, while also meeting the ongoing spiritual needs of those who have joined us? It’s a valid question, but unfortunately can stray into the unhealthy consumer mindset of “how can we keep our members happy, since they’re the ones who pay the bills.” The problem is that the the church—and this church in particular—was not formed for the sake of its own membership, but of those on the outside. 

More than a decade after those early days, I wonder what it would look like for us—with the benefits of established leadership, a permanent location, and a stable budget—to return to the kind of missional clarity we had at the beginning? 

1 Corinthians 9:19-23

Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

Who We Are: Waiting on God

After the initial “calling” experience I related in the previous post, April and I returned home, shared the experience with our pastor and some of our closest friends, and began to seek God for confirmation and clarity. With the intense nature of the “vision” God had given me, I expected things to move quickly and easily. However, what happened instead was a long period of time in which God spoke to me about many things--but when it came to Huntsville I only encountered radio silence. 

It was only after I had given up begging God for an answer and left it in his hands that he brought the needed confirmation, in the form of a chance encounter with Huntsville residents in the mountains of Virginia. This incredible “coincidence” became my “sign from God,” and the first doorway into the community. It took several more months of preparation before we were able to move to Muskoka, and over a year before we started services. That’s a total of three long years between the initial “calling” and the first service!

Since then, God has brought us to many places where we needed to wait for him to provide--and it was always longer than we wanted it to be. We waited to grow to a point of financial sustainability. We waited for relief from the grinding setup and teardown routine at Riverside. We waited for a place to call home. We waited for him to provide an associate pastor, and now a lead pastor.  At each point our waiting was rewarded. God was faithful: he brought clarity, provided for our needs, and exceeded our expectations. But he did not do so according to our schedule.

I think this has been a pattern for a reason: I needed to learn (and perhaps a few of you as well) that I was not in control, that God could be trusted, and that life and church do not need to happen at the breakneck speed we are so accustomed to in our society. God does not seem to mind periods of non-productivity, periods of questioning and lament, periods of searching and planning. And I think in the process he has created a church that is committed to waiting for him to lead and provide—even when it appears he has forgotten us or is letting us down. That’s why the lyric, “We won’t move without you,” from the song “The Lord Our God” always brings a smile to my face, as I think of how we as a community have lived that out.

I will wait for the Lord, who is hiding his face from the descendants of Jacob. I will put my trust in him. - Isaiah 8:17

Who We Are: Refreshing the Spiritually Thirsty

As I transition out of my Lead Pastor role and we transition to a new phase of our history as a church, I was asked by our Leadership Community to document some of our institutional history and values. This is the first of a series of occasional blog posts I will be writing over the coming weeks, reminding us of where we’ve come from, and who God has called us to be.

Muskoka Community Church was first conceived in the Algonquin Theatre in Huntsville. April, Aidan, and I had been vacationing at my grandparents home in Burk’s Falls in the fall of 2005, and an issue with our flight necessitated staying an extra day. My grandparents invited us to go see a family fiddling and step dancing act (I believe they were called “Everything Fitz”) that evening, and we happily went along. Something unexpected happened to me during that show, and it wasn’t an undiscovered love of fiddle music—though the show was surprisingly enjoyable.

Rather, I had the kind of profound spiritual experience that I’ve only experienced one other time in my life. I had a clear sense of the presence of the Holy Spirit, and it was like he had opened a direct channel to my brain and was filling it with ideas. I could vividly see a church meeting in that very theatre, a church for people who didn’t go to church, one that would use the natural beauty of Muskoka to point people toward their Creator. And my sense was that God was calling me to uproot my family, take a huge risk, and move to Huntsville to start this church. It would take another year and a half for that calling to be confirmed, and the logistics to be worked out, but eventually that “vision” experience resulted in Muskoka Community Church. 

I don’t remember a lot of the details of the vision, and we’ve only met in the Algonquin Theatre once or twice, but one thing stands out as I think back to that day. Mingled with the ideas and pictures of the church was also a sense of the motivation behind it. In a way I can’t explain, it was like God had opened up my heart and allowed me to get a glimpse of how he felt about the people who lived in Huntsville. I could sense the spiritual thirst of the people around me in that theatre, their desperate longing to find something missing in their lives, and God’s longing to meet them and quench their thirst. 

This idea of “thirsting” for God and the life he brings is common in Scripture. Jesus invites anyone and everyone to come to him and drink living water (John 4:13-14, 7:37). Isaiah uses this metaphor often, including in this passage that was important to me as I prepared to move to Muskoka: “The poor and needy search for water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst. But I the Lord will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them” (Isaiah 41:17). Psalm 107, another passage that has been significant for us, also describes this dynamic as it celebrates the God who “satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things” (v. 9).

Since those first days, MCC has gone through many phases and challenges. But we must never forget the reason we exist: because of God’s heart for those who do not know him in the Muskoka region, his desire to quench their spiritual thirst with his grace and love, and to enter into a relationship with them through Christ. As long as there is one person in this town who hungers and thirsts for God, we will still have a mission. Refreshing those who thirst for God has always been the heartbeat of MCC—our raison d’etre, our motivation to keep going when things are hard, and the way we must measure our ultimate success.

The image/verse above is taken from the original “Vision for Huntsville” document I prepared to describe the church plant to potential supporters.

Getting to Know Yourself Exercises

On Sunday (May 3), Jeremy talked about embracing your uniqueness (weirdness!) as the way that God wants to reveal his image (and beauty) in and through you. As promised, here are some questions to help you think through just who God has designed you to be. You can review them below, or click one of these links to download a pdf file (you can print and fill out by hand), or a Word document (you can save the file and then type your answers directly in).

Click here for a pdf

Click here for a Word doc.

The following exercises are meant to stir your thinking with regard to who you are and who you are not. They assume that God has made you unique, given you particular strengths and gifts that display his beauty; but that no one is strong or gifted in all areas. Unfortunately, we often try to cover up our weaknesses and shame with a “false self,” and in doing so lose sight of our true self. These exercises will help you think through what you know of yourself to try to separate those things that are truly you (and therefore to be embraced) from the things that you have taken on that are not really in keeping with the way God made you (and therefore to be rejected). 

There are six sections which approach these questions from different angles and perspectives. Pay attention to the things that first come to mind—sometimes we self-censor or ignore our gut reactions when they (or the Holy Spirit) could be trying to tell us something. Don’t rush through, either. Ask God for wisdom and insight—after all, he knows you better than you know yourself! Take one section at a time, allowing each to build into the final resolution to change.

First Impressions

Finish these statements with as many words as you can think of: 

I am very…

I am not very…

I’m glad I’m not…

I wish I was…

What are the 5 attributes a close friend or family member would use to describe me?

What is true about me (good or bad) that most people would never know?

Getting Analytical

If you have ever taken personality tests, review their findings and summarize what each of them have to say about your strengths and weaknesses below. If you haven’t taken any in the past, try the links below.

Myers-Briggs (MBTI) - https://www.16personalities.com/free-personality-test

Enneagram - https://www.9types.com/rheti/index.php (free)   https://tests.enneagraminstitute.com (paid)

Strengthsfinder - https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/253850/cliftonstrengths-for-individuals.aspx (paid)

DISC - https://www.discprofile.com (paid)

Spiritual Gifts Inventories - https://gifts.churchgrowth.org/spiritual-gifts-survey/

Other Personality Tests – 

What do these assessments say about who I am and how I am designed? What questions remain unanswered?

Going Back to Your Childhood

Often you can get a clearer picture of your true self by thinking back to your childhood. Young children are often the most free to simply be who they are, and it is only as we grow that we take on the expectations of others. Spend some time getting to know yourself as a child. Maybe you will want to discuss this with a parent or someone who knew you at the time, or looking at old pictures to bring back memories.

What was I like as a child? 

What was I naturally good at?

What were my interests?

What made me feel uncomfortable? 

When I had free time, how did I choose (or want) to spend it? 

What did I want to be when I grew up, and why?

Growing Up

What activities and subjects was I drawn to in high school and in my twenties? What hobbies have I had over the years?

When I look back, what are my regrets? What things do I wish I had done/pursued (or hadn’t)?

Are there any personality traits or ways of being that I may have adopted out of peer pressure or a desire to fit in? Why?

When have I have felt most alive and true to myself over the years?

When have I felt like I was faking it or not being true to myself?

Bringing it Together

In light of everything I’ve reflected on so far, what would it look like for me to really live into my own uniqueness?

What could I pay more attention to? What could result?

What could I pay less attention to? What could result?

What could I add into my schedule?

What would be helpful to give up?

How does my uniqueness sometimes cause me problems?

How does my uniqueness reveal God’s image/beauty?

Resolving to Change

In gratitude to God for the grace he has given to me, I resolve to embrace and fully live into my uniqueness and beauty. In order to do this and truly be myself, I will try to:

(Finish this sentence in as many ways as you can, e.g. be less ___, be more ___, stop ___, start ___, let go of ___, etc.)

Reflecting on the Your Response to Grace

Over the past few weeks we’ve been working our way through Romans 5-6 and exploring the basic Christian message in three parts: problem, solution, and implications. Basically, the Bible teaches that the problems in the world and the problems in ourselves are caused by sin—not just doing bad things, but the failure to live up to God’s intention for us. This puts us in a state of shame, guilt, judgment, and condemnation before God. But in his love, God has pursued us and provided a way for us to be justified (pronounced righteous) through Jesus and his obedience. Now we are made right with God as a gift, by his grace. We can’t do anything to earn his favour or to make it go away.

But should we just go on sinning, knowing that God will forgive us each time? Of course not. The purpose of grace is to empower us to live a new life, not just to offer us forgiveness. But too often we grow lazy or passive, waiting for God to override our free will and magically make us more obedient. We fail to realize that we have choices to make every day about who we serve.

We also fail to realize that God’s incredible gifts to us call for a lifetime of grateful response. Because of their culture, early Christians would have automatically known that grace called for gratitude, and that this gratitude would need to be expressed in more than words. Gratitude is what connects the message of grace with growth in the life of the Christian.

If you’re spiritually stuck, or feel like you’re taking grace for granted, find a quiet spot, perhaps with a journal or notebook, and consider the following questions:

• Do I live each day with a sense of God’s graciousness—that he is good, kind, on my

  side, accepting, loving, merciful, etc.? Do I sense his delight in me as his child?

• Do I believe that his grace is unchanged, even when I mess up and wander away?

• Have I received justification (being pronounced righteous) as a gift, or am I trying to do it on my own?

• How has God showed me his grace in concrete ways throughout my life?

• How was Christ’s death on the cross a personal expression of God’s grace to me?

• Do I believe that I’ve been set free from sin and empowered by grace to live a new life?

• Do I regularly express my thanks to God for his grace(s) through words?

• How have I demonstrated my gratitude to him through my actions, past and present?

• What kind of grateful response does his grace call for on my part?

Responding to the Coronavirus Pandemic

MCC’s Logistical Response to Coronavirus

As you may have noticed, in the past few days the response to the COVID-19 strain of Coronavirus has escalated considerably. Many social gatherings are being shut down in an attempt to slow the spread of the virus and allow medical facilities more time to deal with those who are most vulnerable.
 
After consulting with physicians in our congregation as well as considering the other information available to us, Leadership Team has concluded that the most responsible thing to do is to encourage people to stay home and watch our livestream this Sunday. 
 
We will have a simplified service, run by a skeleton crew, with no AdventureLand, youth programming, or coffee service. Jeremy and Peter will continue with their plans to offer a podcast-style talk on the history of the Brethren Church (our larger denominational family) and what makes us unique.
 
If you are an adult in good health, have had no exposure, and have no other health conditions, we invite you to join us to be part of a small “studio audience” this Sunday at 10:30 (particularly if you are unable to watch the service online). Please RSVP to Jeremy if you plan to attend.
 
Note that we are not “cancelling” our service, but simply moving it online. Please still plan to join us during the livestream, as a way of preserving some normalcy and (as we talked about a couple of weeks ago) honoring God by gathering together. Access our livestream Sunday at 10:30 on our Facebook page or Youtube channel.

With regard to future weeks and other events, we will play that by ear as we get more information. There is a good chance we will do the same thing for the next couple of weeks, but since the situation changes so quickly we will finalize that decision as we go. For now, we plan on allowing small groups to decide for themselves whether or not to meet, but that may change as well. 
 

A Christian Response to Coronavirus

As followers of Jesus, how should our response to this pandemic be different than the world around us?
 
First of all, we are called to act in love. Taking prudent precautions, even to the point of changing our service to an online format, is something we do primarily out of concern for those who are most vulnerable, and a sense of responsibility to the larger society. Early Christians responded to pandemics in their day by risking their own lives to nurture and care for others. Even when others fled areas where outbreaks were taking place, Christians intentionally stayed to demonstrate the love of Christ. Dionysius, a church leader in the 3rd century, writes: 
 
Most of our brother-Christians showed unbounded love and loyalty, never sparing themselves and thinking only of one another. Heedless of the danger, they took charge of the sick, attending to their every need and ministering to them in Christ, and with them departed this life serenely happy; for they were infected by others with the disease, drawing on themselves the sickness of their neighbours and cheerfully accepting their pains.
 
At this point we are taking a different approach, but we are motivated by the same love for others and concern for the seriousness of the situation. That said, we do not have to get sucked into the fear and hysteria that seems to go along with this. We have an assurance that no matter what happens, we are God’s dearly loved children, and we are safe in his hands. Whether in life or death, we trust Jesus. Nothing can separate us from our Father’s love. So, we do what is wise and prudent, and then we settle into the peace that comes from faith.
 
In some ways this seems like the lead-up to a big winter storm or hurricane landfall. Everyone is on the edge of their seats, tension is in the air, and many are gripped with fear and “what-ifs.” But we follow the One who calmed storms, healed the sick, and even brought the dead back to life. What do we have to fear? 
 
I think the Apostle Paul put it best in Romans 8:31-39. If you’re struggling with worry and anxiety over this, take some time to quietly meditate on this passage and let it speak to you at a soul level:
 
31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
 
Pray that this becomes an opportunity for this incredible, unstoppable love of Jesus to shine through us. Hope to see you (or at least have you see me!) Sunday,

 Jeremy

Ash Wednesday Digital Service

Hey everyone! Our Ash Wednesday service had to be canceled tonight because of snow, but that doesn’t have to stop us from engaging in this historical practice together. ( apart together haha) Below I have done a mini video teaching that I planned to share at the service. There is also another video linked below that I planned to show. Finally, there is a worksheet with some different prayer and reflection exercises that go along with the videos! Enjoy! I pray God blesses your time listening and participating!

Ash Wednesday Prayer and Reflection

Write a psalm:

• Read psalm 51 Pray that God could help you relate to the words of the psalm. 

• Read it once more. 

• Spend a moment thinking through the aspects of the psalm to which you can relate. 

• Walk through the psalm and rewrite it in your own words. 

  • Try to focus especially on the parts to which you most relate. 

  • Try to include specific sins which are brought to mind and specific requests for God’s forgiveness and restoration in those areas. 

Tie and Untie knots: 

• Read psalm 51

• Find a piece of string (shoelace works) 

• Pray to God that you could recall the areas you have sinned or fallen short and the areas of your life that you want to see God change. 

  • If it is helpful, give yourself a time limit to think about  (the last month for example) 

• Give yourself a while to allow things to come to mind. 

• For each thing that comes to mind, tie a knot loosely in the string to represent it.

• After you have finished tying knots, go back through the sting, and for each knot pray that God would forgive you for that sin and help you to see change in your life. 

  • If you like, for each knot you can pray Psalm 52: 1-2 and 10-12. 

• Thank God for the new life you can have in him because of Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection. 

Preparation for the season of Lent:

The season of Lent provides a good opportunity for us to intentionally pursue God in preparation for easter. Spend time thinking through ways that you could engage this season of Lent in meaningful ways. Here are some questions to help:

• We spoke about fasting in Lent as a way of removing something to make room for one thing. What is something you feel would be helpful for you to remove, even for a time? Think about things that pull your time away from God. Think about things you rely on other than God. 

• How could you practically “remove” or partially remove this from your life for the season of Lent? 

• What could you do to fill the space this will provide? Think about ways you can encounter God. Consider doing something that draws you to reflection and repentance, such as the activities above. Consider doing something that inspires thankfulness and gratitude for God. Note: If you have a desire, but no place to begin, who could you ask for help with ideas for how to spend your time? Think about what you would like your time to produce and make a plan to talk with a friend or leader who could guide you in finding a spiritual practice.

A Resolution Accomplished: Reading Through the Bible

Our Small Groups coordinator Micki Gallagher recently finished reading through the Bible for the first time, and we asked her to write a bit about her experience in the post below.

You’re never too old to get started…

About a year ago, Jeremy asked the congregation during one of his sermons, “who here has read the complete bible?” Unfortunately, I was not able to put up my hand. It was quite a reality check for me! How can I share God’s Word with others when I haven’t even fully read His Word? That sat in my heart till New Year’s Day when I had a little chat with God and clearly heard Him “Just read my Word this year”. I have been very busy over the last few years reading many bible study books, Christian motivational books and other positive living books, which are all well and good—but they are not the Bible. In fact they were keeping me away from reading my Bible! So, my only New Year’s Resolution this year was to read the Bible completely!

I’m grateful this morning to have finished reading the complete bible 🤗! Not that it’s a checklist thing, I just wanted to be obedient & get to know God’s Word better & get to know Him better.  I can’t say it was an easy read, there were many times as I was reading the Old Testament that I felt confused, sad, depressed even at the events, & many times I just didn’t want to read anymore! So many questions were in my head! So much killing, so much violence and bloodshed & animal sacrifices. Thankfully Jeremy helped coach me to just keep reading the Old Testament, that was a hard one!  “Just keep reading Micki, it will get better, things will come clearer”. And it did!

Thankfully also, the reading plan had me reading part of the Old Testament every day & ending with a New Testament reading, which allowed my heart to always end in “The Good News of Jesus!” I will need to keep reading it over & over again, I will learn something new each time I do. But now, I am not reading it “just to get through it”, now, I am reading it slowly to soak in God’s words, to get to know Him better, to understand His heart, to see what He did for the Israelites in captivity to the promised land, to read the prophesies in the Old Testament that came true in the New Testament! There is so much to learn from His word, Old Testament & New Testament!

I look at my bible differently now, I hold on to it more now, I desire to read it more now, sometimes I just hold on to it as I pray. The words come alive for me now, I understand more, yet there is so much more for me to keep learning! There is a difference, but I can’t express it right now.
A New Year’s Resolution I made with God, and I kept it!! 
Feeling grateful!

Micki Gallagher

Dallas Willard on Discipleship

Jeremy quoted from this Dallas Willard article in Sunday’s sermon, originally from Christianity Today. It’s worth a read!

Click here for a pdf.

Threefold Communion – Why Participate?

Threefold Communion is a Brethren tradition that reaches back over three centuries, involving a time of reflection and worship, a footwashing service for men and women (separately), a simple meal, and then communion at the tables. It was their way of re-enacting the last supper of Jesus and obeying his commands to “do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19), and “now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet” (John 13:14).

I had my first experience with Threefold Communion when I was a part of Grace Community Church, a new Brethren church plant in Winchester, Virginia. I have to admit, I wasn’t thrilled about going. Of course I was looking forward to the meal, but the footwashing part "freaked me right out.” If you know me, I’m not even particularly comfortable with hugs. So having another guy touch my foot seemed way over the line. I intended to sit that part out.

However, when the time came, one of the leaders in the church approached me with a towel around his waist and invited me to come to the footwashing station. I felt a little nudge from the Holy Spirit that this was a good chance to push myself out of my comfort zone, so I went with him. Despite the extreme awkwardness I felt, I found that the experience was deeply meaningful and humbling. He prayed for me, we hugged, and it was (thankfully!) over before I knew it.

As an Associate Pastor, I was soon in charge of future events, and got to witness up-close just how meaningful the experience could be. People always went away profoundly moved—relationships were healed, and Jesus was experienced in an up-close and personal way. So, when I came to Huntsville, I intended to continue this Brethren tradition at Muskoka Community Church. However, I have often struggled with convincing people to participate. 

Part of this is because I wasn’t completely clear on why we were doing it or what it accomplished. Early Brethren did it because they believed that was the only Biblical way to celebrate the Lord’s Supper (Communion). I don’t share that conviction, so I’m not prepared to argue this is the “right” thing to do. I just think it’s a “good” thing to do. Why?

Often I have referred to this as an interesting part of our Brethren heritage. But the truth is, there isn’t one person in our church who was born or raised Brethren (including me), and so heritage is not much of a motivating factor—at least not motivating enough to get me to touch peoples’ feet!

But last semester I took a class in ritual studies and began to learn more about what happens when human beings engage in rituals (like this one). I wrote a long, boring, academic paper on Threefold Communion and how/why it is an effective practice for us to continue engaging in today (you’re welcome to take a look at it if you’re into that sort of stuff—just shoot me an email). This is the essence of what I learned:

Human behaviour is filled with rituals. From our Christmas celebrations to going to the mall, you can learn a lot about our real values by examining these rituals closely. When we engage in ritual action, we are learning (and expressing) things at a deep, subconscious level—inscribing it on our bodies, as well as our brains.

Now, think of the kinds of things we might be teaching ourselves when we engage in Threefold Communion. First, the time of reflection is a recognition that none of us is here because we deserve it. By making space to consider our need for forgiveness, we uphold confession as a practice that we need to continually engage in. By spending time in worship, we set this time apart from “regular” life and remind ourselves of the sacredness of this gathering. 

Second, the footwashing, though uncomfortable, embodies many Christian values. In fact, it is because it is uncomfortable that it is powerful—something like fasting, or other “ascetic” practices, that allow us to express our love for God by doing things we wouldn’t normally or naturally do. To force yourself to participate, simply for the sake of Jesus, is a way of training your will to follow Christ even when it’s uncomfortable. To kneel down on the floor in front of someone, for the sake of Christ, is a deep reminder that our posture towards others should always be servanthood. To allow my feet to be washed is a physical, tangible reminder of my connectedness to others in the church, and that I must allow them to meet my needs (something that is much harder for many of us that meeting their needs!).

Third, meals are always sacred signs of fellowship and connection. We sit at the same level, looking at each other as we eat this special meal, a visual reminder that the church is a community of equals. In the body of Christ, every part is important and needed. It is also a reminder that according to the Bible, there will be a great feast at the end of time, where we all eat and drink with Jesus when he comes into his kingdom! 

Finally, taking communion is always a moving ritual. To ingest the bread and juice as a reminder of our deep dependence on Christ is more powerful than simply singing a song or saying a few words of thanks for his sacrifice. We admit with our bodies that we are in need of his grace and nourishment. However, often when we take communion there is a sense that it is “just me and Jesus.” We avoid looking around, and take the bread and cup in our own little world. But to take it around tables is a serious visual reminder that a relationship with Jesus involves his family—there is no such thing as “individual” Christianity. “Communion” is not just with God, our Father, but with our brothers and sisters as well, who share the deep bond of being brought together into a church by the Holy Spirit.

Many people have read the story of the Last Supper. Many have seen paintings or movies that portray it in exquisite detail. But to participate in Threefold Communion is to experience this important event in a way that sinks deeply into our souls. It teaches us—in a way that a sermon never could—values like humility, repentance, equality, unity, mutuality, acceptance, servanthood, dependence, celebration, and hope. It is a spiritual discipline that we practice as a group.

I know it’s weird. I have a confession: I am always awkward and uncomfortable, even after 15 years of participating. Every. Single. Time. But I think there are things that I learn when I push through that discomfort to engage in this ritual that I could not learn any other way. I always come away changed. Now, no one will force you or pressure you to do something you don’t want to do (though they might invite you!). But if you’re a part of MCC, from one chicken to another, I challenge you to attend—and to participate fully and wholeheartedly (even if uncomfortably) and see what God does in your heart.

Jeremy

We have a Threefold Communion Service scheduled for Saturday, March 16, 2019 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. You can RSVP by clicking here.

Our Vision for the Future

Vision is a clear picture of where we believe God is leading. Of course it's never a completely accurate picture, because there are surprises, obstacles, and opportunities that come along that we never could predict. But when a church discerns and communicates a vision, it can bring synergy and clarity to its efforts. Vision helps to unite teams, direct expenditures, allot time, and focus efforts.

This past Sunday we shared our vision for Muskoka Community Church (click here for the handout). It involves a long term vision, to become the hands and feet of Jesus in every community across Muskoka and Almaguin. It involves a short term vision, to get better at making disciples in 2018. It involves some other steps along the way (in the near and distant future), like hiring an additional staff member, working on support systems, launching small groups, and experimenting with different models. And it involves a price tag, which is represented by the budget that Leadership Team presented (click here for the budget handout).

However, the most important part of a vision is not how well-articulated it was, how certain the leaders are, how much it costs, or how many people came to the meeting. The most essential aspect of this kind of vision is buy-in: we need to know that we're all in it together, that the whole congregation is affirming this direction and prepared to do their part to make it happen. We want this vision to be planted in hearts, and come to naturally and persistently bear fruit over the coming months and years.

If you're a part of MCC, we need to know if you're in this with us, so please:

• Take the time to watch the presentation (above), and read through the handouts (if you weren't there on Sunday).
• Pray about what you've heard/read. Ask God to give you a sense of whether this is the direction he has for us, and ask him about the role he has for you to play in it.
• If you have questions, feel free to click here to email them to the Leadership Team (Jeremy, Lynda, Paul, Mike, Mark), or the Finance Team (Mike, Barb), or Jeremy.
• When you have sufficiently thought and prayed, before February 28, please click here to fill out our quick online survey to let us know where you're at, and how you're feeling.

At this point the vision is really just a a draft that we're looking for feedback on. Once we get the affirmation (or correction) of the many people who make up MCC, we will proceed at full speed ahead. Until then, it's on probation, waiting to hear what God's Spirit has to to say through you. Thank you for joining with us in this process!

How People Grow

Churches want to help people grow. I can’t think of any church that would overtly say they want people to attend their services, hear their sermons, participate in their programs, and walk away unchanged. This is one thing most churches are united in—their desire to see their people transformed.

The real question is how to facilitate transformation. When I asked about the stereotypical “churchy” ways that churches try to get people to change, the immediate answer was guilt, followed by fear and a few other negative ideas. Unfortunately, that is often what churches are known for. And while Jesus was in the business of seeing people transformed, he certainly didn’t seem to use guilt as a primary tool.

Take, for example, the story of Zacchaeus in Luke 19:1-10. Though this famously short man was a chief tax collector and wealthy (read in our day, an accomplished swindler and oppressor), Jesus invites himself over to his house for dinner—a gesture of friendship and acceptance. Without guilting him, manipulating him, or threatening him, Zacchaeus experiences a sudden transformation in the way he related to him money. He went from greedy to generous in (seemingly) 6.7 seconds—without any of those "churchy" techniques of manipulation.

There are three shifts we need to make in the way we approach growth:

1.    From Guilt to Grace

Though Jesus wasn’t “soft on sin,” (after all, he called sinners sick and in need of a doctor), he did not lead with guilt or make his main message “you’re not good enough.” His friendship with sinners created an atmosphere in which real transformation could take place. This is true not only at the beginning of our relationship with God, but throughout our lives. Grace is a better motivator for change than guilt. That does not mean that it is unhealthy to feel guilt (or conviction) when we’ve done something wrong. Nor does it mean that there is never a time to confront each other on bad behaviour (see Galatians 6:1). But guilt should not be the primary message or motivator the church uses to help people grow.

2.    From Legalism to Love

When asked what the most important commandments were, Jesus famously replied that they were to love God and love others (see Matthew 22:36-40). God’s desire is (and always has been) for people to love him freely, and to demonstrate that love in their relationships with others (and themselves). The “rules” of Christianity are not the point—they are simply a way to express our love for God. A gardener provides a trellis in order to give a path for the growth of a vine. A trellis does not cause growth, it is not the essence of the plant, it simply shapes it. In the same way, rules are not the essence of what God wants from us, and knowing them certainly does not cause us to grow. However, as love for God and others grows inside of us, the “rules” give clear path on which transformation may grow. Of course, sometimes love pushes us beyond the rules, just like it did with Zacchaeus (who, while legally required only to add 20% to his restitution, offers 400% voluntarily).

3.    From Human Effort to the Holy Spirit

The Bible is not a self-help manual, and the Christian faith is not meant to be undertaken alone. The presence, guidance, and empowerment of the Holy Spirit is absolutely central to transformation in our lives. The Scriptures promise that “he who began a good work in you will carry it on until completion” (Philippians 1:6). Our temptation is to trust less in God’s work inside of us, and more in our own ability to pull ourselves up by our own bootstraps. Paul scolds the Galatian church for slipping into legalism and human effort: “Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?” (Galatians 3:3). He goes on to describe a life of keeping in step (cooperating) with the Spirit, a life that will naturally produce “fruit” like love, joy, patience, peace, etc. We must not forget that the Holy Spirit is in charge of the renovation of our life, and he supplies the plans, the agenda, and the tools to make us into the people he wants us to be. Our job is simply to show up and do the work when and where he asks us to contribute.

You can check out my sermon on this topic here.

Are there other changes churches should make in their approach to helping people transform?

Us vs. Them

A few weeks ago we started a teaching series called “Church Without the Curchiness.” Perhaps not surprisingly, people readily understood what was meant by “churchy”—and it wasn’t good. Most of the words we came up with (such as hypocritical, judgmental, boring, holier-than-thou, etc.) were not words anyone would use to describe Jesus—and they shouldn’t describe his followers, either.

Our first topic in this series had to do with the church’s attitude toward the world around it. “Churchy” postures toward outsiders often fall into one of three categories: hostile, indifferent, or appeasing. Each of these may be rooted in a desire to please God, but they can become distortions that are far from the kind of relationship Jesus had with “outsiders.”

In order to be the kind of church he intended, we need turn away from these “churchy” ways of relating to the world, and toward a more Christ-like posture. We need to shift:

1.     From Hostility to Servanthood

Too often the church views the people in the world around it as the enemy and takes on a posture of hostility toward them. While the New Testament often uses harsh language to describe our relationship with the world (e.g. 1 John 2:15), it is referring to the world’s values and systems, not its people. Jesus’ posture toward the world (people) was not one of enmity, but servanthood. He came to serve (Mark 10:45), which means he came to meet real needs—to benefit others. Of course, the ultimate act of servanthood was giving his life on the cross, but this was not the only way he served. He spent a lot of time working as a carpenter/builder, training disciples, and healing the sick. He earned a reputation as someone who “went around doing good” (Acts 10:38). Far from just a way to kill time until he could get to the real business of dying, servanthood was a way of life that demonstrated the love of God in tangible ways. The church should likewise find ways to “do good,” and benefit the community it finds itself in.

2.     From Indifference to Love

Many churches act as if the outside world doesn’t exist. They rarely engage with secular culture, fail to build relationships with non-Christians, and insulate themselves in the Christian bubble. They schedule their lives so full of “church stuff” that they have no time or emotional energy to interact in any meaningful way with their neighbours, coworkers, or those who live in their town or city. The opposite of love is not hate (which at least carries a sense of passion with it), but apathy. One of the most famous verses in the Bible says that God “loved the world” (John 3:16). Churches are called to emulate that love in a way that is not willing to sit back and watch it “go to hell in a handbasket,” as if it had nothing to do with us. Ignoring the world around us is just not an option.

3.     From appeasing culture to counterculture.

Sometimes churches are tempted to give into the world around them, to take on its, values, morals, worldview, and every whim of society. Sometimes this is a sort of peer pressure (we want to be like everyone else so we can fit in), and sometimes it is an outreach strategy (we want to seem like everyone else so they can hear our message). Either way, the last thing the world around us needs are Christians who live exactly the same lifestyle as everyone else. We are called to be countercultural, to offer an alternative to “the empty way of life handed down from our ancestors” (1 Peter 1:18).

Jesus calls us to be “the light of the world,” (Matt 5:14-16), but too often churches have hidden under a basket—either because they saw the outside world as the enemy, or they were simply content to light up their own little space. To be the kind of bright light Jesus intended, we need to take our place on the lamp stand, and allow our light to be a gift to those around us. We need to “let [our] light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matt 5:16).

ADVENT REFLECTIONS 2016: WEEK ONE

God With Us – To Make Himself Known

The following readings are designed help you slow down, reflect on the meaning of Christmas, and continue to interact with Sunday's message which can be found here.

DAY 1:
Read Isaiah 9:1-7, a prophesy from about 700 years before the birth of Jesus.
What does the passage have to say about the identity of the child that would someday be born?
Reflect on the four descriptive terms: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. How did Jesus fulfill each of these titles?
What were to be the results of this child’s birth? What would change because of him?

DAY 2:
Read John 5:16-30, a piece of a conversation Jesus is having with religious leaders about his rights to heal on the Sabbath day (when work was forbidden).
What does Jesus say about his relationship with the Father?
Jesus talks about two implications of his divine identity: the ability to give life, and the responsibility to judge. How did his subsequent death on the cross add further meaning to what he says here?
Verse 19 describes something like “Simon says” taking place between Jesus and his Father. How closely are you following what God wants you to do? What would happen in your life, our church, and our world if we could do a better job as imitating God’s movements?  

DAY 3:
Read Colossians 1:15-20, part of a letter the apostle Paul wrote to an early church.
What specific things does this passage say about the identity of Jesus? 
What does this passage say about what Jesus came to accomplish? How were his identity & purpose connected?
Think about the tiny newborn lying in the manger 2000 year ago, and read the passage again, reflecting on the miracle of the incarnation.

DAY 4:
Read John 14:5-21, part of Jesus’ farewell speech to his twelve disciples.
What can we learn from this passage about the relationship of Jesus to the Father and to the Spirit?
What do you think Jesus meant when he said those who believed in him would do the works he did, and even greater things? 
Reflect on the last verse in this passage. Has Jesus showed himself to you?

DAY 5:
Read Philippians 2:1-8, in which Paul encourages early Christian’s to imitate the humility of Jesus.
The phrase in v. 7 “he made himself nothing” could also be rendered “he emptied himself.” What do you think this entailed? What did Jesus have to give up in order to become human?
Why is it significant to us that Jesus took on the nature of a servant? How did he demonstrate this?
What have you given up in order to follow Jesus? What have you gained? How might God be calling you to follow in Jesus’ footsteps?