“When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. ‘Do you understand what I have done for you?’ he asked them. ‘You call me Teacher and Lord, and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you'” (John 13:12-15).

I have a friend who is an amazing encouragement to me. Every time I am with him, I feel encouraged. Every time I am with him, he makes me want to be a better person and a better Christian.

A while back we were attending the Leadership Summit conference at Willow Creek Church in Chicago. There were about 10,000 pastors and leaders from all around the world at Willow. During the breaks, we would all make a mad dash for the restrooms. The Leadership Summit is about the only place I know – besides football games and rock concerts – where a guy has to wait to go to the bathroom.

During the breaks, we would all make a mad dash to the restrooms and wait in line. There would be lines 30-50 people deep waiting to use the men’s room. Every time we would use the restroom and wash our hands, I would observe my friend taking the extra time to wipe down the sink with the paper towel. I never asked him why he did that, but I don’t need to.

The reason why my friend did that – and why he was always an encouragement to me, why he always took the time to thank the waiter in the restaurant, acknowledged the guy who served our coffee, greeted the greeter at the hotel, etc. – is because his goal in life is to be like Jesus.

He wanted to make wherever he was a better place because he had been there.

And the reason why he lives his life like this is because that’s how Jesus lived his life.

Could you imagine if all Christians lived with this simple philosophy – making the world a better place than we found it?

Should Christians live our lives like that, there wouldn’t be such a need for apologetics. Christians would be the best reason for others to come to love Jesus Christ.

So you know what I find myself doing now? I am wiping down the sink in public places, taking the extra time to greet and thank the people serving and helping, doing my best to be like my friend – because he’s so much like Jesus Christ.

Eugene Peterson writes in Practice Resurrection, “Many Christians find church to be the most difficult aspect of being a Christian.”

I share this quote for a couple of reasons.

First, because this statement is true. No one who has spent any time in any church can deny the truth of this statement. Some of us still carry around the scars and wounds from our time in church.

Second, I share this quote as an encouragement.

Encouragement?!?! How is this word encouraging?

I’m glad you asked.

The church is far from perfect. And the good news is that the Bible never said that the church would be a perfect place. The only thing that God promised in giving to us the church was that the church would be a place where selfish sinners can gather to belong, to work together for a common cause and goal, where when the church begins living as she has been called to live, can be a light in a dark world.

There is no better place for folks like you and me to be than in a church that is practicing resurrection life together. And as long as we are pursuing the goals and vision of Jesus Christ – as long as it’s not the pastor’s vision, or the elders’ or deacons’ vision, or the goals of any particular individual or person – as long as it’s Christ’s vision and mission, that church is salt and light.

But that’s the key isn’t it? It’s got to be Christ’s agenda. It’s got to be about the ministry and the mission of Jesus Christ.

So what is Jesus all about?

Jesus is all about reconciling sinners to himself. And reconciliation happens in two primary ways:
1) as sinners become Christ-followers – Growing new Christians
2) as Christ-followers begin resembling Jesus – Growing faithful disciples of Jesus Christ who share the love of Jesus with all people

The church never claims to be perfect. The church will never be. At least not until Christ returns.

But, when the church starts growing new Christians and growing faithful disciples who shares the love of Jesus with all people, and makes this her only priority:

• people get saved
• people start growing up
• people start serving
• people start living life with purpose and passion
• people start healing up
• lives get changed
• the world gets changed

And through all this God gets the glory!

The church is far from perfect. But, there is no better place for sinners like you and me to gather. Because when we’re all about the ministry of Jesus Christ to Grow new Christians and Grow faithful disciples who share the love of Jesus with all people, the church begins breaking through the darkness to start shining the light of Jesus Christ.

Thank God for the church!

Transformers, more than meets the eye.

Transformers, robots in disguise.

What is so intriguing about Transformers is that a Transformer is an ordinary thing like a car, or a plane, or truck and it transforms into something quite extraordinary. And the craziest thing about this whole transformation is that nothing at the core has changed. In its core, its still the same car or plane or truck, but by merely reorganizing what’s already there, something extraordinary shows up.

I think that’s what happens to congregations when God is at work. God takes whatever is already there, and when that congregation gives herself over to Jesus Christ, God transforms ordinary John’s, Lucy’s, Bill’s, and Judy’s and transforms them to do extraordinary things for the Kingdom.

The thing that is different about a congregation going through transformation versus your average church is that the things that move and touch the heart of God become the primary focus of that congregation.

• Grow new christians – Make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit
• Grow faithful disciples – teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.
• Who share the love of Jesus with all people – Let your light shine before others so that when they see your good works they will glorify the Father who is in heaven

A congregation who makes growing new christians and growing faithful disciples its priority is one that is growing in impact:

• in new members
• and in members committed to growing up as faithful disciples of Jesus Christ.

Guess what? God is at work through the Little Church and Lakewoodgrace!!! I can’t wait to see all that God will do through you.