Clarity, Focus, Alignment

In a few minutes, the church buildings will spring to life. Earlier in the day, the home schooler network had packed the classrooms with kids learning the Classics. There's an afternoon lull before New Hope picks up with our Wednesday night activities.

A lull. A brief period of inactivity.

Maybe too brief.

How much of what we do in our regular routines help people learn to love Jesus and in doing that - follow Him?

Let me be clear. I am saying that before anyone can go and tell, they need to come to love Jesus and learn to come and follow Him. What we do then needs to be geared toward helping people move in that direction. And yet, many Baptist churches spend a large percentage of time doing just the opposite - training people to come and SIT. As if.

We're really going to spend some time praying about how clear our purpose is, and how well we are focusing our energies and resources toward that effort. We may very well drop some things and add others, or move activities to different times or days when they compliment each other rather than taking away.

So a lull may be just what we need before we spring into action.

Religion vs the Gospel

• The Bible has nothing kind to say about religion. Religion doesn't understand the Gospel.
• Religion says, "If you obey, God will love you." The Gospel says, "Because God loves you, you can obey."
• Religion is about what I do. The Gospel is about what Jesus has done. "It is finished."
• Religion is about what we get from God. The Gospel is about getting God.
• Religion sees hardship has punishment. The Gospel recognizes there can be good fruit out of hardship and suffering. It's called sanctification. "Jesus was made perfect through his suffering."
• Religion is about me. The Gospel is about Jesus.
• - Mark Driscoll