How are we doing?

On his blog site, Todd Rhoades showed this cartoon under the title The Instructions of Jesus.  It got me thinking in terms of building Life Bridges through the instructions Jesus gives us as his followers.  

Every Wednesday night a group of about 15-20 people gather with me and my wife in our home.  We recently began this group, not for the reason of fellowship (although that takes place); not for the reason of Bible study (although much scripture is read); and not for the reason of planting a church.  

No, the reason we meet came out of a common desire to pray about being completely sold out to the instructions of God; about being THE Church in our world rather than just A church on a corner.  We agreed to come together without any predetermined mindsets, and simply look to God for how that played out in our personal lives, and our corporate lives as The Church!  

To be quite honest, it's been refreshing!  Because, as the cartoon by Mr. Hayward suggests, those of us in the western world, who call ourselves disciples (The Church), haven't exactly been the greatest witness to the instructions and teachings of Christ.  If you don't believe that, then just ask those who carefully watch us on a daily basis!  (Or read UnChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks about Christianity...and Why It Matters by Kinnaman and Lyons.  They did)!  

With that said...this prayer group gets it!  They know when man works, man works.  But when man prays, God works.  And God is working!  In fact, in the church I serve, I have to say the vast majority of those who worship and serve along side each other, get it!  They are understanding that God instructs and equips them to be his witness to a world that is dying of hunger, disease, poverty, injustice, and ignorance of Christ.  I think they would do anything necessary to bring Christ to others in tangible and affective ways.  I think most would sacrifice and give of themselves so God is glorified in the world!  

So how would I answer the question: How Are We Doing?  Well, here at Central, I would give us an 7 on a scale of 10.  How is this new prayer team doing?  I would give them an 8.  We're doing some great things for the glory of God, beginning with prayer and praise!  However, we can't rest on that! We need to continuously check ourselves with the How Are We Doing question, and the question David Platt asks in his book Radical:

  

"How can we in the church best unleash 

the People of God 

in the Spirit of God 

with the Word of God 

for the Glory of God in the world?"

So, tell me:  How are you doing?  How is your fellowship of followers doing? How is the Western Church doing?  Maybe it's time that we all get on our knees without any agenda except to completely (and without reservations) obey the instructions of God!  It could be refreshing!

A Humble Servant!

Greg