Building a Gospel Movement in Indianapolis

The Christ Community Midtown site is now 10 weeks underway. It seems like yesterday when we launched. One of the things I have learned over the past several weeks is the importance of identity. Who we are (our identity) will determine what we do. This principle is foundational to the Bible. With each book, there is an effort to shape the identity of the church. For example, in Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, he is working to bring unity to a diverse community. Why? It is because each believer is part of one body under the headship of Christ (1 Cor. 12:12-31). In the same letter, Paul instructs the church to worship the one true God. Why? So that the church would be secure and not fear threats from idols, which have no real power (1 Cor. 8). 

These truths affect how we live and make decisions. So, who is Midtown? Each week there is an element of surprise—of experimenting and trying new things. Some of our experiments include introducing gospel music and rap into our worship service. Our mission statement: “Building a gospel movement through missional discipleship” has guided us thus far, and God continues to reveal what this means in our context. We are striving for a gospel movement that is multi-ethnic and multi-cultural. We are multi-ethnic because African Americans and Anglos make up a significant part of our congregation, and we are multi-cultural because our diversity is not simply color but background. I am reminded of what Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. once said: "It is appalling that the most segregated hour of Christian America is eleven o'clock on Sunday morning." We hope to overcome this cultural crisis and prove to be a diverse community that truly reflects the unity we have in Christ (Eph. 2:12-13).

Why Work?

Dorothy Sayers, a renowned English crime writer, poet, playwright, essayist, and Christian author, wrote a helpful essay on the topic of work. This is a must read for all who struggle to view work as fulfilling God's mission! 

The first paragraph...

I have already, on a previous occasion, spoken at some length on the subject of Work and Vocation.  What I urged then was a thoroughgoing revolution in our whole attitude to work. I asked that it should be looked upon, not as a necessary drudgery to be undergone for the purpose of making money, but as a way of life in which the nature of man should find its proper exercise and delight and so fulfill itself to the glory of God.  That it should, in fact, be thought of as a creative activity undertaken for the love of the work itself; and that man, made in God’s image, should make things, as God makes them, for the sake of doing well a thing that is well worth doing.

Read the entire essay here.

A response from the faculty at Covenant Seminary regarding the "International Burn a Koran Day":

“Because the Florida church identifies itself as ‘evangelical’ we have felt it very important to differentiate ourselves as ‘evangelicals’ who need to take a very different approach that is in accord with biblical principles.  We have tried to make a hallmark of Covenant Seminary honoring the biblical instruction, ‘always be ready to give a reason for the hope that is in you, but do so with gentleness and respect’ (1 Pet. 3:15).  For this reason, I am thankful that our faculty has drafted the attached letter that will be mailed to the Florida church leadership stating what we believe should be said regarding this response to the challenges of Islam in our culture and world.  This letter will also be shared with local Islamic leaders to indicate that many in the church of Jesus Christ do not endorse the actions or attitudes of this Florida church. Our hope is to state the distinctives of our faith while also providing a credible witness to it.”

Read entire letter here.

The Bible Is Not Basically about You

Click here The Bible Is Not Basically about You

Jesus is the true and better Adam who passed the test in the garden and whose obedience is imputed to us.

Jesus is the true and better Abel who, though innocently slain, has blood now that cries out, not for our condemnation, but for acquittal.

Jesus is the true and better Abraham who answered the call of God to leave all the comfortable and familiar and go out into the void not knowing wither he went to create a new people of God.

Jesus is the true and better Isaac who was not just offered up by his father on the mount but was truly sacrificed for us. And when God said to Abraham, “Now I know you love me because you did not withhold your son, your only son whom you love from me,” now we can look at God taking his son up the mountain and sacrificing him and say, “Now we know that you love us because you did not withhold your son, your only son, whom you love from us.”

Jesus is the true and better Jacob who wrestled and took the blow of justice we deserved, so we, like Jacob, only receive the wounds of grace to wake us up and discipline us.

Jesus is the true and better Joseph who, at the right hand of the king, forgives those who betrayed and sold him and uses his new power to save them.

Jesus is the true and better Moses who stands in the gap between the people and the Lord and who mediates a new covenant.

Jesus is the true and better Rock of Moses who, struck with the rod of God’s justice, now gives us water in the desert.

Jesus is the true and better Job, the truly innocent sufferer, who then intercedes for and saves his stupid friends.

Jesus is the true and better David whose victory becomes his people’s victory, though they never lifted a stone to accomplish it themselves.

Jesus is the true and better Esther who didn’t just risk leaving an earthly palace but lost the ultimate and heavenly one, who didn’t just risk his life, but gave his life to save his people.

Jesus is the true and better Jonah who was cast out into the storm so that we could be brought in.

Jesus is the real Rock of Moses, the real Passover Lamb, innocent, perfect, helpless, slain so the angel of death will pass over us. He’s the true temple, the true prophet, the true priest, the true king, the true sacrifice, the true lamb, the true light, the true bread.

The Bible’s really not about you—it’s about him.

Indy Project

I am looking forward to spending the summer with the college students from Christ Community Church, Campus Outreach at IUPUI, and all other students who will be living in Indianapolis. Please join us in the basement of Trinity Church in the heart of Broad Ripple to learn more about our theme "Who is Jesus?"

All the information you need is below. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or leave a comment.

Importance of Word and Deed Ministry

This is a helpful article on word and deed ministry -- it will be well worth your while. It is this kind of balanced perspective that has shaped my view of ministry. Evangelism and mercy are a powerful and necessary combination!

“Mercy and evangelism are like smoke and fire—where one is, the other must be near.” Tim Keller

“Mercy ministry goes hand in hand with the ministry of the word in spreading the kingdom of Jesus Christ...Mercy has impact. It melts hearts. It removes objections. It forces respect out of even those hostile to the gospel.”

Read the whole article Doing Mercy

Our New House

We are looking forward to moving into our new house next Saturday. It has been taken care of and mostly remodeled. For a 1922 home, it is in pretty good condition.

It's going to be nice to sit out on the front porch with the family and get to know our neighbors.

That's a nice size yard for a city lot. A vegetable garden will fit perfectly in the back, and the kids will still have plenty of room to run around.

Old Testament Expert Gives Lecture on Suffering

My Old Testament professor (Jay Sklar) at Covenant Seminary gave a lecture to students on the difficult issue of suffering. Below is an article summarizing his lecture.

Sklar opened the discussion with the five questions people ask when discussing God and suffering. The questions he hoped to answer or clarify for the audience were: What do we mean by evil? Does the presence of evil prove that there is no God? How is evil a problem for atheists? How does the fact that God himself dealt with or experienced evil help us deal with this issue? Where does the story end?

Sklar first discussed the two types of evil he believes are present in the world - the type that we cause ourselves but want to blame someone else for and the type that we have no control over. He also touched on another type of evil that deals with simply not liking something or some situation. 

Read the full article http://www.webujournal.com/home/index.cfm?event=displayArticle&ustory_id=910c1b1d-1399-411e-bdc1-11e0ff7b5f59

Can Politics Change Our World?

A helpful word from Pastor Tullian about transforming culture: 

Given the recent uproar in Washington this past week, I thought it might be helpful to post a short section from my book Unfashionable regarding the role of politics and cultural change. Wherever you might land politically, it’s helpful for all Christians to remember that the Kingdom of God is not flying in on Air Force One. 

Read the full post http://www.crpc.org/blog/?p=806

Christian Fear and Health Care

A timely word from Russell Moore:

If we were half as outraged by our own sin and self-deception as we are by the follies of our political opponents, what would be the result?

If we rejoiced as much that our names are written in heaven as we do about such trivialities as basketball brackets, what would be the result?

So if what you’re afraid of is a politician or a policy or a culture or the future of Western civilization, don’t give up the conviction but give up the fear.

Work for justice. Oppose evil. But do it so that your opponents will see not fear but trust, optimism, and affection.

Read the full article here http://www.russellmoore.com/2010/03/22/dont-be-afraid/

Location for New Site

This is the location where the new Christ Community site is going to worship in August 2010 (6151 Central Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46220). Trinity Church has been kind enough to offer their facility when it is not in use, which also includes office space for me. We are deeply grateful for their welcoming us to the community. Our services will be held on Sunday evenings (time not yet determined). Some have shared that they would like to barbecue on Sunday afternoons to meet people in the community and fellowship, then head over to the church for our service.

Is cultural transformation a legitimate goal for the church?

Tim Keller’s response:

1) I believe what Abraham Kuyper says about sphere sovereignty. It is my job (as a pastor) to disciple people so that they know how to go into the world to work out of a Christian worldview, which is automatically going to help them to be salt and light and to lead to some kind of cultural change. It has to. It is not my job to start an art gallery or film production company. It is my job (as the pastor) to preach the Word, to administer the sacraments, and exercise discipline. In the process, I disciple people to go out into the world and do those kinds of things that lead to cultural change.

“In the total expanse of human life there is not a single square inch of which the Christ, who alone is sovereign, does not declare, 'That is mine!' Abraham Kuyper

2) Do you think it was a good thing for our culture to abolish slavery? Do you think that it got us a little bit closer to conformity with what God’s will is for human society?

“If you cannot help people (with their particular concerns, challenges, questions), then you do not know how to disciple. You only know how to bring them out of their worlds into your church.” Tim Keller

What are your thoughts? How can you trust God to use your gifts and calling to elicit social change by advancing the Kingdom of God?