Institutionalism is problematic in the church and we spoke to that last week. As pastors, it is vital that we own this and repent for cooperating with crippling the church through the commercialization of the Gospel.
A.W. Tozer was friends with a fellow preacher, Tom Haire. After a deep encounter relationally together Tozer said, “I guess you’ll travel back to Ireland to continue your preaching engagements.” “No,” Tom replied. “I’m canceling all appointments for the next six months to spend that time preparing for the judgement seat of Christ while I can still do something about it.”
We will answer to God for neglect in the church and teachers will be judged more strictly, but we will all face this judgment of our works. There is a judgment for salvation (John 5:24) where works cannot be our response, only grace. There is also a judgment of works (2 Corinthians 5:10) where grace cannot be our response, only works.
Institutionalism is a cancer, but so is individualism! As Christians, it is vital that we own this and repent for cooperating with crippling the church through the individualization of the Gospel. If you can’t find a group of people that works for you then start a group of people, at least for this next season of the church! GET AROUND A TABLE RELATIONALLY, PLEASE! You will miss out on something God desires to do in your life and in your legacy if you neglect this important revelation.
Philippians 2:1-9 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. 5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name… ESV
Philippians 2:2-3 “Love each other, be deep-spirited friends… put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. MSG
Deep spirited friendship speaks of relationships that have eternal value because they are spiritually enriched. God’s plan is for us to know the life-giving connection we have with Him AND the life-giving connection He has purposed for us to have with others.
Ark of the Covenant in the Most Holy Place we see where the Shekinah glory was manifest over the mercy seat between 2 angels facing each other.
By God’s design, His glory is revealed in this face-to-face conversational posture. This gives new meaning to God’s promise when two of us gather in His name, He is there with us. There is glory in the conversation
When I’m having a conversation with you, I find myself face to face with the image of God.
Start now! Don’t wait! GO BE CHURCH!
Everywhere we go we bring God’s presence to real life:
GP2RL: Come to the table with others exploring a deeper place of worship this week by making a simple relational effort to know God’s heart together.
TABLE CONVERSATION:
The church is called to worship God, not just personally but together. Describe how you worship personally. (Music, reading, praying, thanksgiving, etc.) What are some ways to worship God to grow together spiritually in addition to attending church?
THE ROARING TWENTIES:
On Feb 2nd, 2020 = 02/02/2020 Tracy declared a word that was clearly a word from God. She announced that we had not only entered into the year 2020 but we were entering the Roaring Twenties. As we prayed into this, we realized the roaring 20’s will be a time when the roaring Lion of the Tribe of Judah is awakening the roar of God in the body of Christ.
On March 31st, 2023 the Lord revealed that the bride of Christ was experiencing a gestation of a promise within her that was like a pregnancy about to enter the next trimester. If you divide a decade into three parts the parts are 3 years and 4 months. This word came the day before the final month of the first trimester. Interestingly we previously felt the Lord was directing us to have a worship night on 4/3/23, the final evening of this first trimester.
In pregnancy it is common to wait until the second trimester to make any kind of announcement. It is now time for the announcement! The Roaring Twenties speaks of an apostolic grace that has come to the church. Ezekiel 1 speaks of the four faces of God and aligns with the five-fold ministry gifts in Ephesians 4. The face of the Eagle speaks of the Prophet. The face of the Ox speaks of the Evangelist. The face of the man speaks of the “Pastor and Teacher”. The face of the Lion speaks of the Apostle.
These Roaring 20’s are about the awakening of the Apostolic Grace in the body of Christ. I believe we’ve entered into the modern-day era of an awakening of this apostolic grace. God is awakening the apostolic roar of the Lion of the Tribe of Judah in his church. Gestation is taking place!
As a mom enters her 2nd trimester, we find interesting parallels: The worst of her symptoms begin to subside. (Anybody have a rough time in the first trimester of this decade?) The nausea will lessen more and more. (That which has caused anguish in the beginning will start to go away)
A small baby bump is beginning to show. (The announcement has been made and the apostolic evidence will be revealed more and more). If you’ve been feeling the urge to pee more often, that should stop as the womb moves away from your bladder. (There is a separation of that which is waste and that which is life).
Meanwhile, there’s a lot more blood pumping around your pelvic area and some women find that it increases their sex drive. (Intimacy with God is increasing). It could also make you feel thirstier, so drink lots of water. (The water of the Word is essential to this season of growth, development and advancement.)
Nourishment is vital to the life of the baby. Also, it is important that you limit or eliminate some things you may normally have taken in. This is why God was directing us BACK TO THE TABLE in this season.
We must nourish the pregnant bride very intentionally. Some things we used to eat and drink we no longer eat and drink. Clothing that used to fit will no longer fit. (David couldn’t wear Saul’s armor). The hours you sleep begin to change, waking in the night more frequently. (Wake early to pray and “pray attention” when you wake in the night). It is common to experience blurry vision in the first trimester. (Clarity of vision is just ahead). The word apostle means “one who is sent out.” This apostolic grace on the church is the commission to Go Be Church!
GO BE CHURCH - MOBILIZING THE TABLE
Conversationally Enriched
DISCUSSION GUIDE
Click here for a downloadable PDF file of this guide.
UNDERSTANDING THE SEASON: A shared meal could be the activity most closely tied to the reality of God’s kingdom, just as it is the most basic expression of hospitality. It comes as no surprise that many significant stories of Jesus are centered around a dinner table.
When Jesus wanted to explain to His disciples what His death was all about, He didn’t give them an informative lecture. He gave them a relational meal.
In a society that has grown so relationally disconnected, an invitation to Biblical hospitality might be one of the most compelling and irresistible aspects of Christianity. The heart of hospitality is about creating space for someone to feel seen and heard and loved. It’s about declaring your table a safe zone, a place of warmth and nourishment.
Great encouragement comes from rehearsing God’s Word. It is God’s plan for us to spend time drawing close to His heart and hearing His voice together as a family. This is why we start each meeting with this question first:
DISCUSSION QUESTION:
1. Where are you reading in your Bible and what are you sensing from God?
Ask each person in your group to answer the discussion questions below after reading the verses. Realize there is great power in just reading the Bible together and allowing the Holy Spirit to awaken his conversational nature in the group.
Philippians 2:1-9 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. 5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name… ESV
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
2. Have each person give a 60 second summary of what these verses are saying, in their own words.
3. What do these verses say to us about God and about people?
4. What should you do this week in response to what we are reading and what God is revealing?
5. We’ve been asked to come to the table with others exploring a deeper place of worship this week by making a simple relational effort to know God’s heart together. Who will you reach out to for a table conversation around the following idea? Let’s share next week how this went.
Everywhere we go, we bring...
GP2RL: Come to the table with others exploring a deeper place of worship this week by making a simple relational effort to know God’s heart together.
TABLE CONVERSATION:
The church is called to worship God, not just personally but together. Describe how you worship personally. (Music, reading, praying, thanksgiving, etc.) What are some ways to worship God to grow together spiritually in addition to attending church?