tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413646940649564688.post8462564544736089503..comments2010-05-25T16:15:09.271-06:00Comments on Regeneration: Ch. 3 – Responding to the Commission of JesusBVC Regenerationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01796847213594927338noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413646940649564688.post-45135897096272740802008-02-02T08:32:00.000-07:002008-02-02T08:32:00.000-07:00Great point Chris, taking action when and after we...Great point Chris, taking action when and after we pray for God's will and direction and seeing His vision.<BR/><BR/>Why do you think most people don't take action? Would it be because they feel they don't have what it takes to do the job? or that maybe someone else will come and do it? or that they think they are the prayer-people, or gifted in that way and God will enable others to act on their gifts? It's an interesting concept to think about.<BR/><BR/>As James says in 1:22 "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says."<BR/><BR/>To explore a little further: as we think on reaching the community in Lakewood, what expectations do you see arising? Many of them aren't on the surface to be recognized right away.Hollyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12656487289183322585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413646940649564688.post-71037927033092792692008-02-01T15:18:00.000-07:002008-02-01T15:18:00.000-07:00I think the comments on this chapter about it bein...I think the comments on this chapter about it being about God's mission and not our preferences is the general point. It is pretty simple and I think Holly's remark about having not just a vision, but concrete realistic expections of what that looks like is excellent, and worth exploring in greater detail.<BR/><BR/>I think prayer is an important part and I honestly don't do enough. I am a much better public/group prayer than as an individual (much of that has to do with my struggles and hurts). Regardless, I learned something helpful in the last year in regard to prayer. Often times the means by which God wants the prayer answered is through us. I think those older churches that broke the code, did not just pray, but responded to God's heart through prayer and action. Sometimes I feel like calls to pray are not adequately followed by action, as if God will magically bring people to church when they pray but have done nothing different. I have heard so many prayers for "revival" at church over the years it is beginning to drive me nuts. Matter fact, I am pretty sure many of the prophets scorned God's people for crying out to him, but not changing what they do.<BR/><BR/>The missing piece is not just praying God will reach them, but that we will listen to how he wants us to reach them, and then DO IT. It reminds me of Jesus' teaching on the sower and the seed. The seed really produces fruit when the soil is in the best conditions. Although he doesn't talk about it, and indeed God causes it to grow, but maybe we need to work the soil? This is all great discussion but at the end of the day I think we are at the stage of farmers hanging out in the convenience store/McDonald's/coffee shop during the winter making plans for how they will work the soil in the spring, and then praying and planning for a harvest in the fall.Chris Tennyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04412726550661378477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413646940649564688.post-33659291508650654582008-02-01T11:23:00.000-07:002008-02-01T11:23:00.000-07:00The quote that resonates with me in Chapter 3 is t...The quote that resonates with me in Chapter 3 is this: "Disciples faced the challenge to move from hiding to engaging their community for the sake of the gospel." (pg. 30 and it's followed a little later with this "With that one command (Jn. 20:19-21) Jesus announced two thousand years of direction for the church... We are exhorted to be on mission where God has placed us now, and our job is to "break the code" wherever we are." (pg. 31)<BR/><BR/>I think another thing which should be looked at as we contemplate our preferences, are our expectations for the vision of engaging our community. I've seen more pastors, small group leaders, missionaries, etc get discouraged and burn out because their expectations were different than the reality that occurred while moving toward the vision God enabled in the first place.Hollyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12656487289183322585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413646940649564688.post-7633817042377769892008-02-01T11:22:00.000-07:002008-02-01T11:22:00.000-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Hollyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12656487289183322585noreply@blogger.com