Jesus Driven Church, part 2
In Jesus Driven Church, part 1, we related this writing to one of the ftop five factors in “Comeback Churches” by Ed Stetzer and Mike Dodson - “Renewed Belief in Jesus Christ and the Mission of the Church.” One way to move your church toward being Jesus Driven is to preach a sermon series around Jesus. I did sermon series that highlighted who and how Jesus met people along the way and emphasized that we can do that too.
“I’ve Just Met Jesus”
“Surprised by Acceptance” – Luke 19:1-10
“The Love Story” – Luke 7:36-50
“Hide and Seek” - John 4:1-30
“Excuse Me” - Mark 5:21-43
“Do You See Anything?” - Mark 8:22-26
“Mary, Mary – Martha, Martha” - Luke10:39-42
“Hope for the Hopeless” - John 3:16
Our congregation needs to find their “first love” again for Jesus. Seeing Jesus in action helps us demonstrate attitudes, behaviors, and strategies of Jesus.
We must always remember that we can lead no one any further than we have gone before. Jeremiah 29:13 says, “You will seek and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength”….’Love your neighbor as ourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:30-31) Until we are ready to be connected regularly and tightly to Jesus, it is impossible to lead a congregation to be Jesus Driven.
I have started reading Kevin Harney’s book “Leadership from the Inside Out”. His first chapter looks at The Leader’s Heart and says, “We are building healthy lives and ministries when we make sure that God rules supreme and that our hearts are beating passionately for him. When his glory is our joy, when our hearts beat with his, when he rules with no rivals, we grow healthy as leaders” and can influence others along the way. “As leaders, connecting with God more intentionally and intimately is our starting point; it is the foundation for all we do in ministry. When we fall more deeply in love with God with each passing day, all of our lives are driven by this simple reality: God loves me and I love God.”
Kevin Harney also says, “I fix my eyes on Jesus and remember how he served, loved and sacrificed himself for the very people whose sin put him on the cross. Jesus understood that an authentic relationship with God leads to a deep love for people. When we forget Jesus’ words and just seek to do the work of ministry, we can disregard the fact that people matter to God.” If we want a Jesus Driven Church, we have to pattern our lives in the messy and dangerous business of loving people, sacrificing, and risking injury as Jesus did. We must be transparent with the congregation so they can start to see a glimpse of Jesus and foster his ways of service and ministry.
When you were dating and found the one you loved, what actions did you take? Did you contact her? Did you want to spend time with her? Did you plan activities to be together? When you were apart, did you get creative to find ways to connect with each other? When you think about your love for God or Jesus, what are you doing to stay connected with him? How much time do you spend with him? Do you go out of your way to be with him? Do you read his writings to you? When you talk to God or Jesus, do you wait to hear what he has to say? Is it a monologue or dialogue? A Jesus Driven Church begins with you and me loving Jesus.
“O How He Loves You and Me!”