Bring the Gospel to Every Table, Everywhere
When the church is only an event…
The sanctuary becomes a theater.
The people become the audience.
The music becomes the entertainment.
The preaching becomes the keynote.
This perspective is far too common in our modern age. We risk reducing the sacred gathering to a mere event, an experience to consume rather than a communal mission to partake in. But church, in its truest form, is so much more than this.
When church is the people, both gathered and scattered…
The sanctuary, the people, the music, and the preaching transform into vehicles for healing, restoring, equipping, and sending forth disciples. This shift in perspective aligns with the biblical vision of what the church is meant to be: a vibrant community on a divine mission.
Consider the purpose of a car. It isn’t merely to fill it with gas; it’s to journey somewhere. Gas is essential, but it serves a larger purpose. Similarly, the purpose of the church is not merely to fill us with information or inspiration. It’s to equip us to go somewhere—to live on mission, wherever we are.
The Gathering: Preparation for Mission
The gathering of the church is profoundly important. It is a time of worship, learning, and community. But it’s not the whole picture. It’s the prelude to the greater mission: to bring heaven to Earth, to push back darkness wherever we encounter it.
Church isn’t a building. Worship isn’t just music. Prayer isn’t for the experts. Ministry isn’t just for pastors.
These truths remind us that the essence of church goes beyond the confines of our weekly gatherings. Worship is a lifestyle, not a genre of music. Prayer is a conversation with God accessible to all believers, not a ritual reserved for the spiritually elite. Ministry is the work of every Christian, not just those with a title or position. And mission is not an add-on to our lives—it is our life.
From Attending to Being
Church isn’t an event you go to; it’s a family you belong to. This distinction is crucial. We won’t change our world by merely attending church services. We’ll change it by being the church, living out our faith in every aspect of our lives.
Being the church means embodying the love of Christ in our homes, workplaces, and communities. It means serving others selflessly, advocating for justice, and sharing the hope of the gospel. It means living with a sense of purpose and urgency, knowing that we are part of God’s redemptive plan for the world.
Living on Mission
The call to live on mission is not a new concept. It echoes the Great Commission given by Jesus to His disciples: “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20, NIV). This mandate is not confined to the four walls of a church building; it extends to the ends of the earth.
As we gather each week, let us remember that our time together is meant to refuel us for the mission ahead. Let our sanctuaries be places of deep worship and profound encounter with God, but also launching pads that send us out into the world to be the hands and feet of Jesus.
In closing, may we shift our perspective from merely attending church to being the church. Let us embrace our role as a family on mission, committed to living out the gospel in every corner of our lives. In doing so, we will see God’s kingdom come and His will be done on Earth as it is in heaven.
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Books for Worship Leaders
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I grew up in a crowded little home outside Detroit as the oldest of 7 homeschooled ruffians. I belonged to a beautiful community called Fairlane Alliance Church – a Christian and Missionary Alliance church that was passionate about bringing the Gospel to every corner of the planet. It was here that I began to get a glimpse of what God was doing and stirring all over the world as well as our own backyard. It was also here that I was invited to give my first sermon as a terrified 16 year-old. To this day I’m still sure it is the worst sermon ever uttered, but being given that opportunity planted a seed and a love for ministry deep in my heart that God began to grow. As a teenager my plan had always been to move to a warmer coast, study music or psychology, and maybe pick up surfing along the way – but God had other plans. After a long and arduous wrestling match with God, I eventually ended up listening to his call and moved to Judson University in Elgin Illinois in 2003 to study Youth Ministry and Adolescent Studies. My time there was both rich and difficult, experiencing the highs and lows of “in the trenches” local church ministry – but God continued to cultivate the seed he had planted years before. In 2006 I spent the summer serving in the poorest communities of northern India – a trip that would forever change my life in ways I never could have imagined and upon my return I began as the Pastor of Student Ministries at a wonderful community called Poplar Creek Church. The next few years our church faced some of the greatest difficulty imaginable. In 2010 we were without a Lead Pastor, attendance had plummeted, and our Stewardship Committee predicted six-months to total bankruptcy. It was in the eye of that storm that the leadership asked if I would prayerfully consider taking on the role. Despite my lack of experience (or a decent haircut), God began to cultivate that seed once again and I stepped into the role of Lead Pastor. The following six years were truly remarkable. We saw God move in ways I had only dreamt of and he has only further grown and cultivated my love for him and people. Our church became a family that deeply cared for others and pursued God with their whole lives. Two years into this role I met a beautiful woman on Sunday named Katie who would become the love of my life. In 2016 we got married and began new role as Teaching Pastor at Community Christian Church in Chicagoland. Two years later I began hosting a radio show called The Common Good on AM1160 (WYLL) In 2021, we felt God leading us again and now serve as Lead Pastor of Teaching and Vision at a wonderful church called The Bridge just outside of Nashville, TN. We also have three amazing young boys, Owen, Redmond, and Ezra.