Pastor’s Open Mic

Augustana Congregation votes overwhelmingly to sell building to HCC!!!

Impacting a City!

Three Groups Of Hopesters

Un Churched

Lieutenant Dan: Have you found Jesus yet, Gump?

Un Churched Lieutenant Dan: Have you found Jesus yet, Gump? Forrest: I didn’t know I was supposed to be looking for him, sir.

Have you found Jesus yet? Romans 10: But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame." 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

De Churched

Possible reasons for being De-Churched #1 – Relational/Transformational Reasons

“I can’t meet anyone.”

“It’s too hard to get anything done.”

“I don’t trust them.”

“GET REAL!”

De Churched Possible reasons for being De-Churched #1 – Relational Reasons #2 – Missional Reasons

Not enough _______________ Para Church

Not enough evangelism 2 Timothy 4:5 “ Do the work of an evangelist!”

Not enough evangelism

Not enough justice Isaiah 1:17 “ Seek justice, rescue the oppressed.”

Not enough justice

Not enough compassion Isaiah 1:17 “Defend the orphan, plead for the widow.”

Not enough compassion

De Churched Possible reasons for being De-Churched #1 – Relational Reasons #2 – Missional Reasons #3 – Theological Reasons

De Churched #3 – Theological Reasons

De Churched #3 – Theological Reasons

De Churched #3 – Theological Reasons

De Churched I attended the third service last week, on Moving Forward from False Intimacy, because my friend told me it would be a good service for me to attend. I had grand hopes for the topic, and was a little disappointed when the answer to all my “problems” ended up being the gospel. I say that a little tongue in cheek, but only a little. The gospel is too easy, and too difficult, to be a solution.

De Churched I was raised in the church, became a Christian 17 years ago, and have struggled with sexual sin from the beginning. Last year I decided that I no longer wanted to be a part of a traditional reformed church because it seemed to me like the people who attended were all about saying and doing the right things, being very intellectual about their faith, without dealing with the realities of an ugly, messy life.

De Churched Most recently—and this is going to sound very crude so I will apologize in advance—I told my friend, “I don’t care any more. God is never going to heal me, and I am never going to be able to trust my feelings, so rather than hope for a real and pure relationship, I will just remain happily single and [have sex] when I want to. That way, I will just have this side of my life that is separate from the rest.”

De Churched That’s pretty easy to do at a church that doesn’t challenge you. But I don’t think I could attend Hope and reconcile what I hear with what I do.

Over Churched

Revelation 2:2-5a 2 ‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. 3 I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. 4 But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first.’ Over Churched

Christ & The Church

Colossians 1: He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

Colossians 1: And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister. Christ & The Church

Gospel Application

Is the Gospel everything for you today?

Gospel Application Is the Gospel everything for you today? As you look around at this Motley Crue - called the Church - are you excited to do life together?

Gospel Application Is the Gospel everything for you today? As you look around at this Motley Crue - called the Church - are you excited to do life together? Are you asking how God might use you within Hope to help impact a city?