Good Soil

The parables of Jesus are amazing. It seems that the more life experience we gain the more profound and richer his teachings become. This is especially true when we earnestly seek first his kingdom. Jesus often used parables as a relevant and effective way to clarify his teachings. His parables also included hidden meanings intended for the hearts of sincere followers. The Parable of The Sower is one such parable.

This brilliant parable is recorded in all three synoptic gospels (Matthew 13:3-23, Mark 4:3-20 & Luke 8:5-15). In this parable, Jesus illustrates the response of four types of people to the word of God. The word of God is illustrated as seed scattered along the path, on the rock, among the thorns and lastly on good soil. Only the seed planted in good soil produces a crop. This parable sheds light on our hearts. Christ Followers with "good and noble hearts" will grow in truth, persevere and produce a crop.

In his book Crazy Love, Francis Chan says this "I think most American churchgoers are the soil that chokes the seed because of all the thorns. Thorns are anything that distracts us from God. When we want God and a bunch of other stuff, then that means we have thorns in our soil. A relationship with God simply cannot grow when money, sins, activities, favorite sports teams, addictions or commitments are piled on top of it."

We are planting Longleaf Church in good soil. I am so encouraged by the hearts of the people that OWN our vision. Planting a church is journey for people that understand the spread of the gospel of Jesus Christ is not a building or a bunch of church programs, it's a passionate movement of people. Church is not something that we do but rather it's something that we are. Change is coming. Hearts will turn. Families will be strengthened and people will be led into a growing a relationship with Jesus Christ across Central Georgia because his word is being planted on good soil......

Unleashed

I am looking forward to our 2/42 gathering tonight. It's so cool that a relational culture already exists at the core of our faith movement (Longleaf Church). It's awesome to consider our future, a church of Small Groups where disconnected people move from rows to circles and "do life together." Small Groups are environments where people experience accountability, belonging and care. Community Groups (Small Groups for adults) at Longleaf Church will encourage growth in three vital relationships; Intimacy with God, Community with Insiders and Influence with Outsiders. Our stories of faith in Jesus will be encapsulated in the "Authentic Community" of Community Groups.

During our early days, the 2/42 will serve as a hybrid environment that will bridge us to a time when we fully organize our small groups and have our first worship service. We are also working to equip our families and invest in the children of Longleaf while we "incubate" our faith movement. I am thankful that two families, the Jarrards and the Greens are really taking initiative on the Family Ministry front. All of this feels somewhat daunting and I haven't even mentioned funding! We are on a journey of faith. When we read about the origins of the early church in the book of Acts we learn that the faith of the Apostles and the early believers was stretched again and again. As the gospel spread and the church became organized, there were several instances when followers had to exercise extraordinary faith.

The first church meeting (oh boy!) is recorded in the 15th chapter of Acts. All of the heavy-hitter leaders of the early church were there. Some of the people were challenging the preaching of the gospel to the gentiles (anybody that was not a Jew). The converts who had been Jewish Pharisees wanted the Gentiles to get circumcised and follow their laws as conditions. They were building boundaries to outsiders and underestimating the power of the gospel. In response, Peter said "He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith" (Acts 15:9). Peter's point was expounded upon by James (brother of Jesus) then Paul and Barnabas told of how the gospel had been spreading among Gentiles through them. Since this first "church meeting" and in spite of great obstacles, the spread of the gospel was unleashed around the world to generation after generation. The growth of the church has been miraculous.

The penetrating power of faith in Jesus tears down all boundaries and removes all obstacles. The gospel of Jesus Christ is for everyone so it's our job as the church to make ourselves accessible to outsiders. Like some of the early believers, we sometimes underestimate the power of our faith and try to box God in. When we focus on the ultimate mission of the church (reaching people) we can unleash our faith and inspire a movement. We (I) must remain strong in the faith as we endeavor to plant a church. Two thousand years ago, unfiltered faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ unleashed a passionate movement of people. This movement continues....