BLeach

Let Jesus Lead

My title at our church is Lead Pastor.  That might be misleading.  I'm actually an under-shepherd.  I'm an apprentice.  I'm a steward and a disciple.

Spiritual leaders aren't large and in charge.  Quite the opposite.  Our leadership isn't guaranteed by people under us.  It's secured by the One over us.

The leadership of Jesus has real priority implications for spiritual leaders.  We learn before we teach.  We repent before we counsel.  We listen before we talk.  We pray before we plan.  Jesus sets our pace.

We can't lead anyone further than we have personally journeyed?  Have you found that to be true?  Then who's leading you?

Gotta run...

So I can kneel.

My Inspiration

Jeff Leake is writing a series of posts this week that have me strolling down memory lane:)

I was a third year student at Central Bible College when Jesus wore through my fear and convinced me to start a church right after graduation.  I still remember the moment I surrendered.  It was hole number number three at Payne Stewart Golf Course.  Yep.  Jesus does talk to men on golf courses:)

Right from the conception of that call an idea started forming in my mind to plant a reproducing church.  It was an idea to focus on one city by planting a church in a central location that would fill the rest of the city with more church plants.  The idea excited me.  It even made a little bit of sense.  But I had never seen it before.

That's when Jesus gave me some inspiration.  I was attending a banquet sponsored by the US Mission's arm of the Assemblies of God.  Jeff Leake was the featured speaker.  I didn't know who he was but my heart started beating faster and faster as he spoke.  He told a story about how Jesus led his church to mother five churches in five years.  I felt like he was reading my dream.  More importantly, his story affirmed my call.

Today we're still in the early stages of our church planting dreams for Metro Detroit.  But I'm grateful to Pastor Jeff for inspiring me in the really early stages when the dream was just a seed.  His obedience in 1996 will keep bearing fruit in Metro Detroit for as long as Jesus allows our church to keep filling it with missional church plants.

Coming Out of My Christian Closet

Our new Life Group series is set to kick off Easter Sunday.  The thought for it was born in my heart late in 2006 when I looked in the mirror and saw a man I used to laugh at in Sunday School.  This series is a confession.

I am Jonah.

I am Jonah when I hide from the city that Jesus loves.  I am Jonah when I lack love and hoard grace.  I am Jonah when I avoid people because I don't like them.  I am Jonah when I prefer the safety of a church building over the needs of my mission field.

But I don't want to be a reluctant missionary like Jonah.  I want to be a radical missionary like Jesus.  I want to live love and give grace.

And I want the same for you.

Buzzer Beaters

As a basketball junkie, March is my favorite sports month of the year.  The madness is consuming.  My conclusion is that bracketology is either a science or random nonsense.  This year, after making perfect final four predictions, I'm going with science.  I'd rather claim intelligence than luck:)

But it isn't the brackets that adds the mad to madness.  It's the last second shots. 

Speaking of last second shots, the Piston's win last night might have been the best I've EVER seen.  I'm not kidding.  I've seen hundreds of Pistons games, but I've never seen a finish like that.  Last night is why I spent hours in high school practicing half-court shots.  With a few seconds left on the clock Denver had a three point lead and the ball.  Detroit came out of a timeout and forced a loose ball.  That's when Rasheed grabbed it and threw up a 60 foot prayer at the buzzer to force OT.  Who cares if he has an unexplainable white spot in the middle of his head.  That was amazing!

By the way, I think Jesus is the master at buzzer beating, last second heriocs.  David Okai's miracle reminded me of that yesterday.  How many people would go back to the embassy for a fourth appointment?  His family wasn't just denied their visas once or twice.  They were turned down three times.  But then with time running out Jesus hit a 60 foot half-court shot. 

It's true that God's not always early.  But it's also true that He's never late.  Never.  He may secure our win at the buzzer, but He will beat the buzzer.  He will come through before time runs out. 

Count on it:)

And for the love of the game, if you didn't see the shot, go here now!

And We're Off...

This week is our third Week of War at Church of the King.  This year we've decided to set aside the last full week of each month to focus on prayer and fasting and anticipate WOW moments from Jesus.

If the start of this week is any indication then this one will be our most productive week yet.  Yesterday was a strong day for us as a church.  There's nothing like opening Outlook on Monday morning to find an inbox full of praise reports!

I started today by meeting David Okai, our resident West African church planter, to pray over his family's appointment with the embassy in Ghana.  They're scheduled to meet the Consular in about fifteen minutes.  This will be their fourth attempt to secure visas within the past year.  We anticipate a different report today!

If you call Church of the King home, take hold of opportunities this week to seek God's face.  He wants to do more this spring than we can ask or imagine. 

Expect it.

Update: When David's family was called in they met with a new official.  This woman asked them three questions and gave them their visas.  Fantastic!  I feel like I just audited Perseverance 101:)  David says they'll be in Michigan by Easter!

Trinity and Community

I've really enjoyed diving into the Doctrine of the Trinity over the past two weekends.  God is three distinct persons perfectly united as One.  Absolute equality.  Stunning diversity.  He is the standard for the local church. 

In our church we are both young and old, married and single, black and white.  Yet we strive to live, serve, dream, pray, and grow as one.  We believe it's our best shot at revealing the nature of God to our city.

The first message from the series is up on our podcast.  Check it out!  You can also download the audio file.

Uncle Brad

Well, the word's out.  I'm going to be an uncle.  On top of that, my sister is going to be a mom:)

I'm so proud of Rob and Betsy.  They are great youth pastors.  They have two cool dogs.  They really love each other.  But perhaps most significantly, it looks like they've already taught their unborn baby to appreciate good coffee:)

Thanks for the picture Scott!

On another note, I will be collecting cool baby names for them.  They haven't officially asked me to do it yet, but I expect them to soon. I'm pretty pleased with the start of my list.

Kong King: So his name will be read off at the Secretary of State as King, Kong.  I'd like to hear that if I was waiting in line for a license plate.

Ming King: In case God calls her to China as a missionary.

Sting King: Destined to star on American Idol.

Lee King: Oops, scratch that one.  It's a bad combination.

Brad King: This one has the lead so far.

Congratulations Betsy!

Defining Discipleship

One of my goals for our upcoming I am Jonah series is to explore a biblical definition of discipleship.

I really want us to question whether discipleship is primarily an informational pursuit or a missional pursuit.

If the goal of discipleship is information then we'll know we've made progress once we're smarter.  But it doesn't seem to me that Jesus chose the cross in hopes of making us smarter.  I tend to think that the cross was meant to produce more than Bible trivia championships. 

What if mission is the goal of discipleship?  Maybe producing smarter Christians actually backfires if those same folks aren't sent.  I admit that when I preach this Sunday I'll try and be informational and I hope that people are smarter for it.  But I'm also hoping that my sermon will lead to mission so that when the service ends and we're all done sitting there will be some sending. 

Then, as Bob Roberts says, our church will be known more for action than advertising.

Wrapping up Writing Week

I spent most of today in the studio recording the video teaching for our upcoming Spring Life Group campaign.  I always breathe a sigh of relief when I finish the filming.  I put as much time into the reading and writing process for our two annual small group campaigns as anything else I do all year. 

I Am Jonah is the title we landed on for the series.  As a church we're going to spend six weekends and five small group gatherings exploring the dynamics of missional living.  What does it look like for disciples at Church of the King to turn from Tarshish back to Ninevah; from retreat back to mission? 

I love to write and deadlines like studio appointments definitely motivate me, but I'm always glad to cross the finish line.

Now if I can just regain a bit of a blogging rhythm:)

Random Study Day Accomplishment

They said it couldn't be done, but with unusual concentration I just peeled a Clementine with only one peel.

And now for my next trick...

I will clean the kitchen counter:)