BLeach

Just a Few Reminders

Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder (2 Peter 1.12-13).

Peter wrote these words, from a Roman prison, just before his martyrdom that Jesus predicted years before. As he said goodbye to these disciples, and thought about the truths in which he longed for them to be established, he came to this realization. I don't really have anything new to say. The things that are paramount; the grand themes that are most important; I've already communicated them to you many times.

Yesterday I preached a farewell message to COTK. The title: Just a Few Reminders. As I was preparing the message, I pulled out my calculator and calendar to try and figure out how many sermons I've preached since starting our church. After counting Sunday morning services, plus the Sunday night and Wednesday night services we used to have, and then subtracting guest speakers, and adding in special events, I came up with a rough estimate of 806.

Then I started to read through my sermon file.

I've preached through a lot of topics: spiritual gifts, end times, depression, dreams, discouragement, disaster (9.11 and Katrina), conflict resolution, sex (especially during the series just before my wedding ):, prayer, dangerous prayers, fasting, Bible study, prejudice and racism, evangelism, singleness, decision making, spiritual growth, spiritual disciplines, busyness, sabbath, goal setting, giving and stewardship, family, marriage, dating, divorce, parenting, missions, worship, church planting, the Spirit-filled life, the voice of God, leadership, spiritual community and spiritual warfare.

I've preached through all of our major doctrines several times: the deity of Christ, the humanity of Christ, sin, salvation, the authority of Scripture, healing, communion and baptism, the nature of the church, the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

I've preached through the attitudes of victorious Christian living: faith, love, hope, and joy.

I've preached on the cross more times than I can count.

I've done sermons together with small group campaigns: 40 days of purpose, 40 days of passion, revelations, conversations with Jesus, Neos, I am Jonah, and Epic.

I've preached on a host of Bible characters: Gideon, Abraham, Daniel, Paul, Peter, Jonah, Joshua, Moses, Noah, Herod, Esther, Mary, Joseph (the father of Jesus), Joseph (the son of Jacob), angels, Gamaliel, Pilate, Deborah, Nebuchadnezzar, Abigail, Sarah, Hezekiah, Korah, Dathan, Abiram, David, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Esau, Adam, and Eve.

I've talked about Jesus a lot: His majesty! His exaltation! His humility! His sacrifice! His triumph! His second coming! His ongoing presence! His victory!

I've talked about His Father a lot: God as Father, God as Spirit, God as Son, the names of God, the attributes of God, the Triune God, the love of God, the discipline of God, the power of God, the presence of God.

I've preached things that should never have been said. Once I accidentally implied that my neighbor had spent time in my bedroom. Another time I preached an entire sermon on death while unknowingly referring to the grim REEFER. And then there was the message last year when I compared my wedding to a crucifixion.

Oops.

I've tried to illustrate the Scripture. I've carried around suitcases and carried around people. I've ripped my clothes, dressed in fatigues, and painted one of our interns. I even filled one sermon with country music songs to illustrate the parable of the prodigal son (don't ask):

I've preached through entire books: James, Hebrews, Philemon, Exodus, Acts, Ezekiel, Jonah, Song of Solomon, and Philippians.

And as I thought about sermon #807, I came to the same conclusion as Peter. I really don't have anything new to say.

So I decided to go out the same way I came in. I preached the five points that outlined our first five week sermon series. I preached the five points we cover in every membership class. I preached what has hopefully become the culture and DNA of our church. I preached the values that I hope our church recalls when they think of me.

• Prayer can do anything God can do (Prayer)!
• We exist for the welfare of our city (Outreach)!
• Jesus deserves center stage (Worship)!
• Discipleship is progress (Education)!
• The church should look like heaven (Reconciliation)!

Church of the King, I pray you continue to own these truths. Live them every week. And be the church Jesus called us to be!

The Church that Charged Hell with a 22 Year Old

This Sunday I'll preach my farewell message to COTK. It will mark the end of an incredible season. I moved back to Metro Detroit in 2001 as a 22 year old, single kid. Together with six friends from school we launched COTK. When I look back at the last decade, I'm humbled by what God let me be a part of.

Here are just a few of the things I feel very thankful for from my time at COTK.

Changed Lives: There's no other way to start this list. I thank God for every life that was changed by the gospel, through the ministry of COTK. One of the pictures I'll be taking with me is a stunning piece of graphic art designed by one of the new believers I had the privilege of baptizing in water. He designed it shortly after committing to Christ, and included my silhouette against the backdrop of three crosses on the side of our church building. To me it represents God's grace that allows me to serve the Church.

Kingdom Alliances: We've had the privilege of partnering with dozens of great churches and organizations to serve Metro Detroit. I'm grateful for the friendships and opportunities to work together. Additionally, we've been blessed by dozens of churches who supported us with finances and prayer as we established COTK. So thankful for them.

Community Impact: I appreciate the opportunities we've had to influence and serve our community through relationships and events. I look forward to seeing this continue to compound for COTK in the next few years.

Diversity: Since our first core group meetings in 2000, we've prayed, longed, and worked toward the vision of developing a blended church in Metro Detroit. I'm amazed at the different kinds of people that have experienced community at COTK. It's so appealing and attractive--and I love it!

The Oaks: We had the joy of sending The Oaks in the spring of 2006. So proud of Chris and Nicki Bradshaw, and all that their leaders have accomplished. Today The Oaks continues to make a significant impact in one of the most unique mission fields in our city.

Resurrection and Life: That same year we were able to partner with a new church plant for West African Immigrants in our city. David Okai is one of my heroes! Resurrection and Life continues to impact West Africans all over Metro Detroit.

Setbacks: This might seem like an odd one to include on the list, and I probably wouldn't have included at the time of each setback. But with the benefit of hindsight, I'm thankful for every failed event, difficult conversation, tight financial month,  God used them to draw me to Himself, strengthen the resolve of our leaders, and build my emotional endurance.

Interns and Leaders: We've had about 30 interns since starting the church. Many of them are still involved in church plants today. It's terrific watching them grow, get married, plant churches, pursue their call and impact people.

A Staff of Life-LongFriends: For me, the icing on the cake has been experiencing all of this together with my best friends. In particular, I thank God for the Sullivans and the Galindos. Tal and Gwen have been with us since the beginning, and will do a great job leading the church forward. Eddie has been a friend since high school. So proud of the man of God he's become. JT and I have been ministering together since College. I'm truly grateful to say that our staff has been my closest friends.

Grace: I don't even know how to communicate how young and inexperienced I was when we started COTK. I counseled married couples without having a clue about marriage. I preached sermons that I don't even agree with anymore. But the people of COTK loved me, prayed for me, encouraged me, and jumped off cliffs with me.

Fortunately I met Leah three years ago and immediately became a better pastor! So glad that we got to experience COTK together the last few years.

It's all so much more than I deserve.

To all of you who have shared in this journey, from the bottom of my heart, Thank You!

Handing off the Staff

Yesterday I had the honor of commissioning Tal as the new Lead Pastor at COTK.  It was a powerful, emotional day.

I preached Jesus' promise in Matthew 16.18.  The message actually included the same outline that I planned to preach at our church's grand opening service September 19, 2001.  Of course, 9.11 changed my message that week.  But the truth that prompted me to launch COTK is still true.  The Church is God's and can't be stopped.

After the message we sealed a significant moment as a church.  Leah and I blessed Tal and Gwen, their kids, and the leadership of our church.  And then I handed over the staff.

I'm extremely proud of Pastor Tal and our church, and confident that God has positioned them for such a time as this.

To be honest, I feel a little disoriented today.  While this weekend was an exciting culmination of God's leading during this transition season, it was sad as well.  Sad to begin the goodbyes with so many friends and ministry partners, and sad to know that my time as Lead Pastor at COTK is done.  My life has been directed toward planting and serving COTK for almost ten years.

But a minor identity crisis is good for me.  Reminds me to press into Jesus and find my identity in Him.

I'll still be here for a few more weeks, serving Tal and taking care of some final transition details.  And I'll get to preach again on January 17.  Can't wait for that! 

This week I'm also beginning to spend more of my time on our next church planting adventure.  Stay tuned--I'm excited to start sharing more of those details in the next few days.  We still have several unanswered questions, but the details that have come together are blowing me away!

Following the Holy Spirit is a joy, and an adventure.  Let's go!

Shred Your Pain

I've been going through some old files in my office today, trying to determine what to keep, throw away, or hand off to Tal. 

When I got to the "C's" I found a counseling file which contains my confidential notes from various crises I've dealt with in the past eight years.  These include sensitive conflicts, some of which required multiple meetings and church discipline.  Some of them even had me convinced at the time that the church was going to be irreparably damaged.

I realized something encouraging as I looked through my notes.  I experienced a lot of stress while walking through each situation, but until today I didn't even remember these things happened.  Once I saw the notes I could recall some of the details, but it had been months, and in some cases years, since any of this stuff had even crossed my mind--which reminds me of one of my favorite phrases in the Bible. 

It came to pass. 

That thing you're going through right now that feels like it's going to crush you.  That thing you just want to try and ignore because it feels so overwhelming.  You know, that thing you're just convinced is going to be the death of your dream.  Yeah.  That thing.

It won't be too long and you won't even remember it!

Looking back, I can identify the real benefit of these experiences.  God increased my emotional endurance.  Very slowly, and very painfully, He's been building my capacity to lead through difficulty and resolve conflict.  And I'm grateful for it.

Now I get to do something that I'm going to really enjoy.  This file that I'm talking about--I'm about to shred it!

Are you in the midst of some epic difficulty today?  If so, don't give up.  Persevere.  Endure.  It won't be long before your pain is a distant memory on its way to the shredder.

The Benefit of Change

This week our church is in the midst of our monthly prayer and fasting focus.  I'll be praying with a group of men in our church in just a few minutes.  And tomorrow night we'll all gather for worship and prayer.  It's back to basics this week.

Week of War couldn't be at a more strategic time for us this month.  Personally, Leah and I are depending on God like never before as we wait on Him to direct us in our new church planting adventure.  As a church, we are looking to God as well for faith and direction.

One of the benefits of change is the way it pushes us to seek God.  On a practical level, we need wisdom to make the big decisions that are before us.  But more than that, change pushes us to stay connected to the Changeless One. 

Looking forward to the extra time this week to worship with our church family and seek God's face.

Transition Timeline

I've been writing this week about some shifting winds in my life as Leah and I respond to God's call to plant a new church.  You can catch up on the story here and here.

Another question related to our upcoming transition is, "when will it happen?"

Again, the short answer is a bit ambiguous.  We're not entirely sure!  I know, I'm just full of information this week:)

Our priority right now is to help lead a healthy transition for Church of the King.  COTK is the first baby God gave me (and quite a bit larger than the 7 pound baby he gave me in June)!  Leah and I want to give our best to help establish our leaders here so that our ministries continue to advance.  Over the next few weeks we will be determining together with our leaders what a healthy time-line looks like.  At this point we know for sure that we'll be leading the church through the end of the year.

Right now we are embracing the uncertainty in our lives as an opportunity to depend on God for guidance and provision. 

When we're daring enough to back our sailboats away from the dock, leave the harbor, and experience the deep seas, we feel both exhilaration and anxiety.  Anxiety, because the open waters aren't as safe as the harbor.  And exhilaration because it's in deep waters that we feel the wind in our sails and witness magnificent sunrises.

On the morning of September 16, 2001, we launched Church of the King.  That afternoon my parents gave me a gift to mark the occasion.  It was the picture at the top of this post.  It still hangs in my office today.  The title is "Risk."  And the sub-title continues to be the theme of our lives.

A ship in the harbor is safe, but that's not what ships were made for.

Sail on!

Shifting Winds

Over eight years ago, in May 2001, I graduated from Central Bible College and moved home to start a new church in Metro Detroit.  I was twenty-two, full of faith, and young enough to not know what I was getting myself into.  Six friends from school joined me, and we began laying the foundation for Church of the King.  On September 16, we launched the church just five days after Islamic extremists attacked the World Trade Center.

We started Church of the King because we felt God shifting spiritual winds in Metro Detroit.  Since then it's been our privilege to hoist our sails and experience an unforgettable adventure.

Leah and I have sensed God shifting the winds in our lives again, culminating in a burning bush experience that God gave to us a few weeks ago.  I'll share more of the story later, but here's the word God specifically spoke to us.

God controls the winds, and when the winds shift, God can do a new thing.  But you can't catch the next wind if you're not courageous enough to cut the chord.

This morning we cut the cord.  I shared our story with our church and announced that we feel God calling us to plant another church.  We're not sure where yet.  We feel a bit like Abraham in that regard.  But we've heard his voice so clearly.

On one hand, this has been the toughest decision we've made since being married.  It's difficult because of the deep love we have for our church family, Metro Detroit, and the significant relationships that we've developed here.  To think about change in the context of those relationships makes us very sad.

On the other hand, this has been the most simple decision we've made since being married.  It's clear, because of the confidence we have in what God has spoken to us.  As we've shared our story with family, mentors, and the leaders of our church, they've affirmed what we believe God is saying.  And the only intelligent option for us is to obey God.

I know this announcement raises a lot of questions, and I'll be processing many of them on this blog over the next several days.

I addressed a few of the big questions during my message this morning, as well as shared more extensively about what God has been doing in our hearts.  You can listen to the message here.

You can also read a letter that is being mailed this weekend to the Church of the King mailing list. You can read the letter here.

Shifting winds produce anxiety as well as exhilaration.  Leah and I feel both.  Most of all, we feel honored to joyfully obey the voice of our Commanding Officer.

Let the adventure continue...

Picture This

I uploaded some pictures from this year's Cruisefest Outreach to the COTK Facebook group.  Check them out!

   

Eight Years

Eight years ago today we opened the doors of Church of the King for the first time.  It was five days after my 23rd birthday.  It was also five days after extremists attacked the World Trade Center.  It was the birth of a dream that God put in my heart as a middle school teenager.

I continue to feel honored by the adventure God has called me to live.  Churches planted.  Lives changed.  It's been my joy to serve Metro Detroit alongside so many committed leaders.

Tonight we're throwing a birthday party for the church.  We've got a lot to celebrate!

Will Work for Preschool Teachers

Looks like my baby isn't the only one to be added to our church's nursery this summer.  This past Sunday we had 18 kids in the nursery!  And if you've seen the size of our nursery then you know--that's chaos:)

So we're launching a brand new preschool class to provide better ministry for each child and get the 3-4 year old's into another room. 

I love this promotional campaign that our leaders designed to recruit the new volunteers we'll need!