Here in the Charlotte area, the Lord is doing some great things. He led us to transition into a house church late last summer. And in just the past few weeks, He has birthed a second fellowship. A month ago, another couple joined us for a Sunday brunch. This past Sunday, nearly a dozen couples, along with teens and children joined us for worship and fellowship.
Also in recent weeks, the Lord has assembled a team of apostolic and prophetic leaders to engage the work here in the Charlotte region. We've met a couple of times to fellowship and seek the Lord about how to build into the vision of One City, One Church. One outgrowth of that is a new ministry initiative we're calling "Kingdom Sessions". While our weekly house gatherings are geared for body ministry before the Lord and to each other, Kingdom Sessions will address the instructional needs of the Body at large, and serve as another opportunity for the Lord to forge discipleship relationships.
We began last night with a presentation from Steve Crosby. My notes from this are below. Steve ministers prophetically, and last night the Lord used him mightily to help uproot religious strongholds in our lives and stir new passion for the relational life of Christ. If you live in the Charlotte area or plan to visit, you are welcome to join us. You can find out information on the location of these gatherings by sending an email to
hungryforrevival@gmail.com
Kingdom Sessions
Wednesday October 13, 2010
Steve spoke from a theme of Relationship in contrast to Religion and the endless pursuit of attempting to follow “principles” to draw close to God
God sent us his Son, not an instruction book
God did not give us merely principles, He gave us His son
We can be biblically right but spiritual wrong
Relationship is everything!
Religion is often a means for broken people to hide
Our lives are not about “mastery” of Bible stuff. Broken people use willpower to “do” the Bible and still not touch the heart of God or people
Relationship always trumps principle
We must allow people to make mistakes. “Wisdom” is fine, but we must not preach that to others.
Coerced obedience is not the life of Christ. Christianity is not behavior management.
A fat notebook (of notes from teachings, etc) and a lean heart are a bad combination.
The Good News is that God came to heal our hearts not merely call us to follow principles
We don’t master the scriptures. They should master us
Right relationship produces right living. Right living does not produce right relationship
Our relationship with the Father is a matter of birth. We can’t change that relationship by doing better or more for God
Relationships in the body are about “gift exchange”. If gifts are only operating one way, it is a waste of time
Anything that shifts off a Calvary paradigm becomes a bad thing
Don’t do anything unless Jesus commissions it. We cooperate with God’s configuration
Hebrews 10:2 speaks of our freedom from sin consciousness.
Walking in continual introspection, self awareness to accuse or excuse is a manifestation of the Adamic nature, not the life of Christ. Continual awareness of deficiency and examining myself to discover “how bad I am” isn’t Christianity.
LeadershipLeadership means that the person leading should be the first to die (to self). It is not about “being the boss”. We are lovers and servants.
Headship means if someone has to lose their “rights” it is me.
Submission should not result in the removal of personality
Discipleship/Training
Criminals are punished. Sons are trained and disciplined. God is not into punishing his children
Question for leaders: can you show me how you have laid down your life for your “flock” in the last 6 months? When is the last time you gave someone money from your wallet instead of the “church benevolent fund”? Otherwise you’re just receiving “compensation for services rendered”
Kingdom Finances
Most of our (the Church) money goes to property and salaries
The church CEO (or pastors) should not be the only ones guaranteed a “salary”.
A “father” doesn’t make sons and daughters take care of him. Paul provided for his own needs and those with him.
The responsibility of agape means we give materially to bless those who spiritually bless us. (a form of gift exchange)
Steve ended by referencing this text in the Gospels about Jesus’ post Resurrection appearance:
Luke 24 28 So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, 29 but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. 32 They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?”
This is what we long for… for the presence of Jesus to burn in us as we commune with Him, in our daily lives, and when we gather as a people.
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