I love listening to and having intelligent arguments. I really, really do. I love that I can disagree
so strongly with someone that it sounds like we are fighting but we are actually sharpening each
other. Recently I gave another listen to something called “The Elephant Room”. It’s on YouTube
if you are interested in checking it out.
The premise is simple: 6 theologians/pastors enter a room and only one comes out alive!!!
Obviously I’m only kidding.....
They “pit” two pastors together to debate a stance that exists in their churches with the
assumption that each of these pastors sees the argument from the opposite side from the other.
The one I listened to again was on the topic of “Preaching to build attendance vs. Preaching to
build attendees”
These two approaches seem like they should work together well don’t they? I mean, if we are
growing in numbers, shouldn’t we be growing in our personal faith? Steven Furtick and Matt
Chandler stand on opposite sides. Furtick is known for caring ONLY about people coming to
know Jesus and concentrates on that alone. Chandler is known for ONLY caring about the
spiritual growth of people in the pews. They represent both extremes or at least that is the point
of the debate. Which is better? Which is most important? Where do we as New Beginnings
stand?
We stand with Jesus.......
“Come to Me all you who are tired and have heavy burdens and I will give you rest. Take my
yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for
your very souls. For My yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
I really love listening to Chandler and I probably side with his argument more than Furtick but
Jesus is KING and I see Jesus saying yes to both sides but in a specific way.
COME TO JESUS is the first imperative in this verse (which lends to preaching to build
attendance) but the rest of this simple verse implies learning that goes deeper and deeper
(which lends to preaching to build the attendees). I’m going to argue that teaching the Word and
becoming disciples of Jesus HAS TO mean that you are now the biggest advertisement for
Jesus to those around you and THAT is what builds attendance.
We at New Beginnings are going to be about becoming disciples of Jesus which make more
disciples of Jesus for the GLORY of Jesus and Jesus alone.....
Wanna come along?
Pastor Gene