gearin' up

i like the first days of august. i didn't used to - when i was a kid it meant back to school time (usually ushered in by the purchasing of toughskins jeans). that changed when i got old enough to play football, it meant the hard work of the summer was about to come to fruition. once i got to college, it meant packing up the '84 dodge aries k car and heading 12 hours east to upland to reengage college life. it also meant early camp in a new and draconian fashion.

now it means fall is right around the corner. college football is so close i can taste it. living in lexington, it means another year of the futility (or overrealized eschatology) that is uk football. in church life it's time to gear up for another year. as our staff thinks about a new year, and as we prepare to send two of our pastoral assistants off to the "real world" (bobby returns to union and adam is off to sbts), i came across a wonderful synopsis of what we want our congregational life to be. it comes from matt schmucker (also known as chief jay strongbow, but that's another story for another day) and the folks at 9 marks ministries:

worship services - the congregation arrives early, ready to worship and eager to respond to God. God's preached Word is the centerpiece of the gathering and people are engaged, taking notes and reflecting on the message.

fellowship - the hour after services becomes a time of deep conversations and accountability. friendships are built around what God has done and is doing and not just around shared interests, sports and business.

adult conversions - evangelism is communicated powerfully through the life of the congregation. adult non-believers recognize the unmistakable arome of Christ when they attend services and are convicted and converted.

prayer meetings - gatherings are well-attended "family times" in which prayer concerns go beyond health issues. members ask the family to intercede on their behalf for ministry opportunities in church, evangelistic opportunities at work, personal involvement in missions, and other matters of Christ's universal church.

leadership - leaders in the church are appointed for their fruitfulness in ministry rather than their seniority or outside accomplishments. leaders demonstrate humility by regularly giving and receiving godly criticism and encouragement.

matt closes by adding, "pray with us as we labor to fill in this picture and see Christ and His church built up."