Pastor Trent's Blog - Entries from January 2009

SunSundayJanJanuary25th2009 So, What kind of church is Harvest?

Posted Sunday, January 25 2009 @ 3 PM byTrent Tagged No tags 0 comments Add comment

The landscape of American churches is diverse. Today, it seems many churches are going through an identity crisis. Many traditional churches are trying to become more contemporary while many of the most cutting edge, innovative churches are discovering cool methodology is not resulting in quality discipleship.

Church labels abound. "Purpose driven...Emergent...Missional...Seeker-Sensitive." So, what kind of church is Harvest? We like to say, "First Vertical, Then Missional." We recognize that God is the Seeker and what he is seeking is true worshippers--those whose heart and mind are sensitive to Him and His truth. (John 4:24)

But we also embrace the mission Jesus has given us in John 17:17-18. "Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. As a church, we are called by God to separate from the world while simultaneously being sent by God to penetrate the world with the good news of Jesus. How can we do both? Here is a summary of our dual responsibility.

Separate	Penetrate
Called out of the World	Sent in to the World
Value Discipleship	Value Evangelism
Embrace Fellowship	Embrace Missions
Sanctified	Surrounded
Visible Demonstration	Verbal Declaration
Live Authenticity	Speak Authoritatively
Be Biblically Faithful to the Text	Be Culturally Fruitful in the Context
Listen to Word of God	Speak the Language of the People
Love God	Love your neighbor
Spend Time alone with God	Spend Time Together With Godless People
Danger: Seclusion	Danger: Syncretism

Not…	But…
Isolation	Insulation
Of the world	In the world
Friend of the world (James 4:4)	Friend of sinners (Luke 7:34)
Seclusion, Syncretism	Subversion

May Harvest be a church that is distinguished from the world by the prensence of God and impacting the world around us with His life changing truth.

SatSaturdayJanJanuary3rd2009 Gospel Discussion Starters

Posted Saturday, January 03 2009 @ 8 PM byTrent Tagged No tags 0 comments Add comment

Have you ever wanted to talk to someone about the good news of Jesus but didn't know where to start?

Do you think much about spiritual things?
We've never had a chance to talk about your religious background. Tell me about it?
What role does faith and spiritual values play in your (work) (day) (marriage) (perspective on life)?
We've been friends for quite some time now, and I've never really talked to you about the most important thing in my life. May I take a few moments and do so?
We’ve never really talked to you about the most important thing in my life. May I take a few moments and do so?
What influence has church been in your life?
What would you say God requires for a person to go to heaven?
Can I share the thing I've found most important to me as a (dad), (mom), (boss)?
Most people in America say they believe in God. What does believing in God mean to you?
If you were to die tonight are you sure you'd go to heaven? If you were to die tonight and God were to ask you, “Why should I let you into my heaven?”, what would you say? Has anyone ever explained how you can know for sure?