What Does This Equation Tell Us…

Today I had some GREAT conversations at a missions conference about evangelism. I had a rather large banner behind me that had a “math equation” on it. Well, it’s not so much an equation as it is a hidden message in numbers and symbols. The banner worked and it created a little buzz at the conference.

The equation is…

+20 = 3 out of 10
3-20= 5 out of 10
-3= 7 out of 10

This is a set of stats I read a few years ago from a church planting researcher. It says that churches that are over 20 years old typically reach 3 new believers for every 10 people that join the church. If a church is between 3-20 years old then half of the new “members” will be baptized in that church. And, for every 10 people that are new members of a typical new church, 7 will be baptized in that church. That means that most older churches grow through transfer growth and most young churches reach the unchurched. I asked the folks coming through the conference today what this tells us about reaching non-believers. They all said, “we should start more churches”. Of course, this is the reply I really wanted.

There were a couple of interesting things said during these conversations. Many of the people there are members of older churches. Not one of them argued with the numbers and most of them told me that they hold up perfectly within their church. They asked if these numbers are saying that older churches are dying or losing their fire. This isn’t what I wanted to communicate. I explained that if a church is reaching “3 out of 10″ in a year, then that is still very, very good. It’s also important to remember that few new churches weren’t started by old churches. We need both and everything in between. A few folks wrote down the information and are taking it to their churches. One dude, “stole” my banner and is hanging it in his church tomorrow. Fortunately, he’s not the pastor and can’t get fired.

Also, on the banner is says “Live Sent”. This saying is not original to me. My boy Jason Dukes came up with that and teaches it every second of everyday. The dude, must dream about living sent! Personally, I love it. God is never stagnant and has never called us to be immobile. The Kingdom is always advancing. You can’t be a true disciple without living sent to your community and beyond. If you’re looking for a good tagline for your church you might want to steal his. You can also go to www.livesent.com and join in the conversation.

The other thing I did at the conference was put little flip-flop stickers on people who committed to live sent. I explained that to truly go you must have the proper foot wear. We all know the proper footwear are flip-flops. It was cool seeing people walk around with these little reminders. (if you see me in person ask me about the couple that refused the flops)

Today was a good day.

How Did Peter Take Criticism

Chew on this…

Galatians 2
11But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. 13And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. 14But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?”

Sweet Fancy Moses! Paul just laid the spiritual smack down on our boy Peter. Not only did Paul call out Peter to his face, but in front of “THEM ALL”. 

This week I’ve been wondering how Peter took this beat down. I wonder if he shot back at Paul with “Dude, did you walk with Jesus? I mean like…literally walk with Him?” Or, “where were you when Jesus was killed, hanging with us after the resurrection, and then floated up to heaven?” 

After all, this was the guy Jesus had the most intimate of conversations with. The one Jesus appears to have poured Himself most into through His teaching and actions. This guy ate with Jesus and probably slept a few feet from him for three years. 

But, maybe Peter was even more aggressive in his come backs. Maybe he said, “Now where were you when Stephen was stoned and we were all be persecuted… Oh, yeah, I forgot you were there doing the killing!” At first I bristle at such a thought, but I don’t think I would put anything past Peter. Peter never really employed the “5 second” rule and thought before he spoke. 

I have no idea how Peter responded to this rebuke by Paul. It must have been hard to get rebuked by someone younger then him in the faith (maybe physically younger as well). Peter was the first Christian rock star and now another guy has come along to help lead the way. It must have been hard for Peter…

I like to think that in this moment some of Christ’s teaching became very clear to him. “Ohhh so that’s what He meant by ‘new wine into new wine skin.’” I like to think that Peter laid his pride down and hugged the stuffing out of Paul and the Gentiles there and apologized to them all. I like to think that Peter didn’t lord over anyone his experience but listened to everyone with a humble heart and loving spirit. 

You can’t read 1st or 2nd Peter and walk away thinking that Peter wasn’t changed over time. I guess I like to think that anyone can change after enough time and enough beat downs. 

I guess there is still hope for me and the rest of us “Peters”.

I Wonder How Peter Took Criticism

Chew on this…

Galatians 2
11But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. 13And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. 14But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?”

Sweet Fancy Moses! Paul just laid the spiritual smack down on our boy Peter. Not only did Paul call out Peter to his face, but in front of “THEM ALL”. 

This week I’ve been wondering how Peter took this beat down. I wonder if he shot back at Paul with “Dude, did you walk with Jesus? I mean like…literally walk with Him?” Or, “where were you when Jesus was killed, hanging with us after the resurrection, and then floated up to heaven?” 

After all, this was the guy Jesus had the most intimate of conversations with. The one Jesus appears to have poured Himself most into through His teaching and actions. This guy ate with Jesus and probably slept a few feet from him for three years. 

But, maybe Peter was even more aggressive in his come backs. Maybe he said, “Now where were you when Stephen was stoned and we were all be persecuted… Oh, yeah, I forgot you were there doing the killing!” At first I bristle at such a thought, but I don’t think I would put anything past Peter. Peter never really employed the “5 second” rule and thought before he spoke. 

I have no idea how Peter responded to this rebuke by Paul. It must have been hard to get rebuked by someone younger then him in the faith (maybe physically younger as well). Peter was the first Christian rock star and now another guy has come along to help lead the way. It must have been hard for Peter…

I like to think that in this moment some of Christ’s teaching became very clear to him. “Ohhh so that’s what He meant by ‘new wine into new wine skin.’” I like to think that Peter laid his pride down and hugged the stuffing out of Paul and the Gentiles there and apologized to them all. I like to think that Peter didn’t lord over anyone his experience but listened to everyone with a humble heart and loving spirit. 

You can’t read 1st or 2nd Peter and walk away thinking that Peter wasn’t changed over time. I guess I like to think that anyone can change after enough time and enough beat downs. 

I guess there is still hope for me and the rest of us “Peters”.