We’re back at it in St Jérôme, here are a few things going on:
After a full summer, including 2 weeks at World Venture Headquarters and vacation time as a family, we’re back in the swing of things here in St Jérôme. We’re looking forward to speaking at the Momentum Conference in two weeks in Gatineau, Missions-Fest Montréal in November, continued involvement in church-planting Province-Wide, as well as preaching through the Gospel according to John this year.
Building update: no clear response yet from the owners… they are taking their time (God has it all under control) Support update: we’re still several hundred dollars behind each month, but God is providing… month to month.
These photos were taken by Jim & Corrine Thorp (director of the Americas for World Venture) during their visit last week. If you were to visit us on a Sunday morning (and several people have made the trip thus far), this is about what it would look like (for the moment):
L-R: Michel (bass) Alex (guitar), Zac (guitar), Carla (keys)
We love the fact that the musicians aren’t central
L-R: Alex, Zac, Carla
You can clearly see the gym floor
A view from the side
A long-view of a big chunk of the group
Singing… we’ve got all ages
Jacob letting us know what is going on
Jacob letting us know what is going on
The 7-11 Sunday school class
One Sunday school class did an amazing presentation, part of which was singing with conga accompaniment
Jacob praying with his daughter Victoria
Jacob prays with the kids before they go off to Sunday School
Martine and I recently watched this sermon together… it has had a radical impact on our prayer time together. Favorite line? “The words “spit out” come from the Hebrew word “to hcack”.”
WARNING! you may find this offensive, or your life may change radically.
“The Rebel Life” was the theme of their youth winter retreat. They flew me in (and out), and allowed me to be a part of their community for a few days.
It was a phenomenal time with many deep discussions as we grappled with difficult issues. Here were the titles of my six talks:
Yesterday (Sunday), I preached through the entire book of Luke looking at a Jesus who was good, and who, by his goodness and justice, always provoked extreme responses. He either offended, insulted, provoked murderous rage, terrified (yes, terrified is the right word, the word fearful in Luke 8:25 is not nearly strong enough), or provoked worship.
(Here are a few passages to consider: Luke 4:28; 4:32; 5:20-21; 5:26; 6:11; 6:19; 7:17; 8:25; 11:37-54; 13:30-31; 19:38-40; 19:41; 19:45; 19:47; 23:34;23:44-47; Acts 2:22-38; 2:41).
Jesus is a greater revolutionary than Fidel Castro, Ché, or René Lésvesque combined. Here is my introduction (focusing on what it means to be a revolutionary… not politics):
Quebeckers honor Castro, Che, Lévesque, and other revolutionaries (Americans too have their collection of honored revolutionaries). But few mention Jesus in this same vein. Why?
I believe for two reasons:
1) Their eyes are veiled. They are spiritually blind (which is an offensive concept to many); and
2) they have heard an unbalanced description of the goodness, love, and compassion of Jesus which leaves Him looking soft and cuddly, without hearing about the justice, strength, in-your-face audacity, and power that He had (as God in the flesh), able to grapple with, and win against, the most evil forces this world has ever known.
This Jesus grappled not only with visible evil forces (like religious and political leaders), but overcame demonic oppression, a Satan-filled Judas, and death itself… all without firing a single shot.
THANK YOU FOR PRAYING FOR OUR NEW GATHERING PLACE!
It’s been a long time coming, but, (finally) we’re now meeting in an elementary school less than a block away from “Ici Par Les Arts”, our previous gathering place (last Sunday was our first meeting).
Advantages?
The gymnasium can hold 200-250 people (our previous place maxed out at 130).
More space for classes
Much more parking (30+ spaces in front, 30+ spaces in back… as compared to about 15 spaces total at the other place)
Much, much cleaner (At the other place, we often entered early Sunday morning, just to find a pile of massive art supplies, wood, etc., and a washing machine or fridge in the middle of our meeting space. Once or twice, this is okay, but it happened nearly every other week… meaning we had to get a group of people to move large furniture, then do a major floor cleaning… THEN begin setting things up. This got to be discouraging for many after nearly two years and little or no change).
The big move was Saturday. Here are some photos of the move and the first service:
Moving chairs into our new storage area
L-R: Jacob, Isabelle's hair, Stephane, Zacharie's hat, Pierre, Caleb, Martine
Finishing up the Sound Check early Sunday morning
Before everyone shows up
Jacob welcoming everyone to our new location
Though it felt nearly full, we still have space for another 100+ people
Standing & Singing... not too expressive yet
Here’s my first sermon in the new location, talking about “Lust after Stuff and Christmas” (in French of course):
Warren Wiersbe: The term “disciples” was the most popular name for the early believers. Being a disciple meant more than being a convert or a church member. “Apprentice” might be an equivalent term. A disciple attached himself to a teacher, identified with him, learned from him, and lived with him. He learned, not simply by listening, but also by doing.”
According to Wiersbe, a disciple should be taught not simply by speaking, but also by doing.
Teaching is usually inbetween Watching and Doing throughout the N.T. We observe, learn a little, then apply it. Then observe again, learn a little more and apply it. Continued observation (and participation) learning and applying soon lead to teaching.
Teaching in the N.T. is always practical in the sense that it has a direction and a purpose with short-range (and long-range) practical results. We don’t learn to learn. We learn to apply, then teach others.
#1 in a series of thoughts on discipleship…
I did not learn to play soccer by listening to sermons on soccer.
You watch American football. Can you play in the NFL?
You contemplate Law & Order. Can you defend a case?
You frequent Starbucks. Can you make frappacinos?
You sit in pews on Sunday. Can you make a disciple?
Since when did this kind of training prepare me for anything?
Of course, watching, contemplating, frequenting, and sitting don’t qualify me for much of anything. Jesus said “as you are going”, “make disciples.” This is what we do instead:
Sermonson discipleship.
Classes on witnessing.
Workshops on sharing our faith.
Courses on evangelism.
Sessions on going.
Forums on reaching a city.
Do you see the problem? No action! No one is going.
Contrast how we generally learn to “make disciples” to how I learned to play soccer:
15 laps around the field to warm up – Push-ups – Sit-ups – Grass-drills if we messed up – Running a timed mile – (...water) – Suicides… Now practice begins – Trapping drills – Header drills – Dribbling drills – Left-foot – Right-foot – Passing – Not getting it? Coach demonstrates. Try again – (...water) – Corner kicks – Goal kicks – Strategy – Another 15 laps – Suicides – (...water)
Caleb's soccer practices were considerably less gruelling
I played soccer for two years in college. The week of training camp included long practices in the morning and afternoon. True, we did watch some film in the evenings after six hours of grueling practice, but that is NOT where the lion’s share of learning took place.
I learnedsoccer as I was playing soccer.
.
Teaching by action.
Teaching through action.
Teaching in response to action.
We learn to make disciples as we are going with others who are making disciples.
This is the kind of disciple-making that Jesus advocated.
Although we are still planning and working through many details, here is a rough speaking schedule for this summer not including things like small-group meetings, etc. (There are still a couple of holes we’re working to fill.)
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