Vision

One of the purposes of this blog is to inform readers what the Elders are thinking.  For the last several months we have been discussing and praying about the direction of our church.  Where are we headed?  Where should we be headed?  What is our vision for CrossPoint?  On the front of every bulletin is our mission statement.  "To glorify God by making passionate disciples of Christ."  Great, that is where we are headed.  Only one problem, how do we get there?

In an earlier blog I used the dictionary definition of a disciple, which is a follower of a particular teacher or school of thought.  In addition to being followers of Jesus we want these disciples to make new disciples.  Now, we really stuck with the question, how do we do this?

Suppose we have some super program that attracts a multitude of people.  We get them in the door, convert them, make disciples and send them out door.  Great idea, right?  Unfortunately the people coming in the door are like me.  I came to CrossPoint because my church, Colony Park, closed its doors and I needed to find another church.  Almost all of the people coming in our doors are believers.  The average non-believer is not going to just walk in the door.  If they do, it is usually because someone invited them, or an activity is taking place at the church.  Those activities are usually non church related.  Even if it is church related it will take an even bigger event to bring them back.

Okay, where does that leave us?  We have to go out and invite people in to our church.  Ultimately the church is the people, not the building.  In other words we have to get out of our little club and bring people into the fellowship we share with Jesus.

If you are like me that is a real scary thought.  How do I invite, witness to others?  Go on the street corner and recruit?  Not this cowboy.  But I can witness by the way I live, by being willing to open up to my non believing friends.  Like all of us I have some non Christian friends.  By willing to introduce Jesus into the conversation at the right time.  If I listen to God's promptings, I will know when it is right.  Maybe even inviting them to church with me, or to a small group, or maybe even a garden party.  We have to be willing to invite others into our fellowship.

This is what the Elders have been discussing and praying about.  CrossPoint has to minister to our members, we have to take care of our fellowship, but we have to reach out to others.  They are not going to just walk in the door, we have to bring them in.

Jesus died for us, are we willing to extend grace to our neighbor?   I, personally would like to stay in my comfort zone, but Jesus called us to spread his word to every corner of the world.  Even our own neighborhood.  I guess this is part of what picking up my cross and following him means.