TomRawls.com Blog http://www.tomrawls.com Sat, 31 Jul 2010 19:02:05 +0000 SmartWeb Content Management System First Impressions team http://www.tomrawls.com/smartweb/tr-blog/blog/post/33

Our First Impressions team are awesome! I love to talk about them everywhere I go because they do such a great job. These are the guys who drive the minibuses, serve teas and coffees, serve as parking attendants and host on our front doors. This week I have asked our team leader, Rebekah Loades, to share some insights for us in growing such a great team.

 

 

The BIG ask! People are just waiting to be asked to serve on team.

 

Ever tried to get someone to try the first piece of a freshly baked cake? What about asking someone to test drive a Nissan 350z? I’m sure most of us wouldn’t find it difficult to ask people to do either of those things!

 

How about asking someone to serve on your team? Does that bring out hives or make you sweat big time? Why? Do you think that they might say no or that it isn’t very exciting what you’re asking them to do?

 

Well either way people are often afraid to ask if it’s okay to serve on team! A lot of the time they don’t want to be an inconvenience to you or they don’t think that there is a need - you seem to be coping okay on your own and don’t need any more help.

 

Why did you get involved in the first place? Most people want to be a part of something bigger than them and feel like they are making a difference in our world - being involved in team is the way that they can achieve this.

 

Make it easy for people to be involved in what you are doing and start by doing the ASKING!

 

Some points to consider when doing the BIG Ask:

1.       How do you talk about your team? How you talk about the team will say a lot. Are you enthusiastic and passionate when you talk about it or do you say things like ‘I know it’s not the most interesting thing to do’ or ‘It is a really messy job but someone has to do it I guess’. This kind of language will turn people off straight away before you even ask if they want to be involved! So talk about some of the effects of your team tell them some great stories  – ‘It was worth getting up early to make all the tea and coffee because when I served one lady last week she spoke to me about the miracles that God has been doing in her life – that’s why I love doing what I do’.

2.       Does your team look like its having fun? If your team all look bored and grumpy or like they all woke up on the wrong side of the bed then people won’t want to join it! Inject some fun and create an environment that people want to be a part of. Have Fun! 

3.       Is it easy to be part of your team? What have you done to open up your team for people to join and be a part of? People want to feel included and like they will fit in. Do all of your team wear matching t-shirts? Well what if someone doesn’t feel comfortable in a T-Shirt as they always wear a smart shirt and tie or they are too big to fit into the sizes available? What have you done to allow them to still feel a part of the team, to still feel needed and to still be a part of something bigger than them?

]]> Tom Rawls Fri, 09 Jul 2010 20:00:38 +0000 The Power of 5 Minutes http://www.tomrawls.com/smartweb/tr-blog/blog/post/32 This week I have invited one of my Associate Pastors, Gemma Neill, to share some of her thoughts on developing leaders:

Having served on team with Pastor Tom Rawls for several years now I am continuously inspired by not only his passion for, but his gifting, in developing leaders. I recall a conversation when one church leader asked Pastor Tom where he had ‘found’ so many great leaders for his church, to which Pastor Tom replied, “I didn’t find them, I grew them”.

 

Pastor Tom’s whole hearted commitment to growing us into all we can be means he has intentionally established a clear and effective leadership development system. One of the most impacting strategies I have observed him to use is what I call, the 5 minute coaching moments.

 

Pastor Tom is able to make the most of a 5 minute conversation with us to bring encouragement and instruction to our life, or to provide guidance on strategies and wisdom for HR issues within our area of responsibility.

 

Coaching is a time consuming task and Pastor Tom has invested thousands of hours into developing us, however, coaching doesn’t always have to packaged in a 45minute 1:2:1 meeting at Starbucks! (Although, Pastor Tom does love a vanilla latte with an extra shot!) Significant direction and guidance can be bought to those you are coaching when you stop for 5minutes when you pass them on the stairs, as you share a car journey together, or grab a few moments at the end of an evening.

 

I would suggest that the reason Pastor Tom is able to make the most of moments like this is linked with other systems he has in place in church life:

Weekly Headlines – he knows the highlights of what has happened in every area of church life within the last seven days so is ready and able to discuss this with us at any given moment Other reporting systems – Monthly and quarterly reports provide additional qualitative and quantitative detail so he can focus his input on specific issues Personal growth – every member of the team has a personal growth plan, updates from which are provided on a monthly basis enabling Pastor Tom to bring guidance and advice as required Commitment to leadership development – Pastor Tom’s desire to see us grow and develop is clear to see. His earnest desire to bring out the best in us and invest the wisdom he has gleaned in over 30years of ministry keeps our growth at the forefront of his mind meaning he never misses an opportunity Formal and informal socialising – not only does Pastor Tom work directly with us through team meetings, but he and Pastor Denise regularly open up their home to us for meals, they eat at our homes, we go on cinema trips. All providing opportunity to build relationship, from which flows everything else Prayer – Pastor Tom is in regular prayer for each of us and our families enabling him to bring not only practical coaching advice, but powerful prophetic impact, shaping our lives and our leadership.

 

It’s amazing what can be achieved in just 5 minutes!

]]> Tom Rawls Thu, 27 May 2010 21:47:15 +0000 Being a male role model for 'the fatherless generation' http://www.tomrawls.com/smartweb/tr-blog/blog/post/31 I am so thankful to the committed and professional kids team that we have here at Proclaimers. This week I have invited the leader of our Kids and Families Department, Mark Hodder, to share his thoughts on why it’s so important for men to be a role model to what’s been dubbed ‘the fatherless generation’:

We are living in a world filled with huge uncertainty, dangerous insecurity and fading integrity; a world where children need their fathers more than ever before, and yet, it is this generation that has been labelled as 'The Fatherless Generation'. Statistics prove that divorce rates are rocketing, single-parent families are becoming far too common and fathers are simply abandoning their children.
 
A devoted father encourages, supports, protects, nurtures, guides and loves. Without these things, how can a child overcome life's challenges, grow with confidence in who they are and fulfil their God-given potential?
 
Never before has there been such a need for men to rise up within the church and lead the way as role models for the next generation. I believe that we can be those role models. Men of faith, strength, love and compassion, prepared to reach out and be an influence for good in the lives of those who desperately need someone to demonstrate what true masculinity is. Men, passionate about the next generation and committed to doing all they can to help these children become all that they can be.

]]> Tom Rawls Thu, 20 May 2010 15:21:12 +0000 The role of the Executive Pastor at Proclaimers http://www.tomrawls.com/smartweb/tr-blog/blog/post/30 The Role of an Executive Pastor

The use of the title or term Executive Pastor at Proclaimers:

The term Executive Pastor has been in use in the church for many decades and is used to describe the role of a person appointed to assist the senior pastor. It is a term used in large church contexts to describe the role of a specific person designated to free the Senior Pastor from the many day to day administrative duties in church life as the church grows.

Every church is led by a Pastor. The Pastor's role is to shepherd the flock, however, it is not possible for one person to shepherd a large and growing number of people and to do so effectively. There has to be some delegation of work and function. Spreading out roles and responsibilities reduces the burden on the Pastor's shoulders so they are free to fulfil their primary responsibility in teaching, vision casting, directing the church, coaching and developing leaders, creating culture and caring for people.

The Executive Pastor is appointed to shoulder many of the day to day responsibilities in the church freeing the senior pastor to do what he’s been called to do. The Executive Pastor is there to help the Senior Pastor to get the work of the church done effectively, efficiently and quickly. Their role is to make sure that every aspect of the church’s ministry impacts effectively and according to design.

In a large and growing church every person counts and it is the vision of our church to see that every person is cared for well. To achieve this goal the role of the Executive Pastor is crucial.

Job Description for the Executive Pastor

Vision Implementation
Under the direction of the Senior Pastor, the Executive Pastor is to co-ordinate and organise the programs of the church, in line with the established goals of the church.

Overseeing Daily Activities
The Executive Pastor leads all the day-to-day activities, thereby allowing the Senior Pastor to concentrate on the overall spiritual growth of the church.

Administrative Activities
Under the Senior Pastor's guidance, and in consultation with appropriate committees and staff, the Executive Pastor has to prepare the church budget and manage it. He/She is tasked to relate to others on staff to ensure they operate effectively in their roles and according to their stated goals.

Disciplining and Nurturing
The Executive Pastor's duty also includes coaching individuals and developing their capacity as leaders and disciples of Jesus Christ. He/She is to train and motivate the team, so that the church sends effective leaders into the world to carry forward the message of Christ and His church.

Helping with General Pastoral Duties
Often times the Executive Pastor will handle areas of general pastoral care which may include counselling and general advice offered to members; he/she would perform this ministry alongside others in the church who have as a responsibility for the care of others. His/her role is crucial in allowing the senior pastor to be able to carry out his role of pastoring in a large and growing church.

Facilitate Short-term Ministry Projects
The Executive Pastor is to manage teams of people for short-term ministry projects such as building programs, special church events or community involvements.

In a large and growing church the role of an Executive pastor is crucial if a Senior Pastor is to function effectively. I thank God for the role that Pastor Owen Morgan plays in our church here in Norwich.

Tom Rawls
Senior Minister ¦ Proclaimers

I want to acknowledge help on this articel from Priya Johnson at Buzzle.com and Owen Morgan who functions as Executive Pastor at Proclaimers

]]> Tom Rawls Mon, 19 Apr 2010 14:43:04 +0000 Externally Focused 3 http://www.tomrawls.com/smartweb/tr-blog/blog/post/29 It concerns me when all Christians can do is criticise others. Our criticism starts with people in the world and we end up being critics of the church as well. Criticism is a dangerous disease. In turn we condemn others by our judgements.

I heard a quote once from a guy called John Haggai and he said, "It don't take much size to criticise." I know it sounds cheesy but it also holds a profound truth; critics are small minded people.

Why is it when faced with a woman caught in the very act of adultery we want to pick up rocks and kill her. Not only is this action motivated by law but it reflects a religious spirit that is cruel, calouse and cares little for people.

Jesus said we were to be salt to the earth, to add flavour, be an influence and by our very presence seek to preserve the goodness and kindness of God in the earth.

Jesus said, "I don't condemn you." Why can't we look past our own personal preferences and see people? Why cant we look past the sin and see the person? Why does someones lifestyle offend us, threaten us or make us angry? Sinners sin because they are sinners; get over it.

In today's world we will see the horror of sin and stand face to face with the consequences of immorality in the people around us. But we can never forget the words of Jesus found in John 3:17, "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." NIV

It's time we put down our stones of criticism and start to focus our energies on reaching out to a people "caught in the act ..." To love them not condemn them to engage with people not judge them and to connect with them and not try and kill them.

Romans 5:20, "But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound." KJV

Would love to hear your comments. TR 

 

]]> Tom Rawls Mon, 29 Mar 2010 11:21:39 +0000 Externally Focused 2 http://www.tomrawls.com/smartweb/tr-blog/blog/post/28

Matthew 9:13 (The Message): "Jesus, overhearing, shot back, "Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick? Go figure out what this Scripture means: 'I'm after mercy, not religion.' I'm here to invite outsider, not to coddle insiders."

I find it interesting the Christian mindset of "us and them." Jesus calls them outsiders only to differentiate the focus of His mission. It's not a put down to anyone. He is certainly not judging those he calls outsiders.

If anything Jesus is having a shot at the religious leaders of His day for making their focus the insiders! Jesus is making it clear what His focus is and in so doing makes it clear what our focus should be as well.

We must as a church look outwards - we must be externally focused not internally focused. We have to spend more time thinking in terms of how to reach our world not how to keep Christians from straying away from the fold.

Shame on Christians who needed to be coddled - these incredibly high maintenance people who seem to love their problems more than they love Jesus, who exaggerate how huge their need is but spend little to no time exaggerating how great God grace is.

If we look at the simple breakdown of the scripture we see Jesus talking about MERCY for OUTSIDERS and merely RELIGON for INSIDERS.

So ... listen closely; how do we become insiders who move in MERCY and not religion? The answer is by keeping an eye out for outsiders and showing mercy but at the same time resist the temptation to coddle those in the church encouraging them rather to maturity.

Coddling people doesn't prepare them for real life, where as mercy causes people to open up to the Saviour. Pastor shepherd the sheep, lead the sheep and feed the sheep. We nurse those who are sick and labour until Christ is formed in them. As Christian leader though we must resist the temptation to coddle.

Coddle: Dictionary.com says, "... to baby, to indulge, to treat indulgently, to pamper, to spoil." Coddling people keeps them immature and unformed. Coddling spoils people and we become indulgent leaders while keeping the flock childish, juvenile and under developed.

Paul encourages something quite different:

Ephesians 4: 14 - 16, "No prolonged infancies among us, please. We'll not tolerate babes in the woods, small children who are an easy mark for impostors. God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it in love—like Christ in everything. We take our lead from Christ, who is the source of everything we do. He keeps us in step with each other. His very breath and blood flow through us, nourishing us so that we will grow up healthy in God, robust in love."

Indicative of Christian maturity is an eye to the outsider. Mature people don't or shouldn't need coddling, we need to desire the mercy and grace to reach out to our world with the message of God's good news.  

]]> Tom Rawls Wed, 24 Mar 2010 16:42:29 +0000 Being Externally Focused in our approach to others http://www.tomrawls.com/smartweb/tr-blog/blog/post/26 Colossians 4:5-6, "Be wise in the way you act towards outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone."

Our churches as well as our conversation should be externally focused. The great misdirection of the church has been to concentrate upon itself. We some times feel we must be judge and jury to the world around us and we use people and their lifestyles to justify our speech.

The Message Bible says it this way, "Use your heads as you live and work among outsiders. Don't miss a trick. Make the most of every opportunity. Be gracious in your speech. The goal is to bring out the best in others in a conversation, not put them down, not cut them out."

A compliment would go so much further than criticism. Being gracious in our speech is the encouragement of scripture. We cannot thunder forth the "word of the Lord" to a nation and its people who no longer recognise the voice of the Lord. We need to be Jesus to them and speak in a way that "... brings out the best in others."

]]> Tom Rawls Tue, 23 Mar 2010 09:08:26 +0000 WATER 4 WATER http://www.tomrawls.com/smartweb/tr-blog/blog/post/25 We are delighted to announce that we are partnering with Metamorphic International to run the Water 4 Water Campaign in the UK. This is something that your church could get involved in too so I have asked our Executive Pastor Owen Morgan to let you know what it’s all about:

We’re teaming up with Metamorphic ahead of World Water Day in March to raise money for to provide pump wells for clean water in developing nations. Lindsay Clark (Metamorphic International) and his team have come up with a great way for lots of churches and organisations to get involved. They will provide bottles of water (500ml) which are branded as Water 4 Water. People donate £20 for one bottle of water. That £20 will result in 6 people having clean water for life. We intend to run this to coincide with World Water Day on the 22nd March.

We will be running one or two church wide events but on the whole we will be encouraging connect groups and teams to create opportunities to raise the money. We will also be encouraging people to get their workplace involved as well.

Did you know that 1 in 6 people don’t have access to clean safe drinking water, that’s 1 billion people. 1.8 million children die of diarreah as a result of contaminated water each year. The goal is to plant wells through local churches primarily in Cambodia, Laos and Kenya.  This is part of a world wide initiative to help over 100,000 people gain access to clean safe drinking water.  The gift of a community well will transform the lives of families and will open the door for local church leaders to build relationships.  In both Cambodia and Laos pastors are persecuted and in many cases jailed for their faith, past projects have shown that the wells can lead to these pastors becoming key and respected leaders within the community.

One of the things we love about Metamorphic is the way they combine Aid and Development projects such as this with Church Planting. All the wells are provided through local churches. Lindsay Clark has been a great friend and advisor to our church for many years and to Tom and Denise personally for even more!

Last year we partnered with Metamorphic and saw 30 wells planted in Cambodia. Our church loved rising to the challenge of putting on creative and fun social events which resulted in people’s lives being transformed.

If you are interested in partnering alongside us please get in contact with our missions team leader John Lee

Johnlee@proclaimerschurch.com
Mobile: 07746855114
Office:  (+ 44) 1603 740064
www.metamorphic-water.org/

]]> Owen Morgan Thu, 14 Jan 2010 15:54:16 +0000 CONNECTED WITH PEOPLE http://www.tomrawls.com/smartweb/tr-blog/blog/post/24 Being connected with today is being connected with people. 

It’s easy to connect with today when it’s all about people.

The heart of God is all about people and His relationship with them. For those of us who are the redeemed it’s all about others – it’s all about people – it’s all about loving God and loving people – it’s all about learning to connect with God and then connecting God with people.

It’s all about people and being generous with your time, your attention (some people are just soooooo busy!) your affirmation, your resources and your faith.

Our mission in life is reach people and to introduce them to Christ and get them connected with His church. Sounds simple but people connect people. I mean how can you win people to Christ when you don’t even know them. We just have to develop relationship and rapport with those around us and stop waiting for the "divine connections."

One of the most integral parts of church and its culture is belonging. People want to belong to something, they want a relationship with God and friends and they want to be part of a great family. They want to be a part of a vision bigger than themselves and work together with others of like mind and purpose.

People need people (sorry Barbara!). People need to belong; people were not meant to be isolated and alone.

God says in His word Psalms 68:6, “God sets the lonely in families” and we are that family. Open up your hearts, Jesus says in Matthew 5, “Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.”

Get out more, make more time to connect with others, realise that others are our priority. Connect with people today.

]]> Tom Rawls Fri, 11 Dec 2009 11:43:11 +0000 MOTIVATED BY THE CAUSE OF CHRIST http://www.tomrawls.com/smartweb/tr-blog/blog/post/23 Being connected with God’s today is being motivated by His cause.

The cause of Christ is the Matrix upon which all we do in church must flow. A matrix is something that constitutes the place or point from which something else originates, takes form, or develops.

I believe a church validates its reason for existing by fulfilling this great cause. If we ignore it we too will be ignored. If we seek to fulfill other agendas and make them a priority then we too will be relegated by others agendas.

In Matthew 9:12-13 Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

It means that everything we do as church must flow from this one cause. The cause of Christ – to seek and saved that which is lost – to testify to the truth (John 18:37).

I love that scripture in Acts 20: 24, “However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me – the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.”

Imagine a church totally motivated by this cause of Christ. Imagine the areas a church like this will touch. A city, a Nation - all of Europe; maybe even the world!

Luke 19:9-10, "Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."

]]> Tom Rawls Wed, 09 Dec 2009 17:02:57 +0000 THANK GOD FOR THE PAST... http://www.tomrawls.com/smartweb/tr-blog/blog/post/22 We thank God for the past as we declare vision for today.

We thank Him for the good seed planted, we honour past hero’s of the faith, we speak well of those who have gone before us and we thank God for their visionary leadership.

But we are not called to live with their ghosts! We must declare a vision for today, we must be active to build a culture current with today and we must live and move in what we call today!

Isaiah 43:18-19, "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland."

Matthew 13:52, "He said to them, "Therefore every teacher of the law who has been instructed about the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old."

]]> Tom Rawls Tue, 08 Dec 2009 19:17:16 +0000 NOT ABOUT YESTERDAY http://www.tomrawls.com/smartweb/tr-blog/blog/post/21 The church is not about yesterday.

Psalms 118:24, “This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

The church is not a relic nor is it an artifact to be commented on in a blasé fashion; the church is not a tourist attraction, it’s not about the past, old ways or old thinking.

How dare the church allow the world to relegate this awesome church to the past. How can we allow the church to be relegated to a place of irrelevance.

The church is about right now. We are a light to the world and salt to the earth. We need to be a people who are on the front pages of papers – we need to go public with this.

The church is about living in today, acting inside today and more than that it’s about creating tomorrow and being prophetic, building a future, and creating a future for our church and city.

Ephesians 3:10-11 says, "His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Have your say...

]]> Tom Rawls Fri, 04 Dec 2009 12:40:11 +0000 THE NEED TO BE MATURE IN CHRIST http://www.tomrawls.com/smartweb/tr-blog/blog/post/19 A few words on maturity:

What is maturity? Let me tell you what it’s not … Maturity is not being able to tell us what the Mercy Seat is, quote the 10 commandments, be able to explain the 10 plagues of Moses, or knowing who the Anti-Christ is; Maturity is not being able to tell us all about the Temple, the table of shew bread, the ark of the covenant, and the shittim wood. That is knowledge – it is all good bible knowledge but this is not maturity.

Like in life, maturity is all about being able to fully function in the midst of growing relationships, making good and godly decisions, perseverance through difficult times, becoming an emotionally stable person working through the scars and hurts of the past to become whole and functional. Being mature is resourcing yourself and living out of the purposes of God serving His agendas. Being mature is having “the mind of Christ” [1 Corinthians 2: 16] and living according to it.

Let me quote from Bill Hybell’s latest book “Reveal”: “The church is extremely important in the early stages of [spiritual development], but its main activities—like weekend services and small groups—decline in importance as people [grow closer to Christ]. The church becomes less of a place to go for spiritual development and to find spiritual relationships, and more of a platform that provides serving opportunities.”

Hybell’s is not denigrating or demeaning the role of the church – He is redefining from a biblical perspective the mission of the church – the mature are those who no longer look to the church for “ … the meat of the word.” They have become mature enough to now feed themselves they are responsible to resource themselves and in turn be a part of looking after the spiritual babies! Their spiritual fervor is derived from being fully engaged in the great Mission of Christ! They live to see others coming to Christ in salvation!

Let me read an excerpt from Getting fed: By Pastor Steven Furtick – he quotes Proverbs 26:15, “The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; He is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.”

We all know that one of top 3 reasons people leave churches is the (infamous) claim: “I wasn’t getting fed there.”Pastor Steven says, “Maybe you weren’t! Maybe the church set the table, presented the bread of life, and you were too stinking lazy to bring it back to your mouth, chew it, swallow, and digest it, like a big boy. You know, I don’t mind helping my 2 year old eat his Happy Meal. But if he can’t pick up a fork and bring the food to his mouth by age 20, we have a problem."

Churches are filled with those who have known Christ for decades, and still need a bib, a high chair, and want Daddy to do “open wide, here comes the airplane” tricks with the fork before shoving it into their mouths.

I love the way the Message Bible say it in Ephesians 4: 14 – 16, “No prolonged infancies among us, please…. God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it in love – like Christ in everything. We take our lead from Christ, who is the source of everything we do.”

Why are you challenging us to spiritual maturity? - Because it is an absolute essential for a truly 21st Century Church.

Being driven by the mission of Christ is a non negotiable to the church, it is the focus and driving heart of the 21st Century Church. The church was never meant to remain childish, at a standstill or static inwardly looking or introspective.

The mighty church of God is always maturing and growing taking ground, pounding down the gates of Hell marching to the sounds of today reaching people who Jesus came into the world to save! For us to “tell the truth in love – like Christ in everything”

]]> Tom Rawls Wed, 02 Dec 2009 12:19:48 +0000 EXTERNALLY FOCUSSED http://www.tomrawls.com/smartweb/tr-blog/blog/post/18 Rick Warren said, “God has not promised to bless your agenda; He invites you to join Him in His agenda. God's agenda is the church. It's not anything else, it's the church.”

I don't know how people can get it so wrong. God's agenda is the church, the bride of Christ, the body which He both acts and speaks! Its the church.

Jesus is building a church that thinks like Him, feels like Him and acts like Him in reaching out to the lost. Jesus is building a church that speaks like Him, sounds like him and loves the lost like Him.

Jesus is extending His energies to build this kind of church – He has promised to build this kind of church in an atmosphere of war and the Hell’s gates will not prevail. Jesus is building a 21st century Church with a heart for the lost.

Ephesians 1:23 says it all; “The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church. The church is Christ's body, in which he speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with his presence.”

His church was always meant to be a contemporary outwardly focused church – it was always meant to be externally focused on the needs of the world. As Christians we need to embark on the mission of Christ, serve the purposes of God and join Him in His journey through this world and in the process we need to learn how to resource ourselves and live in maturity. 

]]> Tom Rawls Sat, 28 Nov 2009 17:54:10 +0000 WE NEED TO GET OUT MORE" http://www.tomrawls.com/smartweb/tr-blog/blog/post/17 We need to get out more:
What was Paul doing in Athens anyway? He had been run out of the last town he was speaking in and was waiting for his mates to come and get him. In the mean time he was out walking the city, tourist map in one hand and a digital camera in the other. He was waiting for his friends and in the process he was out finding coffee shops, wine bars and restaurants for lunch. He was doing the tourist thing in Athens!

So many of us stay home or hang out with other Christians, the more we do this the more our passion for the lost is blunted. Our zeal to see people connect with eternity is dulled and our fervor to reach the lost is reduced and our voice to the world becomes muted!

We need to get out more and see people walking around; we need to start conversations with people and connect with them. [Random acts of generosity to show Jesus is alive]

We somehow feel that religious convictions are a personal issue and never to be shared in public. We’ve been taught it’s not polite talk if we mention our faith or our relationship with Jesus. How demonic is that?

Many in the church live in another world, another time and another century. They speak another language, dress in a fashion that no longer relates. I am not talking about a “trendier than thou church” but the church has remained helplessly immobile because they have failed to shift it communications paradigms and as a result has been made redundant to the predominance of society today; they are relegated to the past, boring, irrelevant, meaningless and extraneous to today!

I admit that communication in a 21st Century context is elaborate, if we seek to truly touch our world we will need to understand the world we live in so we can speak to them.

Craig Detweiler and Barry Taylor wrote in their new book “A matrix of meaning: Finding God in Popular Culture,” these startling words;

“We embrace pop culturebecause we believe it offers a refreshing, alternative route to a Jesus who for many has been domesticated, declawed, and kept under wraps. As the Christian church has often adopted the role of moral policeman, pop culture has assumed the role of spiritual revolutionary, subverting and frustrating those religious authorities who desperately cling to black-and-white answers in an increasingly gray world…We believe a bold, ancient, radical Christ stands on the sidelines of the culture wars, waiting "with arms wide open," eager to engage our hearts, our minds, and our culture.”
[A Matrix of Meanings: Finding God in Popular Culture]

I believe that you can’t reach a world whose culture you hate, abhor  and separate yourself from it – Richard Leonard is a Jesuit priest with a PhD in Film and Theology and he writes in his book, “Movies that Matter: Reading Film Through the Lens of Faith”:

"Given the power of media, becoming conversant with its mixed messages is an essential tool for Christian life. This involves the process of enculturation—discovering where Christ is already active within a given culture. Enculturation has traditionally been about uncovering Christian resonances in faraway places and exotic rituals. Yet the risen Christ sends us out to our media-saturated culture [of the 21st Century] as well, and in it we labor with Christ to expose the signs of God’s saving love already present there.”

He continues; “We cannot speak to a culture we do not know or one we despise… [or one we are afraid of] we have to learn its language and discover how Christ has already gone ahead of us, enculturated in some of media’s values, stories and style."

Here is the crux of the 21st Century church; Jesus has already gone ahead of us into the world and there are many signs of His presence there. There are present in this world tens of thousands of indications He has gone before us preparing hearts to respond to the message of salvation.

He is the same yesterday today and forever. 

His intent is that NOW through the church the wisdom and love of God should be made known!

]]> Tom Rawls Fri, 27 Nov 2009 18:43:45 +0000 LESSONS FROM PAUL IN ATHENS 2 http://www.tomrawls.com/smartweb/tr-blog/blog/post/16 Paul picked out a statue dedicated to “The Unknown God” and begins to preach.

Paul was able to spot the Christian resonance in the midst of all the idolatry, he was insightful enough to see that God had gone before him and prepared an intelligent platform from which to speak about God the maker of Heaven and Earth.

The world around us is full of such resonance; we just need to find it. I believe that Christ has gone before us into all the world and we just need to hear Him and see Him. Yet many Christians and churches have retreated from today’s culture. Instead of incarnating themselves into the this exciting world they become defensive and hurl abuse, get angry at people, picket institutions or worse still go into hiding, have prayer meetings and keep separate from the vulgar herd. They spend more time rebuking the Devil than they do exalting Christ in the midst of popular culture.

Many simply lose the ability to relate to people around us. Others feel intimidated by people and don’t know what to do much less what to say. The challenge is to not only ACT like Christians but to REACT like Christians becoming Christ to our modern 21st Century world.

A shocking reality is that this retreat from TODAY has led to the stagnation of churches so much so that many of them have lost their relevance and appeal to a world in desperate need for a Savior! Their Jesus is scared of the big bad world. Their brand of religion has no answers for the world today; this church has become silent, sullen, reactionary and angry.

Remember pop culture is indisputably the most extensive and influential theological training system in the world today! Engage with TODAY, Jesus promised to be with us even until the end of the ages. Believe to see His presence, search for His resonance and check out His finger prints all over today's culture.

Find the "unknown god" in the midst of your world, communicate and engage with people; start a conversation. Jesus is there and simply needs to be found by us so we can lead others to HIM!

]]> Tom Rawls Thu, 26 Nov 2009 15:42:09 +0000 LESSONS FROM PAUL IN ATHENS 1 http://www.tomrawls.com/smartweb/tr-blog/blog/post/15 Paul was asked to speak to everyone assembled on Mars Hill. He began with absolute brilliance; Acts 17:22-23, “Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you.”

As Paul addressed the Athenians he didn’t begin with criticism, he wasn’t judgmental, he didn’t stand and berate them for being idol worshippers, no personal attacks, he didn’t mock them, there were no picket lines, he didn’t appear angry at them. He wasn’t telling them to repent or they would burn in Hell.

He began by complementing them! This was no clever trick used by a savvy public speaker to get people on board either. It’s all about the grace of God! The same grace of God extended to us is also extended to the world around us! Did you get that? God’s grace is extended to all because all have sinned! It is not right for us then to condemn the world because of its sin!  I have a proving text from scripture too!

John 3:17-18, “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.”

God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world because of its sin! This comes as such a shock to many! He came into the world so He could save the world! He came with grace and truth. The world stands condemned already why? Because they have not believed in the name of the God’s Son Jesus.

Jesus came to save. This is our mission too; not to bring condemnation and criticize their way of life or to make judgmental remarks! I know this will take some by surprise but it is true.

Jesus came to save not condemn!

Why, why & why?
Why do Christians appear to be so angry, negative, and so full of rules?
Why do so many regard the church as self righteous and hypocritical?
Why is the church almost always known by what it is against?
Why is the church portrayed as people with so many rules and regulations? 
Why is the church always taking an nonconstructive stance against issues, people and their sin?

Because we’ve lost sight of Jesus and forget God’s great love for people. Joseph Prince calls this the “scandal of GRACE!” I agree and believe the 21st Century Church in Europe is operating out of this scandelous grace. The practice of this grace is radical, impacting and powerful; just like Jesus was.

]]> Tom Rawls Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:54:27 +0000 BEING DISTRESSED... http://www.tomrawls.com/smartweb/tr-blog/blog/post/14 Acts 17:16, “… [Paul] was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols.”

We are often times distressed by what we see in our world today. Separating ourselves from the world is though is not a choice we can make. In fact it is opposite to the words of Jesus, who said,

John 17:15, “My prayer is not that You take them out of the world but that You protect them from the evil one.” And again He says John 17:18, “As You sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world”.

God is not calling us to a monastic life of silence and separation from our fast paced and ever changing world. We are not called to be so busy that we miss opportunities to engage with our fellow travelers. Church is not a place for us to retreat to from the “big bad ooga boogga” world around us. In fact the church was never designed to become a refuge from the world.

The desire of Jesus the Master Builder and Architect of the church is exactly the opposite! His design is that we find ourselves right smack in the middle of society, our generation and the world at large!

When it comes to feeling distressed … I think it is actually good for us to feel this kind of distress and allow our hearts to be moved by what moves God’s heart.

Look at the word “distressed;” In the Greek this word implies that Paul was stirred, sharpened or stimulated. It is an old verb used only once here in the book of Acts. What Paul saw stirred him, and sharpened his ability to speak. It was in fact an irritation that moved him to action.

21st Century church people are also distressed and stirred by the hardship they see in their community. 21st Century Christians are vitally aware of the desperate needs of people around them and regard their journey as a mission. The 21st Century Church are a people motivated by the very cause of Christ.

A prayer …
May our lives, our intellect and our emotions be stirred and distressed. May our communication skills be sharpened and our attention to the world around us be stimulated so we see and hear as Christ sees and hears.

May we become irritated with church baggage from decades and centuries ago and be stimulated by the Spirit of God to reach out in genuine love accompanied by authentic actions.

May we be galvanized into radical love to touch and impact people around us who are worshiping unknown gods and introduce them to the God of all ages Maker of Heaven and Earth. 

]]> Tom Rawls Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:54:06 +0000 RESONANCE OF CHRIST IN CULTURE http://www.tomrawls.com/smartweb/tr-blog/blog/post/13 Film, TV and music are powerful forces that have created the 21st Century. 21st century Christians believe that God who invades both time and space has also gone before us and has prepared the hearts of people to receive the good news about Christ.

Rather than fearing modern culture – instead of taking a steady retreat from pop-culture should we not become the timeless church of the 21st Century of today and see that modern thoughts and philosophies present an opportunity for us to speak of Jesus Christ?

Allow me to quote Terry Mattingly from his book Pop Goes Religion... “If you study the statistics, the typical modern [European] is much more likely to be exposed to a new religious insight or doctrine at the mall or the movie multiplex than in a traditional sanctuary. This is how modern [Europeans] spend their time, spend their money and make their decisions. Day by day, they have evolved into mass-media disciples.”

Should we not feel comfortable walking the malls and movie theatres invading today and bring grace and truth? As we walk our cities should we not have a sense that Christ has gone before us? Should we not actually be searching for those moments of divine connection?

Let me quote George Barna & Mark Hatch in their book Boiling Point... “The world of entertainment and mass communications through television, radio, contemporary music, movies, magazines, art, video games and pop literature is indisputably the most extensive and influential theological training system in the world.”

Should we not see the multifaceted world of communications as our world and isn’t it time we stepped up to the plate and become the story tellers of our day – the translators of our day? Rather than retreating from this world should we not seek to become the articulators of truth and theology – should we not see the resonance and boldly convey God’s truth?

Christ has gone before us. If we closely look around us we will see that there is Christian resonance. There are distinct signs that Christ has prepared a platform for us to communicate – if we are going to touch our 21st Century world as a 21st Century Church we must recognize where Christ has gone before us – we need to see the signs of His presence.

]]> Tom Rawls Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:59:50 +0000 21st CENTURY CHURCH IN EUROPE http://www.tomrawls.com/smartweb/tr-blog/blog/post/12 The 21st Century church in Europe is no longer a snapshot of black and white on paper, it’s not even a buy one get one print free deal. The 21st Century Church is a cinematic extravaganza that blows people’s minds away just like it did on the day of Pentecost.

The 21st Century Church is not mono chrome its techno color, its 3D, full graphic 128 bit color. 21st Century church is extreme sports not golf, its MTV not Songs of Praise.

The 21st Century church in Europe is visual, ocular, explicit, and more than realistic. It’s no longer the pulpit or the alter in the sanctuary it is now the catwalk, the big screen and the main stages of society. The church is no longer hidden in obscurity but now out and shining, going public on the front pages of the press.

The 21st century church is no longer liturgical and ritualistic but overflowing with creativity, innovation and passion! The 21st Century church is alive, adaptable, edible, touchable and flexible! It is original, imaginative, inspiring, artistic, inventive and resourceful. It is ingenious, clever and resourceful. It is relentless in hearing the heartbeat of a culture and doing all it can to touch that world.

The 21st Century Church is loud, dynamic, vibrant and full of vocal passion, it not just stereo but defined, Spirit enabled, spirit impacting vivid Dolby digital surround sound with heart thrumming THX technology.

The 21st Century church is not a devotional, internally looking community with monastic

tendency desperately afraid or suspicious of today’s culture but an incredible externally focused agency seeking and finding Christian resonance in the most remarkable of places.

I close with this, Paul the Apostle was an expert at touching his world and he said these words; 1 Corinthians 9:22-23, “To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel that I may share in its blessings.”

The church in Europe is alive an well. The church in Europe is growing; numerically, in influence and is beginning to impact culture, business, the arts and education.

The church in Europe is alive! I can hear the sound of a generation rising!

]]> Tom Rawls Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:55:10 +0000