So, in case you haven’t heard, I’ve been doing some daily coaching videos over the past few weeks. It occurs to me you may be wondering why you should bother watching them. So, I thought I’d go through some of the reasons and ideas behind the videos.
First, maybe you should understand why I care. Our whole goal as a church is making disciples who do justice, love mercy and walk humbly. These are not things that are accomplished in an hour on Sunday morning. These happen in our day to day lives the other 167 hours of the week. In order for the Kingdom of God to advance, we must be disciples who advance that Kingdom into the darkness.
It’s encouraging to shine your light around other lights. But it is not the other lights who need your light. They are already illuminated. Your light is needed where there is no light shining.
Now, if you haven’t tried shining your light into the dark spaces that surround us, you may not know this, but it can be a challenge. It’s not always easy or comfortable. But it is always necessary. Sometimes you can feel like a lone ranger, out there in the wild all by yourself. I don’t want you to feel that way.
That’s the why behind our videos. I want to give you something each day that reminds you what we talked about on Sunday as well as applies that truth to our lives today. I have no interest in trying to get you to watch more of me. I’m not a narcissist who needs your attention. Instead, I want so badly for you to be His disciple living out His mission during the week.
You may not know this, but you have a tremendous opportunity that I don’t have. Most of the people (not all, I have my 6 – 8 too, just like you do) that surround me are already believers. Many of you live in the opposite situation. You are surrounded by many people who don’t yet believe. You have been strategically placed where you are. God has led you on the path the has you where you are right now. And it’s on purpose. You may not feel like there is a purpose on some days, you may feel like you’re wasting away your life. But, minutes, hours and days that are invested in the Kingdom of God are never wasted.
That’s why I care. I want you to feel encouraged, equipped and ready to be the light you were created to be.
So now, here are the three big reasons behind doing the daily coaching videos:
Daily Application
Information is a good thing, but if that information is never applied to our lives it is worthless. We aren’t defined by what we know, we are defined by what we do. Being and becoming a disciple is a daily pursuit. It’s the daily application of the truth that we know that shows the world we belong to Christ. We can have the best intentions in the world on Sunday, but if those intentions don’t affect our Monday, they are worthless. But, if we apply these truths to our Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, we are changed and we have the opportunity to be world changers.
Community Building
Another reason we are doing these is to help us build community. If we are all walking this journey together, day in and day out, it will draw us closer. Even better, we are praying that some of you will start getting together at different times throughout the week to watch a video and then talk about how you’re going to apply it to your life.
And, even one step better than that? We are praying that you will build a small community of believers where you work who will watch them together every day. Why are we praying for that? Because there may be other kingdom warriors around you who can support and encourage you. And you may all be able to work together to shine the light of the gospel brightly in your workplace. Or, you may lead someone to become a Christ-follower. Then you can encourage and equip them right then and there!
Wouldn’t it be amazing to have a micro-community in your workplace that can encourage you? Wouldn’t it be awesome to have 2-3 people you meet with during your coffee break to watch a 5 minute video and then talk about how you’re going to live it out during the day? We think so. Do you know why that would be so awesome? Because you would be making disciples. You would be meeting with a few people every day talking about how you’re going live out the truth of the gospel.
THAT’S THE WHOLE POINT!!! Not for you to listen to me talk, but to give you a tool so that you can become a disciple of Jesus, and so you can help others become disciples. That’s it. The first rule of being a disciple is making more disciples. That’s what a disciple of Jesus does. That’s my passion, my burden, my heartbeat for you and our community.
An Hour Is Not Enough
Like I’ve already said, one hour once a week is not enough to become a disciple. In fact, if that’s all we’re doing, we’re not being discipled by God. At best we are being discipled by our friends or family, at worst we are being discipled by the world. And Facebook, Twitter, TV, Movies and other sources of entertainment are great at making disciples. They’re just taking those disciples in the opposite direction.
If we’re going to be disciples, fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ, it has to be something we do every day. Coming to church on Sunday is a great thing. As I have said, we should be committed to being at church every week, even if it’s no longer the cultural norm. But, simply attending church on a Sunday will not make you a disciple any more than going to the gym once a week will get you in shape. If you’re going to do this “Jesus thing” it’s going to take some daily effort.
And I hope so badly that you will. In the past couple of weeks, I have been really feeling the burden for our church to become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ. I believe in you. I believe in Christ in you. I believe in every person God has brought to SixEight. I believe in everyone God is bringing and those He is going to bring. But, my belief in you does nothing if I’m not equipping you to be a disciple at the same time. And my belief does nothing if you don’t take your own initiative to follow Christ.
That’s why I do the videos. Because I believe in you and I believe in the life-changing power of the gospel of Jesus Christ. And I believe that if we become a church full of fully devoted followers of Jesus, there is no power on earth that can stop us. God will use us to transform our Hazel Dell community. God will use us to transform the community you’re a part of. God will use you to transform one person and then another in your work place. Before you know it, there will be a community changed lives who have become life changers in a place that use to be shrouded in darkness.
I can see it. I hope you’re starting to see it too. It will only happen if we bring our Sunday into the rest of the week.
That’s why.