Don't be a fool, lose your RELIGION!

This Week at the Well (our sending church) I had the privilage of preaching on Matthew 19:16-30.  This is the will known story of the rich young ruler who comes to Jesus to ask, "What good deed must I do to get eternal life?" 

1 - Lose your RELIGION

And behold, a man came up to him, saying, "Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?" Matthew 19:16

At the heart of this young man's question is a business transaction.  He wants a product "eternal life" there is only one possible vendor "God" and so He sets the price.  In order to buy eternal life you need to pay God lots of good deeds.  If you store up enough credit then eternal life is given to you.

If we see our faith as a business deal it will cause us many problems.  First when things go wrong in our life we might blame God and say, "I kept my end of the bargain God, why aren't you?"  Or we might blame ourselves and say, "If only did more then God wouldn't be punishing me!"  But the biggest problem is that we are not making Jesus our saviour we are making ourselves our saviour.  Jesus may be our dealer or shop keeper but we pay for our salvation with our own efforts.  Notice the man asked "What must I do?"  He's not trusting in God's goodness, grace or love, he's trusting in his own ability to save himself.

This way of approaching God can only lead us to uncertainties.  If we are buying eternal life we will never know if we've paid enough off.  My Dad used to tell me, "It's a good thing you can't buy eternal life because you'd never be able to pay it off!"

2 - Hand over CONTROL

Jesus said to him, "If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven..." Matthew 19:21

Jesus asks this man to give up everything to follow Him then he will have eternal rewards.  Think about it.  That money doesn't just represent wealth, it also represents his power over his own life and others.  It's his security in life and his comfort.  It's his control over his own happiness and destiny.  Jesus is literally asking him to give everything up!

We all want to be in control over our own happiness and destiny. We may not do it with money but we do try to stay control of our lives in other ways.  Maybe it's family that we are using to guarantee our happiness, "If I can just keep this family together then I'll be happy and worth something!"  Maybe we use our studies, "If I just get that top mark I can be happy and look other people in the eye!"  Maybe our jobs, "If I work hard to get that promotion then I'll be happy and people will look up to me!"

These are all ways we try to be our own saviour.  But the truth is we are not and can not be in control of these things.  They are harsh task masters.  If we do well they only ask us for more and when we fail they crush us!  We can't control our families, they are too complex.  We can't control our job security, as the recent recession taught us.

If we want to find true eternal happiness we need to quit saving ourselves and hand over control of our destinies to Jesus.  That is the cost!  EVERYTHING!

3 - And FOLLOW Jesus

"...and come, follow me." Matthew 19:21  

But it shouldn't be seen as loosing control.  It's handing control over to the only person who can handle it... Jesus!  The big questions though that might stop us are 1) Can he be trusted with my destiny? and 2) Is it worth it?

The answer to both those questions is really the same.  Firstly, he knows what it means to give up everything. The Bible teaches that Jesus is God and that he left the joys and perfection of Heaven to be born in a pugnant stable and to experience absolute poverty in comparison.  In the Gospels we see Him give up his job and family to befriend outcasts and sinners in order to give them hope.  We see Him abandoned by His friends and be left alone and naked.  Then we see the giver of life Himself nailed to a cross and killed!  Jesus knows what it's like to lose control.

But the real amazing thing isn't in what he gave up, it's found in the why he did it.  He did it for you and me!  

Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2    

He did it for the joy set before Him.  He had everything except you and me.  We were lost in sin and rebellion and if He didn't step in we would have been lost from relationship with Him forever!  We were Jesus joy and His true treasure, worth more to Him than the riches of Heaven! And because we were Jesus' treasure, He can be ours and can be completely trusted!

Jesus is the only Saviour we can have that accepts us as we are and when we fail Him completely forgives and loves us.  Eternal Life is knowing this Jesus and having a relationship with Him forever and it starts now!

Don't be religious give your control over to Jesus!

“He Is No Fool Who Gives What He Cannot Keep to gain That Which He Cannot Lose!”  Jim Elliot

Jesus wins at the 2010 World Cup!

Only 115 days, 7 hours and 29 minutes (ish) till England begin their winning world cup campaign (hopefully). But even if they don't win there are amazing opportunities to introduce people to Jesus through the World Cup.

A few months ago More Than Gold approached us about putting on a event for the World Cup.  The plan was that this event will showcase to other churches across the UK the potential there is for outreach during the 2012 Olympics.  We loved the idea and didn't need much persuading.  So Bonny Downs North (that's our church plant) will be teaming up with other local churches and a few other organizations to run a football festival the day England are planned to play their first game against the USA.

During the day:

• "World Sport Ministries" will be organizing a five-a-side football tournament. At the prize giving there will be a talk aimed at the youth.
• "On The Move" will be helping to organize a free BBQ for local people who turn up.  Each table at the BBQ will be hosted by a local church member to chat.
• XLP will be bringing the youth bus down.
• Local Churches will be helping to organize music and other fun activities like face painting.
• We'll be showing the England vs USA game on a big screen on the field with a presentation at half time.
• At the event we are hoping to hand out programmes that show the rest of the games scheduled for the World Cup with listings of the churches locally hosting other games.

The potential is awesome and we could have hundreds of people turning up. We are hoping all this will happen on the field outside Cafe Church.  Cafe Church will also be hosting smaller showings of some of the key games as a way to build bridges into the community.  We are also planning a Christianity 101 course as a follow up to the event.

Please pray for all the planning and dreams of this event.  There is still a long way to go in planning it but I think you'll agree it sounds awesome.

Jesus said, "In the same way there is more happiness in heaven because of one sinner who turns to God than over ninety-nine good people who don't need to." Luke 15:7

I'd love England to win but I'd gladly trade a World Cup victory for one person who accepts Jesus as a result of outreach during the event!

Have you got any plans for outreach during the World Cup?  If so please share your ideas.

Entrepreneurs, Prostitutes & Bouncers

It's funny how the thing I love most about living in East London is also my biggest challenge in planting a church.

Newham is the most diverse community in the UK. In my small patch alone we have people from Poland, Lithuania, Slovakia, Nigeria, Ghana, Pakistan, Jamaica, Iran and Lebanon to mention a few. It's not just cultural diversity its also diversity of interests, faith, wealth and political views. One of the first things I was taught to do when I became a missionary was to get to know the community. Well I am and to be honest the more I learn the more I need to learn.  I know that the gospel (correctly understood) is glue that can bind together people from any background. But how do you plant a truly diverse church?

At the moment in Cafe Church we have been following Paul (the original church planter) on his journey and trying to learn a few lessons.  Recently we looked at his ministry in Philippi.  The first person he converted there was a lady called Lydia who was a successful business woman.  In the gospel Lydia found all that money couldn't buy.  Paul then goes on to release a demon possessed fortune telling slave girl by the power of Jesus.  In the gospel that slave girl found freedom. Then, while in prison Paul saves a working class jailer.  In the gospel that Jailer found true security.  The same gospel crossed all their boundaries and answered all their deepest needs!

They said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." Acts 16:31  

Can you imagine that first church meeting in Philippi?  That's the first century equivalent to have Dragon's Den's Deborah Meaden, an ex-prostitute and a local bouncer meeting together for worship.  The diversity of that first church was amazing and beautiful.  That's what I want in our church plant.  I want people to look in and see people of all colours, races and backgrounds that represent our local community.  Because that's what the true gospel looks like.

I'll be honest; we don't look like that now.  We are mainly white east-enders. The challenge we have now is how do a bunch of English people breakout and become relevant to a mixed community?  I have heard people say that you can't do it and you can't please everyone.  I can understand that logic but I can't agree with it when I meditate on the gospel.  In east London there are loads of new churches being planted that have no relation to their local communities.  I do not want our church to become like that.

I don't know what the answer is (although I have ideas) but I do know that:

• The gospel is what everyone is looking for
• The gospel is the same basic message for everyone
• Only the gospel can truly bring unity in diversity
• When real diversity is seen in a church the beauty and awesomeness of the gospel is seen

"It is too small a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth." Isaiah 49:6

I don't want to limit the work of Jesus and make the gospel "too small a thing."


Please pray with me that before our church is too big we will be able to diversify.

If you have an ideas for me please let me know.

Whole Church Convicted to Community Service

In 2007 when our Church plant first started to meet we were in an old church hall, that was just outside the community we were trying to reach.  It was the only meeting space available at the time and just across the road.  We thought that those 10 meters or so wouldn't be so difficult to cross in modern east London.  We were wrong!  No matter how much we prayed or tried break through, those 10 meters were a barrier for them to come to us and for us to go to them.

By the end of 2008 we knew we needed to think outside the box.  We still didn't have a venue in the area but that didn't mean we couldn't have a positive presence in that community. So in January 2009 we started Serving Sundays.

We decided that on the last Sunday of every month we would not have our traditional hymn sandwich but instead go out and offer to serve the local people in practical ways.  We met at our usual time 10:30am at the church hall.  We then split into two teams, prayer and door to door.  The prayer team would stay in the church and commit to pray for the ministry, while the others went out to deliver leaflets or do odd jobs for local people.  We didn't know what take up we would have but we did have a clear vision.

"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.  Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." Matthew 5:14-16

Even if people didn't let us wash their car, walk their dog, paint their house or help them move we wanted them to see us serving and Glorify God.  Or as Tim Keller put it (at the Urban Plant-Life conferences in London) for them to think: "I may not agree with what they believe but I am glad they are part of this community!" 

We have been doing it for a year now and have been really encouraged by the results.  From the very first month we were having requests for jobs.  Some of the jobs we have done are:

• Painted bed rooms
• weeded gardens
• put up shelves
• mowed lawns
• helped people move
• visited people who needed friends 

One of the highlights for me was when we were weeding a muslim ladies garden.  She asked me, "Why are you Christians doing this?  I've been going to my mosque for 7 years and no Muslim has ever offered to help me with my garden."  What a fantastic opportunity that was to tell her about our serving Saviour, Jesus!  That lady hasn't become a believer in Jesus (yet) but we do visit her regularly and often pray with her. 

One of the hardest words to get past when you knock on a door is "Church".  As soon as people hear it many want to close the door.  Only yesterday morning I knocked on a door and after getting to the "C" word a lady said, "No thanks, not interested!"  I responded with, "No you don't understand.  We not inviting you to church we want to mow your lawn or wash your car!"  Her character changed immediately from defensive to open.  "Oh" she said, "Maybe you could come back in the spring to help me with my garden."  

We now have a venue for meeting in the community (Cafe Church) but we still do Serving Sundays once a month.  It has helped us as a church to unite in mission and to get excited about service and has brought us closer to the people we are trying to reach. 

Recently I came across this on Twitter:   

"Mission is more than the means by which the deficit of non-worship is rectified. Mission defines worship because God is a redeeming God." STimmis  

At Bonny Downs North we can't have amazing worship services because we don't have any musicians.  However, we can worship through mission, community service and evangelism.  If you are in a church where it is hard to find an in road into the community or in a church that struggles with worship each week, why not consider trying a Serving Sunday or something like it?

Church Planting Rule No.1 "Love your community to life!"

Many church plants start in certain communities for negative reasons.  High crime, low church attendance, poverty to name a few.   That's not necessarily a bad thing but there is a danger of falling into a trap of being depressing.  Instead of inspiring hope in a community we can affirm people’s negativity.  You can even attract some people by pointing out how bad a community is.  Many people in the community will agree and join in the discussion of how bad things are and who let it get that way.

I was challenged once when watching a Documentory series on BBC1 (I think it was called "The Estate we're in") some years ago about a woman who turned communities round from being crime-dens to being fantastic places to live.  This woman had sucessfully turned around one estate before and a camera crew was following her exploits as she moved into an new rundown estate to do the same.  She wasn't a Christian and was in fact a chain-smoking, hard skinned, battle axe.  She was incredibly stubborn and refused to focus on the negative.  Instead she used her stubborn streak to make the best of the positive things she saw in an area.

On the episode I saw, this lady was talking with a single mum who lived in fear in a tower block.  The mother said, "I was on the phone with my best friend earlier and she said she wanted to come and live near me.  I told her she was mad and no one should ever come to this hell hole."  The lady responded, "No, this is a great place to live and it's going to be even better.  Think about it you and I live here and we're lovely!"  The amazing thing is that lady turned that community around, with her single handed stubbornness to focus on the positive!   It was contagious and inspiring.

If she could do that without Jesus, think of the amazing potential we have in our church plants with Him!

"Little children, you are from God and have overcome, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world."" 1John 4:4

Jesus loved this messed up world.  He didn't come down to it just to remind us how bad it is or how bad we are.  He came because he saw something that was beautiful and worth saving.    Even in the worst people and darkest situations the world has to offer, there are faint images of our Heavenly Father.  And to Jesus they are worth dying for.

"Then God said, "Let us make man in our image..."" Genesis 1:26 

People are beautiful.  Communities are beautiful.  And every community should become more beautiful if a church is living and loving in it.

Let's be inspirational and stubbornly contagious with our positive attitudes towards the places where God has asked us to serve Him and love others.

Tough challenge but that's the gospel...

Clear Boundaries for Football & Life

As I was praying over the football fields outside the pavilion where we meet for Cafe Church, Kevin (the grounds keeper) was repainting the white lines around one of the pitches.  As I watched I realised how important his job was, although not many people might think about it.  If you are going to enjoy a good game of football you need to have clear boundaries.  You need to know where each side starts and finishes, where the keeper is allowed to handle the ball, where the penalty box is and where the edges of the field are.  You need to see them in an instant and in the heat of the game.  If you don't then bedlam and chaos will follow 

I then went out and asked Kevin how often he does this vital job.  "Once a week" he replied, "I don't have to do it that often, but the clearer the markings are the better and safer the game!"  

It reminded me of Christian ministry.  We're all locked in a game more vital and real than football, the game called life.  The rules and boundaries are set by our Creator but through sin the markings are blurred and hard to see.  We want to play by our own rules and that makes things get messy.  People spend whole life times arguing about what the rules should be and who should get to set them.  When this happens on a football pitch things can aggressive.  The same can happen in the game of life it can with far more serious consequences.

The job of Christian ministry through Evangelism is to help people see the boundaries again and to bring them to a desire to play by the rules.  The job then moves to helping people to mark out those boundaries clearly in their lives through studying the Bible, preaching, prayer and accountability to a church community.  

"Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.""  John 8:12

Rules don't destroy the game, they make them!  It's the same with life.  God doesn't tell us how to live just to dominate and control us but to help us find the life Jesus promised, "A life in all its fullness!"

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly."  John 10:10

If you want to know more about that full life Jesus wants you to enjoy feel free to email me.

If you have it already please pray for me as I seek to share those boundaries with the local footballers that use Flanders Field.

The Bread, Wine & Chiili?

Communion is an important part of church life.  It's the church communities chance to get back on track with each other, centred around Jesus and the gospel.  We've been missing communion at Cafe Church for a while because we didn't know exactly how we could it in a Cafe Church way, that wouldn't make visitors feel uncomfortable.

The Lord's Supper must be a really strange thing to outsiders but it really shouldn't be.  Everyone understands food.  Eating together is a really important part of family life in most (if not all) cultures.  The first Communion was part of a Passover meal and it's clear in 1Corinthians that it was still a meal later in the first century.

"When you come together, it is not the Lord's supper that you eat. For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, another gets drunk."  1Co 11:20-21

The solution that we came to was quite simple (but different).   Our communion is now part of a monthly bring and share meal.  So now on the first Sunday of every month everyone brings some food and we all enjoy fellowship with grub.  At the start of the meal we break a big fancy loaf and pray, reminding ourselves - and helping visitors understand - what Jesus did for us when His body was broken.  Instead of having a tiny morsel of bread we encourage people to take a massive chunk to eat with there meal.  This last Sunday my wife brought a big pot of chilli con carne, when people got up to eat they took their bread and then ate it with the chilli.

"In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me."" 1Co 11:25

Then after the meal (see above quote) we then pour everyone a glass of wine (red grape juice) and remind ourselves - teach others - about the blood Jesus shed to bring about His new agreement by praying and drinking together.

Instead of making it a strange thing for non Christians to come into and watch from the outside, it's something you can easily invite them into. They may just come for the food but they hear the gospel.  But more than just hearing the gospel they get to see it in action, as the church family enjoy each others company and welcome people in.

Church meetings can often be mystical rituals to non Christians.  But I don't think they were originally meant to be.  Working in a church plant has been a great eye opener for me.  Everything we do has to be thought through carefully,  because we're primarily aiming at outsiders.  So before we do anything we have to ask these questions:

• Is it understandable?  
• Is it welcoming?  
• Is it gospel centred? 
• Is it Biblical?  
• Is it right?

Maybe we should be asking these kind of questions more often in our churches.  We can be so worried about making mistakes that we never try anything new.  I'd rather risk something new to see people saved, than keep things safe and not grow.

Remember, Jesus didn't die so that we wouldn't make any more mistakes.  He died for our mistakes!  So that if we love Him, even our mistakes wont separate us from Him!.  Let's not be afraid of making mistakes for the right reasons.

Yours in Jesus.

Ben