5% more

OK, in addition to Catalyst, WatersEdge is introducing “Series Group.”  This environment is intentionally between Catalyst and Small Groups in terms of anonymity.  It is intentionally designed to have the components of a small group, but the content will be adjusted to develop relationships without too much risk with respect to intimacy.

God’s Word will continue to be taught through Andy’s engaging and impacting style and develop a sense of  community that many are seeking but are rarely able to find.  I’m confident, once word gets out about Series Group, it will grow to critical mass very quickly!

More to come in the coming weeks

Partial Relief

So last week I promised to let the “cat out of the bag” for what is the next big thing for WatersEdge Community Church.  Well, the week did not bring all the detail that I’d hoped – but it did bring enough information that I can at least partially meet the promise of my last post…

Introducing “Catalyst.” A large group environment, meeting on Saturday nights, where you can come with your friends to enjoy live music, dessert and coffee, and a great DVD message from Andy Stanley.  I promise that you will have a great time!

When?  Our first Catalyst event will be in August.  There will be a lot more information coming soon – so stay tuned!

Tension

I’m not going to relieve the tension, but next week I’ll be writing about a new environment that WatersEdge is creating for you, your friends, and your friends friends!

You won’t want to miss it!!

What’s your perspective

Today I’m challenged with the concept of eternity. As christians, we are promised an eternity with Christ. Think about it, ETERNITY. Infinity. Forever.

Wow, now that’s a long time!  Now, how does that relate to the 70, 80, 90, even 100 years that we live on this earth – you know, life as we know it.

What has challenged me over the last several weeks, is that this life is nothing if you have an eternal perspective.  God, through His Son, has asked us to serve Him in this life to reach into this world and show His love and tell His good news. We really have no excuse to not obey this command.  Why – well the obvious answer is that He gave His life so that we could live eternally.  The second answer isn’t really much different – if we are living eternally with Him, than the life that we know is shorter than the time it takes us to tie our shoes in terms of eternity.

I challenge each of you to consider eternity and serve in your church, invest financially in your church, invest in the lives of those around you so that Christ can reach them through you, and invest in your relationship with God through His son Jesus.  We really have no excuses!

Thoughts on North Point – Why we do what we do

I know that it’s been a few days since my last post, but honestly, things have been busy!  Funny how life frequently gets in the way of our passions.  Anyhow…

There is so much to talk about when it comes to observing what North Point does, how it does it, and of course the why behind all they do.  So I’d like to close this line of thinking about why I care.  Why WatersEdge cares.

WatersEdge exists to lead people into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ through creating environments where people are encouraged and equipped to pursue intimacy with God, community with insiders, and influence with outsiders.  The question becomes how do we effectively do this?

WatersEdge has chosen to follow a tried model – a model that is consistent with the first gatherings held in the book of Acts – one that North Point has developed over its existence as a church.  To focus on reaching into our community, leveraging our relationships, to spread the gospel.  To establish places where you can bring your friends and family that is only offensive in one way – God’s Word.  To build small groups of people, Community Groups, where people can dive deeper into their relationship with Christ, pray and care for each other, and where they’ll be missed if they stop coming.  And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

North Point has invested in WatersEdge through leadership training, on-line resourcing, granting the use of North Point media, and, once we meet some basic requirements in attendance, participation in small groups, and tithing, we will obtain the title of “Strategic Partner.”  This is just the beginning of what will become a great movement for Christ in St. Pete.  Join us!

North Point – Up Street

Today I want to talk about my experience in “Up Street.”  Up Street is the environment, yes there’s that word again, designed for K-5th graders.  Interestingly, within this environment, North Point has chosen to continue to utilize the Foyer, Living Room, Kitchen nomenclature – as those are the key components to their ministry model.  Last note: North Point fully believes that the local church is supposed to be one tool that parents have in raising their children in the ways of Christ.  Ultimately, it is the parents responsibility.

On a Sunday morning the kids start in their classroom which is categorized by age.  Once the adult service has started, they gather into a large group environment for worship (singing), then interaction (a skit or something), then a presentation of the biblical concept of the month (yes, same principle all month long).  This group has multiple ages in it – a Foyer.   Then they go back to their classes for another time of engaging learning as a group, learning the same concept in an application based and age appropriate – a Living Room.  Lastly, they wrap up their time in small groups.  It’s in the small groups where the children get to discuss the biblical principle and talk about how they can apply it to their lives.

I know it sounds unreasonable for children at this age – but the truth is – it works!!  Lives are changed every week.  The incredible piece, that will be for another day, is the event that they call KidStuf.  KidStuf is a monthly environment where children “bring their parents to church” and the children and parents learn about the Biblical principle of the month, so the parents can continue to teach the same Truth throughout the month.

Thoughts on North Point – Worship Service

OK, a week has gone by and I’m still thinking about all that I saw on my last trip to North Point Community Church.  Today I thought I’d talk about the Adult Worship Environment.  Yep, that’s what insiders call it, an Environment.  Interesting huh?

It’s an environment that has been intentionally designed and has a specific purpose.  It has been designed to be welcoming for new comers – unchurched, churched, and all those people who are in between.  It’s designed to bring the concept of excellence into the church.  It’s designed to be void of distraction.  Designed  so that the only offensive content comes from God’s Word.  Designed to be enjoyable by all who attend – even if they don’t “buy into” christianity.  Designed to engage attendees with biblical principles and truths that are relevant.

Hmm, does that word bother you?  The Bible being taught as relevant?  So frequently relevant means watered down, or even Truth void.  But that is not what I’m talking about.  I’m talking about unarguable Truths and how they relate to our decisions and impact out lives.  I’m talking about those experiences in our lives that could have been avoided by following unpopular Biblical principles.  It’s through these types of experiences that God knocks on the door of a persons heart and moves them to consider God and His son Jesus Christ in a different light.  The light of His love.

I’ve digressed.  Success of the Adult Worship Environment is to move people strategically towards other more intimate environments, environments that are called Living Room and Kitchen Environments.  I’ll talk about these environments at another time.  But be confident, it is in these more intimate environments that growth and maturity, as a follower of Christ, happens.

All in all, I experienced an unbelievable worship service.  The music excellent, the message incredible.  And the Biblical truth taught in Ephesians 5:15-17 will change how I view the “guardrails” that God has placed in my life.

Thoughts on North Point – Waumba Land

The next few posts will be single thought reflections on my trip to North Point Community Church. Perhaps at the end of these thoughts, I’ll try to pull it all together, but for now I’ve too much in my head to get a coherent commentary out…

Imagine a church where they have prioritized the quality of care and ability to effectively teach your babies and toddlers by limiting class size – even if it means turning away people. Scary to some, insulting to others, but to me it’s refreshing! Imagine a person, new to church, coming in and seeing that their children will get the attention that they deserve. Imagine the stress that is removed as they enter the worship service knowing that their children are in good hands. Imagine the freedom that their minds are given to embrace the Truth that God has in place for them to hear at the service.  Imagine the impact when they pick up their children and see that, not only are they happy, but that they also had fun and want to come back!  Just Imagine…

Atlanta

My wife and I are heading up to Atlanta for some R&R this afternoon.  We’re going to see the zoo, the aquarium, some children’s museum’s, and did I mention the aquarium!?  For those of you that know me, you know my passion for Jesus – but you may not know my passion for Scuba diving.  Since our children were born, my 50 dives/year have tapered off to about – hmmm, none.  Well, on my list of dive trips is a trip to see whale sharks, and since I can’t do that diving at this point, I’m going to do it at the Atlanta aquarium.  I’m excited!!

All that said – I’m equally excited that we are going to go worship at Andy Stanley’s church, North Point Community Church, this weekend.  I love to be able to visit the church that WatersEdge is modeled after once in a while.  It is inspirational to see the model in action and to see how many in the community have come to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ through it.  Also, I’m excited to have the opportunity to show my lovely wife a behind the scenes tour of all of the Family Ministry environments.  Waumba Land, Up-Street, KidStuf Live, Extreme, Inside-Out.

Though the adult worship service has one of the worlds best communicators and nationally known worship leaders, it is the family ministry that gets me most excited.  Seeing kids worship in large environments and then break into small groups, all on a Sunday morning, learning the truths of God just inspires me.  Seeing kids connect with Jesus to the point that they will choose church over their sports league playoff games, makes me cry!

Imagine a day when Pinellas county has to call WatersEdge to make sure that we don’t have children’s events on days that they are planning tournaments or playoffs!  THIS is what keeps me serving and giving sacrificially to WatersEdge.  My prayer is that YOU get this excited too!

Community Group

I’m always amazed how great I feel at the end of our small group time.  The friendships, the transparency of sharing my heart, God’s stirring of my soul.  It amazes me what an investment of a couple of hours each week can do to my personal and spiritual health.  This week, in the midst of talking about being fishers of men, we were forced to dwell on God’s Sovereignty and the prayer of Acts 4:24.

If you’ve never been involved in a Community Group, I urge you to join one.  I can’t really explain it, I know I can’t convince you to do it – so I’ll simply ask – would you try a community group?  Go ahead take a risk!  Sign up for a community group and give it a try for 6 weeks.  You really have nothing to loose – but you have A LOT to gain.