7. Change the way people think about church

In the first year of our church, we made a decision: In everything we do, we’re going to seek to change the way people think about church. This is so much bigger than the type of music we do, or our dress, even though they are parts of the equation! It affects everything we do. Examples? Folks don’t have to be “Christians” to go on a mission trip. They might become one by going! They don’t have to be a “Christian” to volunteer at our church, much less, be a member! Our small groups are always not only open to new people, but are going after people who don’t go to church and inviting them to be a part of their group! Every group is responsible to “get off the couch” and serve and care missionally for people groups in our community. Just small simple example of how we’re changing the way people think about church both inside and outside our church in our community.

8. Go after unchurched people

We’re not worried about swapping sheep or reaching professional Christians. If they want to join our mission to reach the lost, great. If not, great. We are here to help as many people as possible find a relationship with God through Jesus. That’s our laser beam focus. Take us or leave us! We’re here to reach people who don’t like Jesus or Christians.

9. Be careful what you ask for

Did you know unchurched people don’t walk in and start tithing? And it probably won’t be a three-month process, either; probably more like three years! Unchurched people smoke and curse in the parking lot, and maybe even in the sound booth! All of these things really happen in our church. Being a hospital for sinners is messy!

10. The right team in the right seats makes all the difference

We’ve always had a great Ministry Team at our church. I am thankful for every one of them, however, the right team members with the right gifts and skills, in the right seats, in the right seasons of the church, allows a church to continue to breath and grow and reach people for Jesus Christ. The wrong team members on the wrong seats for too long will put a lid on the church’s effectiveness.

11. I must measure success God’s Way

Success is being who God called me to be and being obedient to what God has called me to do. I am so tempted to measure success by this week’s attendance. However, I’m never as good as people think I am when we’re exploding numerically; and I’m not as bad as I think I am when we’re not. My role is to be obedient to the call and stay sane, centered, and happily married in the process. That is success!

12. God is faithful.

God never gives up: on me; or on my ministry! He hasn’t given up on you, either! Don’t give up on yourself. We only fail when we give up. God never gives up. He is faithful!

Twelve years ago this week, we launched weekly worship services at Mountain Lake Church. Wow. What a ride! God has used me despite my stupidity; and I have learned so much along the way. Here’s the first part of my top twelve lessons I’ve learned in the last twelve years.

1. Having a vision is easy. Sticking to the vision takes extraordinary discipline and effort.

Every pastor and church has a vision. Every one of them I’v ever seen is Biblical. However, even most church planters get sidetracked form their visions within the first few years. We have stuck to our guns. We’ve been “mean about the vision.” It’s made all of the difference!

2. Conviction and Courage is more important than strategy.

My passion and sense of conviction, along with the courage to stay the course is more important than any brilliant strategy I could come up with that no one has ever done before.

3. No plan’s perfect; so work your Plan!

Our ministry plan is not perfect. However, we’ve worked the plan every year the last twelve years and every year we’ve gotten better at what God has called us to do. We don’t have “vision flavor of the month” or “small group method of the year.” We’ve worked our plan. We’ve been consistent in our ministry approach. It’s made all the difference.

4. People come. People Go. Go with the Go-ers.

Don’t focus who’s leaving; focus on who stays. The ones that stay will see the mission through and experience the fruit of mission accomplished! When one leaves; God will bring five to replace them…if we stay focused!

5. God does things the way He wants.

It has almost NEVER happened exactly the way we drew it up. However, that’s the precise thing that has kept us dependent on Him! Proverbs 16:9 (NIV) says: “In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.”  Prophetic verse in my life these last twelve years! So many times, what I deemed as a failure was God’s sharpening and sovereignty at work in my life and church!

6. In God’s Story, ordinary matters.

God loves to use ordinary people. I am one. The very reasons or excuses I might use to disqualify myself from being used greatly by Him make me the perfect candidate for extraordinary ministry! What are your excuses as to ehy God can’t use you? Those are the very reasons God wants to use you; because you’ll know it’s not about you!

Stay tuned for Part Two of this post next week!

This past weekend, Mountain Lake celebrated our twelfth birthday! Hard to believe. One of the ways we celebrated was sharing what I called: “Mountain Lake by the Numbers.” Its a snapshot of the impact our church has had just in recent months! This was part of an annual report we gave out to every attender.

May this inspire, encourage, and spur you on!

Amazing story!

Everyday Christmas Offering Goal #2 from Mountain Lake Church on Vimeo.

This year one of our goals for the annual Christmas Offering is to help support our first full-time missionaries from Mountain Lake. Check out the story of Kevin and Melissa Trapnell as they prepare to leave to go on mission with Mercy Ships this winter.

Everyday Christmas Offering: Goal 1 from Mountain Lake Church on Vimeo.

Then I planted a church! I have never doubted myself, my abilities, my calling (and maybe my salvation), more than the first few years of planting Mountain Lake Church. That’s why I believe that the calling to plant a church requires an amazing amount of emotional fortitude and requires that we become secure leaders! We don’t need to become secure in our leadership; but in His! We must become secure in His ability to do everything HE wants to do in and through us! Sometimes we just need hear that. We need to be encouraged and reminded that God’s calling and His plan for our lives has not changed! It’s so important we get secure about who we are, who God as uniquely called us to be, and what God wants to do uniquely through us!

If you need to be encouraged and inspired to be all God has called you to be…If you need to be inspired…get to #Velocity2012!

Would-be prophets both dead and alive have prophesied that THE END of the world is coming. One man predicted THE END would happen this month! The Mayan Calendar says THE END is coming in 2012. Our first inclination, of course, is to write-off all the crazy predictions about THE END. But what if I told you that THE END is indeed coming very soon? What if I told you that there are TONS of signs that THE END is very near? What if I told you that Jesus Himself prophesied that THE END is very near? What if I told you that THE END could come as soon as this week? What if I told you I could prove it?

Now I know what some of you are thinking: What does any discussion of THE END have to do with our lives TODAY? Our relationships? Our service to God and others? The answer is everything. I mean everything. What if I told you that the very reason God said so much about THE END, was so that it would profoundly impact our lives today?

Suffice to say, there are lots of reason to get to Mountain Lake this weekend and invite everyone you can, as we kick off our new series this weekend, simply called: “The End.” I can’t wait to share all of this with you!

However, here’s what I told my daughter: “Hannah, today I’ll show you how to peel it. Tomorrow, though, I want you to give it a try. you can give it a shot and I’ll watch; after that, you should be a professional orange peeler.” “OK,” she said. She smiled. I did, too. A “healthy” disciple is in process!

Every day, you and I are to be about making disciples. Not of oranges; of Jesus! Healthy disciples of Jesus! Fruit-bearing disciples! We are to be helping people know Jesus; look like Jesus; serve Him; and share Him. Spiritual leadership is healthy discipleship. Just like orange peeling, however, the healthiest discipleship looks like this:

• I’ll do and you watch: I’ll produce fruit. Requires intentionality and proximity.

• You’ll do; I’ll watch and coach: We produce fruit. Requires: and consistency and teachability.

• You’ll do it on your own: You’ll produce fruit! Requires faithfulness.

Remember this, as well: the best discipleship happens one person at a time; one fruit at a time! It’s a process! It takes time! So what about you? Are you committed to healthy discipleship? If so, who’s your next potential “healthy” disciple?

It’s the most common command in the Bible. Why would that be so? Because you and I are often so afraid!

We’re afraid of being laid off. We’re afraid of being fired.We’re afraid of the  future. We’re afraid of bankruptcy. We’re afraid of not measuring up. We are afraid of failure.  We’re afraid of controversy.  We’re afraid of not being liked. We’re afraid of criticism. We’re afraid of REALLY being known. We’re afraid of asking for help. We’re afraid to DO what we know needs to be DONE.

But why is fear such a big deal? Because fear is the number one reason we don’t obey God.  Fear is the number one reason we won’t take that big step of faith.

Can you hear it? God’s trying to tell you something: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 (NIV)

We’re only afraid when we think we’re alone. We’re not alone. God is WITH US!