1 + 1 + 1 = 3
June 6, 2009 | Posted by Shaun
I know what you’re thinking. No, it doesn’t take a math whiz to figure this out. 1+1+1=3 is simple arithmetic. Did I insult you by giving you this information? Hang with me for a minute, and if I didn’t insult you already, I’ll run the risk of doing so with my explanation for this illustration. Not on purpose, but it’s really pretty simple. Read more
What do young non-Christians really want from us?
May 17, 2009 | Posted by Shaun
This past week I listened to David Kinnaman answer this question. Kinnaman is the President of Barna Research, and he has spent the past 12 years researching this topic. So, what was his answer to the question, “What do young non-Christians really want from us?” Nothing. That’s right. Kinnaman stated a somewhat hard to swallow truth- young non-Christians don’t really want anything from us Christians. However, what he asked next was crucial: “What do young non-Christians need from us?” They need Jesus. So, how do we help them understand what they need but don’t want? If young non-Christians see Christians as mostly hypocritical and judgmental, then how can we have any influence on them at all? What does this mean for the Church and specifically for Beachside? Read more
Should I be Content?
April 13, 2009 | Posted by Shaun
Lately as I’ve been praying I’ve had some long conversations with God about something that’s really bugging me. I’ve heard over and over again the old adage that we should be content with whatever size “ministry” the Lord gives us. He might call some to minister to 20, some to 200, and others to 2,000, or 20,000, and we should just be thankful for whatever He gives us and do our best to help those He sends our way. While I agree with this in theory, I can’t seem to agree with it practically. I think there’s really something missing in that whole discussion. So, I’ve tried to pray that God would help me to be content with where we are as a church. That we would be able to launch services in August and do the things necessary to be a good church that reaches whoever the Lord might send our way. But… God is NOT allowing me to be content with any of it.
Please don’t take that the wrong way. I’m so excited about launching Sunday services this fall that I can’t stand it. And if you’ve committed to be a part of Beachside I’m very grateful for you. I’m excited you’re a part of what He is doing. I also want to do everything I can to help you grow in your relationship with Jesus Christ as you help me. I want to be the best pastor/shepherd/leader I can be for you. But, I want so much more for you than that. I want you and I to be able to experience together a real movement of God in our community.
The thought that keeps coming back to me is this: Why would God have such incredible LOVE for all people that he would send his own son to pay the penalty for their sin if He didn’t really want them to experience His love? And why would He give us an opportunity to share His love with all the people in our community if He really didn’t want us to reach them?
Acts 15:19 has become one of my favorite passages in the Bible: “It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God.” James, and all the leaders of the church, decided really early on that the Church was for EVERYBODY, and that we, the church people, shouldn’t make it difficult for others to come to God. I’m ready to break down the barriers in our community, and I desperately want to see people turn to God. It’s NOT because I want to build Beachside Community Church so I can brag about more numbers. It’s because I believe God loves everyone and He desires for them to experience all His goodness.
So, here’s the verdict: I’m not content, and I’m not going to be until everyone in our community- no, everyone in the world- has had an opportunity to experience the love of Jesus Christ. I’m not sure how to do it, and I don’t really know what all He is calling Beachside to do. But, I know He is allowing us to join in on something really incredible that He is doing in our community, and I’m excited we’re on this journey together.
New Church Video
April 3, 2009 | Posted by Shaun
We’ve recently updated our website, www.whyanewchurch.com, with a new intro video that explains what we’re trying to do in very simple language. We hope this is helpful to those who are interested in what we are doing or are just wondering why in the world we desire to start a new church. We also hope this helps you explain the concept to your friends. I’d love some feedback on whether or not it is really helpful.
Fort Walton to Lima: Why Beachside?
March 14, 2009 | Posted by Shaun
I had an amazing trip to Peru! Compassion arranged a 6-hour bus ride for Mirella, my sponsored child, to come spend the day with me touring Lima. It’s crazy that it took her as long to get to Lima from a few hundred miles away as it took me to fly there from Atlanta. What a small world! Actually, it’s that idea that really resonated with me.
For most of my life I viewed the world from a strictly North American perspective (everyone knows Jesus spoke English, right?). Actually, I really did have a very small view of the world that led me to believe that most of the world lived like I did (physically and spiritually). I had heard of poverty, but I never understood that the majority of the world lives in SEVERE poverty. Not just physical poverty, but emotional, intellectual, and spiritual poverty as well.
God continues to use trips like this to show me things about myself and His Church that I’ve never really understood. Here’s what I think He has been teaching me: First, there’s nothing that I, or you, could ever do to deserve to be born here in the U.S., and there’s nothing that others have done to deserve to be born in the conditions where they are. Second, we have more opportunity than those who are living in these extreme conditions, but it’s not because we’re any smarter (I’d love to tell you stories of the amazing people I’ve met), or because of a blessing. It’s because of a trust. God has entrusted us with incredible resouces to use for His purposes. Finally, there are people all around us here in the U.S. who are also suffering from extreme poverty. Not physical poverty. Virtually all Americans have great financial wealth as compared to the rest of the world even in this weakened economy, but many people here are suffering from extreme spiritual poverty.
Any time we are entrusted with something we are required to respond, and since this trust has been given by Jesus Christ to His Church, it is the Church that should be called to action. This is why a new church is needed here along the coast. It would be a waste of our time and resources to just create another church for church people to attend on Sundays, but we do need the Body of Christ to work together to help people experience God’s love in relevant ways. Our desire for Beachside Community Church is to create irresistible environments where life change can occur. Whether it’s serving in developing countries or investing in those we see every day, we desire to use new, relevant strategies to lead people into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ.
“From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked”. Luke 12:48
Compassion Trip to Peru
March 3, 2009 | Posted by Shaun
This coming Monday I have the privilege of travelling with several other NP Partner lead pastors to Lima, Peru. We’re travelling with Compassion International to learn more about their efforts to provide for disadvantaged children around the world, and I can’t tell you how excited I am about this trip.
Compassion has ministry centers all over the globe, and they are most well known for their child sponsorship program. Tami, the girls, and I have been Read more
Sunday Service Launch Date
February 28, 2009 | Posted by Shaun
Most of you probably know by now that we have an official date for the start of our Sunday services: August 30th, 2009! You may think this sounds like it’s an eternity away, but for those of you who have been tracking with us since the beginning, it probably looks like the end is almost here. Finally, the completion of a lot of hard work and effort, a lot of sacrifice, and the fulfillment of a dream. Although I guess it wouldn’t be totally incorrect to say that this “interim” or “preparation” period will be coming to an end, I think it is much more appropriate to say that this whole thing is really just beginning. Read more
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