Kingdom-Minded at Netcast

The more I have studied the Kingdom, the less I wanted to teach on it. It is so massive of a topic that I think we could spend our entire lives learning about it and still not come close to fully grasp it's magnitude. The series has really challenged my thinking of mission, unity and the local church. Today I read John 1:1-18 and again was reminded of our responsibility of Kingdom-Mindedness.

John 1:1-18 
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. 

Our job as a local church is to always bear witness about Jesus. John the Baptist was a perfect model of this. He lived his life in an effort to decrease so that Jesus would increase. As people would look at him, he would point them back to Jesus, saying "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." May we model the same thing. May Netcast be a place that fights the temptation of trying to put butts in seats in order to build an empire, but rather utilize the influence that God gives to advance the Kingdom by point people to our King.

Gods Presence at Netcast

My daily reading today was to read through the Book of Jonah. As I read the first 3 verses God began to speak….

Jonah 1 
1 Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 2 “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me.” 3 But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord. 

When the Lord began to put the dream of Netcast in my mind, a longing for "Gods Presence" was at the center of those dreams. I longed for the day to see God build a church that was more concerned with His presence than anything else. Do I love good theology, sound teaching, authentic leadership, Gospel-Centrality, certain worship music, community, etc? Absolutely…But no amount of right intellect, wisdom or musical preference can produce the personal transformation that occurs when we are saturated in the presence of the Lord.

Since Netcast began, "presence" (among other things) has marked us. People have walked into our worship gatherings and been overwhelmed with Gods presence, brought to tears in Gods presence, healed in Gods presence and danced in Gods presence. Presence has grown to become one of the common things that people speak of when they visit Netcast. I can't tell you how many emails I get that speak about visitors "sensing God or feeling God" while in a worship service or Community Group. Sturgeon has continued to encourage us as a church to keep pursuing "Presence over Programs or Process."

When I read those first three verses in Jonah, it stirred things in me. It reminded me of the importance of being faithful to Gods call on Netcast. It reminded me that "Gods Presence" through the proclamation and worship of Gods Son, is our only hope in seeing Greater Boston transformed. It reminded me that if we ever stop prayerfully seeking Gods direction or neglect His leading, then it's possible to lose the most important thing we have; "The presence of the Lord". When Jonah failed to be obedient to the word God gave him and fled to Tarshish instead of Nineveh, it clearly says that "Jonah didn't just run from Gods call, but actually ran from Gods Presence." In the same way, if we stop seeking God for a unified direction, the first thing to go will be the sensing of His Presence. Not because the Lord has left us, but because we stopped following the Lord.

Similar to Jonah, the Lord has called us to a "great city". Like Nineveh, Greater Boston is a great city full of people "who do not know their right hand from their left. (Jonah 4:14)" Greater Boston needs to turn away from its idolatrous evils, repent of its sins, trust in Jesus and experience Gods Presence. May Netcast never stop being a place that displays the beauty of our "gracious God, who is merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. (Jonah 4:2)"

May we lead the way in seeing Gods presence known by (1) keeping Jesus central to everything, (2) creating deep authentic communities, (3) worshiping God with all of our being, (4) planting churches, (5) equipping Gods people as best as we can and (6) being willing to do whatever we believe the Lord is leading us to do.

X Factor Basketball Tournament (3 on 3)

Check out my man Johnathon Currier with X Factor Basketball Training. He is looking to run a 3v3 Basketball Tournament set for August 4th to raise money for Cystic Fibrosis and the Beverly YMCA SUMMER SPORTS CAMPS.

Team Grade Level: 

• Middle School: 2PM 
• High School: 3PM
• Adults: 4PM

Fill out the flier and bring it to the Beverly YMCA. 

Youth Community Group (High School Girls)

Hey Netcast,

We wanted to let the church body know about a new community group for high school girls that will be starting on July 10th. Emma and Lindsey are recent Gordon grads and now teach first grade in Lawrence. They felt called to start a community group for young women in the church to be able to build relationships with one another and to grow in their knowledge and application of biblical womanhood. They will be discussing several topics that many young women face and looking at how they are called to respond. The group will be meeting every Wednesday night at 70 Lothrop St. in Beverly from 6:30-8:00.

Girls from 9th-12th grade are welcome to come enjoy some food and fellowship.

For more information or any questions, email Emmaloughlin96@gmail.com

Thanks to Emma Loughlin and Lindsay Malenich for your service to the Kingdom.

Being a Missionary at Work.

Since the day I realized the that Jesus calls me a missionary in the context in which I work, I have seen ministry completely different. No longer is missions something I have to do overseas or along side of my church, but rather it is who I am in Christ all day everyday. The problem is that for years I was attempting to climb the corporate ladder and the thought of reaching my co-workers was terrifying. Today, I want to encourage us that this is possible. We can actually love our co-workers and reach them with the gospel, if we are intentional. Here are some ways that we can pursue it.....

1. Don't eat alone, intentionally eat with other co-workers and learn their story.

2. Get to work early so you can pray for your co-workers and the day.

3. Make it a daily priority to speak or write encouragement to one person.

4. Bring extra snacks when you make your lunch to give away to others.

5. Bring breakfast once a month for everyone in your department.

6. Organize a running/walking group in the before or after work.

7. Have your community group provide lunch for your workplace once a month.

8. Create a regular time to invite coworkers over or out for drinks.

9. Make a list of birthdays and find a way to bless everyone on their birthday.

10. Organize office parties as appropriate to your job.

11. Avoid gossip in the office. Be a voice of thanksgiving not complaining.

12. Car pool if there is someone who lives close to you.

13. Throw a shower for a co-worker who is having a baby.

14. Cover for a co-worker who needs off for something.

15. Start a lunch out with co-workers (don’t be selective on the invites).

16. Organize a weekly/monthly pot luck to make lunch a bit more exciting.

17. Ask someone if you can grab them a soda/coffee while you’re out.

18. Be the first person to greet and welcome new people.

19. Make every effort to know the names of people and their families.

20. Visit coworkers when they are in the hospital.

21. Have your community group fill a break room for coworkers to enjoy.

22. Go out of your way to talk to people who typically are overlook.

23. Double-Date with other couples after work for happy hour.

24. Invite your co-workers in to the service projects you are already involved in.

25. Keep small candy, gum, or little snacks around to offer to others during a long day.

26. Finds ways to get your co-workers to mingle with friends from church?

27. Remember, 90% of the people you are friends with would visit your church if you invited them.

Thanks Josh Reeves for some of the ideas.