What does it mean for us to be a “a part of the LifeChurch.tv Network”
Recently Grace has made the move of becoming “a part of the LifeChurch.tv network”. So what does this mean?
Basically it means we agree to use their materials (the excellent messages on Sunday, graphics, videos, small group guides, etc) in a way that they want. And it means we intend to use them on a fairly regular basis. There is no fee and we do not become a part of LifeChurch. We are still Grace Community.
It also means that we are a part of a loose association of churches who are also using these materials.
More discussions of what this means and does not mean for Grace Community will follow in the next few days on this blog.
I invite your questions here or feel free to give me a call at 217.369.9897
August 26th, 2007 at 6:30 pm
Please watch LifeChurch’s Vision 2007 video! I did about a week ago, and it made a huge difference in how I viewed Grace’s partnership with LifeChurch.tv. I admit, I had been skeptical about the potential partnership, but watching the video and talking with Dave softened my attitude. Pastor Craig gives a moving explanation for LifeChurch’s seemingly radical approach to ministry. I came away from watching it feeling like Grace couldn’t afford NOT to blend LifeChurch’s resources with ours to reach as many people for Christ as possible. God really pressed on my heart that it’s not about me!
August 30th, 2007 at 10:23 am
Right on Julie!
For all of us…if you have not viewed the Vision 2007 message and let it soak in, do it today. I recommend watching it and then again in 48 hrs to let the ideas percolate.
If you know of others who have questions, send them my way. And encourage them to check out this helpful message.
August 30th, 2007 at 11:03 am
Julie,
I agree 100% with you. I was extremely skeptical when Dave first started talking about Lifechurch. But after watching the Vision video and watching or listening to a bunch of their messages that are available on line, my heart completely turned around. I could see how the relationship with LC would allow us to bring more people to Christ and to enrich the spiritual lives of our believers.
August 30th, 2007 at 11:33 am
What Mary gets to is the bottom line: how can we help more find Christ and enrich lives deeply? LifeChurch.tv is not some silver bullet. It IS a solid partnership for us that can help us pursue our mission more effectively.
So we all need to understand two key action points:
1. Pray for and invite people like crazy.
2. Start or get intoi a small group where we can be making this good stuff come alive in our lives.
Lets go for it Grace Community!
August 30th, 2007 at 2:50 pm
Pastor Craig makes several good points in LifeChurch.tv’s Vision 2007 video, but what struck me most was this - “The church does NOT exist for us. We ARE the church, and we exist for the world.” He talked about not just coming to church but BEING the church, and being a spiritual contributor rather than a spiritual consumer. It’s not about me! Remember the big white arrow Dave holds up?
While it’s nice to have great teaching that feeds me every week at church, that’s not really the point. We MUST make sure that others who don’t know that their eternal life can be secure get the Message, which they desperately need. Those who aren’t Christ-followers at all don’t necessarily have the luxury of getting their spiritual feeding from Small Group, daily Bible study, etc. the way we do because they may not even be aware of such things … until we help them find out in whatever ways we can.
As Craig said in the video, we have to go to where the people are, just like Jesus did. Perhaps “where the people are” is plugged-in, on-line and watching videos. If LifeChurch.tv is a way we can reach more people with the Message, then that’s what we need to do. I’m glad we’ve made the move to become a network church!
September 1st, 2007 at 5:32 pm
ok so I’ve been really thinking about Lifechurch.tv, trying to get my head around it. I’ve watched the vision 2007 message…and I’ve boiled my thoughts down to some pretty basic questions….the main one being what is church. what does/should church look like. when I hear the discusion that includes the line “it’s not about me”, and the idea of “spiritual contributor rather than a spiritual consumer” I think..hey wait a minute isn’t the church for the believers? isn’t is to equipt the saints? to bring those who believe together for teaching, encouragement and fellowship? In order to “go ye therefore into all the earth”?
In a world where we are clearly against a strong foe we are told to put on the full armor of chirst. and yes I realize that as a christian I have made it my responsible to to this….but without the fellowship of believer’s and iron that sharpens iron….I have a tough time doing that.
I believe that church is a time and place where believer’s get filled to go out…..and I’m concerned that it may be too easy to stay at home and “catch” the messge rather that having face time with my fellow Christians.
I’m also concerned that there has been so few comments on the blog …I’ve been checking in about every day and haven’t seen many people get in on this “new way to church” …what happens to those without computer acess or skills? where is their place in this virtual church?
I’m concerned that this decision has been made with few supporters..I’ve tried to listen and find out what people are thinking about this…and the one’s I’ve talked to are either concerned or apathtic about lifechurch. This is a strange place to be…either I’m not talking to the right people or this is what people are thinking/rather not thinking about it…not really caring about the decision Grace is going….and maybe thinking about other Church options.
I am really hoping this process will be a good move for Grace but right now I’m not completely sure about it…and would love to see more posts or have more discussions about this….
thanks
EJ
September 4th, 2007 at 7:44 am
Thanks for these comments!
EEEJJ, you have hit on two very important big idea issues in your comment.
1. Is the church for the believers or for the missing (read “AKA Lost”…tremendous book!)? This is an old and often discussed question. I believe if we could tap Jesus on the shoulder his answer would be YES!!!! It is for both. HE is the one who nudged us to love both God and people with all we have.
2. The other key Q is “What is the church?” I believe church is people and it is the life of Christ in us pouring out into a needy and “missing” world. It does not happen only within four walls. It is your life and mine as we linger with believers we are close to (see my comment on small groups elsewhere in this blog), as we work with kids and youth, as we love and reach out to those we live and work close to.
As I have said before, I welcome questions (I had a great conversation with EEEJJ following here post. I also encourage everyone to listen to that Vision 2007 message and then listen again and think it over.
One thing I am noticing is more postive comments and more signs of concrete choices people are making to follow Christ than I have ever seen before.
I was sitting with a little group of men Sat am and we were sharing together how God is changing us…and a lot of it has to do with our new partnership with LifeChurch.
Has anyone else been positively impacted?