Experiencing God Is Just Beginning
by Billy Ford, Pastor
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. - James 1:22
Last October a significant percentage of those in our church embarked on a journey together to learn to better know God and do His will. Over 70 people initially bought Experiencing God workbooks, the majority of whom got plugged into small groups that met each week to discuss what was being learned. This powerful 12-week study of Scripture focused on uncovering principles that will help God’s people to understand how to have a living relationship with Him through truly experiencing Him.
Those who completed this course will agree with me when I say that it has been truly life changing. Week after week I kept thinking to myself, “Why didn’t they teach me this in seminary?!!” I and others have been so impacted by this study that I would like to make it part of the discipleship process of our church. This means that we will offer an Experiencing God class once or twice a year so that new people in our church will have a chance to go through it. This also means that if you missed out on participating this time around, there will be more opportunities for you.
Even though our church-wide study of Experiencing God is complete, our journey of experiencing God has just begun. One mistake that churches can easily make is to simply move on from a great study like this without really changing anything. We don’t want to make that mistake! We don’t just want to hear the word; we want to do it. With this in mind, the various Experiencing God small groups attended a joint meeting on Sunday evening, March 18th. Our purpose was to identify the principles from the course that we believed were paramount and not to be forgotten. I have included the list here that we came up with that night. This list is still in rough draft form and needs to be refined, but I present it to you now so that you can look it over and pray about it. I challenge you to set aside some time to fast and pray as you reflect on this list as there is a sense that this process if very important to our church’s future. We will have another meeting soon at which we discuss action points, specific steps through which we can begin living these principles out.
Principles for Experiencing God (in no particular order)
· Watch to see what God is doing and join Him. All glory goes to Him.
· The world does not only need to see good Christians, they need to see God. Are we attempting anything God-sized?
· Kingdom people are interrelated with the other members. (Christians need each other. The church needs all members)
· We will understand the will of God for our church when we listen to the whole body express what they’re experiencing in the life of that body.
· The purpose of a believer or a church is to serve others.
· Every congregation is to be a world missions strategy center.
· Move forward in Unity; not just by majority vote.
· Each member is important and the leaders are responsible to equip the members.
· Relationships with God are far more important than buildings – budgets – programs – methods – church personnel – size, or anything else.
· God doesn’t add members to the body accidentally
· Unity; not asking divisive questions that could split the church
· Don’t get negative, depressed or discouraged when things don’t happen in your timing. Trust in God’s timing.
· Let the world see God at work and He will attract people to Himself.
- World is not seeing God, because we are not attempting anything that only God can do.
· A church committed to the Lordship of Christ can touch the world. The local church is God’s strategy to change the world.
· God doesn’t add to the church accidentally
- Each local church is a body and God adds the resources and people to complete His mission. We need to look at each person as having a role.
- New people => relevance of what God wants to do through us.
· Working together with other churches in the valley etc. to reach people – interdependent.
· God is far more interested in you having an experience through Him than just getting the job done.
· You cannot go with God and stay where you are – there must be adjustments.
· Talents – As a church we need to invest in things that are lasting – If we don’t make use of resources God has given us, He will take them away. If we use them He will give more.
· Watch and see what God is doing. Adjust plans and programs. Working with God shouldn’t be hard.
· Church is where people should experience God and not just be spectators.
· When God brings someone to our church, find out why.
· Pursue God as the real head of our church…….not people or programs.
· Let God show us what He wants us to do…..continually evaluate how He’s using us.
· Be available to do God’s calling. Be flexible.
· Help people to find their gifts and their niche in our body.
· Weaknesses to work on: Training and communication.
