A Church Planter's Journal

Dec. 30, 2009 (19 days until launch)

SCRIPTURE:

³ When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. ⁴ When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. ⁵ "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written:

    ⁶ " 'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, 
       are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; 
       for out of you will come a ruler 

       who will shepherd my people Israel.' ^[b]" Matthew 2

THOUGHTS:

I find it interesting that not only was Herod disturbed "but all Jerusalem with him." Why would all of Jerusalem be disturbed that the Messiah had come? Perhaps disturbed is not the best translation. The NASB translates disturbed as "troubled." Young's Literal Translation says "stirred." Hmmm...it would upset the apple cart a bit to have one's ruler suddenly deposed by a baby. What is this going to mean to me? How will my routine be changed? How will I have to change? I'm happy now with the current ruler. What does this mean in my relationship with Rome?Clearly the prophecy is Jesus will come and rule, govern, shepherd. 

When we began to announce to our core we were going to plant, it seemed everyone who was bought in to the idea that a church should evangelize was all for it. But when the rubber meets the road, when you actually have to change your life, schedule...when the very core of what you were is changing to become what you will be, people get disturbed, troubled...they stir. Why? Because Jesus comes to rule. He doesn't come to address our musical tastes, our schedules. He doesn't come to preserve the good old days. He comes and addresses those areas of our lives where we are not letting him rule. And that's hard stuff. 

Where is he seeking to rule in me? I think in helping me let go of trying to please everyone. I heard a pastor once say that its important to come to a point where church leaders say, "So and so and God have something to work out." I feel God telling me lately, "Brad, I got this one. You just keep moving." I do care about how people are feeling and I want to help them feel good about The Gallery, but often their concerns have more to do with what is going on in their personal lives than it has to do with this church plant. When people's lives go south, they want the church to be a certain way to make them feel better. But the church doesn't exist to make people feel better. We are not a communal Hallmark card. 

PRAYER: 

Abba, I invite greater Lordship of You in my life. Work within me so I know more greatly what it is to let You rule. As i move through this day, be my shepherd, and help me live in the comfort that Your rod and staff will comfort me. I need not rely on the comfort of others. I pray for my lunch today and pray Your Spirit will go prepare both of our hearts to listen. I pray for an anointing on my writing today. And I pray for Jane as she prepares her message. Speak through her boldly so Your voice in her shines through. 

I pray You would continue to mobilize The Gallery toward greater unity and service. Help us see what we are not seeing. 

I pray for direction as we seek to find ways to invest in the community.

I pray for continued financial provision.

I pray for a greater witness in us for Your gospel. What do we need to do we are not doing?

I pray You would take away my blindspots so I see what You want me to see.

I pray for my family. Provide us spiritual protection. I pray for deeper faith. I pray You would reveal Yourself more deeply to my children, so they know You more fully. 

Deepen our faith, Abba. All we need is deep faith. Amen.

Dec. 28, 2009

SCRIPTURE:

¹⁵ Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. A large crowd followed him, and he healed all who were ill. ¹⁶ He warned them not to tell others about him. ¹⁷ This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:

    ¹⁸ "Here is my servant whom I have chosen, 
       the one I love, in whom I delight; 
       I will put my Spirit on him, 
       and he will proclaim justice to the nations.

    ¹⁹ He will not quarrel or cry out; 
       no one will hear his voice in the streets.

    ²⁰ A bruised reed he will not break, 
       and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, 
       till he leads justice to victory.

    ²¹ In his name the nations will put their hope." Matthew 12

THOUGHTS:

He's going to proclaim justice to the nations and in "his name the nations will put their hope." Matthew uses Isaiah 42 to once again prove to his Jewish readers that Jesus is the messiah. He is the one in whom all should/will put their hope. But as I look at the American church today, I see most Christians putting their hope in the US military, capitalism, and their respective parties. This is idolatry through and through. It not only disrespects the King of kings, it ruins our witness as a Church. 

At The Gallery I feel it very important to help our congregation see how we trust everything but Jesus to solve the world's problems. The words above should compel us to invest deeply in church planting and world missions. 

That said, I must stop myself and ask, "Okay, hotshot, what do you put your hope in more than Jesus?" I guess I'd have to say the gifts God has given me. I too often rely on my own creativity and intellect to help save the day. When rather I should raise the person and name of Jesus as the hope of...everything. 

MORE THOUGHTS:

We are just under two weeks from our grand opening. I am a bit worried that we have nothing in place for youth ministry. But other than that, we are ready to go. I have a lot of peace about our launch. I believe I really have put my hope in Him.

PRAYER:

Abba, may Your kingdom come, may Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.

Dec. 27, 2009

SCRIPTURE:

  ¹ "Here is my servant, whom I uphold, 

       my chosen one in whom I delight; 
       I will put my Spirit on him, 
       and he will bring justice to the nations.

    ² He will not shout or cry out, 
       or raise his voice in the streets.

    ³ A bruised reed he will not break, 
       and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. 
       In faithfulness he will bring forth justice;

    ⁴ he will not falter or be discouraged 
       till he establishes justice on earth. 
       In his teaching the islands will put their hope."   Isaiah 42

THOUGHTS:

3x times Isaiah uses the word justice here. Huge stuff. The Messiah will bring justice to the earth. The Jews were longing, waiting for the deliverer who would come and usher in the "age to come" (olam haba). One of the marks of this age would be justice. But the justice Jesus brought was not a retributive justice. I brought us what we need, not what we deserve. This is biblical justice. This justice is filled with amazing grace and love. 

We live in the time of the ushering in of God's justice. Like yeast in dough, this justice grows. We are participants in the Lord's justice. Our call too is to bring people not what they deserve, but what they need. 

How are we seeking to do that at The Gallery. Again, it all springs from the four-fold ministry. Through Jesus we have shalom with God, self, for the benefit of others and the whole world. Our participation in God's justice begins in being ambassadors of reconciliation, pleading with people to "come back to God" (2 Cor. 5. 20). But we cannot stop there, because in coming back to God we also find out who we are--children of God. And in this identity we are called to seek shalom with others and all creation. This is our participation in God's justice. 

On another note, because of our Christmas Eve service's proximity to Sunday, we are not having the Gallery this evening. And the family and I are not going to church at all today! It feels good to play hooky.

PRAYER:

Abba, the vision of Your justice is so hard for us to comprehend. Clearly, You are a holy and righteous judge. Yet, You are a loving judge who seeks to give Your creation what it needs. I praise Your justice and fear it, I must confess. 

I pray today, Abba, You would inspire my writing on our identity in You. I pray also for The Gallery community. Give us what we need as we prepare for launch. I pray against anything that might bring division to our unity. Unite us in Your Spirit. I pray for spiritual protection for our church. We invite Your Spirit to move through us to renew and transform our thinking. Keep our minds on what is true. And give us deep, deep faith. Amen.

Dec. 26, 2009 (16 days until launch)

SCRIPTURE:

 ¹ In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea ² and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near." ³ This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: 
       "A voice of one calling in the wilderness, 
       'Prepare the way for the Lord, 
       make straight paths for him.' "   Matt. 3

THOUGHTS:

Hmmm...is this perhaps my job description. Sure, I am called to prepare and equip a congregation, but it begins with a call to repentance, and a declaration of the kingdom come. This is how lives/paths are made straight. And, yes, sometimes it feels like I am a voice calling in the wilderness. I like the idea of John proclaiming his message in the desert. Sometimes our culture seems like a vast desert. And, I hesitate to say this, but it seems even good to have the record of John's beheading. I guess if one has the guts to call people to repentance and declare Jesus as king, then one shouldn't be surprised if some want your head on a platter. 

As we move toward launch the attacks of the enemy continue to come. I am amazed how they have increased. Compared to the surpassing greatness of God and the power He has provided and the the magnitude of the message, the attacks are not monumental. I clearly feel God's protection, but I am amazed at the "slings and arrows" coming our way. They all have to do with division. Satan is going after the body attacking people's weakest points. When I look at all God is doing in The Gallery, I am amazed how well things are going, yet some of the emails I get revolve around the strangest things. 

It's the day after Christmas. We had a good Christmas Eve service. 70+ people braved the elements and joined us at 10:30 PM. The news advised people not to travel, but some came anyway. It was good to see. The service was pretty simple. I liked my message. I pulled out my favorite Christmas message from years ago. In a church plant it makes a lot of sense to use what is good and is already done. I heard Pastor Tim Keller say he spends 20+ hours a week on his messages, but he advises church planters to spend between 6-8 per week. I love that guy. These next few days I'm really trying to get ahead on some of my writing. 

PRAYER:

Abba, thank You for Christmas. There's so much of it I hate, but You invite me every year to the reason for my existence as I look at the manger. Where would we be without the manger? We surely would have created a selfish holiday by ourselves, but You turn our hearts to where we are called to live. I praise You.

Abba, as we move forward through this week, please shape our minds and hearts around Your mission in The Gallery. Give us a laser-like focus on the 4-fold ministry. I really need Your wisdom as I navigate leading us through this next month. I need Your power. 

I pray for spiritual protection for everyone in The Gallery. I pray You will help us put on Your armor so we can defend against the slings and arrows of the enemy. 

¹⁴ Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, 

• Help me live in truth and not listen to lies.

with the breastplate of righteousness in place,

• Help me live in right-relationship made possible by Your cross and Holy Spirit. 

¹⁵ and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.

• Keep me readied with the good news of shalom that quenches fear and makes darkness flee.

 ¹⁶ In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

• Give me greater faith, Abba, so the arrows of evil are extinguished.

 ¹⁷ Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

• Give me the boldness provided by Your power which has already saved me and Your word as a Spirit-empowered weapon against the lies of evil.

Your word is so good, God. Thank You for Your power. I pray now for a blessing on this day. May You be glorified in my family. Amen.

Dec. 24, 2009 (17 days until launch)

SCRIPTURE:

 ¹ As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. ² His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"

    ³ "Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. ⁴ As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. ⁵ While I am in the world, I am the light of the world."

    ⁶ Having said this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man's eyes. ⁷ "Go," he told him, "wash in the Pool of Siloam" (this word means "Sent"). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.

THOUGHTS:

Not quite sure why we chose this passage to be read on Christmas Eve in our Gallery readings, but...oh, well. The words that hit me are "but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him." This could be said of all of us who are in Christ. Why in the world am I a pastor when I can be such an arrogant pain in the butt? Jesus saved me so the works of God might be displayed in me.

Tonight is a crazy night. We are supposed to get a major snow storm. I've been doing ministry for 14 years in MN and never been snowed out of Christmas Eve, but it looks like tonight attendance will be down because of the snow storm. That said, we did send out 7000 invitations to the neighborhood, so who knows? Whatever we do, it is so the works of God might be displayed in us.

Where am I at this Christmas Eve? I guess I would say I'm very grateful and filled with joy. I know I'm doing what I'm called to do. I have been chosen by God to plant The Gallery. I truly know this. What great joy there is in this knowledge. It gives me a certain amount of freedom to know God is smiling on us. Yeah, there are daily acts of craziness in a flock of people...my craziness perhaps most prominent, but this is all good. The scriptures paint the same picture of the church.

Tonight, we will just let God do His stuff. He gives us all an invitation at these Christmas Eve services--let them kneel at the manger. That's all they and i need anyway.

PRAYER:

Abba, help me lead them to the manger. Amen. Oh, and give us all safe travel.

Dec. 21, 2009

SCRIPTURE:

    ² But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner's fire or a launderer's soap. ³ He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the LORD will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness, ⁴ and the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to the LORD, as in days gone by, as in former years. 

THOUGHTS:

It's been a long time since I've encountered these verses. The image of Jesus as fire and soap purifying the leaders of worship, the priests....hmmm...I feel like that. I feel like I am being refined, stripped bare. It is good. It is not easy, but it is all good. Every day in church planting is a stripping away. While we are a well-resourced plant, we have a commitment to give away 50% of what we receive in offerings. This value is forcing us to do more with less. We are constantly having to ask ourselves, "Do we really need that?" The answer is most often "no." This is so good for us Christians. When we let go of the trappings of what we think we need to plant a church, we are forced to rely more on God.

In addition, I have a new image that is helpful to me as I lead. As I pastor this congregation, everyone comes with so much baggage--including me of course. It's easy to get frustrated and want to scream, "Oh, come on, people! Quit your moaning. Things are not that bad! Your concerns have nothing to do with our mission. Get it together." But I'm seeing myself a bit as a baggage handler. People come and as we talk about mission, I have to help them unpack their baggage so their load is lighter as we proceed forward. I could whine myself thinking it's not my job to unpack their junk, but actually it's a privilege to help lighten people's loads. The Spirit is refining all of us.

We are 4 days away from Christmas Eve. I hear there will be snow. Hmmmm....I've never been snowed out of Christmas Eve. I'll show up somehow and make sure we're good to go. We sent out 7000 mailers and, yet, I didn't send anyone to any of us so we don't know when people get/got them! Hopefully by now!!! Live and learn. They also note the launch on 1-10-10. 

Life is good. There is a lot of joy amidst all the struggles. Joy to the world!

PRAYER:

Abba, thanks You for the joy. Now, help us spread this joy. Manifest Yourself in our lives so others might find joy. Today I pray for my son Sam and my daughters Emma and Julia. It's hard being a teenager and going to college. Give them this Christmas deeper faith and deeper joy. They need nothing else. Amen.

Dec. 17, 2009

Scripture:

²¹ To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

    ²² "He committed no sin, 
       and no deceit was found in his mouth." ^[e]

    ²³ When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 1 Peter 2

THOUGHTS:

This chapter in 1 Peter has always been one of my favorites. Peter throughout the chapter is calling the church to live in righteousness as priests and a holy nation among the surrounding culture. It is this community of shalom that is to be God's testimony to the world. This particular passage above is in the context of Peter's counsel to slaves....heavy stuff for us in post-slavery America. 

Peter calls the slaves to be good slaves and endure in the manner of Christ. He previously calls the disciples of Jesus to live as God's slaves. We, like Christ, are not to retaliate, but to follow His example.

There is a New Testament principle here we must take into consideration. The church is not called to overthrow the kingdom of the world with the Kingdom of God. We are to live as members of the kingdom, God's ambassadors of reconciliation, His holy nation amidst the kingdom of the world. It is our King, His example, and His life in us that will be light to darkness. 

Heavy, heavy stuff. What a joy to be a part of this kingdom where love is trusted more than fear and power. 

Again, I believe the teaching of the kingdom of God as the lens in which to interpret is paramount. If we do not live guided by the King and His kingdom, then we seek to live in "power over" rather than "power under" (Boyd). 

It is this "light in the darkness" hermeneutical lens that guides my leadership of The Gallery. I spoke yesterday to my leaders about how I do not see a target market for The Gallery. I see rather a called-community living with Jesus as King as testimony to all who surround us. Yes, we will reach some groups better than others, but if we begin with living as children of the King, we stop ourselves from wrapping The Gallery in target-market tinsel to attract people to come to us. Rather, we are called to go as priests holding light in the darkness.

PRAYER:

Abba, you have called us to be light bearers, Your priests, Your holy nation. This requires great faith for this church plant. In this identity, we must trust Your life in us is sufficient as our testimony. Give us this faith in great abundance. Help us surrender to Your kingship more fully. 

We thank You for the way You are molding and shaping us in Your likeness. We invite Your craftsmanship in our lives. 

We thank You for Pastor Greg Boyd and Pastor John Ackerman and their generosity with their time. 

We thank You for the support of our mother church Crossroads and our denomination who continue to support and coach The Gallery.

We thank You for so many so willing to get their hands dirty in planting this church. Send us more hands willing to dig in and serve!

As we move toward our Grand Opening on 1-10-10 at 10:00 AM, we ask You to build and grow Your church. 

We pray You would send us people in St. Paul who still are looking for a church home. 

We pray You would guide the 7000 mailers we sent out into the hands of those who are searching for love and reconciliation in their lives.

We pray You would strengthen our ministries for this Grand Opening.

We pray You would help us see what we need to do that we haven't done to prepare.

We pray you would grow our ministry teams.

We pray You would provide the financial resources we need to serve You and the community we're called to serve.

We pray for Steve Toureck this week as he shares his story of coming to faith with us.

We pray our Living God's Masterpiece videos will be passed through the world wide web so others are drawn to You.

I pray the FREEBEERIFYOUHATECHURCH.COM website will serve the church and help us listen to those we're called to love. I pray You will give me the words I need as I meet every Friday with those who are not seeking You.

I pray You will protect the The Gallery leadership from the attacks of the enemy. Keep us safe and healthy and filled with faith to serve You.

As we share Your good news over these many important weeks, Abba, we need only more and more of You. We invite Your power and leadership in our lives. 

Amen.

Dec. 13, 2009

SCRIPTURE:

 ⁵ But he was pierced for our transgressions, 
       he was crushed for our iniquities; 
       the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, 
       and by his wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53

THOUGHTS:

Interesting structure here. Jesus was pierced, crushed, wounded for our transgressions and iniquities. The antithesis is played from pain to healing, punishment to peace. The result is we are healed and receive peace (shalom). YHWH laid upon "him" the iniquity of "us all." This is clear substitutionary atonement written centuries before the crucifixion. 

I was listening to a Tim Keller sermon today and he spoke of how the ability to access a guilt free life actually comes from the embracing of the darkness of our sins and the beauty of the gift of the cross. Romans 5 speaks of Jesus dying not for godly people but for the ungodly. That'd include me.

As I prepare the first message for our launch on 1-10-10, I will speak of this atonement theology because it is the foundation of the restoration of shalom with God. I think I'm going to have Lisa do the Lady Macbeth speech: "Out, out damn spot." 

DAY 189 of The Gallery

SCRIPTURE:

   ⁴ So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. ⁵ He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. ⁶ While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, ⁷ and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. Luke 2

THOUGHTS:

This is a very unlikely birth story for a king. It seems to me if Luke wanted to make this up, he would have gone so many different directions. So, I believe the telling is true. I can't see what Luke gains by making it up. So a real Joseph and a real Mary make their way to Bethlehem.

Let me awkwardly place myself in Joseph's place. How many times did he just shake his head thinking, "How did I get myself into this?!" His family is pregnant with possibilities. He has little idea of what's going to happen. God didn't map out a 5-10 or even a 33 year vision for him. He simply has to move forward in faith trusting that God knows what He is doing...and so do I.

The Gallery is about to be officially born on 1-10-10 at 10:00 AM. We're moving our Sunday night service to Sunday morning. Many will be happy about this. Many sad. This is the reality of leadership. No decision pleases everyone. "Build up that thick skin, Kindall, and keep moving forward. The Gallery is pregnant and whether we have the baby in the nice inn or on the streets, it doesn't really matter. This is God's kid and your job is to help lead the birth and the kids new young life."

It's interesting, I don't have a lot of worries about the kid (The Gallery). I have a lot of faith. God has put everything in place to keep His baby healthy. As I look at the long term health of The Gallery I feel confident we can birth a church that will last 100 years. Over that time period the name and location will change, but the movement of the child will continue.

This long haul approach has helped me put all the little hurdles we face now in perspective. Like any kid The Gallery is not perfect. Sometimes it cries and poops its pants but that's simply part of the maturation process. It's to be expected. My job is to comfort and change diapers and move forward despite all the frustrations of parenthood.

BTW: right now our worship ministry is groaning. Biggest complaint? Music choices! Man, I thought we were passed all that. Oh, well...

Okay, enough analogies. Here's what's also on my mind today:

• Tonight I interview Pastor Greg Boyd during our worship service. Quite excited about that.
• Last night I launched FREEBEERIFYOUHATECHURCH.COM. I'm hoping the buzz around the site will also point some people to The Gallery.
• This morning my back reallllly hurts. Can't figure out what's wrong.
• Sam and I am going to Crossroads this morning to see the beginning of their LET IT BE CHRISTMAS series. The Beatles and Christmas...I don't know. I love the Beatles. I am crazy about The Beatles but...we'll see.
• I'm excited I am done with my Christmas Eve message. This means I am way ahead of writing! First time ever for this cat.
• The Gallery had one of its best giving months in Nov. That's a good feeling.

PRAYER:

Abba, I praise Your perfect wisdom and faithful provision. You don't always provide what we expect but you always provide what we need. I pray Your blessing and anointing on Crossroads and The Gallery this day. Use us to give glory to Yourself. I pray You will keep my mind sharp tonight as I converse with Greg. I pray You will prepare Jane and John Ackerman as they prepare for next week. I pray for our congregation. There are too many focused on their own navels. Help us all lift our eyes to see You.

I pray You will heal my back. Give my Sam confidence at school and even joy amidst its chaos. Give Julia a special experience with Your Spirit, and give Emma all she needs to finish her first semester in college well. Give Lisa and me all we need to grow in our relationship. Amen.

The story of FREE BEER IF YOU HATE CHURCH

Okay, here's the deal. Here's how it all began....

I'm a pastor. I've been in the ministry for about 18+ years. Three years ago I was taking an apologetics course (defending the faith type stuff) at Bethel Seminary in St. Paul, MN. One of my assignments was to have a 45 minute discussion with someone who is not a Christian. The point was simply to listen. 

The deadline for my paper was quickly approaching and at the same time I was preparing for a family trip to Murray, KY. I knew finding someone who would admit to not being a Christian would be kinda hard down in the Bible belt, so 2 nights before we left for Kentucky, I told my wife I was going to the local Applebees to work on my paper. I drove to Applebees at 10:30 PM, and here is how I explained the rest of the story in the paper I wrote for the class:

As Monday evening drew to a close, I gathered up all the chutzpah I could find, told my wife I was going to Applebee’s, grabbed my computer and a Sharpee, and went in search of an unbeliever. My plan was simple. I would go to Applebee’s in Cottage Grove, sit at the bar, open up my laptop and hang a sign on it reading: Free beer to anyone who hates church. I believed the plan could not miss. As I drove, though, I became concerned someone from church might see me. It is rare for me to go anywhere in Cottage Grove and not see someone from CrossRoads Church. What would they think? I found my trump card in Jesus’ first miracle. I wasn’t turning water into wine for every patron at Applebee’s. I was simply buying a beer for a person. It was evangelism. Who could argue? (Okay, yeah, I know a lot of churches would have my hide. Thankfully I do not work at one of those churches.)

I got to Applebee’s, ordered a Leinenkugel, opened my laptop and put up my sign. It didn’t take more than 5 seconds before Frank, the gentleman closest to me, raised his hand and proclaimed, “I hate church!” 

Frank sat down next to me and I explained to him the purpose of my offer. I told him I was a pastor taking a class where I had to interview someone who disagreed with me on faith issues, and that I simply wanted to ask him some questions. 

Frank looked to be about 27. He is an electrician and grew up Catholic. He told me he believed in God, but left the Catholic Church because it was boring and irrelevant to his life. Frank and I barely got into our conversation before his two friends Jessie and Angie arrived. 

Jessie and Angie were from Bismarck, North Dakota. They had come to Minnesota to join Frank for a conference I never fully comprehended. Angie and Jessie work for Anytime Fitness in Bismarck and both of them looked to be about mid-twenties like Frank. Jessie grew up Lutheran and Angie Catholic, and their stories were similar to Frank’s. Church had been a chore for them—boring and irrelevant. They left as quickly as their parents would let them. 

If pressed by a census or some other poll, Frank, Angie, and Jessie would probably define themselves as Christians. However, their belief in God seemed to have little impact on their life. They were believers, but certainly not followers of Jesus. For them church was unnecessary. They believed they would go to heaven because they were good people. In their minds, their actions provided their pass to the pearly gates, so why subject their Sunday mornings to the yawnsville of church? 

The most telling moment of the night came as I asked them to define grace. Frank wondered if I meant the prayer that goes before a meal. Angie asked if I meant “graceful.” Jessie sat silent. I asked them if they knew the hymn Amazing Grace. They, of course, did so we talked about what made grace amazing. We talked about God’s love for them in their good times and their bad times. We talked about God’s open door of grace for all willing to walk through in faith. What a tragedy, though! These three people grew up in the church and missed the message of grace! No wonder they hated church.

I asked them if and when they had kids, would they take their kids to church. They all agreed they would and would make it mandatory through confirmation. I then asked them what they thought of confirmation. They all agreed they hated it and then saw the ridiculousness of their previous statement. 

We talked about following Jesus. I mentioned the disciples and their willingness to totally redirect their lives to follow Jesus. Frank, an electrician, commented: “Not everyone can do that. Nothing would get done!” So, in their minds, some were called to be super-Christians, some were only called to go to church, but they were simply called to be good people.

I asked what if anything would draw them back to church. They said a tragedy would bring them back to church, but the implication was that church would simply help them get back on their feet and then they wouldn’t have to go any more. They all said they would be drawn to a church where the pastor was a normal person, an “honest” church they said. I asked them what that meant and they said they saw hypocrisy in a church that would let a normal, sin-filled person stand up on stage in a robe behind a pulpit implying a lie--he was better than everyone else. They also said they would have enjoyed church more if they had been given a “cheat-sheet” to use during a service so they could understand all the terms they did not understand.

So, that was the beginning. 

A couple years go by and suddenly I find myself planting a church in St. Paul called The Gallery Covenant Church. And every good church planter knows one of the first steps in planting your church is knowing your community. So, I tried a few more FREE BEER conversations (I tried it with free coffee, but coffee's cheap. People respond better to free beer.). That said, I did so with no weekly discipline until...

This fall I went to a pastor's retreat by a church planting consultant named Steve Ogne (big fan of Steve's. He wrote an incredibly helpful book called Transformissional Coaching. Love this book!). Anyway, Steve ended his time with us with a challenge: 1) Spend 10% of your work week talking with people who don't go to church; 2) Spend 10% of your time coaching your leaders.

Once I heard this I knew it was time to make FREE BEER IF YOU HATE CHURCH a weekly practice. So, for the past 8 weeks or so, every Friday afternoon I go to The Muddy Pig in St. Paul from 3:00 to 5:00 PM to simply listen to why people don't like church. I started writing down the responses I heard. I've also started making audio recordings. Who knows? Maybe I'll move to video.

Please hear this. This website is to help Christians learn to listen those for whom Jesus died. I don't claim to be a great evangelist or apologist. I am a pretty good listener, though. I hope you will come back to this site now and again to listen as well. 

Here's a conversation I had last Friday.

Free Beer 12-4-09 conversation 2