That’s the way it is with the Son of Man. He did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many people.” Matthew 20:28

I have to confess to you that for many, many years I was really more concerned about the overflow in my life than the outflow. Let me explain. I was one of those pastors who kept thinking and kept teaching that “there must be more than this”. My comments were focussed at, what I called, the church machine. In my mind, the church had become something of a machine that had to be maintained so that it could function … just to exist. I kept seeing most people just wanted to “go to church” so that they could say that they “went”. There was no passion, no commitment — just a machine that opened it’s doors each Sunday for education, worship, and preaching. The common thing said on the way out was … “ba bye, see you next week”. I grew tired of that and began to search for something more. I did find the power I needed with a great experience with the Holy Spirit. It was empowering and I led my church to experience that overflow in their lives. It was cool, for a while. There was passion. There was commitment. That’s where it stopped. I could not figure out for the life of me why it seemed to still bottle neck on Sunday morning. Our crowds grew. People were flocking … inward.

Fast forward 5 years. Yes, 5 years! Here I am, pastoring a new church start up … but with a new focus. It’s not all about getting your shout on. It’s not all about getting a good worship set in on Sunday AM. I am involved in a project … not a machine. My project … to learn to live in the outflow of God’s grace, kindness, and generous love to others.

The benefits … well, they are pretty cool. One, benefit … I am serving because I want to and not because I have to. Two, stories. Stories of hope and help … “they overcame … but the word of their testimony”. Three, something comes back to me when the outflow happens.  Now, some might see that 3rd benefit as a reason to serve … I will tell you that if that is your reason … you won’t get what I am trying to explain. Luke 6:38 takes over and the bumper crop that you are experiencing is overwhelming.

Where is Journey Church headed? Out not In. Giving not receiving. Opening doors. Serving.

Want to join us?

Oh, what’s the deal with the picture of the lawn mower. I read a story about a pastor who calls himself … the lawn pastor. He mows the yards of people for little or no money for the benefit of serving them. See, it’s the small things that push the gospel forward.

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