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At our Council meeting last month, Jonathan brought the following quote from Dallas Willard. I shared it in a graphic I created for last months newsletter It summarizes perfectly our growing heart in simplechurches:

The greatest issue facing the world today, with all its heartbreaking needs, is whether those who, by profession or culture, are identified as “Christian” will become disciples - students, apprentices, practitioners - of Jesus Christ, steadily learning from him how to live the life of the Kingdom of the Heavens into every corner of human existence. The Great Omission

What an incredible challenge. Will we become the students of Jesus? Will we become his apprentices, steadily learning to live the life of the Kingdom into every corner of human existence? (I love the word, "steadily".)

Eight Years in...

It’s hard to believe. We’re now eight years old. In some measure it feels like we’ve made it. We started this simplechurch experiment wondering if we would even survive. And for the first many years, it seemed that’s all we were doing. Our energies were put into survival. Toddling around, trying to figure out what church like this looked like. But now, eight years in, like my eight year old boy at home, our feet are beneath us and we’re beginning to stretch out into a new phase. As we do so, Jesus has been speaking - to our council, to me, to many in leadership, to you - and what he’s been saying is repeated in this Willard quote: “Will you now, become learners of me? Will you see how I live this kingdom life, and will you live this life into every corner of your world?”

It’s almost like the first season of our life, Jesus gave us permission to see and learn what church in this new way was like. He knew we had much to figure out. But now we’re being drawn into a new phase. Intentionally, together, in these little church families, learning the way of Jesus, learning to become disciples, learning the kingdom way. Sounds exciting, doesn’t it? As last year we focused on “Rest”, “Children” and “Chesterfield” as our big rocks, the council is sensing that this “Discipleship” thing will be our big focus for the year ahead and beyond.

Personally, I’m excited about what’s to come. I have a plan for the next step, something I’m beginning in September with a few others - Jolie, the lead couple we worked with in Venezuela last month, and our very own Roxanne Charbonneau. I’ll wait to share about it until our September CityWide, but I’m really excited about it, and believe it will be a big key in the journey ahead for all of us.

Where is the Master taking us? As one who desires more than ever to be his disciple (because I think he really does hold the keys to life) I’m excited to see. Lead on Lord Jesus. Our vision is you.