JESUS. Community. Purpose

RE.THINK Church wants to help people know Jesus, experience Community and discover Purpose in 2018.  We haven’t abandoned our vision of leading people into a maturing relationship with Jesus by creating a fun, casual and innovative church that unchurched people would actually want to attend.  We are simply focusing on Jesus, Community, and Purpose for most of 2018.

We believe that when people know Jesus, they can’t help but love Him in return.  So, we want to expose Jesus for who the Bible says He really is.  We understand there are a lot of misconceptions about who Jesus is.  We want to help clear the air on those misconceptions.  In fact, one of our message series coming up pretty soon is “JESUS is_____.”  The series is based on a book by Judah Smith called “Jesus Is _____”.  We really hope people will have an understanding of who Jesus is and what He is not (not boring, not republican, most likely not white and not a killjoy).  We’ll loop back into that subject throughout 2018... and beyond.  

We never want people to think life must be lived alone or by their own efforts.  We all should experience community.  There should be a tribe we belong to and that belongs to us.  I personally believe that experiencing community is one of the most important aspects of a maturing relationship with Jesus.  When we are vulnerable and real with people, they can help us in ways that go beyond our understanding.  Let’s be honest, it’s easier to read and even memorize parts of the Bible than, to be honest about what we’re struggling with to other people.  Most of the time we paint a smile on our face even if we are struggling because we want others to believe we are having a great day.  Sometimes we don’t really want to let people into our lives.  It’s uncomfortable to allow others to help us when we need it, it’s not natural for us to allow others into our lives and see the struggle at times.  I think it comes easily to help others, but not to allow others to help us.  We are encouraged to do so though (Galatians 6:1-3) read it as the person who needs help sometimes.  


Reading the Bible is crucial. Prayer is also crucial in our relationship with Jesus. Community brings it to a whole different level.  

Anyone reading this who are cringing at that last paragraph, think about the early followers of Jesus who didn’t have their pocket Bibles or any Bibles at all. What did they have?  They had Community.  We look at our spiritual ancestors and wonder how they made it through persecution, hardships, trials, famines and no ability to participate in the marketplace, etc.  It wasn’t their Bible knowledge that got them through those circumstances.  It was their Community.  I’m not saying we shouldn’t honor and respect the fact that we hold a copy of God’s Word in our hands.  We absolutely should.   People died for that to be a possibility.  We should honor their sacrifice and lives.  I believe that the best way to read the Bible and grasp its meaning and application for our lives is in Community.  

We all have Purpose. We all have a reason for being on this planet.  At RE.THINK Church, we want to help parents understand their Purpose as they lead their families.  We want the college-age student, who is simply wanting to graduate, to understand how using her degree might get her the job of a lifetime where she is able to shape and influence the world.  We want the middle school student to realize that his life and influence can transform his school. We want to help him realize that he is in a mission field and can be used by Jesus to transform it.  

I believe that Purpose speaks more of who we become rather than what we do.  Starting a maturing relationship with Jesus isn’t hard.  Getting married isn’t difficult.  Starting a new workout routine isn’t that difficult either. It’s staying committed that’s difficult.  It’s understanding that grit not to quit is crucial to finish.  Finishing develops disciplines in us to help us mature and become who Jesus created us to be, and do the thing Jesus created us to do.  


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