Posts Tagged ‘Mars Hill’

The most important thing…

August 30th, 2009

Often when i think about planting a church i think about values. What will be the core values of a community i plant? What will be our heart?

I think that the things or the thing you decide to be at the core of your community says a lot about you and what you hope to be as a community. So this is important!
And most churches know this and have central on their website, “Core Values” or something a long those line.

So what are the values of your community?
What should be the central value of a Jesus following community?
I have some ideas but i would love to hear what you think.

Here are a couple links ::

Mars Hill articulates there core values in a unique way.  They call them directions. I like what they are saying and i feel like they include some often left out parts.

Here is a video of a man who is planting a community or an organization (i was confused) articulating the core value he and his wife have.

I really like what he is saying and where his heart is at. I’m not sure i agree with this being the single core of a Jesus following community but definitely a part.
What do you think?
(and can anyone help me understand why he’s climbing a rock?)

And here is a link to the Apostles Creed.
Maybe enough said!

So yea, let’s talk values! Core! Directions! Priorities!
Whatever you want to call them, let’s talk em’.

Grace and peace
Erik

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Posted in Community Planting // General, Erik, Media Today | Comments (3)

The medium is the message :: Shane Hipps & Rob Bell

March 13th, 2009

I listened to a teaching by Shane Hipps a few months back. He spoke at Mars Hill in Grand Rapids (I listen to their pod-cast fairly often) and his message has really stuck in my mind. Then I saw this clip on a friend of mines blog :: Deadly Viper Blog :: so i decided to share. 


Rob Bell Interviews Shane Hipps About Technology from Deadly Viper on Vimeo.

Shane has a great perspective and his story gives him instant street cred! And in case he reads this, the iPhone give him more cred in my book, not less!

(you can listen to his message via the Mars Hill teachings page :: I think :: he spoke about a year ago, 3.29.08 and the message was entitled spirituality of the Cell Phone. If not i can get it to you, just let me know.)

Shane talks about the Idea of “The Medium is the Message”. 
He focuses on the fact that we are the primary medium that God uses to convey his message (the gospel) to this world. Jesus started us off (incarnation) and we are to continue being the medium.
I LIKE IT!  

I think we can also use this conversation to talk about community planting.
Your church is a medium and communicates thousands of messages every time a person enters your doors and spends time interacting with your community (building, people, services, sacraments, etc.)  

The the big question is :: What does your church communicate about God?
What do your people / your community communicate about God?

What are the things we can do to communicate the things we want?
And avoid communicating the things we don’t want? 

I think you get the drift?
Let’s talk about it.

The medium is the message. YES?

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Posted in Community Planting // General, Erik, Media Today | Comments (4)

Following the Calendar…

December 4th, 2008

The typical growing church and I think just about every large “mega” church (not that being a mega church will ever be a goal of mine) but these communities aren’t really known for following the Church calendar or really participating in any kind of orthodox liturgy. They might participate in the Eucharist once a month or something like that but that’s about it. They celebrate Christmas and Easter but other than those days the yearly life of the Church is kinda lost in these communities.

When Mars Hill Bible Church decided to participate in Lent a couple years ago people thought that was wild, revolutionary even. Seriously? There was a Catholic church next to the college I went to and 2 or 3 years when I was in college I went to this church on Ash Wednesday, participated in their service, even took communion (shhh, don’t tell anybody who is Catholic). Then once I got out of college I have, every year i have found an Episcopal church to celebrate Ash Wednesday with and start the Lenten season. This is not novel or revolultionary, this is what the Church does and has done for hundreds of years.

I just wonder if communities miss out on part of what it means to follow God when we don’t pay any attention to our calendar.

I have recently began attending an Anglican church and they rigursouly adhere to the church calendar. We read the lectionary readings every Sunday and Thomas (the pastor / priest guy) preaches one of these readings. It’s a different experience for me but my wife and I are really enjoying thus far.

I bring up this topic because it’s Advent and Advent officially starts our Calendar.

But more specifically I bring it up to get your feedback and ideas on following the Calendar and participating in the church year as a community.

[ SOME QUESTIONS ]

Why don’t most modern, growing, relevant, “successful” communities follow the Christian calendar?

I always wonder if it’s an all or nothing thing. Do you either have to really follow the Calendar or just not follow it at all? (Christmas and Easter don’t count).

Is there any really good examples of a church really doing some great thing, growing and serving in their context and being shaped by the church year?
I want to good examples. Know of any?

I think Mars Hill is actually doing some Advent action this year. I haven’t listened or looked into it yet though.

SO yea, what are you thoughts?
DO SHARE!

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Posted in Community Planting // General, Erik | Comments (4)

media today :: 1.0 // Rob Bell interview

November 11th, 2008

Media Monday was my initial thought but i don’t really want to be locked into Monday so the title of these posts will be media TODAY! The idea is to do a little review / give some thoughts on some media i run across that pertains to community planting. Probably LOTS of youtube video or other church media. 

My goal is to put up a media today post once a week to join in and further cultivate the conversation that we are having and other people are having on ministry, specifically planting ministries. 

———

Our 1.0 post is an interview i listened to yesterday. The interview is by Cameron Strang of Relevant, he is interviewing Rob Bell of Mars Hill Bible Church. 

Bell says some pretty significant things about church ministry and leadership that i thought were pretty good. But Bell always says good stuff. 

They talk a lot about his most recent book, Jesus wants to save Christians. I haven’t actually read it yet. I’m slowing working through it. But i have listened to a bunch of messages that give content to the book. Solid stuff for sure! 

enjoy the interview :: here’s the link :: Rob Bell interview

Relevant has this new-er branch of what they do, i am sure i will be discusing some of there content here on our media today posts. You can check it out for yourself :: www.neueministry.com

And if you check it out fast! you can watch the newest Rob Bell Nooma film in it’s entirety. 

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A final P.S. Most of these post will have more context and / or conversation specifically about community planting. This was 1.0 and i had listened to this interview yesterday. I didn’t take note or anything so i just posted some general info. Next time be ready for some serious convo! Got it! 

Be peace

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Posted in Erik, Media Today | Comments (0)