The Agency

SUNDAYS MISSION

Here's some important intel for all agents to be aligned in the mission and a look back on how it all happened this year:

Here's some intel about the mission with music.

Here's some more intel on how the language and environment play into Sundays.

We're all about the relationship, not just our weekly event. However, Sunday Gatherings can be a major launching point for some peoples relationship. We view Sundays as 52 opportunities to help people take first & next steps in their relationship with Jesus. Each week is somebodies first Sunday at The Journey. It might be their one and only shot at church in years and maybe for years to come. So we want to bring our best each week. We also talk about first & next steps because we want the relationship to be real and not just a Sunday duty. We don't want to just pass on knowledge. We want people to experience a relationship that bring hope, change, and new life. That vision goes from Sundays to groups to networks to teen and even down to the kids. It's all about first & next steps in our relationship with Jesus and our Sunday Gatherings can be a launching point for those steps.

Thanks to everyone who makes Sunday mornings happen at The Journey!

DAILY DECISIONS

We've said this a lot - DAILY DECISIONS DETERMINE OUR DIRECTION. I am praying that you will continue to make the wise choice in 2012. It's all about small daily decisions that over time lead to a big difference.

Did you do the Proverbs Challenge? Don't give up on spending time with God. Keep seeking His wisdom. Maybe take the month of February and read through the Book of Luke and the life of Jesus. Here's some thoughts and ideas that can help you stay connected with God and taking your next step.

I heard a quote this week from Mark Batterson went something like this - if we are going to break a bad habit (a sin habit) we are going to have to replace it with a prayer habit. 

Keep making the wise choice and seeking the All-Wise One! Make it a daily decision that will continue to guide and direction you.

BELONG BEFORE BELIEVE

There has been a long standing concept of you have to have it all together before you can serve or be part of a church. I never really understand that. The Bible is full of people with messed up lives and if the apostle Paul still felt like he had a long way to go, then so do we. We have seen the opposite of this concept at The Journey as well. We have given people the space to process their questions and explore a relationship with Jesus. Many people come for a long time before they even believe. Many people feel part of our church before they believe...they feel like they belong here. This has made some interesting and challenging dynamics. We have people who serve in many areas that are still in process. You might see someone in the band or welcoming you at the doors...they might feel like they belong before they even believe. Life is a journey...it's organic. Not everyone takes the same steps in the same order. We have to set some boundaries - like leaders or people who teach the lesson in journey kids need to have an established relationship with Jesus - but we will continue to live with some tension in this area. So invite someone to serve with you. It will open conversations about God and it can help them take their next step towards or in their relationship with Jesus.

VIDEO BLOG: PRAY

ARTICLES

Here's a few interesting articles/blog posts that I've read recently. Click the links below to read the articles and it will give you a bigger picture of things we think through at The Journey...

US TODAY: Spiritual Test in the Armed Forces - a need for God, hope, purpose

TONY MORGAN: A church trend might be a big retirement of many pastors

VINCE: we need more churches to reach people far from God

TIM STEVENS: we can't assume anything, but being international

TIM: having clear communication for all spiritual levels 

TONY: It's not just Sundays. We need systems to back it up.

I read all these articles within a few days of each other - how people need God but are moving away from God - how we need more churches to reach people far from God and many churches could be in crisis - how we need to be intentional, clear and have systems beyond Sunday. These thoughts are not new to me, just reminders to keep on track and a challenge to keep things focused for the future. We have some shifts and ideas we are working through as a staff - some more next steps for The Journey. It's going to take these concepts to the next level. So we are going to need to all volunteers to play a significant role on Sundays, in their communities and beyond as we look to make a difference.

BOTTOM LINE

Our motto is that we are about relationships, not religion. But what does that mean? We aren't interested in just doing church. We want to motivate people to make the most of their relationships and most importantly, enter a relationship with Jesus and keep that spiritual relationship going. 

We talk about a lot of different relationships at The Journey but we focus on three key relationships that can help us take next steps:

A relationship with Jesus
A relationship with other (be a friend, have a friend - push each other to next steps)
A relationship with people far from God (serve others, invest & invite)

We believe that those relationships can keep us going in life with the right priorities for all of our other connections.  It's about following Jesus and learning to look beyond ourselves. We keep this in mind for when planning any gathering, event, program, group, or project for all ages. It's not just about doing some good things. We want to help people take steps in relationships.

Bottom Line: We desire for people to take first steps and then next steps in their relationship with Jesus and that connection can help us with all our other relationships.

WORD UP

You've heard a lot about our focus this year with VISION 2010 and it's four stages (Pay of Debt, 5:00 pm Gathering, Add Staff, Plan for next site). Each year, we also have a strategic plan for our focus on Sundays, in groups and Next Steps Nights. This year, we are putting a big emphasis on connecting with God and His Word. We're currently working through the Book of James in our According to Jimmy Series. Next month, we'll have another series called The Bible Uncensored that will give us some insight for life from people in the Old Testament. In both of these series, we have specific challenges to spend time in The Bible to know God and His ways. 

The Journey can do nothing with Jesus - the dumb videos, music, kids programs, messages would amount to nothing without Him speaking into peoples hearts and changing lives.

Your life is no different. Jesus give our lives meaning, direction, rebirth, purpose, and fill us with grace, peace and love. Psalms 63 - great verse - Your love, oh Lord, is better than life. So, if we are going to be Agents of HIS mission we need His direction. We need to know Him more.

So, read through the Book of James during this series. Pick up a Starting Line Pack for the One Minute Bible for Starters. Grab a Journey Bible from the Info Center. Check out Youversion.com for Bible reading plans. Whatever you do, just make sure as agents we are connected to Jesus.