Thy Kingdom Come

I am preaching Mark 1:14-15 this week: ¹⁴ Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, ¹⁵and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel." Jesus proclaims the presence of the kingdom. I was reminded of this old post regarding a conversation with a friend about the kingdom and New City Church...

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I had a great conversation this morning with a downtown friend. He may or may not be a Christian - though spiritual and having a 'Christian' background, I think C. wrestles with Christianity. He is also intrigued by New City's relationship with downtown. So, in the conversation this came up:

C: So, explain to me you vision for the church and the city?

Me: Well, the short is city renewal - we describe it as transformation. In leadership, we often ask the question, 'If the Kingdom of God were present in the city today, what would it look like?' We believe that the church should be a glimpse of the Kingdom, therefore we should see tangible transformation because of the presence of the church.

C: Like what?

Me: Well, if the Kingdom of God were present in Macon, would there be homeless people?

C: No.

Me: We don't believe that our presence will eliminate homelessness in Macon, just as we can't usher in the true and final Kingdom. However, if the Kingdom is present in and through us, then we should make a positive difference in the homeless community.

If the Kingdom were fully present there would be no crime. So, as a church, we ask, 'How can our presence make a difference in downtown crime?'

If the Kingdom were fully present, would there be ugly, broken buildings?

C: No.

Me: So we desire to see a tangible change to the buildings downtown. We will - through volunteers - help the Facade Squad when they line up facades to be worked on.

We believe that the church, as a glimpse of the Kingdom should be an agent of transformation in our city.

C: Keith, that's why I love you guys. Hearing what you say makes me want to believe. I feel like the King that Paul pleaded his case to.

The conversation was soon interrupted and C was out the door. I was awed that such a Kingdom vision would carry such power.

29And Paul said, "I would wish to God, that whether in a short or long time, not only you, but also all who hear me this day, might become such as I am, except for these chains."

Original Sin and Alzheimer's - Theology Matters

When we first got the diagnosis, I was pissed... pissed at Adam and Eve.

Kim

When Adam sinned, everything changed - the relationship of Adam and Eve, their relationship with God, nature - everything... including the introduction of death. God warned that sin would lead to death and in the chapters following Genesis 1-3 the genealogies end the same - 'and he died.' Alzheimer's disease, like all diseases is a result of the death that came with Adam's original sin.

Today I visited Kim and her husband Daryl at a local hospital - Kim's mother has been dying because of Alzheimer's and it seems that the end is very near. Kim's theology rightly places the blame for her mother's disease and death on sin. Likewise, her understanding of the hope that we have in Jesus for a restoration of all things lost and broken by sin gives her great joy - knowing that her mother is a follower of Jesus means that one say they will meet again - next time without suffering, pain, disease, or death.

Theology really does matter, and really is practical.

Changing - to the glory of God

New City Church often asks the question - if the Kingdom of God dropped down on our city center, what would change? The answer - everything.

As the kingdom visible in our city center, we expect to be a catalyst for gospel change in our city. We expect to see everything in our city transformed. So we are involved in many, many things in our city.

I wanted to share - to the glory of God - several comments from non-New City downtown leaders:

"You guys have done more to change downtown than anyone."

"New City and the 567 have been the catalyst for all that has happened over the past 2 years."

"The people you are bringing into the city are our future."

"You guys give me hope for our city's future."

Four conversations with four different people over the past two weeks - one common theme - New City Church is changing downtown.

One Sermon - Two Places

Last Sunday we started a new series - Who Is Jesus: the gospel according to Mark. I am really excited about the series because:

1) I have never preached through an entire gospel

2) We get to look at the Jesus of Scripture every week

3) For the first time, New City Church will have one sermon in two places.

Ryan and I are working together to outline Mark and organize thoughts for each sermon. The sermons will not be exactly the same as we are each writing our own sermon, but we will both cover the same verses and hit the same big ideas. So a person could attend the New City Church milledgeville gathering on Sunday, then connect with a New City Church downtown MC during the week and be a part of the sermon discussion!

This has been a part of our vision since before we held our first gathering - one church in Middle Georgia, one mission and vision, going one direction together! God is graciously working in and through us.

Coming Back To Life

2010 was a tough year... maybe one of the toughest so far, and I have had some tough years. I never imagined how hard the renovations to the new building would be. Even now, I have searched for weeks to find the right words to describe things and just cannot find them - but I will try...

In January 2010 we negotiated the deal that would move New City Church and The 567 to a 12,000 square foot building in the heart of downtown. The building had been vacant for 12 years and would require a total renovation - gutting the interior completely and starting new with everything.

Neither New City nor The 567 had very much money, nor was it possible to borrow money for the project. This meant that I would largely act as the general contractor - being here everyday to line up contractors and oversee the work. It also meant that as much could be done by New City or 567 volunteers would have to be. This also made me chief laborer.

Work began in late January. For 5 months I tore down, cut out, put up, hauled off, pushed, pulled, and dragged - in by the end of June New City was able to hold services in the main venue of the new 567.

It then took us a couple of months to finish up minor details and settle in a bit... then we started upstairs.

Nothing was different financially - except that we now had less money! The upstairs of the new building houses a music studio, an art gallery and music venue, 8 offices, restrooms, and 5 large multi-use rooms... quite a bit more work than the main floor. We are mostly finished with the second floor and should have a full Certificate of Occupancy this week.

As general contractor and chief laborer as well as pastor, President of the 567, husband, and father I worked, perhaps sinfully in 2010. The vast majority of the year I worked 7 days a week, night and day, putting in more hours than I could possibly count.

I want to say that God has been incredibly good during this stretch - to me, my family, the church, and the 567. We have fought, as a family, for time and for sanity. The church has continued to grow in number and in influence in our city. The 567 is truly becoming a core part of the downtown community and a great catalyst for transformation.

I also want to say thanks - to Kevin Welsh who has worked about as many hours on the building as I have and who has sacrificed to see us get in. And thanks - to all of the volunteers that I haven't thanked enough for all of their incredible and free labor. And thanks - to all of the contractors who, for the advancement of the kingdom cut prices for us to see this through. Thanks to my family.

I should also apologize - and ask the forgiveness of a whole lot of people - when I am tired I am not the easiest guy to be around - I am sorry.

This year has hurt me more than I could possibly explain - physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.

but

I feel like I am finally beginning - BEGINNING - to breathe again - to live again... I'm coming back to life.