Let’s break it down. Yesterday we talked about what it seemed Jesus did when He walked this earth. He seemed to walk with this in mind: CROWD —> 12 —> 3 —> 1.
Let’s breakdown the first one in detail today:
What has happened to the crowd? Was Jesus just a passing fad? What happened to 3,000 coming to know Him in 1 day? Why do the stats get worse and worse every year in America and almost non-existent in other areas? Why does it seem that in other parts of the world [China, South America, Africa, etc.] does it seem that the crowds are alive and well?
Do we need more and better programming/presentations?
I love programming amazing presentations of the gospel, but Jesus didn’t just do that.
Do we need more staff?
Jesus had 12 he counted on. At least 1 had a bad heart and the others were shaky at best.
Do we need more resources?
Jesus had nowhere to lay His head.
Do we need to be more sensitive to the needs of the people?
Jesus certainly was. But at times he blasted them and got angry.
Do we need to be more “missional” and “incarnational”?
Jesus certainly got with the people, but he also spent a lot of time alone with the Father and with the 12.
Let’s get at it: What were the crowds drawn to?
Jesus. They were drawn to Jesus. Period.
Jesus was love, forgiveness, freedom, and against the norm. He was radical and powerful, yet down to earth and humble. He made common sense, yet there was this profound mystery about him.
Here is my take: We have lost the Jesus of the Bible with our crowds. [Services/outreaches/gatherings/talks/experiences, whatever clever name we want to give them].
We go from fad to fad to fad. New idea to new idea. Program to program. I am not against any of these by the way. People call me to consult and coach them to new arenas of thought so that they might go to new levels, etc. I use “programs” and love new ideas.
Simply put: We need to regain and live out the Jesus of the Bible and the crowds will follow. Church plants, established churches, in our personal lives, wherever you find yourself today. We have to bring him back.
What does this look like to you? How do we do this today? What do you think?
Tomorrow: My thoughts with how I think we can regain this Jesus to the crowds, who was not just a passing fad, but we certainly have made him that in many circles today.
Charles, I am loving this series of posts. I love the fact that you are getting back to JEsus in these posts. I am looking forward to reading tomorrow.
Yep, seems much of the church is in much of the world instead of much of Jesus being in much of the church. I go to two churches (because I am a double strength kind of sinner). I love them both, but in contrasting the two, I do see that one seems to point to this program and that outreach and such and such group. The other church may not be as flashy and have all the worldly fireworks; it does have programs and outreaches, but they all seem to point to Jesus first (and middle and last). Maybe that is why this second church I described is the one I call home.
charles, so glad to see your bandb website and hear of you. funny – “beer and bible” was the name given to our event in california in 1987 – good to see new forms of it emerge. peace.