One Prayer

This weekend, we're going to hear from the leader of the One Prayer movement, Craig Groeschel. Craig is the pastor of LifeChurch, which is based in Edmond, OK and has locations across the nation.

Craig is one of those people who just get it. But, beyond that fact, he is anointed by God with an amazing capacity for vision, leadership, and integrity. He really may be the poster child for Jesus' charge for his followers: "be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves."

As you might have guessed, Craig's sermon is entitled, "God, Make Us One." I've already seen it, and it is so encouraging and challenging--I'm grateful that what God gave to Craig is going to be a part of the LHC fabric going forward.

For just a taste of how far the reach of One Prayer has spread, go to the One Prayer website and join the conversation.

First Lessons from One Prayer

As we kicked off One Prayer last weekend, we also kicked off the era of sermon delivery via video in our church. Below is a sampling of some of the feedback we received on the video thang:

"I wasn't sure about watching the sermon, but it was great. Once it started, I was into it and forgot that it was video."
"I realized that unless I'm in the first couple of rows, I watch the screens anyway."
"It looked like Mac's eyes were two black holes--I couldn't see him."
"It was little distracting when he looked off to the sides and wasn't looking in the camera."
"I was surprised, but that works."
"I had been hesitant about being a part of LHC Downtown in the fall, but now that I've seen it, I'm in."

There is a learning curve to this and we're on it. In addition to learning from other churches nationwide that have used this strategy, we learned a few thing through this weekend (and will no doubt learn more as we go):

1. Video works. The idea of a sermon on video is tougher to describe and accept than it is to actually experience.
2. We need to improve our lighting so that the image is consistent, specifically uplighting.
3. The image that we used Sunday was produced at 24 frames/second, which is closer to how film appears, vs. video which is 30 f/sec. 24 f/sec. gives you a cool texture and is more artistic if you're shooting say a music video or a creative element to use in the service. But, for the purposes of delivering a sermon, we need to use 30 f/sec. It gives a more immediate, clearer HD picture. Both are shot and projected in HD, but you lose a lot of that at 24 f/sec.
4. The audio quality was OK--and OK is not our standard.

It's going to be a kick in the pants to see how God uses this in and through LHC in the months and years to come. If you're an LHC member, thanks for being a part of it and praying for your church (and pastor). If you're not, thank you for praying for us and the people that God is going to reach through us.

7

7.

That's the number that drives me early this morning. That's the number that will fuel our staff meeting in an hour and a half. That's the number that reminds us why we do what we do. It's encouragement, affirmation, perseverance, and everything needed to keep going when you get tired, bruised, or just feel like coasting.

7. That's how many people stepped over the line of faith this past week in LHC worship services.

7 more people doing life this morning in relationship with God. 7 more people more aware of who they were created to be. 7 more people who will experience eternity in perfect, open relationship with Christ. 7 more people who are glad that LHC goes hard at ministry through the summer rather than easing up and just hanging on for fall and back to school.

7 more people who know that someone loved them enough to invite them and share with them the extravagant love of God. 7 more people who can now share that same love with others in their particular spheres of influence. 7 more people who are grateful that LHC brings God's tithe to fuel ministries that affect people's lives.

7.

Old & New

In Church World, you don't get any older than Communion. Jesus instituted this tradition even before the Church Age technically began. But, even 2000 years later, what a powerful reminder it was yesterday of his extravagant love and call to holiness in our lives. I loved celebrating Communion on the heels of the great hymn "Jesus Paid It All" which followed some killer new classics of worship.

It was a unique platform for the introduction of video preaching to our church. I have to admit that I was initially skeptical a few years ago when I began hearing the subterranean rumblings of other churches applying this technology to ministry. But, I am absolutely convinced that it can be very effective when coupled with real, hands-on, boots-on-the-ground ministry and leadership.

I know that for some it is a leap too far, but when done right and well, God is using and blessing this strategy to multiply Kingdom resources and work. I love that we get to be a part of that together.

One Prayer, Pt. 2

One of the most powerful components of the One Prayer season of ministry is the opportunity we have to play a key role in planting new churches in some of the most remote corners of the world. The locations for these new bodies of Christ are:
*Cambodia
*India
*Sudan
*China

Collectively, those nations are going to be home to 500 new churches. That's 500 new outposts and beachheads for the love and hope of Christ in places where love and hope are desperately needed.

This is the kind of focused, intentional, and uniting work that would not be possible without technology bringing together over 1,100 churches representing more than 736,000 people in weekly church participation.

What is your One Prayer for the Bride of Christ?

One Prayer, Pt. 1

It's finally here: the message series ONE PRAYER kicks this coming weekend at LHC (most participating churches will begin the weekend of June 7-8, but we're starting a week earlier because of our sermon calendar and summer camps that were already locked and loaded when we were invited to participate in One Prayer). The series is based on this premise: If you could pray one prayer for the Church, what would it be?

Big question, isn't it? What would you pray if you could pray one prayer for the Bride of Christ?

One Prayer is a series of messages that over 1,100 churches worldwide are preaching through in the month of June. Those 1,100+ churches represent more than 750,000 people in weekend attendance. I've never heard of Christ's Bride pulling off this kind of unity of purpose and practice at one time--EVER. I'm so grateful to Craig Groeschel of LifeChurch for having the vision, obedience, and leadership to bring this ministry to the world.


We'll kick off this series this weekend with my prayer for our church and the Church at large: God, Make Us Magnetic. This message is one of 60 that all 1100+ churches have available to them for this series.

In the weeks that follow, we're going to be challenged, blessed, and encouraged by some of the greatest communicators and leaders in the church today. I know that sometimes going to church falls off the radar a little in the summer. But, you will miss so much if you miss any of One Prayer. Be praying with us and for Christ's church. When you remember that the Church is the hope of the world, it kindof

Fishing

It's Saturday night and as I'm wrapping everything up preparing to preach in the morning, I found this picture (kudos/credit to Patagonia's website). First, the colors just popped off the page and were so striking. Second, what a great moment for the angler to have brought the fish to hand and remove the fly.

It reminds of two very important things (one much more significant than the other):

1. Catching this species of fish on a fly is the most fun I've ever had on the water or in the field. When they pick up the fly, they rocket across the flats, rooster-tailing the line through the water. It is an absolute kick in the pants. First time I ever caught one, I stuck the rod butt in my stomach and just giggled while the fish went screaming the opposite direction.

2. Jesus made me a fisher of people. Not only because I'm a pastor, but because I trust Him and promised Him I'd live this life for Him. The only way you catch fish is if you're where they are and you present them with something attractive. It usually involves a lot of work, some discomfort personally, and thinking like a fish. But the payoff! There's nothing like it.

You know, I've met a lot of people who don't like to bait their own hooks, wait for fish to bite, or remove the fish from the hook once it's caught. But, I've never met ANYONE--(not sure I want to!)--who doesn't get a thrill from catching fish. There's just something about it when you've paid the price, done the work, and felt the tug.

Worship at LHC gives us all that opportunity every week--to see weeks, months, or maybe even years of work and prayer and relationship come to fruition when a friend or family member personally trusts Christ. Or, maybe it's in a conversation that you get to have with someone. Either way, I've never met a genuine Christ-follower who didn't love to have a hand in that--when they've prayed the prayers, done the work, and felt the tug of God in their friend's life.

Happy Fishing.

Bonus Question: What species of fish is pictured above?