The gravitational pull to move from being a a community of people who follow Christ and live their everyday lives as on mission by God to share the message of His grace - His Gospel towards being a "Club for Insiders" is overwhelming. That is unless a community of people who follow Christ - a Church - decides to commit to doing what James and the Apostles decided to do for those who were turning to God in Acts 15. They lowered the bar and decided to keep the bottom rungs on the "ladder of faith" so those turning to God would not find it difficult to become followers of Christ.

SHift: Part 1

“Lowering the Bar”

January 5, 2014

MOST PEOPLE WANT TO CONNECT WITH GOD

“Lowering the Bar” is not about a watering down of standards. It is actually holding up the standards that existed since the early days of the Church that were based on these convictions:

1. God wants to CONNECT with LOST people

For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost. - Luke 19:10

2. The message of the clarity of the Gospel should always be EASY and ACCESSIBLE

And so my judgment is that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. - Acts 15:19

3. The church is a hospital for SINNERS not a hotel for SAINTS.

When Jesus heard this, he told them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.” - Mark 2:17

QUESTION:

What are you willing to SACRIFICE to ensure we stay on mission?

Memory Verse:

Acts 15:19

And so my judgment is that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. - Acts 15:19

Lower The Bar ReCap

Do Your Part Recap

1 Corinthians 1:10 Recap