Faithful

He is faithful.

A few weeks ago we celebrated baptisms and worshipped with a house full of people as old and new friends gathered around the name of Jesus. A once reluctant teacher, Phil stood and delivered a passionate message from Luke 12. Our friend Eddie, who is starting a new work in Ohio, led in communion. Stephanie brought her experience as an educator to the table reminding us why we gather, giving what we call the “Why Moment.” Steven and Kelly baptized. My son Marshall proclaimed his faith in Jesus standing in a horse troth full of cold water.

As Eddie prayed I was struck by just how faithful God has been to us over the past year and a half since moving to Huntington. Of course His faithfulness has been evident all throughout our lives in too many ways to recount. However, the marker that is our eastward migration to Huntington is such a clear delineation. It was the beginning of something new that God was doing and so it makes it much easier to look back and realize all that He has done over this time.

Since moving to Huntington, God has built a network of people who love Jesus and are committed to growing as His disciples. The majority of this group - really this group and then some - are a part of one of the many discipleship groups that meets regularly and reads the Bible daily, sharing what God is teaching them. These people aren’t just showing up. They’re experiencing God’s love and they’re making changes to follow Him more passionately and praying for the opportunity to disciple others. It’s not perfect, but it’s good! God is building a family and changing lives. One relationship at a time.

Next to Jesus and my family, discipleship is my heartbeat. But, I have to confess to having a passion for, maybe a fascination with, the idea of church planting movements. I want so badly to see a move of God that launches hundreds of churches out of the Appalachian region. Churches that plant churches that plant churches that plant churches. I want to see large scale multiplication. (And I don’t think that’s wrong.)

But what I’ve been reminded of lately, by a good friend, and in several books and sermons I’ve come across, is this: God didn’t command us to plant churches. God commanded us to make disciples.

Since the beginning of City Church Huntington, we’ve been convinced that we should focus on the Greatest Commandment and the Great Commission of Christ.

Love God. Love People. Make Disciples. Multiply.

Yes, we tacked on multiply. What Jesus modeled and what we’ve experienced is that when we focus on making disciples and leave the church building to Him, things just work. We take care of the depth, first in our own lives, then in relationship with others, and He will take care of the breadth.

I love this quote from Mike Breen.

“If you build a church, you may or may not get disciples. But if you make disciples, you always get the church.”

After all, it was Jesus who said, “I will build my church and the gates of Hell will not prevail against it.”

We plant. We water. God makes it grow.

I have to confess that at times I’ve tried to take on the job that Jesus said He’d take care of Himself. And He is faithful. He has never failed. So why would I not trust that job to Him?

He is faithful to do His job. We must be faithful to do our job.

Or, in the immortal words of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, “Know your role!”

So as we sang and celebrated together on that Saturday night in November, to step back just for a moment and realize ALL that He had done. That was special. That was faith building. To be reminded that this works. That He is faithful. That was His work on display. There’s nothing good in us apart from Him. EVERYTHING of worth is from Him and through Him and to Him.

We can’t manufacture church. We can’t microwave church. We can’t imitate church. We can’t formulate church.

Church is a result of God’s work in the lives of a connected group of people whose relationship is grounded in the Word of God and led by the Spirit of God. A people called out by the Father to live in a way that points people to the Son. A group whose mission in life is to know Jesus and make Him known.

“Come, follow me.” Jesus said, “And I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:19

Multiplication will happen. Church planting is inevitable as we raise up laborers for the harvest and equip disciple makers whom God has given the desire and the ability to lead others.

But I’m realizing that can’t be our goal. Church planting, as awesome as it is, can’t be our primary focus. Our goal must be faithfulness.

Faithful to seek Him first.

Faithful to make disciples.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5

Because He is faithful and He promises fruit to those who abide in Him.

Because He is faithful and He has promised to build His church.

Because He is faithful and He has promised to be with us always.