What's The Big Deal About Worship at NP? (Part 2)

I finished last weeks blogging with telling you what I believe makes the worship time at NP so exciting. No doubt, we are in new days here at NP. I have always enjoyed worship time at NP, but over the past few months---WOW!!--it has really been amazing.

I can't really speak for you, but I feel such a freedom to just be me when I walk through the doors of NP. When I am in worship with you, if the Lord moves me to lift my hands in praise, I can. If the Lord lays it on my heart to sing loud to Him, I can (I know, I know!!!). If the Lord lays it on my heart to kneel and pray, I can. I guess what I am trying to say is, "I don't have to worry about people analyzing me when I worship."

The dress code: I LIKE IT!! I really believe the casualness is very guest friendly--the way you see me dressed on Sunday morning is how you see me throughout the week. I worship and serve 6 days a week being dressed casual, why can't I on Sunday? Plus, when a guest walks into NP, he/she does not have to worry about fitting in. If they're in jeans, they're fine. If they're in a dress, they're fine. If they wear slacks, they're fine. If they have green hair and tattooed up, they're fine. We aren't concerned about changing people to look like us, but rather the Spirit using us to help mold them to be more like the Savior. And, a preacher in jeans--it's about time!

As a pastor/preacher, man do I feel the freedom to preach. I am so comfortable these days by simply being me. I don't have to worry about a lot of things other pastors worry about. If the Lord lays it on my heart, I truly believe that I can say it to you. I don't have to be passive, shy, politically correct, or attempt to please a certain group--I just preach it!! By the way, thanks for giving me that freedom.

My challenge to you is to be spiritually ready when you walk through the doors of NP. Pray for the worship time, pray for your staff, pray for each other, and simply be "you." Remember this: "You worship the most genuine when you simply are who you are in Christ Jesus." Does that make sense?

What's The Big Deal About Worship at NP? (part 1)

I can't wait until Sunday! Wow, the Lord' presence is amazing at NP! Once you walk into NP and experience a worship service, you just can't wait for the next Sunday! I feel such freedom to worship like never before! These are just a few statements that I hear about the worship times at NP. What's going on? What's up with this? I'm not too sure I have all the answers but one thing I do know, it ain't the preachin!! STOP AGREEING and let me tell you "what I think."

NP has turned into such a genuine place of worship. The atmosphere and environment is authentic and sincere. You look around and observe and no one seems to be trying to "out-do" someone else. We are a very casual people, which I think somewhat breeds an authentic environment. We have finally cinched it up that the purpose for Sunday morning worship is NOT ABOUT US!! We are here for the Savior and to praise and bless Him; plus, to encourage one another. For six days we have been serving, working, living life, feeling pressures/stresses---But Sundays at NP---we are learning to leave the world at the door and step into corporate worship with our church family.

When you walk into NP at worship time, the stage is set, the lights dim down, the praise team fires up and it's all about Jesus. Man, I get pumped just writing the above line; worship time here is INCREDIBLE. By the way, speaking of the praise team, I think they are one of the main reasons why worship at NP has heightened. Our band and singers work their tails off and they are just stinking amazing. God blesses hard work and preparation.

Sure, I know, we have a long way to go. We still have our weaknesses as a church and we still have a lot to sharpen up---but we are on the right path. We have disagreements about normal church stuff, we have relational struggles within our church family---But Sundays at NP---we are learning to leave it all behind and join together for that ONE HOUR and let go and let God challenge us. ARE YOU PREPARING FOR SUNDAY??? THAT ONE DAY OF THE WEEK THAT YOU GET AWAY FROM ALL THE JUNK OF LIFE, GET WITH YOUR CHURCH FAMILY, AND PRAISE AND MIGHTY SAVIOR.

10 Questions To Diagonse Your Spiritual Health

I ran across Donald Whitney's book 10 Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health. It's been quite sometime since I have read this work; so I picked it up and began. Did you know that our Lord expects us to live healthy, growing, maturing, lives in Him. He does not expect us to be unhealthy in our relationship with Him. He makes statements like, "...I come to give you life and life more abundantly" (John 10:10). The night before Jesus was crucified He prayed, "And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent" (John 17:3). The apostle John stressed the necessity of having a healthy life in Christ by saying, "He who has the Son as life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life" (1 John 5:12).

I wrote all of the to say, if you have life in the Son of God, it should be a healthy, vibrant life of joy, peace, and solitude. Are you spiritually healthy? Let's take Whitney's test to check on your spiritual health. Now before you begin, please make a commitment to check those things that you need to work on (I sure did) so you can be a healthy witness and lover of your Savior.
1. Do you thirst for God? Don't forget, God may initiate thirst just so He can satisfy you. He loves taking care of you.
2. Are you governed increasingly by God's Word? Do you make time daily to engage and be engaged by the Word of God? Are you obedient to the Word--no matter what?
3. Are you more loving? Are you cultivating the love you have for others, or do you spend your energy gossiping about them, slandering them, and doing your best to treat them in a way that is not Christ-like?
"The more a person loves, the more he approaches the image of God." Martin Luther
4. Are you more sensitive to God's presence? People that are spiritually unhealthy really struggle with knowing when they are in God's presence. Do you remember the words of Jacob in Genesis 28:16, "Surely the Lord was in this place, and I did not know it." the Lord tells me in His Word over and over, "I am with you." A spiritually healthy person just knows when they are in God's presence.
5. Do you have a growing concern for the spiritual and temporal needs for others? Are you willing to look for the hurt in every heart and home that you come in contact with, and then invade that life with the gospel of Jesus Christ?
6. Do you delight in the Bride of Christ? Do you love your church? Do you love serving in your church? This business that "I love God but don't do the church thing," WHAT? That doesn't even make sense.
7. Are the spiritual disciplines increasingly important to you? I'm talking about holiness and being Christ-like by pursuing Him in the Word, your prayer life, church life, fasting to discern His perfect will for you, obeying Him at all cost--even the cost of friendships. Who or what is in control of your spiritual life?
8. Do you still grieve over sin? When you sin against a Holy Father who sent His only Son to shed blood and die for every sin you commit, there needs to be grief in your life. If not, then I'm afraid your spiritually unhealthy or you might even need to evaluate you personal relationship with the Lord.
9. Are you a quicker forgiver than you used to be? Remember, the forgiven make the best forgivers. If you are struggling in this area, get out your Bible and look up all the forgiveness stories you can, read and pray through them. Lack of forgiveness in your life will make you extremely spiritually sick.
10. Do you yearn for heaven and to be with Jesus? Is your mind and heart set on things above? Are you like the apostle Paul and torn between heaven and earth? "FOR ME TO LIVE IS CHRIST, TO DIE IS GAIN!"

Well, how's your health? I think I have a few things to work on. Love ya

Schanon's Top 10 Reasons To Love North Park

Why are some people completely in love with their church and totally sold out to her mission and God-given vision? Why is it that there are some folks that simply can't wait to go to church on Sunday and serve other people and worship and praise with their "church family?" Why is it that some think everybody ought to attend "their" church? To be honest with you this is the way I feel about North Park---even if I wasn't the pastor, I would still feel this way. As a matter of fact I believe everyone ought to feel this way about the church in which they belong and serve.

What are some defining reasons that compel me to feel this way about North Park?
1. NP is where the Lord has placed me to serve Him by serving others.
2. NP is a place where I can be me. NP is a genuinely, authentic, real place.
3. The MOST IMPORTANT THING ABOUT NP IS THAT WE ATTEMPT TO FOLLOW THE NEW TESTAMENT AS OUR GUIDE FOR "BEING A CHURCH."
4. I believe anyone from any socio-economic background or race is truly accepted at NP.
5. The people are always warm and welcome to guests at NP.
6. Worship times are genuine and free. I believe I can worship the way the Spirit prompts me to worship.
7. My best friends are at NP. Being able to laugh, cry, and serve Jesus with my friends is amazing.
8. The music is phenomenal.
9. I can wear jeans (even as the pastor...LOL)and it's OKAY...No "puttin on the dog at NP."
10. Last but not least, we are more concerned about "BEING A CHURCH" and not just "DOING CHURCH."

Why Religious, Negative, Non-Attenders Make Me SICK!!

I know there are very valid reasons to miss church (work, sickness, vacation, special family moments, etc.). However, there are those people who are members of a local church, and they never go or they are so sporadic in attendance that they have no clue what’s going on in their church. In other words, church membership, growth, and leadership mean nothing to them as long as they can show up when they want and watch a show and hopefully will approve—maybe. These folks have either gotten their feelings hurt (so they take it out on God and His bride), or they simply are so full of religion that their relationship with Christ is either sick or non-existent. Typically they are negative people, especially concerning “their church,” you know, the place where they want people to minister to them and baby them, but they themselves will do NO ministry. They would do well if their church were just a social club of food and gossip.

I’m sorry for being a little caustic with this blog but these “religious, non-church attenders” are toxic and poisonous people. They are a detriment to God’s kingdom on this earth. As a matter of fact they don’t merely harm themselves, but they sicken the whole Body of Christ and are a stumbling block to those that yet know Christ. Moreover, if they are Christians, according to 1 Corinthians 12:12 they are a functioning part of the body of Christ; their absence and poison makes the whole body sick. So it’s simply time that I address this as boldly as I can.

May I offer a few reasons why the above mentioned folks make me sick?

1. They make soul-winning harder

A church’s primary mission is to display the glory and majesty of Jesus Christ, to reach people without Christ and to serve Christ which produces maturity in Christ. Those that are part of a local church, and call themselves members but don’t care about faithfulness or getting involved have committed, as one guy puts it, identity theft. They bear the name of Christ but they don’t identify with His body. That doesn’t make sense. Non-Christians look at these people and they don’t get it. All they know is they can justify their lostness a little better. If life-change and faithfulness doesn’t matter to one whom Christ has changed, why should the lost desire change?

2. New Christians get confused by “religious, negative, non-attenders”

New believers get so disoriented in church life. Their lives have radically changed and they are longing for a point of reference to help them steer more towards Jesus. And then it happens!! A new Christian runs into one of these toxic “believers” (or whatever they are) and the things they are being taught by their pastor, mentor, or Community Group leader doesn’t mesh with what they are seeing and hearing in a “fellow church member’s” life, they get confused. Really what non-attenders are effectively saying to new believers is, "All that stuff you're reading in the Bible isn't really necessary. You can live without encouragement from other Christians. You can live without sacrificing yourself to serve and love other Christians. You can live without teaching, preaching, and praise."

3. They make regular attenders angry and resentful

Those faithful hot-hearts who love their Lord, their church family, and their spiritual leadership are so sold-out to “The Cause” that they get sickened by apathetic, hypocritical, church players who simply want to sit and gripe or never attend and do damage to the church. They are a discouragement to the faithful—the faithful simply do not get it—and rightfully so. What really happens is that the “religious, negative, non-attenders place an unnecessary burden on the faithful which produces an unnecessary spiritual battle that can hinder their service to the church. Also, the faithful, “plugged-in” love spiritual leadership. God designed us all to follow spiritual leadership (Read Hebrew 13: 17). Those that are negative and toxic typically attack their spiritual leadership. This is very disheartening to those that obey God’s Word and love and support their leadership. In essence the unfaithful are like the members of a team who never practice, never show up for the team meeting, never give their all, but yet wear a jersey around town. It simply doesn’t make sense.

Well, I might as well just say it, their religion and their feelings mean more to them than their relationship to Jesus, which begs the question, “do they have a relationship with Jesus?” You may say, “now that’s not fair to judge them.” Oh yes it is!!! If they bear the name of Christ but yet by their actions present themselves as that of a lost person, it IS the church’s job to stand in judgment for the sake of God’s Kingdom. Check out 1 Corinthians 5:12-13.

Those are the reasons that make me sick---are you with me?

Schanon