Tag: partnership

Monday Kfirst Kickstart: “Legacy Church”

Today I want to give you a place to start your week. It’s Monday and in the wake of a great weekend and a workweek ahead, sometimes you just need a “kickstart” to get focused.  So grab some coffee let’s start a great week together.

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday, we interrupted our series at Kfirst to do our first Partnership Summit.

Last fall, we made a huge shift in the structure of our congregation. We moved from the terminology of “Membership” to “Partnership.” This was more than a shift of verbiage but a shift of philosophy and heart. We discovered an “issue” with membership. Membership was misunderstood, misapplied, or not applied at all. Because of a variety of church experiences, it made some want to avoid it all together.

It took quite a few years of prayer, research, and conversation. We landed on biblical term out of the book of Philemon that not only identified what it meant to be the core of our church community but also described our role.

The term we landed on: PARTNER

A Partner is more than an attender but someone who identifies and participates in the heart and vision of Kfirst. And we Partners, meet 3 times a year to celebrate God’s goodness, own the vision, and to pray together.

Last Sunday, was our introduction to Partnership by holding our first Partnership Summit on a Sunday morning.

Check out the message here:

Other thoughts from Sunday:

  • Celebration is the reminder that every success happens by the grace of God.
  • Partners are key to the atmosphere of Kfirst: CELEBRATION
  • Partners are key to the heart and vision of Kfirst:
    • Why? Partners carry the vision
  • You will find what you think you’re going to find.
  • God doesn’t bless you instead of someone else. He blesses you for the sake of someone else.
  • “If you don’t reinvest your miracles, you will see the end of them.” Levi Lusko
  • When we give what we have, our obedience becomes the conduit for miracles.
  • God’s gifts get multiplied with their use.

Love you all. Have an amazing week.

Monday Kfirst Kickstart: “Bring Life”

Today I want to give you a place to start your week. It’s Monday and in the wake of a great weekend and a workweek ahead, sometimes you just need a “kickstart” to get focused.  So grab some coffee let’s start a great week together.

 

 

 

 

 

Yesterday we wrapped our series “The Collective” at Kfirst. We are taking a few weeks to cast vision for a shift in our church community. We are desiring to move from “Membership” to “Partnership.”

We are using Paul’s letter to Philemon to help be the launch point as Paul uses the word, Koinonia twice to emphasis his heart for the church (v. 6 & v.17). This wonderful Greek word means

  • fellowship, a collection, community, communion, joint participation, a proof of fellowship
    • Of business: it was a partnering or merging
    • Of the Church: it was sharing issues, sharing the load

This is the heart of the shift. We want to see ourselves as partnering (Koinonia) with God and each other to further His Kingdom.

In week 3, we settled in Philemon and looked at how the Apostle Paul wrote to his friend Philemon on how to bring life to the relationships. Why? Because it’s through the gift of relationships we can convey the reality of the gospel.

How do we “bring life” into our relationships?

  1. Paul checks Philemon’s motive. (v. 4-7)
    • Our motives bring meaning to our methods. In verses 4-7, we read twice about Philemon’s love for others. And Paul challenges Philemon to not limit that but operate out of that to all.
  2. Paul call’s into question Philemon’s M.O. (v.8-9)
    • The mode of operation (M.O.) is the way we carry ourselves. And this letter was Paul’s way to help paint the picture that we draw from a love of God to convey love to the world around us. Love isn’t just our motive, it’s the mode of which we operate in.
  3. Paul deals with Philemon’s labels. (v. 10-12)
    • Paul had thought Onisemus to be “worthless,” but because of the work of Jesus, his life was changed. We must watch what we label as we must look at others through the eyes of Christ.
  4. Paul gives Philemon something to do. (v. 13-20)
    • Paul gives his example as something to follow. One of the first ways we influence others is simply by how we choose to live our lives by example. It’s here that Paul lays out to Philemon that his example is what will speak out to the world around him.

This week, bring life to your relationships by seeing them as the place the gospel is lived out. How can forgiveness, grace, mercy, and love be lived out? What does that look like on Monday?

Ask the Holy Spirit to help you step into the week PARTNERING with the Holy Spirit as you stand in the greatness of God, shining your light to the greater Kalamazoo area.

Love you all. Praying for you this week.

Monday Kfirst Kickstart: “Stand in Greatness”

Today I want to give you a place to start your week. It’s Monday and in the wake of a great weekend and a workweek ahead, sometimes you just need a “kickstart” to get focused.  So grab some coffee let’s start a great week together.

 

 

 

 

 

Yesterday we continued our series “The Collective” at Kfirst. We are taking a few weeks to cast vision for a shift in our church community. We are desiring to move from “Membership” to “Partnership.”

We are using Paul’s letter to Philemon to help be the launch point as Paul uses the word, Koinonia twice to emphasis his heart for for the church (v. 6 & v.17). This wonderful Greek word means

  • fellowship, a collection, community, communion, joint participation, a proof of fellowship
    • Of business: it was a partnering or merging
    • Of the Church: it was sharing issues, sharing the load

This is the heart of the shift. We want to see ourselves as partnering (Koinonia) with God and each other to further His Kingdom.

In week 2, we settled in Nehemiah 6 at how the people of God stood to carry out the vision together.

  1. I am engaged in a GREAT work. (Nehemiah 6:3)
    • “Walls” in scripture is meant to symbolize authority, protection, and security. And when opposition comes, there was the temptation to deal with things outside of the authority, protection, and security of God. Nehemiah doesn’t fall for it. He keeps himself focused on the “great work” God has in front of him. This is what steadies our feet in the direction God has placed us. We deal with life by what God by the example Jesus has given us.
  2. I possess a GREATER determination. (Nehemiah 6:8-9)
    • When opposition comes, we don’t get distracted. We get determined. If we can see understand what truth looks/sounds like (Jesus), and we can realize who the Enemy is, we’ll develop a greater determination.
  3. I live from a GREATER position. (Nehemiah 6:11)
    • Your stance depends upon your position. And who we are in Christ says everything about how we stand. Nehemiah didn’t worry about what others were saying, he knew who he was in God.

How different will your week look like if you approached it with the mindset of “I am a part of a GREATER work”? What would it change? Would you see people different? Would your attitude change? Would you be less passive with grace and mercy? Would you heart break for others?

Ask the Holy Spirit to help you step into the week PARTNERING with the Holy Spirit as you stand in the greatness of God, shining your light to the greater Kalamazoo area.

Love you all. Praying for you this week.