Articles

New Year- A Vision for 2007 'Keep Growing'
By Jack Hickman

'For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure they will keep you from being ineffective' 2 Peter 1.8

Who wants to live an ineffective life? Bumbling around in a total state of confusion and chaos is for no one. Strong Christians have courage and power and vibrancy. Peter gives us insight for our lives. He wants us to live well. He wants us to be strong.

He tells you to add goodness to your faith, and knowledge and self control- in all eight qualities. He speaks of adding and adding and adding. We need to think of growth as something we will always be doing. Let's always be moving further in faith, going farther in goodness and perseverance and kindness and love. The early Christians called this 'theosis'. It is a way of saying we are 'becoming like God' (the fathers said 'Jesus became what we are so we might become what he is'). Getting closer and closer to him we change more into his likeness. He works with us to call us and fill us and gently build us; and isn't it lovely he heals us? He does love us.

You might ask 'how does God build?' I think he builds people up as individuals, the church community and he builds people up who are not yet believers. First, an individual grows when they pray, read the scripture (and apply it) and as we interact with one another. When you apply the spiritual disciplines (reading, meditating, fasting, sharing your faith, giving, learning to listen and obey God) you grow.

As a people we can learn to grow in worship and love. Despite what the larger community tells us, it is not always bad to have a disagreement. I think many people tend to be afraid of commitment and afraid to get close enough to have a genuine need for forgiveness. Why do you think Ephesians and Colossians (see Colossians 3) has so much teaching about forgiveness and humility? It is because when people come together in Christian work they irritate each other. Some people are 'task oriented' and all about the job. Others are more sensitive and have a style that does not rush to the details or to such precision...and both types are needed. These kinds of issues are critical in marriage. And lots of people just walk away from marriage commitment. But marriage is our school, and so is the church community. It trains us to hold our tongue, and be kind, and work things out. We all need to grow and get along with each other. It changes us little by little to look like Jesus.

It goes without saying Jesus was concerned for the outcast. He is always moved for the person who does not-yet believe. He spent lots of time with the rejects and the 'non-religious' types. He loved the down and outers and the up and outers too. Luke's gospel highlights widows and women and the 'outsiders' with crystal clarity. Luke 19 tells a story about a rich man who was a Jew but because of his work he was very disconnected from the God of Israel. Jesus won him back by friendship and eating at his house. He loved him and changed him. We can do the same!

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Can I take just a moment at this New Year's moment to congratulate you?
We are already growing...and we really do make a difference in our community. You might not see it but we do a lot of work here at the Vineyard. There are only a few of us and yet we do so much. I have seen churches with a million dollar endowment that sit around and do almost nothing. Maybe you have seen that too. Jesus says 'you do not realize that you are wretched and poor and blind and naked' (Revelation 3.17). I think to the little flocks like ours he says 'do not be afraid'. He stands behind us in all the work we do, and sees all our little sacrifices. And if we set our course for growth and trust in his goodness and grace to lead us we will see great things.

Here at the Athens Vineyard we have just a few dollars and a few people but there is a richness in faith that will allow us to see the Lord's power more and more. And just look at what we do....
1. We offer small groups- we have a 'renovare' group that is learning to live for God. We have a men's small group too. In different studies we have looked at Purpose Driven Life and Sjogren's Irresistible Evangelism ( a great book) and we have studied many bible books.
2. We offer a Christianity 101 group (based on the Vineyard Statement of Faith). It is a look at what we believe. It is just getting started but it is important.
3. We raise up small group leaders. I am proud of what we have done for some of our students in training and showing them how to lead. Several of our former members are helping others plant churches.
4. Alpha- the genius of Alpha cannot be overstated. You reach out and develop leaders at the same time. It is the most enjoyable thing I do. And it has produced fruit in men and women's lives.
5. We train people to worship and lead worship with a 'highly dangerous' worship band. It is beautiful to watch humble growth.
6. Entry level service- people have recently joined us and they quickly start to take over aspects of our church services. The target is love and the means is offering sincere service.
7. Internship- using interns lets me get twice as much done. I thank God for the chance to train young folks. It simply accelerates growth in both gifts and talents. In the future it would be good to hire 2 or 3 and we could open up Hocking College. We have a small impact there but it could be so much more.

Do You See What We Are Doing?