Mike Edmisten Follower of Jesus. Husband of Nicki. Father of Ryan & Brock. Communicator of the Word.

Come Together: A Beatles Series

This new series is going to be off the hook, off the chart, off the chain, and off whatever else you can think of!

We are launching a Beatles series this Sunday at ACC!  The Beatles are as hot as ever. The entire Beatles catalog has been digitally remastered.  It was released yesterday…the same day as the release of the new Beatles Rock Band video game.  All of this from a band that broke up 40 years ago!

The Beatles are still thriving, not just because their music sounds amazing, but because much of their music expressed longings and desires that are common to all people…regardless of what generation they're living in.  That's why we're launching a Beatles series at ACC.

If you have a friend, family member, or co-worker who needs Jesus, this is THE SUNDAY to invite them to ACC.  They will easily identify with the Beatles…but much more importantly, they will hear the gospel.  Straight up.  Unfiltered.  Right from the heart.

Can't wait to get this bad boy rolling!

The Wilds

Nicki, Ryan, and I took off for Columbus right after church on Sunday.  (Brock got to spend a couple of days with my parents…which suited him just fine.)  We went to the Columbus Zoo on Sunday night and then we went to The Wilds on Monday morning.

Don't know if you've ever heard of The Wilds or not, but it ranks up there as one of the most fun things our family has ever experienced.  We are already talking about when we're going back.

The Wilds is the largest conservation center in North America.  We took an open air bus safari, and there were times that I almost forgot that I was still in Ohio.  You feel like you are on the Serengeti Plain in Africa.

I don't recommend things on my blog very often, but this one is definitely worth it.

If you have kids, they will love it.  Even if you don't, you still ought to give it a look.  Nicki and I are talking about heading back, just the two of us, and staying at Nomad Ridge.

All in all, I can't say enough about the experience.  A+ all the way around!

The Wilds

Stories Recap

When I was looking at the sermon calendar earlier this year, I saw a nine week summer series called Stories and I thought, "Well, it's summertime.  We'll take our foot off the gas a little bit and cruise through some of Jesus' nice parables."

I have since repented of this stupid and sinful way of thinking!

This series rocked me!  The deeper I dug into Jesus' stories, the more my spirit was stirred. Jesus taught some very tough, very hard-hitting truths in these stories.

These aren't nice bedtime stories.  These are "rock your world, kick your butt, and mess you up" stories!

It was an amazing journey.  I'm so glad we decided to spend the summer sitting at Jesus' feet and listening to His stories.

You can check out the entire series on our website.

Stories Sermon Series

Blogging Break

I'm taking a little blogging break until Tuesday.

Next week, I'll be giving you some details on an incredible new sermon series coming up at ACC.  A series with some Beatles flair.  Gonna be awesome!

See ya Tuesday!  Peace out homies.

Give Up to Go Up – Addendum

Given all the talk about church growth on my blog this week, I wanted to share this post from Mark Batterson.  I love his perspective!

Do You Love Numbers More Than Souls? – Mark Batterson

Give Up to Go Up 4

The last in a series of posts about things the church must give up in order to go up.

If a church is serious about growing the Kingdom of God, they will have to give up a lot of cash.  Some people might not like this because it feels too "worldly," but the truth is that ministry costs money.

If you want to know a church's vision, you don't have to look any further than their budget.  Jesus said, "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Luke 12:34)  We often view that verse as a guide for personal finances, but it is also a great barometer for a church's budgeting process.

If a church's heart beats with God's vision, that church will put money behind the vision.

If a church is serious about children's and youth ministry, then those ministries will be well funded.

If a church actually wants to reach people with the gospel, it will show up in their checkbook.

Far too many churches allow money to stand in the way of ministry.  It's very easy to do, especially in a down economy.  It's easy to make every decision based on finances instead of faith.

I'm not suggesting that we should be stupid when it comes to money.  But, while we can't be stupid, we also can't be stingy.

If God gives you a vision, God can also fund that vision.  If you believe that your church can't follow God's leading because of money, your God is too small.

I have no patience for pastors who won't preach on money.  Jesus taught about money more than He taught about heaven and hell combined.  And yet a lot of preachers won't tell people the truth about their finances.

The only person that this helps is Satan.

It doesn't help God, who has been very clear in His Word.

It doesn't help the people in the church when Biblical truth is withheld from them.

And it doesn't help the church as a whole, because it denies them the money needed to fund ministry.

Satan throws a party when pastors wuss out on the issue of money.

Growing churches must preach generosity.  And then they must practice generosity.

Growing churches genreously support mission work, local and global.  They generously reward their staff.  They generously fund the ministries that carry out God's vision in their church.

Ok, to recap…three things that the church must give up in order to go up.

Comfort

Control

Cash

Give Up to Go Up 3

Continuing our series about what the church must give up in order to go up.

You have to be willing to give up control.  Pure and simple.  For a church to experience growth, control must be sacrificed.

When a church remains small, it's very easy for a person (or group of people) to control everything.  There aren't that many decisions to be made.  The decisions that are made are often fairly innocuous.

But if a church is serious about growing and reaching people who are outside of Christ, then a lot of people must be willing to give up control.

The people in the church must trust their leaders.  Every detail of every decision cannot (and should not) be made public.  The leaders can't constantly take opinion polls.  Every decision can't be fodder for a congregational vote.

Rick Warren puts it well.  He said, "What do these words have in common: committee, board, vote, election, majority rule? Answer: None are in the Bible!"

These things are not Scriptrual.  Instead, they were borne out of a desire for control.  God's formula for church health and church growth is much simpler: pray for and trust your leaders.

But the issue of control doesn't stop with the people of the church. It extends to the leadership of a church as well. Any one leader can't be involved in every decision.  There needs to be a system of team leadership where trust is paramount.  Even if I'm not involved in a particular decision, I trust the leader who is. If I have to weigh in on every single decision that is made, that isn't godly leadership.  That is more akin to an arrogant control freak.

In this whole "give up to go up" deal, control is a biggie.  If someone is really fighting to maintain their control (aka, their power), then it is very likely that they think the church is more about them than about Jesus.

Part four tomorrow.

Give Up to Go Up 2

Part two in a series that will last the entire week.

If you truly want to see your church grow, you must be willing to sacrifice your comfort.

We are creatures of habit.  Once we get into a comfortable groove, most of us don't want to change anything.

I'm as guilty as anybody.  For example, once I learn a specific route to drive from point A to point B, I really don't want to change it. I'm comfortable with my route because I know every turn.  I know exactly where I'm going.

If you come along and tell me you have a different route, I'm probably going to ignore you…even if your route is easier or faster. You know why?  Because I'm comfortable with how things are.

To one degree or another, most of us have these tendencies.  We want to preserve our comfort zone.  But comfort preservation is a death sentence for church growth.

For the church to begin a period of extended, consistent growth, things will have to change.  It's inevitable.  And then, as soon as we're comfortable with the change, we'll probably need to change again.

Just so I'm completely clear…I'm not suggesting that we change the message. The gospel is absolutely true and it is completely unchangable.  If a church changes the message, run. Run fast.  Run hard.  Run long.  Don't stick around to see the disaster that is coming.

But, while the message is unchangable, our methods must remain fluid.  Change must be a constant.  And that means that most of us will be uncomfortable.

But what is more important?  Retaining my comfort or introducing a lost person to Jesus?  Comfort vs. Christ. That's really the issue.

And for me, there's no contest.  Jesus gave up His comfort for me. How can I not do the same for Him?

Part three tomorrow.