As We Grow Together, Origins...

The last few weeks have been pretty unparalleled as we've gathered together, Origins family. An electricity is filling the room -- the presence and power of the Holy Spirit are obvious. New people are showing up week after week; people who have been coming and "flirting with" Origins are now calling Origins their faith family as they put down roots. New songs are being written and sung. We've seen God's provision and your generosity like we never have before. I've only experienced something like this once or twice ever in ministry.

I pray you're experiencing it. When God moves like this, its often contagious. In the midst of it, let me quickly share a few things you can do that would be really helpful.

1. Keep personally walking with Jesus. Keep SOAPing in the Bible, spending time in prayer, living in the power and joy of the Holy Spirit. Don't let what God is doing among us corporately ever be an excuse for not allowing God to do something in you personally.
2. Commit to a Community Group. Starting the week of September 7, CGs will relaunch and we want everyone in a group and committed to the idea that we are better together than we are individually. Be there weekly, encourage each other, pray for the people in the group, invite new folks, bring dessert, make the group a success. And to be clear, "success" is found in groups where everyone is following Jesus, being changed by Jesus, and committed to the mission of Jesus. 
3. Go after the ONE. Jesus tells the story in Luke 15 of a shepherd leaving 99 sheep in a safe place to go after the wandering, endangered lost sheep. If you know of a lost sheep -- a person who is struggling, wandering, disconnected, alone -- go get them and bring them back to the family. Pray for them and go find them. Let's continue to refuse to celebrate how many sheep we gather but to pursue those Jesus is pursuing in love. 
4. Serve on Sundays. We need weekly help with set-up, tech, kids, greeting folks at the door, making sure people get children to the correct areas, parking, and tear-down. If you're interested in helping, let us know. Don't be a consumer constantly; serve Jesus by serving others.
5. Give up a seat. You may need to relocate yourself some Sunday so that people can have a seat, especially if you sit on the wing near the sound board on in the middle section. Guests don't want to sit on the front row, and latecomers don't want to walk in front of everyone to go to the seats near the window. Make life easier and move to those seats...and if need be someday, stand and let others sit.
6. Ask someone new to sit with you. For most people, nothing is more uncomfortable and nerve-wracking than going into a room full of new people, especially in a church. If you see someone you don't know, take that as God's prompting to get to know them. I noticed Sunday a couple of visitors came early but no one spoke to them before worship. After worship was over, though, I noticed a couple of people speaking with them. I thanked them for coming, and they told me they'd be back because it was a great experience. I believe that personal connection afterwards made all the difference. This isn't marketing the church; this is compassion and kindness that are the fruit of the Spirit.
7. Ask someone new to lunch or coffee. Don't just be friendly; rather, be a friend. This next step is a big deal. When you have coffee or a meal, ask questions about the other person's story. Get to know them and encourage them. 
8. Sing. As Frances shared so powerfully yesterday, David danced with all his might before the Lord. Worship with all your might when we gather on Sundays. How you worship is a great witness to a watching world. It tells that Jesus is alive, that our sin is forgiven, that we have hope and joy in this life and in the life to come. Be unafraid to be "undignified," as David said in 2 Samuel 6. Sing, pray, clap, listen, give, greet with all your might. Then when you leave our gathering, live, work, love, rest, and celebrate with all your might. Live worshiping.
9. Listen and Obey. Whatever God says, be willing. Eric and Anissa, our missionary partners in Sweden said it so well. They told God that whatever he asked of them, the answer would be yes. Whatever God asks you to do, settle the issue ahead of time that you will boldly trust and obey. 

I wish there were 10 but I only have 9. There you go. Historically certain signs have marked any revival or awakening among God's people. Can I share some of them with you?

• Overwhelming sense corporately of God's presence, holiness, and majesty
• Conviction of sin and turning from it to walk by faith in holiness in the power of the Holy Spirit
• Increase in numbers attending, giving their life to Jesus, being baptized, and taking steps of faith to grow in relationship with God
• Powerful preaching and powerful worship with people responding powerfully
• New songs and new expressions of creativity to glorify God
• Generosity of heart and stewardship of all aspects of life under the understanding that God owns it all
• Relentless reliance on the Lord to maintain the revival spirit and provide the next steps

I pray God is doing something that I have never seen him do in my lifetime. I pray we get to be part of it. I see several of these marks present in Origins today. I can't control how everyone else responds; neither can you. I can lean into Jesus, allowing his Spirit to have full control of my life, trusting him and obeying, and praying and expecting God to do great things in Greenville in us and through us.