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Posts tagged Theology
What’s new for me & Erin
We all love new things. Christmas just came through, and my wife bought me the exact pair of shoes I wanted. I love shoes, and there is nothing like the comfort of new shoes, but sometimes new things aren’t ALWAYS comfortable. The Burr family is entering a new season, and this season isn’t a season of comfort but a lifestyle of mission. God has led me and Erin to resign from River Of Life Fellowship, and start living on mission in Kent, Wa.
This whole process started in our hearts many years ago. We started looking at the structure of the church, and started to notice that the majority of what Church today is doing is a show (feel free to stop reading now if you’re offended). This led to a difference of reading the Bible and preaching, that was somewhat missional. We’ve always had a strong passion for the lost and marginalized of society, but if I (Gabriel) were to be honest reaching out to anyone wasn’t a lifestyle but an event. All of this constantly caused conflict our hearts. So I (Gabriel) continued on for years preaching and teaching people to do what I wasn’t doing. This seems to be the model of many American pastors today. WE preach and tell everyone to live on mission, and then we say that our mission is our “church” (institution), and this is a prime example of many of us missing the point. So what God has led us to do is to resign from this job and start living the life that he’s called us to live, a life on mission.
What we will be doing is I (Gabriel) will be getting a job, and spending our time, efforts, & pouring our hearts into reaching my immediate community Indigo Springs. We will do this through relationship, and allowing the gospel to be the center of all our relationships. We’ve now lived there since November and God has already started to add fruit to this ministry, and we are so excited to see what Jesus will do as time continues on. If we could have our way we would start a non-conventual church in the South King County area, but instead of predicting where we’ll be, we are committed to living out our current season.
God has graced us with 10 great years serving at the River, and we’ve been able to build MANY great relationships that we will keep forever. We’ve seen Jesus work miracles in people lives, save people, transform people, restore people, and send people out on mission. We’ve loved what we do, and we’re very thankful that many of you have been apart of it. With us leaving the River this isn’t goodbye. We’re still in Kent, we still love you, our numbers are the same, and we still want to see Jesus work in your life. This is just Erin & I knowing that God has called us to live out what we preach. If you have ANY QUESTIONS ask them; we aren’t and don’t hide anything. Also if you want to hang out, come over, we’d love to have you over or grab coffee with you; we truly believe that transformation doesn’t happen in “church service” but rather when the gospel is lived out in community. We love you all and thank you for sharing in 10 years at the River.
P.S. Our last day @ United will be be Feb 13th; & for everyone wondering what’s next for United……Shaun and Megan Munds will take over a Youth Pastors. Erin and I are excited to see what Jesus will use them to do in this awesome youth church!
A Missional Community is not primarily any of these…although any of these can be part of the function of a Missional Community
You must submit to supreme suffering in order to discover the completion of joy
John Calvin
(Source: brainyquote.com)
If I had to summarize the bible I’d say: It’s a story of creation being unraveled by sin and being restored by the good new of Jesus! Creation to new creation
True Freedom doesn’t come when someone lays their hands on you in the front of a church. True freedom comes from a daily choice to surrender to Jesus
Adam failed in his garden, Noah failed in his garden, Israel failed in their garden, but Jesus succeeded in his garden
The hope of the final victory is so much more vivid because of the unshakably firm conviction that the battle that decides the victory has already taken place
Oscar Cullman
By starting with Christology(the life of Christ), which informs our missiology (how we live), we’ll have a better chance finding common ground with our ecclesiology (how we do church)
Hugh Halter (The tangible kingdom)
Gospel people should be the most humble/loving people on earth! Humble because we know we’re sinners. Loving because we know we’re beyond loved
Human marriage is a metaphor for Christ and his Church!
@rayortlund
