Adventures in Living: by Jason Salamun

As I observed strangers become friends, I cried.

As I witnessed friends become family, I cried.

As I watched authenticity from the stage, I cried.

As I realized I am part of something bigger than me, I cried.

As I saw the gospel lived out, I cried.

As I opened my eyes to what God is doing, I cried.

I am so thankful to be a part of a community where we don’t have to pretend to be more or less than we really are.

I’m so thankful to be a part of a community who are centered on Christ, driven by the gospel, guided by scripture, and rooted in love.

I’m so thankful to be a part of a community who are on a mission to love God and people.

Thank you God for letting me be a part of this and thank you Project Church for being this kind of church.

Much love.

Click here to listen to this week’s message

For some strange reason, I get a number of questions from people about starting and leading a church from scratch.

I don’t pretend to know it all and have all the answers.  Far from it.

My church is just months old, we’re still in diapers, and we still have much to learn.

But I do have some scrapes, bruises, lessons learned, and sweet experiences to share from the journey so far.

Since I don’t always have time to chat with everyone who contacts me, I thought I’d reply to some of those questions here.

How do you know when you’re called to start a church?

The same way you knew you were to marry your spouse.

That’s the closest analogy I can give.

For me, it was a passion that grew and wouldn’t let me go until I tapped out and went for it.

Tim Keller says there are three questions to ask when testing a calling:

1. Do you have a passion for it?
2. Is there any opportunity?
3. Do the people who know you well affirm this?

If you don’t have a sense of calling, don’t start a church.  Help someone else start one.

What should I do to best prepare myself for starting a church?

The same things you should already be doing as a follower of Jesus: Love God. Love people.

Stick close to Jesus.

Know and live the gospel.  Learn to see the whole world through the lens of the gospel.

Pray and read what God has already said in the scriptures.

Know the scriptures more than you ever did and integrate it wholly into your life.

Check your heart.

Why do you want to start a church? What’s your motivation?

If it’s mere rebellion, it’s mere stupidity.

If it’s out of a passion for people to know, love, and follow Jesus, BINGO, you’re on the right track.

Ministry isn’t for professional, varsity-league Christians.

It’s for the called and qualified messy people who God chose to use for his purpose and glory.

Congratulations! If you’re called to start a church it’s probably because you’re so jacked up that only God can get the credit when something amazing happens.

If you already think you’re spicy, hot stuff, you’re already on the road to ruin.

As the scriptures say,  “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

Leading a church is not for ego-driven, know-it-all  jerks.  So don’t be one.

Also, this is huge: Be the spouse and parent you are called to be.

That’s one of the main qualifications to lead a church in the first place.

They are always a higher priority in your life than the church. Always!

In case no one ever told you, your priorities are God-Spouse-Children-Church.

What’s the best piece of advice you heard before you started the church?

I’ll let this quote speak for itself.

“The great Christian revolutions came not by the discovery of something that was not known before.They happen when someone takes radically something that was always there.”  
-H. Richard Niebuhr

Who are your theological influences?

If I were to have a Mt. Rushmore of theological influences (outside the Bible) here’s who would be on it: Martin Luther, C.S. Lewis, Tim Keller, and John Piper.

They aren’t the only influences I have but I’d say they have each made a huge impact on how I view God and my relationship with him.

What books on the church do you recommend?

First, I would read books on Jesus before I did on the church.

After all, he’s the trajectory and purpose of the church.

Too many people want a how-to for the church when really it’s about who-for.

That said, here are some solid books that will challenge your thinking about the church and if nothing else, get you asking the right questions:

Total Church by Steve Timmis & Tim Chester (highest recommendation)

The Forgotten Ways by Alan Hirsch

The Radical Reformission & Vintage Church by Mark Driscoll

The Tangible Kingdom by Hugh Halter & Matt Smay

Reimagining Church by Frank Viola

An Unstoppable Force by Erwin McManus

Missional Renaissance by Reggie McNeal

What’s been your greatest challenge so far?

The biggest challenge has been God’s work in me.

There are days when the toll emotionally, physically, and spiritually is just plain hard.

But it’s also during these times when I learn to depend on God and embrace the community he’s placed me in.

Starting a church is a refining process whereby the person God uses to initiate it is often the one most changed.

I have never been more aware of my own depravity and never been more dependent on my Creator in my life.

And I don’t think that’s such a bad thing.

What would you do different if you could do it over again?

The good news is we’re still in the incubator so to speak, so there’s not much that can’t be undone.

We aren’t a traditional church plant, but if we were, I’d say we’re still in the core development stage.

However, we’ve gone the more organic, non-traditional route meeting in a local coffee house and have a growing gospel-centered church of mostly unchurched people sprinkled with some more mature followers of Jesus.

Our church is still in its infancy stage but we’re in God’s care and we’re committed to becoming more like Jesus and growing into a healthy community full of grace and truth.

I think one thing we could have done better so far, and something we need to do better right now, is raising funds.

Money’s not everything, but reality is, you need it.

There’s many more things we could do for the good of our city (and globally) if we had the financial engine to do it.

But we are in the fortunate situation to still do something about it and that’s where were are right now.

Any other advice?

Read this post I wrote earlier this year and if you have any more specific questions, ask away.

When I was in the military, I was introduced to this term:

Esprit de corps.

It describes what happens when a group of people share a spirit for a common cause.

You can’t force it.

It’s produced through a shared ordeal.

In basic training, we learned you couldn’t go it alone.

You needed each other to get through.

I saw this in my city several years back.

We battled the threat of  losing a major military installation.

The city came together in a way I’ve never seen.

It was beautiful.

We see this on television shows like Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.

And during the NBA playoffs.

We even see it during national tragedies like 9/11.

A cause creates community.

As a new, start-up church, this is what we’ve discovered so far.

Community isn’t staring at each other in a circle.

It’s standing beside each other on a mission.

Our mission is our cause.

To love God and people.

This is why we gather.

This is why we scatter.

This is how disciples are made.

On the go.

Love is theology on wheels.

It moves. It acts.

Of course, this isn’t an original thought.

Jesus already made it clear in Matthew 5:

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.“

Jesus is right.

May you experience genuine community.

Esprit de corps.

A city set on a hill.

May your lamp shine.

Not collect dust on a living room table.

May others see your mission of love and be astonished by God.

That’s how community happens.

That’s what community is for.

That’s what being missional is all about.

I love Conan O’Brien.

I even named my cat after him.

He used to do this skit called, “In the Year 2000.”

Where he’d peer into the future.

Funny stuff.

This is my attempt to look into the not-so-distant future.

At shifts I see looming or arriving in churches.

They are coupled together but they don’t all hold pinky fingers.

I’d be curious to see which shifts you dig and which ones you don’t.

What you see as either/or and what you see as and/both.

Read carefully and leave a reply.

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Churches starting churches.

Churches launching campuses.

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Pastors leading from out front.

Pastor leading from up top.

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The development of leaders.

The replacement of a leader.

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The Bible opened on top of the collected works of Seth Godin, John Piper, and Rob Bell.

The Bible laying beside collected works of Seth Godin, John Piper, and Rob Bell.

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The peer-to-peer networking of the church.

The power-grabbing consolidation of the church.

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Discipleship as a first-step, next-step, grow-as-you-go, journey towards Jesus.

Discipleship as an online program, just-take-this-class, activity about Jesus.

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Iron-sharpening-iron community.

Anonymous-staying-anonymous community.

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Churches sending Christians.

Christians consuming churches.

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Becoming the church Jesus had in mind.

Becoming clones of the church you’re favorite leader had in mind.

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Orthodox in theology, open in methodology.

Open in theology, open in methodology.

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Jesus as the end.

Jesus as the means to an end.

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Shaping culture.

Shaped by culture.

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Preachers and teachers communicating with their family.

Preachers and teachers communicating with hologram technology to an audience.

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Courage in the face of rejection and persecution.

Compromise in the face of rejection and persecution.

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I could list more, but that’s plenty for now.

Let’s talk.

What do you like/dislike?

Do you agree/disagree?

What would you add?

I love my city.

But.

My city is a strange brew.

Starting a new church here has opened my eyes to it.

On one hand, there’s a solid Christian sub-culture.

Christian events do very well here.

Christian music concerts & festivals.

Evangelistic crusade-type-things.

There are lots of bumper stickers & fish symbols on cars indicating membership to the Christian sub-culture.

You can often find pro-life picket signs near the local Planned Parenthood.

And there are loads of churches.

Religion runs heavy here.

So why in the world are we starting a church here?

It looks like the “culture-war” has already prevailed.

That’s the thing.

It’s all a smoke-screen.

We’re missing the point.

All that prominent Christian culturalization has had little impact on real issues.

There are still lots of broken homes and broken hearts.

There are still issues of racism.

There are still hungry children.

There is still an us vs. them mentality.

There are still self-righteous, judgmental hypocrites.

I should know, I’m a recovering one.

Don’t get me wrong.

There are some super churches and loving Christians in my city.

But the general impression is this:

Get saved and change into this Christian t-shirt.

Jesus didn’t live, suffer, die, and rise so that we could create a silly sub-culture.

He came that we might have life, and life in full.

That we might bring light into darkness.

That we might change the story.

That we might love others as ourselves.

On the other hand, there are thousands and thousands of people in my city who want nothing to do with church.

For many, Jesus isn’t the issue.

They just don’t want to wear the t-shirt.

Or stick on a goofy bumper sticker.

Or hand out tracts at the mall.

Or give up listening to good music.

Or dump their friends at the bar.

They don’t want to be THAT guy or gal.

They don’t want to be religious.

They want an authentic faith that doesn’t turn people into something creepy.

I don’t blame them. I don’t either.

The good news is this:

Jesus offers something better.

Something real.

His grace.

His love.

Himself.

Too often, Jesus is presented as the means to get to heaven.

That’s incomplete.

He’s not the means, he’s the end.

Love Jesus and heaven follows.

Not the other way around.

Project Church exists for those outside the Christian sub-culture.

For the explorers who are still trying to figure out what they believe.

For the followers who are trying to live out what they believe.

We’re not here to add to the sub-culture.

We’re here to change the story.

Not because we’re great.

Because Jesus is.

Jesus is always better than religion.

If you want to kill a movement.

Institutionalize it.

Make it the norm.

Get people comfortable.

Movements are like kites, they need a wind to rise against.

Movements tell a different story than what is being told.

Movements require an antagonist.

If you look at movements in history, this is a common thread.

Jesus sparked a movement of love against the backdrop of a fallen world.

America was a movement of freedom against the backdrop of a monarchy.

Rescue Missions are a movement of generosity against the backdrop of poverty.

But.

If you want to ignite a movement.

Don’t just find an enemy.

Find a cause.

A rallying cry.

A better story.

Fix your eyes on it.

Advance in that direction.

And don’t stop.

When you encounter some wind.

Grin.

Because it’s not just resistance.

It’s traction.

And you’re on your way to becoming a genuine movement.

Just make sure you’re moving in the right direction.

Other people and places will do a lot of things better than the church.

U2 concerts have better production (and music) than the church.

United Way helps more people than the church.

Disneyworld has more entertaining kids environments than the church.

Neighborhood bars often have better community than the church.

Facebook has a better online presence than the church.

I could go on.

But.

There’s one thing the church has to offer that no one else has.

Grace.

Because of Jesus.

No people or place should outdo the church on grace.

Ironically, it’s not what folks generally associate the church with.

Sad.

Sad indeed.

But it doesn’t have to be that way.

As you focus on your systems to improve your church experience.

Remember this.

Someone, somewhere, is doing it all better than you.

But what they can’t do…

Is outgrace you.

Or can they?

I guess the answer is up to you.

Project Church is not organized around religion.

We’re centered on Jesus.

There’s a big difference.

Religion ends with guilt.

Jesus begins with forgiveness.

Religion adds burdens.

Jesus carries burdens.

Religion enslaves.

Jesus frees.

Religion is about what I have to do.

Jesus is about what he has done.

Religion sees us vs. them.

Jesus sees us.

Religion leads to pride.

Jesus leads to humility.

Religion is salvation by morality.

Jesus is our salvation.

Religion brings religious institutions.

Jesus brings movements of love.

Religion separates itself from the world.

Jesus steps into the world.

Religion is about rules.

Jesus is about grace.

Religion tries to change people.

Jesus changes people.

Religion produces self-righteousness.

Jesus is our righteousness.

Religion points a finger.

Jesus took the blame.

Religion makes judgmental hypocrites.

Jesus changes judgmental hypocrites.

Religion lost.

Jesus won.

Religion’s no match for Jesus.

On Friday evening, some peeps from Project Church are going to host a family movie night at local elementary school for the students, parents, and staff.

We don’t plan to proselytize them.

Or pimp ourselves.

We just want to love them.

We strongly believe that we are to bring good news, no doubt about it.

But we believe we are to be good news too.

So we’re going to build relational bridges with folks at the school.

565 (or so) students and stories.

Even more parents and staff.

We’ve heard several heart-breaking stories from teachers.

A small sample of many.

These stories need to be changed.

Jesus showed us the way to change a story is to enter a story.

We can’t make all the stories better.

I wish we could.

But we can make a few better.

A few is better than none.

And ultimately, our hope is that they meet the One who puts all the pieces back together.

Who restores stories.

That’s why we enter the story.

To change the story.

I know for some, the missional church seems like the trend du-jour.  As I read through articles, blogs, and books, I’m noticing that there are strong opinions about the missional church from many church leaders.  And while I don’t pretend to speak for every missional leader, I would like to address a handful of these common misperceptions.

The missional church is a new idea
Perhaps the word, “missional” is a recent discovery to our vernacular, but it’s been around for a while (since the 1800’s).  However, the command to “Go and make disciples…” has been around for a couple of thousand years.  And the missio dei, the mission of God, has been around since the fall of humanity.   It’s not a new idea.  It’s a return to an ancient call to be the church Jesus had in mind. No trend here, just obedience.

The missional church believes gathering for worship is unnecessary
The misunderstanding here is the shift in thinking, “it’s all about Sunday” to “it’s all about everyday including Sundays.”  A church that doesn’t worship Jesus is no church at all.  But let’s not limit worship to an hour a week.  That kind of dualistic thinking and lifestyle is a dangerous pool to swim in and doesn’t mesh with Scripture.  The truth is missional churches do worship Jesus by assembling together- it just doesn’t end there.

The missional church is about raking leaves and hanging out in homes
Well…actually…that’s true.  But it’s incomplete.  The missional church intends to advance the gospel abeit through public gatherings, house parties, loving thy neighbor, serving their city, or having coffee with a friend. Whatever it takes to love God and others.  Missional church doesn’t need a leaf-raking church program to help the elderly couple across the street.  They just do it.

The missional church isn’t attractional
Imagination flows heavy in missional church. So does creativity. I’m not sure where the idea came from that missional church can’t (or won’t) have compelling environments.  Perhaps the notion came from the correct rejection of reducing the church to being a big show or a building.  Maybe it has something to do with replacing language like “we go to church” with “we are the church.”  Nonetheless, missional church believes the most attractive environments are created when they are filled with compelling people.

The missional church isn’t concerned about church growth
Any missional church that doesn’t intend “to go and make disciples…” isn’t missional.  Any missional church that intends to be a holy huddle (i.e. us 4 no more) isn’t missional.  Actually, the opposite is true. All missional churches want to reach people far from God.  As many as possible.  And if that’s happening, the Church will grow.  You can’t make disciples without people believing in Jesus in the first place.  But with missional church, it doesn’t end there.   Missional church is about two things: first steps and next steps.   Getting thousands to an event isn’t church growth (concerts can do that), but making thousands of disciples is.  That’s what missional church is committed to.

The missional church is a church model
Cookie cutter approaches are rare in missional church.  What works in one city, may not work in another.  True missional churches know their context.  They’ve studied their culture and the rhythms of the people in their city.  They look at the streams of people who aren’t connected to Jesus (or a church) and ask, “How can we meet them where they are?”   The answer to that question will result is various methods, approaches, and styles.  And the missional church has to continually pay attention to the ever-changing rapids of their culture- which means their methods will change as well.  That said, my hope is that missional churches not just change with culture- but that we change culture.  That’s our challenge.

If you’re a church leader, you may have noticed that some of this describes your church.  Congratulations, you might be missional. The question is whether it’s by accident or intention.

You see, missional churches are simply biblical churches.  The ones who “go and make disciples…”  The ones who are centered on Jesus.  The ones who love God and love people.   The ones who are sent on mission by Jesus to reach the whole world with the greatest news to ever hit the planet- the gospel of Jesus Christ. That should be the mission of all biblical churches regardless of how we’re labeled.

That’s what being missional is all about.

One Church, Under Jesus,