Rich Kao

We live in a generation in which relationship, authenticity, community, intimacy reign supreme.  However in our zeal to be re-rooted in these values, we mustn't just be "relational" all the time, we must also be pillars of truth (1 Tim 3:5). 

When Paul wrote to Timothy, he was writing to his young & beloved disciple on how to be a great pastor, how to care for people, how to love them and serve them, i.e. how to be great relationally.  But in the midst of his encouragements, he also charged Timothy to be a man of truth, to be doctrinally sound, and to exhort & preach with all confidence (2 Tim 4:1-3).

Why this charge?  Because relationship without truth is not love (Eph. 4:15).

2 Kings 4:38-41 gives us a powerful picture of what this generation is like...hungry for reality ("there was a famine in the land").  But when we we are living out of a famished state, our discernment is gone and we'll eat anything  ("wild vines, wild gourds").  We think happiness will be found in money, career, relationships, hobbies, nature, addictions; we're aching to fill the hunger, and as a result we eat things with "death in the pot."

What did Elisha do to remove the "death?"  He threw meal" (NIV: flour) into the stew, and "then there was no harm in the pot."

That's our call...to throw "meal" into the pot, i.e. to throw truth into those things that people are eating and feeding on, and is making them sick. 

There is a prophetic call (ala Elisha) on us to take the truth of the gospel and throw it into the "pots" of our generation so the "death" in it can be removed.

Let's be pillars of truth.  Fearless and bold in the name of love.  We'll save a lot of people from "death."

Rule of 120.  It only takes 120 unified people to launch a revolution.  Acts 1:15.  Small is not just big, it's huge.  That's part of the thrill and excitement of an Incubator Church; it "doesn't take much" to do something great.  Just 120 committed, unified, followers that are bent on glorifying God, even unto death.  When such a group comes together, there is a viral effect, a nuclear effect that releases the power of God.  But note how they incubated themselves....in prayer, in prayer, in prayer.  That was the gestational period.  At 5 Stones, we've been remiss in emphasizing corporate prayer.  We are aiming to get back to the prayer part, bit by bit.  We're reaching a tipping point.  (For other 3 cornerstones of Incubator Church, click here.)

Small group idea:  Not "Research & Development" groups but "Read & Discuss" groups; in essence it's like a facilitated book club, except in our case it will be for spiritual growth.  I'll be leading one soon, and there's a few things I like upfront about this format. 

One, it involves accountability because everyone has to read. 

Two, it's interactive, as there will be lotsa open questions and dialog, thus high participant involvement. 

Three, it allows us to capitalize on great books, classics or recently released. 

Four, it takes a load off of having to prepare materials, when better stuff is already out there. 

Five, it's facilitated, so quality control is there, and wonky conclusions are not propogated. 

Six, it's a great vehicle for me to deepen people's devotion and discipleship through critically acclaimed writings. 

Seven, it's a great way to increase knowledge that people can go back to; they have to buy the books. Prov. 23:23. (With sermon listening, they may not take notes, and if they do, they may not go back to them). 

Eight, it forces people to just read (a great life skill). 

Nine, expands people's teaching diet; not just having to listen to me on Sunday's.

Ten, they can turn around and "teach" others - multiplication!

Our first round of reading will be Mark Driscoll's trilogy series entitled "A Book You'll Actually Read"...1) On the New Testament, 2) On the Old Testament, and 3) On Who is God?

Love this write-up from St. Mary's-Bryanstone Square, a hopping church in London, and related birth home of the famed Alpha Course.

Church belongs to God
We believe that God must be allowed to do with his church what he wills. God caused our church to come into being through unusual circumstances, he’s protected us and he has caused us to grow. We seek to follow God’s direction as he works through us.

Church belongs to the people of God
Obviously people are very different and this always poses a challenge for anyone wanting to bring them together for a common purpose. We aim to establish a community life that diverse people can own and where everyone can play.

We have come to believe that some people are motivated above all else by such values as risk-taking, impact-making and stimulation – we call them ‘adventurers’. Others are more motivated by relationship, friendship and acceptance – we call them ‘carers’. There are also those who value integrity, honesty and authenticity – we refer to them as ‘truth-tellers’. We believe that people reflect these important drives or motivations in different balances and although we are all meant to grow up into mature expressions of all three, we tend to identify more readily with two out of the three sets of values. We believe these drives reflect real differences of temperament and that it is important to understand what motivates you because it is indicative of the kinds of gifts you have, the aspects of spirituality you will find easier and the kinds of people you will find more difficult!

Generally, churches don’t reflect all of these drives properly and tend to turn their distinctive visions into the drives the leader is most comfortable with! Hence some churches are evangelistic and some are more pastoral etc.

In our view church is church
This means that we must give full expression to adventuring gifts (apostolic and evangelistic), caring gifts (pastoral) and truth-telling gifts (teaching and prophecy). None are optional. The absence of the right functioning of any one causes the church to remain immature.

We are an immature church but we are trying to grow up.

Besides the first five principles previously posted, here is a sixth one:  HIGH ATMOSPHERE.

Creating the right environment is critical for outreach, receptivity, excellence, impact and power.  There are generally speaking two kinds of atmospheres:

1. Natural atmosphere.

This is about lighting, temperature, colors, presentation, traffic flow, signage, space usage, sight lines, seating, bathrooms, monitors, facilities, and more.  You get the idea.  Natural atmosphere is critical, but only a means to an end.  Natural atmosphere helps set a mood, put people at ease, minimize their stress, makes them more open, relaxed, and receptive.  While natural atmosphere is means to an end, it is nevertheless a POTENT means.  Great restaurants, stores, have great natural atmostpheres.  It helps generate buzz, excitement, and a sense of happening.  It's step one in helping people to be receptive to God; it's the invisible lifting that goes before anyone even steps into your buildling or facility.

2. Spiritual Atmosphere.

Worship, music, prayer, anointing, presence of God, sense of life, vision, momentum.  This is where spiritual atmosphere takes over from the natural.  in the end, an encounter with God is a spiritual transaction that occurs inside the chambers of people's heart.  This is where the Holy Spirit moves, woos, convicts and convinces.  This happens, not just because the lights are dimmed correctly, but b/c the staff has prayed into the situation, the preacher has preached into the situation, and the mission of the church has incubated the atmosphere so the "intagible" but very real sense of God is there to help Christians grow deeper, fuller, and stronger, while the seeker is "inexplicable" drawn to yield, surrender and passionately commit to new life in Jesus.

Working hard at creating "high atmosphere" is critical to being an impactful church.  It's part of the Incubator Church's DNA.  This principle is for big or small churches, but may be even more doable and powerful for small, boutique churches.  Natural atmosphere are also more important in first world countries, and less so in underdeveloped countries, but spiritual atmosphere is paramount wherever churches are planted.