The sad truth is, many marriages don’t make it. And even many of the ones that don’t end in divorce are miserable, often consisting of two people who care little for each other and function more like roommates than the one-flesh union that God intended the marriage relationship to be.

God is the one who designed marriage, and he gives us clear direction in the Bible about how marriage functions best. In just over a month, we are going to begin a new sermon series during which we will explore what the Bible teaches about various aspects of marriage.

Our goal in this series is that broken marriages would be healed, all marriages strengthened, and future marriages helped. Most importantly, our goal is that the good news about the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus would be applied to every aspect of those marriage relationships that will be exposed to the content of the series.

Below is a quick preview of subjects that will be addressed throughout the series. Please begin praying about this series even now and get ready to start inviting others!
Real Marriage Preaching Schedule:

• 4/15  New Marriage, Same Spouse
• 4/22  Friends With Benefits
• 4/29  Men and Marriage
• 5/6   The Respectful Wife
• 5/13  Taking Out The Trash
• 5/20  Sex: God, Gross, or Gift?
• 5/27  Disgrace and Grace

• 6/3  The Porn Path
• 6/10  Selfish Lovers and Servant Lovers
• 6/17 = Panel Q and A
  Questions from entire series

If you have any questions about this series, please email me at ryan@newcitymilledgeville.org.

After much prayer and consideration, along with unanimous agreement among all New City Church elders, it has been decided that I will begin serving as the Lead Pastor at New City Church Warner Robins. Andy Blankenship, who has been serving with us for a number of weeks, will soon become the Lead Pastor at New City Church Milledgeville, taking my place.

This transition – Andy becoming the Lead Pastor at New City Church Milledgeville – will happen over the next few months. I will remain the Lead Pastor of New City Church Milledgeville for the immediate future, but Andy will immediately begin serving alongside me in Milledgeville, like a “co-pastor.” He will begin preaching at least 50% of the time and will be utilizing his time in Milledgeville to build relationships with the New City Church Milledgeville congregation. Andy will also be “learning the ropes” during this time in order to ensure as smooth of a transition of leadership as possible. If all goes well, Andy and his family will be living in Milledgeville by May and Andy will be ready to assume full responsibilities as Lead Pastor of New City Church Milledgeville by early June.

On a personal note, this decision has been very difficult for Lori and me. We are grateful for the opportunity we have been given to plant and lead New City Church Milledgeville and we genuinely love each and every one of you who are a part of New City Church. While it is difficult to cease being the Lead Pastor of New City Church Milledgeville, there are at least three reasons why I am comfortable with and confident about this decision.

1. I am confident that this is the Lord’s will and will help us advance our mission of seeing greater gospel influence in Middle Georgia and beyond. Lori and I believe the Lord is leading us to make this move, and the other elders of New City Church have affirmed that leading.

2. I am leaving you in good hands with Andy Blankenship. Over the last few months I have been privileged to get to know Andy and his family better. Andy loves Jesus, loves the mission of New City, and is committed to laboring to see the gospel continue to transform Milledgeville. He will lead you well and I am thankful that God sent him to us.

3. I am still a part of New City Church, meaning that we are still a part of the same larger organization and I am still working side by side with you, just in a different position, to see gospel transformation in Middle Georgia and beyond.

Please be in prayer as we work through this transition. Pray for Andy and his family, for my family and me, and for unity for our congregation. Pray that our mission of seeing the gospel transform everything within our reach will continue to be advanced in Milledgeville, Warner Robins, Macon, and beyond.

For His Glory,
Pastor Ryan

This past Sunday, December 4, we announced that we will be moving our Sunday gathering to a new location. Beginning January 15th, New City will be meeting at John Milledge Academy (JMA) located at 197 Log Cabin Road.

2 primary reasons that we are relocating:

While the large number of people in attendance at NCCm was encouraging, that's not what I'm most excited about. What I am most excited about is what those numbers COULD represent. What if NCCm were able to unleash 400 missionaries into Milledgeville, missionaries who love Jesus and people? What kind of impact could we make on Milledgeville? How could the city be transformed by the gospel if a large group of Christians who loved Jesus and the gospel were to intentionally live on mission in Milledgeville? I think the impact, by God's grace, could be enormous!

I'm excited about what God is doing at NCCm and in Milledgeville. Please join me in praying that NCCm would not simply be a cool event to attend on Sunday, but the beginning of a missional movement in Milledgeville that will effect real and lasting gospel transformation and change.

Now that I am the Lead Pastor of a new church in a college town, I have the opportunity to hear many different takes on marriage and children. To be honest, I am often troubled by what I hear. Many of us have adopted popular cultural thinking in regards to marriage and children, but have given little thought to what the Bible has to say about these topics. I don't mean to state that every person should get married in their early 20's. But I do mean to state that Christians should not just assume that you shouldn't get married in your early 20's. In fact, for Lori and I, marrying young was one of the greatest decisions of our lives. It has allowed us to "grow up" together, learning to love and live not as self-centered individuals who are hell-bent on maintaining our own individual identity, but lovers and partners who are committed to living as one-flesh in the covenant of marriage.

Indeed, for Lori and I, marrying young was a God-honoring decision and has been a blessing to us both. And, just maybe, marrying younger is something that more Christians should consider.

I love my wife and I am thankful that God led us to marry young. And I can say with confidence, 7 years later, that it was one of the greatest decisions we have ever made.

Below I have listed a few links to some great articles on this topic for those who are interested. In the very least, I want to encourage every follower of Jesus to allow biblical principles and teachings, above all else, to shape our ideas about marriage and children.

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2009/august/16.22.html?start=1 - This is an excellent article that was the cover story of Christianity Today in August 2009. The author, Mark Regnerus, asks many important questions about current assumptions regarding marriage and addresses many of the common objections that some have against the idea of marrying young.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704107204575039150739864666.html - This is an article that appeared in the Wall Street Journal by David Lapp. He reflects on marrying young and some of the criticisms he has received for marrying young. Good, balanced thoughts.

http://www.focusonthefamily.com/radio.aspx?ID={0B272AD9-18FF-4DDF-ADC2-FAD996A8EAFA} - This is a link to a Focus on the Family radio program featuring a message from Albert Mohler on the value of marrying young based on a study of 1 Corinthians 7. Very good, biblical stuff!

1. A shared commitment to keeping the gospel the main thing - The first thing that comes to my mind when I think of Acts 29 is "gospel-centrality." And this commitment to gospel-centrality is not just lip service. Rather, it reveals itself in an honest attempt among the churches of the network to spur each other on toward being gospel-centered in our churches and ministries.

2. A shared theology - Every church in the Network agrees on some basic theological premises. These are often referred to as "close-handed" issues, issues about which one must agree in order to be considered a part of the Network. This means that you will already know a significant amount of information about some of the core beliefs of any church that is a part of the Network. New City Church, in Milledgeville and Macon, shares these "close-handed" theological basics that unite every Acts 29 church.

3. A shared commitment to mission - Acts 29 is not actually in the Bible. The book of Acts ends with chapter 28. So why the reference to Acts 29? Because it signifies our realization that the mission of God has not ended. While Acts 1-28 records the spread of the gospel through through the early church, the spreading of God's Kingdom through the transforming power of the gospel did not cease at the ending of the book of Acts. God's story is still being written, and every gospel-proclaiming church is privileged to be a part of this unfolding story.

4. A genuine brotherhood - Every opportunity that I have had to be around other pastors in the Acts 29 Network has been a blessing to me. The men in the Network, from my experience, genuinely care about each other and long to see one another honor Jesus well through our lives and ministries. The opportunities that I have to spend time with other pastors in the Network are invaluable as God often uses these times to challenge me and refresh my soul.

5. An invaluable resource - Through various means, members of the Network labor to create environments where pastors and churches in the Network can serve as a resource for each other. Having other seasoned pastors and church planters to walk with you through the ups and downs of ministry, continuous training opportunities, and constant access to various documents and writings are priceless in the busy life of a church planter/pastor.

2010 brought many changes for the Lyons' family.  We went from living in Kentucky where I was serving as the Lead Pastor of an established church and heavily involved with academic work at Southern Seminary to launching out on the unpredictable journey that is church planting.  Though this adventure has, at times, been extremely difficult, Lori and I are thankful for God's calling on our lives to plant NCCm and look forward to what is to come in the future. I know that 2010 has come with many changes and challenges for many of you, too.

Ready or not, 2011 is here, and with it will most assuredly come many challenges and opportunities.  As we prepare for the year ahead, I want to share a few suggestions that might help us be intentional in regards to NCCm and our personal relationship with Jesus this year.

1. Be intentional about cultivating your personal spiritual health - Though there are many means that God might use to cultivate our affections for Jesus, here are a few suggestions that all of us should seek to apply to our lives in some way or another in 2011.

A. Prayer - Be intentional about taking time each day and asking God to deepen your faith and love for Jesus.  Pray that every aspect of who you are would reflect the goodness and grace of the gospel in your life.

B. Scripture reading - There is no substitute for reading your Bible. Reading and meditating on Scripture is absolutely essential to our spiritual growth and maturity. So, be intentional about reading your Bible this year. For some great ideas about how to be intentional with your Bible reading, check out this blog post by Justin Taylor (http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2010/12/31/bible-reading-plans-3/). In this post, Taylor offers a very helpful survey of various Bible reading plans.  I encourage you to choose one of the plans and commit to it as a guide for your Bible reading this year. Nothing helps us stay faithful to reading our Bible like a good plan.

C. Outside reading - Commit to read a book (or 5!) this year. Though all types of reading can be helpful, I would encourage you to consider reading one of the many books that we will recommend on Sunday's as we preach through various portions of Scripture and address various topics. Generally, you will find these book recommendations inside the bulletin during our Sunday gatherings.

D. Times of solitude and reflection - In the midst of all the craziness that is most of our lives, it is good and helpful to seek occasional times of quiet and solitude for the purpose of reflecting on God's goodness and grace in our lives.  These do not have to be long, extended periods of time. Perhaps a 30-minute walk alone every once in a while could accomplish this.  For me, these times are absolutely necessary for my spiritual health. I encourage you to consider seeking such times this year.

2. Pray for and be intentionally involved with NCCm - God is the one who must build his church. Though we are responsible for thinking, planning, and working hard in order to see NCCm grow and flourish, in the end, we are totally dependent upon the Lord for any of our efforts to be of any real value.  Through prayer, we express our total dependence upon the Lord.  Pray that Jesus would be honored through the efforts of NCCm, that many people who are not yet followers of Jesus would become followers of Jesus through the outreach efforts of the people of NCCm, and that all of us who are a part of NCCm might press further into Jesus as our source of hope and satisfaction more than ever before.

Think through how you might best serve Jesus at NCCm.  We don't want to simply be a cool place to come on Sunday. We aim to be a community of believers who are on mission for Jesus. We believe firmly in the biblical teaching that every believer who is a part of NCCm has a role to play. Think through what your role is and get involved. Don't wait for someone to come to you. Be proactive and dive in!

Conclusion

I know I've written a lot. For those of you who have actually made it to this point in the reading, allow me to summarize: let's be intentional in 2011 - intentional in our relationship to NCCm and intentional in cultivating our own affections for Jesus.

I am super-excited about what 2011 has in store.  Let the journey begin!

Earlier this week, as I was working and thinking about how I was going to accomplish all the tasks that needed to be accomplished, I began to get discouraged. I began wondering to myself, “What am I doing? Why am I here? Is all of this really worth it? Am I accomplishing anything at all?” It was a low point.

At the height of my complaining and questions, I received an email from a friend who has been a part of the core group of New City Church Milledgeville from close to the beginning. The title of the email was “Encouragement,” and here is a portion of what it said:

Philippians 1:3

…He [God] has used you tremendously. I thank the Lord every time I think of you and what you are doing in His name…I have a found a friend, and a spiritual example to look to. Someone who is not scared or ashamed of my dumbest questions and my toughest. You have been a massive tool in repairing my heart to Christ. I no longer just want a Savior from the threat of hell, but a Lord over everything I do, and a Savior to eternal life with the Creator! This is your fault, friend, and I thank you. You are continually in my prayers.

Praise Jesus Christ!

God used this email to remind me that He is in charge, and I’m not. He used it to bring me to repentance and brokenness over my sin of self-loathing. God used this encouraging word to do a powerful work in my heart and life that day.

Words of encouragement are powerful tools in the hand of God. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 commands us to “encourage one another, and build one another up” (ESV). God, in his perfect timing, used my friend and his email to encourage me at a time when I really needed it. You never know when a word of encouragement might be just what another brother or sister in Christ desperately needs.

Let’s be eager to encourage one another. Let’s not be shy about identifying evidences of grace in one another’s lives. In so doing, we will be faithful to the command of Scripture: “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near” (Hebrews 10:24-25, ESV).

1. We encourage as many of you as possible to attend the 9am service, especially if you are serving as a volunteer at the 10:30am service. This will also ensure that we have space freed up for the 10:30am service, if needed.

2. Spread the word! Our primary means of getting the word out about NCCm and our gathering on Sunday is word of mouth!  So invite your friends and family.  Share it on Facebook and Twitter, or however else might help us spread the word.

3. Pray!  Please pray that Jesus would be honored and exalted Sunday through music, preaching, and everything we do.  NCCm exist to make much of Jesus.  Pray that Jesus will be made much of and that the gospel would be clearly proclaimed.

4. We will NOT be having a Wednesday or Sunday evening home gathering this week. However, if any of you want to get together in small groups during the week in order to take just a few minutes to pray for Sunday's gathering, that would be awesome!

5. We are hoping to have some BIG news on Sunday concerning a future meeting location and the launch of weekly services!  Stay tuned.

I am so thankful to God that he is allowing me to be a part of what he is doing in Milledgeville through NCCm.  It is an honor and a privilege to serve Jesus with you.  I look forward to seeing many of you on Sunday!

Ryan

In the article, Dr. Mohler reflects on the life of Tyler Clementi, an 18-year-old Freshman at Rutgers University who committed suicide last week after being secretly recorded in a sexual encounter with another male.  Dr. Mohler rightly argues that Christians who believe in the inspiration and authority of the Bible cannot agree with those who suggest that we must simply condone homosexual activity as an acceptable, God-honoring practice, any more than the church must condone adultery as an acceptable, God-honoring practice.  Both are clearly condemned as sin in the Bible.  

However, Mohler also argues that many churches and Christians are just as wrong as those who argue for the condoning of homosexuality.  When Christians who claim to believe the Bible speak slanderously and hatefully toward those who struggle with homosexual tendencies, as if homosexuality is a unique category of sin for only the most depraved of sinners, we are just as wrong as those who wrongly suggest that the answer for young men like Tyler Clementi is to simply condone what the Bible identifies as sinful activity.  Dr. Mohler writes,

"The homosexual community will argue that these boys were oppressed by the fact that so many believe that homosexuality is sinful. They respond with calls for the acceptance and normalization of homosexuality. Their logic is easy to understand. If the stigma attached to homosexuality were to disappear, persons who are convinced that they are homosexual in sexual orientation, along with those who are confused, would be free from bullying, the threat of exposure, and injury to their parents and loved ones.

Of course, Christians committed to biblical truth will recognize this as a demand to lie to sinners about their sin. The church cannot change its understanding of the sinfulness of homosexual acts unless it willfully disobeys the Scripture and rejects the authority of the Bible to reveal the truth about sin and sinfulness.

In other words, the believing church cannot surrender to the demand that we disobey and reject biblical truth. That much is clear. We cannot lie to persons about the sinfulness of their sin, nor comfort them with falsehood about their moral accountability before God. The rush of the liberal churches and denominations to normalize homosexuality is now a hallmark of their disobedience to the Bible.

But this is not the end of the matter, and we know it. When gay activists accuse conservative Christians of homophobia, they are wrong. Our concern about the sinfulness of homosexuality is not rooted in fear, but in faithfulness to the Bible — and faithfulness means telling the truth.

Yet, when gay activists accuse conservative Christians of homophobia, they are also right. Much of our response to homosexuality is rooted in ignorance and fear. We speak of homosexuals as a particular class of especially depraved sinners and we lie about how homosexuals experience their own struggle. Far too many evangelical pastors talk about sexual orientation with a crude dismissal or with glib assurances that gay persons simply choose to be gay. While most evangelicals know that the Bible condemns homosexuality, far too many find comfort in their own moralism, consigning homosexuals to a theological or moral category all their own.

What if Tyler Clementi had been in your church? Would he have heard biblical truth presented in a context of humble truth-telling and gospel urgency, or would he have heard irresponsible slander, sarcastic jabs, and moralistic self-congratulation? What about Asher and Billy and Seth?

The teenage years are hard enough to navigate. Most boys do not struggle with homosexuality, but there is not a teenage boy alive who does not struggle with sexual confusion. There is no deacon, preacher, or pew-sitter who went through male adolescence unscathed and without sin. There is not a human being who reaches school age who would not be humiliated by a well-placed webcam. And yet these boys — along with girls facing similar struggles — imagine themselves to be alone in their confusion and helpless in their anguish.

Was there no one to step between Tyler Clementi and that bridge? Was there no friend, classmate, or trusted adult who had the courage and compassion to reach into his life and offer hope? Was there no one who could tell him that the anguish of his moment would not last for his lifetime? Was there no one to put into perspective the fact that people who did not love him had taken advantage of him, but that the many who did love him would love him no less?

We can only look at this news account and grieve. As Christians, we just have to wonder. Was there no believer to befriend Tyler and, without loving his homosexuality, love him? The homosexual community insists that to love someone is to love their sexual orientation. We know this to be a lie. But no one who loves me should love nor rationalize my sin. The church must be the people who speak honestly about sin because we have first learned by God’s grace to speak honestly of our own.

Something has gone horribly wrong when four young boys take their lives in the space of one month, and a society just goes on with its business. There are grieving parents and loved ones who will never get over that month, and there were four young men who did not survive it.

There are Tylers and Ashers and Billys and Seths all around us. They are in our schools, in our neighborhoods, in our churches . . . and in our homes. They, like us, desperately need to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to know the grace of God toward sinners. They, like us, need to know the mercy of God extended to sinners through Christ Jesus. They, like us, need to repent of their sins and learn by grace how to grow into faithfulness. They, like us, need to know that they are loved if they are going to trust Christians to tell them about Jesus."

At New City Church, we want to a body of believers that genuinely love young men like Tyler Clementi.  No, we cannot condone or rationalize sin, whether it be homosexual activity, drunkenness, gluttony, murder, or adultery, just to name a few.  But we can love people the way that Jesus loved people.  We can be willing to surround ourselves with folks like Jesus surrounded himself with, ones that the religious people of Jesus' day thought should be avoided and, for the most part, hated.  

This must not be the case at New City.  We want to be a church known for loving people no matter where they are in life, and pointing everyone to the only hope available for all of us - Jesus.  If we, by God's grace, do this right, than we, like Jesus, might even be known as a "friend of sinners."  And that would be awesome.

1. God is at work in Milledgeville and he is allowing NCCm to be a part of his work - Last Sunday morning 150+ people gathered at Buffington's in downtown Mville for a NCCm gathering.  A few months ago, NCCm was little more than a vision and a few folks on the ground here in Milledgeville.  God has brought us to this point, and he deserves all the glory for it.  God has gone before us and I am confident that he will continue to go before us as we seek to honor him by proclaiming the gospel, in word and deed, in the days ahead. In fact, just this week an issue arose that could have been a significant set back for NCCm.  But God, as he has already done numerous times before, quickly provided an answer to the issue. God is at work.

2. God can use Facebook and word of mouth to accomplish his purposes - For most of the people present on Sunday, it was their first exposure to NCCm.  How did they hear about NCCm?  Most everyone heard about us in one of two ways.  Either someone told them about NCCm and invited them to come or they learned about us on Facebook.  We did not do mass mailouts or radio commercials. There is nothing wrong with those things, but we were just not in a position to do them.  Facebook and word of mouth was a powerful tool for us in getting the word out.  And it was VERY inexpensive. 

3. Our volunteers are awesome - Many NCCm folks were present at 7am on Sunday morning in order to set everything up.  Those who were present worked diligently and quickly, even though it was, for most of them, insanely early on a Sunday morning.  We had volunteers serving as greeters, running sound, running the coffee bar, operating PowerPoint, overseeing security, and taking care of our children.  And many folks even drove from Macon in order to play music and serve in different ways. I am deeply grateful for the many folks God has already sent to NCCm who are willing to pour their gifts, talents, and sweat into serving Jesus through NCCm.  

4. I can't wait until October 17th - Our next preview service is Sunday, October 17th at Buffington's.  I am super-excited to see what God has in store for us, not only on October 17th, but right now as we continue to join him on his mission in Mville. 

So, start spreading the word about October 17th.  

If you are not following us on Facebook, why don't you start?  

Plan to join us for our weekly gatherings in between the preview services.  

If you are not on our email list, you can sign-up by simply sending your email address to ryan@newcitymilledgeville.org.

A simple, biblical answer to this question is found in Mark 2.  Jesus, after healing a paralytic, calls Levi (Matthew) to follow him and, compelled by the call of Jesus, Levi immediately does so.  Levi was not a squeaky clean, morally upstanding member of the First Church of Capernaum.  Instead, he was a tax collector who had probably made himself wealthy by working for the Roman government and using his authority to rip people off.  To be sure, Levi didn't remain like he was.  His submission to Jesus led to his transformation. But Jesus did not tell Levi to clean up his act before calling him to become his follower.  Rather, he called him to become his follower, in the midst of his mess, and the transformation followed.

Not only did Jesus call Matthew (Levi) to come and follow him, but he then went to Matthew's house and shared a meal with him and some of his friends.  As Jesus and his disciples sat down to share a meal and spend some time with Matthew, Mark tells us that there were also "many tax collectors and sinners . . . reclining with Jesus and his disciples" (Mark 2:15).  In other words, by sharing a meal and spending time with these individuals, Jesus was saying, through his actions, that he loved and cared for these people.  He was not afraid to "hang out" with them; to spend time with them and be their friend.

The religious people of Jesus' day, the ones who were considered very good and moral folks, did not like the fact that Jesus would spend time with "tax collectors and sinners."  They thought that spending time with such people would make one unholy and necessarily lead to all sorts of sinful compromises.  Mark says that "the scribes and Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, 'Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?" (vs.16).  This was not a simple question.  It was an accusation.  This would not be the only time that the religious folks of Jesus' day would take serious issue with his association with sinners.  According to Jesus, he was accused by the religious people of being "A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!" (Luke 7:34).  Apparently, he was accused of being a glutton, drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and sinners because he ate and drank with these very folks, the ones with which the religious people thought it wrong to associate.

Jesus' response to the question of the Scribes and Pharisees is clarifying.  He states, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.  I came not to call the righteous, but sinners" (Mark 2:17).  In other words, one of Jesus' primary reasons for coming to earth, his mission, was to call people to follow him.  He was willing to enter into relationships with people, "sinful" people, and offer them transformation through the gospel.

Jesus calls every Christian to join him on this mission of calling people to be his followers (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 1:8).  This is what it means to be "missional."  To be missional means that we, like Jesus, invite people into our lives and willingly enter their lives for the sake of the gospel.  Being "missional" means that we are not seeking the approval of the religious folks, but are seeking to follow Jesus on the mission that he so clearly demonstrated for us.  This often involves more work, vulnerability, time, and effort than, for example, simply handing a stranger a tract.  (I am not against tracts.  I am simply saying that handing a stranger a tract, which can be a very good thing, should not be used as an excuse for avoiding the hard work of relationships or for keeping away from the "sinners and tax collectors.")

In our context in the South, it is not uncommon to be told that the biblical calling to be holy means that Christians are not to associate with folks who are living in ways contrary to what the Bible reveals.  This is the same mistake that the Pharisees made.  The Pharisees thought it their job to simply confront these "sinners" from a distance while avoiding them as much as possible so as not to become contaminated by their sinfulness.  They assumed that association with sinful folks necessarily leads to compromise of biblical teaching. This is still a common assumption in the religious culture of the South.  But that is not what Jesus modeled.  Jesus was accused of being a friend of sinners because he was just that - a friend of sinners.  Yet, the fact that he was a friend of sinners does not mean that Jesus was ashamed of the gospel, condoned sinful practices, or participated in them.

At New City, we don't want to be a church that pulls our people out of the world.  Rather, we want to be a church that trains and encourages our people to engage the world with the good news of the gospel, even if that means that sometimes we might be accused of being gluttons, drunkards, or friends of sinners.  In other words, at New city, we want to be "missional."

God continues to go before NCCm, paving the way for the mission that He has in store for us.  I'm thankful to be a part of what God is doing and can't wait to see what God has in store for our future.

NCCm folks, please let me know about your desired area(s) of service either by sending me an email (ryan@newcitymilledgeville.org), sending me a message via Facebook, commenting on this post, or contacing me in some other way.  We will also have opportunities for sign up at our MC gatherings on Wednesday nights.  Thanks!  Below is the email that I sent out yesterday.

Our first preview service is just a few weeks away and it's time to begin nailing down how our volunteer force will be organized. Below I have listed the 6 primary areas for which we need volunteers. Some of you have already told me of areas in which you want to serve, but please still respond to this email so I can have a copy of it. Also, if you don't have a preference and are willing to serve anywhere, let me know and I will plug you in where we most need it.

1) Set up/Break Down – This will include everybody on some level. But we need people to plan to arrive early on the morning's of our preview services to set everything up and to get to work immediately after the services end in order to break everything down. This can be done in addition to serving in the areas listed below.

2) Children - Jesus loved children, and at NCCm we want to do so too! So, while this might not seem like the sexiest job out there, it's radically important. We want to honor Jesus by offering quality care and gospel-instruction to the children God allows us to minister to during our Sunday morning gatherings. So don't be shy about volunteering in this area. That goes for you dudes, too.

3) Technology - We need guys to run PowerPoint or whatever software we choose to utilize. If you are familiar with how to operate a computer and can keep up with what's happening during the course of a worship gathering, this might be a good spot for you.

4) Sound - Michael Fields has already volunteered to oversee the sound for our preview services, but we need others who can join him in knowing the system at Buffington's and can step in and run things if necessary.

5) Greeters - We want to be as welcoming as possible to those who attend the preview services. Our greeters will help ensure that this is the case. Greeters will also be in charge of taking attendance, serving coffee, handing out worship guides (bulletins), and more.

6) Security - We want to make sure that our worship gatherings are a safe environment. We also want to be sure that we take good care of the spaces that we are renting (Buffington's and Asian Bistro). Those doing security will keep their eyes on things, making sure that the spaces are taken care of and helping ensure that our services are a safe, worshipful environment.

Some may serve in a combination of areas. For example, some folks may sometimes run sound or do technology and, at other times, serve in the children's ministry. That's great! Also, if we have too many people sign up under one area, we might have to move things around a little bit and ask some to serve in areas that they might not have signed up for.

To all you NCCm folks, I want you all to know that I really appreciate your willing service and desire to see Milledgeville transformed by the gospel. I am so thankful that God has called you to join NCCm on the mission and I look forward to being a part of what God plans to do in the weeks, months, and years ahead!

Feel free to email or call me (502-609-0343) if you have any questions or concerns.

Blessings,

Ryan

Preview Service Dates:

September 12

October 17

November 14

December 3

Lord willing, we will have our first preview service on September 12th.  This initial preview service will be followed by three more on October 17th, November 14th, and December 3rd.  If all goes well, we hope to launch weekly services on January 9th, 2011.

Obviously, a lot has to happen in order for these things to take place.  So, here is what we are asking God to do as we seek to honor him through the planting of NCCm. Please consider joining us in prayer for these things.

1. Pray that God would continue to build the core of NCCm.  God has already given us a number of folks who are committed to the mission of NCCm and are joyfully joining us on the journey of seeing the gospel transforming everything within our reach.  He is building the core and putting it in people's hearts to be a part of NCCm.  Pray he will continue to do so.

2. Pray that God would allow us to secure a meeting location for the four preview services.  We are close to getting this nailed down.  I hope to hear a final word concerning the possibility of meeting at one downtown location in the next few days.  In addition, pray that God would give us wisdom and direction as we think through the launching of weekly services and the securing of more permanent space.

3. Pray that God would provide the financial resources necessary for all this to take place.  

I'm super-excited about what God has done, is doing, and is going to do.  Thanks to all who have been and continue praying and supporting NCCm.  

The gospel reminds us that our acceptance as Christians is NOT based upon how well we perform, but upon the shed blood and victorious resurrection of Jesus. God does not love me more or less based upon my daily performance for him. He loves me the same because of Jesus, regardless of my performance. If we begin thinking that God’s love for us or our current acceptance before him is dependent upon our performance, two errors are inevitable. On the one hand, when we have “good” days and we feel like we have lived up to whatever standard we have set for ourselves, we will be prone to self-righteousness, impressed with our own performance that has put us in the position of good standing with God for the moment. On the other hand, when we have a “bad” day and don’t live up to whatever standards we have created, we will be prone to deep despair, failing to recognize that God’s love for us and acceptance before him is rooted not in what we do, but in what Jesus has done.

Also, the gospel is the source of transformative power upon which every believer is dependent in order to live in accordance with Scripture. In other words, the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus is our empowerment for Christian living. It is not just the means by which we have our sins forgiven. It is also the means by which we fight sin and live a holy life.

Ten Characteristics of a Church on Mission (By Scott Thomas, Director of Acts 29 Network)

The Tension to be on Mission

The church in every generation is called to bring the good news of the kingdom into a spiritual encounter with the aspirations and challenges of that culture where it resides. Simply, believers are on a mission from God in their respective communities. To engage today's culture with the gospel requires the formation of a gospel community - the church of Jesus Christ - to be a visible representation, witness and engaging instrument of the sovereign outreaching hand of God in our culture. In many churches this may require a new vision, new ways of thinking, and new patterns of behavior (Matt. 9:16-17). This means pre-believers are encouraged to be included in the context of all of the church functions as they make small steps toward Christ (Luke 19:10).

Since we are in Christ, we have a missionary identity. We are adopted into a missionary family. We serve a missionary God. Mission becomes part of our identity, because our Father is a missionary God and we resemble Him as a child of God. So, the church is a missionary church, with missionary people, that do missionary things. It is who we are and it is also what we do. Mission is not something we tack on to the list of options as a Christian. To be Christian is to be on mission. It’s who we are and it is what we do.

1.  The missional church is committed to the authoritative, infallible, inerrant, inspired Scriptures (2 Tim. 3:14-17; Acts 2:42).

The authority of all missionary work is founded in the truth that God has a clear word to communicate to the world. The Bible’s authoritative word—not just the casual observance and even religious obeisance—guides the missional church toward understanding the person and work of Jesus throughout all of Scripture (Luke 24:44).

Although this is admittedly a unique description of missional, it cannot be an assumed reality. I think the distinguishing difference between emergent and emerging is the view of the Bible. I no longer use the words but to clarify, a missional (emerging) church is motivated by the words of God to proclaim the timeless gospel in a timely method. David Garrison said the one thing that keeps the reproduction of churches from fragmenting into a thousand heresies like a crack splintering across a car windshield is the authority of God’s word. Garrison believes this is one of the characteristics of every church planting movement.[1]

2.  Understands the centrality of the gospel expressed in all aspects of a person’s life (1 Cor. 15:1-4; 2:2; Gal. 6:14).

In Galatians 2:14, Paul deals with Peter’s racial pride and cowardice by saying their “conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel.” The Christian life is a process of renewing every dimension of our life—spiritual, psychological, corporate, social—by thinking, hoping, and living out the implications of the gospel. The gospel is to be applied to every area of thinking, feeling, relating, working, and behaving. The missional church is not dependant on programs or methods, but rather by the transforming power of the gospel. GOCN began with the indicator of a missional church as one that proclaims the gospel audibly and visibly. [2]  “Being gospel-centered means being both word-centered and mission-centered,” says Steve Timmis, Director of Acts 29 Western Europe. [3]  The gospel is not separated from the authority and effectiveness of the Word and is not devoid of practicing the gospel through mission living. It was Newbigin who described the local congregation as ‘the hermeneutic of the gospel’.[4] Newbigin’s idea is very simple: people understand the gospel by looking at the people of God. It is the church in time and space - the local church - that expresses the gospel and interprets it within its own cultural setting.

Through the gospel, He rescues us from a life of self-serving mission to participate in a life of God-serving, Christ-glorifying mission. We are remade into missional people by the redeeming work of the Spirit and the Son.

3.  Gatherings are characterized by God-centered worship, preaching of the gospel, prayer, Lord’s Supper by penitent souls and baptism as a response to the gospel (John 4:23-24).

Worship is the central act by which the community corporately celebrates with joy and thanksgiving both God’s presence and promised future.[5]  A missional church worships God in an authentic way as we worship a Savior who left us here to be captured by His love and pursue His mission through His redemption. The missional church encourages what Tim Keller calls “evangelistic worship”—making worship comprehensible to unbelievers leading to commitment.[6]

Principles for Public Missional Worship

Bob Kauflin reminds us the principles for public missional worship. “Paul challenges the Corinthians to take unbelievers into account when they gather. He insists that they keep the unbeliever in mind as they exercise spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 14:23-25)…Whether it’s raised hands, formal liturgies, or unspoken standards, we need to see them through the eyes of an unbeliever.” [7] Kauflin suggests that to significantly impact the unbelievers in a worship gathering, the following should be present:

Preaching is central to the missional church worship experience. The Reformers were convinced that the heart of true biblical worship was the preaching of the Word of God. Al Mohler said that preaching is suffering a loss in today’s church due to six factors.[8]

The missional worship gathering additionally incorporates public reading of Scripture, prayer for the glory of God to be expressed through the suffering body and community, and response to the Spirit of God and the word of God expressed demonstrably with undefined regularity through baptism and communion. Although the worship gathering is not primarily for us, the body is instructed how to participate in the diverse liturgy as committed followers of Jesus.

Elements of Authentic Worship

The missional church experiences authentic worship by beginning with a true vision of the living God (Isaiah 6:1-8).

4.  A missional church understands it has been sent by God as missionaries in their own culture (Mt. 4:19; John 20:21; Acts 16:20; 17:6) to make disciples of all peoples (Matt. 28:18-20; Acts 1:8).

The missional church is more than a gathering of people with a missions program (or one that considers itself “mission’s minded”), or has a financial commitment to mission works or a mission’s committee. The missional church is vested in God’s mission to a specific place, people and a particular time in history (Acts 17:15). Mark Driscoll said, “If the gospel is the seed of God’s powerful work in our lives and world, then the culture is the soil into which it is planted.” He further adds, “Understanding the soil helps the missional church know which weeds of moral sin and theological error will need to be pulled up so as not to choke out the growth of the gospel and church.”[12]

The Challenge of Gospel Contextualization

Missionary to India, Lesslie Newbigin stated that contextualization has been discussed among those involved in foreign missions for years as a necessary means to proclaiming the gospel into the language and culture in a way to “make sense” to those whom the gospel is being addressed.[13] Newbigin’s point is that we now face the same challenge of contextualization in our post-Christian western world—our neighbors, friends, co-workers and even family. The irony is that our older churches that applauded the non-compromised contextualization of the gospel by the foreign missionaries that they sent with prayers and money are the same churches that now struggle with that missionary approach in our Western culture with peoples from diverse ethnicities, languages, religions, socio-economic backgrounds and ages.

We redemptively engage peoples and cultures, by sharing, showing, and embodying Christ in our context. This includes evangelism, cultural engagement, counseling, empathy, and celebration. It’s bringing the renewing power of the whole gospel into the whole city through the whole church. It is not realigning our Bible to the culture, but by God’s grace realigning the culture to the Bible.

Mission is a characteristic of God

Mission is a characteristic of God. He’s a sending God. He sends his Son and sends his Spirit to renew the world. The Son sends His believers by the authority of God as He was sent. So, mission doesn’t start and end with us. It starts and ends with God.

“I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth” (John 17:14-19).

5.  Boldly & intentionally promotes the gospel through making disciples and church planting globally through collaborative expressions of mercy and generosity.

A missional church is not simply focused on the growth of neither the single local church nor its continued physical presence in the community. Its goal is to make disciples of all nations (Matt. 28:18-20). When a church focuses on its own promotion, it has a tendency to use disciples to build a church, resulting in resentment. Conversely, a church that focuses on making disciples will use the corporate church to promote the gospel to as many people as possible—both local and global or as Dr Bob Roberts refers as glocal transformation. A missional church sees church planting as the outworking of mission in a community. Its mission work is the establishing of churches glocally. When our mission mindset is to promote the building of churches in multiple contexts, we are more prone to collaborative work with other churches and with a heart of generosity for the advancement of the gospel in all nations.

6.  A missional church is dependent upon the Holy Spirit to empower and lead believers as agents for evangelizing and making disciples (Acts 1:8; Luke 4:1, 14, 18).

The life of Jesus was empowered, led and directed by the Holy Spirit. To be dependant upon the Holy Spirit means to live like Jesus as opposed to some strange mystical experience. Jesus gave the Great Commission, as we commonly know it, and He included the prerequisite of Spirit-empowerment to accomplish it. In Luke’s gospel, for example, Jesus explains the gospel to His disciples and tells them that as witnesses of His resurrection, they are to proclaim it to others. But He told them to stay in the city until they were clothed with power from on high (Luke 24:49). Jesus promised that He would empower the church through His Holy Spirit as they make disciples (cf. Acts 1:8). “The promise of God’s presence often accompanied his call to service in the Old Testament (e.g. Ex. 3:12; Josh. 1:5); it is not so much a cozy reassurance as a necessary equipment for mission.” [14]

The Great Comforter
The Great Commission comes equipped with the Great Comforter. This promise is fulfilled by the provision of the Holy Spirit—the missionary Spirit sent to witness to the coming of the Kingdom of God (John 13-17; Acts 2:17). Lesslie Newbigin again offers some succinct instruction for us here. “Mission first of all belongs to the Spirit who is sent by Jesus and the church is taken up into that work…Mission flows in the following way: the Father sends the Son; the Son sends the Church and equips it with the Spirit to enable it to carry out its mission…God does not cease to participate in the missionary enterprise with the sending of Jesus. He does not initiate mission with the sending of Jesus and then leave the missionary work to be carried on by a human institution that followed the pattern of Christ without the help of the Spirit.”[15] Newbigin continues, “The active agent of mission is a power that rules, guides, and goes before the church: the free, sovereign, living power of the Spirit of God. Mission is not just something that the church does; it is something that is done by the Spirit, who is himself the witness.”[16]

A missional church can effectively reflect the power of the gospel (Romans 1:6) as it depends on the Spirit of God to empower the body for evangelism, discipleship and gospel proclamation rather than depending on big events or buildings or programs or methods utilized elsewhere to draw unbelievers to an event. The Apostle Paul explained to the church situated in the pagan, sinful city of Thessalonica that this “gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction” (1 Thes. 1:5; cf. 1 Peter 1:12). Paul was saying, “I did the speaking but it was not I. I was used by the Holy Spirit to accomplish the work He intended.”[17]

Some churches put their emphasis on the studying of the Word. While important that we feed our souls, these are typically the intellectual theologians that spend great hours reading and studying in often arguing the finer points of doctrine resulting in pride of knowledge but rarely conversions. Other churches put a majority of their emphasis on the Holy Spirit and are often more interested in an experience than the authoritative Word. The Holy Spirit uses the Word and the Spirit of truth for understanding. A missional church proclaims the truth with boldness through dependence on the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 4:29-33).

7.  Missional churches utilize relationships and sacrificial love as the expressions of love to others in their journey toward faith (Matt. 5:13-16, John 15:12-17, 1 John 4:19-21).

“Christ wants to create ‘a people’ not merely isolated individuals who believe in Him.”[18] A disciple is a Spirit-empowered follower of Jesus who is united with a gospel community on mission for all peoples for the glory of God. A recent book by Dan Kimball entitled, “They Like Jesus But Not the Church” is illustrative of our culture’s skepticism with churches and Christians. The culture is not seeing Jesus in the church and frankly Christians are not seeing Jesus in the church and are not motivated to engage in authentic gospel community because they have little reference for it outside of the Bible's descriptions (Acts 2:42-45; 4:31-35).

God is a missionary God and God’s primary missionary method is his covenant people. Mankind was made in the image of the triune God. God created us in that image as persons-in-community to be the means by which He would reveal His glory. As a result of sin, we grasp for isolation from God and His church.  When the local church allows this proclivity for seclusion, these image bearers of God fall short of His glory.

The missional church moves out across the nations as a movement of people empowered and sent by Jesus while drawing people through its common life as a God-glorifying movement of believers and unbelievers alike back to Jesus. Steve Timmis writes, “Our identity as human beings is found in community. Our identity as Christians is found in Christ’s new community. And our mission takes place through communities of light.”[19]

What community looks like is unique in every setting, just as every family is unique because there are a lot of variables and moving parts. But the family/community works out the details of their common mission because they are equally committed to each other and to their mission as Christ followers. Those in community do not act in isolation, but rather sacrifice their schedules, time, money, conveniences and individuality to serve the need. It is foreign to us that the believers in the first church sold their possessions and with singleness of heart gave to those in need. This deep unity and collaboration among the first church ignited the gospel proclamation that turned the world upside down.

The Book of Acts describes the Christian community in multiple ways that may lead to even greater deeds than are described in this canonical record.

8.  The goal of a missional church is to walk in community with others as Jesus pursues them in His own way and timing (1 Cor. 9:20-23).

This gospel community includes believers and unbelievers. Jesus was criticized for including non-believers in community.

“The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’” (Matt. 11:19)

Judas was a part of the disciples even as Jesus spoke about letting the tares grow up with the wheat (Matt. 13:24-30; cf. 1 Cor. 2:19). He spoke to the woman at the well when no one else would dare (John 4). Our interaction with unbelievers is not for the saving of mankind or for the building up of our church, but rather for the glory of God.

The witness of Jesus to the lost woman of Samaria can be summarized in following way and provides for us a basis for our friendship with sinners.[20]

Look over the list of eight ways Jesus approached this woman and examine your heart to see if you interact with lost people in a similar manner.

9.  A missional church is a hands-on training ground for missionary training (Acts 4:13, 31-35).

His mission is nothing short of the redemption of peoples and cultures, the renewal of all creation for his own glory. God’s great, burdensome, and glorious mission is the renewal of all creation! God, in his mercy has invited us to participate in his mission.

The community of believers provides opportunities and they practice hospitality for living out the gospel in word and deed with one another. Church leaders must set the pace for pursuing the mission of Jesus. As Jack Miller noted, churches become “religious cushions” that tranquilize the guilt-ridden person with the religious warmth of its liturgy.[21] Jack said the contributors of these religious cushion churches are the following:

• Quiet acceptance of churchly dullness as normative
• Fear of extinction
• Extreme sensitivity to the negative opinions
• Demand for comfort – a nice church with a nice pastor preaching a nice sermon about a nice Jesus.
• Unrestrained Gossip

10.  Godly, biblically qualified elders lead a missional church (1 Timothy 3; Titus 1; Eph 4)

While most descriptions of a missional church do not include this characteristic, I don’t think it is possible to maintain a missional emphasis without what Jack Miller calls “pacesetting pastors” who continually remind the body of the mission for which Jesus has called and the Holy Spirit has empowered to pursue until the return of Jesus.

Titus was commissioned by Paul to establish the churches with qualified elders in Crete to rebuke false teachers, teach sound doctrine, establish godly homes, preach the gospel of grace, do good works, confront rebellion and multiply followers of Jesus. The key to straightening out the crooked churches in Crete was the establishing of qualified elders to guide the rest of the body toward the gospel.

Elders are to be above reproach in every area of their life.[22] The gospel will never take root in the body until it takes root in the leader’s lives. Spurgeon writes, “Brothers, I beseech you, keep the old gospel, and let your souls be filled with it, and then may you be set on fire with it!” [23] A church will never be missional until its elders live missional lives in front of their followers.

The real value of an elder in a missional church is the equipping of non-vocational leaders to lead and share responsibility for the mission and for the discipling of new believers (Eph. 4:11-12). Reproducing churches unleash the whole body to exercise their gifts (1 Cor. 12:8-10) and encourage them to lead others on mission to proclaim the gospel in new ways and new places in the community. New believers are incorporated quickly in the mission and receive on-the-job training through an organic mentorship rather than top-down control.

Missional or Biblical?

Looking over the description of a missional church, one understands this word to be equated with the pattern set forth in the Bible. The church established by the Apostles was a church on mission. It was missional. It seems that the evangelical church just needed a new word like missional to describe the “Biblical church.”

______________________________________________________________________________________

[1] David Garrison, Church Planting Movements (Midlothian, VA: WIGTake Resources, 2003), p. 182.

[2] Empirical Indicators of a Missional Church, Gospel and Our Culture Newsletter (http://www.gocn.org/resources/newsletters/1998/08/vol-10-no-3-september-1998 (accessed 10-18-09)

[3] Tim Chester and Steve Timmis, Total Church (Wheaton, Ill: Crossway Books, 2008), p. 33.

[4] Lesslie Newbigin, The Gospel in a Pluralist Society (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co, 1989)

[5] Empirical Indicators of a Missional Church, Gospel and Our Culture Newsletter (http://www.gocn.org/resources/newsletters/1998/08/vol-10-no-3-september-1998 (accessed 10-18-09)

[6] http://www.redeemer2.com/resources/papers/evangelisticworship.pdf

[7] Bob Kauflin, Worship Matters (Wheaton, Ill: Crossway Books, 2008), p. 203.

[8] R Albert Mohler, Jr.,He is Not Silent (Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2008), pp. 16-21.

[9] Iain Murray, Lloyd-Jones: Messenger of Grace (Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth Trust, 2008), p. 22.

[10] John Piper, The Supremacy of God in Preaching (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2004), p. 23.

[11] R Albert Mohler, Jr., pp. 28-38.

[12] Mark Driscoll and Gerry Breshears, Vintage Church (Wheaton, Ill: Crossway Books, 2008), pp. 223-224.

[13] Lesslie Newbigin, The Gospel in a Pluralist Society (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co, 1989), pp. 141-142.

[14] The Gospel According to Matthew, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (TNTC; IVP; Eerdmans, 1985).
[15] Lesslie Newbigin, The Open Secret: Sketches for a Missionary Theology (London: SPCK, 1978), p. 56.
[16] Lesslie Newbigin, _A Word in Season: Perspectives on Christian World Missions (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1994), pp. 21 ff.
[17] Martyn Lloyd Jones, Courageous Christianity (Wheaton, Ill: Crossway Books, 2001), p. 191.

[18] Sinclair Ferguson, Grow in Grace (Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, 1989), p. 67.
[19] Tim Chester and Steve Timmis, Total Church (Wheaton, Ill: Crossway Books, 2008), p. 50.
[20] Alvin Reid, Evangelism Handbook (Nashville: Broadman and Holman, 2009), p. 63.

[21] C. John Miller, Outgrowing the Ingrown Church (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1989), p. 20 ff.
[22] At least 17 characteristics are found as descriptors of Paul’s general heading of “above reproach” in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9 with additional thoughts from 1 Peter 5:1-3 and Acts 20:18-35.
[23] C.H. Spurgeon, An All Round Ministry (London: Banner of Truth Trust, 1972), p. 126.

1. God is faithful - When we left Kentucky a couple months ago, we also left stability and security in the areas of church and finances. But we were confident in God's calling on our lives to plant NCCM.  Though at times I have wondered if I am insane or foolish, God has and continues to prove himself faithful over and over again.  For example, Michael Moody, Lead Pastor at Journey Church in Griffin, GA, led his church to offer us monthly support.  That was unexpected and awesome!  God has provided me the opportunity to teach a couple classes and also has provided Lori with the opportunity to work as a nurse practitioner once a week.  In other words, God has been faithful.  He has met and continues to meet our needs.  

2. God is at work in Milledgeville - In just two short months, God has done a lot toward the planting of NCCM.  He has called a number of awesome people to join NCCM on the mission of seeing Milledgeville transformed by the gospel.  He is opening opportunities for relationships with folks from many different walks of life.  He is going before us and providing what we need as we work toward a September launch of preview services.  In short, God is at work, and I am deeply grateful that He has allowed me to join him in his work in Milledgeville.

3. I love my city - Though it's only been a couple months, I have grown and continue to grow in my love for Milledgeville.  I deeply desire to see Milledgeville transformed by the gospel.  I long for NCCM to be an instrument God uses to effect real, lasting, gospel-centered change in Milledgeville.  I want the best for my city.

There is much more I could say, but this is a start.  God is faithful, he is at work in Milledgeville, and I love my city.  I'm thankful for our first two months, and look forward to many more as the journey continues.

NCCM in the Vill

The heartbeat of NCCM will be our MC's (Missional Communities).  This is where real, life on life community and living out the gospel will happen in ways that it cannot during a Sunday morning worship gathering.  But what does a missional community that is truly missional look like?  How does it function?

Below is a little excerpt from Tim Keller on what it looks like for a small group of believers to be intentionally missional.

"Let me show you how this goes beyond any 'program.' These are elements that have to be present in every area of the church. So, for example, what makes a small group 'missional'? A 'missional' small group is not necessarily one which is doing some kind of specific 'evangelism' program (though that is to be recommended) Rather, 

1) if its members love and talk positively about the city/neighborhood

2) if they speak in language that is not filled with pious tribal or technical terms and phrases, nor disdainful and embattled language

3) if in their Bible study they apply the gospel to the core concerns and stories of the people of the culture

4) if they are obviously interested in and engaged with the literature and art and thought of the surrounding culture and can discuss it both appreciatively and yet critically

5) if they exhibit deep concern for the poor and generosity with their money and purity and respect with regard to opposite sex, and show humility toward people of other races and cultures

6) they do not bash other Christians and churches--then seekers and non-believing people from the city 

A) will be invited and 

B) will come and will stay as they explore spiritual issues. 

If these marks are not there it will only be able to include believers or traditional, "Christianized" people." - Tim Keller 

As usual, Keller says it well.  From the start, we want the missional characteristics listed above to be evident in every aspect of the life of New City Church Milledgeville. 

1. I'm thankful to God that He has called my family and I to Milledgeville and, more specifically, to plant New City Church.

2. I'm thankful to God for the people who were present at the meeting, and the others who wanted to be there but simply couldn't make it for various reasons. God is calling people to join NCCM on the mission of seeing the gospel transform everything within our reach. I'm thankful for those that God is calling to this mission in Mville.

3. I'm super-excited about what's to come. It seems that God is up to something in Mville. I'm glad that He is allowing us to be a part of it.

If you were not able to make Wednesday's meeting, have no fear! We will be meeting again on Wednesday evening, June 23rd, at 6:00pm. Feel free to message me (Ryan) or call me if you have any questions about anything related to NCCM.

The address for our next meeting will be the same as the first:

1955 Twin Oaks Drive Mville, GA 31061

Ryan

ryan@newcitymilledgeville.org (502-609-0343)

One of the biggest enemies of the gospel, especially in the South, is religion.  At New City Church, we are committed to fighting against the destructive ideas of religion in order to embrace, love, and cherish the biblical gospel.  

Tim Keller is a master at identifying the differences between the gospel and religion.  Check out some of his explanations of religion vs. the gospel below.  I hope it is as helpful for you as it has been for me. 

RELIGION: I obey-therefore I’m accepted.

THE GOSPEL: I’m accepted-therefore I obey.

RELIGION: Motivation is based on fear and insecurity.

THE GOSPEL: Motivation is based on grateful joy.

RELIGION: I obey God in order to get things from God.

THE GOSPEL: I obey God to get to God-to delight and resemble Him.

RELIGION: When circumstances in my life go wrong, I am angry at God or my self, since I believe, like Job’s friends that anyone who is good deserves a comfortable life.

THE GOSPEL: When circumstances in my life go wrong, I struggle but I know all my punishment fell on Jesus and that while he may allow this for my training, he will exercise his Fatherly love within my trial.

RELIGION: When I am criticized I am furious or devastated because it is critical that I think of myself as a ‘good person’. Threats to that self-image must be destroyed at all costs.

THE GOSPEL: When I am criticized I struggle, but it is not critical for me to think of myself as a ‘good person.’ My identity is not built on my record or my performance but on God’s love for me in Christ. I can take criticism.

RELIGION: My prayer life consists largely of petition and it only heats up when I am in a time of need. My main purpose in prayer is control of the environment.

THE GOSPEL: My prayer life consists of generous stretches of praise and adoration. My main purpose is fellowship with Him.

RELIGION: My self-view swings between two poles. If and when I am living up to my standards, I feel confident, but then I am prone to be proud and unsympathetic to failing people. If and when I am not living up to standards, I feel insecure and inadequate. I’m not confident. I feel like a failure.

THE GOSPEL: My self-view is not based on a view of my self as a moral achiever. In Christ I am “simul iustus et peccator”—simultaneously sinful and yet accepted in Christ. I am so bad he had to die for me and I am so loved he was glad to die for me. This leads me to deeper and deeper humility and confidence at the same time. Neither swaggering nor sniveling.

RELIGION: My identity and self-worth are based mainly on how hard I work. Or how moral I am, and so I must look down on those I perceive as lazy or immoral. I disdain and feel superior to ‘the other.’

THE GOSPEL: My identity and self-worth are centered on the one who died for His enemies, who was excluded from the city for me. I am saved by sheer grace. So I can’t look down on those who believe or practice something different from me. Only by grace I am what I am. I’ve no inner need to win arguments.

RELIGION: Since I look to my own pedigree or performance for my spiritual acceptability, my heart manufactures idols. It may be my talents, my moral record, my personal discipline, my social status, etc. I absolutely have to have them so they serve as my main hope, meaning, happiness, security, and significance, whatever I may say I believe about God.

THE GOSPEL: I have many good things in my life—family, work, spiritual disciplines, etc. But none of these good things are ultimate things to me. None of them are things I absolutely have to have, so there is a limit to how much anxiety, bitterness, and despondency they can inflict on me when they are threatened and lost.

1. It will be a time for those who have expressed interest in joining New City Church Milledgeville to learn more about our mission to see the gospel transform everything within our reach and to ask questions.

2. It will be a time for people to build relationships with one another.

3. It will be a time to just hang out!

So, I hope to see you on Wednesday.  And don't hesitate to bring any friends or family.  We would love to have them to!  All are welcome!

For directions to my house or any other questions you might have you can call me (502-609-0343) or email me (ryan@newcitymilledgeville.org).  

New City Church Milledgeville is a church plant of New City Church Downtown, Macon (to learn more about NCCd, click here). NCCM and NCCd share the same mission of seeking to see the gospel transform everything within our reach.  Though the mission of NCCM and NCCd are identical, the practical outworking of the mission might look a little different based on the differing contexts of Milledgeville and Macon.  NCCd and NCCM are a united front, laboring together to see the gospel transform Milledgeville, Macon, and beyond.

Though my family and I have only been back in Middle Georgia for just over two weeks (my wife and I grew up in Warner Robins), God is already demonstrating his grace, kindness,  and provision by going before us and preparing the way for NCCM.  I have already had numerous conversations with those interested in partnering with NCCM, and God has already put it in the hearts of a handful of people to join us on the journey.  I am amazed at the people that God is already putting in our path as He builds NCCM.  The journey has officially started, and I can't wait to watch and see all that God has in store!

At this stage in the NCCM journey, we are seeking to build a core group.  We are praying for God to give us 25 adults who are committed to the mission of NCCM. When we reach 25 committed adults, we will immediately seek to secure a meeting location in the downtown Milledgeville area in preparation for the launching of weekly services.

We plan to begin a Missional Community (MC) in Milledgeville in June.  This Missional Community will serve as a place for those committed to NCCM to build authentic, gospel-centered relationships with one another and to help each other apply the gospel to our lives in real, practical ways.  This Missional Community will also serve as a place for Christians to bring their non-Christian friends and for those interested in NCCM to learn more about our mission and vision.

So, what can you do to help?  First, pray for NCCM.  Pray that God would provide a strong core group of committed people who are passionate to see the gospel transform everything within our reach, beginning with ourselves and our church, and spreading to our city and the world.  Second, prayerfully consider joining us on the mission in Milledgeville.  Third, spread the word about NCCM. Tell your friends and family, especially those in the Milledgeville area, about NCCM.

If you are interested in or have any questions concerning NCCM, please contact me.  You can find my contact information under the "Contact Us" page of this website.