Soul Renovatus

The power of narrative...

The Power of Narrative

By Mike Lamson

 

I'm becoming more convinced of the power of narrative in preaching and teaching. We recently decided to attempt something that seemed ludicrous during our messages; we got rid of application. We got rid of telling our hearers how the story of God applies to their lives.

 

Many times in our sermons and teachings we like to talk about the story.  That is, we mention a passage of Scripture, and then we explain its application to our daily lives.  But what if we just told the story period? Instead of just becoming good preachers and teachers, what if also became good storytellers?

 

Here's an example, in our latest series, we told the story of Moses and the burning bush.  It's a story we have heard and read numerous times.  But we wondered, “Why this story is so compelling?  What seems to be the point?”

 

Well, in the case of Exodus 1-3, one theme we observed was that God always hears the cry of the oppressed. With that in mind, we asked ourselves, "How do we capture that one idea and craft a good story out of it?  How can we let the story speak for itself with that one point in mind?"

 

We decided to tell the story, but omit all of the characters.

 

We talked about slaves, and how this life of slavery was all that they knew, about how an evil slave master killed off all of the boys.  Consistently throughout the story, we had everyone yell, HELP, in addition to having the slaves in our story ask some key questions:

 

"God, can you hear us? Do you even care?"

 

These two questions permeated the entire story.

 

We mentioned a son, who was miraculously saved from the evil master's daughter, who, as time progressed, eventually saw these slaves, his own people, being beaten.  They continued to cry help and ask those two questions, "God can you hear us? Do you even care?"  The son thought it would be great to beat the slave master himself, to feel like one of the slaves.  The slaves didn't react to well to this.  The son ran away.  He sees something strange...something like a flame.  It spoke.  And it said...

 

"Moses, I have seen the misery of my people in Egypt, I have heard their cry and felt their suffering, and I'm coming to HELP."

 

This is first time in the entire story that the characters’ names or context were introduced.

 

Now, there were some details I left out for the sake of brevity, but do you get a glimpse of the power of narrative?  All throughout the story, the vibe was, "Does God really care about us?"  When we're in our lowest moments, does God hear us when we cry out?"  The end of the story says YES.  But we didn't have to say, "So for us, God always hears us when we cry out," or, “Here’s what this story means for today.” We just let the story say it for us.

 

It is harder to just tell the story then to tell about the story, but telling just the story is much more memorable than telling about it. So instead of learning all the latest and greatest sermon prep and teaching techniques, maybe we need to spend more time learning the art of storytelling.  People are always compelled to listen to good stories, why not let the Biblical story speak for itself? Yes, it is a more challenging task for us, but it will be more memorable for our hearers.

 

Paul and his mission to the Gentiles (the puzzle piece)...

Below is another message in the Paul series I did: You can look here, here, and here for the other parts. I'm still looking for the in between message (the first-person couch Saul right after he was blind...I'll post it when I find it).

We’ve been walking through the story of Saul, who started out as a person who killed Christians.  We’ve witnessed his approval when Stephen was stoned.  But then, something happened…Jesus showed up and showed Paul who God really was and who Saul really was.  We saw in Damascus that Saul realized God loved him no matter what, and last week Jim introduced us to Ananias, who realized, along with Saul that we have to carry each other in the Christian journey, that we can’t do this journey by ourselves.

We also noted that because of this monumental change in his life, Saul changed his name to Paul, and he had a new mission to start. 

Now, Paul is setting off on his mission.  What does he start doing?  He starts doing the very thing that he was killing Christians for originally!  Even more, Paul had a special mission.  And to highlight this I want to read to you Acts 13:47, “For this is what the Lord has commanded us, “I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.”
All throughout the story of the Bible, God has called his special people, the Jews, to be a blessing to all people.  Many of the Jews took this the wrong way.  If you remember Saul thought that way, that “We are the best!”  But God’s idea was that they should bless, to bring this good news now about Jesus to the world. 

If you have your Bible, open up to Galatians 2, on pg. 1075.  [READ 2:7-10]  Paul’s mission was to go the Gentiles, to tell them about Jesus. The rest of the book of Acts, talks about this journey, of Paul going to the Gentiles, helping fulfill this prophecy in Isaiah.

Now, what if somebody told Paul that he shouldn’t be doing this? That he should be like Peter?  What would’ve happened?  You see, God made Paul a certain way, and he also made Peter a certain way.  He has also made YOU a certain way. 

I think it’s a lot like a puzzle piece.  Now if you look at the screen you can see that I have a puzzle here.  In the spirit of my daughter, I decided that I should play with Winnie the Pooh today if that’s okay with you.  Now, every piece has it’s place in a puzzle.  It has a unique shape and unique look that fits in the puzzle.  Now, God made Paul a certain way, and he also made Peter a certain way.

What if Paul decided that he didn’t want to be like God made him? What if he wanted to be like Peter instead?  It’s like you’re rejecting the way you were made. It’s like saying, “I don’t want to be Pooh’s face, I want to be an edge piece.  Or even, I don’t like the color of Pooh’s face, so I’m going to make it different color. What happens to the puzzle?  It doesn’t turn out as good.

The fact is, we need all the pieces working as they were made, to make the most beautiful, complete picture that we can.  Paul understood that his mission, as rare as it was at the time, was what God made him for.  And quite honestly, if Paul didn’t embrace his particular shape, you would not be sitting here listening to this story today.  It is because of Paul that you and I have a chance to hear about Jesus, to come here every Sunday and hear this good news.

Just like Paul, each of you has a unique shape as well.  Each of you is like a puzzle piece, and we all need each other to help God make the most complete, beautiful picture that we can. 

You’re pressured in all kinds of ways to be another piece of the puzzle, to be like an edge piece, or a certain color. You’re even made fun of, heckled, or even hurt because of it.  So was Paul.  Paul was heckled by his own people, the Jews, for going to the Gentiles, but he continued to press on. He knew that God made everyone different, and that was okay. That was how it was supposed to be.

The great truth is, when you discover, just like Paul did, what your particular shape is, the picture becomes more beautiful.  For this picture to be more complete and beautiful, we need you to be you, not somebody else. God has made you in a unique way, and when you live doing what you were made to do, the world becomes a much more beautiful place.  God has made us all different from anyone else, and that’s the way it’s supposed to be.

Rob Bell, Doug Pagitt, Todd Hunter podcast...

Here's a link to the podcast from the night after the Seeds of Compassion event. Rob talks about the new book him and Don Golden are going to release in October, Jesus Wants to Save Christians. I also believe he talks about the issue of women in ministry (I will update once I have a listen).
 

By the way, If you haven't listened, you can listen to the series of sermons by the same title on ITunes.  It was series when the podcast first went up.  It also is a combination with "The New Exodus," (you can download it from www.marshill.org.) which talks about the framework in which we at Mars Hill reads the Bible.

I've listened to part of it.  So go check it out.

(HT: Vineyard Community Church and Off the Map)

Ok, I'm just going to say it...

I am tired of people getting amped up on others when they don't say the particular "catch phrases" about Christians sharing Jesus with others.  The last couple of weeks, I have been reading various blogs and having face-to-face conversations with some who are upset are certain people because they apparently missed an "opportunity to share the gospel."  Specifically, I hear that of one of my pastors, Rob Bell, when he's out and about at things (the Seeds of Compassion conference comes to mind) as well as his weekly teachings.

My friends, in response to this let me ask a question, is it possible to speak about something, or a truth, without ever mentioning its name or label?  I think anyone with any shred of common sense could answer that.  Assuming you know the correct answer, wouldn't it be possible for someone to share the truth of Jesus without going through the standard mantra of description?

My wife (who is 1000 times more brilliant than I could ever dream, posted a comment on my friend Erica's blog regarding this:

"Okay, I just watched the clips of Rob at the Seeds of Compassion event. As a follower of Jesus and a member of Mars Hill I must say I am very proud of how Rob spoke beautiful truths in response to those questions. I am blessed to have the privilege to be engaged in those truths each and every time I hear him teach. I am blessed that he has spoken such truth into my life personally and directly. To say that he did not share Christ is absurd! As Christians, aren't we supposed to share Christ with our lives? If all truth is God's truth, then when we speak truth are we not sharing Christ?

As for not sharing the power of the cross, I am in complete disagreement. I have no idea whether he gave a "gospel presentation" off camera, but the words he spoke were indeed the power of the cross! Redemption and forgiveness and resurrection were the issues he spoke on - if that's not the power of the cross, I don't know what is! He did not need to use the specific phrases we are so used to hearing in our churches to share the power of the cross. There are those people who somehow seem to think that the depth of our faith can only be felt and heard with those certain words. How that shortchanges the ability of God to penetrate into the hearts and minds of all people! Rob may have gained more respect from his honest, thoughtful, and poignant responses than if he had done nothing but preach a mini-sermon. He may have lost respect. What if his answers encourage people who wouldn't normally take interest in what Christians had to say to listen to him and be curious about his writings and teachings? From my own personal experience, people who are dis-interested in or turned off by Christians are more than likely to take an interest in Christ from the Christ they see demonstrated in my life, not the the "Christian" words I speak to them."

Some think that because some of these words were not mentioned, the message of the gospel (which could be one of the issues, as that word in itself needs defined) has been "watered-down."  If I speak on the power of forgiveness, of death, and resurrection, do you think it would have any possibility of speaking of Christ, and especially the cross?! 

I think people come to listen to Rob, or Doug Pagitt, or whoever else you want to label as a heretic, evil, or bad (or you fill in the blank), already come with an agenda to nitpick anything they can find (and will take things out of context quickly) without considering that they can speak some truth.  I am always trying to be aware when I take that posture with those whose views I don't totally adhere to (a certain seminary prof comes to mind), but at the same time, I am asking God for the humility to be open to truths that emerge.

If your mind is too shallow to not even consider the person speaking truth, then you are shutting off the Holy Spirit.  What are you so afraid of?

I think people like Rob are showing those who don't profess in Jesus that there are Christians who do want to make the world a better place, who in my mind actually put love on display.  What powerful words Rob spoke in those few minutes regarding violence in our world.  It was a tough question, and he handled it beautifully and spoke with such hope.

So please, for the love of Christ and His Kingdom, please consider this plea to be humble; to acknowledge that God can teach us from anybody, anything, or any circumstance, no matter what our feelings toward them are.  We will become more like Christ because of it.

"That's just social gospel..."

I've heard this comment from many people, especially regarding Mars Hill recently, and even more so with the emerging church movement.  "We're just going back to social gospel again..." 

OK, here's my response:  SO WHAT!?

I mean seriously, what is wrong in trying to care for those who have been forgotten?  Seriously people don't think we're naive enough to say that the only thing we focus on is "social" issues.  If you have been a part of the Mars Hill community for a long time, you would understand quickly that we believe salvation is holistic in nature, that includes social and inward journeys. To deny one of the major teachings of Scripture regarding those who are forgotten (for one reference go back to the end of James chapter 1), is to deny a part of God's heart.

There is life (and a lot of messiness) in trying to come alongside those who have no voice.  What I find with those who have issues with the "social gospel" is really an excuse for those not do anything about the issues that are the greatest needs of our time.  For those who argue against the social gospel in my mind feels more like a supposed legitimate excuse not to care about it.  And that is very dangerous ground to walk on my friends. 

Look, for those who want to argue that this is not the true gospel, let me share something with you.  If you are in poverty (in whatever way that is), or you are just trying to feed your family, hearing someone give a "presentation of the gospel" or "witnessing" or whatever you want to call it, falls on deaf ears.  James talks about this in chapter 2 v.16, If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? (NIV)

Really, what good is it?  Why would anyone listen to what you have to say if you show that God doesn't care about their current situation?  If God is using the church to put him on display to the world with this revolutionary love, where's the love into talking their ears off and doing nothing for their needs? 

OK, enough of this soapbox, I just had to get it off my chest.

My first home improvement project...and church?

We bought our first house when we moved here to Mars Hill.  We were very excited to actually own our own home (well, I guess technically the bank still does since you have a mortgage, but let me have my fun).  So my wife is going around, looking at what could be improved.  Our kitchen and bathroom need some serious updating, but that's going to cost a little.

The other important note, to our detriment, is that I am the "unhandyman."  Seriously, I freak out over cars, anything wood related, plumbing, electric, and flooring.

Pretty much everything handy I'm pretty bad at.  I am the antithesis of the male stereotype in this regard.

So my parents are coming up this weekend for the first time, and my wife had been talking about our backyard.  We just got a used, but functional wooden swing set for my daughter for $20, and my wife goes into renovation mode, wanting to put a patio in the backyard.  A sizable one at that.  About a 10 x 14 area. 

Last weekend, we embarked on this project, I bought some bricks (just a few...seriously I'm joking...), and she was hoping to have this little job finished in one day.  I looked at like she was crazy.  Every home improvement website is telling me this is a 2-3 weekend project. 

Let's just say that I just got done laying down some more stone, and I've got about 8-9 blocks to go.  We'll get it done by this weekend, just in time for my folks to enjoy the patio.

Of course I have no idea what to do with the two huge dirt clumps in my yard, but with the amount of kids riding bikes around here, I'm sure I could contribute to some hospital runs by building a ramp with it.  At least that's what I did when I was a kid.

There are a couple of things that I was reminded of while I'm doing this.  First is having vision.  The Scriptures say "Without a vision, the people perish."  While I know that is used so much as a quote, it's easy to see why when you install a patio.  You've got to dig the dirt (for us it was almost 5 hours of shoveling, that was both my wife and I), you've got to pack the dirt down, then you put in the gravel, you pack that down, then you put in the sand, then you level the sand, then you lay the block and make sure it's level.  When you're in the midst of the work, when you're in you're third hour of shoveling, you ask yourself a lot of questions of why you even went there in the first place.

But I kept telling myself and my wife, "Just imagine what this will look like when it's done.  We're going to have some good times out here.  My wife drew a diagram, we smiled as we looked at it. Now that we're almost done, it is looking pretty good, for a bunch of rookies. As more of the pieces come together (literally), you start to see why we embarked on this in the first place.  Honestly, I have no idea what would happen when we started.  I don't think Julia knew either.  But to see the vision become a reality is refreshing.

The second thing I was aware of is the kind of person that I am, a visionary.  I am so horrible at the details.  I see a picture, and I see step 1, but the next step I see is step 10.  Over the years I've been able to see the next steps ahead, but when I do, it takes a lot of energy out of me.

I feel that way with Mars Hill and our XYZ initiative.  I know we're trying to go into this wisely, but I think we have a lot of visionaries and not as many details people.  So it's a big process.  Sure there are details, but I think most of the people are talked to are just as confused as I am sometimes.  However, the vision for XYZ is good, and to that we hold on to hope and give our lives for.  As I get more involved, you see really how messy and messed up we are, but the difference between here and other places we have found ourselves is that there is this vision that is too compelling to ignore, with a lot of people and energy who want to give themselves to it.

I'm looking forward to "stepping" onto the vision we shared this weekend, and excited to see where the Mars Hill journey continues to take us.

Birthday reflections and Mars Hill...

It's been a little over 7 months being here as a part of Mars Hill, and it has been the best time of our lives so far.  I think I went through my mid-life crisis at 31 and have seen the light (and stepped into) at the end of the tunnel.  I am in a much different place than when we first got here.  Here's the biggest thing that I think I've become free from:

I don't need a paycheck from the church to feel validated or that I am living out my purpose.

I love what I'm doing now.  And for the first time in a very long time, I can truly say that I would do this for no paycheck.  I know many times I've heard youth pastors (or any for that matter) say that they would do this for free, but really?  Would you?  I think I was one of those people who said it and thought they believed it, but knew it was easy to say because I never thought I would be put in a situation where I would have to choose.

Now that I'm here, I'm glad that I did.  Being a part of this community has been the biggest breath of fresh air in our lives.  We are totally sold on the vision, mission, and commitment of Mars Hill to be the church to the most forgotten people and places on earth.  To see the messiness of this place, but yet see this unexplainable power of love and hope oozing out of its core is something I will give my life for.

There are many more lessons to learn, and there are opportunities down the road for me that are coming about, but the greatest truth of all is realizing that I don't need that church paycheck anymore for my worth.  To truly experience God's love for me, just as I am, is freeing.  To be aware of the performance-paradigm voice in my head that is always speaking and knowing it isn't me is exhilarating!

To see the gospel on display in the everyday, little things is what I think I signed up for all along but didn't realize it.

With that is my encouragement to you, to ask God to make you aware of the little things, to where he is moving in the everyday, supposedly mundane moments. I am finding that this is where I find Him most of the time.  Sure, He shows up in the big things too, but I am finding him more in the everyday, and it is freeing to know that He truly is everywhere, always moving, always breathing, always healing.

May we all see that God has been here all along, and that we can just get a glimpse of the new things He is doing everyday.

NOOMA and our house church...

We have been going through all of the NOOMA's in our house church.  It's actually quite funny.  When I've shown NOOMA's in other places than Mars Hill, the truths that are presented there are either new to many or generates some fascinating discussion.

But in our house church, many of the NOOMA's are like preaching to the choir.  For example, we just watched the newest NOOMA, "You" last night, and we all sat there nodding our heads in agreement.  The latest NOOMA would generate some VERY interesting discussion amongst those not familiar to the teachings of Mars Hill. 

Just to tease, "You" talks about the nature of what the gospel is, with some fascinating cultural facts about the Roman empire, in which the claims of Christianity: the virgin birth, resurrection, salvation only through Jesus, the Advent, and the terms "gospel" and "church" not at all being unique too its time.  In fact everyone seemed to use these terms to describe their God, so what makes Christianity so unique?

In our house church, the idea that the gospel is us.  That we are the display of the resurrection, is not anything new.  It is not new to us at Mars Hill.  However, for those who argue in particular about what they think the gospel is (and mainly I hear that it's Jesus dying on the cross for our sins), this particular NOOMA might bring up some interesting questions.  I'm not going to go into detail about that now, I'll save it for another post (about what is the gospel...).

So we talked about how we would respond to certain questions if people would ask.  Where people might claim it's not the gospel or that we're taking God out of it, or whatever.  In that we had some great conversation.

I just find it funny that the NOOMA's here at Mars Hill just don't have as much effect as outside of this place.  We here all of these messages before they come out on NOOMA's, and if you're an online listener, you probably hear it too if you been listening for awhile.  Anyway...just another random thought...

Regardless, go get the newest NOOMA, it will generate some fascinating discussion at least.

Mars Hill and the XYZ...

After the service today I was tearing up...I feel honored that God has chosen to be part of Mars Hill.

Today the XYZ was revealed to the body, a specific, measurable, short-term way we will try to channel our resources for change in this world.

I remember one quote from today's teaching from Don Golden (quoting a friend from Africa): "When you're no longer able to help the needy, are you still a church?"

Rob continued to share how the podcast on ITunes for a church is the most downloaded religious podcast.  A few people started to clap an cheer, and then Rob said, "That just scares me, because we be accountable for the voice God has given us."  We are stepping into a new chapter in the history of our church, and I'm so proud to be a part of it.  It's going to messy, mistake-filled, joyful work.

So here is the next missional focus for our next click as a church:

X- Every kid in West Michigan should have food and shelter.
        -We will join the mayor's initiative to end homelessness by focusing on the kids who are.  We will also focus on one of our neediest neighborhoods in the Black Hills to make sure every kid has adequate food and shelter.

Y- The poorest in Grand Rapids who are willing and able should be given a chance to earn a living.
        -We will try to increase the income by a certain percentage for the economically active people in the 30% lowest of income in West Michigan. 

Z- The poorest people in the world should be given a chance to help themselves.
        -We will focus on Burundi, the poorest economy in the world, by helping World Relief with a new effort of micro-financing poor women to bring them out of poverty and change their country and the world (If you haven't read about micro-finance, go get Banker to the Poor now and read it.).

We're so excited for this.  I can't wait to see what God will do.

I left my church to be a...

Stay-at-home dad/whatever...

I've posted my story somewhere on this blog before, about our journey to Mars Hill.  For those that went to the Isn't She Beautiful conference, you heard the same message I did when I had a conversation with Rob last May about the same type of things many others go through...being part of a church that is dying and it feels like you a dying with it.

Despair is a powerful force.  I see it now more than ever rampant in churches.  It is why most who are unchurched are even interested anymore.

God called us to be part of Mars Hill.  Here's the story in case you missed it.

When we talked to Rob and told him of our situation, he said, "Don't you think it's kind of sick to send a missionary to the mission?"  We had commented how we were being used to help steer the church in new directions, but felt more alone than ever.  Rob then asked a very pertinent question, "What is your calling?"  I just sat there.  "You're calling is to be a disciple, right?  The vocation comes second."  I told that was easy for him to say.  He says, "No really, can you work at UPS and still be a disciple?  Yes!"  He mentioned something of the effect that, "Is it really worth losing your soul?"

That really made me think for a while. Is that what was happening to me? Was I really losing my soul working full-time for a paycheck in the church?  I think I was. I think it was a process over last 8-9 years of me losing my love for the Church, maybe for God, I'm not really sure.

So, during the conference Rob was responding to a question he received from someone saying that it if he became a bartender (the person asking the question), he feels more live than if he was working in the church full-time for a paycheck. Do you know what Rob said?  He said go!  It's not worth losing your soul.

now, I want to tell you that it was not easy for me to give that up. What I found out since I've been here is that I put my words in sayings that don't last. I put my worth in my work.  there have been questions that I have asked for a while that I really didn't realize I was asking until now.

Here are the questions:

1. Where do I get my worth from?
2. Do I really need a paycheck to feel validated?
3. What am I really good at?
4. When will someone appreciate me for what I've done?
5. Am I really a pastor/teacher?

I met with a friend this week, she told me, "Maybe you need an entirely different set of questions?"

She's right.

Being involved with Emergent Village, and at Mars Hill, it's very easy to get wrapped up in the notoriety game. I find a lot of people find their worth with those groups, and not in Jesus. Honestly, I'm not sure if I'm there yet. But what I am finding here are people who just love me for who I am. Funny thing is, they don't even know me that well. But this is the only place I can heal right now.  Not everybody should pack up everything and move here, but if you're struggling right now, and if you feel like you're losing your soul. Then you have to do WHATEVER IT TAKES to get well.  For me, and in giving up my career and moving to Mars Hill. For somebody else, it may mean being a bartender or working at Starbucks or UPS or whatever.

I need a whole new set of questions.  This time here hasn't been easy, but I feel my soul coming back.  My cynicism is fading.  My love is growing.  I don't know if any of you feel this way, but I'm more than happy to chat with you about it.  I might know what you're going through and feeling, and although my story isn't complete, I can tell you what I'm learning along the way.

One thing for sure, I feel honored to be part of this community at Mars Hill, to be part of what God is doing here.  The staff here are phenomenal, and if you hear their stories, you'll realize they've just gotten their asses kicked over and over again, and come serving as broken people, the very kind of people you need to lead.  There are many broken people here, but I think the difference I've seen here is that they don't keep it a secret.  They find solace in each other to carry each other.  To realize we are on the journey together, and through these broken vessels God is doing something amazing.

Most of you who came to the conference and to Mars Hill for the first time probably felt like I did when you walked into the building..."This is it?"  Yup.  There's not much to the facility, and that goes to show you that our identity isn't wrapped up in our facility, it's in what we do for the Kingdom out in the world.  I hope many people saw that. It's very refreshing to me.

Right now, I feel useless, helpless, confused, worthless, and broken.  But for some odd reason I feel hopeful. I see how God is putting me back together. And it sucks...it's hard.  But I feel like I'm getting my soul back, and that's what really matters right now.

May God shalom rest upon you. May you pursue the path of wholeness. May you do what ever it takes to make that happen.

If you want to chat, to shoot me an e-mail.  I'd be more than happy to listen.