What's in a movement?

I have always been curious about how a movement gets started. How does one go from an idea in the head or a conviction in the heart to creating a movement? My guess is that it might be those who have the conviction in the heart who are spurred to move. Nonetheless, there have been movements throughout the course of history. In Church history there was the initial early church movement that was referred to as “The Way.” The was the Protestant Reformation led by Luther. There was a movement to make bibles accessible to the masses. There was John Wesley’s Methodist movement. Outside the bounds of organized religion there have been many other movements, most recently our country’s own struggle with the Civil Rights movement, the human rights campaign, the movement for marriage equality, and, of course, you can’t forget The Occupy Wallstreet movement.

Why do some movements stay with us and others fade away? What is the importance of faith in a movement, if any? How do movements affect our lives, and how do we contribute? Might there be another movement within the church to take us to the next place that God wants us to go? Tomorrow, we begin a three week series that will hopefully speak to each of us an individual level (how the Gospel is moving each of us) and on a corporate level (how might we become a movement where we become a blessing to others?) During this series, we will dream, design and explore our destiny as a community of faith. This week we will focus on what gives life to our movement and the synergy created by “first followers” Next week we will explore the power of belonging in a movement, and finally we will close out the week before Lent begins looking at our purpose and the purpose of movement. I hope you will join us and invite others who may be looking for something to be a part of that is bigger than themselves.

Remember, this Sunday night is Grate Patrol. We will make sandwiches that will be delivered following the service.

We will share our God sightings as well. In what ways have you seen God working this week? I look forward to seeing you tomorrow at 5 PM! I can’t wait to see what will happen!

Joy and Peace,

Jimmy