Legacy Church Blog

What is your city saying?

If your city had a voice, what would it say to you?

In the companion blog to this, Do you know your friend? we looked at not only becoming better listeners, but how that shapes us to communicate and demonstrate the gospel in more understandable ways. The same thing is true for our beautiful city. Even for those for whom this city is “hometown,” you may actually know very little about it’s needs, hurts, sins, or even areas where God is easily seen.

Understanding what the city is “saying” to us is actually a huge key in how we leverage our rhythms as a community. What do we do? How do we know it will work? What if it doesn’t? Where do we start? All of these are good questions, and all of them assume a thorough understanding of the city.  Consider the following questions as a group…

• What are the unique needs within a 5 minute drive? What about a 10 minute drive? How do you know?
• What part of your chunk of the city is furthest from God’s most sanctified and ideal version of itself?
• What would need to change the most to “sanctify” your part of the city?
• Do local industries produce any unique missional opportunities or doors?
• Does the city repeat specific events/celebrations? Does this provide any unique opportunities or insight?
• What one change in the city can provide the most dramatic effect in lives?
• Where can we get the biggest bang the easiest or cheapest?
• What requires little investment for great gain?
• What identity is being pursued both independently and corporately in the city?
• What mission is everyone on?
• What invokes everyone’s spirituality?
• What constitutes righteousness in the city’s eyes?
• Who is acceptable here and what is acceptable behavior?
• What allows people here to have joy?
• Where do people spend their time and money?
• What do people do during their free time?
• What do they fear? What do they dream about?
• Where do they shop?
• What cultural experiences do they value?
• What are the most painful experiences they have had?
• What music do they listen to?
• What films and television do they watch?
• In what ways are they self-righteous?
• What is their spirituality?
• Whom do they trust? Why?
• What sins will the gospel first confront and heal for these people?
• Where are the social centers in your community?
• What is “church” for this group of people?
• What would a Christ-centered community look like among this particular culture?

This is only a partial list, and some of these questions will render identical or overlapping answers, but you’ll be surprised how much focus and thought it will require to discern who your city is. By doing this exercise, you’ll discover your city better and also discern better as a group what resonates the most clearly. You may try a number of things as a group, but before you do, how well do you know your city’s pain, hope, needs, and overall story?

How to not feel like a rookie on Easter

Spandex, Foam Rollers and Top 40 music have more to do with Easter than you think. For years I worked as a personal trainer in various gyms and always knew that the first week of the year was our Super Bowl. In fact, there’s the potential for a gym to make enough money in the first six weeks of the year to pay for almost all of the overhead the remaining 11 months. Most of what the gym makes after Valentine's day is profit. Crazy.

People coming through the door in those timid weeks all looked pretty much the same - a bit lost, insecure, hesitant, regretful yet hopeful, and trying very hard to not look like a rookie. Swearing to make “this year different”, they’d use Jan. 1 as a rally point to see their life changed. For weeks they’d give it their best and the place would be packed, but by Valentine’s Day, it’s the same old gym rats left standing.

I feel like New Year’s is to gym attendance as Easter is to church attendance. People come a bit lost, insecure, hesitant, hopeful, and wondering if anyone can tell that they are new.

Most people I meet as a pastor that attend an Easter service after a long lapsed period are trying to - like at the gym - see their life changed. Easter is a rally point for many. If this is you, I have some pointers to make it easier for you to not feel so much like a rookie and be able to relax and feel at home in any church.

1. Like at the gym, most people have no idea that you are new. Obviously if you are in a smaller church or church plant, that might be different, but most churches over 120 people or so won’t detect your attendance record. Just walk in like you own the place.
2. Like a gym, there is really no need to dress up. Unspoken dress codes vary between church traditions, but most today won’t look like the churches you grew up in as a child. If you aimed at what you’d wear to work or date night, you’d be erring on overdressing, not under-dressing.
3. Like at a gym, the main thing is still the main thing even if stuff looks different. You may notice new “stuff”, like better projectors and church apps. Graphics and technology may be different than you remember, but Jesus is still the King, His good news is still our fascination, and connecting is still our desire.
4. Like a gym, after the first visit you can expect follow-up contact. Most churches will probably ask you to fill out a connect card of some kind. This isn’t to troll you but to serve you. If you don’t want to - don’t. If you do, you’ll likely get contacted by someone nervously trying to help.
5. Like at a gym, a good percentage of the people around you on will be just like you, non-average or new attenders wondering if people can see that they are too a rookie. You fit in much more than you actually know. They probably tried on different outfits that morning and have butterflies and awkwardness as much as you do.
6. The service will likely be shorter than normal. As a pastor I can tell you most pastors aim the service to go about 50-60% as long as normal. This is to make space for your family time. This is a way for churches to be hospitable and recognize your time constraints.

Unlike a gym, you won’t have to wipe the equipment after you use it, or hear men grunting and throwing things. Ke$ha will not be the music choice, and you really shouldn’t wear spandex - even if you’re feelin it.

Attending a new church is intimidating enough, but attending one when it’s been since Christmas or last Easter is something different entirely. I know I speak for other pastors when I say, we look forward to seeing you and hope you feel welcome.