We Need More Five O’clockers
Posted by Dave Clayton on 09/08/2009
On Sunday Night, roughly 150 of you committed to being on mission with us at the 5 pm Sunday Worship Gathering. We still need another 50 or 60 to commit to the 5 pm Worship Gathering. Are you willing to join us at 5 pm?
What are you waiting for? Make the decision. You don’t have to tell anyone. No need to sign up. Just show up at 5 pm and bring your friends with you. See you Sunday Night at 5 pm.
Help Spread the Word
Posted by Dave Clayton on 09/08/2009
Okay, so you have heard that Ethos is starting another Sunday Night Worship Gathering beginning this week, Sunday September 13th. You are probably wondering, how can I help spread the word? Great question. Here are a few practical ways you can help get the word out.
1.) Tell people. Novel approach I know. Simply open your mouth, string words together forming a sentence, and speak these words in the direction of another human’s ears. If you need help on forming the above mentioned sentence try something like this : “Have you heard Ethos is having a 5pm and a 7pm worship gathering this week? Want to ride with me to the ____pm?”
2.) Facebook. Update your facebook status. Send out messages. Post on your friend’s walls. Be creative.
3.) Twitter. Tweet about the time change like crazy. The more the better.
4.) Personal Text. If you know people that are regulars at Ethos who have not been during the last 3 weeks, or if you know folks that have not been in a while, make sure they get the message. Give them a call, or shoot them a text. Just don’t be the guy that sends out a bunch of mass texts. Everyone hates that.
5.) Be Creative. You are smart and creative. Use that for something good.
September Discipline: Study/Reading
Posted by Dave Clayton on 09/07/2009
Study/Reading might be one of my weakest points spiritually…well, right behind fasting from food. This has been just the challenge I needed. For me, making something a competition immediately makes it fun. Dave and I have been challenging each other to memorize the scripture for the day. It started out as just something to encourage one another with and suddenly with unspoken words, it became a competition. Who could say it first? Who could say it correctly? Who could say where the passage was from?
What I didn’t realize is how having the scripture memorized by heart would affect my daily interactions with people and my thoughts throughout the day. I would find myself saying it in my head without thinking about it. This week I have really enjoyed reading small bits of scripture and just focusing on that thought throughout the day. It seems much less daunting to tackle a verse or two rather than stay on track reading multiple chapters. If I am in a group bible study I feel guilty if I get behind even by a day and then I dread reading for an hour to catch up. I think I miss the point of the Bible study when that happens! The brief snip-its of scripture allow me to memorize them and dwell on them during the day, both consciously and subconsciously.
The 30 days of scripture has reminded me of one of my favorite verses. “Wherever your treasure is, there your heart and thoughts will also be”. Matt 6:21
It is true. Whatever you value or treasure, you usually spend time pouring over it. If it is family that you treasure, then you spend time with them. You think about them even when you are not with them. I hope that scripture can become a treasure to me. Something I think about even when I am not right there reading it.
Twice as Nice (5 pm and 7 pm)
Posted by Dave Clayton on 09/06/2009
We have a wonderful problem. If you have not been to Ethos Church in the last two or three weeks then you might not have noticed, but we are out of space. With that being said, beginning next week (Sunday, September 13th) Ethos Church will offer two identical worship gatherings each Sunday Night (5 pm and 7 pm).
Below I have addressed some commonly asked questions.
Why has our attendance nearly doubled in the last 3 weeks?
This is a wonderful issue, that has several obvious reasons. First, you guys did a great job of inviting your friends to church this summer. You may not have realized, but our church nearly doubled between the middle of May and the end of July. Second, college students are back. College students are a huge part of our church family, and since the college years are some of the most important years in a person’s spiritual formation, I pray we reach more college students this year than ever before. Third, summer schedules are crazy which means it is rare that our entire church family is ever together in the summer. Now that vacation schedules are slowing down, we will find that our church is a little larger than most of us realized.
Why does this matter?
Most Christians would consider a crowded room a wonderful thing. However, for those who have not been to church in a long time, or who have never been to church it can be quite intimidating. The last thing we want is for someone to show up and struggle trying to find a place to sit. Since Ethos longs to be a place where non-Christians can explore questions about God in a safe environment, we want to make sure we remove any unnecessary barriers between people and Jesus. We would never think of inviting someone over to our home for dinner if we didn’t have a place for them to sit at our table. Since we expect you to invite your friends each week, we are doing our best to make sure they have a place at the table beside you.
What is the plan?
Beginning, Sunday September 13th we will offer two Sunday Night Worship Gatherings (5 pm and 7 pm). Both worship gatherings will be identical. Our goal will be to create a sense of community and belonging among the people at each worship gathering. For example, our hope is that those who attend the 5 pm worship gathering will serve, participate in House Churches, and build deep friendships with the other people at the 5 pm Service. This will allow us to build deeper friendships while reaching more people for Christ. As our church grows, our prayer is that our relationships will grow in depth as well.
This will be temporary.
Even as I write this blog outlining this plan, I am confident that it is only a temporary solution. I am convinced that when Jesus is drawing people to himself, and when the Spirit of God is pursuing hearts … the Kingdom of God will expand. Who knows what that timing will be, but we must be willing to adapt. If you want to get a great picture of a church that was willing to adapt just read the first few chapters of Acts. Don’t you know the people freaking out as the kingdom grew from 12 to 120 to 3,000, to 10,000 in a few short years. Who knows what God is planning to do with our meager efforts, but I know we must be flexible.
The only thing that will remain constant at Ethos Church is the Gospel. Everything else is up for grabs as we continue to join God on this crazy journey.
Why don’t we look for another venue?
This is a little more difficult than it seems. First, the Cannery is giving us a fantastic deal. To lease a venue comparable to The Cannery would cost us much more. We would rather spend our money helping other people, so the lower the overhead the better. Todd, Drew, John, and the rest of the Crew at the Cannery have been fantastic to work with. We could not ask for more gracious host. Second, the Cannery gives us 400 Free Parking Spaces each week (this saves the church $1200 per week, since most places charge $3 per car). Third, our desire is to be a community of faith that bridges the gap between the urban poor and the urban affluent. This means we need a venue that is within walking distance for those that don’t own cars, and is adequately situated to minister to those that live in downtown Nashville. Four, our desire is to meet in a location that is non-threatening to those that are not comfortable in a traditional church setting. Meeting in a bar helps us erase some of the barriers we have created in traditional church settings.
Why don’t we start another church in another location?
Although this is a part of our larger vision as a church, we quite simply are not ready to make this move yet. First, we do not have the financial resources to cover the overhead of starting another location. Second, we do not have the leadership to start another church in another location just yet. Third, we do not have the volunteer base to sustain another church location at this time.
If we are out of space, why keep reaching out?
Because Jesus didn’t command us to “go into the world making disciples until we were out of space.” He commanded us to continually go, to continually reach, to continually disciple, to continually baptize, to continually meet needs, serve the community, search for the lost, bind up the injured, until he returns. I’m pretty sure none of you asked yourself this last question, but in case you were tempted I thought I’d go ahead and answer it.
I love you guys. Thanks for being on mission with us.
30 Days of Red Letters (week 2)
Posted by Dave Clayton on 09/06/2009
Last week at Ethos, Elliot challenged our church family to go deeper with God, not just on Sundays but Monday – Saturday as well. The Ethos Discipleship Team has challenged our entire church family to read through the words of Jesus during the month of September.
I invite you to read along with us. The readings for each day are short. The idea is to really soak in these words. I encourage you to ask God each day to help you very practically understand what these words mean for your life.
How will you respond to the words of Jesus?
I have included this week’s readings below.
Sept 7th : Blessed are the poor in Spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. – Matthew 5:3
Sept 8th : You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. – Matthew 5:14-16
Sept 9th : Do not judge or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. – Matthew 7:1-2
Sept 10th : Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. – Matthew 11:28-30
Sept 11th : Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. – John 15:13
Sept 12th : Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. – Matthew 5:5
Ethos Tonight (6 pm)
Posted by Dave Clayton on 09/06/2009
Just a few quick things. First things first, tonight will be the last time we meet at 6 pm (at least for a while). If you weren’t with us last week then you may not know, but beginning next Sunday Night (September 13th) we will move to two services (5 pm and 7 pm). We will explain this in further detail tonight. But for tonight, we will be at our regular time (6 pm) at our regular place (the Cannery).
Tonight will also be your opportunity to sign up for House Churches. Our House Churches begin this Wednesday, September 9th at 7 pm. This is a great way to connect with other people in our church family. I highly encourage you to become a part of a house church.
Finally, thanks to everyone that signed up to become a volunteer last week. More than 200 of you committed to volunteering at Ethos! That is huge, and I can’t tell you how much I appreciate that. For those of you that volunteered, you will be receiving an email this week regarding everything you will need to know in order to serve. Thanks again.
I look forward to seeing you tonight.
Abraham, Isaac, Jesus
Posted by Dave Clayton on 09/02/2009
It has been a real joy studying through the Book of Genesis this summer. In particular, I have really enjoyed our study through the life of Abraham over the last 4 weeks. That being said, I wanted to post one last blog (for now) regarding Abraham, Isaac, and ultimately their connection to Jesus.
One : All Scripture Points to Jesus
For the majority of my life, I struggled understanding the stories of the Old Testament. They seemed weird, irrelevant, and completely disconnected from the story of Jesus in the New Testament. It wasn’t until a few years ago that I really started to understand that all scripture (Old and New Testament) is ultimately about the work of God through the life of Jesus empowered by the Holy Spirit. If you have ever taken a graduate Bible course, or read scholarly work on the Old Testament you know this is not a popular view. In fact, many Bible Scholars believe it is absurd to think the Old Testament is about Jesus at all.
Jesus however makes it clear all throughout the Gospel Accounts that the stories in the Old Testament only find their fulfillment in him (i.e. Luke 24:27). So you and I are left with a question : Do we believe Jesus is a better Bible scholar than some professor that teaches Bible at a state school? I don’t know about you, but I tend to side with Jesus.
That being said, I think the story of Abraham and Isaac in Genesis 22 points us towards Jesus in a powerful way.
Two : The Connections
1.) Genesis 22 echoes the sentiment and tone of John 3:16
2.) Isaac was escorted to Mount Moriah by two servants, Jesus was escorted to calvary by two thieves.
3.) Isaac carried the wood on his back to Moriah, Jesus carried the wooden cross on his back to calvary.
4.) Isaac knew there needed to be a lamb to offer in worship, Jesus was the lamb offered in worship
5.) Isaac submitted to the will of his father Abraham and allowed his father to tie him up and lay him on an altar. Jesus submitted to the will of his father and was arrested, beaten, and nailed to a cross.
6.) Abraham named the future site of the temple “On the Mountain of the Lord it will be provided.” Centuries later, Jesus was the culmination of that promise.
7.) God spared Abraham the pain of sacrificing his only Son. Thank God he chose to endure the pain of sacrificing his only son.
I pray that we will come to see the story of Jesus in absolutely everything. Have a great night.
