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Fusion Church, Cape Coral - Core Values

Every church or organization has beliefs that they hold true to their heart and are the most important. At Fusion Church these are things that we dearly believe and hold firm. There are the things that we value. 1, Community We value community. Life is all about relationships. We believe that the life of the church needs to be lived out as the people in that church do life together. We place a high value on relationships, accountability, and friendships. These friendships don't just get together on Sunday's to talk about the weather and sports. These relationships are nurtured and grown every day. 2. Journey We value journey. Life is not about destination. It's a journey of going from one place to another. We believe for the Christian that it's a story of where we have come from and where we are going. In this journey we will encounter many milestones and places of growth. It is through God's grace and power that we continue to be the kinds of people who He originally created us to be. We believe that God changes us through the power of his word. 3. Gospel We value the Gospel. Gospel means Good News. The Gospel is accomplished through the finished work of Christ on the cross. It is the good news that death has been defeated and our sins have been forgiven. It is the Good News that the tomb is empty. We believe that it is Good News that God has not given up on the world. It is the good news that through this sacrifice that God is putting it all back together again. We believe in the Restoration and Renewal of all things. We want to join God in this phenomenal task. 4. Kingdom Living We value Kingdom living. Jesus proclaimed as he taught that the "Kingdom of God/Heaven" is at hand. We believe that Jesus was teaching that His ways offer the best way to live on earth. Jesus who lived during the times of Roman occupation knew what it meant to live in the "Kingdom of Rome". His teachings of love, forgiveness, sacrifice, and focus on seeking justice was contrary to the ways of the kingdom he lived in. The "Kingdom of God" is much, much different. The teachings of Jesus offers a new hope and way to live that is far superior to any other. We want to live this life. 5. Simplicity We value simplicity. We believe that there is beauty in simplicity. We believe that the church is a living, breathing organism and not a stale, dead organization. We believe that even as a child can understand God's salvation that it can also understand how Fusion Church operates. 6. People We love and value people. We believe that people are created in the "Image of God" and how we treat others is a reflection of how we treat God. We strive to show a "Love Wins." attitude toward everybody we come in contact with. We believe that since "God is Love" that whenever we show love that we are showing God to others. 7. Justice We value Justice. Knowing there are a lot of wrongs in our world we strive to provide justice to every human being. We believe justice is ensuring that every human being does not go without things that humans should go without. From scripture we know that God's heart breaks and beats for justice. The God that we serve is not just the God of the middle class and the rich. He is the God of all. He is the God of the oppressed.

Can you do that?

Many times, as I tell people I'm starting a new church in Cape Coral, I get the same question. How do you start a church? Can you do that? I often get weird looks. The looks get weirder as I tell people that it's in my living room or at Panera Bread. The most basic question for me isn't... "How do i start?"....it's "What is a church?" What are the elements needed to be....well...a church?

It takes more than calling a crowd together to hear somebody wax eloquent about God to be a church. It takes more than having a cool band who can really jam to be a church. Here is a question for you. Can you still have church without a sermon or music? If you had nothing else outside of other believers and the Holy Spirit would you still have church? Many of you, would of course agree, that we can still have church without these things. However poll the people in our churches and you would find the answer to be much different. We have made "church" to be so professional and structured that there is little room for the Spirit to move.

As I've mentioned more than once on this blog..church is not about
smoke, mirrors and creative ideas. Those are things that can aid or help but not an end all. Corporate worship is very necessary. The problem is that it has become the only necessity. How many people today in our churches are truly connected to a church? We have made our people to be so dependant upon a "service" rather than the Savior. It is amazing to me, then, why we wonder why "discipleship" is not a strength of our churches.

If our churches are ever going to be effective in fulfilling the great commission; than we need to teach people what church really is. This question is not just for church planters. This question should be asked of every church, every pastor, and every member.

A church is a called out people who been transformed by the Gospel. These people have not only committed themselves to God, but to each other in relationships. They love, serve, give and provide for each other, spiritually, physically and emotionally. They also have a common purpose of joining God in community for the restoration of the world through the Gospel. Together, they learn how to live like Jesus in our world today and serve it. The people are the church.

Church 3.0, Upgrades for the Future of the Church

I am really stoked about Neil Cole's new book, "Church 3.0".  This Friday I am ordering it off of www.amazon.com.  Look forward to a future review once I am done.  You can see below to read a description and click here to order ... ORDER

  

    (The following below is an excerpt from the Inside Flap of the book ""Church 3.0" by Neil Cole)

 

When Neil Cole's best-selling book Organic Church was first published, it described one of the fastest growing and most innovative segments of contemporary Christianity.

In Church 3.0, Cole makes the argument that Christianity needs more than new programs, buildings, or worship formats. It needs a complete upgrade to a new operating system. The early church shifted to a more institutional form in 300 ad and has been stuck in the 2.0 operating system ever since. We are overdue for the next upgrade. Church 3.0 discusses issues such as how to deal with heresy, how to handle finances, what to do with children, and what to do with worship, rituals, and ordinances. Even the most enthusiastic proponents and practitioners of organic churches often wonder how to handle such matters in a faithful way.

Organic churches demand a shift from a program-driven and clergy-led institutionalized approach to one that is relational, simple, intimate, and viral in the way it spreads. Instead of seeing church as something that serves its people, church becomes people who serve God, one another, and a hurting world. Church is no longer an event to be at, but a family to be part of. Church is not a program to reach out to the world, but a people that bring God with them to the world.

Based on Cole's extensive experience in starting, nurturing, and mentoring thousands of churches, Church 3.0 offers insight and information about how to make this shift to a more organic form of church. Church 3.0 is an insider's look at the important considerations necessary to release spontaneous church multiplication movements in a Western context.

 

 

Church: The Cult of being Cool

There is a prominent philosophy that has been sweeping church circles that has been having a damaging effect.  That philosophy is  the relentless pursuit of "The Church should be Cool".  I know this very well because I've been in that mindset before.  It was a mindset that drove me.  Instead of focusing on being a relationally driven church that lives and teaches the ways of Jesus to a lost and dying world...the church is driven by what is cool or entertaining.

I feel as I look back on my own journey that my drive to show that Jesus is cool was driven by being in very legalistic churches growing up and early on in my life.  As a kid Church wasn't cool.  In fact it was very boring.  It didn't do a whole lot to connect with me.  The songs were boring the preacher was longwinded and the people were very judgemental.  I remember worrying more about what would people think if I didn't wear a suit today than that actual worship of God.  It is for this very reason that many have left the church because they claim it isn't relevant to their lives.  But when you are passionate about Jesus and know that the church is the answer for this world....you revert to anything you can to convey the message.   So what is the normal direction most take from this point....they try to make the uncool...cool.  The irrelevant....relevant.   The "what seemed to be fake" to be real.  

 

Now let make it clear.  I don't see anything wrong with being what many may say is cool/relevant.  I don't mind the worship bands that play cool music...the pastor who wears jeans while he preachesl...the videos that drive home the message.  I don't mind the free coffee and donuts in the morning...who doesn't?  :)  None of that stuff is bad.   I begin to have a problem with above mentioned items when it becomes the "end".  I believe the above mentioned things are just a "means to an end".  Some churches think that because they are hip or cool means that they are doing a great job in the "Great Commission".   Let me be very clear here.   Just because you are gifted in drawing a great Crowd doesn't mean you are doing the Great Commission.  In fact....it's the opposite.

 

The very first word in the Great Commission is the word "GO".  Go and make all discples of all nations.  I would argue that the mantra of the modern day church is not GO.  The mantra of the modern day church is the word "COME".   The difference behind those words are really a line in the sand.   The word "COME" invokes a very attractional philosophy.  It translates into "you better look cool/hip so that when people "COME" to your church they will want to stay...because if not they are going to go to the next church that is cool/hip."   IF you have the "COME" Commission than it's just a waiting came to see whose going to show up.  I think that Jesus knew people better when he said...GO.  Jesus knew that people had to be motivated.  This is also called the "Attractional" view of ministry.  You'll see slogans and mottos that suggest that their church is better than anybody elses church.  "The Place to Be"..."Discover the Difference".  Many churches have slogans to suggest why their church is the best church to "come" to.  

 

I believe the better answer lies in being "Missional".  That is simply put...."being the hands and feet of Jesus everywhere you GO".   I also see a major difference between the Attractional vs. Missional views in this way.   The attractional view of church focuses it's attention on building an empire.  I can't say it's true for 100% of churches but most attractional churches focus on "growing their church".  The major questions swirl around "how many did we have?"...."what was the offering".   The "Missional" approach lies in building the kingdom of God.

 

I believe being trapped in the "cult of being cool" has robbed many pastors and churches of it's soul.  That does not mean they have lost their salvation.  It just means that it has take away it's true focus of reaching this world for Christ.  When you got more wrapped up in the details of lights, camera, action....and less focused on worship and building community amongst the people...you've lost it.   I can remember many, many weeks where I was more focused on being cool in my sermons...then I was in showing God's love to somebody.  It is easy to fall into the trap.  I believe it's a natural reaction that many have bought into because more people don't go to church today than used to. So they want to change people's minds.

 

Remember.....You don't need to make Jesus or the Bible more relevant....They already are.  You have to make yourself more relevant because relevance changes everyday.  Don't let relevance steal your soul.

What is the church video

Great video I found off a friend of mine's blog from youtube.  This video fis great with all of my others postings dealing with the definition of "church".  Watch this and may it further our discussions on the church! 

Church: The Experience??

This posting is a continuation of a post entitled Church: One Man Show?

Why is it that so many churches use the word "experience" to label what makes their church unique?  I recently heard in a church I attended ; "Please grab your seats for the 'Worship Experience' will begin in 2 minutes.  It almost makes the church a spectacle...or even a venue or event that one needs to purchase tickets to.   Is church just that?  Is it merely a spectator sport?  Now I understand what the pastor was saying but still I believe it can convey a wrong definition of what church really is.  Is church something that we go to and experience and then go to home/work.  Then the next week we go back and experience it some more....and then go on our normal lives.  I believe that many pastors (myself included) have given a false expectation and definition of what the Body of Christ does when it gathers.

Now don't get me wrong.  I love a great worship service.  I feel that for myself I can best 'worship' or tune in when the service speaks my language.  I love the worship band, the screen, videos, visuals, etc.  All that stuff is great and healthy.  All of that can help a person connect to God.  I have nothing wrong with theses mediums for a worship service.  But when we convey that church is only about experiencing "worship" and helping once a month to change diapers in the nursery....then we are missing the point.  

Many churches spend thousands and thousands of dollars on the "Experience". Many churches have falsely thought they are doing the Great Commission because they can gather a great crowd.  But are the crowds there for the "Experience" or are they there for the "Great Show".  What if pastors spent a little less time on the details of the "Show/Experience" and spent more time mobilizing the crowds for service in the world.  As a pastor I have been guilty of that.  I have been so consumed about every detail about the service (lights, camera, action) that to a larger degree my own brothers and sisters have suffered.   Also what happens when you have an "attractional" paradigm of doing church is that you always have to reinvent yourself.  You have to "out due" the last worship experience.  Without knowing it...one falls into a trap of doing what you can to keep the crowd coming.  Pastor's have to keep upping the anty to beat what they did before.  After all...who wants to see the same movie twice?

How many people are going to our churches in and out every week sitting, soaking and souring? Yes they might be heavily and genuinely moved by a great service/song/sermon;  but their faith venture doesn't continue until the next service. 

 It goes without saying that the modern church is dying.  The statistics are staggering.  It is estimated that 4,000 American churches close their doors every year!  According to George Barna, "There has been a 92% increase in the number of unchurched Americans in the last thirteen years. In 1991 there were 39 million unchurched Americans compared with 75 million currently. (2004)"  

Hmmmm.....It seems to me that we are losing ground, no?  Ssomething must be done and the answer is not to be "cooler and hipper".  We have to get down to the core issues of what makes a church a church.  Thank God for those who have been reached by attending an "Experience".   But please o please church...WAKE UP...don't let it stop there.  Church is not just an experience.  The Church are people who are living out the Gospel of the Kingdom of God to a lost and dying world.  The Church is made up of people who are deeply committed to each other and to God.  

I have been in the "Experience Mode" way too long.  I asked the tough questions and found some tough answers.   The Bible says that Jesus purchased the Church with His own blood.  I can't sit here as I type this and think that Jesus died so I can have a cool worship experience.  Because if church to you is just about the lights, camera and action...then that's what you have just limited Jesus' sacrificial death to.  Jesus is above the smoke and the mirrors.

Fusion Church

Lori and I would like to announce today the name of the new church we are planting!  The name of the church will be called Fusion Church!!  The reason we have settled on this name is because we feel that it best conveys our vison for the house church network.

 

Fusion is the process by which multiple like-charged atomic nuclei join together to form a heavier nucleus. It is accompanied by the release or absorption of energy.   

In relation to the house church, it is when individual believers come together and live the ways of Jesus in the world.  The power of the Gospel is sent out and the impact is seen everywhere!  Not only does that happen but also another nuclei is released to form another church.  

More details to come!  

Church: One Man Show??

For a long time the church has been mostly been about a "one man show".  This needs to change.  Why is it that in most churches that the pastor is the focus of attention.  When somebody is asked "how did church go today?" Why is the answer usually about how well or how bad the preacher preached his message?  How did the church evolve into a one man monologue on doctrine and soap boxes?   Back in the "early" days of the church (Acts 2) the church was not about any one person.  Instead the church was about the whole not just a separated part.   Look at this passage from Acts 2.

They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

It was not about any "one person" or "leadership team" or "deacon board".  They were the church TOGETHER.  They were the BODY of CHRIST.  This bunch of losers and has been's (aka; the church) formed together the most powerful force on earth.  They also changed the course of history.  So the next time your with your church don't put the focus on the pastor or his message.  Don't put the focus on the music or the band.  Put the focus on Jesus. 

Why have so many churches today evolved into the worship of the pastor? When was the last time your church acted the way ACTS 2 describes the early church?  It's time we stop glorifying "The Pastor" and realize that they are just someone else in the body of christ whose gifts include pastor/teacher.  Not a corporate executive who brings in the bucks and the crowd.  I don't believe that God ever intended for the gift of a pastor, to be used as a Professional Employee.