Throughout the “Remedy for a Religious Life” series we talked specifically about what Relevant’s focus is going to be on.  To sum it up in a world…TRANSFORMATION!  Our mission is to spiritually transform people who transform their cultures.  This will not happen by accident.  It will only happen as we ALL stay focused on our T-WORLD Focus.  Here is what that means…

Transformation: 1) To change markedly the appearance or form of – 2) To change the nature, function, or condition of; convert – 3) To undergo a transformation.  At Relevant, our primary focus is to continue Jesus’ mission of transforming the world.  The Church is the hope of the world, and that is why T-WORLD (Transformed World) only happens as the Church – Relevant and every other local church around the world – becomes a T-CHURCH (Transforming Church).  As we grow in a relationship with Jesus, He begins a process within us causing transformation in our lives, in our cultures, and throughout the world.  At Relevant we call this T-LIFE (Transformed Life).     

T-LIFE: Living a T-LIFE has three core elements…
1. Interactive Relationship with Jesus: Jesus desires to transform us to walk like, talk like, act like, and be like Him.  This transformation is a result of a constant, growing, interactive relationship with Jesus; where we hear His voice, and respond to Him in obedience.    �
2. Authentic Relationships within the church: Our lives cannot be transformed in isolation, because God did not create us to live this life alone.  Continual transformation is a result of being connected in authentic relationships where we encourage, challenge, and support each other as a living community. �
3. Influence in Glocal Culture: Transformed people transform people.  Spiritual Transformation in our lives should always result in a glocal (global + local) transformation as we serve others.  At Relevant, we are not focused on building the biggest church, but spiritually transforming people to BE the church everyday as we live in a world that desperately needs transformed with the love of Jesus.  Actions speak louder than words when it comes to glocal transformation.  That’s why we’re committed not only to meeting the needs in our local cultures, but also around the world. 

T-CHURCH: Transformed people make up transforming churches.  T-CHURCH is what the local church looks like when it is producing transformed Christ-followers who are responding to glocal transformation opportunities (GT-Opps) using their skills, talents, passions, and giftings.  When we are fulfilling our mission, the following three components of T-CHURCH will happen simultaneously…�
1. Culture Investment: Serving within our local culture, meeting the biggest needs
2. Nation Engagement: Engaging Unreached People Groups (UPG) globally; leveraging natural infrastructures for maximum transformation opportunities
3. Church Multiplication: Equipping leaders to start new churches with similar DNA

We will not achieve our mission of advancing God’s Kingdom without staying focused!  If you feel that Relevant is the place for you, I challenge you NOT to keep doing church as you know it.  The time is now to break away from the religious life so many of us have lived!

Pastor Ronnie

(***Bob Roberts Jr.)

This Sunday we start a new Worship Service series entitled, “Why We Do What We Do.” 

Have you ever wondered why we do the things we do in church?  Some people feel uncomfortable going to church because they don’t understand what’s going on around them.  Other people have stopped going to church, because the things that happen in church seem pointless.  And, there are many people who have gone to church their entire lives, take part in all the “religious stuff,” but have no idea why.  Do the things we do in church help spiritually transform our lives, or are they just pointless traditions that we still follow today?  Join us for the “Why We Do What We Do” series to discover the reality of why we do what we do in church.

This Sunday (10/18) we do not have Sunday Worship Service.  The reason we don’t have service this Sunday is because Indian Creek already had an event booked when we did our contract with them; however, this is not the last time we will not have Sunday Worship Service at Relevant.

3-4 strategic times throughout the year will will NOT meet for Sunday Worship Service.  If you have been going to church for anytime, your immediate next question is probably, “what are you going to do instead?”  Are you ready for the answer…NOTHING!  Here’s why.

God reminds us again and again that we need to have rest.  He even commanded it in Exodus 20 in the 10 Commandments.  A lot of work and people are involved to run a Sunday Worship Service (especially when you don’t have your own building).  Week after week people come early to set everything up, serve to make the service happen, lead in Relevant Kids, and stay late to break everything down.  It is easy to run people like crazy and never give them a break.  The reason we are going to take 3-4 Sundays off throughout the year is to REST.  We want to give people breaks and allow them just to stay home, spend time with family, sleep in, and rest…without worrying about a Sunday Service. 

That being said, I want to thank every person at Relevant who works so hard to ensure that the Sunday Worship Service happens.  It is an honor serving side by side with you.  This Sunday, I challenge you to REST.  Don’t feel guilty for not being at church.  Sleep in if you need it.  Laugh with your family if that is needed.  Spend some time in the Bible if that is needed.  Just rest and enjoy life. 

See everyone on the 25th!

Our fall 2009 small groups launch this week and run through mid-December.  Our small groups are designed to be a relevant environment where participants can connect in authentic relationships with others, and grow in a life-transforming relationship with Jesus.  They are groups of 15-17 people, and are open to everyone, no matter where they are on their spiritual journey.  We have four fall small groups, and over 50 people signed up for those groups for the fall. 

The mission of Relevant is to spiritually transform people who transform their cultures.  We believe small groups are a key way that people will be spiritually transformed at Relevant.  What we are trying to accomplish through small groups cannot be accomplished without God!!!  No once can transform another person…that is a work of God.  With that being said, I ask that you please call on God with me through prayer for these groups this week…and throughout the semester.  Here is some of my prayer journal entry from this morning.  Will you pray this along with me today…

“Small groups for the fall start this week.  I feel in awe that you have risen up the leaders you have to lead these small groups.  Lord, I pray for the leaders: Rodger and Charlene Peck, Scott Ruane, Amanda Stark, and myself.  Bless us as leaders.  Work through us to lead people to you.  I pray that over the next 12 weeks that the people in these small groups connect in authentic relationships with others, and are spiritually transformed.  Lord, let this be a divine endeavor.  I pray that these small groups are Kingdom Building and not just a program”

Thank you for praying along with me.

Pastor Ronnie