Church Planting

Matthew 13:31-32 He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches.”

I am convinced that Jesus’ parable of the mustard seed provides more clarity into church planting than any 300 page instruction book. Of course Jesus was the smartest man who ever lived, so he only needed 54 words. According to Jesus what we do is;

  • Take the kingdom of heaven; its power, its values, it grace, the freedom and plant it in a community (a field)
  • We sow it into that community through living it out, proclaiming it, demonstrating it and inviting people into it
  • When the church is a reflection of the kingdom of God and not the world, its growth is inevitable (“when it grows”, not if it grows)
  • In that community it becomes a tree, a place of refuge and rest for all peoples

Simple really, in every generation, in every place, plant a church that embodies the kingdom Jesus came to inaugurate and it will grow into a community where people find peace with God and restoration. If we are seeking first His kingdom and His righteousness I think we can relax a bit about everything else.

A Manly Church

If you are not from Sydney (or even Australia) you may be wondering why we are calling the new church Manly Life Church…. Well contrary to popular opinion it is not because we are trying to be a particularly masculine church with beer swilling, dwarf tossing and weight lifting. No, it is because we are located near Manly Beach in Sydney.

It has got me thinking though on men and church. You read lots of things these days about why blokes don’t like church. Apparently some men find the songs too feminine, don’t like having to talk about their feelings and find it weird to say things like “I love Jesus” or “I can feel his love”… Maybe some of this is fair enough? But this all seems a bit strange when clearly in his own lifetime and throughout history, men have been drawn to follow Jesus in life changing, adventurous, passionate ways.

To be honest I like a lot of the worship in the church today (including the old hymns done well). I can talk about my love for Jesus and his great grace in my life. I am even getting a bit better at talking about my feelings (getting married does that to you). Despite this some thoughts on ways to ensure men like church.

  • Paint the faith in its true colours of being about adventure (mission), courage, mate-ship, sacrifice, rescue, healing. Jesus didn’t just come to forgive your sins, he also invites us to join his mission in liberating and freeing the captives. Luke 4:18-21 is Jesus mission statement. Imagine if men got on board that venture!
  • Don’t force blokes to be like women. Men can be discipled through doing activities together. I suspect men prefer an activity like helping a person in need to sitting around discussing things. Jesus got his disciples to go out and do the stuff, not just talk about it (I am sure this applies for women also).
  • In worship, I am leaning towards the sounds of bands like Mumford and Sons. A bit more raw, not too high pitched and with meaty lyrics. Does anyone know churches putting out songs like these?
  • Challenge the men to step up to the crease! A lot of men want to be challenged on the big issues of life like relationships, work, family and money. Give the big challenges of the bible to them straight. Stop looking at porn, stop wasting your money on more stuff, get responsible and man up!

Just a few thoughts. What do you think? Maybe Manly Life Church will be a manly community after all?

Bold and Beautiful Swimming

ImageAs part of getting into the local Manly community, and trying to shed a few of the post wedding kilos I have joined a local swimming group at the end of our street. They are called The Bold and Beautiful. If you are ever down in Manly at 7am you will see the rather strange sight of 100-200 grown adults in speedos and pink swimming caps heading into the water for their daily swim to Shelley Beach and back. I have been going a couple of times a week and am getting to know some of the regulars and bumping into some old friends. Some things I love about the group…

  • It is a free community group that is set up for the simple pleasure of joining others in a daily swim. No one seems to be making any money or building an empire, just forming community, encouraging fitness and enjoying God’s incredible creation (we see dolphins, sharks, blue gropers, stingrays…)
  • Although there are varying standards of swimming, everyone is valued. When we get to Shelley Beach we wait for the slowest swimmer to come in. When the group has breakfast together afterwards, everyone is invited
  • It says something about Manly – it is still a community, it is generally friendly and welcoming, it glories in its amazing beauty and it values health and wellbeing

As we come to plant a church in this community some thoughts

  • A true church community shouldn’t have cliques, groups, levels, hierarchies… It should be a place where all are welcomed, all are valued, all are encouraged.
  • We should wear our equivalent pink swimming cap identifiers. Can I suggest love, hospitality, graciousness, generosity?
  • The best advertising is positive word of mouth. If people are coming alive, growing and enjoying being a part of Manly Life Church – it will grow and it will be a place of restoration.

Gay Marriage

I am often asked as a Pastor what my views are on gay marriage. The issue is once again in the press with President Obama in the States endorsing gay marriage and advocates in Australia taking to the streets. When people ask for my opinion they are often looking for a black and white for or against answer. I believe however that the Christian response is perhaps more nuanced. Some things to consider (in no particular order).

  1. While the values of loving our neighbour, compassion, doing to others as you would have done to yourself and so on are the higher values of scripture, it is hard to argue from a biblically orthodox position that God endorses homosexual behaviour (see Romans 1:21-27 amongst others)
  2. Christians are in their rights to advocate for legislation which they believe are biblical values if they are deemed to be universal and for the common good. Do not murder, do not steal are obvious, but we have also seen some great examples of this recently with Christians advocating for an increase in foreign aid, pokies reform, advertising standards etc
  3. What is more tricky is legislating around sexual ethics. While we may believe that gay marriage is outside of a biblical understanding of marriage, do Christians have the right to deny what a large percentage of society now deems morally acceptable?
  4. Is homosexuality a pastoral issue or a legal issue? I have huge empathy for gay people who clearly have homosexual inclinations. If we can just be honest for a second, I think it is tough either way. To remain a homosexual is difficult but to deny who you are is equally difficult. Any Christian who gets outside of the bubble will know the struggle that many people face with their sexuality (straight, gay or otherwise)
  5. Further, if gay marriage is legislated will western civilization (as some Christians have claimed) crumble into a moral quagmire? This does not seem to be the case in countries that have already changed the legal definition of marriage.
  6. Should Christians get our own backyard cleaned up before we start denouncing the immorality of others? Are the morals of the bible directed mainly towards those who are in Christ or are they expected to be followed by all humanity?

Like President Obama I am ok to say that my views are evolving. I am not at a place where I believe that homosexuality is God’s best for any human. Despite this I believe that gay marriage is inevitable and that Christians may be better off leaving this issue alone. Have we already lost a generation who will not listen to the amazing news of the gospel because they view Christians as intolerant?

The Gospel initially burst forth in the world through a Spirit filled, compassionate church that undermined a morally and spiritually pluralistic Roman world through the way they lived. It pointed towards a saviour who made people whole, forgave sinners (us) and valued everyone as created in the image of God. Perhaps communities of love, hospitality and generosity speak louder than placard waving Christians denouncing others sexual ethics.

So what is my view? Hmm… Well I don’t support gay marriage in the sense of advocating for a change in the legal definition of marriage, but nor do I join those who would fight to deny gay couples the right to marriage. Is this a cop out? Maybe, but that is where I stand. And in the meantime I am trying to listen to God, listen to my neighbour, to seek wisdom and to love well.

Come meet Stephen Lungu

A good friend of mine is hosting African Enterprise Team Leader, Stephen Lungu. If you have read Out of the Black Shadows you will know what an incredible story of God’s transforming power is evident in Stephen’s life. I have been really fortunate to do ministry with Stephen in Australia, South Africa, Kenya and Canada and have been so blessed every time I run into Stephen. For a guy who used to be pretty handy with a knife, Stephen is now one of the warmest, friendliest, most encouraging men you will ever meet.

So if you are keen to come along, my friend Fatty is hosting Stephen on Thursday the 24th of May at his place from 7pm. Email me at tim.giovanelli@manlylife.org if you want more details (like his address). Come, get massively encouraged and eat all of Fatty’s food.

Sozo Training

Victoria and I (and our friend Louisa) spent the weekend at Jubilee International Church for a training conference on Sozo. Sozo is an inner healing ministry that comes out of Bethel Church in Redding, California.

We thought it would be a really good ministry tool for the new church in Manly that is being established. It had some great elements like helping the sozoee (the person getting prayed for) to hear from God, work through issues of forgiveness and restore the foundations of their lives.

Jesus was great at saving people, healing them and setting them free. Sozo seems to be a way of getting in on that transforming power that we are promised in the gospels. But, it means the areas of repentance and forgiveness, that we often push to a side, need to be dealt with. All in love, grace and security of course!

We cant wait to be starting Manly Life Church soon. We want to be about the same things as Jesus – saving, healing, restoring, forgiving!!!

Welcome to Manly Life Church

Well here we go… a whole new adventure. Not sure what is ahead but dreaming of Jesus in Manly, creating community, the renewal and healing of all things.

Just as the Spirit hovered over the waters, preparing to bring forth life, I sense Manly is in desperate need of the breath of God stirring new life in its people, its relationships, its culture, its families, its priorities. What does faith, hope and love look like down here?

Stay posted to find out…