Faith and Patience

Terry and Sandy Kreuger with three of their children relocated to Denver, CO in June of 2010 where they serve on the NCMI Trans-local team as well as the Church Planting / Leadership Team of Redemption City Church.

Faith and Patience

Hebrews 6:12 tells us that with faith AND patience we inherit the promises. If you are anything like me – faith is the easy part and it is the patience that I struggle with. Allow me to encourage you out of this scripture this morning.

Build Slowly

Ex 23:30 tells us that “Little by little … ” we will take the land. I love the stories of church plants that go off like rockets, explosive growth and many getting saved. I have faith that every one of our church plants experience the supernatural life and the presence of God manifested in this way … “The Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47) Still I want to encourage you to build slowly. Don’t rush the simple processes, timing and seasons of God

Who we set is as Elders / Deacons will significantly affect and shape the future of our church.

-       Jesus example ..

                        Spent time in prayer (Luke 6:13)

                        Didn’t just choose his buddies … It is clear from Scripture that there were varying levels  of relationships between Jesus and the 12. We must be comfortable to bring through those that are not like us. Those that we might not necessarily have chosen but that God is choosing. 

-       Moses

Men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain (Ex 18:21) … Takes time

-       1 Tim 3 …

                        Must first be tested …. Takes time

Build Strategically

Simply means that we need to be deliberate and intentional about how we move the church forward. I want to be so bold as to say that this is a key area for us to lead from revelation rather than observation. I love to read, but books on how others did it in other places are not going to suffice here. In finding strategy for our churches, cities and nation we must lead from revelation … we must be found in the word and in prayer! Jesus strategies for going into regions and cities showed great variety, creativity and depth of sensitivity. In some places healing was the key, in others, as in John 4 and the women at the well it was a prophetic conversation laced with the word of knowledge that opened up a community.

Even in the details of where and when we meet we can give God room to speak. A friend of mine who has planted a thriving church meets exclusively on Saturday night and encourages his folk to visit other churches on a Sunday Morning. How many of you know that you have to be crazy to do that if you have not heard God! But he has and his church is growing rapidly

Build Scripturally

God has given us all of Scripture for a reason! It is all valid; it is all necessary and it is all relevant. Scripture itself speaks into this saying ALL scripture is God breathed. (2 Tim 3:16) We err when we over-emphasize portions, principals or even individual truths over the rest of Scripture. Paul’s farewell speech to the Ephesian Elders gives us some insight on how he saw his roll in preaching as well as what he preached. … “I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you” … and “I have not hesitated to preach the whole will of God. (Acts 20:20+27) Lastly – David writes in Psalm 119:89 “Your word, O Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.” Some translations put it like this  … “Your word is settled in heaven” … if it is settled in heaven let us be found faithful to settle it here on earth!

Build Sensitively

As you know I have commented before on my personal Blog about the tension between word and spirit so I will endeavor not to repeat that here. Suffice to say that between the death and resurrection of Jesus there is a third event that carries all the weight and significance of the first two; and that is the temple curtain being torn from TOP to BOTTOM! (Mark 15:38) This tearing of the curtain signifies not symbolizes the release of the Holy Spirit. The fact that the curtain is torn from top to bottom tells us that this is God’s initiation. That curtain was sixty feet high – we know no man reached up there to tear it. The Holy Spirit poured out on all flesh is Gods idea and God’s initiation. May I again be so bold as to say that even Jesus himself suggested that we would be lonely, orphans (John14:18) with out the presence of The Holy Spirit to lead and guide us into all truth. From my vista the single most important gift that Jesus gave us and by implication the church is The Holy Spirit. He is more important than the gifts, which without him would simply stop flowing. He is far more important the Five Fold ascension gifts which without him are simply built on men’s natural gifts and talents.

Build Securely

All things can and will be shaken. There is only one King and one Kingdom that will remain unshaken. If we are going to make our people secure we better give attention to building them toward the King and the Kingdom.

Security in Christ

            Col 3:3

Security in the Father

            John 10:29 

Security in the leading and dealing of the Holy Spirit

            John 16:12 - 15

Build Seeking

I was in a forum a number of years ago in North Orange County where we gathered planters and potential planters from around the country. The first session went something like us debating and deciding on “25 essential characteristics of a Church Planter” I was horrified as not a single person mentioned a heart for the lost!!! I know .. I know you are saying there he goes again … Tkay always with a heart for the lost. I get it!!! But surely even if a passion for the lost is not top of the list or even in the first 10/15 characteristics, surely it should be there somewhere? Surely if we are not planting to see the lost saved we need to re-evaluate what we are doing? Surely, if the Gospel and all its magnificent implications is not a cornerstone of how and why we are planting we need to question our motives?

Luke19:10  tells us that Jesus came “to seek and save what was lost” The NIV Study Bible tells us that this statement is “An important summary of Jesus purpose – to bring salvation, eternal life and the Kingdom of God”

For most this is the “pot” that gets pushed to the back of the stove the easiest. If we are going to keep this “pot” boiling we are going to have to move it back to the front burner. We are going of have to pray it, preach it, teach it and live it out so that His purposes may become our purpose – Salvation, eternal life and the Kingdom of God

Trust you are all encouraged … feel free to email me subjects to be covered as well as updates on church plants and testimonies.

Yours in His grip

Terry Kreuger 

The Faithfulness of God

Steve and Debra Sudworth, along with their 2 girls, Rebecca and Hannah, arrived in Chicago in May 2004 in obedience to God’s call to church plant. They have been leading Church in the City (www.churchinthecity.us) since then. Their son - Cade - was born 2 years into the plant. 

God wants us to remember His faithfulness in fulfilling smaller promises so that we are encouraged to go after bigger promises with “faith and patience” (Heb 6:12). As David reflected on the faithfulness of God in delivering him from the lion and bear when shepherding his father’s sheep, he was filled with faith that God would, in the same way, deliver Goliath into his hands (1 Sam 17:36).

Ps 145 picks up on this theme of reflecting on God’s faithfulness...

“Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise, his greatness no one can fathom. One church planter (my addition) will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts. They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty and I will meditate on your wonderful works. They will tell of the power of your awesome works, and I will proclaim your great deeds. They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness.” 

Notice the transition in the above passage…“they speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty and I will meditate on your wonderful works”…“they will tell of the power of your awesome works and I will proclaim your great deeds.” My purpose in writing this blog post is to humbly fulfill the roll of “they” – I want to commend the works of the Lord at Church in the City to you; I want to speak of the glorious splendor of His majesty; I want to tell of the power of His awesome works. As you read of what God has done in us I trust you will fulfill the roll of “I” – firstly meditating on God’s “wonderful works” but then transitioning to “proclaim God’s great deeds” in your church and in your city. Hebrews teaches that being a people of faith, a people who go after the promises of God – a people who are sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see, a people who have faith in the faithfulness of God – is something we do together; “Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds” (Heb 10:24)

These are the highlights of what God did in us and through us at Church in the City in 2010…

- Over 20 teams ministered into the city, nation and nations (we’re working with 3 churches in our city and with churches in 6 nations around the world)
- Sent a medical team to Haiti to assist after the disaster in that nation.
- Taking our prayer meeting on the road to other churches in the city gave birth to “Together 4 the City” a quarterly prayer and worship gathering of over 15 Chicago churches
- Hosting RT Kendall for a weekend of ministry; attended by people from more than 10 churches
- Our elder & deacon team both doubled as the church grew
- Finances increased more than 25% in the midst of a recession
- We moved location to a facility with double the seating capacity, in the heart of arguably the most culturally influential area in Chicago
- Because of the impact and success of an outreach initiative into our church’s neighborhood (Wicker Mic – an open air open mic for local artists) the city invited us to host the event 3 times through the summer of 2011
- Business deals, breakthroughs and start-ups as well as new jobs and testimonies of His favor all in response to a word of knowledge of what God wanted to do in people’s lives
- Many salvations, healings, marriages, engagements and babies born

I am continually reminded that God can move upon a city through the availability, faithfulness and obedience of just one flawed man - that was Jonah’s testimony. May our families and churches be that “man” whom God can use in our cities and nations.

Passion for Planting - Part 1

Tyrone Daniel has led the NCMI Trans-local Team for the last 6 years and recently relocated with his wife Nicole and 3 sons to Denver Colorado. They are currently pioneering Redemption City Church, a church plant based in the City of Westminster CO.

Passion for Planting - Part 1

Ephesians 1:1 -23

We are loving the adventure and journey of church planting here in Denver!!!!

It has been said, “The world at its worst needs the church at it’s best.” This sets a wonderful task ahead for us and forces us to ask ourselves some questions as we lay biblical foundations into the life of our church.

WE need to ask what we are building for? How we answer this question determines what we focus on and what we highlight as important!!

Are we Building: For The Moment

In Isaiah 38 and 39 King Hezekiah becomes ill but is granted another 15 years of life. Some time after this envoys come from Babylon and Hezekiah shows them all the treasures of his kingdom without, apparently, giving glory to God. When Isaiah comes back to Hezekiah with the word that everything will be taken from him and that is children will be sold into slavery, Hezekiah responds by saying “The word of the Lord is good .. There will be peace and security in my lifetime”

What a shortsighted view! As we plant friends, lets remember that we are not building for the moment or simply to make ourselves look successful. We must lay foundations now that will set the next generation up for success. Hezekiah literally sells the next generation in to slavery and bondage. Let us build and plant in such a way as to set our next generation up for victory, liberty, freedom and effectiveness.

Are we building: A Monument

2 Sam 18:18

Our intent can never be to set up a monument in our own name to our own successes.

What we are doing should reflect Him and His glory at every level - for Him and with Him!

We are not trying to draw people to our thing but rather point people to Him

Are we building: A Movement.

Acts 9:1 – 5

The debate about whose baptism the disciples are baptized into is quickly settled by them being baptized into the name of the lord Jesus! Even as we plant, we do it all in the context of a Kingdom and that Kingdom only has one King – Jesus!

Our intent must be to build THE Kingdom not our kingdom.

Are we building: A Ministry.

3 John:9

I am convinced that none of us would want said over us what we see in this Scripture “Diotrephes, who loves to be first”

We must keep before us the truth that it is not our ministry. It doesn’t belong to us!! WE share in His ministry and therefore are not looking to advance our ministry and make it known, but rather to share in a greater level of partnering with Him! In order to share in His ministry, we need to make space for Him to minister!!

Are we Building for: The Master

From the very outset of creation Gods intent for man is to multiple and be fruitful! Gen 12 talks about God blessing all people through people, Matt 28:18-20 Jesus commissions His disciples with authority to go and make disciples of all nations, Acts 1:8 similarly speaks of Power for purpose in all places!

It has been often said that ... world evangelization is a fantasy if we are not planting churches!

The only way we are going to disciple the nations is to plant NT churches in every village of every town of every city of every nation! What we need to remember is that church planting is not the primary focus! The King and His Kingdom is always the primary focus! When we focus on planting instead of the Kingdom …

- Mans needs become more important than Gods Devine Glory

- Strategy becomes a result of human observation instead of God inspired Revelation

- We shift the focus to growing our church rather than advancing His Kingdom

- Ultimately we sell out of Gods original intent for gimmicks and tricks because church planting is the central focus of everything!

I'm convinced that when church planting is centered at every level around our King and His Kingdom and therefore is an (not the only) expression through which His Kingdom comes - we will see cities and nations transformed and Jesus exalted above all!

Church planting is Gods strategy but must be done for Him and with Him. Let's live His dream!!

Church Planting Now

Hi everyone

I trust this finds you all well and powering for the things of God. 2011 promises to be an incredible year!

I have been asked to write a short update about our exciting new blog “Church Planting Now” There are two thoughts behind us putting this together: Firstly, to honor God! Our team meeting in South Africa last year was one of the highlights of the last season. We gathered together from all over the world on Monday at lunchtime, ended on Friday at lunchtime and spent the majority of the time giving feedback and testimony of what God is doing around the world. The amazing thing was – WE RAN OUT OF TIME! I was so stirred by this and trust that this blog can serve as something of a forum to keep us updated as to what is happening in our ranks around the world. I don’t believe this is boasting or bragging but simply giving honor where honor is due – TO GOD!

Secondly, to become a resource for those that are planting, have planted or are about to plant. There is already a cool team of contributors coming together and in place. Each of these men has either planted themselves and/or has been responsible for raising AND releasing planters. I am sure over a period of time; the archive of this blog is going to become a very rich resource for those God has called to plant.

I am still convinced of the apostolic mandate to go into all the world! I am still convinced that planting New Testament churches in every village, town and city is the best way to make disciples. I am still convinced that the Good News is good enough!

Let the adventure begin.

Terry Kreuger