As I was sharing the God-sized stuff that is happening right now, (nearly 300 committed their lives to Christ, 19% increase in total family units giving, 9% attendance increase since Thanksgiving, baptized over 60 in two weeks, $11,000 given to start BNC Remotes, 6% volunteer increase, over $53,000 given to the lost, the last and the least, and more) with another pastor, my friend asked the right question, “Shannon, what is the strength behind this surge of God-sized momentum?” Obviously, it’s God’s favor! He said, “We know that, but God’s favor is spilled out in response to our obedience.” Immediately this phrase leaped into my mind “like-minded”. I began to elaborate how, since November 26, Brand New Church has experienced the most Christ-like ministry spirit and focus, I can remember.
After, concluding that conversation I began to think and study on what is a like-minded congregation. What is the fuel that allows a local fellowship to experience a supernatural oneness. God lead me straight to Philippians 2 where Paul explains how to achieve like-mindedness. It’s through focusing on the Last, the Lost, and the Least. Philippians 2:1-4 says, “If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”
I believe God’s Spirit is showing me His plan for our fellowship through this passage of Holy Scripture. Through humbling ourselves God grows His Church! So much of what Christians want in their church is for Christians and not for the physically and spiritually impoverished.
As a local body we have become “one” in reaching others and looking out for others’ interests, and will continue to live out a like-minded spirit and purpose. When your focus is not on what you want, but on what God desires, your church and BNC will continue to grow. A man told me this week, “Shannon, I think Brand New Church is too focused on the Lost and has very little for the saved.” I took that as a compliment! Jesus had one mission: to seek and save the lost. He established the church to fulfill this mission. As a Christ follower, your greatest fulfillment will be seeing your testimony lead someone from darkness to light.
Thank you Brand New Church for becoming ONE, with ONE like-minded mission!
By the way, this equation will work for your marriage and any relationship you are engaged in. Humility is where God’s grace is found and God’s growth abounds! Let me know where you are seeing like-mindedness within Brand New Church or your local church here in the comment section.
shannon i believe thats it! Being like minded is what you have taught in the church over and over, to serve, have love and compassion just as you have shown me and all who know you by actions!!!!The greatest commandment “love the Lord with all your heart, soul and mind and also love your neighbor as yourself”! And as a church, as one, we are doing that and Gods favor and everything else falls under that PRAISE THE KING OF KING AND LORD OF LORDS!!!!!!!! thank you for being my iron sharpener, pastor and friend
On the question you were ask Shannon, this man really does not understand his own question. This man seems to only want to focus only the saved which are already in God’s hands. The lost are what we are to bring into the flock. Jesus spoke of leaving the 99 (flock) to seek for the one (lost- not in the flock). This man must be a pew sitter and no a go getter.
It’s not in our hands to save the saved…it’s to reach the lost, with HIS power! Some people have the idea that sitting in a classroom is discipleship- but one does not become a disciple by sitting upon their chair…one becomes a disciple by being more than hearers of the word, but doers of the word: following in HIS footsteps.
I know revival is braking out as we speak, watch out for Easter. We are going to see an awakening of the church. BNC is the catalyst!!!
i receive that word!!
Without writing a novel on every area of what goes on @ BNC, I can’t thoroughly express the like-mindedness of EVERY area of the church in the detail I’d like to. The best I can do is say that Jesus’ mission was to reach and save the lost – and that’s the mission that we all adhere to… we do everything we can with precision and excellence because 1) We’ve got servants and leaders that listened to God’s calling for them and serve how HE wants them to serve, and 2) we are ALL devoted to glorifying God. When you glorify Him, people pay attention – lost people pay attention. And that’s who we’re here for. So is there any area of BNC that’s not like-minded and on the same mission that another area is? ABSOLUTELY NOT! And it’s all for HIM!