Basic Training Part one

On August 9 we will begin a new series entitled "Basic". This series will cover the Core values of Discover Point. The series will cover what is at the heart of DPC and what we see happening in the near future. Since this series begins in 3 weeks I thought it would be helpful to go through some of the core values and try my best to explain them.

The first one I have chosen to cover is "Casual and Contemporary". I understand that this is not the most important value but it is something that the staff of Discover Point feels is vital in reaching and helping the Rockdale and Newton county communities. For years I wrapped my self in the idea that going to church meant that I had to follow certain rules and standards that the church set. I also looked down on those who did not follows these rules. Now not say that there should not be rules in the church but the church should not make the rules based on there own personal preferences or ideas. But that is a whole other chapter in itself. When I moved to Atlanta to help plant Discover Point it took me a good six months to get used to the idea that you don't have to wear a Suit and tie to church. Philip calls it de-toxing getting away form the idea that church conducts itself in one way and one way only. Let me state this to I am not slamming the traditional church. There are many people who go to a traditional church and could not worship any other way and thats fine. The church I came from reached and Baptised many many people. God uses traditional churches to reach many many people with the gosple. In 1 Cor 9:20 Paul writes to reach the Jews I became like the Jews and in verse 22 he say "I became all things to all men so that I might save some" Tim Stevens wrote an awsome book called "Pop goes the Church" and in it he refrences a passage in Act where Paul is in Athens and is called in front of all of the great wise men of Athens. This meeting probably took place just below the Acropolis so Paul did not have very much time to think of what he was to say to these men. Paul said to them " When I arrived here today I was facinated by all of the great shrines and then I found one that said "to the god nobody knows". I am here to introduce you to this God so that you may worship him intelegently. Wow Paul leveraged the culture of that day to reach probably some of the most important men he ever spoke to. That's what Discover Point is trying to do to leverage the culture not to become like the culture. We want people to feel comfotable when they come to church. I would have a hard time listening to pastor if I did not feel comfotable. We want the spirit to convict people and our messages do not consist of fluff. They are real and they are (because God allows them to be) powerful. Our music is contemporary because that is how some people want to worship, If you cannot worship to an upbeat style music don't come to our church. We have a heart to reach our community and if that means playing an upbeat style of music and wearing shorts to church then by all means that is what we are going to do.