Friday, 08 January 2010
Dear Y'all,

I hope you had a marvelous Christmas, New Years etc. etc. I sure did.

Well, if you remember, before Christmas we were preaching our way through the Gospel of John. This week we'll continue with a truly astounding, and fairly misunderstood chunk of Scripture. Actually parts of it are, perhaps, more familiar than any other Scripture in all the Bible (like John 3:1-8 and  John 3:16-17) and parts are, perhaps, the most ignored in all the Bible (like John 2:23-25,  and John 3:18-21) and yet it's all one story about being "Born Again."

Last week Duncan Sprague gave a very creative and truly profound sermon about "being born," based on St. Paul's words in Romans 8. Duncan had asked me if that would be a good topic and I informed him that it might be perfect... and I think it was. If you weren't present, and you get the chance, give it a listen. It's great theology that sets the stage for Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus about being "born from above." Give it a listen and come to church this weekend... I believe that you are being born from above... and I suspect that we (The Sanctuary Downtown) are as well. When you see that truth, it changes everything.

So give it a read - John 2:23 through 3:21 (PS the chapter division were added by confused monks hundreds of years after the Scriptures were written). Give it a read and come join us: 10:30 AM and 6 PM (the last one before we switch to 5:30 on Sat. night.)

See You Soon,

Peter

(Click HERE to read Peter's note explaining our recent change in worship service times)

Thursday, 15 October 2009
Hey Y'all,
 
This last week we began our new sermon series: "Jesus: Bigger, Better and Uncut - A journey through the Gospel of John." In the last E-news I wrote an introductory article. Well, if you were bad and didn't read all of your weekly E-news last week, we've re-attached it at the end of this E-news (Whew! I bet you're relieved).
 
Also, if you missed the message last week, you can now listen on-line. A few weeks ago, while we were in the process of moving from Central Presbyterian, Ben had his computer stolen. That stopped the on-line sermons for a time... BUT NOW they're back on-line. So turn off Leno or South Park , get some chip and dip and give them a listen (last week's sermon will make this week's sermon much better).
 
Then, after you finish the dip, invite your friends, family and especially enemies to join you Sunday in worship, as we talk about "The Word become flesh." Last week, we began talking about The Word; The Reason; The "unreasonable Reason" - that is, the Reason for all reasons... pretty complicated! But Good News: He became flesh and dwelt among us full of Grace and Truth.
 
See you Sunday!
 
Peter

Thursday, 8 October 2009

Hey Y'all, This week we'll begin our new sermon series from the Gospel of John.

JESUS: Bigger, Better and Uncut.

Why would anyone want to "cut" Jesus, edit Jesus or censor Jesus ...especially if He's better than we thought? Well, perhaps better than we thought is also bigger than we thought, and we thought that we'd like Jesus to fit into our thoughts... but then He's not bigger than we thought; not better than we thought, and we had to cut Him down to size to fit Him into our heads.

Why would someone want to censor Jesus? Well imagine if you thought your job was to explain God. Imagine if you were a religious leader from a first century synagogue, or even a 21st century church, and you thought your job was to fit God into your head, market the concept to others, and then tell people how to make the whole God thing "work" in their daily lives. What if you thought your job was to be an expert on God? Then Jesus comes along... or just someone quoting Jesus or talking about Jesus... like, John.

Take a gander at some of these verses from the Gospel of John:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God;all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made.  In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it... The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world.He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world knew him not.  He came to his own home, and his own people received him not.  - John 1:1-5, 9-11

"For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn (Greek - "judge") the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.Whoever believes in him is not condemned ("judged"), but whoever does not believe is condemned ("judged") already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God...The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son,that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life...You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one.Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me."  ...Jesus said, "For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind...If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day." - John 3:17-18; 5:22-24; 8:15-16; 9:39; 12:47-48

"Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live...Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment."- John 5: 25, 28-29

"You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me,yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life."- John 5:39-40

"Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.... After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him.So Jesus said to the Twelve, "Do you want to go away as well?" - John 6:54, 66-67

 Jesus said to them, "My time has not yet come, but your time is always here.  The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify of it that its works are evil."  - John 7:6-7

"Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out.And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw (romance) all people to myself."He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die." - John 12:31-33

Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?"  Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me.  - John 14:5-6

When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, "It is finished," and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. - John 19:30

Do you see what I mean? How do you explain that? How do you market that? How do you turn that into an easy formula for mass consumption? How do you control that? Gosh, you might want to censor that; cut Jesus down to size: "Well He couldn't actually mean ______!" "Well certainly He's not saying _______!" "He can't really mean 'now' or 'all' or 'finished'!"

It's tempting to censor Jesus, so that the Word will fit into your head and surrender to your control... so He'll be just what you thought. But then, He's never better than you thought, He's just what you think... an idol - dead, as your head or my head.

However, if what John says is true, Jesus wants to be so much more than a concept in our head. He is the Life in our blood and the Lord of all things. And if we're saved by Him rather than our comprehension of Him, perhaps we can trust Jesus enough to see Him as He is: Bigger, Better and Uncut. Perhaps we can trust Him enough to let Him out of that box we call our brain; let Him off of that tree to which we pinned Him with our "knowledge of good and evil;" perhaps we can trust Him enough to let Him be Lord - Bigger, Better and Uncut.

In the Gospel of John, Jesus is Bigger, Better and pretty darn Uncut.

It appears that the Gospel of John was the last gospel written. I believe that it was written by John,

    * The beloved disciple;
    * Whom Jesus nicknamed the Son of Thunder;
    * Who was not martyred like the rest, but exiled on Patmos;
    * Who lived out his days reflecting on his incredible encounters with Jesus as a young man,
    * Who saw the ancient stone temple destroyed and the living one born in the flesh of Greeks as well as Jews;
    * Who wrote three epistles;
    * And John, who was transported into the heavenly places with Jesus, where he received The Revelation of Jesus - Bigger, Better and Uncut.

Perhaps more than any of the other disciples, John had the experiences, visions and time to begin to see just how immense, powerful, beautiful, extravagant and Good his old friend Jesus really is. More than perhaps any other, John was least censored by thousands of years of religious tradition and the pressures of the establishment. He was least censored and most liberated by his vision on Patmos. John knew Jesus, the Word through whom all things are created and sustained. And John knew Jesus, on whom he rested his head in grief at the last supper.

And John wants you to know Jesus as well. Jesus is bigger than you thought, better than you thought, and although we crucified Him and cut Him down to size - He's risen.

This week we'll begin preaching through the Gospel of John. I hope that you would open your mind and surrender your heart. If you get a chance, read chapter one. No matter what, ask Jesus to show us Himself. He's not a gimmick, a self help program, or a church growth strategy. He's the Way, the Truth and the Life - your life.

And would you invite friends, family and even enemies (especially enemies)? Jesus is better than you thought. He's also better than your neighbor thinks. Tell 'em: "He's Bigger, Better, and in Love with you!"

See You Sunday,

Peter

Thursday, 17 September 20099
Hey Sanctuary Person,
 
Do you ever find yourself puzzled by church? I mean: what the vision is and where you fit? I do!
 
Well this weekend we'll be talking about that in our worship service, and I'm just really hoping that you'll be there. As you know we've spent a good chunk of life preaching from Genesis and have decided to stop for now with the culmination of Abraham's faith journey (what we preached on last week). In October some time I plan to start preaching from the Gospel of John. What would be a good title? Maybe just "Meet Jesus." I'm hoping it will be challenging, encouraging and inspiring for you, but also intriguing and inviting for your friends and neighbors... You know! The ones that you'll be bringing with you.
 
Bring them this Sunday, but definitely bring yourself. You see you are part of the vision and you do fit, whether you know it yet, or not.
 
The last two weeks worshipping at our new place have been a blast. And I think it's going to get even better: It's a great place, but you're an even greater place. You really are the Sanctuary of the Living God.
 
See You Sunday,
Peter

Thursday, 6 August 2009
Hey Y'all,
 
If you think reading the Bible is boring, our text for this Sunday evening should change your mind. It's a rather adult topic, yet applicable to many a baby boy. We'll be looking at Genesis 17. If you don't think that's weird enough, check out Exodus 4:24-26. Somehow it's all related to Colossians 2:8-14 and your heart (Deuteronomy 30:4-6). It seems that God isn't content with a workbook, community service hours or the correct answer to some test. That's a bit scary, but profoundly good.
 
If you get a chance give those verses a look, say a prayer and come to worship this Sunday evening.
 
Love,
Peter

Thursday, 2 July 2009
Dear Sanctuary,
 
I think we're on a journey. And to be honest with you, sometimes this journey seems insane and I feel like a fool. Fortunately, I'm not the only follower of God's Word who's found himself in that situation... and neither are you.
 
At our last all church worship service we began to study Abraham and the crazy promise he received from God. That Word sent him on a journey - an outrageous journey, a journey that is to be a model for all of us. It doesn't make much sense in this world and yet it is the very "sense" - the Logos - of the Kingdom of God.
 
If you get a chance, would you read Genesis 12 through 25? And ask yourself: What was God thinking? What was Abraham thinking? How does it affect my thinking... and my very next step?
 
Have fun on the 4th! And I'll see you on the 5th!
 
Love,
Peter

Thursday, 4 June 2009
Dear Sanctuary,                                                                                                        

That's what you are: The Sanctuary of the Living God, and a sanctuary to a world that's drowning in "violence." You are the Ark of the Covenant, The New Creation, The New Community - The Ark of Life floating on a sea of death... you are The Life Boat. That's what we talked about on the Sunday before last (house church Sunday). We talked about Noah's Ark and us. We talked about our calling to sail the life boat into those places where the most people are drowning. We talked about our calling as The Sanctuary Downtown.

It was Memorial Day Weekend, so understandably, some were absent. If that was you, would you consider giving the sermon a listen online? I think it will help you catch a vision for our church and get you up to speed for the sermon this weekend. I also hope you take advantage of our open house at the Asbury building, as well as the Q&A time after the service. I think it all dovetails together.

We are the boat that Christ is building and He's calling us to go sailing on the sea. Hope you're on board. These are exciting times.

Blessings on you!

Peter

Thursday, 28 May 2009
Dear Sanctuary,

A few weeks ago, I sent you a letter titled "Why Downtown?" Today I want to send you a follow up letter titled "Why Asbury?" As I hope you know, we've been taking a very serious look at leasing the old Asbury Methodist Building at 30th and Vallejo. After a year of looking at various options, I think it's the best option we've encountered. Actually, I think it's just right for us. Here are "my" reasons why:

Why Asbury?

* Asbury is downtown. We still feel called to Downtown Denver. Just two blocks down the hill from the Asbury church is the 16th Street Pedestrian Bridge over I-25. It connects Asbury to Lower Downtown, Light Rail and  the 16th Street Mall with it's shuttle busses running the length of the business district.

* Asbury provides easy access for commuters from the suburbs. It's only a few blocks from the intersection of I-25 and Speer. We will be able to use the parking lot immediately adjacent to the facility, the few spaces to the rear of the building for the handicapped, parking on the streets and parking that we will lease in the immediate neighborhood. I'm deeply grateful for those who drive from the suburbs in order to worship in the city. Hopefully we can make that trip as easy as possible.

* Asbury allows us to pursue a mix of people from all walks of life, from all points in the Metro Area. And yet, Asbury is right next to the demographic that I feel we are most capable of reaching: young urban professionals in lower downtown. I salivate over the mission field just across the 16th Street pedestrian bridge and in the immediate vicinity of the building. (This neighborhood has undergone a remarkable renaissance in recent years.) My guess is that many of these folks are tired of what they perceive to be a rather judgmental and unmerciful "Jesus." I think they'd really like the Jesus we know; the one who said, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, of them is the kingdom of God." I think we have a voice with this crowd. I think you are that voice in flesh.

* Asbury makes us part of this unique neighborhood, while at the same time Asbury puts us in the immediate vicinity of all the other needs associated with the city. We know some of these needs and are already connected through groups like Street's Hope and Christ's Body Ministries. However a presence downtown will open new doors. We hope you will dream some dreams:

     -Walking the neighborhood, offering prayer and odd jobs.

     -Worship and ultimate Frisbee on the green in Confluence Park.

     -Meals, events and concerts.

     -Mentoring etc. through our connections in the downtown House Church.

     -Most importantly: Being the presence of Christ's Body at worship, in the midst of this world.

(PS: Check out what Frances has to say about a "Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood.")

* You see Downtown doesn't need more programs. It needs you. You are the Body of Christ. You are the Celestial City coming down. You are the Ark of the Covenant, sailing on a sea of violence and corruption. Y'all are the "life boat." Asbury gives us a place to sail in the midst of the sea. The boat is the New Creation gathered for worship and you yourself have what the city needs: Faith, Hope and Love. At best, programs assist in connecting people... so we'll have some. But programs are dead. You have the life of Christ in you. The Asbury building is like a "program" in that way. It's dead. But it gives us a place to connect to people - people that our Lord is fixin' to shower with grace and love.

* On a very practical level, we need office space for the staff, room for midweek meetings, band practice, youth group etc. etc. etc. At one time we planned to rent office space on top of what we paid for leasing Central. But we discovered: For about the same price that we would have paid for Central and office space off site, we can office in the very same building in which we worship. This makes it easier to function, but far more importantly it gives us a continued presence downtown.

* Several months ago, due to a large number of inquiries, the Board made a goal of finding a facility in which we could offer a Sunday morning service. However, we've also come to realize the value of the Sunday evening service. With the Asbury facility, we can worship Sunday Mornings and any other time we choose. I like this scenario: We keep our Sunday evening service as it is and move to Asbury in late July or early August. Around October we have a grand opening, send out mailers etc. and offer a service on Sunday Morning at 10:30, as well as our current service on Sunday night. The Sunday morning service would include a full children's program. The Sunday evening service would have the same message, but perhaps a different musical flavor and then it would be followed by Resound (our extended time of worship singing and prayer).

* Asbury is much more conducive to Resound than our current facility. It allows for fellowship downstairs, while folks are worshipping upstairs. Currently the band can't be quiet during Resound because of the noise from the lobby. At Asbury we could truly get contemplative and prayerful... or Rock Out!

* Asbury would be our next stop, not our final destination. If in three years we want to worship at the Paramount Theater we can. If we want to have a service on the West side of town we can, while maintaining a service or two, and offices, at Asbury. We hear people asking, "Is this where we want to settle?" Well at least for now, the answer is, "We don't want to 'settle'." We think Asbury would give us a place to "camp," but also the ability to strike camp as we sensed the Lord's leading.

* It advertises itself. Anyone can see the big stone building as they're driving down I-25. We've got plans to fly balloons from the bell tower. You'll be able to see them from all over downtown!

* I love the feel in the Sanctuary. It's a bunch of people in a compact space. It's great for preaching! For a time, we looked at leasing a warehouse. I was hesitant because of the cost, but also because of the difficult dynamics of preaching and singing in that environment (...posts, cement and LOTS of reverb). Furthermore I suspect that the old church building reassures people: "This really is a church!" OK... It's false reassurance, but I think it still might work in our favor.

* I love that it's not too nice. I would hope that we'd keep it a bit rough. I realize that we'll be making improvements, but I think it sends the right message. And if we're the folks willing to bear crosses on our backs, perhaps it's good to sacrifice a bit when it comes to things like paint and walking a couple blocks for parking.

* I do realize that there are drawbacks: parking, little wooden seats (they are actually all different sizes), it will need better ventilation and some work on handicapped accessibility etc., but I really doubt that we could find a better place. Some of the drawbacks would be drawbacks anywhere in the city. And, like I just implied in the paragraph above, some of the "drawbacks" may be our "calling."

* We've only brought a couple of options to the whole congregation, but we've been looking for quite a while. We've actively considered twenty to thirty options: movie theaters, event centers, other church buildings, warehouses, college campuses, schools and office locations. For some time, the board has made it a goal to find a place where we could worship on Sunday mornings, as well as remain downtown. From the start we've been looking for office space as well as midweek meeting space for the youth group, band practices and church events. Asbury provides all of this in one location. It's very unique in this regard.

* At a recent Board Meeting we spent a significant amount of time in prayer, it seemed that God was communicating rather forcefully: "Don't be afraid, step out, 'enlarge the place of your tent'" (Isaiah 54). My wife Susan turned to me and said, "What's the Highlands?" I whispered, "Honey it's a neighborhood. We don't want to go there." She said, "Whatever... but I just heard heard: 'Look to the Highlands.'" I don't want to "blame her," or put this on her, and you don't need to believe her, but I've learned to pay attention. When you "look to the Highlands" from downtown Denver you see Asbury - it's right there at the end of 15th St. Now I realize that others may have heard other things in prayer. Some of what I've heard from folks has been very affirming. Some has made us question.... made me question: "Were we only supposed to "look to the Highlands?" Well as we've searched prayed and pondered, as a board, we've come to believe we're not only to look but occupy.

* Having said that, I'm not sure that God wants to make any building "crystal clear"... for everyone... with no challenges or obstacles. However, he has made one thing "crystal clear" and that is that we are not to fear, but to step out with faith, hope and love. The Board thinks that next step is in the direction of Asbury. No matter what, we know that it's to be in the direction of Faith Hope and Love. We are the Church. We are the Sanctuary of the Living God... no matter where we meet.

Thank you for chewing on these things and for chewing on them in the presence of Jesus. Would you ask Him to lead us in the direction he desires, but mostly to mold our hearts into the shape He desires? I believe that God has a beautiful gift for the city of Denver. I believe that that gift is you. Thank you for offering your self to God and to others as the gift that He has called you to be. You truly are remarkable.

Much Love,

Peter

Thursday, 21 May 2009
Dear Everybody,
 
It's Memorial Day Weekend, so I know you have appointments with volleyball, watermelons and potato salad, but I hope you'll also be down at the Sanctuary this Sunday Evening at 5pm. As you probably realize, there are some changes on the horizon - changes regarding where, when and how we worship; changes regarding how we live out our calling as a church; changes that help clarify our vision. We're considering a move to a new location that will allow for new worship times and new opportunities to minister to our city.
 
When I preach, I usually preach the next chunk of Scripture in whatever book we've been studying (Revelation, Matthew, Genesis, etc.) However, I've planned to deviate in order to address the opportunities and challenges that come our way as a church. Recently, as we've come closer to securing a new location, we've felt a need to preach on our corporate vision and calling (a vision and calling that we are all discovering together). Well, I think God arranged the next chunk of Scripture just for us... er ah, OK... God probably had some other reasons for flooding the earth besides just us. Yet I do think God has a bunch to teach us through the crazy story of Noah, that flood and that Ark.
 
So this Sunday we'll dive into the Flood and talk about God's calling on His Church and in particular, our church. If you get a chance, would you read Genesis 6 through 9? Then, ask God: "What are you saying to me?" "What are you saying to the Sanctuary?" "How do we build an ark?" and "What's a cubit?"
 
Love You,
Peter

Thursday, 30 April 2009

Hey Everybody,

I hope you had a wonderful experience at House Church this past week. I did. Before that, I spent the week in the mountains teaching 11 classes on the Revelation to a group of College-aged kids at Timberline Lodge in Fraser. This week we’ll be back in Genesis but moving at a much faster pace. I’ll also plan to jump in and out of Genesis as we feel the need to preach on various topics pertinent to The Sanctuary and where God has us at this time.

As you know, we’ve been considering a move for our worship service – both in place and time. We have a variety of reasons, including the need for office space, space for events during the week, the possibility of new worship times, and a greater presence in the city.

Because of that, I’ve heard people say, “Remind me, why are we in the city?” For some that’s a silly question, because you live there. However, for many who have made the transition from Lookout Mountain and spend a good chunk of time in the car on Sunday nights, the question makes a bunch of sense.

Yesterday at staff (and the night before at our board meeting) I shared some of my recent thoughts on that topic. Some of the staff said, “You need to share that with everyone.” Well, some may be old news, some may be new… but here goes:

Why Downtown?

•    I think we were called downtown… yet not told exactly why. Why, is for us to discover together. Below I’ve listed some of my guesses as to why, but I’m sure that God has reasons far more extensive than my own. I think we were called for several reasons. Perhaps the first reason is the desire placed in the hearts of many of us, including our three pastors: Justin, Frances and me (Peter). All three have dreamed of ministry in the city – perhaps in various forms and for different reasons – yet we share this common desire. Another reason for this sense of call is several visions and “words” that have been given to various people over the last several years. Various people have seen a vision of blood running down the mountain from Lookout Mountain and pooling in the city – a “confluence” in the city. Years ago, one person even drew a picture of what she kept seeing.  That river of blood, coincidences, visions, “words,” the strange desires of our hearts, have led us to believe that we are to come and worship downtown in the city.

•    I feel that the message I’ve been asked to preach, and the form of that message, is especially conducive to the diverse demographics of downtown. I am an upper middle class “white boy.” I have nothing against them, but the suburban environment tends to spawn messages that validate existing social and psychological norms. I feel that in the past I ran into trouble because I did not want to be a “Stepford Preacher.” The theological “issues” were a manifestation of a deeper struggle. That deeper struggle was a commitment on my part (and your part), to be a “Real Church in this unReal World.” In the city there are fewer “norms,” or perhaps I should say fewer “norms” that work. Diversity causes us to bump into those that are different than ourselves and those for whom society and it’s “norms” haven’t worked. For thousands of years we’ve confused “social norms” with Grace working through Faith. Salvation through social “norms” is simply the Old Covenant Law. It tempts us to preach a “self-help gospel” that’s not Gospel, but human religion: “three things you can do to make YOUR life work. Etc., etc.” Human religion is how we run from the crisis of Grace. People are broken everywhere, but in the city they’re more likely to know it… the city helps all of us “know it.”

•    I would like to be centrally located. I realize that we are not centrally located for our existing congregation, but I would like to be centrally located for the Denver Metropolitan area. I hope we develop a new “center.” People drove great distances to come to Lookout. That was rather unique and there was something about us that was rather unique. I’m hoping that they’ll drive those distances in the future, but that we will be accessible to a greater number of people and produce a greater “Mix.”

•    That mix is the substance of a more dynamic body and a fuller expression of the Kingdom of God. A diversity of backgrounds, socio-economic groups, and philosophies forces us to sort unchanging truth from the assumptions of our own particular culture and class. The most productive “ministry trips” that I have ever been a part of, were to other cultures, like that of our sister church in the D.R. For years we dreamed (or maybe I dreamed… I know Duncan did) of having a sister church in downtown Denver…Well, I didn’t think it could get so good! We could be our own sister church in downtown Denver. What I mean is that we could experience that growth in grace every Sunday.

•    For most of us, our recent ecclesiastical escapades presented us with a unique opportunity: to plant a dynamic worshipping community in an area currently lacking one like ours and to plant ourselves in an environment that would inspire our faith to grow in new and challenging ways. I believe our worshipping community is a gift to the city and our primary tool for ministry downtown. Yet because many in our body come from the suburbs with resources often lacking in the city, we are able to wrap our worship in those resources and bless the city in ways that few downtown churches can… And in the way that few suburban churches can. I read this somewhere: “Nothing can atone for the insult of a gift except for the love of the person that gives it.” Through worshipping downtown, we can offer so much more than our resources, we can offer our hearts. If you’re relatively affluent in financial resources, social resources or psychological resources, there are many that desperately need those resources, but even more, desperately need your heart.

•    And yet, for those of us coming from the ‘burbs, I don’t want to give the impression that downtown Denver needs us… much of downtown is incredibly affluent and very well educated….  I don’t want to give the impression that Downtown Denver needs us as much as we need Downtown Denver. The city is God’s gift to us. Our sister church in the Dominican Republic didn’t need us as much as we needed them. We needed to learn to love. At Central these connections have been difficult to make, due to our lack of continued presence and the absence of a residential neighborhood in the immediate vicinity of the building. That’s a bit of our reason for looking at other options. We need “presence.” Some of the most fruitful “ministry programs” that I have ever been a part of, grew organically out of our old relationship with our sister church in the D.R. That partnership was established through a ministry program that forbid us from doing anything but worshipping together and “partying” together for three years. The idea was that anything of substance, that we could “do,” would necessarily grow out of relationships of love. And DANG… it really did, but that’s another story.

•    Already some of these relationships, “programs” and ministry opportunities are becoming obvious (From my perspective, our move has already been “worth it” due to the impact of the gospel in just a few lives that I know of), but we’ve barely begun. I think we’ve been in a holding pattern… and the holding pattern was designed by God (don’t mean to “blame him,” but I really think it was God’s design). As a community we needed to heal, discover each other, and become comfortable with a new pattern of corporate worship and house churches.

•    I realize that my experience and style of message will probably mean most to an educated crowd that’s ready to think outside of traditional cultural boxes – I think downtown is full of folks like this. Yet the love of Christ Jesus in all of us is waiting to find expression in an unlimited variety of forms to all groups of people. My hope is that we’d find a place to “set up shop,” establish a presence, and make ourselves available. As a staff and board we’ve been dreaming. Would you do that as well?

•    In my first bullet, I wrote that God must have reasons far more extensive than my own. I’m sure of it, because there’s a reason for each of us. It may just be your presence praying and singing downtown, while you find areas to serve in your family or closer to your home. It may be relationships that have not manifested themselves as of yet – I’m pretty sure of this. It may be outreach programs that you start. It may be projects you undertake with your house church. It may be handing out sandwiches and praying for people in the park. In just a few weeks I’m hoping we’ll have a presence in a downtown neighborhood and some of this will become much more obvious. But would you pray and dream now? I think we’re supposed to answer these questions together – not me, Frances or Justin – us. I want to thank all of you that have offered input through the website, E-mails and your House Church pastors. The search process is a challenge, and this side of heaven, I doubt we’ll be able to please everyone. Thanks for recognizing that and desiring to please Jesus. We’re pioneers. He’s the Trail Boss. Pray that He’ll stop us if we get off course.

•    Perhaps I’m delusional, but I don’t think so. I do know this: The Spirit of Jesus truly is beautiful in you. Sure we’ve got lots of baggage and the glory gets buried beneath the dirt at times. But Jesus really is beautiful in you. The Light is beautiful in you. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”(Matt. 5:16) Jesus calls his people to every corner of the world – Genesee, Littleton and Outer Mongolia. I think Jesus has called us downtown. Let’s go and shine our light!

Love You,
Peter

Thursday, 2 April 2009
Dear Sanctuary,

I hope you had a wonderful experience at House Church this week. I hope you realize that "The Kingdom of God is in the midst of you." (Luke 17:21) It's treasure buried in dirt. (Matthew 13.44) So... if they all seem like "dirt-bags" at your house church... don't give up. Keep digging. There's treasure buried in that field.

Last time at the Sanctuary downtown, I preached on those amazing summary verses that give eternal meaning to the story of Adam and Eve. They're found in Romans 5:15-21 and 1 Corinthians 15:22. "For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive." They certainly seem to indicate that God gets His wish and succeeds in making all humanity (all Adam) in His image. "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness." (Gen. 1:26). His "likeness" doesn't sin, is not trapped in "Hell," and is filled with the Love of God.

During the service, I paused and asked if anyone had ever heard a sermon on those verses (as well as Romans 11:32, 14:11, 1 Corinthians 15:45, 49). I hadn't, but I expected a few folks to raise their hands... Not one person did. Perhaps you have, but out of several hundred people last Sunday night, not one had. That's rather shocking when you consider that those verses form the center of Paul's theological discourse in Romans and 1 Corinthians.

There may be some rather nasty reasons for that - which we spoke of last week. And I'm sure there are some rather innocent reasons. We really don't know what to do with those verses. For one: we tend to think that other verses must cancel them out.  For another: something inside us worries that God is not "Just." We worry that some will not "get their due." Lastly, we sometimes think that preaching the Gospel doesn't matter, when it's the only thing that matters.

If you're worried about other Scriptures that seem to disagree, that's great! I really, really, really (to the power of really) hope that you would search the Scriptures, seeking the heart of God. Church is to be a place of healthy dialogue. We certainly don't have to agree on everything. AND, our thoughts on "Hell" ARE NOT "essentials of our unity." "Jesus Christ and Him crucified" is our unity.

If you have access to Bible software and can dig into the original languages, what you find can be truly revolutionary. Research words like: "Hell, Hades, Gehenna, eternal, forever, destroyed, punished, and lost." If you can't do that, try to read different translations. Whatever the case, search the Scriptures, asking, "God, how can all your word be true at once?" I believe that we've misunderstood a good chunk of Scripture, because the institutional church has advocated an unbiblical view of Hell. That view, in my opinion, has been very dishonoring to God our Father, has caused many to abandon a high view of Scripture, and has been used by Satan to nurture distrust of God's heart within the children of Adam. A couple of years ago I pulled together a huge document packed with a gazillion Bible verses. I tried to include all of the pertinent verses - now I have many more. If you'd like to read it, you can find it on our website under theological issues. It's titled "All Things New." If that's too daunting, take a look at: "A Summary for the Presbytery of the West." (No matter what, this might be helpful to read first).

Now, it may be that you don't have textual questions, you have heart questions. You worry: "Is God Just?" "Will people get their due?" Those are hard, but hugely important questions. You're asking: "What about Judgment?" It makes us nervous to ask... and it should - do we really want "our due?" We're scared of being judged ourselves, yet something in us tells us that this whole world desperately needs Judgment. Perhaps you were asking one of these questions last week?

    * What about God's wrath?
    * What about murderers, adulterers, gossips, liars, the greedy... Surely God won't let them into His Kingdom as they are?
    * What about me...Will He let me into His Kingdom as I am?
    * What about "vessels of Wrath, fit for destruction?"
    * What about the Fire?
    * What about the narrow way; the narrow door?
    * What about the promised destruction of the wicked?
    * What about Justice? What about Judgment?

Great Questions! And if you asked any of them, I hope you'll join us in worship this week.

Genesis 3:24, east of Eden, God placed a "flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life."

Don't worry, there WILL BE judgment: "... He commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has fixed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by a man..." (Acts 17:30, John 5:22). I think most of you know this man. He is "living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account." (Hebrews 4:12-13). He is Judgment (John 12:46). Yet, He judges no one. (John 12:31). His Judgment is Just (John 5:30). We cannot comprehend God's Judgment (Romans 11:33, check it out: he says this immediately after Romans 11:32!), but His Judgment comprehends us. We can't explain all of God's Judgment, but we can trust God's Judgment, for He became flesh and dwelt among us full of Grace and Truth (John 1). God's Judgment is GOOD!

Now in case you're wondering: "What difference does this make to me?" ...All your problems; all your doubts, fears, worries, addictions, and struggles; all the pain of this world - it can all be traced back to a doubt in a garden long ago when we believed a lie. And this is the lie: "God's judgment is not good." Well God's judgment is so GOOD! It's the Gospel.

This world is desperate for that Gospel. To not hear that news, is to be trapped in outer darkness, death, and the power of that ancient serpent. As Christ's hands and feet, his Body - The Lord calls you to proclaim His Judgment of Grace, step on the head of that ancient serpent, and help Him create the new humanity in His Image.

What difference does it make? It's the difference between Everything and Nothing. Everything that is made (John 1:3), is made through this Word: God's Judgment of Grace - Jesus.

See You Sunday,

Much Love,

Peter

Thursday, 26 February 2009

Dear Sanctuary,

I hope you had a good weekend with your house church. I'm so grateful that all of you are doing this. You are the church and God's treasures are waiting for you in each other. I get confused as to how to best help you dig around in the "animated dirt" sitting next to you, in order to find the treasure of God's Spirit... but I know the treasure is there and I pray that God would use your time at "house church" to help you stumble across it.

This week we'll be back in Genesis. As always, it's hugely helpful to read the passages over in advance, both in order to remember what's been said and to start chewing on what's coming up. We'll be in Chapter 3 verses 20 and 21; however, all of the first three chapters are critical in understanding these verses. So I hope you take a little time to re-read Genesis one through three. If you've missed some of the sermons, you might benefit greatly from going back and giving a listen to those that you've missed (they're all on the church web site). Genesis 1 through 3 is like this gorgeous mosaic of Truth. To see it well, you need to hold as many of the pieces as possible in your mind and then ask the Holy Spirit to open your heart. It's this beautiful mosaic of Truth about God and your heart. It's the story of your genesis... and you're still being generated; still being made; still being fashioned in God's image.

Next week on the 8th, after the service, I hope you'll join us for a congregational meeting. We really don't have anything to vote on at this time, but just want to use the time to have a discussion and answer questions about various possibilities regarding meeting locations, meeting times, and program strategies etc. for our future. We'd love it if you stuck around with an open and prayerful spirit, ready to offer your thoughts to this beautiful thing God is building that we refer to as "The Sanctuary."

God Bless You and I'll see you Sunday at 5!

Peter

Thursday, 5 February 2009
Dear Sanctuary,

We had a wonderful worship service last Sunday night, but I did notice a somewhat smaller crowd. Someone said it had something to do with a "bowl"... a really good bowl or "super" bowl. Of course I wouldn't know about these things due to my highly advanced spirituality :)
 
Actually I took the opportunity to deviate from our Genesis series and focus on our vision and strategy as a church. Recently I wrote a letter about this, then last week Frances wrote a house church bible study that focused on some of these things as well. We felt this would be helpful due to our discussion about meeting times, new options for places to meet, etc. As I said in the letter, "Our vision is Jesus and worship is our strategy" for "We are Jesus' vision and the church (us) is His strategy." And I'm not smokin' dope... honest. I mean it. See, it is a bit different than our "get-er'-done" modern American assumptions about how stuff gets done. So I took the opportunity last week to speak on a passage that has a great deal to do with informing these ideas. It's the story of Peter on the Mount of Transfiguration. If you weren't in attendance last week, I encourage you to go to the website and either listen to the message or read the transcript. (www.thesanctuarydowntown.org/sermons/)
 
I think Jesus wants to grow the "programs" and "ministries" of His church from the broken soil of your heart, impregnated with His Seed, more than the management ideals of my head or Frances' head. That doesn't mean that there isn't management, organization, and structure, but that those things need to tend to a life that they can't create. In other words, you are God's field, the sheep of His pasture... the glorious thing that He is making. You are Christ's Body and He's the Head. We can't create the Sanctuary, because we are the Sanctuary.
 
This week, we'll be back in Genesis chapter three. I hope you'll be there! And hey, bring a friend. There are no "bowls" this week. I'm pretty sure.
 
Much Love,
Peter

Thursday, 15 January 2009
DEAR SANCTUARY,

A few weeks ago, I sent you information on leasing a warehouse which we were considering as a space for worship services and offices for the Sanctuary. It’s still an option, but it looks as if the owners are entertaining some more attractive offers. In the process of investigation, I asked for feedback from all of you. We got it and it was all good. Last night we had our monthly House Church Pastor’s Meeting and entertained an open discussion about “direction.” Again we spoke about that this morning at staff meeting. I’ve realized that this warehouse has sparked a discussion that needs to be ongoing on many levels. This is difficult, because I’m not the board; the church is a living organism changing all the time; we all have different gifts, callings, and temperaments; and I sure don’t have all the answers. However, I’ll try to summarize what I think the Lord is telling us (Remember I’m not the Lord, but I do have a role to play in His body and it has something to do with putting words on things). Some of this is reminder and some is invitation. Here goes:

THE REMINDER:

Who we are: If you go to the welcome page of our website, you’ll find an introductory statement and then several statements about who we think we are. I believe that all of that is true. It’s a reminder that we are God’s creation, not our own. I hear people say, “I’m called to be a human being, not a human doing.” In the same way we are called to be a “Bride being before we are to be a bride doing.” As we prayed last night, my wife kept hearing these words in her head: “Where ever you are, there I AM.” I think that’s a reminder that the Sanctuary is not a place, program, or philosophy, it’s us… and God is calling us to see Him wherever we are. As I preached last Sunday, God is calling us to look at Him as He looks at us. That sounds so incredibly ridiculous… unless you believe Jesus is who He says He is, and we are who He says we are.

     We are a bride. When a bride spends a lot of time looking into the bride groom’s eyes and rejoicing in His presence, she tends to get pregnant… with His Life. When a bride spends a lot of time looking at her self in a mirror, she may get bigger – with herself, but not the life of her groom. Actually, it’s when she stops judging her “fruitfulness,” and starts resting in her groom’s presence that she’s most likely to get pregnant. I don’t know how to say this well enough or deeply enough: Jesus really is in our midst; as we surrender to Him, we bear fruit. When we look at Him, we find ourselves walking on water.

What we do: We look and surrender. We worship. Worship is first a “being thing.” It’s being stilled in our hearts before God. It’s hearing the voice of the Father as He says to Peter on the mount of transfiguration: “Listen to Him! This is my beloved Son.” Do you remember what Peter was doing when God said that? He was offering to build a Sanctuary (a tabernacle). We are the Sanctuary. Worship happens whenever our hearts are turned to God in faith. The Body worships whenever our hearts are turned to God together in faith. As we worship together and are worship together, God builds the Tabernacle that is us.

     If all we do is gather and worship, in Spirit and in Truth, I think we will end up doing everything the Lord asks of us… (and maybe find that we’ve already done it). If you wonder, “What can I do to bless the Sanctuary?” I think this is the best answer: “before you give, before you plan, before you deliver your body to be burned… come worship.” Otherwise we’ll be a noisy gong or a clanging symbol. As we worship together, God animates our body with His love and begins to coordinate us with grace. We begin to move with grace and bear the fruit of grace. If what we do doesn’t flow out of the seed of God’s Grace, received as we surrender our hearts in worship, we create the monster and feed the beast… human religion.

     As our welcome page says, “Jesus is our vision, and worship is our strategy.” It goes on to say, “We are Christ’s vision, and the Church is His strategy.” As we grow deeper as a worshiping community, God will also grow us as a ministering community.  When we surrender together in worship, Jesus begins to coordinate us with His Spirit. We become a body coordinated by more than formulas, programs, walls and boxes, but coordinated by a common vision (not plan, but vision). The vision is Jesus. The vision is common because we’re all in the same place, singing the same songs, praying the same prayers, hearing the same word. It’s like the difference between learning the dance steps and hearing the music. God coordinates us and His Seed bears fruit. The thing we minister is not simply a program but a Spirit – Christ’s Spirit. Sometimes that will happen through programs… but not just programs.

    The Church is Christ’s strategy to change this world. And you are the Church.

THE INVITATION:

     Scripture tells us that we are God’s field; we are Christ’s Bride. His seed in us will bear fruit. As the staff and board we’re called to care for the bride in labor, nurture the children when they’re born and tend to the harvest as it grows, but we can’t control it… them… you, or Christ in you. What I’m trying to say is that God will be growing His church through you. He will be “doing ministry” through you.

     Kissing your children good night…
     Listening to the lady at work that nobody likes…
     Giving that panhandler a hug…
     Reciting a Bible verse to a friend…
     Telling the truth when it hurts…
     Sending the check to World Vision…
     Inviting your sister to the worship service…
     Listening…

     NEVER forget that this is the REAL work of the ministry. Sometimes God calls us to organize ourselves into programs and groups. We need to do that, but it’s a sad day for the church if we think that’s all that ministry is. God will be growing His Church through you and sometimes He will grow ministry programs through you. Sometimes God will call others to join in what He’s asking of you. Sometimes He’s calling the whole church to join you. Church leadership is to be sensitive to what God is growing in you and what He may be calling all of us to, through you.

Big Government/ Little Government:
     Some churches have a Big Government philosophy. Once you join they’ll tell you what classes to go to and in what order; how to get the red discipleship notebook before moving on to the green and then the blue. They’ll tell you what to study in your small group and what missions to support and how to raise your kids. God uses Big Government Churches, but I think they run the danger of squashing life with formulas.  I don’t think The Sanctuary is called to be a Big Government Church, at least not now. We don’t want to regulate all of your “spiritual life.” We want to provide “just enough structure for good things to run wild.”

God uses Little Government Churches; however they run the danger of not nurturing the life that God begins to grow. That’s why I want YOU to pray and to dream - not other people’s dreams or dreams for others - but God’s dreams for you and your talents. Then ask God, “Are they dreams for us?” Then share those dreams, if they are.

     We’ve very consciously formed “House Churches” so that much or most of our programs would not be organized around Big Central Government, but grow more organically through the relationships that form in house churches. Would you share your ministry dreams with your house church pastors? Share your dreams with the board and the staff as well. Share your dreams with Frances in particular. She is our Pastor of Community Life and a huge gift to us all. Some “ministries” will happen through our House Churches, some “ministries” need to happen on a broader level, some also need broader support. But please feel free to pray and dream. In my experience, all the best “ministries” (perhaps the only real ministries) happen because God has raised up a person with a particular passion… just consider: that person may be you. Don’t wait for us to make it happen. Perhaps, God is calling you!

WHY THIS MATTERS:

     Well, of course it matters, because it’s a definition of who we are and what we do; however, it matters even more right now, because we’re asking questions about warehouses, etc. Some have raised some very valid concerns, like: What’s our vision? What’s our strategy? Has it changed?

     I don’t think our vision or God’s vision of us has changed… perhaps it’s being refined, perhaps God is revealing more of His strategy, but I don’t think it’s different. Those things above and the statements on the welcome page of the website (Go look at it again if you haven’t in a while) are still true. But certainly our discussion has raised some valid questions. I really can’t answer all those questions in a definitive way, but I can give you my perspective. This is some of what I think God is doing in us:

Just enough structure to let good things run wild:
     I think we’re still called to be a little government church. That means that if we move to another location or time, or if we stay – that decision is not driven by a large program strategy. I mean, we’re not planning a bunch of “ministries” from the “command center.” We’re looking for a field in which good things might grow. We’re looking for a place in which more people can gather and stare at Jesus together.
     That does not mean that we don’t plan to do all sorts of ministry activities; that we don’t plan to have a harvest – it means that we’re looking for a better place in which to let “good things run wild.”

Church without walls:
     I’ve said that we don’t “intend to own a building.” I still think this is true. Yet I don’t believe and never did believe that, “church without walls,” means church without physical walls (at least not in Colorado). I also don’t think it means we can’t own a building, but that a building can’t own us.
 
    “Jerusalem shall be inhabited as villages without walls, because of the multitude of people and livestock in it. And I will be to her a wall of fire all around, declares the Lord, and I will be the glory in her midst.” (Zechariah 1:4-5) That’s the verse to which this phrase refers. I don’t think it means we’ll raise livestock, (hey maybe we’re to host the stock show… maybe not.) but I think it means that we will not erect a bunch of walls. We won’t define ourselves as “in,” by defining a bunch of others as “out.” We won’t look to structures, programs and definitions that we have erected to be our protection and “Glory.” Our protection is to be God. And our “glory” will be God “in our midst.”

The City:
     “A new church in the heart of the city.” We’ve been wondering, “Why are we here?” Well, first let me say the answer will be different for everyone. I mean, God may be calling you to start a homeless ministry, and the Sanctuary or some in the Sanctuary may help… I don’t know. God may be calling you to start a ministry on the other side of the world, but to worship in Denver… I don’t know. God may be calling you to stop doing some “ministry” and spend more time just staring at Him… I don’t know.
     But, “Why are we here?” I don’t know… but I have a pretty good idea. Downtown is the center. Downtown is where “everyone goes.” Downtown is where all the roads meet. Downtown is where everyone mixes. I think The Sanctuary is called to be a glorious expression of the Mix of people, who constitute God’s kingdom, through Grace.

Target Audience:
     In other words, our “target audience” is not “the homeless” or “the urban poor” or “the suburbanites who need to express compassion to the homeless and urban poor.” Our target audience is not the “young urban professional” or the “urban intellectual.” It’s not the “old” or “young”… Do you hear the walls going up when I use those phrases? I am to be “all things to all men, so I might by all means save some,” but I don’t think the Sanctuary is defined by one group around which we build our walls and definitions.

      That doesn’t mean that you may not be called to reach out to one of those groups, understand their needs, and address the gospel appropriately to those needs. It doesn’t mean that other churches aren’t called to very specifically tailor their “ministries” around one of those groups. I just don’t think that’s what God is doing at the Sanctuary. In other words, I think our target audience is: anyone hungry for the Gospel of Grace. And I suspect that part of the beauty that God is calling us to, is the Mix. In other words, “a church without walls.”

The Mix:
     My hope (and I think it comes from God) is that we would be: young, old, intellectuals, urban professionals, suburbanites, urban poor, homeless, black, white, rich, poor - all staring at Jesus together, enamored with the heart of God together. I think our target audience is anyone that is hungry for God’s Grace. So hungry, they want everyone to have a taste. In a world of walls, that sounds like a contradiction, for in a world of walls we try to build a wall around Grace; we think Grace is limited; we think there’s only so much to go around. But to “him who has more will be given.” And the more we taste, the more we want to give away. God is Grace and He doesn’t come to an end. He is the end. I do believe that we are a particular expression of that Truth. And in that, we are relatively unique in America today.

Our Uniqueness:
     We’re a group of people that:

A)    Takes Scripture very seriously and
B)    Actually believe: “God is Love’ and that “His Mercies never come to an end.”

     Sadly, I think we’re a rather rare breed in this regard. There are many liberal churches that do a lot of B) with little A) And many conservative churches that do a lot of A) with little B). I think it’s a little like the old division between the Pharisees and the Sadducees…it makes you sad you see? Actually when you don’t do A) it’s pretty hard to do B) And if you don’t do B) I don’t think you're getting A).

Both testify:
God is always better than you thought
The love of Jesus is always deeper that you know
And the Spirit is everywhere working the wonders of Mercy

     A) and B) ... we’re a group called to express both as one. I think we’re to draw from the whole city. I think we’re downtown, at least partly, because it’s the center. I think God is going to grow all sorts of weird plants and delicious fruits out of the soil that is the Sanctuary. And the Sanctuary is You.
   
     We really don’t know if we are to stay where we are or move our location and meeting time. Before we do, we’ll discuss all these things together. I don’t want you to worry, but I want to keep you informed and ask you to continue to pray. I also hope that you keep sharing ideas with your house church pastor, the board and the staff.

    The Sanctuary really is a treasure that we are discovering together… You are the treasure. Did you get that? NO. You didn’t. So, let me say it again. You, the real YOU, are the treasure. Sure, there’s dirt that God will burn away, but you are his “glorious inheritance.” Ephesians 1:18 – YOU are God’s treasure. You don’t have to go produce something else. You’re it. You’re the beautiful thing that God is making… and has made. So let Him look at you… then, look back at him. His eyes tell you who you are. Once you know, there will be no stopping you. And no stopping us… no stopping God in us.

I’m profoundly blessed by y’all,
Peter

Thursday, 01 January 2009

Dear Sanctuary,
 
I hope you had a marvelous Christmas - I did... or do. Actually, you are a marvelous Christmas. Christ is born in you and it is marvelous to see... I don't mean to sound silly, but it's true. Thanks for being the manger that allows me to see Jesus.
 
This Sunday night we'll be back in Genesis, particularly chapter three, verses one through eight. Our last two sermons from Genesis really lay the ground work for this one, so if you missed them and have a little time, it might be helpful for you to go our "online messages" page and give them a listen. They're titled: "What You Know and Who it Means" and "The Tree in the Middle of the Garden, What You Know and Who it Means II."
 
This week we'll be diving deeper into the mystery of those two trees; how we judge ourselves; the difference between following Jesus and religion (all religion - Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism... and even "Christian"). We'll find that the serpent is still mighty "crafty," he's deceiving us far more than we realize, but our Lord is mighty Good - His Love, Himself, is better than we know. He's really not interested in "bossing" us around. He's all about Christmas - being born in the manger that is you. So stop listening to snakes, come to worship this Sunday night, and prepare to be Christmas: the genesis of Jesus.
 
Love,
Peter

Thursday, 11 December 2008

Dear Sanctuary,

Last week we began preaching on the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. The sermon was titled "What you know and Who it means." This week we'll continue on the same topic, but dig deeper into the nature of God's heart, why this world is broken and what or who it means. If you weren't present last Sunday (That's right, I'm talking to you Bronco Addicts), it would be great if you gave the sermon a listen on line before coming Sunday night (click here). 
 
The story of the fall and the garden, for me, used to be the most embarrassing part of Scripture. I mean I was a geologist, so there was the whole old earth thing going on, but then: "The whole world plunged into chaos and death just because a naked couple listened to a talking snake and took a bite of fruit" - it seemed ridiculous. Well after fifteen years of expositional preaching and twenty years of ministry and the little I know of science, space and time... well I think the story is perhaps my favorite... well OK, it's the story of Jesus and me; Jesus and us. The story isn't ridiculous. It's incredibly nuanced and profound. Preaching it is a tremendous challenge. There are moments I feel like I get this glorious picture of creation and the heart of God. It's all so beautiful, all so good - then I panic. I think, "How can I communicate that?" Well I can't, it will take the Holy Spirit to implant the living Word deep in our hearts... but I think it will also help if you listen to lasts week's sermon.
 
I think it will be worth it. The picture is of you: the depths of your heart, why you do the things you do, and what it all means. It's Gospel. When that Gospel Seed lodges deep in the soil of your heart it bears the fruit of Faith, Hope and Love... then everything is new.
 
So anyway, if you get a chance, give it a listen, watch the Broncos (early game this week), then come worship.
 
Bless You!
Peter

Thursday, 27 November 2008 
Dear Sanctuary,
 
Last year, on the day after Thanksgiving, my family and I went to my office at LMCC and began packing up my things. This Thanksgiving, the Sunday night before Thanksgiving, we sat around our living room and opened cards, notes, presents, gift cards... even a pair of shoes, from all of you. I can't tell you what a blessing that was and is, not just for Susan and me, but for our children as well. Elizabeth was back from CSU. Everyone was there. You blessed all of us.  It's been a crazy year, yet I'm so grateful for you. I'm grateful for your magnanimous hearts and the opportunities the Lord has placed before us.
 
Last year someone gave me this verse, informing me that it was from the Lord. Well it's obviously from the Lord, but more than that, I think it's from the Lord for us. The verse: "I know your works. Behold I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and not denied my name." (Rev. 3:8) This past year, my mind kept returning to this verse. It needed to, because I've been afraid that all the doors would shut. They haven't.
 
I don't believe that the open door is as simple as a program, institution, or building. It's a testimony and a group of hearts surrendered to the Lord (the seed and the dirt). Even so, all those lesser things - budgets, organization, etc. - are a part of delivering that testimony.
 
Last Sunday night we had our congregational meeting. At the meeting we approved two new board members. Andrew Trawick and Elaine Storck rotate off this year (Actually, Elaine has become our part time business administrator... awesome.) Our new board members are Dee Dee Woodman and Duncan Sprague. If you go to the church website, you can find both Dee Dee's testimony and Duncan's testimony (4-20-08 and 1-13-08). I think it's pretty unusual to be able to hear the testimony of each board member in a church, but that's our situation. It's a great one. Listen and I think you'll see that you can trust their hearts and leadership. And when you're done, I think you'll like Jesus more than you do now.
 
After voting on board members, we spoke about the budget. We've been well provided for this past year, but realize that we took in money for quite some time before we began to spend it at our current rate. We also realize that these are crazy economic times. Yet we also realize (that's a lot of "realization") that we haven't yet "asked" for money... for we haven't been sure how we'd spend it if and when we got it. Well, now we do have some opportunities before us and I'm asking - no, begging - you to pray.
 
At the meeting Sam, our treasurer (check out his testimony too), shared three budgets:

1.  Our base budget, which would maintain things as they are.

2.  Our base, plus office space, budget. This budget simply adds a few thousand dollars for leased office space. We really think it's time that we obtain some sort of office space so that the staff can work together. We also hope that it would be downtown so that we can begin to establish a consistent presence and better learn about our neighborhood. We approved this second budget as the fire alarms at Central went off and we closed the meeting. However, we had already presented the third budget, not to be voted on - we're not that far along - but to be pondered and prayed over.

3.  Our base, plus leased warehouse space, budget.
 
A few weeks ago, Frances, Justin and I were downtown looking at options for office space, when Stan Bullis suggested that we look at a large building down the street. Stan's company is looking at the building and he wondered if we'd like to share some office space. He also wondered if we'd like to consider it as a new location for the Sanctuary. As we began looking and doing math in our heads, we realized that leasing this space might not be that much more than leasing Central (then again, it may be quite a bit more). We also realized that even if this were not the space, perhaps we should consider similar spaces.
 
We would really appreciate it, if you would take a little time to pray about this and then write a note to us via the church website with your thoughts. Before we move ahead with something like this we'd need to have another congregational meeting. However, your comments now, combined with our own sense of the Lord's leading, will help us know whether or not we're "barking up the right tree."
 
The space we're currently looking at is a large red brick building on the corner of Park Avenue West and Market. It has a green stripe around the top. Hopefully you can drive by and give it a look. Here are the advantages/disadvantages as I see them.
 
Advantages:
 
1.  Location. The warehouse is in a part of town without many (perhaps no), churches like ours. Yet, there are a great number of new residents in this area: the neighborhood surrounding Coors Field. Coors Field is only one block away from this location. Well, this is the REAL ADVANTAGE: in this location, I suspect that many more people would hear about Jesus.

2.  Availability. We would be able to meet whenever we wanted. This is a tremendous benefit for band rehearsal, youth group, downtown house churches, bible studies, etc. It would also mean that we'd be able to have services on Sunday morning. Many people, especially young families, have expressed a desire to be a part of The Sanctuary, but can't make Sunday nights work. We need your feedback on this. Would a Sunday morning service allow us to minister to more people? We could very easily have more than one service if so desired; however, Sunday nights might be more of a challenge in terms of parking. I'm sure the neighborhood gets extremely crowded when the Rockies have a home game. Of course house churches could meet at the same time or adjust.

3.  Personality. Even though we would still not own the building, we could use the building to reinforce our collective personality. We could hang things on the walls. Move furniture as we so desired. Duct tape people to the steel girders just for kicks... and check this out, there's already a basketball hoop.

4.  Presence. We would be able to establish a sense of presence in a neighborhood, yet this neighborhood really feels like it belongs to the whole city. Thousands live in the new lofts in LoDo, yet hundreds of thousands drive into the neighborhood for baseball games and restaurants every month.

5.  Outreach. It's hard for people to find us, or us to find them, when we have no consistent and central location. This corner is extremely visible. I have a little dream of free spaghetti dinners after Sunday morning services... perhaps the band playing, while the youth group passes out free hot dogs to folks returning to their cars after a baseball game (free counseling, if the game went poorly).

6.  Convenience. Setting up equipment and tearing it down every week, at a place like Central, is more difficult than it might seem. I know that Justin and the band, as well as Mary Etta and the children's ministry, would really appreciate the ability to "set up shop." Of course, office space on the site at which we hold services is helpful for all.

7.  Flexibility. We probably would not own the building, but if we were to buy it, we think it would be fairly easy to sell... at a profit. At present we think we could fit about five hundred folks in a worship service. There's plenty of room now, yet even if we moved to a larger venue (off site) for worship services, we could still use this space for offices and classes.

8.  Volunteers. Currently when a person volunteers with children's ministry, youth ministry or ushering, they have to at least miss out on some of the worship service, if not all. Warehouse space would make it easier to have two services, and thus easier for volunteers to volunteer and still worship with the rest of us. I prefer two services, because I can usually nail the sermon on the second go around :)  If you like rough and edgy, always come to the first. If you like smooth and polished, come to the second.

9.  Real Estate Market. Due to the recent economic downturn, we could conceivably obtain a very valuable lease in a highly desirable neighborhood at a bargain rate.
 
Disadvantages:
 
1.  Money. It will cost more than leasing Central (probably between $30,000 to $100,000 more per year, plus "build out"). We're working on these figures now. Spending money is spending our energy - it's worshiping Jesus with our labor. It's a wonderful thing, provided we're spending it where God desires... AND provided that the pastor dude doesn't have to nag people about giving it. I only want us to spend money if we chose to "go for it" together because we sense the Lord's leading. SO PRAY!!!!!

2.  Change. It's always hard when we make a change. It may be better for some and worse for others. We would not only make a change in location, but probably service time as well... however, we could hold multiple services - one on Sunday morning and perhaps one on Sunday night.

3.  Ownership. There are so many advantages to establishing a place together, yet there are also risks. People can begin to think of the church as "their club." We would still be nomads, but less so. A sense of ownership can be a wonderful thing if we view it as a stewardship, but it can also be - quite literally - hell, if we begin to view God's Church as our club.

4.  Flexibility. We could still be quite flexible, but we would probably be less so. There is something exciting about our ability to pick up and move. We would still be leasing, but our lease would be less flexible than that at Central. We've dreamed of leasing a space like the Paramount Theater. This might still be an option one day, but further away and less probable if we lease the warehouse space.

5.  Personality. We would better be able to establish our own personality, yet the room would feel MUCH less like a traditional church than Central. That's great news for some, really sad news for others. No matter what, you've got to admit, that's a pretty cool room at Central.

6.  Economy. This is a two-edged sword. Real estate is cheaper, but we're making less money. By waiting, we could move with more confidence, yet we might also miss a valuable window.

7.  I stink at baseball. Everyday, driving by Coors Field, I'll be reminded of striking out on the playground at South Elementary.
 
Well, please remember that this third option (the warehouse, not strikes), may become unviable at any time, yet there may be other options that are similar. So... would you at least pray about it? If God sends you an E-mail or FAX, forward it to www.thesanctuarydowntown.org. Even if He doesn't, but you have an opinion, would you pass that along as well? Like I said, we'll have a congregational meeting before we make a move, but the board covets your prayers and wishes that you would win the Lottery and tithe!
 
Thanks for loading up the wagons and choosing to be pioneers. It's kind of fun isn't it? If the market totally tanks, we'll form a commune. Then things will really get exciting.
 
Have a blessed Thanksgiving! Be sure to go to your "house church" this week, (these are the people you'll be living with in the commune).

Love you all,
Peter

Thursday, 13 November 2008

Dear Sanctuary,

We had a wonderful House Church Pastor’s meeting last night. At the meeting it became apparent that in recent sermons, especially the one two weeks ago, I said some things that I should have qualified more thoroughly; things that could easily be misunderstood; things that are still largely mysteries to me. If you’re struggling with something that I said, it’s entirely understandable. I wasn’t clear enough and we were discussing very challenging topics - topics that tap into the deepest of longings and fears. PLEASE, if you’re struggling: would you talk with your house church pastor? We discuss the sermons at our meeting. Even better, just give me a call (303-570-9844) or drop me an E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

No matter what, I hope you understand that Jesus always wants the good for you. I hope you can surrender your heart to him with the deepest faith in His integrity, purity and love.

I think that this Sunday night will be a special one. I hope you come prepared to worship; prepared to hear the Gospel in a new and deeper way; expectant that Jesus will meet us and delight in us, as we delight in Him. He can be confusing to us, but please believe He is GOOD.

Love to you,
Peter

Thursday, 6 November 2008
Dear Sanctuary,
 
Last week we preached on the sacrament of the covenant of marriage. Our sexuality is sacramental in the marriage covenant. Yet for all of us, married or not, sexuality (our longings, memories, joys, sorrows, our very bodies... even our guilt and shame) - for all of us, sexuality is a reference and sign pointing to the Gospel.
 
Last week we preached that "The Sacrament of the Covenant of Marriage" tells us:
 
1.  How God feels and what He wants: (us... all of us)
2.  What Life in the Kingdom is like
3.  And what God is doing in this world
 
In the message I mentioned that "good sex" is like a "vestige of Eden," a "vestige of Life from before the fall." Just describing it can trigger the most agonized longings and deepest fears. Just describing it can make us feel violated. Just describing it can tempt us to hide in shame... Do you see? There is something much deeper than biology tied to our sexuality. It's the story that all the children of Adam, all the daughters of Eve, share in common. But this is the Good News: it's not a tragedy. It's a fairy tale. It's a love story. And we have not yet come to the End.
 
Last week toward the start of the sermon, I asked, "Is this 'vestige of Eden,' only a vestige or is it more like a promise?" Jesus, the Ultimate Adam, has revealed that it's far more than a vestige, it's a promise.
 
We began to speak of it last week. But perhaps you were stuck in fear or shame. In the message I said, "Nothing is wasted." Every experience in the life of a believer will be redeemed in Glory; consummated in an ecstatic union with your Bridegroom and Creator.
 
So, if you thought to yourself, "OK, 'good sex in the covenant of marriage' sounds great, but what does that mean for me now? What does it mean for the wounds I bear from the past? What does it mean for my unfulfilled longings? What does it mean for my messed up desires? Where does that leave me now? ... I'm such a mess. I need help. I need a Helper!" If that's you, I hope you hang in there and I hope you come back this week as we talk about the "desecration of the sacrament" and what that means for us now. (Hint: The story's not over.)
 
I'm sure I can't adequately respond to every issue in 35 minutes in a room of several hundred people, however God can. Our Helper can. So come. And bring your anxieties, your fears, your sorrows and your shame. Lay them at the feet of your Helper. You'll begin to see, what your heart has forgotten: He is Good.
 
Thanks for your courage. Thanks for trusting Jesus with you heart.
 
He loves you more than you can even begin to know.
 
Peter

Thursday, 30 October 2008
Hey Sanctuary,
 
I just wanted to give you a "heads up!" This week we'll be talking about sexuality: the sacrament of the covenant of marriage. You might assume that the topic doesn't apply to you, but it does - more than you know. We all have deep wounds in this area. We all have longings that are confused and unfulfilled. We all have sorrows and joys. But in all of us, the gospel has been written into our very flesh... from before Adam and Eve took the fruit of the tree.
 
Our enemy works furiously to destroy what God is telling us through our sexuality. He knows that a biblical view leads to sexual blessings in this world, but even more, to the deep knowledge of the love that Jesus the Christ has for each one of us for all eternity. Sexuality is a sign pointing to the most beautiful reality. You may never "partake" in the consummation of that sign physically in this world; you may have painful memories from the past or deep fears about the future; you may have employed a strategy of repression or indulgence that now fills you with fear, but no matter what, God has beautiful things to teach you through the outrageously weird and wonderful reality of your own gender.
 
So be sure to come this Sunday night. Invite your friends and plan on utilizing the children's ministry department if you feel unprepared for the questions that may follow.
 
I Love You All: The Sanctuary,
Peter

Thursday, 16 October 2008
Dear Sanctuary,
 
Last weekend we had Lab (It was very nice of Frances and Bill to donate their time in this way :), and this weekend we'll have the Lecture. We'll be talking about Genesis 2:18-24 and the institution of marriage.  BUT NOW PAY ATTENTION! Some of you are thinking: "OH great, bring up that painful topic... no thanks... I'm not married..." or "I'm sick of being married..." or "I never want to be married..." or "all I want is to be married, and now you rub salt in the wound... so No Thanks."

Well no matter what, I think this message is for you. Are you male or female? If so, this message is for you. Are you interested in Jesus? If so, this message is for you. You're getting married to Him.  In all seriousness, God made us Male and Female for some very profound and wonderful reasons. Starting this week, and continuing for the next several weeks (after house church weekend), we'll be looking at some of those reasons. Because our sexuality is so powerful and profoundly good, the topic can be a bit stressful for some... or all. My prayer is that we can all acknowledge that fact, and then examine Scripture with honesty and faith - faith that God is writing a very good story in each of our lives.

Whether we experience sexuality and marriage as a fulfillment or as a longing (most are probably experiencing these things as a longing), God is using these created realities to teach us about our relationship with Him and prepare us for the ecstatic communion with Him that is our destiny.  Because we are picking up a series that we began last year up at Lookout, there are a few old messages that will help build context for what comes next. You don't need to do this, but if you get a chance, it might be helpful to listen to or read two of those old messages. They are titled, "The Helper (Birds do it, Bees do it...)" and "A Very Sexy Creation and the Balance of Power." You can access both messages with the following links to their location on our website: "The Helper (Birds do it, Bees do it...)"; "A Very Sexy Creation". 

Two weeks ago, we talked about Genesis 1 and the reality that we are still being made in God's image. His perfect image is Christ. In Chapter 2 of Genesis we are back in the sixth day of creation (now), when God is still making Adam (mankind) in His own image. This male/female thing is part of how he does it.  At the start of chapter two, Adam is a "He-She" (Eve has not yet been formed from Adam's side). God has Adam name the animals. They are all male and female. They each have a "helper." Adam has no "helper." Or at least he can't find his "helper." He is alone... although He's standing in the presence of God, and as we find out later in Scripture: God is his "Helper." Well, Adam doesn't "get it." And he's still not "finished" in God's image. So God puts Adam to sleep, forms his bride from his bleeding side (sound familiar)... and now you have "relationship issues."  Well, GOOD NEWS! It all has a purpose. God is using it all (in fulfillment and in longing), to shape you in His image and prepare you for an eternity of Ecstatic Communion with Himself. And some people think the Bible is boring! 

So I hope you bring your honesty, faith and "relationship issues" to the Sanctuary this Sunday night. I hope you'll also invite friends. We'll worship the one that made all this confusing "stuff," allow him to shape us at His bleeding side, and invite Him to impregnate us with Life.

Blessings,

Peter

Friday, 03 October 2008
Dear Sanctuary,                                                                                     
 
Some of you have joined our fellowship in the last ten months and some have migrated as a group from Lookout Mountain Community Church. Those of you in the migration know that about eleven months ago we were preaching through the second chapter of Genesis when everything fell apart (or came together depending on your perspective). Whatever the case, we suspended our preaching series through Genesis until a later date. Well I'm really glad to say that this is that "later date." Beginning October fifth, we're planning to dive back in.
 
For those of you that weren't around for the start of the series... and for those of you that were, I would encourage you to either listen to the messages that have come before, or read the text of those messages. They are all available here on our spiffy new website. If that seems to be too daunting a task, I hope that you would at least listen to or read the last two in the series. They're titled "The Helper" and "A Very Sexy Creation." (click here to download or listen on the web: "The Helper"  "A Very Sexy Creation")  Those two sermons are an important preparation for what comes next... and hey, they're pretty good :)
 
I'm titling this series, "Good News from the Garden of Eden." I hope that you will invite friends to come join us. The first several lessons will have to do with marriage, sex, and children. After that we'll dive into some of the most fascinating texts that I've ever read. Some of you may remember that I preached through these verses over ten years ago. At the time, I really struggled with what they meant. I still do, however I've been chewing on them for ten years. I was chewing on them as we preached through books like The Revelation and Matthew. Time and time again, the text which we would be addressing led my mind and heart back to these astounding mysteries in the Garden of Eden.
 
I believe that preaching is to always be an adventure because our journey is an adventure and none of us have arrived. I'm writing because I truly want you to join this adventure and go on this journey with me. We can go for it, because we know that Jesus is the way and that He is also the End. He's the Beginning, the End and the Way. And he's always good.
 
I don't know exactly where Jesus will lead us, but I know that he gives us some astounding signposts for the journey. They are signposts that the modern American Evangelical Church has largely ignored. They are Scriptures which reveal  that this weird story, from the most ancient of times, is about far more than just two ditzy naked people listening to a talking snake under a couple of magic trees. I want to list some of these scriptures in the hope that over the next several months you would read them over, ponder their meaning and join in this journey.  
 
Would you do that? Take some time. Read Genesis two and three several times and read the verses below. Each one of these texts is deep enough to meditate upon the rest of your life. The underlined verses are those verses that I find especially challenging to our modern notions of who God is, and what he's doing... especially challenging, and especially packed with wonder - wonderful. And they're all about you! The Garden Story is your story and Jesus' Story.
 

    * SEX AND MARRIAGE: Ephesians 5:21-33

    * CHILDREN: Isaiah 54:1-8

    * THE FIRST ADAM AND THE "ULTIMATE ADAM": Romans 5:12-21; 1 Corinthians 15:20-28; Ephesians 1:3-10

    * THE FIRST EVE AND THE ULTIMATE EVE -US: Ezekiel 16; Revelation 19:6-8, 21:1-4

    * THE GARDEN: John 19:41, 20:15-16; Luke 23:43; Revelation: 22:1-3

    * THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL: Romans 5:12-13; Galatians 3:10-13

    * THE TWO TREES AND THE ONE TREE: Acts 5:30; 1 Peter 2:21-24; Revelation 22:2

    * THE CURSE: Romans 8:18-25, 11:32-36; Revelation 22:3

    * CREATION AND THE CREATION OF US: John 1:1-18, 3:1-8, 18-19, 36, 1 Peter 1:22-25, Colossians 1:15-20; 2 Corinthians 5:16-17; Galatians 6:15

    * THE FINISHED CREATION, TIME AND ETERNITY: Genesis 1:31-2:2; Revelation 1:12-20, 8:1-2,10:5-7, 11:15, 16:17; John 19:30; Hebrews 9:11-12, 23-28, Revelation 3:14, 22:12-13  

There's more. But that's a good start.
 
I hope you make worship a weekly practice regardless of the topic. However, I'll list our schedule so that you can prepare for worship and invite friends on the appropriate weekends - some of them may relate to one topic more than another. The first several Genesis messages will have to do with sex and marriage and as always - Jesus. (You certainly didn't think that God wouldn't have some amazing things to say to you through such powerful passions... did you?) After that we'll move more directly into the amazing story of the fall, the curse and the promised redemption. It's the story of your soul.
 

    * October 5 - "Who we are: Half Baked Pilgrim People" - Genesis 1:1-2:22 (We'll review a bit of Genesis and wrestle with what it means)

    * October 12 - "The Gospel according to Chris Payne" (This week we'll hear a really fascinating testimony from one of our House Church Pastors)

    * October 19 - "Marriage: God's Sneaky Way to Get a Person Crucified" Genesis 2:21-25 (Don't worry. If you're not married - you probably are. This message is about you.)

    * October 26 - House Churches

    * November 2 - "The Sacrament of the Covenant: Sex" Genesis 1:27-28, 2:21-25 (Don't worry, if you're celibate... well that's complicated. I'm trying to say, this is all about you and Jesus.)

    * November 9 - "The Desecration of a Sacrament" Genesis 2:21-3:10 (Why God is so uptight about sex. Hint: He likes it and it goes far deeper than we know.)

    * November 16 - ? (Probably, "The Gospel according to _____")

    * November 23 - "The Fruit of the Sacrament: Children" Genesis 1:27-28 (Don't worry if you don't have kids - you do. You bear eternal fruit)

    * November 30 - House Churches

    * December - I don't have it mapped out yet, but this is when things will really get interesting. Read the verses above and I think you'll begin to see what I mean. We'll talk about: Jesus as the "Ultimate Adam," that doesn't fail; the crazy tree where we receive life AND the knowledge of good and evil; and Eve, the mother of the living, a prostitute transformed into the Bride of Christ. We'll try to understand our own frightened hearts and why we hide them in darkness; the nature of evil and why God would let that snake into His garden; the hidden blessings of the curse; and how God restores us... and more than restores us, creates us in His Image, bringing us home to His Garden City far beyond the ecstasy of Eden.  

Really, I've wondered if God wanted us out from under some old constraints so that we could explore the second and third chapters of Genesis in freedom. Don't worry. All of Scripture is our authority. It's all true. We've just been afraid to believe it. We've been afraid to believe God's Word. We're afraid He isn't good. We're afraid because we've listened to lies from a snake. It's high time we stopped listening to snakes.

God is better than you thought.
The Love of Jesus is deeper that you know.
And the Spirit is everywhere working the wonders of Mercy.
 
We have Good News, Gospel, even from the Garden of Eden.
 
See You Soon,

Peter

Thursday, 11 September 2008
Hey Everybody,

I’m really excited about what we’re starting this week at The Sanctuary. At the end of the normal worship service, the band will keep going. We’re calling it “Resound.” At the Benediction, I’ll invite folks to either hang out in the narthex or to stay and keep worshipping for as long as they like. The band will play for a time. Then Justin will take over. Then if folks are still worshipping or praying, a CD will take over. Ministers from our Ministry Team will be seated in the green chairs on the side of the room, available to minister to people through prayer, counseling and practical assistance.

The idea is that sometimes a half hour of singing just doesn’t do it… but sometimes it does. I’m a firm believer that sometimes Jesus wants you to take someone to dinner. Sometimes He wants you to hobnob with friends on the sidewalk. Sometimes he wants you to get home so the kids can finish their homework… and sometimes He’d like you to stay and sing to Him just a little longer. We’ll let you and Jesus figure that out.

But no matter what, He always wants you to worship – eating, hobnobbing, doing homework or singing – as Christians, everything we do is to be worship (Colossians 3:17). Everything we do is to be done from a heart grateful to God for His love to us, in Christ Jesus. Yet, when we gather to pray, preach, commune and sing, it’s like we’re going on a date with Jesus, our Bridegroom. That time of focused worship helps us to worship all the time; like a date with my wife helps me love her all the time. Sometimes we need a longer date. Sometimes we need a really good restaurant with great music.

At the Sanctuary, we’re blessed with some incredible music. However it’s more than music. Justin and the folks that play with him in the band are some of the very best at leading others into worship. So I hope that sometimes you’d take advantage of the incredible gift we have. No pressure! Sometimes, I’ll hobnob in the back. Sometimes, I’ll pray down front. Sometimes, I’ll have to get the kids home to do their homework. Sometimes I’ll get to stay and sing… I really am excited about that. In those moments, when I give myself to Him, I find He gives himself to me. For a bonehead like me, really giving myself through worship takes more than three or four songs. But when I persist in singing, “Jesus I adore you,” I begin to feel, “Jesus I adore you.” God seems to reorient my mind, heal my soul and whisper in my spirit, “Peter, I adore you.” I’m excited about that. I’m hoping that you will be too.

Much Love,

Peter

Thursday, 22 August 2008
Dear Sanctuary Types,

Thanks for letting me address the topic of Hell last week! This week, I’d like to follow with a related theme: Judgment. You must be thinking, “Wow, these light topics! How attractive can we be?” Actually I can think of no better message for new-comers and unbelievers. Ultimately there is no lighter message. For God’s Judgment in Christ Jesus sets us free from the “law of sin and death!” And actually this message is a lot of fun to preach… I don’t think you’ll be bored, so I hope that you’d invite your friends.

Next week is our “House Church Weekend” when folks meet throughout the city for worship in homes. We’ll be passing out a vision for House Churches this weekend at the worship service. We know that it is a challenge and we know that it can be messy, but we really hope that our basic House Church Structure can make room for “good things to run wild.” In other words, we hope that the monthly worship meeting would just be the beginning of a bunch of community life that we, as a large institution, do not manage or regulate. Would you pray for your House Church, attend your House Church worship service, and ask God to help you dream some dreams for what he wants to do through you and the community that is your house church? If in the course of life at the Sanctuary you ever find yourself thinking, “Man, the church ought to do this or be that or whatever…,” would you remind yourself that you are the church? Ask Jesus, if He wants you to head up a group of folks that “does this or is that or whatever.” If the answer is “Yes,” then grab some folks in your house church and get going. I must confess whenever I hear of a need in the body, I immediately think, “How can I create a program or hire some staff to meet that need?” As an institution we may obviously benefit from some “staff” along the way, but I hope that won’t be our immediate response to every need. You are our immediate response to every need. And the best responses – actually the only real responses – grow out of our community life.

When we return to Corporate Worship in September I plan to preach a few messages regarding our worship service and the work of our “Ministry Team.” You’ll be hearing more soon, but I’d like you to remember that on September 14th, we’ll begin having “extended worship”(we’re working on a better name), at the “end” (which won’t actually be the end), of each service. Well, the idea is that if you want to leave, hob-nobb, go out for dinner etc., “after” the service, you still can - just like now. However, for those who so desire, the band will continue to play, the ministry team will be available for prayer, and y’all can just stay and worship or soak in the presence of Christ’s Spirit as he inhabits His Sanctuary that is us.

Once I feel that we’re ready, we’ll dive into the second chapter of Genesis. I hope that you’d be praying about that as well. It’s filled with all sorts of meaning regarding sexuality, marriage and the family, yet on an even deeper level it contains mysterious and glorious truths regarding God’s family and what it means to be human.

Would you pray for one other thing as well? Pray for wisdom for the board and staff. As we head into the fall we’re definitely feeling the need to be better organized, yet at the same time, we don’t want to create a structure that may become a prison; a structure that constricts life rather than gives it. That’s been a challenge for the church for two thousand years. In the end it’s a matter of the heart, so would you pray for our hearts that we’d walk by faith in the freedom and power of Christ’s Spirit?

If you read this far… THANKS! It’s such a gift to me, to be able to walk down this road with you. God Bless You!

Peter

Thursday, 14 August 2008
Hey Everybody,

As I mentioned last week, this week I’ll be preaching on the topic of Hell. Actually every sermon is on the topic of God’s Grace in Jesus Christ our Lord – but how He relates to Hell is utterly fascinating.

I’ve been hesitant to address the topic head on, because it is so controversial for some and because I didn’t want folks to think that’s all that we’re about. Yet, I feel a bit haunted – by a good ghost, The Holy Ghost – with the idea that I’m supposed to address this topic. It really does matter to our understanding of God’s Mercy and the unquenchable power of Christ’s death and resurrection. It also affects my ability to preach about everything else, (including Genesis, which will be our study in the fall). Time and time again, I’ve noticed that people will get hung up on ideas in sermons, because they have an incomplete perspective on the biblical idea of Hell. Actually there isn’t one biblical word for “Hell,” but several different words and ideas that get translated as “Hell” – some of those ideas and words, may even be polar opposites of each other… it’s no wonder we get confused.

So I’m going to talk about it this week. As always feel entirely free to disagree. However, I hope you do not feel free to be unbiblical. Even more, I hope you build your life on the rock solid truth that Jesus is Lord and Savior – salvation belongs to our God. For a text we’ll use the short little book of Jonah. If you have time to read it before Sunday night that would really help. I also hope that you would invite friends and those that struggle with these ideas. After the service, I’ll hang out in the chapel to discuss these issues with anyone that would like to discuss them. We’ve also attached a document to this E-mail titled “All Things New’ and a place called ‘Hell.” It’s an edited version of what I sent to the Presbytery last year. If you have questions, I think you’ll find it really helpful.

Thanks for your willingness to wrestle the Word. He longs to bless you and He gives us a new name.

Much Love,

Peter

Thursday, 10 July 2008
Dear Sanctuary,

Last week we began preaching a little mini-series on the Word of God, Scripture and reading your Bible. I compared Scripture to the Love letters that I used to get from Susan in College – love letters that cut my heart, captured me, gave me life and bore fruit. I hope it wasn’t too sappy and I also hope that everyone heard what I said, “I’m talking about your marriage to Jesus – don’t get hung up on your broken stories.”

All of our earthly stories are broken (including mine), that’s because none of them are the whole story… only glimpses of The Story. A few love letters are a glimpse of the Great Love Letter. The only reason we can mourn over our broken stories is because our hearts long for the Great Story. This week we’ll keep preaching on encountering Jesus in Scripture. We’ll take a look at the Great Story and what it means for our stories.

Once again, I think it would be a great week to invite friends, neighbors and even enemies… what a great way to heap burning coals on their heads! Introduce them to the red hot love of God, then, buy them a fish taco at Wahoo’s down the street!!

See You Sunday I Hope,

Peter