Michael Harrison's e-devotion

Luke 19:10   NLT For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost. This is the time of year when one of our partners in ministry, the SBCV, shares ministry in Virginia and how churches are making a difference.   We really are stronger when we serve together. The SBCV is made up of hundreds of churches that believe Jesus is the reason we do everything.   Some of the churches have been around a long time and some are pretty new.   Some of the churches are just now getting started.   What excites me most is that we are partners because of Christ and with our varied talents are making an impact in our communities for Christ. There are some great churches in the big cities such as Richmond, Virginia Beach and in the areas surrounding Washington, DC.   Many of those are doing ministry to the poor in their community similar to what we do and to the people we serve in our community.   Then there are churches in the most rural par...

A phrase from Kevin Costner's film " Field of Dreams " has stuck in my mind for years. "If you build it, they will come." The little girl in the movie said this line to her dad who finally built a baseball field for the ghosts of old players to use. Lets leave the happenings of the movie for the bigger thought in that phrase. Acts 7:48 (nlt) --- However, the Most High doesn't live in temples made by human hands. As the prophet says, I like beautiful churches. To walk through one that is well thought through and fully functional as well as pleasing to the eye is cool, but God doesn't live in churches. He lives in the lives of people. You and me. For years I have watched churches crumble because the building or their money begins to take the place of the call of God on the group of people who are the local church. When The Community Fellowship was founded one year ago, I said and continue to say that we want to invest what we have an who we are i...

I often, like daily, read church planter/pastor Mark Batterson's blog . An entry he wrote last week got me to thinking more about who I am and who this new church is and how we are going to be touching our community and involving people to do that. Please read this article and let me know your thoughts: Survey Culture .

Culturally relevant and Biblically faithful. Those continue to be two of my biggest concerns and prayer requests for ministry no matter where I am. To be relevant is to be sharing truth while talking about things people want to listen to. Often that means by getting their attention, you have to change their direction. Man, that is tough. But that is God’s call on His church, you and me. To be Biblically faithful is easy. Stick to the Bible. If God says it, do it, share it, be it and live it no matter the consequences. I have heard for years people say something like this: the message never changes BUT the methods have to change. There it is…. Culturally relevant and Biblically faithful….God’s call on this pastor and the church I serve as well as every believer in the world. Are we willing to do what it takes to be relevant and faithful to His word? Then he said, "Go into the world. Go everywhere and announce the Message of God's good news to one and all. 16 Whoever b...