The Centrality of Prayer in Your Art

In your endeavors to see the creative power of God unleashed through your life, remember two things about the centrality of prayer.

1. There is an inherent beauty when we bring our best effort backed by godly character to the table. Regardless of who sees your art or responds to your communication, God is pleased when you do everything as worship unto Him. This perspective comes only through prayer. Do not give prayer lip service, but pray. Watch what happens when you trust the leadership of the Holy Spirit in prayer and obedience.

2. The mission of God is to be OUR primary mission as well. Have a wonderful career, work hard, see results, build your network, but through it all, pray and ask God to teach you what it means to seek His kingdom and righteousness FIRST. For then, all these things will be added unto you as well (Matthew 6:33). You have a heavenly assignment that transcends time. Do not focus on your earthly portfolio to the neglect of your eternal portfolio.

The "Thankful List" Challenge

Sometime this week...

1. Sit down with some paper, a pen, and about twenty minutes of free time.
2. Get in a place where you can focus, without distraction, and put on some quiet music.
3. Write down ALL the things you are thankful for. Don't rush. Don't be afraid to stop and just think.
4. As you do, ask God for His perspective and allow your spirit to rise up in worship and thankfulness.
5. Don't take even one thing for granted!

This is life changing. Learn to see all your life through the grid of gratitude. As you do, you will also begin to commit all your days into God's hands, trusting that every good and perfect gift is from Him. And... what once were your greatest problems, may become your greatest opportunities. Opportunities to rethink, to grow, to seek God, to gain new perspective, to reframe, to refocus, and to understand what really matters.

True Heart of Generosity

I have been SO amazed by our church's heart of generosity! It reminds me a lot of the kind of church culture seen in the book of Acts.

The Report

1. Since the beginning, there have been various people giving anonymously to help others out just when they needed it. Awesome.
2. Now, in the past month, we have had our first two special offerings for missions projects on Sunday mornings. Both Sundays had about 50 people in attendance, and both offerings were well over $2,000.
3. Then, I just found out that last week at one of our small groups, four people stepped up to give $600 to pay for four low-income kids from another church to go to an awesome youth convention here in SoCal.
4. Lastly... this month, after all the extra giving, has still been the best financial month for Clarity since we started.

The Point

Now, this is not all about money... BUT, where your treasure is, there your heart is. An evidence that you are following Christ and truly care is always clearly seen in your spending choices.

And, all this has been done before we have even had enough money to pay for all our own operational expenses. But, the growth and culture of generosity has been undeniable. We are seeing the truth of the simple principle... you REAP what you SOW.

So, keep supporting this church as we grow into self sufficiency (meaning all expenses paid from in-house giving), and we will keep setting our culture up as one of generosity as we give whenever and however we can. I believe that in the future, this church community will give many millions of dollars to the work of God all over the world (from justice issues to evangelism to the ends of the earth).

The Thanks

Also, we will ALWAYS need a support network as we plant more churches in west LA and wherever God leads us. Thanks to all those in the Clarity community in LA that give the best of their time, talent, and treasure to see God’s Kingdom come here. AND, thanks to all those around the country that faithfully support us prayerfully and financially.

2 Corinthians 9:6-7
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

S.O.A.P. Encouragement / Worship Music Links

Yesterday at the Clarity gathering we began our series on prayer. What would happen if we truly UNDERSTOOD, BELIEVED, and ENGAGED in what Jesus teaches us about prayer! It would be the beginning of a revolution of the world.

THE CHALLENGE

I challenged each person to spend time TODAY in prayer and listening to God through His Word by using the S.O.A.P. exercise. You can use your new Life Journal or just any piece of paper. Remember, you'll also need a STOP list to go along with this START list. You can never start something new without stopping something else. Maybe for today, no online browsing, no social media, skip a meal, no TV, no gaming, etc. Here is a recap on what to do...

S.O.A.P.

The S.O.A.P. Model is simply a tool we use for reading the bible, discovering what it is saying, and applying its teachings to our lives. Below is a breakdown of how it works:

S :: read the Scriptures given for the day (use your daily reading plan in your Life Journal, or, try Philippians 4:6-7 today).

O :: use a journal to write down any Observations that come to mind. Ask yourself questions like “Who is doing what and why?” “Where is this happening?” “What does this passage tell me about God?” “What does this passage tell me about me?” “How is the gospel on display in this passage?”

A :: list the Application to the verses—the ‘what you will do’ in response to this. Ask yourself questions like “How does this passage change how I see God, myself, and the world?” “What will I do in response to this?”

P :: spend time in Prayer with God in relation to what He has shown you. Try writing your prayers down on your Prayer List.

THE ENVIRONMENT

I also talked about creating an environment for your usual PLACE of PRAYER. It was said of Jesus that he had usual places of prayer, so we should too. It is good to have a place where you can focus without distractions. You may even want to have a piece of paper by you so you can write down anything that comes to mind that you need to do later, then you won't have to think about it at that moment and you can keep focusing on prayer.

WORSHIP

A HUGE part of prayer is worship; honoring God for who he is and thanking Him for all He has done. Music is a powerful tool to help us engage in worship. I said yesterday that I would post some links to great worship music to check out. Here are some links to Youtube videos so you can check them out for free, then decide if you want to buy...

Gungor
The Glorious Unseen
John Mark McMillan
Aaron Keyes
Trinity Grace Church
Vineyard
Jason Upton
Hillsong United
Israel Houghton (gospel flavor)
Matt Redman
Chris Tomlin
Keith Green (oldie but one of my favorites)

Enjoy!

A Revolution of the World - Prayer

John Foster writes, “If more or all of the disciples of Christianity were to pray, with an earnest and unalterable resolution, in order that heaven should not withhold anything that the most persistent prayer could obtain, it would be a sign that a revolution of the world was at hand.”

This month at Clarity is the Prayer Experiment. What would happen if we truly UNDERSTOOD and BELIEVED what the Scriptures taught us about prayer AND were fully engaged in participating in the highest calling of prayer? Let’s find out! We will seek the face of God, make our petitions known before Him with shameless audacity, ask with persistence, and believe that mountains will move. We will be a house of prayer when we gather as one and when we scatter into our personal lives throughout the week.

This focus in prayer will be coupled with a focus on studying the Word of God. Each person will receive a Life Journal and be taught the SOAP exercise of Bible study. There is NOTHING more important than learning to connect with God daily on your own!

Jesus is clear in John Chapter 15 that we can do nothing apart from God. He says that we can only be productive as we abide with Him and stay connected to the vine… for we are the branches, and we NEED the vine for sustenance and effectiveness. The way we stay connected is to spend time in His presence, talking with Him, and listening to Him through His Word and His voice.

My desire is to see our church explode with spiritual growth and health as we each learn to connect with God! This, and this alone, is the beginning of a revolution of the world.

Clarity One Year Celebrations and Prayers

A Few Highlights from the Clarity One Year Anniversary Party...

1. I honored the team that moved from PA almost two years ago. I gave them each a hammer with their name and this scripture on it...

Luke 14:28-33 “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish....’ In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples."

They have each counted the cost and have been faithful through great risk and sacrifice to do what God has called us to do.

2. I gave smooth stones to everyone there as a reminder of three things... as a memorial for how they have served to launch this church, to teach us about this truth... 1 Peter 2:5 - "You, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ," and as a reminder that God is developing them personally, their character, smoothing the rough edges into the image of Christ.

3. We CELEBRATED a bunch of things... survival (amazing that we are alive and still love each other), growth spiritually and numerically, depth (taking root below), healthy foundations (to build upon), forming as a family, miraculous financial provision, and most of all, God!

4. We PRAYED the Lord’s Prayer, for miraculous growth over this next year both spiritually and numerically, for healthy and thriving disciples that multiply, and for fullest joy in Jesus.

THAT PEOPLE WILL CLEARY SEE AND KNOW GOD... AND THAT WE WOULD GLORIFY GOD!

Complete - Part 5 - Brought into Fullness (notes)

For those who are following our current series, here are the notes (including the fill ins) for Part 5, “Brought into Fullness.” You can listen to the message here.

Complete
Part 5 – Brought into Fullness

Colossians 2:9-10
For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness.

What is God’s fullness? According to Colossians, here are seven aspects of God’s fullness which you are brought into.

1. Full Power (2:10b) – When you are brought into Christ, you are connected with the highest power in the universe. It is creative, problem solving, world creating, imaginative, legal, and authoritative power. You need not seek more power.

2. Full Qualification (2:11) – When you are brought into Christ, you are qualified by the one who holds all the power. It is far higher than any degree or diploma, it is the seal of competence from God himself.

*(2:16-23) The rules are but a shadow, the reality is Christ.

3. Full Life (2:12-13a) – When you are brought into Christ, you are given life to the fullest as a gift. The deepest joy, love, and passion are alive in you.

4. Full Forgiveness (2:13b) – Your “list of sins” is erased and you are left only with a clean slate, a pure heart, and clear conscience.

5. Full Freedom (2:14) – When you are brought into Christ, all your indebtedness for sin is cancelled. You are made completely free.

6. Full Relief (2:16) – When you are brought into Christ, the burdens you carry, the weight you uphold, the problems that bind you, are all released and you can breathe.

7. Full Affirmation (2:16) – When you are brought into Christ, you need not justify, defend, or affirm yourself… rather, God himself is your public affirmation and justification. Amazing.

Complete - Part 4 - Two Words for Life (notes)

For those who are following our current series, here are the notes (including the fill ins) for Part 4, “Two Words for Life.” You can listen to the message here.

Complete - Part 4
Two Words for Life

Colossians 2:6-7
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

This is the simplest and possibly most profound message you have ever heard. In every situation you encounter, just remember two words. These words have great theological and practical implications.

Based on Colossians 2:6-7...

1. Receive &
2. Continue

Always remember... receive the fullness of God through Christ. You can't earn it or lose it, you can only receive it. Then, continue. Don't stop, keep walking, deeply rooted in Him, bearing fruit, strengthened in faith, and filled with thanksgiving. It's important to start strong but imperative to finish strong.

Complete - Part 3 - The Riches of Understanding (Notes)

For those who are following our current series, here are the notes (including the fill ins) for Part 3, “The Riches of Understanding.” You can listen to this message here.

Complete – Part 3
The Riches of Understanding

Colossians 1:24-29 and 2:1-5

1. There is a mission so important that it is worth suffering for, becoming a servant to, and strenuously contending for with all the energy of Christ (1:24, 25, and 29).

a. to present the Word of God in fullness (1:25)

b. that you may be fully mature in Christ (1:28)

c. understanding that God has chosen to make known the glorious riches of this mystery to you (1:26-27)

2. The message that drives the mission is Christ in you, the hope of glory (1:27).

a. glory is greatness, splendor, and magnificence

b. part of this glory is the goal for us to be encouraged in heart and united in love so that we may (2:2)…

c. have the full riches of complete understanding (2:2)

d. know the mystery of God, which is Christ (2:2)

e. have all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (2:3)

3. Hope means two things…

a. a hope that rescues you from your failure and grants you glory

b. a hope that is a sure expectation and certainty

4. There will be those who convincingly try to deceive you (2:4)

a. be disciplined (2:5)

b. decide how and when

c. have a firm faith in Christ (2:5)

Complete - Part 2 - It's All About Jesus (Notes)

For those who are following our current series, here are the notes (including the fill ins) for Part 2, “It’s All About Jesus.” You can listen to this message here.

Complete – Part 2 - It’s All About Jesus
7/3/11
Colossians 1:15-23

I. Jesus is the perfectly clear image of God. (1:15)

-the power behind the creation of all things (1:16)
-the reason for the creation of all things (1:16)
-the glue that holds all things together (1:17)
-the operating system of the universe (1:17)
-the leader of the church (1:18)
-the first born in the family of God (1:18)
-the fullness of God (1:19)
-the re-connector of all things to God (1:20)
-the peace-maker through His blood shed on the cross (1:20)

II. You were completely disconnected from God, but now, because of Jesus, you can be fully reconnected.

-You were alienated from God (1:21)
-You were an enemy of God in your mind…
because of your evil behavior (1:21)
-But now, you are re-connected to God…
presented holy in his sight…
without blemish and free from accusation (1:22)
-If you continue in your faith…
being established and firm…
not moving from the hope held out in the gospel (1:23)

Complete - Part 1 - I.D. from God (Notes)

For those who are following our current series, here are the notes (including the fill ins) from Part 1, “I.D. from God.” You can listen to this message here.

Complete - Part 1 – I.D. From God
Colossians 1:1-14
6/26/11

1. When you know who God is, then you will know who you are.

-God the Father has a perfect and loving will to be revealed to you, His child (1:1, 1:9).
-God the Son is Jesus, your Savior, rescuing you from sin and death (1:13-14).
-God the Spirit gives you wisdom and understanding (1:9).
-God’s good news to you is the gospel (1:5-6); declaring you qualified (1:12), rescued (1:13), and forgiven (1:14).

2. When you know who you are, you will know what to do.

God’s will is… that you may live a life worthy of the Lord… which is to please Him in every way… by…
a. bearing fruit in every good work,
b. growing in the knowledge of God, and
c. being strengthened with ALL power according to HIS glorious might… so that
1. you will have GREAT endurance and patience
2. and give joyful thanks to God

3. When you know who God is, then you will know who we are.

The church is God’s holy PEOPLE, the faithful brothers and sisters in Christ (1:1-2).
The difference between attendees and members can be summed up in one word: commitment.

Gain, Save, Give

Some of the important points and quotes from last weeks message about money God’s way.

“Having, first, gained all you can, and, secondly saved all you can, then give all you can.” -John Wesley

GAIN ALL YOU CAN
God wants us to be productive and wise with all that we have been entrusted with (Luke 16:1-13).

SAVE ALL YOU CAN
“Whenever you expend anything to only please your taste or other senses, you pay so much for sensuality. When you lay out money to please your eye, you give so much for a stronger attachment to these pleasures which perish in the using. While you are purchasing anything for the admiration of men, you are purchasing more vanity. Had you not then enough of vanity, sensuality, and perishing. Was there need of any addition? And would you pay for it, too? What manner of wisdom is this? Would not literally throwing your money into the sea be a less mischievous folly?”
-John Wesley

GIVE ALL YOU CAN
It’s true. You can never out-give God. AND, you growing in generosity is a necessary sign of you growing into Christ-likeness.

Honor the LORD with your possessions, with the firstfruits of all your increase; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.
Proverbs 3:1-10

Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Luke 6:38

5 Ways to Grow Spiritually this Summer

Guest Blogger - Pastor Jeff Leake from PA posted this yesterday. Great stuff.

I absolutely love the summer months. Maybe its because I live in Pittsburgh, where good weather is a rarity and something to be treasured? But summer can also be a time where we drift away from God. Why? Schedules shift and change. Small Groups take a break (some keep meeting). Habits are sometimes put on hold.

A spiritual malaise can settle in on our soul.

Here's some suggestions for how to stay strong spiritually this summer:

#1 - TAKE A WALK TO THINK AND PRAY

There is nothing quite like a nice day, early in the morning, or late at night - to get alone with God. A few days ago, I got outside early in the morning, walked several miles, and just talked to God about what was on my heart.

Some of the time, I tuned my own spirit to listen to what God had to say to me. And some of the time, I just enjoyed the beauty of God's handiwork and thanked him for the opportunity to enjoy this moment in His presence. It was truly refreshing.

#2 - JOURNAL

One of the most important disciplines for my soul is the practice of 'journaling' where I record the personal revelation that God is speaking to me at the moment. Most often it is a reflection on a specific verse of Scripture and an application to my own life at the moment.

I love the format that Wayne Cordiero provides (S.O.A.P. - Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer). Sit down in a park or on the beach with a pen, a Bible, and a journal and record what God is saying to you specifically right now.

#3 - AGREE WITH SOMEONE TO DO SOMETHING AGGRESSIVE SPIRITUALLY

Find someone who will fast with you for a few days. Join a freind in serving someone in need. Host a picnic for your neighborhood and ask your small group to help you host it. Read through the book of Acts (one chapter a day for a month) and get together to talk about what you are learning as you read.

#4 - STAY COMMITTED TO CORPORATE WORSHIP

There is something very powerful about the HABIT of church attendance. More important that any one message that you hear preached or any one experience you have in worship - is the collective impact on your soul that occurs when you develop the consistent habit of just showing up.

I think the modeling of that conviction is one of the most important things I can do for my own kids spiritually. My parents built that habit in me. It stuck with me throughout life. It revealed what was truly a priority. Worship wasn't based on schedule or convenience. It was a value that was expressed by a habit. Powerful stuff.

#5 - STRETCH YOURSELF TO STUDY

There are so many creative resources available to you to feed yourself spiritually. Read a devotional book. Download a free podcast and listen to a message. Identify a passage of Scripture that you want to understand better. Get out a notebook and research a passage for yourself. There are some great online tools at sites like Biblegateway.com or Youversion.com.

I guess that bottom line is this: If you don't take initiative and ownership over your own spiritual life this summer, you may very well drift away from God. It doesn't have to be that way. You can thrive if you do more than just survive. So I say - go for it. Make this summer one of your best summers ever.

3 Weeks of Principles to Help You Defeat Your Giant

WEEK 1 - 1 Samuel 17:1-16
1. Giants are a matter of perspective.
2. Giants seem bigger when you are not following God.
3. Fear in contagious, so spend time with overcomers.
4. Giants don’t leave on their own; they must be defeated.

WEEK 2 - 1 Samuel 17:17-26
1. You are old enough to defeat a giant whenever you have learned to depend on God and the power of the Holy Spirit.
2. God uses unlikely heroes.
3. Deal with your giant immediately.
4. You will face your giant when you finally realize the cost of allowing it to remain.

WEEK 3 - 1 Samuel 17:27-37

1. Don’t let critics distract you from the cause.
2. Fight the right fight (fight the giant, not your critics).
3. Small battles are practice for big victories.
4. All giants, regardless of how they look to you, are the same size to God.
5. The ability to defeat giants comes from God.

Top 10 Things I Want to Say to Clarity

1. I am HONORED to be the pastor of this awesome church! I count it a privilege and a sobering responsibility to lead as I follow Christ.

2. I am thrilled that YOU are a part of this. Every single one of you represents a series of miracles that have led you here for this time.

3. As we unite around Jesus Christ, His Kingdom WILL come and shake our community with God’s love in ways that we can’t even imagine right now.

4. Pray for the people God has put in your life. Family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers. Get to know them. LOVE them. INVITE them to Clarity to hear the good news of Jesus... that they are LOVED beyond measure and are invited into the greatest journey of all time, following Him.

5. If you have recently become a follower of Jesus, I am SO pumped about your new journey. Talk to God, read your Bible (start with John), and stay committed to attending Clarity. I encourage you to get connected with a small group and get baptized on May 22nd. Email Info@clarity.la for more info.

6. You did an absolutely amazing job with the Eggstravaganza and our first four Sunday morning gatherings at McKinley! We have connected with over 1,100 new people, tripled the average size of our gatherings, and seen at least six people decide to become followers of Jesus! THAT is worth it all.

7. As we transition into this new season of our church’s life; even though there is a lot to do, it’s not that hard if we all just do our part. We are in this for the long haul, so set your pace for a marathon, not a sprint. Learn to LOVE the work, ENJOY the journey, and have JOY in the process. Good attitudes are contagious.

8. Support your team leaders like CRAZY! Nothing strengthens a church more than when the people encourage, believe in, pray for, and have the backs of their leaders.

9. Leaders, support your teams like CRAZY! Nothing strengthens a church more than when the leaders encourage, believe in, pray for, and have the backs of their team members.

10. Think right now about the “GIANT” you want to confront and overcome during this series. Now read 2 Samuel 17:1-51 and build up your faith! I can’t wait for Sunday as we take the next step in learning to defeat Goliath! See you then.