Don't be afraid to grab some coffee and a bagel, find your way to the front, and join in and high-five five each week. Lakeland's new venue at the Belfry Theatre launched this weekend, and this charming venue was full of life and people longing to know you.
Yes, you. You who have been intimidated by church will find authenticity. You who have been overwhelmed with church will find simplicity. You who have been hurt by church will find family. Because despite the distant and often disingenuous relationships our world facilitates, we all still crave a place to be known. We all still crave a place that feels like us, where they were incomplete without us. And, that is the opportunity the Belfry venue is offering some of you.
At Lakeland, we believe being known and being in community is essential to a life of learning about and eventually choosing to follow Jesus. Many come and go from religion and church because all they have is belief--a belief in God and maybe even Jesus--but, they lack a real encounter with the saving grace of Jesus. So, as the church, we understand that giving people the space to encounter Jesus is a big deal. And, at Lakeland, we are doing that in two ways: we have created space at our primary venue by opening up more seats, and we have opened this secondary venue, a venue with a unique opportunity to engage those new to God and the church.
As you immerse yourself at the Belfry, enjoy the friendly faces, the music, and the practical teaching, but don't let it stop there. Because, the Belfry will grow. People will engage with the life-changing message of the gospel, and they will stay. And, you will have to fight for what the Belfry feels like now. You will have to fight to keep it a family. And, you will have to join in and invite others in on a deeper level. You will need a small group to connect with in the sea of faces. So, join one now. Be known. Live this life of following Jesus with a few who love you well.
And, as you engage in genuine community, you will wonder how you ever survived without it. And, you will want everyone to have what you have. I love that my kids will grow up knowing that being in a small group is a non-negotiable in our lives. And, I want it to be true of their lives. So, make sure you drop your kids off at Lakeland Kids (at our primary venue) on Sunday mornings or engage your students in a group during the week. If following Jesus in the context of community is so important, you don't want your kids to just watch you, but experience it for themselves.
So, as we sang this morning,
I have decided to follow Jesus
No turning back
No turning back
Keep moving toward Him. Keep forcing yourself to engage in authentic community. Be vulnerable. It will be more than you could imagine. His church, His bride, is beautiful. Messy and beautiful. And, maybe, the Belfry is the venue that offers this for you or someone you know for the FIRST time.
To learn more about Lakeland Community Church or the Belfry visit our website or follow the Belfry Facebook page to learn about these beginning days.
* to the Belfry 75, thank you. For welcoming well this morning. For thinking about the details that made me feel valued. Now. Don't stop. Don't get comfortable. Be ready for the one coming who knows nothing of Jesus! As a new venue, you have a unique (and often short) opportunity to connect those far from God with the church. People will want to see what is new and they will come to you. Keep thinking about them. Keep praying for them. You may not have come to the Belfry to make a difference in the lives of others. You may be a pioneer. You may have been looking for a change. You may actually like a smaller place. But, now that you are here, God may just want to do something through you. You have the opportunity to be someone's first impression of their Heavenly Father and His people!
* thanks to Neil Basso for the pictures
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