That Just Happened:
Join the Uprising

I really can’t tell you what it did in me to stand up & give that sermon this weekend. I am undone by the potential of the church, the beauty of the bride, and the hope of the world beating in the hearts and lives of ordinary men & women. It impassions me like few things on the planet. If you missed this weekend, watch it here. These are the stirrings of the Uprising…one of my favorite topics of all time. Here’s a glimpse of what I saw from my unique vantage point:

1. Hope was kindled! From wholehearted worship and stories from ordinary people…to the beacon of hope burning bright, hope was palpable in the room every single service. (And…I’ve never seen the 11:30 service more focused and ignited!) Now we spill it out into our world!

2. I am constantly amazed at the quality and skills of our artists at Quest. This weekend’s PTI is just one of the best things going out there…Amber & Slim, you guys nailed it. And Headley, Lonnie & Ani you rocked the house with Tobymac’s No Ordinary Love. Thanks to the whole crew (artists, band, dancers, etc.) who drew us in. It was a great reminder of the reality we live in all the time. This is not normal!

3. I loved standing up to preach off of the energy of that song, and…I can’t believe I never made it the podium on time trying to get around in my “boot.” Can you believe our video crew captured my injury on film??:) For the record…I saw no one launch, heard no reports of actual puking!

4. When I said we didn’t sacrifice in Imagine2 to build a building or to pay for bricks and mortar, the lights come on for hundreds of you who are new to Quest as you began to grasp that it was never about a building…it was always about YOU.

5. We were all holding our breath a little bit this weekend at the beauty of the Bride. It was an astonishing picture of who Jesus always dreamed for us to be. The church was never meant to be about rules or judgment or all the things we’re against…she was always meant to shine the love, truth and grace of Christ! And WE are the church!

6. Do you have any idea what it did to the heart of God to see hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of hands raised as His rescued sons & daughters? Every single one of us…potential rescuers being called up to join the Uprising and live out His dreams for our lives. At every service I lost it more and more over the potential of what my eyes were beholding. (And…I really meant it when I said I was proud of those of you NOT raising your hands. You are why we exist as a church.)

7. For many of you, the stats of the decline of the church in America & of our ever-darkening culture went from being just numbers on a screen to a painful reality this weekend. The stats don’t surprise me as a pastor, but they sadden me…and they’ve got to spur us on to take action! The reality? Eight churches a day close their doors. 85% of U.S. churches are in decline. 95% of Christians will never lead another person to Christ. 33,000 people a year successfully commit suicide. Over 1,000,000 marriages a year end in divorce. And most of the world, along with the U.S., is beginning to look elsewhere for answers. In this dark hour, it is critical for the Church to rise up and be who Jesus left her here to be!

8. The lighting of the beacons from The Return of the King is absolutely one of the best scenes of any movie ever made, and a fantastic picture of the call to the Church today. I could feel something stirring in all of us as we remembered what hope kindled feels like. We are not alone, Questers. You are not alone, pastors. The resistance is gathering.

9. Telling Questers about talking to my friend Jody on a plane two summers ago made it personal for so many of us. The truth is…mostly nobody knows that Jesus loves them and died for their sakes. We have GOT to light the beacon of hope in our day…in our church and around the world. It is not right to keep this to ourselves! As I lit the flame this weekend, Jesus ignited something in us that can never be extinguished.

10. Did hearing the characteristics of people & churches of the Uprising make your hearts beat faster? Jesus wants to shape us into dangerous, embracing, unapologetic, revolutionaries who will be irresistible to the watching world. He is who they are looking for…so don’t hold back or hide under the pretense of nice & sweet, politically correct or powerlessness. Be who Jesus created you to be, Revolutionaries in the Uprising! I can’t wait to join forces with you here in person for The Uprising one-day conference next spring! Pastors & leaders, sign up for more information on The Uprising at www.theuprising.net. I’ll see you April 15, 2010!

Uprising Promo from Quest Community Church on Vimeo.

p.s. I’m disappointed to learn there are still a few people not cooperating with our reseating policy. For security purposes and to help people stay focused during the teaching of God’s word, we really need your support in this. Remember…you can feel free to come or go as you need to during the first portion of the service, but after the teaching pastor stands up, you will be reseated in a special section of the auditorium. Be kind and helpful please.