We’re confident that he has terrific plans for us and that we just need to get a fresh perspective to get moving again. We’re excited to see what the Lord will begin showing us and do if together we’ll seek his face, be honest about our shortcomings and start asking some new questions.

This is a really important gathering for anyone who attends the North Brooklyn Vineyard & considers it their home.

Email info@northbrooklynvineyard.org for more info.

Course adjustment

However I sense in my spirit that this is part of a bigger, deeper, much needed “course adjustment” God is working out for our church which will include a revamping of our leadership and recalibration of how we go about our mission.  I have a feeling that what may appear to be a big step backward for us is actually God’s grace working among us.

The Bible calls this pruning. Although very uncomfortable and at times painful, it’s necessary for continued wellbeing and growth of individuals as well as for entire church communities. Jesus said, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts away every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit. But he trims clean every branch that does produce fruit, so that it will produce even more fruit.” (John 15:1-2, CEV)

Rather than this being a setback it’s the Lord’s way of positioning and freeing us to be able to take big bold steps forward in the days ahead. I truly believe this. I feel it in my bones and I know some of you have been sensing this as well.

Great anticipation

I have to be honest with you, I’m a bit anxious but I’m mostly excited. Losing the office is not a setback it’s an opportunity! Like I said, I’m sensing God is making a course adjustment, which for some will feel like a new direction but it’s not. Our finances and the loss of a significant number of core members over the last year or so has taken some of the steam out of our engine and now we need to refuel and get out the map again and see where we’re going. So I’m pressing the “pause” button to take time out to seek the Lord together as a community at this important juncture. God has gotten our attention with this office business. Now we dare not move unless God speaks and gives us direction.

A rooftop gathering

In light of this I’m calling for a rooftop prayer and worship gathering on Thursday evening, August 12th from 7:30 – 9:30pm, where we can look out over the neighborhood and ask the Lord to use us in new and exciting ways. I’m confident that he has terrific plans for us and that we just need to get a fresh perspective to get moving again. I excited to see what the Lord will begin showing us and do if together we’ll seek his face, be honest about our shortcomings and start asking some new questions.

If you attend our church I cannot stress the importance of your presence at this gathering is. This will be an key moment in the life of our church and you need to be there. Please clear your calendars, arrange baby-sitting, bring your child if you’d like. I just ask that you give it your best effort to attend.

In His service,

Mike T

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Our rooftop film series overlooking the Williamsburg Bridge & Manhattan skyline continues with RUSHMORE!

Bring a chair, food & beverage of your choice.

Contact Brendon & Merritt for more info: mbenz@sco.org

Subversion

We’ve just begun a new sermon series on the Parables. Jesus was a master at subversion. He appeared harmless enough – A carpenter from the backwoods of Galilee turned itinerate rabbi. At first glance he seemed ordinary but a closer look revealed more, much more. Below the surface, hidden from plain view he was starting a revolution whereby one kingdom would be thrown out and another put in its place; a kingdom that was much more livable than the present one. And he would do this without the means of military force or democratic elections. He would act subversively. Working from the inside out. Capturing and changing human hearts which eventually, like a growing seed or a bit of yeast in dough, would influence and change the whole culture.

One of Jesus’ favorite tools of subversion were parables. They were casual, rather ordinary stories about familiar everyday life. Theyweren’t overtly about God so there was nothing threatening about them. His audience could relax and listen with an open mind. They were free to think, wonder, and use their imaginations… And then without warning, like a booby trap setting off in their unprotected hearts, they suddenly would realize, “Oh my gosh, he’s talking about God… he’s talking about me!” They had been subverted. They had been invaded. The revolution had begun in them!

My life

I want to be a subversive. A kingdom of God subversive. I want to be part of a subversive community. I want to be a living parable. I want God to use my life to bring his revolution to the people around me. Not in an in your face, you-better- listen-to-me-I-know-what’s-best, sort of way that turns off so many people today. No, I want to be a subversive; subtle like a parable. I want to be a regular person as far as everyone else can see. Not having anything weird or threatening about me. I don’t want to make a big religious hell, fire and brimstone commotion. I want to work quietly, hiddenly, and patiently doing the small things, carrying subtle messages, planting seeds, pointing people towards something more, something better. Naturally supernatural, like parables.

I want my life to have the strange, subversive attractionthat Jesus’ parables had. I want to carry around the love, justice and beauty of God’s kingdom wherever I go, changing the mood a little bit towards belief and hope. Helping people to honestly think about God and use their imaginations when considering his kingdom. Letting God use my small, sacrificial, subversive acts of kindness to slip his love past their defenses in order to perform its subversive work in their hearts.

…Just  something I’ve been thinking about that I thought you might want to consider for yourself. See you Sunday. I’ll be talking about the subversive story Jesus told the time a woman with a rather questionable reputation anointed him with her tears.

See you Sunday,
Mike T

Over the last few Sundays we’ve been going through a series of sermons we’ve called, “Faith In The Face Of Suffering”. Someone said that a faith that only works when things are going good and doesn’t help us when times are bad is not worth holding on to. So we’ve been exploring a faith in God that helps us “suffer well” and found that it looks like Jesus. We’ve seen that when our trust in God allows us to respond to adversity like Jesus would or when we allow it to make us more like him, it can be said that we’re suffering well.

Suffering can be an isolating and lonely experience. And it’s easy to make the mistake of facing it alone. But this coming Sunday our final talk is going to be on how suffering well means suffering together as a believing community. You won’t want to miss this one. I think it’s going to be really helpful.

Suffering well as worship?

The topic of faith in the face of suffering is a big one and we’ve only been able to scratch the surface. Hopefully it’s given you a broader more hopeful perspective that will serve you well the next time you face tough times (by the way if you’ve missed any of the talks they’re on our website). But I had one more quick thought that I wanted to share with you on the subject… the idea that suffering well is worship. It goes like this…

Ultimately suffering well is a matter of surrendering ourselves and our painful situation to God.  It means offering ourselves to God as ‘living sacrifices’. Being willing to entrust ourselves to his will, oversight and care. This kind of surrender is the very essence of worship. When we respond to suffering his way rather than our way; when we depend on his grace rather than on our own strength to eliminate it or endure it, it becomes true worship.

I bet few of you have ever thought of suffering well as worship but it is. By responding in a worshipful way, suffering becomes a pathway to  experiencing God’s grace in deeper more meaningful ways as well as providing a means of becoming more like Jesus Christ himself. Worship is a lifestyle of surrender and service to God. When we put our lives at his disposal, even suffering and pain can become opportunities for God to bring his kingdom to us and to those around us.

See you Sunday,
Mike T

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This year we’ll talking about the future, where we’ve been & what future God might hold for us, thus it’s called Leaning Into The Future. It will be held at the beautiful Split Rock Resort & Golf Club in the Poconos.

Register here & ask around our church who else is going if you want to share a room or villa.

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