The Family Biz…
Oct 29, 2020.
We live in a day when there are so many Christian groups doing so many Christian things that it’s hard to discern Christianity’s MAIN THING. Is it worship? Is it teaching the scriptures? Is it providing a place for believers to meet and grow? Is it to build beautiful campuses that impresses the townspeople? Actually, the life of Jesus cut right through all the religious noise of his day – right from the beginning.
#JesusStories: Luke 2 captures a wonderful moment when the boy Jesus demonstrated unusual clarity of eternal things. His parents were returning home after making their annual trip to Jerusalem for the Passover feast. Mary thought the 12 year-old Jesus was riding in the caravan with dad, Joseph thought he was traveling with mom, when actually they had left their boy behind. So in a nervous frenzy they returned to Jerusalem to find Jesus in the Temple discussing mature topics with the temple teachers – who were very impressed by-the-way. When Mary saw him, her pent-up anxiety spilled all over the boy – as any mother would do. Jesus’ response was very unexpected: “Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” Verse 50 records that they were baffled and did not understand what he was talking about.
I’m afraid many church leaders today are similarly mystified; they just don’t understand how invested Jesus still is – in The Father’s Business. And recent translations of scripture don’t help. They have replaced the word ‘business’ with the word ‘house’ in this story. I know that every house in that culture had a family business and the terms house and business could be interchangeable. But imagining God’s world as a household rather than a family business has not served us well. In recent decades convenience and comfort have become the assumption of the Church, whereas intercession and sacrifice was the assumption in ages past. We have really needed the reminder that every church is supposed to be engaged in the Family Business. And according to Jesus’ parable about leaving the 99 behind to go save the one lost lamb, it’s clear that the God Family is in the ‘rescue business’. May the 12 year-old Jesus steer all of us back into the FAMILY BIZ.
#DinnerChurchQuotes: “The disciples inability to comprehend the significance of Jesus’ meal strategy is symbolic of their failure to understand his entire mission.” -L.E. Klosinski
#PracticalStuff: A buffet table loaded with food is the best metaphor of the gospel we can use today; there was a reason why Jesus spent so much time around food with lost people. Do you need some help getting started with meal prep? The Dinner Church Handbook (available on this website) has 13 menu’s in the back that are impressive, inexpensive, big-group-able, and can be prepared by a hack cook in a lousy kitchen.
Blessings & Boldness,
Verlon
Dr. Verlon and Melodee Fosner have led a multi-site Assemblies of God Dinner Church in Seattle, Washington since 1999 (www.CommunityDinners.com). In this decade when more churches in the U.S. are declining than thriving, and when ninety-six churches a week are closing, Verlon and Melodee sensed that a different way of doing church was needed for their 97-year old Seattle congregation. It soon became obvious that they were not the only ones in need of a different path. They joined the FX team in 2016 and founded the Dinner Church Collective. And then in 2019 founded the Dinner Church School of Leadership. There is a lot to be gained when church leaders begin to see open doors in the American landscape that they had previously overlooked. Therein lies the journey for those who will forge a new future for the American Church.
Categories: Uncategorized
10.30.20
By: Josh Gering
I think you hit it on the head when you pointed out that churches are in all sorts of businesses and majoring on all sorts of things. Is the church in America really about “convenience and comfort”? I think it is…all too often. How do we regain the soul of the early church and become more interested in rescue than the next best church growth program or the sharpness of our presentations on Sunday mornings? I think it begins with leaders who are willing to get on their knees and hear from Jesus. Then having the clarity from heaven, make bold decisions to lead us back out of the other missions, out of the other businesses back into the family business…rescue of souls. May we be people with that kind of courage. May I be a leader with that kind of courage. If we want to see change, we must be change. What does that look like practically for me? How about for you?
10.31.20
By: Verlon Fosner
I love the “get on our knees” part. The world and our leadership sure looks different from that angle.
11.2.20
By: michael cox
The family business of the Triune God is loving your enemies. What could be more contrary to capitalism than caring for the poor? Poor people are bad for business. They sleep in your doorway. They come into your coffee shop to use/destroy your bathroom. They don’t attract customers. However, the blessings that come from the poor transform hearts, keeping us close to the work of Christ. His image is projected on the faces of those whose survival depends on his provision. When we welcome the poor our worship is pleasing to God. The book of Acts describes God’s business model. “And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts (Acts 2:44-45).” Can you imagine a business whose mission statement was to make sure no one was in need? “We at Jesus Corp promise to focus on giving until justice is served!” Sadly, the church in American has been captivated by consumerism and capitalism. The story of Christ is a story of mercy, grace, and justice. The dinner church is that humble household that breaks bread with folks in need. “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles (Acts 2:42-43).” There is no awe and wonder in capitalism.
11.4.20
By: Rodney Martin
It is thought provoking how much changing Jesus’ words from the “Father’s business” to “Father’s house” changes the perspective on what is happening in Luke 2. When I think of a business I think of an organization that exists for a purpose. If a business strays from it’s purpose and mission it will fail. A household is a place of belonging and community and therefore a great metaphor for describing the Body of Christ. A household can also be inwardly focused upon it’s members and differentiate itself over against other households. How do seculars and the marginalized connect with the household of God? The church is a community not a business so I personally find it difficult to use business language when talking about the church. But, Verlon is reminding us that the church also has a mission like a business and it has strayed from the divine business plan. The church is a community that exists for more than taking care of those who belong to God’s household. The church is a sign of God’s Kingdom in the neighborhood. It’s a community that is salt and light to the people in the local watershed. It is space for the reconciling work of Christ. Unless the church is following it’s own business plan instead of God’s.
11.4.20
By: Marion Sortore
Much food for thought here. When I think of the businesses of earlier centuries – one of the key components was apprenticeships. That may be a very good word for us that we are apprentices of Jesus – learning the family business. Hmmm….
11.4.20
By: Nicole Fike
Wow!!! I honestly have never read this scripture with the word ‘business’. I looked up multiple translations. Reading it with the word business makes me think that Jesus is actually saying, Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s Rescue business?
11.4.20
By: Roger Bird
I couldn’t agree with you more that the church-experience of North America has devolved into a never ending quest for the comfort and convenience of the church attender. I also agree that this distorted expression of Church would have been completely unrecognizable to both Jesus and the early Church.
Author Mike Breen, writes in his book, “Covenant and Kingdom” that Covenant and Kingdom are the two strands of DNA that run through every page of Scripture. They are the building blocks of the Kingdom. Breen explains that Covenant is all about relationship and Kingdom is all about responsibility, and it is necessary to have both. The Church in North America seems to have almost completely lost it’s awareness of Kingdom responsibility and instead has spent itself in favor of a anemic and self-centered version of Covenant relationship.
Working with only one strand of DNA, it’s no wonder the Church here has been unable to reproduce.
11.6.20
By: Charlie
Is big-groupable a real word ??
11.10.20
By: Carl Bauchspiess
I still love this quote by C.T. Studd: “Some wish to live within the sound of church and chapel bell. I want to run a rescue shop within a yard of hell!” That’s where I want to plant them.
11.12.20
By: Verlon Fosner
Is “group-able” actually a word?
Absolutely-able!
11.24.20
By: Shawn Rutan
I have started to ask myself, “Is this approach found in the Gospels?” Churches today attempt to find new ways of “reaching” people. I often feel our attempts fall short. Would Jesus walk around with a bag full of needed items, (hand warmers, granola bar, water battle, Starbucks gift card, socks, etc) and pass it out to the outcast of society? It seems to me that He was more interested in healing, restoring and dinning with them. frankly I get upset with proclomation’s attempts to do Heaven’s business.