Let me start by asking:

What if Church was where you could be you?

• where people could know everything about you and still love you?
• where others would stop to listen to you?
• where people cared for you?
• where you were needed?

 What if church was like people on a journey together?

• sharing their lives together?
• filled with awe and wonder?
• full of laughter?

 What if Church was something more than a place to attend?

•  more about being than just doing?
•  more natural than ritual?
• more like life?

What if Church could be all about Jesus?

What if that church was in your neighborhood?

Today was an awesome day.  The Dwelling Place officially moved out of the building last Sunday and began a new journey together at our home.  We are still maintaining our church building in hopes of it selling, however, it’s in the Lord’s hands.  Thankfully today is a New Day as we embark on a grand adventure into being the Church.  Today The Dwelling Place moved into the neighborhood and with us came Jesus.  Our desire is to be an incarnational expression of Jesus in us to each other and our surrounding neighbors.  To be the church where the church lives…

Here are some of the highlights from our day.  We shared a lite breakfast as people began to arrive while some musicians sat and played.  No this was not ambiance or background music for a service about to begin; this was a group of guys just talking and enjoying playing together, making a spontaneous melody.  I shared some thoughts about the journey ahead of us.  The musicians began to play and everyone began to sing an intimate and familiar chorus to Jesus.  This continued with a sweet presence and at times carried different and spontaneous voices singing praise though it all seemed to be the same melody.  It seemed natural to share communion beginning our new journey together to remind us that it’s all about Jesus – members of Jesus and members of each other.  I love Luke’s account where Jesus told the disciples to share it amongst themselves.  So, we let each person pass the bread and juice sharing it with their neighbor.  One of our guys has been under a great deal of personal strain and suffering from not being able to sleep, so I felt  moved to pray for him.  Sitting with my head down I prayed and when I was done I looked over and three others had walked over and layed hands on him and began to intercede for him.

One of my desires has been to encourage a more open a participatory teaching and sharing time.  I began by asking someone to read a scripture, shared a couple of thoughts, then asked some questions to start.  People began to share what they though and understood.  I concluded to pull things together with what I sensed the Holy Spirit saying.

Our Scripture for today: John 3:16; John 17:3; Eph.1:16-23

Questions:

• What is eternal life? (might want to check the Greek)
• How does this affect what church should be and do?

It’s not so much about our practices and traditions as it is the Holy Spirit directing what we do, that means everything you do.  The point is for it to be all about Jesus.

Disclaimer:  Someone said to me, “So you are starting a house church.”  I said, “NO, we are a church gathering at a house.”  This puts the emphasis on the wrong thing – the house.  The only thing that makes the church anything is the fact that the Church belong to Him. It’s not the container, but rather what’s in it that makes it something of eternal worth. Paul said, “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves…” (2 Cor.4:7)  Anything else and it’s about us and not him, no matter what kind of church you are and what you do when you gather or every day for that matter.

So what now: Know Jesus, Be the Church, Love your neighbor.

Today was a sweet new day…

“The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood…”  John 1:14 (MSG)

Starting this Sunday The Dwelling Place is moving out of its building, which has been on the market for sale for over a year, and transitioning into a neighborhood based church.  We have spent over a year in transition, praying and studying the scripture about what it means to “Be the Church”.  This search has been incredibly rewarding and costly, not in the monetary sense of the word.  The reward has been deepening revelation of Jesus and more intimate relationships with each other, the church.  So we are excited to be the church actually where the church lives.  We will be able to move away from promoting church as a place to go once a week to a people who belong to a loving God every day.  We will be able to share our lives and faith with our neighbors and through relationships see the Holy Spirit open doors to ministry and discipleship.

So if you happen to be in the neighborhood Sundays @ 10:30 am or Wednesdays @ 6:30 pm, drop in and spends some time with us. 

For directions and a map CLICK HERE.

Thank you for responding as the Lord leads to a time of prayer and fasting through the 15th of November.  We are seeking the presence of God with expectation of wisdom and revelation.  Be mindful of unexpected promptings from the Lord.  Expect the Lord to speak to you and reveal new things about Himself.  As Simeon said to Joseph and Mary, that Jesus would be a light for revelation to the Gentiles, He desires to shed light in your life. Thank you for seeking the Lord on behalf of The Dwelling Place.

This past Sunday we took communion together. I have been meditating on being the body of Christ and the passage in Luke 17, where Jesus shared his last Passover meal with His disciples.  Verse 17 is an incredible verse giving us insight into the body of Jesus.

When Jesus was presenting the bread and wine to His friends, he said take and share this with one another.  What a picture of Jesus being the bread of life and cup of redemption; and that we are members of Him and of one another.

I invited everyone to come and sit at a table prepared to accomodate all who were there.  We share the scriptures and teaching at the table and then we shared the communion meal together.  Each person shared the bread and wine with his neighbor together.  It was a beautiful time and an awesome picture of the kind of relationship of oneness God desires for His Son’s body.  The Spirit of God lingered long after we had dismissed everyone.  Even out into the parking lot 2 hours later some were still enjoying fellowship with each other.

Makes you wonder about church and our practices.  Do your religious practices produce the fruit the Spirit desires?  If it doesn’t, then why do we do them?

Blessings to all of you that are a part of The Dwelling Place and those the Spirit is drawing into sweet fellowship.  Have a great week.

• Mike did an awesome job today leading worship.  Passion is contagious!
• Thanks for everyone’s participation in The People’s Choice.  If you didn’t get a chance to submit a topic or question for this teaching series, you can email them to us at:  info@thedwellingplacecc.com .  We will be doing follow up posts in hopes to generate discussion.  So keep checking back and leave your comments.
• The Hobbs Dwelling Place will be meeting this Wednesday @ 6:30 pm.  Don’t forget to bring a dish to share for our meal.  This week we will be spending some time in prayer.  Thanks for taking this journey with us.
• Mark your calendars for “A Happening” @ Hugh McRae Park: September 26th beginning at noon.  Check the flyer above.

We’ve had end of Summer craziness.  Amy and I had 2 great weeks of ministry in Texas with some awesome friends,  a week of split family – Amy and kids in Delaware and me to the OBX with my Dad.  So we are coming down to the end of our Going Going Going!

Our Dwelling Place will be meeting next Wednesday, Aug. 19th @ 6:30 pm.  Plan to be here, bring a dish to share for our meal and plan to have some fun.  If you need directions, CLICK HERE.  If you have questions, Email here: info@thedwellingplacecc.com .

We are having a Yard Sale for The Dwelling Place on Saturday June 27th.  If you have any items you would like to donate, you can bring them this Sunday or call to let us know when you would like to drop them off.  If you need pick up assistance, let us know.  If you have more valuable items, we will be gathering those for Craig’s List.  Thank you for all that you do to make The Dwelling Place an awesome place to be.  We will also need help on the day of the Sale.

I am so excited about this coming Sunday, I needed to share it.  I cannot remember the last time my Dad was in town on a Sunday.  He pastors a church in the OBX and travels preaching in different churches.  YES.  He well be at The Dwelling Place this Sunday as well as some great friends of our from Myrtle Beach, SC.  Mike and Sarah Blair are transforming our visitors area into a coffee spot.  Some come early for coffee and some mingle time.   You can check out Mike Blair’s music and schedule at MIKEBLAIRMUSIC.COM.

Blessing to all of you – you make ministry a joy for me!  Your friend, your Pastor.

HOBBS – Dwelling Place  Update

We had our first Dwelling Place Community gathering last night at our home and it was amazing.  There were 26 who came and shared a meal together, prayed together, shared their stories, got to know each other better, and listened to the vision Amy and I have for Dwelling Places starting a Jesus movement incarnationally from the inside of our homes and neighborhoods outward – to build a community in the Way of Jesus – to naturally engage the world around us and love our neighbor.

Intentional deepening relationships will always give the Holy Spirit opportunity to move and for us the opportunity for love and ministry.

The Hobbs Dwelling Place gathering will begin Wednesday, June 3rd @ 6:30 pm.  Bring a dish to share for a meal.  We will be sharing in more detail about dwelling places and our mission.  If you wish, kids are welcome. For directions: email: info@thedwellingplacecc.com or click this MAP link.