We get a lot of inquiries asking why we haven’t launched a regularly public communal gathering yet.
It’s a valid question because that’s what most new churches do in its beginning stages.
But as we’ve said before, we’re not trying to be like the typical church (there are a lot of good ones already in the area). And we’re looking to launch people before we launch programs.

As we strive to cultivate health in this spiritual organism called Renew we’re striving to be students, missionaries, servants and change agents and we want to live creatively, responsively, courageously, lovingly and obediently in the process.
That doesn’t come all at once.
It takes time and patience. A lot of it.

It might be tempting in these early stages to be impatient and short-sighted by throwing kerosene on the campfire and seeing the flames rage high in the beginning, but what we’re more interested in is moving at the pace of a slow burn. It’s not as exciting or flashy, but we really believe that if we’re intentional to stoke the logs patiently and with great intention the flames will burn long and hot. Long term, we believe that this is the best way to make the invisible kingdom of God most visible.

We’re approaching this with a sense of “relaxed urgency.”
We’re trying to be patient.
Love God.
Enjoy the journey.
And leave the results to God.

It’s not that we don’t value a regular and consistent communal gathering.
Not at all.
It has great importance and we’re working that direction.
But we want to make sure we have strategic initiatives and clear direction for our scattering times before we work on strategies for gathering times.
If what we’re doing is a seven-day-a-week mindset and not a building we attend it means we have to unlearn, re-think and relearn what it means to be holistic followers of Jesus in all that we do, at all times of our days and weeks.

Stay tuned to our website in the coming weeks regarding our public gatherings.
But remember, in essence, we have publicly launched.
Several house churches meet regularly- almost every night of the week – all over the region.
We have several opportunities to involved and serve (the Farmers Market, Lansdale clean up days, Doubt Night and other events posted on our website).
If you’d like to be involved in our community, these are the best ways to do that right now.
If you’re interested, contact us at info@renewcommunity.org

Last week I had a conversation with a middle-aged woman. She asked what I did and I told her about what we’re doing with Renew and how we’re attempting to be a blessing for the community. I mentioned Tim Keller’s statement: we are not trying to build a great church, but a great city, because when we have a great city we will have a great church.

At the end of the conversation she said, “You all are doing a lot for the community, which is great, but this is new for me. I feel like this is a pretty unique thing for a church to be doing. Why are you doing this?”
I told her that we are here to ask “How can we help?” in order to renew Lansdale physically, emotionally, mentally, culturally and spiritually in the name of Jesus. We’ve asked that question a great deal.
But from a biblical perspective, where are we getting this approach?
Why is this so important to our mission?

Why are we striving to be an advocate and an ally for the community?
Here are a few key verses that compel us to want to work for the betterment of our community.

(1) God’s heart is for the renewal of all things.
Genesis gives us the beginning part of the story of God at work, who sought to create a world to be inhabited by his creation. Sin entered the world, scarring all of creation. But the remainder of the entire Biblical story is God’s redemptive work – through Jesus – to bring back all of creation to Himself. All of it.

The Old Testament book of Jonah is significant in understanding this concept. This book is not a book about the Old Testament minor prophet, Jonah and his big fish, but about Jonah and his big God. The book paints a vivid picture of God’s inclusive, compassionate heart for people. What’s interesting is that the last line of the book God expresses his heart for all people – and even for the animals (Jonah 4:11b). The good news is good news to all of creation.
We work towards joining with God in the renewal of all things.

(2) Seeking the peace and prosperity of the city
Another Old Testament prophet, Jeremiah, who was banished to exile in the foreign land of Babylon, had these words spoken to him by God:
“Seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” (Jeremiah 29:7) We strive for the welfare of our city – for its peace and prosperity. We believe when we do that we will have regained trust that Christ’s Body has lost over time.

(3) Sent-ness
One of the central themes of the gospel of John is that of being sent. If you do a word study on send, sending or sent you will notice that those words show up all over its pages. Jesus said at the end of his life, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you” (John 20:21) We feel sent out into the world in order to be a blessing, to be agents of change, to be vessels of renewal. We’re sent, not to start something new, but to join with God who is already actively at work in Lansdale. John also records Jesus saying, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.”

(4) Servanthood
John 13 details the significant event of Jesus debasing himself by washing the dirty, cracked and muddy feet of his disciples – something absolutely unheard of in the first century. After washing their feet he looked at them and said, “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you” (vv. 14-15). The example has been set. We strongly believe that we follow suit by washing the feet of our community be serving, not demanding power. If we do this, we live out the ways, values and priorities of Jesus. And that’s our goal.

(5) Moving into the Neighborhood
The poetic and striking language of the Message translation helps us have creative missional imaginations.
We’re doing what we’re doing in Lansdale to impact our ‘oikos’ (our circles/spheres of influence). Eugene Peterson translates John 1:14 this way: “The Word [Jesus] became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood.” God dwells in our neighborhoods and as representatives and ambassadors of the Risen Christ, we are called to affect and impact our neighborhoods with intention, humility and compassion and seek out opportunities for renewal right where we are.

(6) How can I help?
The language of The Message is poignant when it comes to the role of every follower of Jesus to have a posture of humility and servanthood. Romans 15:2 says, “Strength is for service, not status. Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, ‘How can I help?’”
We want to continue to ask that question.
Would you like to join us helping to renew Lansdale?
We’d love for you to join us.
–J.R. Briggs

Ever wonder if there was a safe place to ask dangerous but important questions about life, faith, God, Jesus, the church?

What if we could openly talk about our questions, concerns, and doubts with others who are searching and seeking on this journey of life and faith?

We can.

Join us for doubt :: night on Tuesday night February 24th at 7:30 pm in the meeting room at Third and Walnut Bar and Grill (corner of Third Street and Walnut Street near the Lansdale Train Station) for a laid-back, yet intentional discussion about faith and doubt and a chance for you to air out your doubts.

Why is Renew hosting something like this?
Because regardless of who we are, we all have doubts.
And if we can’t wrestle with and process and discuss our doubts at Renew then where can we?

And sometimes its better to question the answers than it is to answer the questions.
The opposite of faith is not doubt, but fear.
And we don’t want to fear the questions.

This is open to anyone and everyone* regardless of your religious background.
Hope to see you there!

*By PA law, no one under the age of 18 is allowed in Third and Walnut.

A lot is happening in the month of February! If you’re looking for ways to get involved with Renew or serve the Lansdale community, don’t miss out on the following opportunities:

February 7 – Blood Drive
February 10 – Meal of the Month at Manna on Main
February 21 – Kugel Ball Clean-Up Day
February 24 – Doubt Night at Third & Walnut Bar and Grill

More information is available on the calendar on the homepage.