THE QUICK SUMMARY

What’s the point of the church anyway? The emerging generation is opting out of the church in large numbers. They’re embarrassed at how the church is portrayed in the media and dismayed at what appears to be their options for participation. Is church really necessary anymore? Is it even possible? 

Tim Soerens sees this unsettled state of affairs as an extraordinary opportunity: the church, he says, is on the edge of a new possibility at the very moment so much of it feels like it’s falling apart. In his extensive travels in all kinds of neighborhoods, Soerens has seen the beginnings of this movement firsthand. In Everywhere You Look, he lays out practical, actionable steps for building collaborative communities in any neighborhood. 

Here is a vision of the church grounded in a grassroots movement of ordinary people living out what it means to be the church in their everyday lives. Read this book―and join the movement.

A SIMPLE SOLUTION

As referenced in SUMS Remix 154, author Tim Soerens referenced a familiar illustration by Simon Sinek – the Golden Circle (below) – to setup, and answer, the question of “What is the church for?”

His version is below.

He realized that he was putting the church in the center – and that’s not where it belongs.

Without meaning to, we have made the church itself the why, and it’s not working.

I’m convinced the notion of paying attention sets the stage for how we go about pursuing God’s dream in our neighborhoods, suburbs, and villages. The magic of paying attention to the Spirit at work in our neighborhoods is the only legitimate way forward.

It might be helpful to take a step back and think about how our inability to pay attention to the Spirit at work has been our default. We have been meticulously trained and rewarded to be helpful rather than curious, and this gets us into trouble. Honest curiosity needs to precede the very good desire to help.

When we look more closely at the vast majority of the words of Jesus, they point to our primary task as listening and seeing how God is the active agent before we become active  – helpful. This is actually a massive shift from our default posture of being in charge. 

When we switch from trying to implement God’s dream to listening for it as our primary and most critical action, we have done more than shifted a strategy. It might not seem like such a huge deal, but if we, collectively, can go on a journey in which listens for where God is working is our primary endeavor, it flips the script on church as usual.

Not everyone can keep the attention of a room of five hundred people for forty minutes. Not everyone can sing passionately in front of others. Not everyone can manage a complex organization. But we all can pay attention.

Paying attention is magical because it’s not just for the talented few. It’s open to all of us. If we’re honest, it’s required of us. The truth is that we are always paying attention to something, and in this sense we can’t not pay attention.

The task is to train our attention on God’s activity, and the rest will fall into place. Another way of saying this is “seek first the kingdom of God and everything else will be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33 paraphrased). Another way to paraphrase this command form Jesus might be, “Listen, and join what I am doing in your neighborhood, and don’t worry about the results.”

Tim Soerens, Everywhere You Look: Discovering the Church Right Where You Are

A NEXT STEP 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Galatians 5:22

The fruit of the Spirit are not merely characteristics that we aspire to own. They are glorious graces that characterize all those who pursue a Christlike character.

In order to “pay attention” by following the Holy Spirit, use the nine fruit of the spirit as described by pastor, professor, and storyteller, Calvin Miller as a framework for incorporating them into your life.

There is an orchard whose fruit is lush.

• Love is the definition of God.
• Joy is the response of those who brush the sleeve of love.
• Peace is the result of having all our conflicts washed in love.
• Patience is the art that never hurries love.
• Kindness is love’s application.
• Goodness is the life grown moral by seeking love’s pleasure.
• Faithfulness is love’s servant.
• Gentleness is love’s method.
• Self-control is love’s submissions to integrity.

Grace is the tree on which such fruit hangs.

Its nutrition is eternal life.

Calvin Miller

Set aside daily time for the next ten days for a specific focus on each of the nine fruit listed above using the framework below each day.

• Read the selected passage from a part of Jesus’ life.
• Reflect on what it means in your personal life.
• Note how it can be applied in “paying attention” to your neighbors.
• Write down at least two actions you can take in applying this passage to your interactions with your neighbors.

1. Love – Luke 15:11-32
2. Joy – Luke 15:1-7
3. Peace – John 14:22-31
4. Patience – Matthew 18:23-35
5. Kindness – Luke 10:25-37
6. Goodness – Matthew 5:13-20
7. Faithfulness – Matthew 25:31-46
8. Gentleness – John 10:7-15
9. Self-Control – Matthew 25:1-13

On the tenth day, celebrate how living out the fruit of the Spirit have come to characterize your life as you “pay attention” to your neighbors.