Focus launches in just about six weeks, but the launch team has already begun meeting regularly. The vision is beginning to sink in for the 20 something of us who have been meeting and I’m excited about what’s been happening.
We’ve got a website up (Focusabq.com) and starting later this week I’ll be posting recaps and short blogs there.
Here, I’ll continue to post updates on the journey of Discipleship matters, but for today, it’s a crossover episode and I’ll use this space for a recap as well.
Our goal in these launch meetings is to build both the vision and the small groups that are the heart of the vision. For the last two weeks we’ve been spending increasingly more time breaking down into small groups for discussion as we explore the vision. It’s been exciting watching both the small groups and the vision begin to grow and take hold in our launch team.
Last night our discussion took this verse:
For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
and asked the very obvious question: How does grace train us?
One of the key things we discussed is 1 Peter 4:10-11 where Peter make the amazing claim that each of us has been given a stewardship of the very Grace of God and that this is the nature of our spiritual gifts.
We wrapped up with a connection to the Focus church vision in this way
- Leaders equip by proving a climate of Grace, committing to not using law, guilt or fear to disciple, and providing a structure which allows for maximum communal use of gifts.
- Members serve with their stewardship of Grace by being present, learning to be both needy and needed, moving towards Christ, and embracing all of life as God’s curriculum.
There was a further exhortation to see Discipline as something only God does really well, and our role, as described in Hebrews 12:12-13, as making the path as easy for each other to walk as possible, strengthening those of us who are weak at any given moment.
As part of this goal to support and help each other, we have trimmed costs wherever possible, and prioritized tithes and donations to be available to people through the small groups to help ease financial burdens and difficulties. People will be able to see their gifts return in tangible ways to those who need them in the church.
Everyone is welcome to join us next week at Paragon Church at 6:30. God may be wanting to build something special through you.
if you’d like to support our church plant with a regular tithe or a one time donation, we do have an online option: