Teaching | by Pastor Adam Sinnett

“He has made everything beautiful in its time…” Ecc 3:11

If you’re just getting involved with Downtown Cornerstone, it’s important to know that one of the distinct challenges of church planting is ambiguity. Something is ambiguous if it is unclear or can be interpreted in a number of different ways. There can be many things that are unclear at a newly forming church. When you start anything from scratch – including churches – there will inevitably be much that is ambiguous. That’s normal. To thrive in a church plant you must be comfortable with varying levels of ambiguity or you will grow frustrated and disappointed.

To thrive in a church plant you must be comfortable with varying levels of ambiguity or you will grow frustrated and disappointed.

Even though Downtown Cornerstone “launched” on April 3rd, ambiguity remains. There is still much to be done and many questions to be answered, such as: When will we have more communities? What’s the long term plan for intentional life-on-life discipleship? Why do we do this and not this? How will we engage the arts and music scene? What will it look like to genuinely serve the city? When will we have training for evangelism? When will we have more elders, deacons, etc? When will we roll out the membership process? And more.

These are great questions. They are. Each question has a place in the queue and the overall strategy.
But, it is going to take some time.

Those who struggle with wanting to control their environment and have all of the answers (like me!) in advance will have a hard time with ambiguity. But, the answer isn’t necessarily to find an environment where you’re comfortable, with all questions answered, but to ask the Father what He wants to do in and through you in this season. The church is a people, not a place, and this is an exciting opportunity for you to use your God-given gifts for the mission of God as He builds His church.

Maybe none of you struggle with this. Maybe I’m the only one. But, I suspect not. When faced with ambiguity we have the choice of leaning into control or leaning into Christ. In the end, Christ is the only non-ambiguous element of this church and our lives. If we’re honest, that’s true no matter where we are. How gracious of our Father to use the ambiguity of this season to push us to deeper trust, love and dependence on King Jesus – and love, patience, and kindness towards others.

His promise is great, “He makes everything beautiful in its time”, even amidst the ambiguity.

But, he starts with us.

Teaching | by Pastor Adam Sinnett

This past winter* I came across a distinction that was incredibly helpful to me: Goals vs Desires. This distinction helped to clarify my expectations and the emotions inevitably tied to those expectations. Understanding this will help breathe greater freedom and joy into your life and ministry; it has for me. The distinction is simple, but subtle. Goals are objectives under your control; desires are not.

Goals are objectives under your control; desires are not.

For example, if you want to see 50 people baptized in the next year, that would be a desire but not a goal because you cannot control the outcome. You can influence the outcome, but not control it. In this case, your desire is to baptize 50 people in the next year. Your goals, however, should be directly tied to whatever will most likely help bring your desire about (e.g. gospel-centered sermons, intentional prayer, cultivating missional communities, equipping your people to live with gospel intentionality, teaching on baptism, etc). In this way, we work toward our goals and pray for our desires.

We WORK toward our goals and PRAY for our desires.

When we confuse goals and desires it can easily lead to pride and arrogance (because we subtly believe we can control people, like God) or depression and bitterness (because we’re trying, and failing, to control something that is outside our control). But, when we keep this distinction in mind it reminds us we’re responsible to work wisely toward our goals while trusting deeply in God who offers us the true desires of our heart.

“Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Ps 37:3-4

* I picked this up at the Global Church Advancement training in Orlando, Florida. This particular material was delivered in a session by Steve Childers, Priorities – The Main Thing. If you’re an aspiring church planter, or within the first two years, I highly recommend this conference.

Teaching | by Pastor Adam Sinnett

I’ve intended to put together a recommended reading list for over a year. Finally, here it is. It’s lengthy but covers a multitude of topics and should be a helpful starting point for all interested in further study and stoking the embers of your heart, mind and soul to burn brightly for Jesus Christ.

All this, of course, comes at a cost, so I recommend:

• Utilizing the library
• Checking for free copies online (particularly for the classics)
• Purchase electronic versions to save $
• Buys books together to share, discuss and pass along

As I note in the attachment, its important to read critically. While we do not necessarily fully endorse everything in every book listed here, every book listed has something to offer. The list is not exhaustive, but my hope is that these books serve as tools in cultivating us as a God-saturated, Gospel-centered, and Christ-exalting people. Enjoy.

Would love to hear how it goes.

DOWNLOAD THE DCC RECOMMENDED READING LIST HERE

Teaching | by Pastor Adam Sinnett

WHY NOT JULY?

Every January, in various Christian circles, there is an emphasis placed on Bible reading in the new year. That’s a good practice. But, why not July? As July approaches I’d like to encourage all of us to evaluate our daily communion with the Father and commerce with His grace through regular prayer and Bible reading.

WE NEED A PLAN.

I love the Bible, but I need a plan for my reading. Maybe you’re like me. Without a plan, I drift somewhat aimlessly, accomplish little, and lack focus. Without a plan, all of my good intentions often remain just that, intentions. For the majority of us, the answer is simple: we need a plan.

A “NEW” PLAN.

Over the years, I’ve found two Bible reading plans to be particularly helpful. The Discipleship Journal Bible Reading Plan (which plans for 25 days of reading each month, leaving five days for catch-up or further study) and the M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan (through which you read the New Testament twice and Old Testament once per year). I like elements of both, so I combined them.

Attached you will find a customized and combined version of the M’Cheyne and Discipleship Journal Bible Reading plans. What does that mean?

• Bible+ in 12 months: You’ll read through the NT/Psalms 2x’s and OT 1x over the next 12 months
• God’s Unfolding Story: Every day you’ll read 4-5 chapters from four different parts of the Bible, which will allow you to daily dip into different chapters of God’s unfolding story.

• 25 days/Month: Each month you’re scheduled to read for 25 days. This gives you 5+ days at the end of the month to catch up from previously missed days (which are inevitable) or for study of other topics. In most plans, if you get behind, it is difficult to catch-up so this helps alleviate that.

• Numbered Months: Most plans start in January, which means you have to wait or enter the plan midway. On the attached, I numbered the months to remove that obstacle.

This is optional, of course. For those of you looking for a plan, this could be a good place to start. For other Bible reading plan options go HERE.

DOWNLOAD THE COMBINED BIBLE READING PLAN HERE.