Creative Scribble

At our launch team interest meeting I talked about the problem that stoked my vision for seeing a new church come to Knoxville. That problem is based on 80%. This is the number of unchurched people in our community, the number of 18-22 year olds that leave the church never to return, and the number churches that are not growing or are dying.

Encouraging, huh?

But as one of my favorite pastors and bloggers Perry Noble says, "Any idiot can point out a problem. It takes a leader to do something about it!" OneLife Church wants to do something about it.

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So we look to those in that 80% and find something interesting. The reason the church isn't being an influence (another one of our key words) is because these people want more. They don't have a problem with Jesus, they have a problem with the church. And that problem is we - the church - say a lot but don't do much to back it up. How do we fix this? Here's an idea...let's model Jesus! (check out Essential Church for more on this)

He didn't just preach everywhere he went. Jesus was always combining his word with deed. He fed people, healed, forgave, etc. At the same time, he didn't just do these things. He always accompanied his deed with word.

If we are going to reach the people who are being affected by "the problem" then we must be balanced like Jesus was, not just with word but also with deed. And wouldn't ya know there's a great country song from the 90s that says it best...

"Let's get on down to the main attraction with a little less talk and a lot more action!"

Let's do it, OneLife!