Category Archives: Discovery Church
when you pastor a nightclub
OK, I don’t actually pastor a nightclub, but sometimes it feels that way. Maybe I should explain…
Discovery Church is just 10 months old. We’re a baby church. I’m new to the role of Lead Pastor. I’ve learned more about leadership this year than any of my previous 30. It’s been a wonderful, rewarding year. With that said, let me be honest about one of the weirdest aspects of planting a church like Discovery: Atheists and Agnostics like me/us much more than many of my conservative Christian fundamentalist brothers and sisters.
That seems like an outlandish hyperbole, right? In the last year we have seen faithful attendance from various Agnostics. I’ve had dinner and coffee with them. Atheists have written me to say they appreciate what our church does for the community. One Agnostic friend from another state wrote me this year and said he would regularly attend on Sundays to hear my sermons. He doesn’t buy what I say about Jesus, but he likes the message and practical application enough. Of course I’m sure not every Atheist/Agnostic feels this way, but that is the interaction I’ve had with them over the last year.
On the other hand my more conservative, “fundamental” Christian friends have had the exact opposite reaction. As a matter of fact, it would seem I pastor a nightclub. “Brad, I’d love to visit Discovery, but I’m not allowed too.” I’ve pretty much lost count how many times I’ve heard that one. One high school student had to beg their Christian parents to see their friend get baptized at Discovery. Just this past Sunday a young woman in tears said to me she loves coming to our church, but that it caused her a great deal of conflict with her Christian family and she is torn with whether she should continue to come. Her family is convinced she’s being taught a false gospel because I don’t preach from the King James Version. I’ll leave some of the other backlash out. It’s important to note here that not all of my fundamentalist friends have responded this way – some have been very encouraging and gracious, and not mean spirited.
So why have some acted as if Discovery Church and other churches similar to it are like nightclubs or other worldly places ‘good Christians’ avoid?
I would totally understand it if we soft sold the Gospel, weakened who Jesus was, viewed the Bible as just a nice piece of ancient literature, or embraced sinful lifestyles. But we don’t do any of those things. Watch our Beautiful Collision, or Captured by Grace sermon series and if you come away with those conclusions then you might fit in well at a Westboro Baptist Church protest.
So what is the issue? The issue is almost always in the HOW.
Not what I preach, but HOW (usually in jeans)
Not if we sing hymns, but HOW (with electric guitar and drums)
Not if we love and believe the Bible, but HOW (we don’t exclusively use the King James Version)
Not if we have church, but HOW (We meet on Sunday mornings, but not evenings. We meet for small groups in homes, not in classrooms for Sunday School)
HOW we do WHAT we do always creates the tension with some in the christian community. We’re OK with that because of WHO we do it for. We do it for those lost and in need of salvation from their sins. And we do it for those burnt by previous experiences with the church. If that brings criticism, that’s OK, I don’t lose sleep over it. I do hurt for those Christians who get caught in the crossfire.
So let me offer these pointed thoughts. You’re a fool if you are critical of other churches and pastors for doing church ministry differently than you would prefer it be done. If you criticize a church for using ‘contemporary’ Christian music (I hate those terms) instead of hymns, you are a fool. If you criticize churches for using the organ and singing hymns instead of being cool and hip like your church, you are a fool. If you use your church sign to let everyone know you use the KJV and still have night church unlike those weak watered down churches, you are a fool. If you scoff at pastors who still wear suits and not True Religion jeans, you are a fool. And there is a lot of foolishness out there.
The HOW is important because we should try to be as effective as we can in reaching people, making disciples, meeting the needs of the poor, sending missionaries to the nations etc. Discussion about discernment in the methods we use is absolutely helpful and necessary, but pot shots and back biting have no place in the kingdom. The HOW should never be the focus. The focus should be the WHAT. The WHAT is the GOSPEL. It’s the Gospel of Jesus Christ that matters.
Just to be clear it is the Gospel that is critical, not my jeans or your suit.
- Brad
The Essence of a Man
This past weekend at Discovery Church featured some straight talk for men and fathers. The statistical and anecdotal evidence for the need for real men and real fathers in our society is is overwhelming. But what makes a good man and a good father? What does authentic, Biblical masculinity look and feel like. We take a hard look at what a real man isn’t and what a real man is.
When Life and the Gospel collide
We’ve spent the last month examining and experiencing God’s Grace. So what’s next? Grace and the Gospel. Here’s why: We are not to move on from the Gospel of Grace, but deeper into it. The Gospel is not the just the beginning of Christian life, but the A-Z.
The book of Colossians is a great example of how this works. This summer we are going to journey through the book of Colossians verse by verse and see just what happens when Life and the Gospel collide. Here’s a promo for what starts this Sunday at Discovery Church. We meet at Farragut High School at 11am.
Every now and then
Every time I prepare a message to speak I have three primary goals.
1) God’s Ultimate Glory
2) The building up of believers
3) To engage unbelievers with the truth of the Gospel
Every now and then during preparation for the message something supernatural happens. The only way I know to describe it (and be Biblical) is to say that the Holy Spirit begins to burn in the inner part of my soul. I can feel it. I get laser light focused on study. I become overly emotional. Something inside of me begins to burst.
That’s happening this week with the 3rd message of our Captured by Grace series. God used something today at lunch with another pastor to just set me on fire in my soul.
So don’t miss this week. Not because I’ve got a great message. It’s not about me – and can never be. God has a great message for you this week. It may just change everything for you.
Grace is surprising,
Brad
Why We Do What We Do The Way We Do It
It’s not news that we desire to create environments at Discovery Church that are intentionally non-traditional. I get asked ‘why’ about a number of the methods we use. Here is a real life example of why.
Tonight at a local gas station I invited the lady behind the counter to Discovery Church. She immediately gave me a reason she couldn’t come to church – her past. I told her that we had plenty of people who had checkered pasts and baggage, but she protested and said I didn’t understand that she had been a ‘real wild child’! I told her that it didn’t matter and Discovery wouldn’t be church like she was imagining. I pointed to my t-shirt and jeans and told her this is how we dress, that we have a live band and anyone is welcome. To which she said the darndest thing:
“Really?”
I said, “yes absolutely”. To which she said, “OK, I’ll have to check that out then.”
And there you have it. That’s why we do what we do the way we do it. Do we soft sell the Gospel? Not a chance. Do we avoid tough Biblical content? No way. Do we do everything we can to remove barriers that keep people from hearing the Gospel? Yes. Do we sacrifice any man-made tradition that gets in the way of people coming to Jesus? You bet we do.
Why? Because there is more celebration in heaven over 1 sinner who comes to repentance, than 99 righteous people who do not need it. (Luke 15:7)
We are unashamedly more interested in creating parties in heaven, than making church people happy on earth.
- Brad
Easter @ Discovery Church
Truth be told I couldn’t sleep the night before Easter. Literally – I got 2.5 hours. There was so much anticipation, anxiety, and excitement in me as I was looking forward to our first Easter weekend as a church family.
The day was phenomenal to say the least. We have so many incredible volunteers at Discovery who arrive early and stay late to create irresistible environments for people. Our people invited people like crazy, and we had our highest attendance in our brief history. The our worship was inspired as we sang to and because of our risen Savior. I love…and I mean love talking about Grace. We launched our new Captured by Grace series, which is already creating a buzz. God really worked in people’s hearts. We believe in radical grace!
You can checkout out Easter Service below.
Thanks for all the support you give to Discovery Church – and to all my Discovery family, I love you!
- Brad
Discovery Church 3 months in
Wow, I’ve been slack in writing here at the website lately! Never fear we have some good posts in the pipeline for the next few days. In the meantime let me give you an update and forecast for Discovery Church.
We are 3 months in since we launched with weekly services back in January. God has been working in the lives of so many people. We’ve seen people saved and people giving and volunteering to help others discover life in Jesus Christ. I love our church…I love Discovery Church.
- I love how we have so many people who are volunteering. Our volunteers are what make it possible for life change to happen!
- I love that we have new believers, non-believers, and others who have been disconnected from church involved here at Discovery! We are here for you.
- I love the spirit and external focus of our church. We are committed to being a place for the 1, not the 99. (Luke 15)
- I love that THIS WEEK we are giving over $1,000 dollars away to help 1) a family in need 2) other church plants 3) buy and install a basketball goal for the Kids at Water Angels in Knoxville. That’s a big chunk of money for a church our age and size – and we’re thrilled to give it away!
Now here is what’s coming down the road at Discovery:
- April 17th we are observing the Lord’s Supper for the first time as a church family.
- April 17th we also will serving at the Water Angels in Downtown Knoxville. Go here to sign-up and participate.
- Our first Easter Sunday is April 24th. We are launching a new series on Grace, and this is the best opportunity you have to bring your unchurched friends to hear about the loving Grace and Gospel of Jesus Christ.
- In May we’ll also be having our first “Discovery Partnership” lunch/dinner. We’re going to share the mission and vision of our church and give people the opportunity to become official partners of Discovery Church. More on why we say partners, instead of members later.
- This summer we will be organizing our Small Groups and Student ministries.
As you can see there is much to thank God for and much to be excited about!
- Brad Raby, Lead Pastor
