Revive: Cultivation

As I am interning under Pastor Chris, one of my primary areas of responsibility is to work to develop the Revive worship service in multiple ways. It's relatively easy to work on improving the physical space of the worship environment, and it's a bit tougher to initiate service teams and coordinate their activities from week to week. But perhaps the most challenging - yet potentially rewarding - aspects of developing Revive is culture-building, or fostering a sense of community within the congregation of this new worship service at FBC. I find myself asking the questions: 'What kind of people do we want to be? How do we want to be known? What will be the distinguishing marks of Revive that make it unique among the many other worship services held on a Sunday in the greater Prescott area?'

Revive is a new kid on the block. People haven't quite figured out who we are yet. The truth is, we haven't figured out who we are yet, either. But I hope to cast some vision for Revive, and specifically, the culture of Revive. Who we are right now is maybe not as important as who we could be, by the grace of God.

The physical environment of Revive is a dramatic shift for an FBC worship service. Having a coffee bar and seating at tables with low lighting and restyled walls is a major improvement to the Smyth fellowship hall, to be sure. There is great potential for continued incorporation of art and design elements which will communicate volumes to anyone who comes through our doors. As a guy with an architecture background, I am constantly thinking about those kinds of things. I am also aware of the limitations of the space - most notably, the fact that we are already needing to look at options to increase the seating capacity of the room, since - praise God - we are quite full on Sundays already.

But let's put all that aside. Worship space is important, and we are truly blessed to have the space we have. However, a church building is merely a medium in which to grow the people of God. We must cultivate fully-devoted followers of Christ, for the glory of God. We must cultivate authentic corporate worship; a spirit of community and belonging; a commitment to the Bible and to fervent prayer. We must cultivate the awareness that we are part of a bigger story, much bigger than whatever happens on a Sunday morning - there is a world out there full of people who need to not only know the saving gospel of Jesus, but to understand in a very tangible way His compassion and His desire for justice. We must cultivate a visible and spiritual presence right here in Prescott, because what good is a local church if it doesn't act locally?

Growth takes time, and cultivation takes work. A lot of work. But we have a great Father who is faithful to renew and revive the hearts and souls and minds - indeed, even the very bodies - of those who love Him, by the power of the blood of Christ through the working of the Holy Spirit. This is the hope we have. It is my prayer that above all, the distinguishing mark of Revive would be the culture that develops - a culture of love, of family, of renewal and reconciliation; of both great outreaching acts of faith and simple gestures of invitation; and of true hope.

Take a glance through the Gospels and you'll see time and again Jesus telling parables of growth and agriculture. The Kingdom is like a mustard seed. It is like a farmer going out to sow seed. The Vine and the branches. The Lord of the harvest. This idea of the people of God being divinely cultivated into a fruitful harvest is a theme that permeates the whole of Scripture. May we allow God to work in and through us to raise us up into a community that lives in stark contrast to the world around us, yet in an irresistable way that others clamor to join in.

So they will be called oaks of righteousness,

The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.

Isaiah 61:3