Defining identity through discipleship

A congregation must have discipleship. One of the models of identity building is legitimizing identities. These identities underwrite the existing social structures and help shape the cultural norms. So through discipleship we can change and alter cultural norms inside of the city. We begin to take the identity of the community and legitimize it through biblical teaching. By having someone in a position of fathering or mentoring an individual they give approval or legitimize the identity of that person. Now that person's identity is no longer linked to the cultural norms but to the norms of Jesus. Discipleship was the model that Jesus chose. It was the model that Paul chose. It is based around the structure of a family and is demonstrated throughout all of Scripture. That is why it is an effective and necessary tool for all congregations but specifically critical to urban congregations. Even Jesus commanded us to make disciples as we shared the Gospel, this can be found in Matthew 28.





- MZG

Can Jesus use a Zombie??? Yes He can!!

When we all feel that tug, that moment when we know its Jesus or nothing, there is that moment when the Holy Spirit comes after us so hard that we cannot be still, we have to respond. At least for all of us that have come to trust Jesus as our savior. For the rest of you this may sound strange but Jesus can help you too.  

But lets us say that you had that moment…… it was powerful…. Then you fell away….. You chose worldly things or selfish things….. You no longer have that…. Life! What now? You feel so far away from Jesus, how can you get back?

You may have (like me and many others) reached a point where the things you thought would fulfill you no longer can, the thing that pulled you away from God no longer helps you, it harms you. You feel dead inside, like a zombie, just wondering around but not really alive. 

I have good news for you. Let’s read the following scripture:

Then he shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” And he came out, a cadaver, wrapped from head to toe, and with a kerchief over his face.

Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him loose.”

John 11:43-44 (MSG) 

If you find yourself in that position where you feel dead, remember Jesus has conquered death; he has the power to call dead things back to life. Not only can he take us from death to life but he can once again give us purpose. Notice Jesus told them to “let him loose”. I find this statement interesting. If the idea was to just unwrap him, Jesus could have said so. Letting someone loose implies they have something to do or somewhere to go. Can you imagine how God could use the “zombie” Lazarus, what a testimony he had, and he was loosed to go and tell it. You too have a testimony to share. If you feel dead inside listen for Jesus, he is calling you; he will set you “loose” to a purpose. For you were created to glorify God, and nothing that stands against you can prevail, Jesus has already conquered it all. So regardless of how far into grave you think you are he can call you out. Listen for his voice, and like Lazarus you can be a “zombie” for God.  

Who can steal from Jesus?

I heard someone say the other day that we needed to be careful that the devil doesn't steal us away from God.

Something in my spirit was bothered by this. I began thinking on this. Who would have the power to steal what Jesus owned. See the cross is where Jesus paid the debt for our sin.

..but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.
Romans 4:24-25 (NIV)

So my question is who can steal from Jesus. Having defeated the devil, death, and hell. What then could could overpower and take what he has.

It is foolishness to live in fear that anyone can take what Jesus owns. And as Christians we were bought and paid for by him. We belong to him.

No one will still us from him.

- MZG

Damon Thompson

Jonah: 4 part series

Prodigal Son Series

Crazy things! Is it God?

Guys just a few moments of your time. I would like to tell you about a crazy plan that's getting ready to take shape. This guy I know who has no real experience other than business is planning to change directions and go in a completely different direction job wise. He is good at what he does and so it really doesn't make sense. In fact the job he is planning to make a living at is not new to him, but it has only been a side job until now.

What makes a man give up a good job, risk the welfare of his family? Did I mention he has a baby, less than a year old! It doesn't make any sense when we look at it rationally.

Ok. I have a confession. The guy is me. The reason is simple God has told me to. I have begun working to transition from bi-vocational work to full time ministry.

I would ask for prayers of support during this time. Please pray God's to come to light as this journey begins. Thank you guys.




- MZG

I want leftovers, you should too

As I was reading the story of the loaves and fishes I realized Jesus could have fed them with anything. He did not have to have the boys bread and fish.

I also realized he knew exactly how much food would be needed. So why was there leftovers. See the scripture below.

When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, "Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted." So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.
John 6:12-13

Then it hit me. There is a principle of God's nature in this miracle that Jesus performed. All we have is his yet he allows us to posses it through free will. He then asks for us to give it back. When we do he blesses it and it multiplies as it is being used. The leftovers are many times more than what was began with.

What I want is some of God's leftovers. I want to take what he has given to me and give it back. I want to marvel as he uses it. I want to see the piles of blessing left afterwards.

I hope you want leftovers too.


- MZG

Are you like a child?

As I was watching my son play I begin to think of the things of God.

"When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me." 1st Corinthians 13:11

Children are happy with what is being handed them. When the child begins to fuss hand them something, bottle or keys, toy or hair tie, whatever is fine. This soothes them for a minute, then they fuss and need something else handed to them.

As the child grows they begin to stretch, reaching for what they want, moving forward even. In fact that is what encourages them to learn to crawl and walk.

God continues to show me how we must constantly be moving forward. As we grow we become less content with just what the pastor or church hands us. We begin to dig in the word and find what God has to say. The we begin to move forward, sharing God with others.

The child does not stop taking what is handed them though. And likewise regardless of how much we go and get ourselves we still need the teaching and preaching from our local church.

It's amazing what God will show you if you will listen.




- MZG

No more red lights? Only green lights?

No more red lights? Only green lights?

This morning I was running late for work, but since I have some flexibility in that and it was foggy I decided to go the longer way by the main highways.

This meant stop light. Pesky things. Sometimes it seems you hit everyone. I was in no rush so it didn't bother me. Out I noticed some of the other drivers becoming irate as we hit every stop light.

That's when I heard God say " no more red lights. Only green". So I immediately took the time to meditate on this.

Jesus was constantly moving. Preach to 5000 and slip away to the other side after. Constantly telling his disciples "come let us go". The Ark of the Covenant was to always have the staves in place so it could be moved. Paul was always moving from place to place. In fact Jesus gave the great commission that told us to go.

So why do we always want to find a church to call home. Why are we so sedentary in our ministries and our patterns.

Certainly not everyone is called to be a traveling evangelist or an overseas missionary. I am also not discounting having a strong home base. However all of us should be moving in our walk with Jesus. In so producing change in what our ministry looks like. Whether member or leader there should be constant green lights.

Moving allows us to take the gospel to places it has not been. That may be the shop around the corner, the person who hears a new song that changes there direction, or going to a new location to spread the word and work of Christ.

Whoever you are and wherever your going there are no red lights needed. Keep moving forward.




- MZG

Is faith reasonable?

I had this conversation the other night with my father.

He says faith is reasonable. I say it is not. My father is the wisest person I know so I am sure that I am mistaken or too stupid to fully grasp it all. My enthusiasm often exceeds my knowledge. It all hinges around your definitions of reasonable I suppose. So let's define it as having sound judgment, logical, factual and knowledgable decision making.

My father being so far along in his journey with God can imagine no situation in which choosing to believe God is not the most logical choice. He is the exception.

If you are like me. I will say I feel faith to be unreasonable. Reason is based around mans understanding. Faith is based around our belief in God's understanding. If it is a reasonable act or event anyone could pull it off, it is logical. If it beyond all human ability or reason but it occurs based on the goodness of God, it is miraculous.

I believe faith is believing God is in the business of the miraculous. Miracles are unreasonable because they defy natural laws. Faith is unreasonable because it says regardless of the logic God said it and he is a miracle worker and I believe him.

Reasonable is having flood insurance. Faith is building an ark because God is going to fill it with animals.

I don't want to be reasonable. I want to be inside the ark.




- MZG

From schools to churches we need prayer

Has the progress that we've made in the church in becoming more like the culture really helped anyone?

We have seen in schools that use of technology and entertainment value has increased but educational scores and good commonsense seems to be lost on this generation.The children graduating today have more opportunity than any group before them could imagine however most of them live at home well into their mid 20s. They graduate college but do not find work.

I believe our church in order to attract so many of these type of people have done the same thing. We provide a great entertainment experience sprinkled with a little bit of biblical teaching. At the end of the day the people that we teach don't do anything.they simply come back each Sunday for the entertainment value. No discipleship or study occurs in between.

I am surprised at the number of churches that have three and four services but no discipleship program. Untrained small group leaders simply become community groups for cultural purposes. We get together and play golf, we get together and play a game, we get together and talk about the kids, but no deep meaningful theological growth occurs.

I fear that our churches have become more about numbers and less about Jesus. It troubles me but I'm not sure what the answer is.

Join me in praying for our churches.




- MZG