First Word for December 2023

I love Christmas, always have, and I’m confident I always will. Sometimes I think I can feel my heart growing, it seems more alive, it is as if the eyes of my heart are opened a bit more to see the majesty of Jesus.

The sad truth is that you can be really close to something and miss seeing it’s beauty or grandeur. It is far too easy to walk past a beautiful stream without marveling at the sound of the water, or a magnificent towering oak tree and miss the fact that it began as a small seed.

John 12:21 says, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.”

2 Peter 1:16 states, “…we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.” 

I’ve been fortunate that I was introduced to Jesus and the true meaning of Christmas from a very young age—of the mind blowing, incredible reality that Holy God entered the world as a baby! 

Michelle and I both love the book God Came Near by Max Lucado. It is a favorite re-read of mine, especially at Christmas time. I want to give you a taste with an excerpt and encourage you to see the magnificence of Jesus…

“He was touchable, approachable, reachable. And, what's more, he was ordinary. If he were here today, you probably wouldn't notice him as he walked through a shopping mall. He wouldn't turn heads by the clothes he wore or the jewelry he flashed.

‘Just call me Jesus,’ you can almost hear him say.

He was the kind of fellow you’d invite to watch the Rams-Giants game at your house. He’d wrestle on the floor with your kids, doze on your couch, and cook steaks on your grill. He'd laugh at your jokes and tell a few of his own. And when you spoke, he’d listen to you as if he had all the time in eternity.

And one thing's for sure, you’d invite him back.

It is worth noting that those who knew him best remembered him as Jesus. The titles Jesus Christ and Lord Jesus are seen only six times. 

Those who walked with him remembered him not with a title or designation, but with a name—Jesus.

Think about the implications. When God chose to reveal himself to mankind, what medium did he use? A book? No, that was secondary. A church? No. That was consequential. A moral code? No. To limit God's revelation to a cold list of do's and don'ts is as tragic as looking at a Colorado road map and saying that you’d seen the Rockies.

When God chose to reveal himself, he did so (surprise of surprises) through a human body. The tongue that called forth the dead was a human one. The hand that touched the leper had dirt under its nails.

The feet upon which the woman wept were calloused and dusty. And tears...oh, don't miss the tears... they came from a heart as broken as yours or mine ever has been.

'For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses.'

So, people came to him. My, how they came to him! They came at night; they touched him as he walked down the street; they followed him around the sea; they invited him into their homes and placed their children at his feet. Why? Because he refused to be a statue in a cathedral or a priest in an elevated pulpit. He chose instead to be Jesus.

There is not a hint of one person who was afraid to draw near him.

There were those who mocked him. There were those who were envious of him.

There were those who misunderstood him. There were those who revered him. But there was not one person who considered him too holy, too divine, or too celestial to touch. There was not one person who was reluctant to approach him for fear of being rejected.

Remember that.

Remember that the next time you find yourself amazed at your own failures.

Or the next time acidic accusations burn holes in your soul.

Or the next time you see a cold cathedral or hear a lifeless liturgy.

Remember. It is man who creates the distance. It is Jesus who builds the bridge.

‘Just call me Jesus.’”

- John Privett

First Word for November 2023

Stanley Worstell and I just returned from an amazing time with Carlito Paes in Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil. I felt so encouraged, blessed, and stretched. Brazil is amazing, the people are incredibly hospitable, and it was beautiful witnessing what God is doing in and through the church there. I am truly grateful for these relationships and this growing partnership.

I came away with a sense of fresh anticipation and confidence for what God has for Lifehouse, our city, and our region. I’m convinced He wants us to grow. God hasn’t called us to be comfortable, rather God has chosen us, called us, and commissioned us to be fishers of men.

It seems like God is making our church family more visible both locally and internationally. There is rarely a Sunday without nearly double-digit guests. I truly believe God’s hand is on us for such a time as this. 

“For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14).

How willing are you to be uncomfortable to see many brought into the kingdom of light?

Let’s not keep silent about our God. Let’s not keep silent about Lifehouse. Let’s invite people into our lives and into our gatherings…let’s help people Know God, Find Family, Discover Purpose, and Make a Difference. And as God grows us and things get more and more uncomfortable, may we count it a joy and a privilege to be uncomfortable for His purposes for such a time as this.

- John Privett

Want to go to Mozambique?

One of the joys of being part of a global family of churches is partnering together to see the gospel advance around the world. We are excited to be taking a team back to Mozambique next year from June 16 - June 26. The team will focus on relieving the teachers at Rapale International School and helping with practical items around the area. Watch the video below to hear an update from Scott Marques.

If you are interested in joining the team this year, please select the link below to sign up or to learn more about the trip and Mozambique. The deadline to sign up is February 1st.

Sign up here: Confluence Southeast: Love Moz

First Word for October 2023

Last night a small group of brave Christ followers met to see what God might do as they purposefully set out to bless people in our city of Spring Hill. We were instructed by Paavo and team to look, listen, and love: look to find those God is leading us to; listen to the Holy Spirit for what to say; and focus on loving the person.

I can confirm there were some awkward moments—I endured a few “No thank you’s.” However, there was also evidence of the Holy Spirit at work. A lady with back trouble was prayed for, another with anxiety, still another who had just moved here, a discouraged manager at one of the stores, and on and on. A few minutes after I returned home, Michelle happened to see a social media post from a woman who was prayed for by Anna Kathryn Worstell, and I’d like you to read what she wrote:  

“Dear Anna Catherine, (I think that’s what I remembered you telling me your name was)
Today has totally been a Monday! Many times today I have felt defeated in many areas of life. At one point, I found myself yelling at God, telling him if he was working around me I simply was not seeing it. All in all, it was a crap day. Tonight, while picking up a few items in Walmart, you stopped me and asked if you could pray for me. Man! If there were words to describe the rush of overwhelming feelings that I had in that moment. I want you to know you restored a little faith in me that Satan was trying to hinder. Thank you for having the courage to step up. If you only knew how badly it was needed on this day. I pray you continue to do God’s work! Today, your prayers made a difference.”  

Wow! I was so encouraged to read this. God has called us to live each day on mission. He is sending us to hurting people in order that He might heal, restore, and reconcile them with Himself. We are invited to partner with God. My hope is that we "live sent" as we go throughout our city each day and that we are willing to risk a few awkward moments and possibly look a bit foolish in order that God might touch many.

- John Privett

First Word for September 2023

I’ve just returned from being with Tim and Kelsy Harms at Sanctuary Church in San Francisco. While there are huge challenges, there is also a clear sense of God’s grace and presence upon them. 

Travis Aicklen from Radiant Church in Visalia, California, drove in for a special meeting on Sunday evening where we prayed over Tim and blessed him as the primary leader of Sanctuary Church. It was such a joy and privilege to be part of the weekend.

On Sunday morning I received texts and pictures of a packed house at Lifehouse! Growth Track has started, and it is so encouraging to see God drawing people together on mission. Ephesians 2:22 says, “In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.” We are not after just a huge pile of stones; we are a family being fit together to be a dwelling place for God. 

All I want to do is shout this:
“Hey everybody—this is it. Don’t you see it? Can’t you feel it? The local church is what Jesus is building! It is the God-ordained, redemptive agency upon which the destiny of the entire world hangs. Stop wasting your life and don’t settle for mere church attending."

Jesus’ plan on planet earth is His church—that through the church the gospel is preached, the lost are found, the presence of God dwells, the Word is honored, relationships are real, believers are equipped, the poor are served, the lonely are brought into family, and God gets all the credit!

He wants each of us fully engaged. We will not look back in eternity and be sad that we gave our lives to the very thing God is doing on planet earth.
 
Our vision is to help people Know God, Find Family, Discover Purpose, and Make a Difference. God has placed us here, together, for such a time as this. May many come to truly know God deeply and be joined and committed to his family the church, and may they discover that God has gifted them to play a vital role in making a difference in the lives of others.

- John Privett

First Word for August 2023

I am excited and encouraged to see God’s hand on our church this summer. There is a strong sense of God’s presence helping us to move forward in His purposes to reach our city and the nations. We have witnessed salvations, baptisms, and youth being filled with the Spirit as well as tremendous giving for Mozambique. 

God is bringing many new people to our city and we have a great opportunity to partner with Him in seeing many lives transformed by the power of the gospel.  

As we serve God together, let us remember that: 
      Every person is a minister. 
      Every task is ministry. 
      Every encounter is a divine opportunity.

Philippians 3:14 encourages us:
      "I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

Would you join me in increased focus on prayer and witnessing?

- John Privett

First Word for July 2023

We had an incredible trip to Mozambique to see firsthand all that God is doing in and through the partnership between our Confluence Southeast churches and the Disciple Nations churches in MOZ. Please watch this short video from Scott Marques and prayerfully consider what God might have you give either at CSE this weekend or directly to Lifehouse.

- John Privett