Speaker 1: 0:00

Welcome to Madison Church Online. Stephen Feith, lead pastor, I want to invite you to join us on Sunday, september 8th, for what will be a great celebration. We've been in Madison for 10 years and we have a ton of stuff planned, from balloon twisting and different games planned, a full-on appetizer spread. The whole thing is free. You just got to show up. So we'll be meeting at 11 o'clock where, in our gathering here, we're actually going to hear from people at Madison Church who are going to share their stories on how the Madison Church community has positively impacted their life. I thought what Madison Church doesn't need this year is another talk from me, but it would be really cool on our anniversary to hear how our church has made a big impact in the people who are part of this community on that day. So 11 o'clock for that, and then all the festivities begin at 12 o'clock right here. So today I want to start with a story from Jesus's life that I think captures his approach to ministry, how Jesus did ministry and, I think, his attitude when it comes toward institutionalism. And so, I think, when it comes to the Institute, I think there's a story that Jesus kind of shows his cards on how he feels about it. We're going to go to Mark 3. If you want to follow along with me, you can use the house Bibles. The words will always be up on the screen.

Speaker 1: 1:10

But we find Jesus entering a synagogue and it is on the Sabbath, so this was just kind of custom. He walks in and there's a man with what is described as a withered hand standing there. Now, at this moment, all the eyes turn to Jesus. They've already kind of heard about Jesus. They kind of know he's in. He doesn't just teach, because that would have been acceptable If he comes in and just gives a really good teaching. That's kind of what they're hoping for. But they know that this Jesus does more than that. There are miracles and there are healings. They're not interested in what Jesus is going to say at the synagogue on this particular Sabbath. Rather, they're watching to see. Will Jesus heal this man on the Sabbath, hoping to accuse him of breaking the law? They're kind of setting a trap for him.

Speaker 1: 2:00

And, if you didn't know, the Sabbath was and remains a really big deal in Jewish culture. It is a day set apart for rest and worship, as originally and initially commanded by God. But over time it became more and more and more and more. See, god had told people to take a day of rest and from there there were different committees that got together, different people got together and they had talks on how you were going to do the Sabbath even better than what God had said. See, god kind of gave them a baseline and they wanted to build off the baseline. And what ended up being what God created for us to be a good thing, a day of rest to enjoy life, created for us to be a good thing, a day of rest to enjoy life became work, became legalistic and it became rigid, a set of rules that needed to be followed to the letter. And according to their interpretation again, this isn't the command, but according to their interpretation healing would have been considered work and work was forbidden on the Sabbath.

Speaker 1: 3:02

But as Jesus did, as he so often did, jesus just kind of does his own thing. And, picking up in verse 3, jesus said to the man with the deformed hand come, stand in front of everyone. And then he turned to his critics and asked does the law permit good deeds on the Sabbath or is it a day for doing evil? Is this a day to save life or destroy it? But they wouldn't answer it. You see, they knew that Jesus had more than a point. He was right, because what Jesus says is essentially did God say that, according to the law, what was spoken to Moses and passed on? Is this good or is it bad? Jesus challenges them to remember the why behind God's command of the Sabbath, the why initially. God gives it to us again. He loves us and he cares for us, and he didn't just create us to work and to do a job and to earn money until we die. He created us to enjoy what he put on this planet, and so he wants us to enjoy life and to rest. It is a day of good and for good, but over time, as commonly happens in Christianity, something God intended for good became rigid and elevated to the point where it was about creation, loving and caring for the rule, rather than the rule serving creation as intended.

Speaker 1: 4:32

What can get lost in stories like this is Jesus's level of passion. He wasn't meek and unbothered by what was happening around him, and he certainly didn't try to hide it either. He didn't read any of the modern leadership books today. Which tells you when you're in a board meeting and you're supposed to have a stoic kind of presentation, the counselors in the room. When you're doing therapy work, the psychotherapy work, you know you got a nonjudgmental face. Hold it together because you don't want them to think you're judged. Jesus didn't get any of those notes. He didn't get any of those notes. He didn't read any of those books.

Speaker 1: 5:08

It says in Mark 3, 5, he looked around at them angrily. He was pissed off. He couldn't even hide it, it was on his face. He was indignant, all of you. Why was he indignant? Jesus was the loving God they worshiped, that they served. Jesus was the God that they made up all of these extra rules for and they didn't even recognize him when he was standing in the same room. They didn't even recognize him. They had made so many extra rules and extra tidbits that they couldn't even see the God that originally approached them.

Speaker 1: 5:49

And let's not look down too hard on these people here for a second, because these were people who dedicated their whole lives to learning about and serving God. Modern day translation these are the people who went to seminary. They got their PhD in Bible and in theology. They've been working in churches and in Christian colleges. They're the educators, they're the teachers. By our standards today, they would be very impressive Christians. It wasn't just that they knew everything, they also followed the rules really well. So when we talk about following Jesus and obedience and we talk about how difficult that is, these guys were the best. So they knew it and they followed it, and they still missed God standing right in front of them.

Speaker 1: 6:34

And God looks at them angrily. He looks at them angrily, but what made him angry was this deep sadness that he had over the hardness of their hearts. That's the next line. He, jesus, was deeply saddened by their hard hearts. You see, jesus wasn't just angry for the sake of being angry, but he said those of you who should know me better than everyone else and those of you who follow me better than anyone else, you don't even recognize me. And it saddened him Because the God of compassion, the God of love, the God who has a tender heart, had attracted a following that was hateful, it was inconsiderate, and they were hardened in their hearts.

Speaker 1: 7:27

Then Jesus says to the man hold out your hand. And so the man held out his hand and it was restored. See, jesus is standing at this confrontational moment in which they're like expecting him to do this and if you do it. Aha, we caught you. Jesus looks around, he's upset and he does it anyway. He heals anyway because, after all, the sinless son of God doesn't need permission from religious leaders to do the right thing. And it's important to remember that this man's conditioned with the hand does not define the man. He was a person with dignity and value and worth, someone who mattered deeply to Jesus, as all people do, regardless of their abilities or limitations.

Speaker 1: 8:09

When Jesus healed this man, he wasn't just performing a miracle for the sake of performing a miracle, in hopes that it gets put in the gospel that we're talking about 2,000 years later. When Jesus heals this man 2,000 years ago, he's restoring the man's ability to fully engage with the community around him, to work and to worship alongside others. You see, this man is at the synagogue on the Sabbath and there are rules about him and what he can do and what he can't do. And Jesus says I want you to be included and here's how that's going to happen. He broke down the barriers that kept this man on the margins. Now I begin with this story today because I think it shows us how Jesus refused to let rigid structures and rigid rules stand in the way of mercy, compassion and the movement of God's Spirit. His approach was organic, as in. He didn't schedule it, but hey, can you meet me at this time, at this place, so I can heal you in front of these people? Jesus walked into the synagogue he sees the man there and he reacts. He sees the need and he goes at it. He was guided by the Spirit rather than a legalistic system. And this is all relevant to us today at Madison Church, because we're continuing this series, rediscovering Our Forgotten Ways, in which we've been doing a deep dive into the values of Madison Church, the values that shape this not just community, but the culture of this community.

Speaker 1: 9:43

We began in week one talking about the foundational truth to us that Jesus is Lord. If Jesus isn't Lord, we're all sleeping in on Sundays, we're not meeting here, it doesn't matter, okay, we're all going to just have a good time doing something else. But Jesus is Lord, and so we gather here. It's more than just a statement of belief. It's a call to submit every single part of our lives, our sexuality, our finances, our physical health, everything to Jesus's Lordship. We present it all to him when we try to align our lives with his will. Well, if we're going to do that, then we have to move into what is disciple making, because Jesus tells us to not just follow him but to make disciples. And so if Jesus is Lord, if we believe that, if we're committing our lives to him, our natural response is to become like him. And disciple making is about transformation. It's about transformation becoming like Jesus. And if we're becoming like Jesus, then we're going to develop a missional, incarnational impulse.

Speaker 1: 10:39

And those big words we talked about them really a lot a couple weeks ago, but it was about going out outside of the four walls, outside of the building, and being missional. It's not just about sending a postcard to our neighbors saying, hey, I hope you come to church, a Facebook ad here hope you can come on September 8th, but rather it's being missional and it's leaving and it's being incarnational, like Christ and reaching out. Jesus again didn't wait for people to come to him. He went to them. However, we cannot do this alone. I know we start getting fired up. Jesus is Lord. I'm becoming a disciple, missional and incarnational.

Speaker 1: 11:14

We need a community around us to love and care and support us, because life is full of ups and downs and when we're in the thick of it and whether that's anxiety or depression or conflict or stress on our finances, whatever that situation may be, we need other people to help keep us going and that's why God put other people around us. That's why he has called us to Christian community. Community is vital to our mission. It's not just about hanging out, but it is about support in the mission, together and within this community. Last week, we explored the concept of APES, the different spiritual giftings and functions within the church, recognizing that every single one of you, all of us, not just the pastors, not just the church leaders, not just the Pharisees, not just the seminary professors, all of us are called to be fully functional members of the church. We all have a role, we all have a responsibility, we've all been equipped and we've all been empowered to contribute.

Speaker 1: 12:18

And that brings us today to organic systems, because it is possible that our church, madison Church, goes one, two, three, four, five and still isn't a missional church movement. We would just be a really awesome church, but that's not why we came here. We came here to be a missional church movement. So we're going to talk about organic systems. If Jesus is Lord and if we're called to make disciples and live missionally and to thrive in a community, then we need systems and we need structures that support that. Jesus wasn't about building an institution. He was all about cultivating a movement that was alive, adaptable and responsive to people's needs, and that's what organic systems are all about. It's about creating environments where the spirit can move freely, where people can grow and the mission of God can flourish.

Speaker 1: 13:09

The essence of organic systems lies in its flexibility, its resiliency and its responsiveness. Unlike institutionalism, which often depends on centralized control and strict hierarchies and fixed protocols the opposite of that which what we've come to just accept as Fortune 500 companies and good ways to run your business. Opposite of that, organic systems empower individuals at every level to contribute to the mission uniquely and creatively. What does that mean? It means the Christian church is supposed to take the last and the weakest and the most untalented and to say you have a role, there's something for you to do. Which means we need the structure in place. And if we don't have the structure in place, then those with affluence rise to the top and they make the decisions, as they were doing in Mark, chapter 3, and for the hundreds of years leading up to that.

Speaker 1: 14:07

One of the most powerful illustrations in the New Testament of organic systems comes from Jesus when he describes the kingdom of God as a mustard seed. I brought in a mustard seed in the past. It's almost impossible to see, so you can just pretend I have one, because that's what it looks like. You can't see it, but you plant this mustard seed and in the desert, these hard places for anything to grow, these trees, these garden plants start to grow like crazy. They provide shelter and an ecosystem that supports creation. And this imagery captures the essence of organic systems. It starts with something so small, something that seems so insignificant, but, when planted, gives birth to the right type of environment for life to thrive. And the kingdom of God itself is an organic system, expanding naturally and powerfully as each person plays their part in spreading the message of Jesus's love, grace and forgiveness. We see Jesus do it, but then we also see the early church do it.

Speaker 1: 15:15

We talked about that in week one, how they went from 120 followers to, after a couple hundred years, millions of followers. And how they did it was because the early church was an organic system. They did not have centralized leadership, they didn't have institutional support and it spread like a wildfire across the Roman Empire. There were no policies, there was not an HR department, and yet they thrived. It wasn't a formal organization. They did not have strict rules, but it was a movement of people whose lives had been transformed by Jesus and they kept meeting other people whose lives were transformed by Jesus. They didn't have big buildings, they met in homes, they couldn't open up bank accounts, they just shared resources right there on the table and they lived out their faith in ways that were fluid, dynamic and deeply connected to other believers. And it's my deepest conviction, it's my belief.

Speaker 1: 16:11

The argument that I will make today is that Madison Church has been designed to operate in an organic way. Our very structure and I know this doesn't sound really great, doesn't sound super exciting, but our structure is outlined in the bylaws reflects what I believe to be an organic, flexible approach that prioritizes mission, adaptability and the empowerment of individuals at every level. And so I'm going to draw, to try to show you this and to make my point. In a traditional business or even church, we're going to do the hierarchy. Here and up at the top usually of the hierarchy, this is either some sort of board of directors call it a board or CEO, usually at the top and then from there we come down and there's usually another layer and maybe this is management right, and so then these guys report to these guys and then from there the organization keeps dripping down.

Speaker 1: 17:13

Now, this isn't the pick on it. We know that this works. We know that, for any of you who work in a company, an organization that's not the church, you really appreciate it when this works well, don't you? When there's good checks and balances and everything's going well. We appreciate that a lot, except that we see that this isn't the model of the early church. This isn't what Jesus really kind of leaned into. This was more of the model of the Jewish believers, the Pharisees, that were having a huge issue with what Jesus was doing.

Speaker 1: 17:43

So what makes Madison Church different? And that's what I want to draw next, or attempt to draw next? The first thing I want to point out is that at the center of it all is the Holy Spirit. It actually even says that in those bylaws those bylaws, boring, boring, boring documents it says that Madison Church does seek to be led by the Holy Spirit in every decision we make, whether spiritual, financial or otherwise. We put it in there. This is a legal document, if ever we were to be sued and we had to show our bylaws, some judge or some lawyer would be reading it and they would say the very first thing, madison Church is to be led by the Holy Spirit in all decisions From there.

Speaker 1: 18:32

We have several different leadership groupings. We have what we call the lead pastor's kind of arm and that's kind of day-to-day ministry. But we also have elders at Madison Church and those elders are spiritual advisors. They jump in, they help me, they guide me, they coach me, they lead our community. They're making relationships with you. They have their finger on the pulse of the church and they know what's going on and together we collaborate for the good of this church. But it's not just elders, we also have trustees and the trustees I'll put this up in a second. But the trustees at the church, they help us with the policymaking and the finances of the church. They do the legal, boring stuff. That's why we only get together like three or four times a year, because, one, we're not getting in trouble legally, thankfully, but two, it's just there's not a lot going on there.

Speaker 1: 19:26

We have the overseers at Madison Church and we also have the overseers at Madison Church and we also have the congregation, and I know you guys want to see this, so I'm going to fill that out and put it down. Okay, the congregation is the membership at Madison Church. We have membership at Madison Church. There are certain things required to become a member of Madison Church, and the reason that we did that wasn't because we started the church, because we're like, oh, we want members and we want to have this cool Christian click, but rather membership at Madison Church are people who are helping us create the culture.

Speaker 1: 20:02

Culture is dictated by behavior, what we do, and so membership at Madison Church is primarily focused on what we do together. So we talk about generosity, we talk about reading the Bible and praying, we talk about being in a small group. These are the things we do to create the culture that we want and as such, the congregation has a very important role in the church. And then the overseers are people who are not a part of our church. They're Christians and leaders and in some cases, christian leaders who oversee me and our church. They speak directly to me and what we are doing, and if ever there was an issue, some sort of an accusation about my character or my behavior, it is the overseers who come then and objectively and impartially help our church community go through that and work through it.

Speaker 1: 20:50

Now you'll notice I intentionally drew this like this, because when we're talking about organic systems, there needs to be a sense of autonomy with each group and collaboration. It's not like the CEO going back to this other model it's not like the CEO submits business propositions to a customer who comes in for the first time. Right, that'd be crazy. They don't do that. But in the church Jesus tells us, the early church practiced this that everyone, the least of these comes in the doors should have some sort of influence in our community. So we do believe that the congregation is influenced by the Holy Spirit, but anyone in the congregation can become an elder or a trustee and they can also be on the lead pastor team and work. And if ever there was a situation in which I need to be called out, the overseers works with the congregation.

Speaker 1: 21:44

Now it's not just that. As I mentioned earlier, the lead pastor, I work with the elders and I work with the trustees and I work with the overseers and we do this all for the congregation and so there's a connection there. But it's not just me and the congregation. As I mentioned, the trustees come from the congregations. The trustees work with me, but these guys, the trustees and the elders, need to work together because if the elders and I were coming up with a vision, with a plan for a year or whatever, it needs to get funded and who in the church funds it? The trustees, we work together for that, and the overseers work with the elders and it's all connected, every single one of them.

Speaker 1: 22:25

We use the words when we're trying to be shorthanded. We call it checks and balances, but what it is is an organic system. It's an organic system and naturally that has checks and balances. And what this does is it always keeps the mission in front of us. We will not get slowed down by policy, by procedure. We will always be on mission and on fire for where God is leading us. But it's not one person, it's not one person on top, it's Holy Spirit led and the rest of us are all collaborating with different jobs, responsibilities and accountability. We all play a role in this shared leadership model.

Speaker 1: 23:03

I believe, and again I want to state one thing it's not perfect. Okay, so you've all just heard me say that I don't believe this is perfect. I don't believe it's better than other church government models. It is different, but I do believe for us it ensures that no single person or group holds too much power and it allows for a more organic, spirit-led approach to our ministry.

Speaker 1: 23:23

And what I love the most about it is it has nothing to do with where you went to college or if you went to college. It has nothing to do with where you went to college or if you went to college. It has nothing to do with your degree. Whether you make $40,000 a year or $150,000 a year, whether you're white, black, brown, something else, man, woman, gay, straight, it does not matter. What matters is the mission, and what matters is that anyone can become a member of the congregation who says I want to help you make culture, and from there, anyone then can become a trustee or an elder, if you go through the proper channels. You see, we won't ever be hijacked by a few Pharisees, religious people who really know their stuff. It can't happen. There are too many checks and balances, and so the challenge before us today for you and me, we're talking about organic systems and Jesus, and so what I hope is what you're asking what does this mean for you? I'm going to continue to push, get past consumer Christianity where you just simply show up and maybe receive some spiritual nourishment that might help you get through this week until you come back next week and get a little bit more, and maybe it's enough and maybe it's not.

Speaker 1: 24:37

We need to develop a mentality of missional discipleship where each of us actively participates in God's work, and that means letting go of the comfort and predictability of the institutionalized church, and that's scary One, because that's what we know. It's not just what we know, it's what we've seen work. I mentioned before I went into this. We know other models work. We know that it works well, but at Madison Church we're trying to do something different. It's not about building this organization. It's not about building this church to have a thousand people showing up or 10,000 or whatever. This is about a missional church movement in Madison that shows the love of Jesus and his kingdom throughout the whole city. It's about that missional impulse.

Speaker 1: 25:25

So we have to let go of the comfort, we have to let go of predictability, we have to embrace the unknown, and that's great, because that means we get to walk in adventure. We get to live out at Madison Church, we get to live out a story worth telling. We get to live out something that's different, something that's unique, something that includes everyone from every walk of life. But it did take me and it did take a lot of other people to step out into the unknown, and a lot of times they say, well, just figure it out. It's kind of a company line. If you didn't know that, if you've ever been in a meeting I've led, we start going and we say how are we going to do this? We'll figure it out, we'll find out. Sometimes we just get going and it's scary. But we need more of you and if you're watching or listening online because you couldn't be here today, we need you.

Speaker 1: 26:25

As we come up on our 10th anniversary and we start dreaming about what the next decade has for us, I believe it is so much more than the last 10 years. I believe this is where we get rooted and spread like that mustard seed and we start to have this kingdom come in Madison, in a place, remember, the mustard seed grows in the desert, where death reigns, and some people have called Madison that a spiritual graveyard or a place where church planters go to kill their careers. But we will be like that mustard seed here in Madison, and so for you today, can you identify an area where you could be more intentional about living missionally? This could be your workplace, your neighborhood, even your small group at Madison Church. It might involve initiating deeper conversations with people offering to pray with someone, even though it might make you uncomfortable to pray out loud with someone else. It might mean being more available to those around you, making your schedule more available. From there we can build relationships.

Speaker 1: 27:30

Organic systems thrive on connection and at Madison Church our small groups are key to community. They are the key to community. In case you didn't notice, the last 45 minutes there hasn't been a lot of you guys connecting with each other. Hasn't been happening left and right. Maybe you're texting each other jokes. That's great. I'd love to be roped in on those after the service. But listen, not a lot of communities happen in here, right, that's not exactly the place. This isn't the place, but our small groups are and that's where we see the best ministry happening.

Speaker 1: 28:01

If you have a need, at Madison Church we don't have you fill out a form and submit it to the finance committee and then maybe we cut the check. You tell your small group and what you have is normal everyday people working normal everyday jobs, all chipping in enthusiastically to help. That is what an organic system is and it strengthens the bonds with each other. It strengthens my bond when I contribute to someone in my small group who has a flat tire and needs a new tire and doesn't have the money to do it, or when there's an unexpected medical bill. It contributes to my faith and my relationship with that person when I help them, because I've been on the other side of that when I've needed help from my small group and I know the way that life goes. I will need help again. So if you're in my small group and I know the way that life goes, I will need help again. So if you're in my small group, get prepared for me to ask.

Speaker 1: 28:56

Organic systems. They require flexibility and I know for some of you that's scary and it's difficult and we could even go as far as to say that maybe biologically you were not born that way and maybe now, when I'm saying all of this, you can understand Peter's trepidation of getting off of a boat. I don't really think it was so much the water that was scaring him. He's seen Jesus do so many crazy, amazing things already. Walking on water seems like low-hanging fruit in the realm of possibilities for him. But I think what Peter was worried about was everything he was leaving behind in the boat friends, certainty. He steps out of the boat into the unknown and into the adventure, into something he has never experienced before. You know what I love the most about that story? Does anyone remember the other guys who are in the boat their names? Of course you don't, because the story is not about them, even though Jesus called them to walk with him.

Speaker 1: 29:56

We are living an adventure at Madison Church and when Jesus looks at us and says step out of the boat of institutionalization of everything you've known and step out and do something new with me and, as I mentioned, some of us have we're still looking back and say come with us. And that's the invitation for you today to come join us on the water. This challenge is not about adding more to your already busy lives I know you're too busy as it is but it is about integrating faith into every part of your life. I'm not asking you to be a Christian now, an extra hour a week. I'm asking you to be a Christian, a follower of Jesus, with every moment of your week, whether you're going to work, or the dentist, or mowing the lawn, whatever you're doing, I want it to be pursuing Jesus and as we take these steps, both individually but then collectively, as a church community, one that is flexible and responsible and alive to the Spirit's leading, when we do that we're going to begin to see this missional movement that we've been talking about for a decade start to happen and be fully realized.

Speaker 1: 31:10

As Madison Church approaches our 10th anniversary, I believe we do stand at a very pivotal moment. 10 years is a significant milestone. It is a moment to celebrate. We will celebrate it and all that God has done in and through the people who are Madison Church and the journey we've been on throughout. This whole series is not just about looking back at our roots and where we came from and our history and our tradition, but it is about preparing our hearts and your minds and my mind for what God is going to do next.

Speaker 1: 31:41

Can you close your eyes and imagine what would happen if we truly embrace what we've talked about the last six weeks at Madison Church Not just me, not just some of us, but all of us enthusiastically? Can you imagine what would happen, not just at Madison Church but in the city of Madison, if we continue to submit every part of our lives to Jesus as Lord, what sort of transformation could occur, not just in us but around us, if we commit to making disciples, who make disciples? This is an impact that could reach far beyond our walls, touching lives of people that you've never met and perhaps never will meet. If we embody the missional, incarnational impulse and we step out into our communities with the love of Jesus, what kind of positive change could you spark? I'm not talking about another Facebook post, fighting on the news channel's Facebook feed, but real, actual, positive change where you live.

Speaker 1: 32:38

How much stronger could we all be if we lived out our calling in community and use our unique gifts to serve and build one another up. So, as we come up on 10 years, let's dream big and celebrate this milestone, knowing it is a catalyst type of moment for us, one that propels us into the future, for the next decade. Let's dream about a church that's not just surviving, but a church that is thriving, a community where people find healing, purpose and relationships. Let's dream together about a movement that starts here, spreads across our city, the state and beyond, a movement that is marked by what's so needed, not just here, but all over the world. That's Jesus's radical love.