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Tonight, after a week off from our regular grouping, we came back with something slightly different that would move our group forward in understanding the importance, rhythms, and cohesiveness of the stories…we retold them.

First off, we spent some time just telling stories…stories of how we met our wives, stories of sports injuries, and stories that were both at the same time. We did the because stories are how we talk and communicate ALL the time…except inexplicably when we talk about Jesus or the Bible.  We convert to this entirely awkward way of speaking which tends to delineate a list of fact…like the Romans Road or the 4 Spiritual Laws.

the problem is that the gospel was not intended to be shared this way.  It is a story…the story of all stories that has significant and important features when re-told correctly.

It connects with us personally because we relate to the characters and arc. (Because good stories reveal human nature, of which the Bible has the most accurate depiction)

It conveys the rhythm of all good stories…summer, fall, winter, spring.  (This story just also happens to be true).

It shows that we are a part of the story, the chapters still being told through the 29th chapter of Acts.

For these reasons, after we told some of our stories, we encouraged our group members to each take a stab at retelling…not just the facts or a list of happenings in a story, but really telling a story that captivated our attention and connected with the deepest part of our person.  A few details were left out here and there, but the essence came through.  The rhythms were there, the trajectory was there, the POINT was there.  God is good and he is redeeming an unredeemable people because He is good.

That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.

Well, Doxa has been meeting for three weeks now.  As a community, we have been doing something very old, very unoriginal, but very life changing.  Chronological Bible Storying has been around for a long, long time.  This week we reached the story of Cain and Abel.  It is consistently amazing how quickly humans go from no sin to murder.  It is also amazing to see through story how consistently God is loving, merciful and caring even after our rebellion.  God is very good to us!  3 weeks into the story some patterns are starting to emerge.  Namely, God is very loving, but must punish sin; and humans are constantly disobeying God.  These patterns lay a wonderful groundwork for the gospel.  

Please pray for opportunities for us to lay the groundwork for the gospel in the lives of those attending through serving them.  We are trying to keep our eyes open for ways to serve the people in our group, and the community.  We’re in the beginning stages of planning for the two mission teams that our coming this summer.  We’re also trying to partner with some local churches to co-labor and expand the reach of the gospel.  

I got the opportunity this week to bless some of the folks over at Faithbridge community church with some free Pirates tickets.  It was a great opportunity to get know and learn from some folks who have been working here in Pittsburgh for longer than we have.  

We’re pretty sure our friends’ child is still having medical issues that are keeping them from joining us.  Please pray that those medical issues are resolved so that the child can go back to being a child, and so that they can join us.

It is official.  Doxa Church, as of April 19th, has initiated its first community gathering.  After several weeks of practice with just our core community (that is the Russell’s and the Heffner’s), and a few weeks of strategic planning, budgeting, and remodeling of one dining room, we have completed our first two gatherings with friends we have made in the area.  They have gone fantastically, with those in attendance truly appreciating what we are doing, and verbalizing their excitement to continue their involvement.

Although excitement and direction have been positive, our attendance has ben less than expected, due to some emergencies and people backing out out the last minute. These things are to be expected, as a lot of people are fearful or skeptical of the gospel, and those who aren’t will certainly find some obstacle to overcome in joining our community.  Please pray for our one family who has missed both fo our first two weeks due to emergency medical needs.  Also pray for Rebecca’s “bus buddy” who may come in the next week or two if she can find a friend to come along.  Finally pray for my friend and teaching mentor, Jamie.  She has expressed interest in coming before, but is flaking out at the last minute because of some serious internal resistance to religion.

Some other prayer requests as we continue to build our community:

(1) Pray that we wil find ways to make it mroe of a community instead of a once a week meeting.  Thom Ranier;s new book identifies community as one of the key aspects of churches that attract and keep younger generations.  One of our key identities is being family, which informs us that we wnat to be far more than a church group.  We wnat to share life on an intimate level.  Pray that we might know how to begin creating this atmoshpere outside of Sunday nights.

(2) Pray for  our budgetary needs. We have established a workable budget that is going to require some outside giving to help us get started.  Right now we have two giving families – the aforementioned Russells and Heffners.  We need about $150/month additional to meet ouf monetary needs for the year.

(3) Praye for the TWO missions trips that we have coming this summer, that we will have projects for them, that we will be able to cast our vision with them when they come, that the work will be fruitful, and no one will go crazy.

(4) Pray for me (Andrew) to find a teaching job that starts this fall and is not too far from home!

Grace to you,

Andrew