We look forward to being on mission with him and his family as we work hard, by God’s grace, to build up our campus, plant churches and multiply other Mars Hill Church campuses in Albuquerque, the Southwest United States and throughout Latin America.

You may read more about Pastor AJ’s story here and see some of the resources he has written for The Resurgence here.

Also, hear the story of God’s grace poured over him and his mother in an interview by Pastor Bubba Jennings here.

To understand the gift that AJ is to us at Mars Hill Albuquerque, you really need to hear the story of God’s grace poured over him and his mother.

To see the interview by Pastor Bubba Jennings go here.

Observations
Momentum is challenging to categorize much less precisely define. Let me do my best. I am observing a movement of young men obeying the Great Commission of Jesus (Matthew 28:18-20) by planting churches. It was the consistent theme of each of my travels regardless of the official subject of discussion. Take the Acts 29 Network for example: 250 churches have been planted in the last few years with over 450 potential planters presently in process and 100 more per month requesting applications. The volume may be unique to Acts 29, but the concept isn’t. I have seen a similar movement across different networks, denominations and local churches. It is going on in Lubbock. It is happening deep in the jungles of Ecuador.

Obstacles
Current and potential church planters communicate two challenges across cultural contexts. One has to do with family and the other with the church. First, most pastors, planters and wannabes struggle with being the men Jesus calls them to be at home. Again, this seems to be true in inner city Houston, in the capitol city of Santa Fe and rural Ecuador. Second, most church leaders are frustrated with the engrained separatist mindset of the people they serve. Rather than engaging spiritually lost people with the gospel of Jesus, most Christians seem to withdraw from those who don’t yet know Jesus and become antagonistic with their culture. Interestingly enough, these two symptoms relate to a single cause. Or perhaps stated more positively, are overcome by a single solution biblically.

The Greatest Need
We find in Colossians 3 and Ephesians 5-6 family tables that define a man’s relationship to his wife and children. Both family tables have a common prerequisite. In Colossians 3: 16, it is the imperative to “let the word of Christ dwell richly in you”. In Ephesians 5:18 it is “be filled with the Spirit.” It would be an irresponsible interpretation to consider the word of Christ (the gospel) and the Spirit as synonyms. Rather, I believe them to be distinct yet inseparable in their effects. So, as the gospel penetrates my heart I am filled with the Holy Spirit and vise-versa. The apostle Paul passionately makes this point in Galatians 3:1-9. So, the greatest need facing the homes of pastors and church planters, existing and potential, is to be led by a man presently and repeatedly repenting of sin and trusting in the person and work of Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit.

So what about the isolationist tendency of the church? We see a prime biblical example in Acts 1 and 2. In a few short verses, the church transforms from 120 faithful but isolated believers to over 3,000 people in a single day. The catalyst: The Holy Spirit fills the apostles and the gospel is proclaimed in power with great impact. Although Pentecost was undeniably unique, the infilling of the Holy Spirit wasn’t limited to this single event. We see a similar occurrence in Acts 4:23-31. In both instances, the people of Jesus became fearless and intentional in engaging spiritually lost people with the gospel as a result of the Holy Spirit’s work. Just like Christian homes, the greatest need of the church is to be led by Spirit-filled men boldly proclaiming the gospel of Jesus.

Moving Forward in Momentum
Make no mistake, God independently creates and sustains momentum. Biblical and church history would reveal that such powerful movements don’t last forever, and seldom beyond a single generation. If indeed a unique movement of God is underway globally, an important question must be raised. How do we as individuals and members of a local church become swept up in the tide? How do we participate in what God is doing? Simply, we repent. We turn from our selfish, isolationist, judgmental, compassionless, fear of rejection attitudes and actions. We turn to the perfect life, the substitutionary death and victorious resurrection of Jesus to find forgiveness and freedom. We believe in the gospel. And as we do so, we experience a fresh infilling of God the Holy Spirit Who alone is the energy of momentum.

Luke’s Gospel: Family Discussion Questions
Luke’s Gospel: Community Discussion Questions

More Downloads

And if mission were a sport, then the next few weeks might just represent our trap game. A trap game is the one immediately following the big win. Energy is depleted and focus distracted so what should have easily been the next victory in a long winning streak becomes a devastating loss.

A biblical picture of a trap game is painted by Elijah’s experience in I Kings 18:20-19:8. God’s prophet has just faced down and defeated an army of idolaters and their puppet king. Yet, only a few verses later, he is felled by the empty threat of a patsy (or a Jezebel) on the schedule. Things are so demoralizing, he prays for death then gives up by falling asleep. In this low place, Elijah receives grace from the Pre-human Jesus in the simplest form: bread and water. He then gains a renewed supernatural strength enabling him to complete his journey.

On Sunday, we moved forward on what will likely be a long journey on mission with Jesus. Momentum has been established. Jesus will maintain it. But we must choose to move forward in His strength. We must avoid the trap game and string together wins.

So take a nap. Receive the nourishment that is yours in Jesus. But let’s keep going in His strength. Repent of sin. Recognize your true identity in Him. Worship Jesus in all of life. Live in a community on mission. Seek and serve those within your sphere of influence who don’t yet know Jesus. Invite them to join us on this epic journey. Let’s not look back now, not even to last week.

• 9:00 AM (New Service)
• 11:15 AM (New Time)

Sunday Night Service:

• Time: 7:00 PM

Children’s Ministry and Nursery available only at 9:00am & 11:15am services.

What happens when a wealthy benefactor funds a costly and lengthy investigation by an educated medical doctor and historian of the life of a man who claimed to be God? The Gospel of Luke.

In the opening lines of Luke’s gospel we are told that Luke is aware of other biographies written about Jesus Christ, but that he was compelled as a historian to have personally “investigated everything carefully” (NASB) so that there would be “an orderly account” (1:1–4).

For Luke to undertake his investigation, he needed to be financially freed up to spend perhaps a few years personally interviewing the eyewitnesses to the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. Practically, this means that Luke personally interviewed Jesus’ mother Mary, Jesus’ brothers and sisters, any of Jesus’ disciples who were living, Jesus’ personal friends like Mary and Martha, and those who were among the crowds that were eyewitnesses to his preaching, miracles, and resurrection, along with individuals Jesus ministered to and healed.

Find a Mars Hill Church at marshillchurch.org/luke where:

• You can get Downloads
• You can Invite a Friend
• You can get Recommended Readings

Pastor Dave Bruskas | August 30, 2009 | 53mn:02sec

Community is seemingly something everyone is looking for but few seem to find. What does Jesus-centered community look like? Why is it so elusive? Join us as we not only study community but do it as well.

Click HERE to download the sermon below.

Pastor Dave Bruskas | August 23, 2009 | 48mn:09sec

In all likelihood your understanding of worship is too small. For most people worship is an event that happens once a week on Sundays. To others it is a genre of music like jazz or bluegrass. But the bible teaches that everyone worships someone or something all the time. Who or what do you worship?

Click HERE to download the sermon below.