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    I was amazed! Shocked! Horrified!

    I simply asked everyone to close their Bible, then find the most worn pages in their Bibles and open it up there. Then I said, “I bet nobody here has opened up to one of the Gospels.” Nobody had! Not one of over 300 preachers had a Bible most worn in Gospels.

    To my utter sorrow, as I’ve repeated this exercise all over, I have found very few people who have opened their Bible to one of the Gospels.

    We’ve tried all sorts of gimmicks, gone through all sorts of fads, used all the film series, attended all the church growth seminars, and none of these have made “it” happen. Now “it” is something that some of us have experienced a time or two. “It” is the wonderful realization that church leaders, ministers, and elders aren’t leading our church, Jesus is. He is not the token head of our church, he is leading, guiding, empowering, opening doors, and ministering through our congregation. Suddenly being the Body of Christ isn’t theory or theology. “It” is experienced reality.

    I’m convinced Jesus longs for “it” to happen in every one of his congregations across the world. While I don’t claim to have all the answers, I believe several things are vital if “it” is ever going to happen on a widespread basis.

Jesus stands at the door and knocks.

First: We must get to know Jesus, especially the Jesus of the Gospels. Wear out those first four books in the New Testament. Bathe yourself in Jesus, his words, his stories, his miracles, and his example. Do it on a daily basis for an extended length of time. (Matthew 11:29)

Second: We must obey Jesus’ teaching. Rather than debate it or water it down, we need to obey the clear things he says for us to do. If we do, he will bless us with the gift of knowing the truth and setting us free to be who he has called us to be. (John 8:31-32)

Third: We need to consciously do all we do in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ giving thanks for all that he has done, is doing, and will do in us. (Colossians 3:17)

Fourth: We must invite Jesus in. While many point to Revelation 3 as the example for a non-Christian to receive Christ, a closer look reminds us that this passage was written to Christians. Jesus stands at the door and knocks. Will we invite him in to take control of our hearts and our churches and our lives? Let’s use prayer to invite him! (Revelation 3:20)

Fifth: We need to tell others about what he means to us and how he has blessed us. As we share Christ with others, his power in us becomes more clear. (Matthew 28:18-20)

    I can’t think of anything more important right now in the history of our World than for Christians and churches everywhere to have Jesus become the focal point of their worship, their lives, their prayers, their friendships, and their churches. With so much of our New Testaments devoted to telling the story of Jesus, let’s make sure we’re searching them for him. Let’s rediscover Jesus again for the first time!