As the core values for The Grove Church have been communicated, the one that seems to stir questions is the value Vibrant. This word was one which was carefully chosen. The word means, “full of energy and enthusiasm; throbbing with life and activity.” It is a word we chose specifically for the purpose of communicating the relevance of the church for every person and every season of life. It is a word that guards our habits and practices for generations to come.
I graduated High School in 1987 (I know, I know, I am old). During that time I developed a great love of music. It began when, as a freshman, I had a project to consider the meaning of song lyrics. I remember thinking that most of the stuff on the radio didn’t have much depth to it (remember this is the time of “hair bands”). I decided to go back and listen to some of my dad’s vinyl albums. I ran across Simon and Garfunkel and fell in love with the sound while discovering a depth to the lyric that most of “my music” failed to contain. However, as much as I loved Simon and Garfunkel, I began to look for new creative music that would appeal to my tastes as well as having meaningful lyrical content. I needed something vibrant. I needed something that I could enjoy with my friends, not just my dad. I needed something that was new and culturally appealing.
I believe that the church is to be that. The church is to be full of life, full of appeal, not watering the message down, but instead something that is relevant, timely, and willing to look at the avenues of culture and context building bridges to and through so that people are changed by the good news of Jesus Christ.
Have you ever read Acts 17? In this chapter we have record of Paul sharing the gospel with the people of Athens. In this address he refers to their own poets (You will probably be familiar the quote). In Acts 17:28-29 we read, “In him we live and move and have our being.” This is most likely a quote from Epimenides of Crete. Paul recognized the need to communicate with his audience in a way that would grip their attention and convert their hearts.
If The Grove Church is to be successful, we must also be willing to change with the times in our manner of communication and ability to relate. This means that we possess a vibrant character. It means we blog about Jesus, because people blog. It means we tweet about the things of God because it communicates truth succinctly. It means that our music is relevant to the style of today and we will consider what styles will be relevant tomorrow. This doesn’t mean we discard tradition and the values of the past. We build foundations on those things (just as Paul often quoted the Old Testament).
So here’s the thing. For The Grove Church to be Vibrant, she must be comprised of people who are vibrant. In 1 John 1:2-4 we read that Jesus is the life, and knowing Him produces a fellowship that is unique and the completion of joy. Let us together proclaim this news by our activity which is energetic, enthusiastic, and full of the life of Jesus at work in us!