“Devotion to Christ is the currency of the Kingdom.” This is one of my favorite sayings, which I have said for many years. Jesus inaugurated the Kingdom of God. He taught that there are rewards in the Kingdom (Luke 6:23, 35; 12:33). The rewards (or currency) of the Kingdom is what makes our lives truly rich. We don’t have to wait until heaven to experience this richness. Every choice made for Christ grows the Kingdom currency in our lives. One of the goals as a pastor is to help people change their “scales;” the riches of this world don’t make you truly wealthy.
When Covenant Grove first started, over 8 years ago, we had a Launch Team. This team made some pretty big commitments: to attend consistently, give sacrificially, serve in ministry, and invite others faithfully. These commitments were hard, especially the last one, and they changed people’s lives. Kids saw their parents being challenged and stretched. There was an incredible bond between us who were in this risky adventure together. Those who were on the Launch Team have told me how life-changing that season was for them. It is not a mystery: when you make big decisions for Christ, you grow. If you have stopped growing, you need to make new decisions of devotion to Christ. That is the currency of the Kingdom.
Three Services will begin soon for Covenant Grove, and we have started a new Launch Team for the 8:00am service. The devotion will not end on December 3 with the first service – that is just the beginning. The real test comes in 3 months or 6 months – when it is harder to consistently wake up, worship, serve, and keep inviting others. When devotion gets hard is when you truly grow. When the fun wears off is when the transformation begins.
I am so excited for the 8:00am service, and the Launch Team. I think it will start small but have incredible worship and a great teaching time. It is amazing to worship the Lord with fully devoted people. I believe that this service will grow because when lives are being transformed by God, others will want to be a part of that (even if it is super early in the morning). I am so thankful to be a part of this chapter in Covenant Grove’s story. I am so proud to be the pastor of this church family, filled with people willing to do anything for Christ.
