Big Weekend at Granger!

Feb262006 Filed under: Inside GCC Author: Tony Morgan

I’ll get you the details tomorrow evening in this week’s box score, but I just wanted to let you know that we had an incredible weekend at Granger. It was a huge launch to the PureSex series. Mark encouraged married couples to have great sex. He challenged everyone to order their lives based on God’s priorities. And, he encouraged everyone to engage for the remaining four weeks of this series. It was a great launch.

In case you’re wondering, we had our largest non-Easter crowd in Granger Community Church history. It was the first time we broke 6,000 in attendance on a non-Easter weekend. Actually, it was also the first time we broke 7,000 in attendance on a non-Easter weekend. I ran into lots of new people in the hallways before and after the services. The atmosphere was incredible.

Do you think we may be addressing a need that people have in their lives? I think so. I’m glad I belong to a church that’s willing to bring a biblical perspective and influence to today’s culture. It’s all about addressing the real issues of real lives. You know what–I think that’s the way Jesus approached his ministry as well.

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15 Responses to “Big Weekend at Granger!”

Clayton Bell
February 27th, 2006 at 8:35 am

Thank God for GCC and the innovation and creativity given by the Holy Spirit. Meeting people where they are…what a crazy concept!

I’ll be praying that new people don’t visit to watch a show but will end up knowing Jesus. Awesome…
Bill
February 27th, 2006 at 9:39 am

Wow, imagine the crowd you would have if you trained up your church members to effectively witness rather than using the resources given to the forwarding of the Kingdom to litter the landscape with material that entices fleshly desires and may potentially cause perverted minds to act out their lusts unwantingly upon innocent victims.

2 Thess. 2 Tony clearly describes that God will send strong delusion into the church that they would “believe the lie”. That being said I have no doubt you are being used mightily by God - but for what purpose? That of strong delusion? Or that of the Truth of God’s word?

Love not the world or the things in the world, for he who loves the world has not the love of the Father in him.

Monday Morning Him-sight.

In Christ’s Service,
Bill
Mark Broadbent
February 27th, 2006 at 9:52 am

Bill…What the heck are you talking about? I don’t go to GCC. I live in Australia and just read Tony’s blog. But seriously… how can you possibly criticize a church for teaching God’s word?

You quote the Bible: “Love not the world or the things in the world, for he who loves the world has not the love of the Father in him.” We all agree with this statement. But how is GCC “loving the world” by preaching this stuff? God is the creator of s ex! Enjoying it in its proper context is not worldly. Its spiritual!!!

Tony… Please know how excited many of us are that GCC is connecting with more and more people. We all know that this is just a crowd, and that they need the gospel. But we celebrate the fact that they are being exposed to a Christian community, the Bible, and if they keep coming back… the gospel.
tony morgan
February 27th, 2006 at 10:00 am

Bill, it’s a picture of feet. Get over it.

And, before you take shots at our church, maybe you should actually check out one of our services. You obviously have no idea what you’re talking about, because this weekend’s entire teaching was about ordering our priorities around God’s priorities rather than endulging hedonistic desires. The key verse was Matthew 6:33, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” We basically had an additional 3,000 people here this weekend to hear that message.

We can either stick our heads in the sand and try to ignore the moral decay in our society, or we can try to actively engage the culture and create a helpful dialogue to try to influence people’s lives and transform our communities.

I choose to engage our culture and point people to Jesus.

tony
Bill
February 27th, 2006 at 10:08 am

Mark,
Have you heard mothers complaints about the loss of innocence in their children because of the billboard signs of GCC?

I’m sure you’ve read that Jesus said “Many will come to me on that Day and say to me Lord Lord” to whom He will respond, and I quote, “Depart from Me you workers of iniquity, I never knew you!” People calling Him Lord, likely because they were told they were saved bacause of their going to church, saying a simple prayer with their head down and eyes closed, etc… What was the great commission Mark - was it draw ye into the church all those from the outermost parts? Or was it Go ye therefore into all the world and make disciples of men?

Such thoughtless, scintilating advertising will certainly draw a crowd, but if Tony was really confident his message and series was of God and pure I’d expect he’d offer it for free download rather than $4 for the message and so much more for the rest of the series stuff.

I’d be hesitant to attend a church like GCC for fear of the gross error of teaching. leaders are to be able to rightly divide the word of truth - how then could someone who is able to do so be so foolish in the promotion of a series? The two do not mix.
tony morgan
February 27th, 2006 at 10:19 am

OK, Bill. I gave you two chances. Since your motivation is to just attack fellow Christ-followers and churches rather than engage a healthy convesation, I’m cutting you off. I’ve not designed this site for argument. If you don’t like my approach to leadership and ministry, don’t hang out here. There are other sites where you can argue to your heart’s content.

tony
greg
February 27th, 2006 at 12:55 pm

Tony,
Way to go!
My guess is there were hundreds, if not thousands who actually got a biblical perspective about sex for the first time in their lives—how great is that!

Greg
Todd Rhoades
February 27th, 2006 at 1:02 pm

I’m with Tony… the advertising was a picture of feet. Get over it.

Scintilating? Come on.

You know I’m behind you, Tony… I am SO rejoicing with you and the Granger staff today. May God keep using you guys to change your world in your area; and outside your area through the influence God has given you at Granger.

Todd
Greg
February 27th, 2006 at 3:45 pm

Tony,

Great job to all you guys and gals at Granger. You had a God-inspired idea and went with it. You’ve held your ground and answered questions well, i’m proud to be in the battle with you all! Keep being visionaries for a world that needs Christ,

Greg
Allen Nolan
February 27th, 2006 at 3:57 pm

I’m so proud of Granger. Two years ago my wife and I went to your Innovative Conference and loved it. Last year, we took most of our staff with us. We think what you’re doing is great. Keep up the good work, and don’t let the nay-sayers keep you from doing God’s work.
Michael
February 27th, 2006 at 3:58 pm

Bill, as so many do, are ready but the portions of the bible that serve there purpose. True we are told not to be OF the world…we are also told to be IN the world.

And you want scintilating…open up your old testament.

Tony, glad to hear things went so well. Praise and glory to God! Your efforts have made an effect on several ministries I work with and the report of its success will spur that on even more so.

Go get em!
Aaron DeWinter
February 27th, 2006 at 4:46 pm

Thanks for saying what we wee all thinking!
On a much more serious note, this was a very impactful service for many!
brian
February 27th, 2006 at 8:07 pm

Tony, thanks for sharing the behind the scenes with us so we can celebrate and be inspired to meet people where they are for the sake of the kingdom.

Peace
Becky C.
February 27th, 2006 at 10:25 pm

Tony - I had SO much to say after reading the comments on this post, but instead of writing a dissertation on your site, I thought I’d spare you and your other readers and just create a post of my own.

For those of you who are interested in a mother’s perspective of the whole thing, you’re welcome to check it out.

Thanks Tony - great job, as usual!
Mark
February 28th, 2006 at 12:27 am

Tony & GCC,

Glad to hear the great report. Praying that God will rock peoples’ world with His truth and love in the weeks ahead.

BTW, my wife and I were wondering if you could give us an update in about nine months when the baby boom begins?? :)

Peace.

ME

Tony Morgan is a pastor and the Chief Strategic Officer at NewSpring Church where he develops creative solutions for communications, technology and NewSpring Ministries--the church's ministry that equips other church leaders.
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