Rediscovering Church: Restoring Leadership Credibility - Jon Tyson

Our vision and our desire is to see-
“The fame and deeds of God renewed and known in our time” (Habakkuk 3:2).
To that end, we live as those who pursue God’s presence in our midst, and practice the Way of Jesus in our time and place, to bring spiritual, social, and cultural renewal to the city.
We gather at 9am, 11am, 4pm and 6pm each Sunday.
To find out more about Church of the City New York, visit church.nyc​.

[@LandonTroyer]

Such a good message for young people that want to be leaders in ministry

[@philipbenjamin4720]

I don't believe Jon.
It isn't that everything he is saying in his message isn't important or right - it's that I don't believe that Jon is rightly positioned in respect of the things he raises.
What is my basis for reaching that conclusion? Because as he preaches Jon chooses to use his own life as the chief place he turns for examples relating to righteousness. He does this as part of subtly manipulating those listening into believing that he has his act together.
But the key way in which he seeks to convince that he has his act together is in fact the key evidence of his failure of character. Preachers who aren't putting themselves ahead of their churches don't use their sermons to draw attention to themselves. Godly preachers understand that they are one person among many using their gifts for the body - and therefore there is no reason to imagine that their sermon time exists for them to put themselves ahead of the body.
If you are reading this and you agree - do not fear. God will have his hand on things - simply look to God - confident in his leadership.

[@kechiokpara1321]

Hello Phil.
So before I saw what i want to, I would first of all like to acknowledge that I understand your suspicion of church leaders and how some have used their platform to manipulate people with various fear tactics and emotional blackmail -- I have seen this happen and the effects first hand. I sympathise with you.
However, I would say this: I've been listening to Jon for a while and through the guideience of the HolySpirit and His Word (1 John, 4: 1) I have come to the conclusion that this is a man (Jon) who has his heart set towards Christ and is upheld by His Grace.
It is also important to say that using yourself as an example as a leader is not essentially a bad thing -- I remember a certain first century pastor who did the exact same thing (1 corinthians 11, but start from the previous chapter for context...). That aside, I do not think that was the point of why Jon referenced himself, a large part was him even telling us about his struggles (at least, that's how I understood it). But what I am sure of is that at the core of Christianity is God coming to fellowship with humans in the person of Jesus; and the beauty of that shining through in our everyday inner and outer lives through the power of the HolySpirit, and by the will of The Father. The Church itself is the divine community of Believers loving, teaching and building each other up to look like christ; coexisting in inseparable interrelation -- like a body and its part (1 Corinthians 12: 27)
what's my point? telling people about Jesus and His church through personal life experience and example is not against the Gospel; in fact it is one of the most effective ways of showing the Love and redemptive power of Jesus.
In conclusion, yes, it is true that people have used this as a way of manipulation; but that is not what is happening here...
p.s I am a Nigerian man living and worshiping in Lagos; I have no ties to Jon or Church of the City. You can trust that this is an unbiased opinion of one Jesus lover to another.
Love you and God bless you,
Kechi.

[@philipbenjamin4720]

@@kechiokpara1321 Hi Kechi,
Thank you for your reply.
I am glad that God has used Jon to bring you encouragement.
I think you are referring to 2 Corinthians 11 - not 1 Corinthians 11. You are right that there are times when Paul would talk about himself. I have concluded that he would do so in three instances:
1. When seeking to prove his right to be speaking in God’s name to people - when appealing to his hearers to accept his ministry even though he is not behaving in the manner that other leaders around him were.
2. When he would refer to himself - not as someone who needed to learn a lesson but who had now having learned it - as the chief of all sinners.
3. When appealing to those under his care to imitate him as he imitated Christ (this ALWAYS involved him pointing to Christ while pointing to himself - he was in effect saying “Imitate me IN AS MUCH as I imitate Christ”. It’s really the same thing as 1 above - he’s appealing to people on the basis of his having authority because of his seeking to be like Jesus).
Kechi we are at a crisis point in the first world church. I have spent the last six years in London - large parts of the church haven fallen away here - due to lying leaders having taken cynical approaches to their job. The future of the church in London is however bright because of people coming from your country and others bringing their faith with them.
God bless you and your fellow countrymen - some of whom are being called to pay the ultimate price for their faith.
Philip