Blog – Page 24 – Joel Bidderman

A Place to Be Human: Meditations on community part five

As a worship leader, I want to lead others in being authentic; because I believe that when we are authentic and real (with God and each other), our worship is authentic. I fully believe that our identity as Believers is tied up in and defined by Who God is and what He's done. At the same time, I believe that only when we are willing to come to God as humans in our sin and humanity, broken, needy, and honest, is there 'worship in spirit and truth' (John 4:23). There is the 'real truth' of God that needs to break through the false truths of how we define ourselves based on our shame and brokenness, or [...]

2014-08-18T22:34:43+00:00By Joel|Abandonment, Bonhoeffer, Christian Music, discipleship, Jesus Shaped Community, Manning, prayer, Safe Place, trust|

Speaking the Same Language: Meditations on community part four

I like structure. That is, I like it as long as everything is in place. I've operated in jobs and ministries that have been bad 'fits.' Leaving me feeling like a square peg in a round hole, those experiences left me with an orphan mentality of 'no one understands me.' Throughout the years I found out that the problem wasn't necessarily in the structure, but in my identity (though, I've worked in a lot of poor structures!). I was letting the structure define me and not Christ. Spending time at the International House of Prayer (Atlanta) helped me in my journey, but even there, the more I spent time in that structure, I didn't feel like [...]

2014-08-18T22:34:43+00:00By Joel|Christianity, discipleship, Jesus Shaped Community|

Authentically living: Meditations on community part three

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” - Jesus the Christ (John 13:34-35)It's no wonder, and is a beautiful fact, that Christianity is done in community. True, there are hermits, and those on the fringe who feel called to abandon themselves in the place of solitude and singularity of one-on-one communion with the Lord. However, I believe that is more the exception than the rule. Christianity, I believe, is meant to be lived out in community with one another because humanity is meant to be lived out with [...]

2014-08-18T22:34:43+00:00By Joel|Abandonment, discipleship, Jesus Shaped Community|

Definitive Prayer: Meditations on Community Part Two

Discipleship is crucial to the life of the Church/Christianity. But crucial to discipleship is a culture of prayer. I do believe that being a "house of prayer [for all nations]" is an underlying identity of the Church. My experience with the (primarily) program driven church in the U.S. is that true discipleship is rare. I mean we have Bible studies, small groups, and meetings, but intentionally coming together for learning how to do Jesus-stuff is often not done. I've even experienced outreach efforts without intercession for those who are intended to be reached. Now, my goal isn't to complain. My goal is to point out, encourage, maybe even confess :-) We must abandon to Christ if [...]

2014-08-18T22:34:43+00:00By Joel|Abandonment, Jesus Shaped Community, prayer, The Dangerous Kind|