Q&A | Service Length & FPU

Wednesday morning I (Dennis) woke up thinking on the birth of Jesus. In my spirit I was pondering with Jesus what He wanted the message to be for this season in which we celebrate His gift of life to us. Over and over He brought to mind the simple words he used to invite others to join Him on the journey, “Come, follow me.” No grand program or strategy; no initiation fees or membership dues. Just come, follow me; seems pretty simple. Even in this day and age, it is wonderful to be able to hear His voice; to receive His counsel; go where He goes and do what He does.

It seems easy enough to follow Jesus when it’s just you following. It gets a bit more complicated when it’s a group—and the larger the group, the greater the need for good communication. In that vein, we’d like to address two issues which are generating considerable discussion: reducing the length of our Sunday service and the all-church Financial Peace University Workshop starting January 20. Perhaps this can be best addressed with some Q & A:

Regarding the Sunday service:

Q What has motivated us to target ending our Sunday service by 11:00 am?

A Sharon and I believe we are transitioning into a dynamic, multi-dimensional, intergenerational ministry. It includes “vertical” elements (worship, prophecy, heavenly visitations, personal ministry, etc.) and “horizontal” elements (teaching, service, relationship-building, family ministry, etc.). It considers the needs of kids and adults, singles and families, members and guests. We help as many as are willing to experience both the presence and power of God while connecting with others as an extension of God’s Kingdom.

Paul instructs us when we gather corporately to weigh carefully what we do and only share that which strengthens the church. So in consideration of our families with kids, the diverse gift-mix of our fellowship, and the guests who are increasingly testing the waters, we are motivated to weigh carefully every aspect of our morning together and focus on that which will strengthen the whole church.

Q How will the service change?

A We are targeting worship & communion for about 45-50 minutes and the message for about 30 minutes. Prophetic words, Spirit-led prayer, and testimonies will continue to be a part of our service; however, we will pass these by the presiding pastor (usually Dennis) to insure that whatever is shared flows with the overall service and is intended for the corporate body as a whole.

Q Will we still be open to the Spirit?

A Absolutely; experiencing the tangible presence of God is one of our core values. Our worship teams and ministers prepare all week for our service. Having done all we can to prepare ourselves, we release our plans into God’s hands to do what only He can. This is our heart whether we are meeting for 90 minutes or 2 hours.

We believe this is a step the Lord is asking us to take. Out of preference for one another, we ask you to come with us.

Regarding the 9-week Financial Peace University (FPU):

Q What is the big deal about getting everyone to enroll in FPU?

A One aspect of cultivating a supernatural Jesus-culture is completely revolutionizing how we handle money. FPU helps people dream about how they want to spend their money for Kingdom living (their plan) and then tell their money where to go (their budget). Just as The Redeemer’s Key is a tool which empowers our identity in Christ, FPU is a tool which empowers our dreams to become realities. By making this an all-church event we will be helping one another and impacting the culture of our ministry along the way.

Q Is it true you are cancelling all other ministries during the 9-week workshop?

A Yes; this workshop has the potential to change the culture of our fellowship—how husbands and wives communicate with each other; how parents disciple their kids to understand the value of stewardship; and how the church responds generously to the dreams God places on our hearts. We want to schedule these workshops without adding yet another ministry date to the calendar. So we are postponing The Well, Blessing Teams, small groups, Soul Pardon, and Leadership Huddle to encourage as many as possible to attend. As a further encouragement we are offering two class times (Sunday at 4 and Wednesday at 6:30; both with childcare).

Q What if I’ve already attended a FPU seminar?

A These are brand new teachings. Few of us are able to implement everything at one time; so if you are attending for your second time (or your third time like us) you will most likely pick up on an issue you have not yet acted on. In addition, we need your experience and influence. Even if your finances are in wonderful shape, your presence can provide encouragement to those who are just starting. (Besides, if you are an FPU alum you will only need to purchase a $15 workbook instead of the complete $89 kit.)

Q What if I don’t learn anything?

A When was the last time you got a money-back guarantee at church? If after completing all the sessions and assignments you are not convinced that you are better prepared and positioned to manage your financial house and pursue God’s dreams for your life, you may ask for a complete refund of your registration fee.

We believe this is an opportunity which can benefit every household at Open Door. We dream of marriage partners working together; parents discipling their children; believers empowered to pursue God’s dreams; and a fellowship of believers living like no one else, so they can give like no one else. Now that’s a supernatural Jesus-culture! We believe in this opportunity so strongly that we are enrolled to attend one session and will provide child-care for the other session. For us to minister effectively to households, grow as a ministry, and resource the dreams God has laid on our hearts, we must tackle finances from a Biblical perspective. We are asking you to go with us. Will you come?

You continually bless us with you presence, your service and your generosity. We thank the Lord continually for allowing us to represent Him in this fellowship. Thanks for joining us on the journey. Merry Christmas.

To the King! To the Kingdom!

Dennis & Sharon Chaput

Founding Pastors