Jonathan Herron

Being In Christ

"The great difference between present-day Christianity and that of which we read in these letters is that to us it is primarily a performance, to them it was a real experience.  

We are apt to reduce the Christian religion to a code, or at best a rule of heart and life.  To these men it is quite plainly the invasion of their lives by a new quality of life altogether.  They do not hesitate to describe this as Christ ‘living in’ them.

These early Christians were on fire with the conviction that they had become, through Christ, literally sons of God; they were pioneers of a new humanity, founders of a new Kingdom.  They still speak to us across the centuries.  

Perhaps if we believed what they believed, we might achieve what they achieved.”

(J.B. Phillips, 1947)

 

Kicking off the first Sunday of 2022, we looked at the new discipleship model mentioned during the message based on my current doctoral studies.  

These are the 5 rhythms or spiritual disciplines that marked the earliest Christ Followers in the Book of Acts.  

This is what the Scriptures teach historically and theologically about what it looks like to "be" the church!

 

"Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance" (Jude 2).

 

10 Years Ago Today I Became a Church Planter Life Church Michigan

10 years ago today I became the church planter of Life Church.

We had no people, no money, no facility, and no clue!

It was just me and my wife Amber Herron plus official-looking incorporation paperwork from the IRS saying we were a “real church.”

So much has happened during these first 10 years:

• hundreds of salvations

• hundreds of baptisms

• lots of weddings + baby dedications

• four adoptions in our family

• two additional Life Church campus launches

• COVID campus closures

• new friendships

• loss of friendships

• ten Ministry Interns

• welcoming special guests to our Mainstage including Bob Goff, Perry Noble, and Blessid Union of Souls

• partnering with Converge MidAmerica and The Timothy Initiative to plant more churches

• indirectly helping launch two new churches in our region (!)

• experiencing 2 Timothy 4

• praying for Acts 2

• hosting two church leadership training events

• becoming 2019’s 11th fastest-growing church in America according to Outreach Magazine

• discovering new friends and new adventures together

Church planting is extremely hard work. Amber and I couldn’t dream of a better labor of love to invest our lives into.

Thankful for our Lifers and thankful that in Christ, the best is always YET to come! (Ephesians 3:20)

“Who is Apollos, really? Or who is Paul? Aren’t we both just servants through whom you believed our message? Aren’t each of us doing the ministry the Lord has assigned to us?

I planted the church, and Apollos came and cared for it, but it was God who caused it to grow.

This means the one who plants is not anybody special, nor the one who waters, for God is the one who brings the supernatural growth.” (1 Corinthians 3:5-7, TPT)

ABOUT

I am the founding pastor of Life Church, recognized in 2019 as the fastest-growing church in Michigan and 11th fastest-growing church in America. 

I am focused on strategic leadership and engaging teaching, all fueled by a gnawing passion for reaching people far from God. 

My unique ministry approach has been featured online in Time Magazine, USA Today, The Detroit News, MLive and The Washington Times. 

Married twenty-three years to my high school sweetheart, I have five children plus a wiener dog with a nervous bladder.

Love the Team You Lead

Passion. Integrity. Grit.

Just some of the reasons I love this crew from the church that I love.

Over the past eight years of this church planting adventure in the High Five State, we’ve been privileged to work alongside some wonderful talent.

But I’ll take passion, integrity and grit over talent any day.

Amber and I have sacrificed everything + poured our lives into this labor of love — Life Church — and we are HONORED to have this team on board!

C’mon gang, let’s go storm the gates of hell with water pistols!

 

“Be faithful to guard the sweet harmony of the Holy Spirit among you in the bonds of peace, being one body and one spirit…” (Ephesians 4:3)

3 PRINCIPLES I LEARNED WHILE AT THE WHITE HOUSE

Don’t freak out everyone -- this isn’t going to be a big political message.

In 2020, I was invited to The White House for a Special Briefing for Leaders of Faith. Here’s 3 principles I learned while at The White House…

1. LIFE CHURCH IS APOLITICAL

We’re a big tent -- we welcome everybody here!  That means we fight for our unity: no gossip, no griping, we just don’t have time for that:

But the one who slanders you behind your back

proves that he’s a fool, never to be trusted. If you keep talking, it won’t be long

before you’re saying something really wrong.” (Proverbs 10:18-19)

Words that bring delight pour from the lips of the godly,

but the words of the wicked are duplicitous.” (Proverbs 10:32)

When you act with presumption,

convinced that you’re right,

don’t be surprised if you fall flat on your face!

But walking in humility helps you to make wise decisions.” (Proverbs 11:2)

I love our church because we’re in this together -- We follow God, we trust our spiritual leaders, and we roll up our sleeves to make a difference for time and eternity. 

We want to unite as many people as possible as quickly as possible under the Jesus Flag through our Midland and Saginaw Campuses.

A life lived loving God bears lasting fruit,

for the one who is truly wise wins souls.” (Proverbs 11:30)

Security at The White House was TIGHT -- Secret Service was everywhere!

I discovered that it is very hard to get access to the Most Powerful Person on Earth.

Not so with God -- We have 24/7 access with no K-9’s and no Secret Service!

2. WE HAVE INSTANT ACCESS TO THE MOST POWERFUL PERSON IN EXISTENCE

 

The one who walks in integrity

will experience a fearless confidence in life.” (Proverbs 10:9)

 

Wow, aren’t those words great? 

Don’t we all just want a fearless confidence in our everyday life? 

Spending time with God fuels up our faith and trust in Him!

Lovers of truth follow the right path

because of their wonderment and worship of God.” (Proverbs 14:2-4)

“The words of the wise

will become a shield of protection around them.

The only clean stable is an empty stable.

So if you want the work of an ox and to enjoy an abundant harvest,

you’ll have a mess or two to clean up!” (Proverbs 14)

 

God loves when we gather together -- We gather on Sundays because that’s the day Jesus rose. 

Sometimes we’re going to make messes together -- and that’s okay! 

Proverbs says that the only CLEAN stable is an EMPTY stable --- look around you, this place is not empty!

 

As we all fumble forward in our faith, let’s give each other a break… let’s show each other grace as we are all learning together what  it looks like to follow Christ day by day.

 

To worship God in wonder and awe

opens a fountain of life within you,

empowering you to escape death’s domain.” (Proverbs 14:27)

I went to a White House Briefing -- It was all “Off the Record” -- Y’know, sometimes it is Hard to get clear info from Politicians!

Book of Proverbs = God is crystal clear with wisdom that applies to everyone, everywhere!

3. GOD GIVES US WISE ADVICE WHENEVER WE LOOK FOR IT!

 

Wisdom soothes the heart of the one with living-understanding,

but the heart of the fool just stockpiles stupidity.” (Proverbs 14:33)

 

The Bible has a term for the person who refuses wise counsel: “fool." (Prov 12:15)    

When we refuse to listen, when we dodge the truth, when we insist on having our own way, we are fools.

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." (Prov. 9:10) 

Wisdom begins with the recognition of who God is.
Wisdom begins when we recognize that God is God and then respond accordingly.

Lovers of God hunger after truth,

but those without understanding

feast on foolishness and don’t even realize it.” (Proverbs 15:14)

 

Go ahead and make all the plans you want,

but it’s the Lord who will ultimately direct your steps.

We are all in love with our own opinions,

convinced they’re correct.

But the Lord is in the midst of us,

testing and probing our every motive.

Before you do anything,

put your trust totally in God and not in yourself.

Then every plan you make will succeed.

The Lord works everything together to accomplish his purpose.” (Proverbs 16:1-5)

Spontaneous Baptisms

 

"We were buried with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life." (Romans 6:4)

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Spontaneous Baptisms, Cookie Monster Visits, Life Kids Volunteer Luncheon...

This is how we change the world!

#TogetherWeWin

Have You Considered a Church Merger?

We Are Better Together

Church mergers have become one of the most effective strategies for struggling churches to thrive again, for growing churches to amplify their reach, and for church facilities to be better utilized to advance the Gospel in a region.

What is a Church Merger?

When two or more churches become one through the combining, integrating, and unifying of people, structures, systems, and resources in order to better reach their community with the message of Jesus.

Three Types of Church Mergers

1. Rebirth
   Typically when a struggling church gets a second life by being restarted under a stronger, vibrant, usually larger church.
   
   
2. Adoption
   This occurs when a stable or stuck church is integrated under the leadership of a stronger, vibrant, usually larger church.
   
   
3. Marriage
   Typically when two growing churches realign with each other under a unified vision and new leadership configuration.

Questions to Consider

1. Could we accomplish more together than we could separately?  Would we find more ministry synergy, created by the two churches joining with common vision and purpose?
   
   2. Would my congregation benefit from this merger?  Would my individual congregation be better, healthier or stronger by joining with this church?
   
   3. Would our community be better served by us working together?  By joining forces, can we make a bigger impact in our surrounding community?
   
   4. Could the Kingdom of God be further extended by us joining together? Would uniting help us make more and better disciples of Jesus?

 

INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE?  Let Us Know!

CRAZIEST + MOST CHAOTIC LIVE BIBLE STUDY EVER

While doing this morning’s Digital Daily Bible Study:

- My children let the Guinea Pigs loose

- Weiner Dog vs Piggie

- 3-yr-old demands I get him dressed live on camera...

- plus the hip-hop stylings of Levi and Alysia at the very end! 😂

#ThisIsRealLife

#ThereWasAnAttemptToTeachTheBible

A Father's Day Prayer

“Righteousness guards the man of integrity.” (Proverbs 13:6, NIV)

“Righteousness is like a shield of protection, guarding those who keep their integrity.” (Proverbs 13:6, TPT)

My greatest prayer for my children — beyond them discovering a saving knowledge and true faith in Jesus Christ — is that they would grow to become men and women brimming with honor and integrity.

The pathway to integrity begins at home and extends through the local church. This past year, the Lord has graciously allowed Amber Herron and I opportunities to suffer well in front of our children and model taking the high road (1 Peter 1:2).

What can feel like an extended season of burdens and curses to Amber and I is in reality a God-ordained blessing for the sanctification of our children, primarily our older three.

Jesus taught us to bless those who curse you and love your enemies.

Not *like* your enemies; *love* your enemies.

While turning the other cheek doesn’t feel good in my flesh, it honors God and inspires people to be walking in the Spirit.

That’s my heart for my children this Father’s Day: that God’s grace would continue to be poured out upon Team Herron, enabling us to continue taking the harder and nobler path of integrity and honor.

Jesus never fought back. Christ didn’t curse those who hurt Him or withdraw from those who misunderstood Him; Jesus literally *prayed for* His accusers.

Integrity teaches us that your greatest display of strength is in holding your tongue and not fighting back.

By God’s enduring grace, I pray I can be that kind of man for my family.

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AWKWARD PHONE CALLS & GOD'S LOVE

‘And God has made all things new, and reconciled us to Himself...'

(2 Corinthians 5:18-20)

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I love people.

I believe every person matters.

That's why I do what I do.

And I wish I was a perfect pastor and leader.

But I'm not.

I continually fail.

Expectations sometimes aren't met.

I drop the ball.

Miscommunications happen.

And I always feel horrible when I screw up.

If I had a time machine, there are so many do-overs I'd love to change.

Rewinding my mistakes haunts me sometimes.

Yet the past is the past -- I can't change it.

All I can do is move forward and make changes.

 

One change I'm trying to grow in is apologizing when I mess up.

I made this change 8 months ago.

It's not fun.

Never easy.

And yet forgiveness releases pain and opens the door to reconciliation.

 

 

So last Fall I started doing something new.

Anytime I hear of someone from the past who posts online about maybe feeling a little hurt or experiencing a twinge of pain caused by me... I pick up the phone and call them.

If they won’t answer, I try texting and emailing them.

 

It's awkward, I won't lie.

Asking for forgiveness is extremely humbling and I feel like I'm fumbling forward through these phone conversations and voice mails.

But here's what I'm learning: grace is messy.

Love requires action.

And not long ago, I got to have an AMAZING conversation with someone from the past... and see how God is restoring things for a new future!

Paul writes that 'God has entrusted to us the ministry of opening the door of reconciliation.'

So that's what I'm trying to do in my own life and leadership.

I may not always be successful and the conversations may feel awkward, but they are always honest and sincere.

Opening doors.

That's what I'm gonna keep trying to do.

And maybe, in the days ahead, we can all experience a little bit more of God's love.

THE MOST ENCOURAGING MESSAGE I'VE EVER RECEIVED FROM A GUEST AT OUR CHURCH!

THIS is the most ENCOURAGING unsolicited message I've EVER received from a Guest!

It came in after yesterday's POWERFUL worship experiences:

Hey Pastor Jon,

I Wanted to let u know that the church's mission to reach people far from god is working well...
I seen that for myself today,...

I came in few mins late, like normal & found a seat for ---- and I.

Next thing I kno I get tapped on the shoulder, look around & it's someone I know...

Someone I never ever thought I would see at church.

I have known this person for many many year's..(dk if I should be telling a pastor this)

But Literally have committed crimes with this guy, ran from police wit this guy, tossed bodies with this guy and he's in church learning the gospel... And now he's in church with his wife and kids.....I personally thought that was pretty an amazing......