I have been thinking about how to answer a question.
It’s a question I’ve received from a few folks and one I’ve pondered as well. It’s come up in many different conversations and I’m still not sure I have a proper response — or the words — to fully describe what I want to say. Nevertheless, here is an attempt
The question is, What is 15&?
In September of this year, we started something new. It’s called 15&, pronounced “Fifteen And.” The name itself is a bit of a mystery. It’s intended to represent the ever-expanding nature of what Jesus started with the first 12 disciples. There were 12, then 13, then 14, then 15 and it’s been growing since. The number today is incalculable, and matters only as evidence of an ongoing process that followers of Jesus participate in. Both as disciples and makers of disciples.
For some, the mystery of the name itself and the invitation to be around other disciples is enough to show up and experience it. For most, however, the natural next question when hearing the name is, “What is 15&?”
That’s a good question that deserves a good answer. Sometimes it’s helpful to start by answering what something is not.
It’s not a church. 15& serves to supplement the impact you have in your local church.
It’s not a Bible study. There’s learning and study of the sacred stories and text but it’s not a traditional Bible study.
The gathering is not every week. 15& runs in rhythms of an 8-week series, with breaks in between that naturally correspond with our seasonal calendar and allow for meaningful pauses.
It’s not just a gathering. The vision is much more than the current expression and will take time to realize fully. But everything has a starting point.
So if not those, then what is it?
Here are a few descriptions to give you a better understanding of what it is.
15& is a way for disciples of Jesus, and those who are curious, to feel connected to a past while participating in a future that is still unfolding.
It’s a growing community of servant leaders who are committed to developing both themselves and others. It’s a community we are intentionally building because these are the people we want to be around.
The weekly gatherings involve both teaching and discussion time. The teaching highlights transformative stories and principles from the Bible, presented in a way you’ve likely never experienced. The discussion time allows each person to wrestle with insight and application specific to their life and situation.
It’s a place to belong. A place to realize you are not alone and don’t have to do it alone. It’s a place to connect with others who are committed to growing and leading from a place of humility, mercy and courage.
Is that an adequate answer? Probably not. There may never be a perfect answer for what is happening at 15&. It’s like trying to know a person by learning about them. It will only get you so far. In the end, to really understand someone, you must have experiential knowledge. The same is true with 15&; if you want to fully know what it is, you need to experience it.
So, you are invited. Join us once, for the next series, and get a sense of what it is. Then, if you want more, come back again and bring someone else with you so they get the chance to experience it too. In this way, we’ll continue to build a community of servant-minded, growth-focused, and Jesus-following people we want to be around.
The next series begins again in January. The website has all the details. I hope to see you there.