MY ROLE AND THE GREAT CHURCH FOLLOW UP ON “WHY AND HOW I LOVE THE CHURCH”

Last Sabbath evening as the church members came together for the first Business meeting, deciding on the new Budget, I had a privilege to share a short devotional, inviting the church to remember who we are.

We live with awareness that God’s Face has been turned upon each one of us.  His eyes watched us wake up in the morning, and go on our ways. He is ready to order our steps if we let Him.  God knows our travels, our point of conversion,  his Spirit is coming to direct us.  And because of that we cannot remain the same.  We cannot go back home this Sabbath the same we came, do what we always been doing.  We have come here to be changed.

Why does He do so?  Why does He care so much, about who we are becoming?  Apostle Paul gives an answer (Ephesians 5: 27)” ...to present her to himself a glorious church, not having a spot or wrinkle, or any such thing, but it should be holy and without blemish.”  It is God’s desire to prepare His Bride for Himself!

As your pastor I am aware of this task, and I am also aware of my role. John the Baptist shared this wisdom "He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled.  "He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:29-30)  He was referring to the ancient practice that in the Groom’s absence there was always a trusted friend to watch over the bride, make sure she is faithful, to prevent any intruder.  Friend is to stand and represent the Bridegroom.  A friend who when the Groom comes would be able to say “I’ve been done my part, here she is!”

Apostle Paul described the role of the pastor in this same metaphor.  As Corinthian secular culture of the day was seeping into the church and people were experiencing wrong competitive influences, some folk preferred business meeting to a prayer meeting, some wanted to run the church as a business model, others were taking sides with human leaders, cliques were developing, and opinionated directions were set.  Apostle Paul appealed to the Remnant in the church, to those who were of Christ, Christ’s Bride.

2^nd Corinthians 11:1-4 Oh, that you would bear with me in a little folly -- and indeed you do bear with me....  à Paul is saying “Let me explain to you what my role is here...”

2 For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

 3 But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

Paul is saying “I will not allow you to flirt, to stray, to be deceived, to do things while Christ is away, that would hurt His heart.  I am the “best man” to guard you faithful.”

As I reflect on those “best men” who served here before me, I am constantly aware of my commitment to you. Even when absent from you, visiting and encouraging other churches, my prayers are with you and for you, reminding you to be united, to be one, as the Bride in preparation for her Husband to return.

In service of the Great Shepherd, pastor

WHY BOTHER ABOUT THE GREAT CHURCH?

Earlier this year a shared a vision that compels me to do what I do – becoming a Great Church!  I invite you to reflect with me on a few questions:  Is a head still a head if it does not have a body?  Is a basement still basement if there’s no house on top?  Is a friend really your friend if you can’t stand his wife?

The Church is God’s building, with Jesus being the foundation.  There cannot be a superstructure without a solid foundation.  The foundation has been laid for a reason – to build on it!  If you drive by a construction site and see a cement foundation, you don’t think “Looks like they are ready to move in!”  No one lives on a foundation without walls, roof and decor, except for Christians who want Jesus but not the church.

Another imagery is the husband/wife pair.  Christ loves the church, he gave His life for her, and makes her beautiful.  The church submits to Christ and grows in beauty obeying Him.  Any husband worth the paper his marriage licence is printed on will be jealous to guard the good name of his wife.  She may be a double-crossing poor excuse for a wife, but protecting her is love.  Woe to the friend who comes around your house, hangs out, expects a good time, all the while getting digs in on your bride.  Who wants a friend who rolls his eyes and sighs every time your wife walks in the room, except some Christians who imagine Jesus wants friends like that, when they roll their eyes over the church.

The head  detached from the body may exist in the science fiction.  In the real world the head needs the body, as the body needs the head.  So, can you imagine cuddling with the little cranium, with no body?  Some Christians want to sing songs to the decorpulated head, and kick the body.

I think these three pictures are enough to make the point.  The current trend to get spirituality without religion, to find relationships without rules, to have Jesus without the Church, is just what I’ve illustrated.  Makes me sick to my stomach when I see book titles like “Life after Church,” “Quitting Church.”

That is why I love the Church, I care for the Church, and I want to see the Church healthy, beautiful, strong, connected to Jesus.  And I invite you to be part of the Church, to be an active member of the Church, to love the Church, and to care for the Church of Jesus.  It just gets better over time, moving from Good to Great together.

BECOMING GREAT CHURCH - MOVING FROM GOOD TO GREAT...

Last Sabbath I communicated a challenge to our church – Let’s move from GOOD to GREAT!  When we esteem ourselves as “good enough” the question comes – by whose standards, compared to what?  Initially I wanted to title my sermon “When being good is sin.”  But such a statement would need an explanation – remaining in a status quo when God expects us to be great, is a disobedience.

The Biblical paradigm is about greatness – there is Great Commandments (Matthew 22:36-39), Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20), greatest virtue (1^st Corinthians 13:13).  God makes promises for a Great nation, Great people.  It is our human nature to compare and settle in comfort zones.  Yet, by faith the Bible heroes moved always out of their comfort zones, looking for something better, better country, better living.  Even the new covenant is a “better” covenant.  For any church to assume that it has arrived and there is no move toward better is a spiritual suicide.

It was by faith that people of old moved from good to great, from glory to glory, progressing, advancing, gaining better...How’s our faith?  Have we got better, have we gained territory in the city where God expects us to do his Great Commission?   It’s time to go forward by faith, to become a Great Church God expects us to be.

A few ingredients are needed for this leap to greatness: first – Great Leaders.  People who are called by God, and have no insecurities about their place in God’s dispensation of the gospel!  Leaders who contribute in action.  Leaders who are outwardly focused, who are comfortable to move beyond the comfort of church walls, leaders for whom Evangelism is the top priority!  Passionate leaders, who are enthused by the Spirit presence in their lives, and model motivation that others follow.  Passion comes with patience! Leaders, who do not give up, no matter how long it takes! Bold leaders who are ready to take whatever steps are necessary to keep the Church on God’s track.  Leaders who are not “politically correct” or political at all, but who do God’s will without compromise!  Leaders equipping others to create a lasting legacy.  Pray for our leaders to be Great Leaders. 

Second ingredient is a Great Vision – that is given, knowing who we are, Adventists, people of the Three Angels Message.  I am planning to take 3 weeks in February and communicate this vision.

Third Ingredient – Great People.  And here is the question each one has to ask of self – am I a great follower of Christ, do I believe that I am great because I am God’s child, Royalty, Priesthood, especially chosen to participate in God’s Great Work?  A church member made a comment after the sermon last week “we are crummy followers....Hmm!  There is room to grow, from good to great.  My March preaching series will communicate more about becoming Great People.

When these three components come together, when Great Leaders and Great People are united about the Great Faith and mission, the momentum from Good to Great becomes unstoppable.  This momentum will create an environment where great is expected, where great becomes a word in top 10 of our vocabulary, where every ministry would work with anticipation of becoming great – great children programming, great Choir, great Pathfinders, great Worship....

I invite you to make this commitment with me – from Good to Great!

on Youth Spirituality Revival

Seven years ago, a group of students in Boston decided to take an initiative, consulted with pastors who cared to see the youth movement thrive; they initiated the “General Youth Conference” (GYC).

London youth, mostly students from the University of Western Ontario, had been attending these conferences for the past 4 years.  I had a privilege of going to Minneapolis two years ago, taking Stepan, and his spirituality has never been the same.  At that time we did not even “risk” to ask for a church sponsorship action on the initiative.  I communicated the importance of this effort, because it was perceived as “divisive” and “opposing” the “official” structure of “not-happening” youth ministry. 

This year another group of students and youth from London are away from their families for the New Year, spending December 30 – January 3^rd all the way in Louisville, Kentucky, at their own expense, without church sponsorship, just because they want to stay connected with the movement rising within the Adventist Church for greater spirituality among youth!

Earlier this year a Canadian branch was opened as ECYC, meeting in Markham at the end of August.  The Adventist Review chief editor Bill Knott ran an editorial article about this event in the December 24^th edition, starting with these words: “Call it a movement. Call it a “confederation of possibilities.” Call it a Spirit-inspired meeting of minds and hearts. Or just call it GYC—Generation of Youth for Christ. The eight-year-old young adult organization has grown from a handful of idealistic college students to a powerful force for Bible study, evangelism, and mission service in the life of North American Adventism—and now around the world.”

Some of you had been watching the Live broadcasts for a few days from this Conference.  Tonight GYC is on 3ABN live at 6 pm.  If you do not have the “church dish” show up at home of those who do.  Or just come over to pastor’s home – we’ll have pop-corn, and connect with what God is doing among our youth. Then go on-line, and check their website for archived sermons from previous years.  You will be blessed!

NEW YEAR WISHES, RESOLUTIONS, AND MORE

Some people at year's end make resolutions, others scoff at them, and the skepticism is often warranted.  Have you kept your vows for the year?  At the New Year’s eve church family service many written their wishes, placed in sealed envelopes and will receive them sometimes toward the middle of this year, as reminders of our plans and wishes.

Someone once said, "A New Year's resolution is something that goes in one year and out the other."  I invite you today to see the New Year not with a resignation to circumstances or challenges, but as an opportunity to grow into more generous, genuine and compassionate people.

Success is not an accident, it begins with an intention, with a plan.  I invite you to plan your life with prayer, and begin with following item 1 “Develop deeper personal relationship with Jesus, invest in my spiritual growth by consistent practices of spiritual disciplines, to live in God’s presence.”

2.  Learn to care for people in the community, in a way that they would know how I feel about their well-being.  Get involved with new people in the community for the sake of their salvation.

3.  Be intentional about witnessing personally to those close to me about my walk with Christ, about how He is growing me, How the Holy Spirit is blessing my life.

4.  Pray for our city, and for big cities around the world, as more than 50% of population today live in urban setting.  Do something to build a community, and to make friends in the city.  Get involved in something that would make our city a better place to live.

I’ll stop here.  I’ve got another few resolutions.  You make yours, with intention that God’s Name would be magnified wherever you go.  I wish this year many of you will begin a new page in your experience by becoming an evangelist, a good news messenger from God to people in need.

Out in the foyer there are plans we had made as a church for evangelism this year, stop and take one.  Get involved, make a difference, grow our church so we can plant many more places of worship and prayer in this city.