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.

SPIRIT OF THE SEASON

I am well aware that different people have different attitudes this season. Some strenuously object to anything to do with Christmas as pagan, ignoring the fact that our pioneers, our church spiritual leaders, our denominational publications, and the spirit of prophecy affirm the opportunity to invite people to consider Jesus, and to practice discipline of giving and sharing. Others, who can afford, can wait for seasonal sales, and buy into the whole secular advertisement campaigns. Yet others, whose ethnic culture abides by a different calendar (Eastern Orthodox), are still two weeks away from Christmas
I personally enjoyed all the musical selections on 3ABN & Hope TV over the last few days. I am still digesting a book I read recently, “The Shack,” overwhelmed with relational picture of the Trinity, God who is all about relationships. It is not coincidental for me that I was reminded of the importance of relationships during this season, because I have relationships that need mending. Forgiveness alone does not restore relationship, it offers a new beginning, invites repentance, and only then a trust to be build.
The message of every Christmas is first and foremost forgiveness we have in Jesus, in whom the Father has reconciled the whole world unto Himself. You do not need to do a little “mess management” before God can accept you. He has already shown the acceptance, descending in this mess, and allowing his Son Jesus to be born in this unholy messy world. God is not afraid of our mess. He will march into the middle of it and order it up, if we let Him. We cannot do it, the only thing we can – is invite Him and let Him be in us.
There is a program aired on Hope TV for a couple of years already, where Christmas story is presented in today’s reality with ambulance vehicles speeding with sirens on, and Herod’s “special op” soldiers doing terrible assassinations, and ambassadors from the East arriving in stretched limo-style Mercedes. The program invites us to consider all earthy messiness of the Incarnation mystery. Do not sanitize it to fit the Hallmark postcard tranquility. The clue that we all should get from this story is honesty of who we are and where we are. No need to front appearances, or decor our facade, for God cuts through all that and comes into our simple abode, even into poorest home, to offer a good tidings of joy, to say “I love you.”
The spirit of this season is expressed in John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life!”
Enjoy life with God. Do not let any selfish attitude stand a barrier to God’s presence in your every moment.

Celebrating Christ

This week people will take time off their busy schedules to be with families as the Christmas season presents a pause. Others will get even more busy, trying to capitalize on boxing day sales and other commercial gimmicks. Some will criticize the whole “Christmas thing” as pagan distortion of what Christianity is about.
I invite you this week to think about the greatest gift of all gifts – the Infinite God sending from his heart the stream of divine compassion to the children of mankind. As I read the first chapter of “Steps to Christ” I am awed how the Spirit of Prophecy presents Christ, the one who came to reveal the character of God as Love.
I invite you to read with me this one paragraph, presenting the character of Christ, which, I wish, would be perfectly reproduced in every one who calls and claims to be Christian. As you read, please notice the balance of God’s Love!
“…Jesus did not suppress one word of truth, but He uttered it always in love. He exercised the greatest tact and thoughtful, kind attention in his interaction with the people. He was never rude, never needlessly spoke a severe word, never gave needless pain to a sensitive soul. He did not censure human weakness. He spoke the truth, but always in love. He denounced hypocrisy, unbelief, and iniquity; but tears were in His voice as he uttered His scathing rebukes….his life was one of self-denial and thoughtful care for others. Every soul was precious in His eyes. While he ever bore Himself with divine dignity, He bowed with the tenderest regard to every member of the family of God. In all men He saw fallen souls whom it was His mission to save…”
As I read and now write this, I pray that my life would reflect such an attitude, that in my passion to speak truth I would do it in love, not rudely, not causing pain to sensitive souls. Instead of censuring human weaknesses, I pray that I would thoughtfully care for each.
I wish you this season, that this gift of tenderness, of regarding every person as a child of God, whom He came to save, would be yours. That the character of Christ will be incarnate in you.

Choosing to Love and Serve

As I participated in the Nominating process over the past month I have really enjoyed seeing more people choosing to serve, accepting responsibilities to share their passion for various ministry interests in our church.
I am reflecting on responses of those I called personally and discussions we had over the phone. One question I have for our members – have you read the “expectations” list? You know, the “Dynamics of becoming a Prevailing Church” four-page document. Few did, many did not. I invite you today, as the Nominating Committee report is presented, pick up your copy at the foyer.
Our church leaders outlined set of values that we expect from each other. The overarching value is love, which is multifaceted. Just as Galatians 5:22-23 translates love, the fruit of the spirit, as joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
We translate love as:
• consistent integrity, living undivided lives, giving all 100%
• confident humility of lifting others up,
• compassion and heartfelt love for people in all situations,
• receiving people by listening to their story
• passion for learning, growing and developing yourself
• enjoying the experience of working together as a team
• passion for discipling all the world, all people groups
• unconditional love for those we serve,
• accepting responsibility and never blaming others
• loving God as one from whom all blessings flow, trusting in His abundance
• loving God’s Word, the Bible, totally, and being obedient to His will, living Biblically,
• loving what you do, staying long, not quitting, enduring
• being passionately in love with Jesus, as a personal Savior, and letting your life revolve around Him
As you pick up the responsibility to serve, examine your motives, as the leadership will be asking you for a commitment higher than ever, not to ourselves, or our institution, or even to the local church, but to God’s Calling, to following our Lord Jesus Christ, with all our heart, mind, soul and strength. Martin Luther paraphrased this last one as “purse,” as Jesus taught that our hearts follow our money.
I pray that you saying YES to serve, means YES to our values, our commitments, our purpose of becoming prevailing church.

Month of Genuine Love

Last week I’ve written a reflection on what the Spirituality is – Loving Relationships, Passion for God. The essence of Biblical Spirituality is defined in the Old and New Testaments as Love!
The shema of Israel (Deuteronomy 6:4-5) and Jesus’ Rule (Mark 12:29-31) echo this call for Spirituality: “The Lord our God is the one and only Lord! And thou shall LOVE the Lord thy God with ALL thy heart, and with ALL thy soul, and with ALL thy mind, and with ALL thy strength…thou shall love thy neighbor as thyself.”
Spirituality is a passionate love, a relationship with God and people! How spiritual are you is determined by how “hot” is your loving relationship with God and godly people. I must pause here for a moment, because we often hear one-sided focus on loving people. Today my sermon, leading to the Communion service will explore this passage more, inviting all to consider that it is impossible to love partially. We cannot love God with some of our mind, or just our heart, but with ALL heart + ALL mind + ALL will, if anything is missing, or partial, that means it is directed elsewhere, and is a betrayal. Relationship cannot be partial.
Partial does not mean we do not think about God enough, or we do not do ethical things of holiness, or we do not feel the joy always, it simply means we do not LOVE God enough. This is so important, because loving people is possible only after truly loving God.
Earlier this year we began an effort of reviving our witnessing. There has been an increased expectation of Evangelism, and leading people to Christ. As we are planning to be even more intentional toward reaching the lost, we want to follow Master’s Plan of Evangelism. Each month is designated to gradually prepare the church for soul-wining. The duration – a month – is an arbitrarily chosen, some may take longer, but none should short-cut and miss these steps.
We prayed in November. Ellen White says that if an answer does not come after much prayer and fasting, we must …guess!!!!.................
Pray and Fast more! Until we get it! Prayer should never cease among us, especially for forgiveness, reconciliation, and loving genuine relationships. We cannot afford to keep grudges, for such witness to unconverted un-Christian nature.
This month we invite you to select, prayerfully, up to 7 (seven) people you want to lead to Christ next year. Write their names on a list and put it in your Bible. These seven are the people you love and care for, and cannot bear to think that they would not make to heaven. They maybe already professed Christians who are not walking daily with Christ, or they may be non-believers. Do you love people to save them? Leading others to Christ will also take you closer to Him.