Love Others

This is the close of the series Be One Make One. 

This sermon juxtapositions the American Dream with "God's Kingdom Dream." What is God's dream for my life - takes me back to my ideas of my "first best destiny" (courtesy Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan). 

Where do I put my energy and passion? Is it pursuing money and the utterly illusory idea of financial security? If so - and it is so - my heart's in the wrong place. 

I got this from the notes - before the sermon started. Regrettably, although I know the church is struggling financially, this continuing focus on their need for money seems at odds with the sermon - which is starting now. 

The sermon is grounded on Romans 12. 

We belong to each other and our passion should be grounded in loving others. 

Romans 12:17-21 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary:“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. 

Guess praying for my supervisors - even, grrr, the CEOs - is the right thing to do. 

"We honor Christ when we love what He loves!"

The Church is the source of hope for this world because Jesus is the Hope of the World. 

How do we recognize a vital church? The vitality of a church is rooted in how many members are changed people - rescued people - not churchy people. 

Churches are unified and God is the source if that unity. 

Doctrine and theology are the backbone of this unity. 

We should be know more by what we are for rather than what we are against. 

Don't be casual about life - loathe to give, loathe to feel passion. Reminds me of the song in Hair - Easy to be Hard. God's mercy and grace fuels our passion and lifts us out of apathy. 

If you keep your eyes on God's mercy, unbelievable things will happen. If our eyes drop we falter. 

Community groups were not formed here so we could make friends. It's to build disciples. 

Life happens, life is a struggle, and we are here to help and support one another.    We need each other. We need community. 

Reach the World

This is the last of the Be One Make One series. We are asked to pray that Hod may use each of us to show compassion, minister to those in need, and be a witness of the Love of God. Amen!

We make a living through what we get (salary); but, we make a life from what we give. 

Mission is necessary for discipleship. God goes with us. 

The Church is on the same mission as Jesus. 

John 20:21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 

God takes us out of the world and then sends us right back into the world. 

The question is not if, but how?

God does the heavy lifting, but wants us beside Him. God is going to be out loving on the world whatever happens. It's not like it's not going to get done if we can't do it on our own. God never asks us to do it on our own. God does the heavy lifting, but takes joy in our service. 

Sometime we have to make the decision to do the right thing, even when we're not feeling it. 

You probably know that person you're meant to be loving on - so love on them, even if you don't feel the love. 

Works & Words

Twenty percent of the church's budget goes to missions. Guess that's why it's Ventura Missionary. 

"We don't believe in outsourcing mission - we believe in doing it."

Time to put some skin in the game - exactly what I thought when I became a lay missionary. 

Who are you called to?

Make it personal - God calls us to minister to individuals - this call is not to the abstract masses. 

Dr. Seuss said, "To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world."

I'm sorry, I'm too scattered today to pay attention - these are terrible notes :(

Love God

This is the second part of Be One Make One: Crafting Discipleship at Ventura Missionary. 

Love God, Reach Out, Build Community

That's what it's all about. That's what we're all about. It's not optional. 

Romans 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. 

We all have blessings - life, skills, passions, resources - not so we can live a stress-free life, but so that we can step up and take part in God's plan. 

Worship Him - Start with love and worship. Worship services are the entry point for many to come into that relationship with God. 

Submit to Him - Give your blessings back to God. Remember what those blessings are for. 

Know Him - Grow in knowledge, deepen your relationship. 

Talk to Him - A key part of marriage counseling is communication - couples need to talk. Likewise we need to have conversations with God. 

Think about Him - All week long. 

As we live out these disciplines, our good influence in the world will grow. 

We need to apply the Gospel in our lives and in the world. 

We must maintain a healthy view of God's mercy - don't look down at our own worries, but up at God's mercy. 

"We love God to the extent that we are blown away by His mercy."