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."

Notes from the Sermon

A new series begins today:

Be One, Make One: Crafting Discipleship at Ventura Missionary

Today's sermon is "The Mission."

I found out that the church's mission statement is:

Live and share the transforming love of Jesus. 

No wonder I like the place ;)  This series will unpack that mission statement. Seems pretty simple and straightforward to me. 

It occurs to me that following Jesus' mandate:

Matthew 7:1-2 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 

actually simplifies discipleship for us. We are to share of love of God - pure and simple. As a wise friend of mine said, " I just love them."

All this before the sermon actually begins.  I may be dizzy and loopy, but this sure won't be a wasted trip ;)

One of the best coping methods is to obey God. We were designed for God, designed for joy, and obeying God is how we go with the flow - doing what we were designed to do. 

What does God want us to do? If you love God, follow Jesus. No promises that life will then be full of good fortune (as we would consider it). Thinking about it, to promise that would be like giving a child ice cream for dinner. They'll be overjoyed about their good fortune until the stomachache hits. 

"Clarity of purpose is critical to Kingdom success."

To be a Christian goes beyond belief. It is to be a disciple. Our discipleship is revealed through our love. 

This series will cover three areas over the next three weeks:

Love God

Reach the World

Build Community

These things don't naturally happen - we have to work at it. 

Having the trappings of religion doesn't make us a disciple. 

This church is a member of the Missionary denomination. I thought it was non- denominational. The new president said that the denomination was relational. 

Check out The Voice - a translation of scripture kind of in between the NIV and The Message (Bible Gateway has it). 

We can "do church" and we can do a lot of church without God. Guard against that. 

Jesus doesn't just invite us to spend a bit of time with Him (like an hour on Sunday) - Jesus wants to move in, to come and make His home with us. 

Notes from the Sermon

This week's sermon, the last in the series, is titled Designed for Joy. I think is a message I need to hear. The head of music is now singing a song inspired by a verse in Exodus about how the people were discouraged in their slavery. She wondered how many of us are discouraged in our slavery to the day-to-day cares, concerns, and disappointments of life. 

There seems to be a disconnect between church people and the God they teach about. We teach about a God of joy, but where is the joy?

According to the Westminster Catechism, our reason for being is to enjoy God forever. 

We hunger for happiness - we thirst for joy. But, for many of us, happiness is elusive. No source of happiness here lasts. This reminds me of C. S. Lewis' comments from A Grief Observed that I read this morning. Interestingly, the pastor is quoting him now - were Lewis tells us we are far too easily pleased, seeking satisfaction at Taco Bell, when we are invited by God to a five-star restaurant. 

Joy is found in God and God alone; but we, as the Buddha teaches, look for happiness in all the wrong places, seeking joy in things that don't last. 

On the other hand, Paul sang for joy chained in a deep dungeon. When we realize that same joy, we realize our current situation doesn't matter. In all honesty, I'm far too apt to whine. Yes, I find joy easily, but I also am derailed way too quickly. 

Praying for others instead of being fixated on our own situation brings joy. It's a question of where our attention is focused. Spreading the Love of God to others brings joy - in word and service. 

Stop whining, arguing, and complaining. When you live like this, there is no room for joy. The more we fixate on our problems, the more our problems and complaints become who we are. I need that on a t-shirt. I'm SO busted. 

The things if this world that we want or achieve or prize are straw when compared to Jesus. Thomas Aquinas says straw, the world Paul uses in Philippians is crap. 

There is joy in the faithfulness of God. 

Practice rejoicing - it's like physical therapy - we build up our capacity for joy. 

Think on what is good, beautiful, etc. Find joy in Christ. It's there. 

Notes from the Sermon

This week's segment of Recalculate is titled Designed to Influence. 

Matthew 5:16 - In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. 

What would the world be there without mothers? Mothers have an unbelievable influence on this world. They hold unbelievable joys and carry unbelievable burdens. 

Christians are also designed to be an influence on this world. Our light gives light to everyone in the house - Christian and non Christian. 

Add your influence to what you give. You were not saved just so you could go to Heaven. You are called to be an influence. Jesus asks, "What have you done with my grace?"

We are called to go and participate in His redemption of the world. 

You are either an influence or you will be influenced. 

What data influences you and how do you then influence this world? 

Philippians 4:8 - Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 

Everything we experience sets us up to be an influence on this world - positive and negative. 

We are foolish by nature - but God understands this - do not accept the lie that past foolishness means we can't be an influence. Turn to God and allow God to make changes in your life. 

If you seek God's wisdom, then God will open the doors to adventure and influence. 

Romans 8:15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 

We do not go on these adventures alone. We are designed to go with God. Amen and alleluia!

Notes from the Sermon

Today's segment of Recalculate is Designed to Need Others.

We often find ourselves in places we aren't excited about and wonder, "How did I get here?" I wonder if he meant to quote David Byrne in the Talking Heads song Once in a Lifetime - which is now running through my cold-addled brain. 

The Bible reading is the Genesis story. Interesting point made about Genesis 2:18:

The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” 

It's important to note that Adam had a relationship with God, but even so, he needed a helper. We are made to need each other. 

Americans are the loneliest people in the world. We have forgotten this need we have for each other. American individualism focuses on doing it by ourselves. That's not what Christianity is all about. Even if you can do it yourself, it's better to do it with others. 

We need to be here for each other. This is the type of community we need to build and maintain. We need to go after the lost sheep - sheep are in the most danger from predators when they are alone and apart from the herd. 

This is not being "sheeple" - it's being part of a community - it's being there for each other.