11-17-19 What are you becoming?

Scripture:    Luke 6:46-49

All He wants is all of you!

BECOMING

          Ministry should provide building blocks for discipleship, becoming the person God wants us to be.

           "I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built."  Luke 6:47-48

Luke 6:46-49

 "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say? 47 I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. 48 He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. 49 But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed, and its destruction was complete."

"Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?

This verse is not about salvation – it is for the already believer. It is for the one who calls Jesus Lord.

Jesus asks a straight forward question: Why do you call me Lord? LORD?

Kyrio – kyrios = Lord -  a person exercising absolute ownership rights

When we come to Jesus we voluntarily give him absolute ownership rights. When the owner of the car turns the wheel to the right – the car turns right – it does not one day decide, the owner is turning the wheel right but I think I will just go straight ahead then veer left. So, Jesus is right to ask of us = all who take the wheel away from him = why in the world, if we have given him absolute ownership rights, are we steering our life in a different direction?  We need to join Carrie Underwood and say “Jesus take the wheel”

          Let’s look at how God acts compared to how we act. God is right in his inner being (the essence of who He is) which determines His outer works – the things He does. We are fallen, flawed, broken on the inside and out works reflect that. The only way we can change is to know who we are now on the inside and then let that live out of us. But, like the dog returns to its vomit, so we return to our former ways denying the very power and the Lordship of the one who is in us.

          God’s being determines His good works. Now that God is in us, we must learn to do good works. For instance – if you hate your enemy – you have not learned that God is in you with the power of love over hate. Therefore, you can exercise a behavior that shows you have God at work in you by praying for your enemy – it’s a start.

          When you do what God says to do by His power now in you, then you are BECOMING a disciple – the person God wants you to be. Salvation is automatic and free – Discipleship – “becoming” requires sacrifice and energy. If you keep doing what you have always done, you will keep getting what you’ve always got and your workmanship will be brought to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will prove the quality of each man’s work. If what he has built survives, he will receive a reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss. He himself will be saved, but only as if through the flames.  Because you are saved does not automatically make you a disciple of Jesus – one who is becoming all God wants him to be.

THE ONE WHO DOES NOT DO WHAT GOD SAYS

49 But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed, and its destruction was complete." We see those images on TV every time there is a flood – you are saved and so think your life is protected by the Dam. But when the waters rise, the dam can break, and your house can face destruction. Have you ever helped clean up a city after a flood (Cincinnati)? It sticks, everything is destroyed including lives. So, it is for the person who says Lord, Lord but does no do what he says.

THE ONE WHO DOES DO WHAT GOD SAYS

I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built.

FULLY AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW

“One afternoon author Patsy Clairmont found herself on an airplane, sitting next to a young man. She writes, ‘I had already observed something about this young man when I was being seated. He called me ‘Ma’am.’ at the time I thought, ‘Either he thinks I’m ancient, or he’s from the South where they still teach manners, or he’s in the service. I decided the latter was the most likely, so I asked, ‘You in the service?’  ‘Yes, Ma’am, I am.’

‘What branch?’  ‘Marines.’

‘Hey, Marine, where are you coming from?’  Operation desert Storm, Ma’am.’

‘No kidding? Desert Storm! How long were you there?’ ‘A year and a half.’ I’m on the way home. My family will be at the airport.

I then commented that he must have thought about returning to his family and home many times while he was in the Middle East.

‘Oh, no, Ma’am, he replied. ‘We were taught never to think of what might never be, but to be fully available right where we were.’”

Patsy commented about her experience:

Wow! What commitment that this soldier had to the military and what his commanders told him. I couldn’t help but think about the soldiers last words here, “to be fully available right where we were.” Could you imagine the difference Christians could make if they made that same commitment? The commitment to be fully available right where we are, right where we are placed. Too many Christians spend time wishing they were in a different place or in a different position instead of making the commitment to be fully available right where they are. God has placed us where we are for a reason. And when He is Lord in our life we are fully available to Him for whatever purpose He may have for us, great and amazing things will happen.

What are you – no – what are WE becoming? Fully Available Disciples of Jesus Christ to build an inspired community that creatively and compassionately reaches out to connect people to Jesus Christ.

11-10-19 To whom do you belong?

Scripture:  1 Peter 2:4-9

BELONGING

          Ministry should help a person develop a sense of belonging with individuals and with the church as a whole. Participation in ministry is one of the best means for developing a sense of belonging.

          “As you come to him, the living Stone — rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:4-5, 9

I have belonged to the Georgian Heights baseball club, Georgian Heights Football club, the Georgian Heights neighborhood friends, the Western Lanes Bowling League, the Wedgewood Audio Visual club, the Wedgewood Student Council, the Wedgewood concert band, the West high presidents council, all the bands, choir, bell choir, drama club, pep club, Hilcrest Baptist Church, Hillcrest Baptist Youth Fellowship, Hillcrest prayer group and Bible studies, Sr. High Sunday School class, ABC/Ohio BYF State board, and a great group of high school friend both churched and unchurched.  And that is just to list a few things that I have belonged to and that is also just through high school. I can’t imagine how long the list would be if I went through all 60 years.

What are a couple things you have belonged to throughout your life that stick out to you as most important or memorable?  Gather in groups of about 4 and share with each other your responses to that question.

I think there are three kinds of things we can belong to:

1 Vocational things – College, work, anything related to what we do for a living.

2 Clubs and Organizations – Sports, Arts & Crafts, Church, official organization you voluntarily join and are a part of.

3 Affinity Groups – Friends, these likely change throughout your life depending on how mobile you are -if you move a lot you will have more friends but not as many close life-long friends. Any group that has shared values and experiences.

4 – Actually we left out a 4^th kind of group we belong to – our family.  Most of this is given to us and some of it is chosen (Spouse, adoption).

When we talk about belonging to the church – which of those four categories are we talking about? I think all 4. I am here because of my vocation. I did not come because a friend invited me to church. Some may belong because the like being a part of organizations. Others like the way we do church and have found an affinity with others here. And certainly, there are those who see others at church more like family – you have been through thick and thin together. If we believe we want everyone to feel like family – it seems like that can only come with time – or is it possible to make people like family right away – let’s come back to that after we look closely at the scripture.

(1 Peter 2:4-5) Coming to Jesus.

As you come to him, the living Stone — rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him— 5  you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Interesting how often Scripture labels Jesus then calls us by the same title. Jesus is the light of the world – Jesus calls us the light of the world. He is the vine, we are the branches (the vine is a branch as well). He is a living stone, now we are also called living stones.

What is a living stone? Stones don’t live or move or breathe – they are inanimate objects but in that day were the prime material for building. That was the easiest material to find – today you pay big money for a house made out of stone. The bible refers to Jesus as a Rock – but here he is a LIVING STONE. The structure built with Living Stones is a Living Structure – spiritual, not just material. And we too. Like Jesus are living stones being build into a spiritual house – one that supersedes the glory of the temple in Jerusalem.

 a. Coming to Him as to a living stone: Peter’s picture here is that God is building a spiritual temple (a spiritual house) using living stones (Christians), those who have come to the ultimate living stone (Jesus).

This spiritual house shows that as much as Israel had a temple, Christians also have one. Yet the Christian’s temple is spiritual, and they themselves are the temple.

          God’s people worshipped at the Tabernacle (a mobile house of God and could not wait to be in a single permanent location – but not everyone had ability to get to Jerusalem to the Temple.  Now God says YOU are the church (not the building) and God wants his church to reach every nook and cranny of the world, so His temple is more mobile than ever…through us – his living stones.

But even living stones are of no use unless they occupy their proper place in His building”

b. Chosen by God and precious: As much as God chose Israel, so the church is also chosen. As much as Israel had a priesthood, so Christians are a holy priesthood. And as much as Israel had sacrifices, so Christians offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God.

A holy priesthood: The believer is his own priest before God. He does not need any mediator except his great High Priest, Jesus. “There can no longer be an elite priesthood with claims of special access to God, or special privileges in worship or in fellowship with God.”

Peter’s idea isn’t that God has abandoned Israel or that they have no place in His redemptive plan, but that Christianity is in no way inferior to Judaism.

To offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ: God does the work of building (being built), but we do the job of offering sacrifices pleasing to Him, as we come to Jesus as who we are – living stones, made by Him. Romans 12:1 Living Sacrifices

Even a living stone cannot build something great for God as it sits all on its own. What God does in us together is important. He is building something out of us together.

We can only serve as priests as we do it through Jesus Christ. In ourselves, we have no priestly authority, but only in Jesus.

(1 Peter 2:9) The privileged place of God’s people.

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

a. But you are a chosen generation: The things that once exclusively belonged to Israel – their election (chosen), priesthood, and calling are now no longer the property of Israel alone. These are now the property of every Christian, and we have them in a greater and spiritual sense.

We are a royal priesthood. The offices of royalty and priesthood were jealously separated in Israel. But Jesus, who is our King and Priest, has brought them together for His people.

b. His own special people: We are special because we belong to God. A museum may be filled with quite ordinary things: hats, canes, shoes, and so forth; but they may be significant because they once belonged to someone famous. God takes ordinary people; and because He works in them, they are special.

These same titles were applied to Israel (Exodus 19:5-6, Deuteronomy 4:20, Deuteronomy 7:6, and Isaiah 43:20-21). Now in Jesus we belong to God as His own special people.

“The description of the Church is systematic and exhaustive. It is a race, and this suggests its life principle. It is a priesthood, and so has right of access to God. It is a nation, and so is under His government. It is a possession, and so is actually indwelt by Him.” (Morgan)

c. That you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light: The purpose for these high privileges is not so we can grow proud, but so that we can proclaim the praises of Him who has done such great things for us.

It is true that believers have a new life principle (chosen generation), a new access to God (royal priesthood), a new government (holy nation), and a new owner (His own special people)

Now we have examined the scripture - If we believe we want everyone to feel like family – it seems like that can only come with time – or is it possible to make people like family right away?

Absolutely – when each of my grandchildren were born – they I did not need time and experiences with them to make them feel anymore like family then in the first moment I laid eyes on them. So too, in the church, in Jesus, we who are seasoned Christians, ought to make everyone instantly feel like family. The church who can master that is the church that will not be able to contain the amount of growth it sees.

When I claimed Jesus as my savior, I did not have to be a Christian for a while, or prove myself to be adopted in as his child – it happened instantly. That is the way the stranger and alien should connect to Ashland Church – they should immediately feel not only like family but as much like family as anyone who has been a round for a very long time, because we are family in Jesus Christ – and he has been present since eternity past.

ILLUSTRATION

Tammy Harris of Roanoke, Virginia, began searching for her biological mother when she turned 21. A year of searching proved fruitless. Tammy did not realize, however, that her mother, Joyce Schultz, had been searching for her for 20 years--the same Joyce Schultz who worked alongside her at the same convenience store. When Joyce overheard Tammy speaking with another coworker about her search for her biological mother, Joyce's ears perked. The two compared stories and birth certificates. When the coworkers realized they were, indeed, mother and daughter, "We held on for the longest time," Tammy said. "It was the best day of my life."

Christians often sit side by side in the church pews, week after week, and fail to realize the depth of relationship they share in Jesus Christ. We are not inanimate rocks – we are living stones, designed to be like family whose lives are built together to be a spiritual house in the Lord!

11-03-19 The last line of the show: “Can you believe it?”

Scripture:   Romans 10:5-13

JOSEPH IS STILL ALOVE

Genesis 45:25-28

So they went up out of Egypt and came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan. They told him, "Joseph is still alive! In fact, he is ruler of all Egypt." Jacob was stunned; he did not believe them. But when they told him everything Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the carts Joseph had sent to carry him back, the spirit of their father Jacob revived. And Israel said, "I'm convinced! My son Joseph is still alive. I will go and see him before I die."

          The disciples told Thomas they had seen the Lord alive again – risen from the dead. “I will not believe unless I can see him and touch him.” When Thomas saw Jesus, he believed. John 20:29 Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

All of Ashland’s work and ministry are built to help people: Believe, Belong, and Become. Ministry should help someone Believe in Jesus, Belong to Ashland Church, and Become the person Jesus wants them to be.

BELIEVING

          Everything we do should move people toward professing belief that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.

          "But what about you?" Jesus asked. "Who do you say I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it."  Matthew 16:15-18

(6 Believe Slides)

7 Things to Believe

Nature of Man

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Nature of God

John 3:16  For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Salvation

Acts 4:12  Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."

Holy Spirit

John 14:26-27  But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

Bible

Hebrews 4:12

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

The Church

Romans 12:4-5   Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

Ordinances – (Baptism and Communion)

1 Corinthians 1:26   For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.

1 Peter 3:21-22  This water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also — not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Romans 10:5-13

Moses describes in this way the righteousness that is by the law: "The man who does these things will live by them."  But the righteousness that is by faith says: "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?'" (that is, to bring Christ down) "or 'Who will descend into the deep?'" (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart," that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame."  For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile — the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

We simply don’t believe

In a survey conducted by the Barna Research Group, nearly 1/3 of all born-again Christians stated that all good people will go to heaven, whether they have embraced Jesus Christ or not. While 88% in a recent Barna poll believe Jesus Christ was a real person, what they believe about him differs sharply from scriptural teaching. 42% (even 1/4th of the “born again” Christians) believe that while on earth Jesus sinned just like other people. 61% believe the devil is just a symbol of evil, not a living being. And 54% think that if people are good enough, they will earn a place in heaven regardless of their religious beliefs. (Barna Research Group).

Simple Faith

A pastor in California was giving an invitation at the end of his Sunday morning message when a five-year old boy, sensing the invitation of the Holy Spirit came down the aisle. Not knowing if the boy was old enough to understand salvation, the pastor took him to his office and began to ask some theological questions. The more he questioned, the more confused the boy became. Finally, in exasperation, the little fellow stopped and innocently pleaded, “Pastor Patterson, in your message this morning you said that if I would come and ask Jesus to save me—He would!

10-27-19 The Church’s Five Foundations

Scripture   Philippians 2:2-4

"The Church's One Foundation" is a Christian hymn written in the 1860s by Samuel John Stone.

The song was written as a direct response to the schism within the Church of South Africa caused by John William Colenso, first Bishop of Natal, who denounced much of the Bible as fictitious. This topic is alluded to within the fourth verse of the text "Though with a scornful wonder men see her sore oppressed, by schisms rent asunder, by heresies distressed." When Bishop Colenso was deposed for his teachings, he appealed to the higher ecclesiastical authorities in England.

It was then that Samuel Stone became involved in the debate. It inspired him to write a set of hymns based on the Apostles' Creed in 1866. He titled it, Lyra Fidelium; Twelve Hymns on the Twelve Articles of the Apostles' Creed. "The Church's One Foundation" is based on the ninth article, The holy Catholic Church; The Communion of Saints.

 THE CHURCH’S ONE FOUNDATION LYRICS

The church's one Foundation - Is Jesus Christ her Lord;
She is his new creation - By water and the Word:
From heav'n he came and sought her - To be his holy bride;
With his own blood he bought her, - And for her life he died.

Elect from ev'ry nation, - Yet one o'er all the earth,
Her charter of salvation - One Lord, one faith, one birth;
One holy Name she blesses, - Partakes one holy food.
And to one hope she presses, - With ev'ry grace endued.

Yet she on earth hath union - With the God the Three in One,
And mystic sweet communion - With those whose rest is won:
O happy ones and holy! - Lord, give us grace that we,
Like them, the meek and lowly, - On high may dwell with thee.

The song says that Jesus Christ is the church’s one foundation. Our Ephesian text agrees with that but adds the apostles and prophets of the new Testament as part of the foundation as well.

The foundation is what the rest of the structure is built upon. In our church unique process, we had a formula to follow so that we could biblical and succinctly express what Ashland Church’s foundational Values are. We have learned all year that consistent intentional corporate worship is a foundational value for us.

FOUNDAITONAL VALUES

COMMUNITY as demonstrated by welcoming and integrating others into the Ashland Church community and serving people in the Oregon/East Toledo area to create a more enriched local community.

“Make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”  Philippians 2:2-4

COMPASSION as demonstrated by kindness, humility, gentleness and patience toward one another, being on mission together for the greater good of building Christ’s church in the world.

“Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”  Colossians 3:12

CREATIVITY as demonstrated by the use of creative arts in many aspects of ministry and expressing a spirit of fun as we live abundantly in Christ.

“God has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts —  to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood and to engage in all kinds of artistic craftsmanship.”  Exodus 35:31-33

“A happy heart makes the face cheerful.”  Proverbs 15:13

CULTIVATION as demonstrated by committing ourselves to study of the Bible, fellowship, corporate worship, prayer and sharing Jesus beyond the church walls through missions and service.

“They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”  Acts 2:42

COLLABORATION as demonstrated by fluid ministry teams, consensus building, and the use of individual giftedness to connect people to new life in Jesus Christ.

“Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.”  1 Corinthians 12:7 & 11

COMMUNITY EXPLAINED

One of the most difficult things for an established church (an established church is any church more than 20 years old) is to welcome and integrate others into the Church community. Why? Because by the time you are 20 years old, or 100 years old, you have people who have been together for a long time and they have an affinity for one another even if they don’t really like each other.

Example – Survivor Tribes – “Drop your buffs” When the merge happens, if you

are in the majority you stick with your tribe and try to get rid of the others – unintentionally, we have a survivor mentality. When we have church events, I purposely will sit by people other than my family except Sunday morning because I haven’t had that opportunity since I had my own young children – and since I am up and down it can be distracting to others – my family is used to that.  We tend to circle our wagons with those we know.

         

          Let me let us all off the hook a little bit – we should absolutely sit with and hang out with our family and friends at church – that is part of the joy of coming together. How blessed are those who have people they enjoy seeing and being with when we gather to worship. So, never feel bad about doing or wanting to do that. However – if that is all we do, then we cannot be effective at welcoming and integrating others into the church. We must have the eyes and heart of God when someone new comes into our midst.

          Judson College had an admissions administrator by the name of Press Webster. Press became like my best friend when I was going through the college admission process – he would call and write and met with me and others who drove from Columbus to the college north of Chicago. Once school began, I never heard from Press again and thought that was quite strange till years later when I realized his job was to get me there, not keep me there.

          The church cannot be made of admission counselors who get you in then leave you alone. We all need to make room in our lives for the next person who walks through the door.  If Mr. and Mrs. Smith’s son starts attending church, I don’t need to put much effort into welcoming the Smith child because he has his parents to hang out with and welcome him. WRONG! He already has that relationship and needs new relationships in the church. It would be easy for most people to think my wife, children, or in-laws don’t need welcomed and integrated into the life of the fellowship because they are related to the pastor. WRONG! I would say if anything even more so. I assume that happens because I see them speaking and being involved with others, but they would have to answer that for themselves as would each of us.

          I just met with our personnel committee for my annual review and it was mentioned that someone knew a pastor from a church who said he did not have any friends within the church. Then the question was posed to me…do you feel like you have friends in the church. My first response was – the two gentlemen I was talking with, along with a handful of others I would call my 2:00 am friends – the person you could call at 2:00 am with a problem and they would gladly respond with appropriate help. There are a few who have golfed together or done other things friends do and I greatly appreciate those times.

But what does the text say about our first foundational value of community which is mentioned in the first line of our mission statement - “Make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”  Philippians 2:2-4

Paul tells his baby church to give him joy by doing 6 things.

1.     be like-minded

2.     have the same love

3.     be one in spirit and purpose

4.     Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit

5.     In humility consider others better than yourselves

6.     Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

WHAT JESUS CAN DO to make us live those 6 principles:

What does this look like? A biblical example is found in the collection for the poor in Jerusalem.

Jews & Gentiles would be like Christians and Muslims are now made into Wibijibis.

So, Paul – though rejected – took an offering for the poor Christians in Jerusalem.

10-20-19 Mission Impossible

Scripture  Ephesians 2:19-22

          2^nd generation Christianity Polycarp  (Slide # 8 & #7)

What was the mission of the early church?

What was the mission of the Platt Mission Church in 1886?

#10 # 11  What was the mission of the new Ashland Avenue Baptist Church in 1896?

#  9    What was the mission of the mobile Ashland church meeting in a borrowed facility?

#12   What was the mission of the Ashland Church that purchased a former Nazarene church across the river from its previous location?

What is the mission of Ashland Church today?

What is the mission of every church that has ever existed?

The mission of the church has never changed – it has and always will be the same for every church. That mission is to fulfill the great commandment and the great commission of Jesus Christ. To first love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and to go in to all the world preaching and teaching the good news of Jesus Christ.

The mission of every church is to love God and love others by sharing the good news of salvation.

But here’s the thing, that looks different for every church but most churches don’t take the time to figure out what that really looks like for them. Most churches just plod through life adding this program or that without any real thought as to how God has made them and where He has put them.

Therefore, the wording of a mission statement should mean essentially the same thing for every church but to reflect who that church is uniquely.  Ashland church has spent 2 years researching, praying, discussing and determining how we might say that so that it accurately reflects who we are as well as give us intentionality how we work out the mission of the church in our place in the world.

We looked at things like our LOCAL PREDICAMENT. What does that mean? What is unique about our location, circumstances and situation? What is it like to be located where we are? The answer to that is different from the answer in a shared facility in Holland or an enormous facility at the corner of Ashland and Woodruff.

We looked at our COLECTIVE POTENTIAL. What does that mean? What are our unique gifts and resources? What are our strengths and abilities? What do we have that can meet the needs of our local predicament?

We looked at our APOSTOLIC ESPRIT. What does that mean? What is our personality? Every pastor certainly adds to the personality of a church but it is a combined personality of everyone who participates in the life of the church.

LOCAL PREDICAMENT                                    COLLECTIVE POTENTIAL

Empty storefronts/ lostness                                    Farm land

Boarded up houses / Indifference                           Library

House disrepair / Theft                                          Schools / listeners

Fire damage / Poverty                                           Parks / servants

Everything established                                          Places for Elder Care

No New housing development                               Good play areas for kids

Traffic (280) No Oregon TARTA                          Hospitals / Selflessness

Factory/Industry                                                   Walking/Riding Bikes

Unsupervised children                                           Church facility

Lots of garbage on sides of road                            Finances / Individual giftedness

Drugs/human trafficking/alcoholism                      Solid Families / preaching

Broken Families/Gun Violence                              Musically & dramatically creative people

APOSTOLIC ESPRIT

Caring, compassionate, joy filled, flexible, welcoming, non judgemental, prayerful, adaptable, people of heritage, growth mindset, fun, devoted, theologically strong.                                                            

19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

Building an inspired community

that creatively and compassionately

connects people to Jesus Christ

EXAMPLE OF building an inspired community that creatively and compassionately connects people to Jesus Christ…

A Party for a Prostitute

Tony Campolo, an American Baptist pastor and college professor was at a speaking engagement in Honolulu Hawaii when very early one morning as he sat in a dingy little cafe. He was drinking coffee at the counter, when a group of prostitutes walked in and took up the stools around him. One of the girls, Agnes, lamented the fact that not only was it her birthday tomorrow but that she’d never had a birthday party.

Tony thought it would be a great idea to surprise Agnes with a birthday party. Learning from the cafe owner, a guy named Harry, that the girls came in every morning around 3.30am Tony agreed with him to set the place up for a party. Word somehow got out on the street, so that by 3.15 the next morning the place was packed with prostitutes, the cafe owner and his wife, and Tony.

When Agnes walked in she saw streamers, balloons, Harry holding a birthday cake, and everyone screaming out “Happy Birthday!” Agnes was overwhelmed. The tears poured down her face as the crowd sang Happy Birthday. When Harry called on her to cut the cake she paused. She’d never had a birthday cake and wondered if she could take it home to show her mother. When Agnes left there was a stunned silence. Tony did what a Christian minister should. He led Harry, Harry’s wife and a roomful of prostitutes in a prayer for Agnes.

It was a birthday party rarely seen in Honolulu – thrown by a Christian minister for a 39 year old prostitute who had never had anyone go out of their way to do something like this and who expected nothing in return. Indeed, so surprising was this turn of events that the cafe owner found it hard to believe there were churches that would do this sort of thing, but if there were, he said, then that’s the sort of church I want to join.

10-13-19 Consequently,

Scripture  Ephesians 2:1-22

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions — it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

          11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called "uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the circumcision" (that done in the body by the hands of men)— 12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.

          14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

          19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

          What if the apostle Paul had not lived, preached and written these words? The church of Christ could have become a sect of the Jews and we would still be outsiders with no chance to get in. But that didn’t happen – a second generation of Christians sprang up. Those who the first apostles influenced and led to faith in Jesus but picked up the mantle for the generation who would follow them. People Like Polycarp 69-156.

19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, (paroikos = living alongside, a resident alien. A resident alien did not have to live to the full letter of the Jewish law, but they also did not receive the full benefits or protections of citizenship) but fellow citizens with God's people (Like national citizen ship but not very personal) and members of God's household, (now a part of God’s very own family) 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. (oikodomh = could be the cornerstone or the keystone of an archway) 21 In him the whole building is joined together (BTW being joined together doesn’t just happen. It involves an elaborate preparation of the surface of the stones, cutting, rubbing, smoothing and testing the stones, preparation of the dowels and the dowel holes then fitting them together with molten lead. Jesus doesn’t just show up and we are suddenly built – no it says we are being built – we are in the process of being built into a holy temple. God has not finished preparing our stones and getting us ready to perfectly fit in the exact spot he wants each of us. But that only happens when we first do what Peter did / “Who do you say that I am?” “You are the Christ…” “…On this rock I will BUILD my church”) and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

          Where do we best get fashioned into the stones he wants us to be? IN WORSHIP!

Psalm 127:1 Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain.

10-06-19 WORLDWIDE COMMUNION Remembrance leads us to worship

What do you remember?

      Do you realize every thought you have in the present is based on all the thoughts you have had in the past.  When I say the word Elephant – you immediately get a picture in your mind because your mind remembers the African safari you went on, the elephant you saw on tv or in a book or the elephant you saw at the circus or the zoo.

      Your current thoughts are based on what you are able to remember. At the last supper Jesus implored the disciples to remember him through the meal. That meal has always been a time of worship – the reason being is that when we remember what Jesus has done, it leads us to worship. We can’t picture the body broken and beat down and crucified and the blood shed without being led into worship. Therefore, Remembrance leads us to worship and worship leads us to communion.

1 Cor 11:23-26

       For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me."  In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me."  For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.

Luke 22:7-21

       Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover." "Where do you want us to prepare for it?" they asked.

He replied, "As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters, 11 and say to the owner of the house, 'The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?' He will show you a large upper room, all furnished. Make preparations there."

They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.

When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. And he said to them, "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God."

After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, "Take this and divide it among you. 18 For I tell you I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes."

And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me."

In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.

Mal 3:16-18

       Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honored his name. "They will be mine," says the Lord Almighty, "in the day when I make up my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as in compassion a man spares his son who serves him. And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.

REMEMBRANCE Communion Song

Oh how could it be
That my God would welcome me
Into this mystery
Say take this bread, take this wine
Now the simple made divine
For any to receive

By mercy, we come to your table
By your grace, you are making us faithful

[Chorus]
Lord, we remember you / And remembrance leads us to worship
And as we worship you / Our worship leads to communion
We respond to your invitation / We remember you

See his body, his blood
Know that he has overcome
Every trial we will face
None too lost to be saved
None too broken or ashamed
All are welcome in this place

By your mercy, we come to your table
By your grace, you are making us faithful