CHARACTER QUALITY # 46 Wonder

Below are scripture notes for a message on wonder.  We should all be in wonder at how awesome our God is, how life giving the Holy Spirit is, and how present and forgiving Jesus is.  After reading through these scriptures, tell of a time or a way in which your thoughts about God put you in a state of wonder.  What is there about God that causes you to wonder?

Mark 9:1-15

And he said to them, "I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power."  After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.  Peter said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters — one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.)

          Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: "This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!"  Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.   As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what "rising from the dead" meant.

          And they asked him, "Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?"  Jesus replied, "To be sure, Elijah does come first, and restores all things. Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer much and be rejected?  But I tell you, Elijah has come, and they have done to him everything they wished, just as it is written about him."

          When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. 15 As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him.

MOSES / JESUS

CALLED OUT OF EGYPT

Exodus 4:21-23

21 The Lord said to Moses, "When you return to Egypt, see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders I have given you the power to do. But I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go. Then say to Pharaoh, 'This is what the Lord says: Israel is my firstborn son, and I told you, "Let my son go, so he may worship me." But you refused to let him go; so I will kill your firstborn son.'"

Matthew 2:14-15

So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: "Out of Egypt I called my son."

40 YEARS vs 40 DAYS

Acts 7:35-36

"This is the same Moses whom they had rejected with the words, 'Who made you ruler and judge?' He was sent to be their ruler and deliverer by God himself, through the angel who appeared to him in the bush. He led them out of Egypt and did wonders and miraculous signs in Egypt, at the Red Sea and for forty years in the desert.

Matthew 4:1-4

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread."  4 Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"

MANNA vs BREAD

John 6:29-36

Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent."  30 So they asked him, "What miraculous sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? 31 Our forefathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written: 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'"  32 Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world."  34 "Sir," they said, "from now on give us this bread."  35 Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.

Isaiah 29:13-14

 13 The Lord says: "These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.  Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.  14 Therefore once more I will astound these people with wonder upon wonder; the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish."

1 Kings 17:9-10

"Go at once to Zarephath of Sidon and stay there. I have commanded a widow in that place to supply you with food."

1 Kings 17:13-14

Elijah said to her, "Don't be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small cake of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: 'The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord gives rain on the land.'"

1 Kings 17:17-18

Some time later the son of the woman who owned the house became ill. He grew worse and worse, and finally stopped breathing. She said to Elijah, "What do you have against me, man of God? Did you come to remind me of my sin and kill my son?"

1 Kings 17:22-23

The Lord heard Elijah's cry, and the boy's life returned to him, and he lived. Elijah picked up the child and carried him down from the room into the house. He gave him to his mother and said, "Look, your son is alive!"

Col 1:15-20

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

From the Heart,
Pastor Jeff

CHARACTER QUALITY # 45 Calm

KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON

There’s a little book with the title Keep Calm and Carry On (Andrews McMeel Publishing). The title is based on a poster produced by the British government in 1939, during the dark days of World War II. More than two million copies were printed to be used in the event that Germany invaded the island nation as an encouragement to keep that famous British stiff upper lip in place if the worst-case scenario came to fruition.

During the Babylonian Exile God promised the return of people to Israel.  Many descriptions of that rescue were described – the following Psalm is one of those:

Psalm 107:23-30

Others went out on the sea in ships; they were merchants on the mighty waters.  They saw the works of the Lord, his wonderful deeds in the deep.  For he spoke and stirred up a tempest that lifted high the waves.  They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths; in their peril their courage melted away.  They reeled and staggered like drunken men; they were at their wits' end.  Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress.  He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed.  They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven.

Where are you in the midst of the storm?  Are you calm?  Better question – Where is Jesus in the midst of your storm?  Does it seem he is sleeping and not helping?  Take note: if he is resting a moment, it is because the storm does not scare him.  Why? He has the power to stop the storm if it gets too bad.  Get his attention – and watch what happens.

Matt 8:23-27

Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Lord, save us! We're going to drown!"  He replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.  The men were amazed and asked, "What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!"

Keep Calm and Carry On

          Can you describe a time when you were in Exile, in a storm, in a difficult situation, in a circumstance that others would not have been calm, but you experienced calm because you knew Jesus was seeing you through it?

From the Heart,

Pastor Jeff Cooper

CHARACTER QUALITY # 44 Zeal

GOD’S ZEAL

2 Kings 19:31  For out of Jerusalem will come a remnant, and out of Mount Zion a band of survivors.  The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

Isaiah 9:6-7   For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  7 Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

JEREMIAH’S ZEAL

Pashhur Ben Immer was the chief officer of the temple at the close of the monarchy and was the immediate subordinate of the high priest in charge of the police force.  He made a mistake by having Jeremiah, the Lord’s prophet beaten and put in stocks.  He thought it would silence Jeremiah but had the opposite effect.

Jeremiah 20:         7   O Lord, you deceived me, and I was deceived; you overpowered me and prevailed.  I am ridiculed all day long; everyone mocks me.  8 Whenever I speak, I cry out proclaiming violence and destruction. So the word of the Lord has brought me insult and reproach all day long.  9 But if I say, "I will not mention him or speak any more in his name," his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.

It is as dangerous to refuse to go when called, as it is to run without a call.  Jeremiah had a zeal that could not be contained.

OUR ZEAL

Romans 12:9-12

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.

Our zeal produces service for the Lord, by serving others.

READY FOR EITHER

If I get to live, I can live to serve the Lord by doing good deeds, tell more people about Him, be salt and light for His Kingdom, and so to live is Christ – for in Him we live and move and have our being, (Acts 17:28).  Yet to die is gain, I can have my eternal rest in the presence of my King.  So to live I can serve Jesus and honor Jesus with the life that He gives.  To die means I am with Jesus in His physical presence forever.  There’s no losing here.  How do we sacrifice?     Romans 12:1-2   Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God — this is your spiritual act of worship.

So our motto should be “ready for either.”  Philippians 1:21

     Do you have a zeal for Jesus?  Is there a fire in your bones that has to get out?  Are you willing to take up the plow or lie down on the altar of sacrifice?  Are you ready for either?


From the Heart,
Pastor Jeff Cooper

CHARACTER QUALITY # 43 Good Deeds

1 Timothy 6:17-19

 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

Heb 10:19-25

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Mr. Deeds Goes to Town – a 1936 movie - In the middle of the Great Depression, Longfellow Deeds (Gary Cooper), co-owner of a tallow works, part-time greeting card poet and tuba-playing inhabitant of the little Mandrake Falls, Vermont, inherits the enormous fortune of 20 million dollars from his late uncle, Martin Semple.  Deeds realizes what he can do with his troublesome fortune: he decides to provide fully equipped 10 acre farms free to thousands of homeless families if they will work the land for several years.  (Adam Sandler starred in a remake called Mr. Deeds in 2002 without the same noble ending which is a commentary on contemporary society.)

          Mr. Deeds received a gift that he did not know what to do with.  He finally figured out that it could be used to bless others.  As Christians, we all need to become Mr. and Mrs. Deeds.  We have been given gifts by God to use for good deeds for the benefit of others.  Our church can make the 2012 version of the movie and call it “Church Deeds goes to town,” starring: THE CONGREGATION.

We should let our Good Deeds be seen:

Matthew 5:14-16

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

          We don’t do good deeds to be seen – we let our light shine and our good deeds are seen because that is what we do when others are looking or not.  When our light is shining – others can see the good deeds we do and be drawn to the one on who’s behalf we are doing them – Jesus! 

1 Peter 2:12

Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

Matthew 9:1-8     Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. Some men brought to him a paralytic, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven." At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, "This fellow is blaspheming!"  Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, "Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins. . ." Then he said to the paralytic, "Get up, take your mat and go home."  And the man got up and went home. 8 When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to men.

Jesus proved the GOOD NEWS by his GOOD DEEDS!

Here are some possibilities to let our light shine through our new ADOPT-A-SCHOOL program:

Thanksgiving – supply baskets for teachers       /       Birthday recognition       /       Parent/Teacher Conferences meals       /       Encouragement Cards       /       Tutoring/Reading/performance to classes       /       Provide for special needs

Sept 1 provide a light meal for teachers and staff

Sept 4  [LABOR DAY SUNDAY – 9:30 only Service Sunday] Painting the older playground equipment at Lincoln Elementary School.  Sanding Team, Washing Team, Guard Rail Team / Teeter Totter Team / Chin up bar team / parallel Bars Team / Monkey Bars Team / Jungle Gym Team / Activity Center Team / Feed the Teams Team

God Showing Through

          The preacher’s sermon on God stimulated some questions in the mind of a child, and she raised the questions to her mother on the way home from church. “The pastor said God is bigger than we are. Is that true?” “Yes,” the mother responded, “He is.” The child continues, “And the pastor also said God lives inside of us. Is that true, too, Mommy?” “Yes,” the mother again responded.  “Well, then,” concluded the little girl, “if God is bigger than us, and if He lives inside of us, then shouldn’t some of Him show through?”

How is God showing through in your life?  What good deeds have you done because he lives in you?  What good deeds will you do in the near future?

From the Heart,
Pastor Jeff Cooper

CHARACTER QUALITY # 42 Gifted

1 Corinthians 12:4-31

          4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.

HOW	WHO
Different gifts	same Spirit
Different Service	same Lord
Different Workings	same God

          7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. (Common good does not mean we are gifted to just bless other Christians – common good – we are gifted for service to work for the good of others = the common good. Neighborhoods, schools, cities, Nation, world.) 8 To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.   11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.

          Who gives gifts?  THE HOLY SPIRIT.  What does the Holy Spirit give?  GIFTS.  To whom?  Those who have the Holy Spirit?  Who is that ?  Christ’s followers = Christians.  Why? For the common good.

          12 The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit (Baptism in the Spirit – is a quality every Christian possesses) into one body — whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free — and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.  Like water baptism – we were baptized into the Holy Spirit (surrounded by…) and like taking a drink, the Spirit is in us.

          14 Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. 15 If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

          If we were one part and not many parts making one body – we would be an organ – not an organism where each part is dependent on the other to make a wonderful living whole person/body.  So it is with the Church.

          21 The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

          When your little finger gets hurt, the other hand/wrist/palm/fingers jump in to protect it.  The body functions as a perfect unit caring equally for all other parts.  When one hip suffers, the rest of the body suffers with it.  When one body part is renewed, all body parts work better.

          27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28 And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But eagerly desire the greater gifts.

          Is this a comprehensive list of gifts given by the Holy Spirit? NO – In verse 8 was another list and in Ephesians is another list.  This list sounds like church planting.  The point of the previous list was to show that all gifts are equal – it is not who gets them, rather who gives them – the HS.  Think about any list of spiritual gifts as merely a sample list – none is comprehensive.  The Spirit is not limited to those listed and they are in no order of importance.  For instance: ADOPT A SCHOOL – which of these acts of service that require different gifting are more important than any of the others?... 

…Painting Doors, Landscaping across from school entrance, Providing location and food for a beginning of school orientation breakfast, Provide gift baskets for teacher (supplies they would normally buy), Provide food and beverages for teachers meetings, Grandparent readers, Tutors, Playground assistants, Encouragement notes, Prayer partners, Collect and provide school supplies for the students, Collect and provide coats, hats and gloves, provide appropriate books for the school library, participate in career days; serve as resource speakers, sponsor awards for bringing up grades, most improved student, perfect attendance; sponsor academic awards banquet, citizenship projects, students of the month; be a mentor for a student, develop or sponsor arts festivals; sponsor visits by performing artists; provide scholarships to local cultural events, assist with classes in cafeteria during lunch; award mini-grants for teachers or departments; recognize teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week, assist families in need.

          And now I will show you the most excellent way.

READ: 1 Corinthians 13

You may be the best looking, the wealthiest, the strongest, the smartest, the most business savvy, the best bible scholar, the greatest preacher or teacher of scripture, but if you don’t have love you are nothing more than the most annoying cymbal crash the world has ever heard.

11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.

Ephesians 4:7-13

7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8 This is why it says: "When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men."  9 (What does "he ascended" mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) 11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, (WHY?) 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

          How has God gifted you?

Why has He gifted you that way?

How has your giftedness been used in service for God’s glory?

How might your giftedness be used for God’s glory?

From the Heart,
Pastor Jeff Cooper

CHARACTER QUALITY # 41 Servanthood

“Here is a story about two blind men…”

Matthew 20:17-34

Now as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside and said to them, 18 "We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death 19 and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!"

20 Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him. 21 "What is it you want?" he asked.  She said, "Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom."  22 "You don't know what you are asking," Jesus said to them. "Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?" "We can," they answered.  23 Jesus said to them, "You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father."

24 When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers.

25 Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.  26 Not so with you.  Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

29 As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him.

30 Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!"  31 The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!"  32 Jesus stopped and called them. "What do you want me to do for you?" he asked. 33 "Lord," they answered, "we want our sight." 34 Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.

Jesus did not come to be served, but to serve.  That statement by Jesus is HUGE!  When Jesus returned to heaven, his character did not change.  He is still a God who serves.  He served in many ways beginning at a wedding in Cana to a cross on Calvary.

Can you think of other times Jesus showed himself as a servant?  Add them in a comment below.  Later if you think of other ways, add them as well.  Are there other ways you have seen God’s character of servanthood through the Old Testament or New, or throughout history.  How has God personally served you?  In what ways have you, are you, or will you take on the character of servant hood as a way to follow Jesus?

From the Heart,
Pastor Jeff

CHARACTER QUALITY # 40 Mobile

"The Wheels on the bus go round and round and so must the church!”

Scripture:                                             Acts 1:4-11

On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." 6 So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" 7 He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." 9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. 10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."

Congratulations! You Have Been Chosen!

You have been chosen to live during the most accelerated rate of change in human history. Human knowledge is doubling every two years. Think for a moment of all the ways life has changed in the last fifty years: communication, technology, medicine, science, culture, global economy. How has all this change affected the church?

Just fifty years ago, eight out of ten Americans got up on Sunday morning and went to Christian worship. Today fewer than two out of ten Americans attend worship on any average Sunday. What changed? Everything!

How will the church respond to today's challenge?

Missional church is a growing movement throughout America in response to this time of change. A missional church is "an authentic community of faith that primarily directs its ministry focus outward toward the context in which it is located and to the broader world beyond."

You are invited on this missional journey as we seek God's Spirit and ask the important question, "What is God asking of the church today as we serve in this time of change?"            Rev. Dr. Ron Carlson, Missional Church Strategist & Rev. Glynis LaBarre, Transformation Strategist

Whether you call them paradigms, metaphors or mental models, we all use internal images to make sense of our world. These mental models not only affect how we think about something, they also control our actions. Mental models are powerful because once they are accepted as reality, they influence how we interact with others, with our community and with the world. Churches have ecclesial mental models based on scriptural interpretation and historical traditions. In the past, some of these mental models worked well in connecting churches with their community. For example, churches viewed themselves as an integral part of community life, giving society a unified spiritual identity and moral order, providing social services and even governance. Churches often served as an ethical standard for society. As the Northern Hemisphere moves into a post-Christendom understanding of the world, the meaning and purpose of the church are questioned.

Christian churches, most of which are considered “mainline” because of their historical position of significance in society, often find themselves in decline. Growing old together, these congregations no longer attract residents from their communities; nor do they influence their communities as they did in their glorious past. Once the pillars of society, many are now alienated from their communities. For other churches, this cultural alienation is intentional. Separatist churches operate out of a mental model that views the world, including their communities, as hostile to religious life. Such churches view themselves as bastions of faith, protecting their members from “worldly evils.” Some churches overlook their disconnection with the community.

Churches focusing on an attractional or church growth mental model often see their role as attracting people from this world and calling them to a heavenly future. At best, the relation of attractional churches to their communities is that of indifference or cordiality. Because attractional churches tend to draw members from outside of their host communities, and because many of these churches occupy large tax-free prime real estate, townships are beginning to view attractional churches as liabilities rather than as assets to community life. To mitigate the resentment against their existence, some attractional churches provide volunteer community service. Social service, however, is usually limited to activities that give the church favorable visibility in the community in hopes of attracting residents to the church. Today, we are exploring an emerging mental model of church that takes seriously the need for churches to be reconnected with their world for the purposes of participating in the work of God in a post-Christendom era.

At first we want to deny that things are different.  We become the proverbial ostrich with our head in the sand to say what worked 50 years ago – 10 years ago – will work today to bring people to a saving faith in Jesus Christ. 

When is the last time you took someone to a Christian event or drug them to church and they accepted Christ at that moment?  Cry, whine, moan but the world has changed.  The way people process information has changed.  Why people make decisions has changed.  Yes we are still human, yes we still all fall short of the glory of God, Yes, Jesus died for our sins and rose from the grave to give us eternal life when we put our trust in him. But how that message gets heard, then processed, then acted upon is different.  Therefore we must deliver it differently to meet the need so that some will come to faith in Jesus.  And that is our hope – YES?  YES!!!

Last week some people were confused about Jesus’ words – or my interpretation of them form Matthew 28 where Jesus says ”GO!” into all the world, baptize, make disciples and teach them about him.  It does not say nor did I that you are to tell the person ringing up your grocery bill that they are going to hell unless they repent.  It didn’t even say share some bible verses with a good friend who doesn’t know Jesus.  All it said was one thing – “GO!”  Jesus gave a broad direction for what we are to do as we go – but he did not say how to do it.  A missional church is an authentic community of faith (authentic in that the relationships are not superficial; community in that individuals who respond in faith are connected with the triune God and with each other; faith in that it is a response to the living God revealed in Jesus Christ) that primarily directs its ministry focus outward (the church is called to be engaged in the mission of the kingdom of God. Mission is the church’s primary purpose, and that mission is to be participated in as the primary function of the faith community.

Members of FirstB, First Baptist Church, The church with Heart, the church at 9th and Shoshone, the church across from farmers - call it what you will, WE will no longer be seen as a church who simply gives to mission, but we will be missional as we learn to be mobile.  We will become volunteer missionaries with a mission to Twin Falls and the  Magic Valley, the United States and the World (you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth)

LOOK – this is still a biblical mental model.  The same one as always – we just live it out differently – and we take it seriously. Churches and Christians who are not missional and willing to be mobile need to step aside for those who are because too many churches are dying daily and way too many people are dying without Christ every day.  That is unacceptable for those who have received eternal life in Christ.  He is a missional and mobile God, we must therefore be a missional and mobile people for his kingdom.

How have you been mobile for God lately?  How has God used you as you have been going?

From the Heart,
Pastor Jeff Cooper