A Missional Community: Creating a Better Society for Everyone!
“How else are we going to make it if we don’t join together to create a better society for everyone?”, a woman confessed to a Washington Post reporter on her excitement with Barack Obama’s message of change and hope. As I hear her heart, I am struck by her comment and desire to see this kind of excitement with Jesus’ message of change and hope. For truly only Jesus can make this woman’s desire a reality. Only Jesus and His mission can create a better society for everyone!
Last night, I shared how Jesus entered our world. He entered it to identify with us; to save us; and to bring us peace with God. Now he calls the church, both globally and locally, to the same mission. He wants us to identify with our community; to engage it; and to bring it to find peace with God. This call is not easy for we are often afraid, lazy and comfortable with the status quo. Nonetheless, this is our call! This is our mission! What is awesome is that we have peace with and of God to enable us to fulfill it! Jesus is with us as we share Him and His message, the greatest hope for the world! The real and active presence of Christ is our source of empowerment.
Here these words from John (John 20:19-21)
19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”
Let me hear from you on your ideas on how we can fulfill Jesus’ mission in the Columbia community and beyond. What are some ways we can identify with and engage her with the love and beauty of Jesus? How can we make this community a better place for everyone—a community that is being renewed, strengthened, and healed by Jesus and His message?
Remember we do this not for our sake but for the glory of God! So when we think of ways to identify with and engage Columbia in the mission of Jesus, how can we do this in a way that glorifies (honors, pleases, represents) Him?
Lastly, remember we go not because we are better than our community. We go with Jesus’ message of change and hope confessing our own neediness, brokenness and sinfulness. We go realizing that we have received and are receiving much love, mercy and grace from Jesus in his perfect life, death, resurrection and ascension. Our motivation is Jesus and we identify with and engage our community in humility.
I look forward to your ideas as we partner together in bringing the greatest message of change and hope to our community!
Jeff
Last night, I shared how Jesus entered our world. He entered it to identify with us; to save us; and to bring us peace with God. Now he calls the church, both globally and locally, to the same mission. He wants us to identify with our community; to engage it; and to bring it to find peace with God. This call is not easy for we are often afraid, lazy and comfortable with the status quo. Nonetheless, this is our call! This is our mission! What is awesome is that we have peace with and of God to enable us to fulfill it! Jesus is with us as we share Him and His message, the greatest hope for the world! The real and active presence of Christ is our source of empowerment.
Here these words from John (John 20:19-21)
19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”
Let me hear from you on your ideas on how we can fulfill Jesus’ mission in the Columbia community and beyond. What are some ways we can identify with and engage her with the love and beauty of Jesus? How can we make this community a better place for everyone—a community that is being renewed, strengthened, and healed by Jesus and His message?
Remember we do this not for our sake but for the glory of God! So when we think of ways to identify with and engage Columbia in the mission of Jesus, how can we do this in a way that glorifies (honors, pleases, represents) Him?
Lastly, remember we go not because we are better than our community. We go with Jesus’ message of change and hope confessing our own neediness, brokenness and sinfulness. We go realizing that we have received and are receiving much love, mercy and grace from Jesus in his perfect life, death, resurrection and ascension. Our motivation is Jesus and we identify with and engage our community in humility.
I look forward to your ideas as we partner together in bringing the greatest message of change and hope to our community!
Jeff
posted by City of Hope Church at 7:53 PM
2 Comments:
Okay, well, I'm going to dive in here.
As Jeff was preaching on this subject, I thought about my local yarn shop. There, more than anywhere, I interact with unbelievers on a regular basis. What could be better than knitting and talking with women? Faith issues have come up, and I do need to continually ask God to open my mouth, to give me words to say, and to give me courage to say them.
On the new website for knitters, Ravelry.com, there are many, many forums for interacting with people. One is actually a debate forum. Recent threads include "Legislating Morality" and "Teaching Creationism in Schools". Lots of opportunity to share truth!
Can't wait to hear what everyone else has to say. Don't be shy! Leave a comment.
Well. I'm going to go first, I guess.
When Jeff was preaching this message on Sunday, I thought of my local yarn shop where women can get together on Tuesday mornings and Thursday evenings (or most anytime during the week) to knit and talk. What could be better? Faith issues have come up a few times. I need to pray that God will open my mouth, give me words, and give me courage to say them.
I am looking forward to hearing what others have to say. Don't be shy!
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