No, this week's sermon is not about how Jesus can change from a giant robot into a sports car. I have no doubt He could do so if He wanted, but gratuitous displays of power (or "showing off") never has been His style.
Instead, the Jesus we meet in the Gospels reserves His power for the hard and beautiful work of transforming people from the inside out. This Sunday, we'll look at a great story of this transformation in John 9. But until then, I'll leave you with this thought: Are you and I working with Jesus in transforming people's lives? Or are we standing in the way? Jesus wants to change my life...not just send me to Heaven when I die. He wants to transform the lives of every person I know. He wants to impact our community so significantly, citizens, media, government officials and sociologists will have no rational explanation for the change in the overall quality of life. Do you and I really believe those things can happen? Are we willing to make that our mission as individuals and as a church? If not, we're standing in His way...
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
Yes, it can happen, but it happens one life at a time.
Have an idea.
Since you, Jeff, are new at the church, have you ever taken an inventory of the personal or family ministries that persons and families in your congregation are already involved in? You could request that people drop a slip of paper in the offering plate telling of what they do that is a personal ministry, including ministry to their own family members, physical or spiritual, but ministry which is not sponsored in any way by Westbury.
I think it might come as a surprise all that is already going on "under the radar."
Another way a new pastor can learn about this sort of thing is to visit in every member's home. It will give you lots of insight that will help you to understand them as individuals and as families.
I have recently been thinking of a way to get the generations to know and appreciate each other might be to combine the "Dinner Eight" concept with intergenerational ministry to form groups more like families with persons about the age of children, parents and grandparents in each group.
I would love to have been in such a group.
anonymous
Sorry it has taken me so long to respond. Those are great ideas...thanks!
Post a Comment