Four
Steps To Making Our Vision Become Reality!
Pastor's
Dreams For Extraordinary Servants As We Move On To 2003!
As we, by the grace of God, enter a new year, I can’t think of a better way to focus our resolve to live as Extraordinary Servants than to review the vision statements of our congregation.
Remember, God alone can make us his children by the grace and love of Jesus Christ. If you know the complete assurance of salvation through forgiveness in Jesus, (and if you do not, call me immediately) then you are a Christian.
God is at work in the lives of all Christians, transforming them (Romans 12:1-2) from ordinary people into extraordinary servants who know and do his will here on earth. At Mount Calvary, we share the saving love of Christ that transforms ordinary people into extraordinary servants. In this ongoing work of transformation, we have a long way to go. Let me explain how I see the state of the church and our challenge for the coming year.
Knowing God
The first vision statement is summarized, “Extraordinary Servants know God intimately.” Your pastor is concerned.
I’m convinced I’ll never be satisfied with our level of participation in Bible class, personal devotion or prayer. No matter how we grow in these disciplines, there will be room for more growth. We’ll move forward in 2003.
My primary concern, however, is that our congregation looks very much like most of American Christianity when it comes to our patterns of weekly worship.
Far too many of us consider Sunday worship an optional activity.
God never suggested that we gather as his people around word and sacrament; he commanded it. Both Testaments are clear. Once per week corporate worship is expected by the people of God, unless God himself should prohibit it because of sickness. Contagious sickness. Or physical limitation. I can’t think of many other reasons to miss worship.
Here’s why I have hope. God can, by his love, change the worship patterns of our infrequent attenders. His love in Christ is so great, it can compel us all to be with him in his house weekly. This one simple act, habit really, can have dramatic effects on our relationship with Jesus. Weekly worship is the first, simplest step toward a vital, growing, intimate grace relationship with God in Jesus Christ. I believe God can change this.
Serving God
The next vision statement is summarized, “Extraordinary Servants do God’s work diligently.” Your pastor is concerned.
Too few people are doing too many of the loving tasks. Too many tasks are going undone. Too many opportunities for new ministry are being missed. And too many servants are doing less than extraordinary work because we’ve placed them in the wrong areas of service.
Here’s why I have hope. For 2000 years, followers of Jesus Christ have served him in extraordinary fashion. There has always and only been one motivation. “The love of Christ compels us” (2 Corinthians 5:14). When we grow in the love that Jesus gives, we grow in the love that we, in return, pass on to others. There is a one to one correlation between those who have had their feet washed by Jesus, and those who go and wash the feet of others. We’ll grow in service, because God will grow us in faith and love. I believe God can do this.
Inviting Others
The next visions statement is summarized, “Extraordinary Servants invite others eagerly.” Once again, your pastor is concerned.
I can think of fewer than a dozen of us who took the time to invite and bring a friend to worship or to another congregational activity this year. This is not an easy task. It can often take months of sacrificial loving and caring in order to prove the genuineness of our love and concern and to earn the right to invite a friend to worship.
But it is our calling. Almost all who find the Lord in his Church were invited by a friend, relative or acquaintance. The sad thing is that the longer someone is a member at a church, and presumably more committed to its growth, the less likely they are to invite a friend. Some Christians go an entire lifetime without sharing their personal testimony with a non-believing friend. Sadly, some Christians don’t even know anyone who is not a Christian.
Here’s why I have hope. We all want to be better witnesses because we love Jesus and know what his love means to us. We all want that for everyone. I’m convinced that whatever hinders us, God can remove with his love. As his love penetrates our hearts, we can grow in the grace of sharing the joy of Jesus. I believe that God can do that.
Loving Each Other
There’s one more challenge for us in the year ahead. It’s summarized in the next of the vision statements. “Extraordinary Servants love each other compassionately.” Your pastor is very concerned.
Until the Lord returns, there will be more loving to do. There won’t be too much to do, but there will always be more. He’s given us enough to share. I’m concerned about our shut-ins, but we don’t have too many to love. We’ll always have a need for more Stephen Ministers, but God has planted them among us. (See “Do God’s Work” above!)
But my main concern are those among us who, within their first year here at Mount Calvary have not made a good handful of close Christian friends.
God always calls his people into attachments to one another. We’re in this together. We haven’t been clustering and bonding the way we should. But the love of Christ brings Christians together. I believe God can do this.
Action Steps
Each one of us can do something immediately. Let me suggest these “resolutions” for the new year. Consider them and respond as you are led.
1. Set goals for yourself for the coming year in these three areas that will strengthen your intimacy with God: Weekly worship attendance; Daily devotional and prayer time; and Study of God’s word with other believers. Take one small step forward from where you are right now, and re-evaluate in a couple of months.
2. Discover what your best area of calling into ministry might be through the process established by the 3D (Discovery, Development and Deployment of gifts for ministry) Task Force. Cory can tell you the next opportunity. Do this in 2003.
3. Bring a guest to worship in 2003. Begin today. Identify some friends or relatives who you think may not know Jesus or have a church home. Pray. Find ways to discuss your church, your faith. Easter is coming. Mother’s Day is good. Maybe next Christmas!
4. Visit a ChristCare Group. Meet with its leader to discuss the possibilities. If you join, our groups will be strengthened and others will be able to join. Or talk to me about how you can start a group of your own!
I’ll be praying and working for your growth as extraordinary servants in 2003. I believe God can do this!