Last week, we discussed what "the church" is, and came to the conclusion that "the church" is made up of people (not a building) and specifically all people who have faith in Jesus. So this week we began thinking about what it is that "the church" exists to do, or in other words, what's the purpose of "the church"?
We explored several possible purposes, but this week spent time talking about one in particular, namely growth. Our scripture lesson Matthew 28:16-20, also known as The Great Commission, recounts Jesus' last words to his disciples. Those final words of Christ were essentially telling the disciples to recruit new members, or in more churchy language, to make disciples of all nations. Now we have another churchish word for making disciples, and that word is evangelism. It seems fancy, but really the word just means to share good news. So as those who have faith in Jesus (or the church) we are called to share good news with others.
The next question we explored was what exactly is that good news? We decided the good news that we are called to share was not that our church gets out 5 minutes earlier than others, but rather had something to do with our other scripture lesson Romans 6:1-11. In case you struggle with reading the Apostle Paul's writing, (like the Apostle Peter did) essentially the good news has to do with forgiveness and freedom from sin and victory over death which leads to life everlasting. Needless to say it's good times for all who are willing to accept it. Armed with such good news, we are called to share it with everyone!
Finally we discussed how one might go about sharing this good news and decided there are three main ways: words, actions, and relationships. With words we share the good news by what we say. With actions we endeavor to share the good news with our lifestyle. With relationships we share the good news with those that we have established relationships with (ie friends, relatives, etc). I suggested that a balanced approach is best, using our words, actions, and having a pre-existing relationship with the person with whom we are sharing the good news. I essentially explained evangelism (that churchish word from above) like this: I have a new baby son, would you rather A) hear me talk about him for 2 hours, B) look at pictures of him for 2 hours, or C) hold him and talk to him yourself for 2 hours? The answer of course is (C)! The same is true with evangelism (sharing the good news of Jesus).
If we merely talk to people about Jesus, but don't back that up with our actions, our words will have no credibility. If we only live good lives, but never share our good news with words, people will be hard pressed to hear the good news at all. If we only use words and actions, but have no real relationship with those with whom we are sharing the good news, then our words and actions are likely to be received wrongly or at best with skepticism. Our best chance at getting our good news heard, is through all three (words, actions, and relationships).
So in summary, all who have faith in christ are "the church" and as the church one primary function we have is to grow by sharing the good news about Jesus with others. In order to be effective in this sharing we need to combine words with actions and also with real, sincere relationships with those we are sharing the good news with.
Grace & Peace,
Pastor John
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Newest Addition!
As you can see, Crystal gave birth to our newest addition, Gideon James Martin. He was born at 10:12 pm on Monday, June 15th. He weighed 7lbs 9oz and was 20 inches long. Mother and baby are doing great, and will be arriving home late Tuesday evening. Please spread the word!
PS
It's obvious he's flexing his "guns" for the camera!
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Photos (Annual Conference & Memorial Day)
Below you will find two photos. One from Annual Conference prominently displaying my back, and the other from the Oxford Memorial Day Parade. I'll trust that you can discern which photo is which. The photos are quite representative of the two events, with Annual Conference being about as exciting as a photo of someone's back, and the Memorial Day Parade being mostly about the cool car I was riding in!
If you want to know more about Annual Conference, our Lay Member to Annual Conference, Chad White, will be giving a brief report at the beginning of worship in both Oxford and McDonough this Sunday (June 14th). Also you can click on the below link to find a video that was a highlight of the weekend for many and appeared several times over the three days. And to answer the questions that will be coming, this video has nothing to do with church or Annual Conference, but it is cool. http://www.wherethehellismatt.com/?fbid=22pBO2iaDgf (warning the link includes potentially offensive language, but the video is in no way offensive.
If you want to know more about Annual Conference, our Lay Member to Annual Conference, Chad White, will be giving a brief report at the beginning of worship in both Oxford and McDonough this Sunday (June 14th). Also you can click on the below link to find a video that was a highlight of the weekend for many and appeared several times over the three days. And to answer the questions that will be coming, this video has nothing to do with church or Annual Conference, but it is cool. http://www.wherethehellismatt.com/?fbid=22pBO2iaDgf (warning the link includes potentially offensive language, but the video is in no way offensive.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Sermon Sampler (May 31st) - Fire is HOT
As a child I struggled with the seemingly simple concept that fire is hot. It seemed no matter what my parents did to discourage me from playing with the knobs on the stove and other things that could produce fire, I still continued. By most accounts I was relatively intelligent for a four year old, but for some reason, when it came to fire, I would not or could not learn that fire is hot. Everything changed one night when I ran from the bathroom after a bath, and tripped into our cast iron fireplace! Apparently I was not burned too badly, since I have no scars, but it was enough of a shock to me, that for months after the incident I could not walk by the fireplace without pointing and saying "HOT".
The scripture lesson for this week (Pentecost) also speaks of fire, but of a different kind. In Acts 2:1-21, we find the story of the coming of the Holy Spirit. The Apostles and others are gathered together, when suddenly "tongues of fire" rest upon the heads of each one. We are then told that all were filled with the "Holy Spirit" and began speaking in different languages to people throughout Jerusalem. The key to this passage, is not that tongues of fire landed upon all those gathered together, nor is it that once this happened they began to speak in different languages, the important part of the passage is that they were all filled with the Holy Spirit! Jesus had told his followers to wait in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit came (Acts 1:4-5). Jesus further told them that this Holy Spirit would give them "power" (Acts 1:8). It's the Holy Spirit which empowered the frightened followers of Christ to go boldly out into the city procclaiming the Good News of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection and the subsequent offer of salvation given to all!
But in case you sometimes struggle with applying a story from the Bible to your own life (as I do), let me give you a few other examples of this. The founder of Methodism, John Wesley felt his "heart strangely warmed" at a church service on Aldersgate street. This single event took a man who before had been (to put it mildly) unsuccesful in his ministry, and empowered him to spread Methodism throughout Great Britain as well as spark a movement that would see Methodism spread across the entire United States and around the world. Another similar example comes from a man named Jonathan Edwards, whose sermon "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" is largely credited for sparking the "Great Awakening" (a movement that saw Christianity spread across the then 13 colonies like wildfire). Edwards' delivery, when preaching was characterized by a lack of gestures or eye contact, with a voice not strong or loud, but with a very solemn air about it. In other words he was boring and very serious about being boring! And yet, he is credited with being the spark that started the fire of the "Great Awakening"!
You hopefully are sensing a theme with these examples, namely, that just like with the original Pentecost, whenever God's people are moved, empowered, and rejuvinated it is only because of the working of the Holy Spirit. It was not because Wesley was so amazing that Methodism spread, it was the Holy Spirit. It was not because Edwards was such a great orator that the "Great Awakening" was initiated, it was through the Holy Spirit. It was certainly not because those first followers of Christ were so bold with sharing the good news that the church was born, rather it was because they were empowered by the Holy Spirit.
In churches across our country and even the world, many will be standing in the pulpit remarking how wonderful it would be if such things were to happen once again in their churches. Many will exclaim how amazing it would be if God would once again send the Holy Spirit upon the gathered people of God! Well I stand here not saying how wonderful it would be, but how wonderful it is! Our two congregations, not that long ago, were much different than they are today. By all accounts, they were smaller, older, poorer and in many ways less healthy than they are today. Like with the above examples, people often try to point to the visibly different thing as the reason for this change (ie the pastor). But I am glad to say that our congregations stand as another living example of the working and power of God's Holy Spirit!
So the next time you wonder if God is alive, if God still works in this world, and if God's Holy Spirit still moves amongst the people of God, you need look no further than your own church. One only needs to visit the congregations of Oxford and McDonough to witness how God's power can change and transform not only individuals, but entire congregations! May the Holy Spirit empower you today, and might you find the living God to be active in your own life.
Grace & Peace,
Pastor John
The scripture lesson for this week (Pentecost) also speaks of fire, but of a different kind. In Acts 2:1-21, we find the story of the coming of the Holy Spirit. The Apostles and others are gathered together, when suddenly "tongues of fire" rest upon the heads of each one. We are then told that all were filled with the "Holy Spirit" and began speaking in different languages to people throughout Jerusalem. The key to this passage, is not that tongues of fire landed upon all those gathered together, nor is it that once this happened they began to speak in different languages, the important part of the passage is that they were all filled with the Holy Spirit! Jesus had told his followers to wait in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit came (Acts 1:4-5). Jesus further told them that this Holy Spirit would give them "power" (Acts 1:8). It's the Holy Spirit which empowered the frightened followers of Christ to go boldly out into the city procclaiming the Good News of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection and the subsequent offer of salvation given to all!
But in case you sometimes struggle with applying a story from the Bible to your own life (as I do), let me give you a few other examples of this. The founder of Methodism, John Wesley felt his "heart strangely warmed" at a church service on Aldersgate street. This single event took a man who before had been (to put it mildly) unsuccesful in his ministry, and empowered him to spread Methodism throughout Great Britain as well as spark a movement that would see Methodism spread across the entire United States and around the world. Another similar example comes from a man named Jonathan Edwards, whose sermon "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" is largely credited for sparking the "Great Awakening" (a movement that saw Christianity spread across the then 13 colonies like wildfire). Edwards' delivery, when preaching was characterized by a lack of gestures or eye contact, with a voice not strong or loud, but with a very solemn air about it. In other words he was boring and very serious about being boring! And yet, he is credited with being the spark that started the fire of the "Great Awakening"!
You hopefully are sensing a theme with these examples, namely, that just like with the original Pentecost, whenever God's people are moved, empowered, and rejuvinated it is only because of the working of the Holy Spirit. It was not because Wesley was so amazing that Methodism spread, it was the Holy Spirit. It was not because Edwards was such a great orator that the "Great Awakening" was initiated, it was through the Holy Spirit. It was certainly not because those first followers of Christ were so bold with sharing the good news that the church was born, rather it was because they were empowered by the Holy Spirit.
In churches across our country and even the world, many will be standing in the pulpit remarking how wonderful it would be if such things were to happen once again in their churches. Many will exclaim how amazing it would be if God would once again send the Holy Spirit upon the gathered people of God! Well I stand here not saying how wonderful it would be, but how wonderful it is! Our two congregations, not that long ago, were much different than they are today. By all accounts, they were smaller, older, poorer and in many ways less healthy than they are today. Like with the above examples, people often try to point to the visibly different thing as the reason for this change (ie the pastor). But I am glad to say that our congregations stand as another living example of the working and power of God's Holy Spirit!
So the next time you wonder if God is alive, if God still works in this world, and if God's Holy Spirit still moves amongst the people of God, you need look no further than your own church. One only needs to visit the congregations of Oxford and McDonough to witness how God's power can change and transform not only individuals, but entire congregations! May the Holy Spirit empower you today, and might you find the living God to be active in your own life.
Grace & Peace,
Pastor John
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)