1. Information doesn’t guarantee transformation.
2. Never equate longevity with maturity.
3. The measurement of discipleship is merely obedience.
4. Personal charisma doesn’t guarantee transformation.
5. Disciples aren’t made effectively in classes.
Even a casual reading of Scripture reveals that the role of an invitation in building the Kingdom is difficult to overestimate. In some ways, it is our mission. We often devalue an invitation because we only see it as an exercise of getting others to attend a church service, which sometimes (even for disciples), seems not to be that exhilarating. We are so shrouded in the mundaneness of our everyday lives or burned out by years of doing church stuff that we have trouble seeing spiritual realities. One reality is that seemingly small insignificant acts have amazing possibilities when connected to the mission of God.
In the ministry of Jesus, the invitation is a call to encounter. Jesus invited people to engage Him. He said things like: “Come, follow me,” “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me…” It is an invitation to understand the world differently. It is an invitation to grow in our understanding of who Jesus is and what it means to follow Him. It is an invitation to exercise our growing faith, to take the next step; even when that next step is out a perfectly good boat onto a stormy sea. Jesus’ word to Peter was, “Come.”
Those who encountered Jesus had a similar, seemingly spontaneous, response. They invited others. Nathanial’s skepticism (Can anything good come out of Nazareth?) is met with Philip’s invitation, “Come, and you will see” (John 1:39). A broken woman, after coming to believe in Jesus, goes back into a town that despised her and said: “Come and see a man who told me everything I had ever done.” The result of that simple invitation was that the whole village came to believe in Jesus.
What does this have to do with inviting people to a worship gathering? It is one of the ways the power of an invitation can be seen at work in the Kingdom. What happens when God’s people gather? One important thing that happens is that we encounter God again. We are reminded of who Jesus is and what it means to follow Him. Our encounter leads us to grateful worship of the one who loves us and gave himself for us. This is what happens when we gather. It’s not really about doing something, it is about encountering someone. When we invite someone to join us we also invite them to encounter the one who loves them, and gave himself for them. We invite them to encounter Jesus, maybe for the first time. In that encounter, Jesus engages them – which is really what we are after anyway. It is that encounter that impacted visitors to assemblies of the early church. Their conclusion: “God is really among you.”
From the last verses of the bible come this lingering invitation: “The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.” (Rev. 22:17).
If I understand this text properly, the word spoken by the church, through endless generations, into a broken world is an invitation, “Come.”
Being on the cutting edge of what God is doing in this world can be as simple as offering an invitation.
It seemed strange to even type that title. The current financial downturn has had a profound impact on many congregations, including mine. According to Barna, 60% of pastors are saying their congregations have been negatively impacted by the economic downturn. The average church experiencing a downturn has lost 14% of its operating budget, some as much as 50%. 30% of respondents said they had decreased their giving to churches (48% to other non-profits) in the last three months. It seems that every week I get an email from a minister friend telling me of a great staff member his church has recently laid off and imploring me to hire them. In fact, 20% of churches have had to eliminate positions, reduce salaries, rely on more volunteer time, and cut hours from full-time to part-time. The news is not good…but I would like to share some positives I’ve seen come from our time of financial difficulty.
For the last two years CCC has been using the Preaching Team model for creating messages. Now I can’t imagine doing it any other way. I have attached a couple of documents that lay out our plan and our process. Hope these are helpful. A few benefits we’ve experienced are…
1. We get a better message in less time.
2. We are able to access a broader range of Scripture.
3. We are faced with how different groups of people will hear the message.
4. We allow our creative arts people have more time to be “creative.”
Any other potential benefits you’d include?
Bob Russell Retreat – On one break we visited the Louisville Slugger Bat Factory
THE CHURCH IS A MOVEMENT OF GOD THAT CANNOT BE STOPPED!
By end of 1st century – 1,000,000 by the year 300 AD 20,000,000 Christ-followers!
How Can Reclaim our Heritage?
Matthew 9: 35Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
I. We Must Reclaim the Heart of Jesus! (Looked at people far from God with compassion).
Many churches unwittingly focus inward and forget those who are the very purpose for Jesus’ coming, the very purpose for our being here on earth. These churches are like a hospital which no longer accepts patients. Or a soup kitchen which no longer feeds hungry people. (It, Groeschel)
“You don’t have to look far to find churches full of people who are insulating themselves from the world, hunkering down, avoiding PG-13 moving and secular music. There inward looking religious types keep their distance from anyone who drinks beer, cusses after a bad golf swing, smokes anything, has a tattoo, or wears designer jeans with holes in them. They avoid homosexuals. They criticize rock stars. They stare disapprovingly at purple hair and mohawks. And they are afraid of MTV. Too many believers are avoiding “that kind” of person. And they’ve forgotten that Jesus came for that kind of person.” (It, Groeschel)
Not wrong to be holy in your conduct – it is wrong to let your holiness keep you from reaching out to people who aren’t.
II. We Must Recognize the Mission Field At Our Door!
III. We Must See Other Workers As A Gift From God!
The Story of Lifeboat 14
On the night of April 15, 1912 the British luxury liner Titanic disappeared beneath the icy waters of the North Atlantic. The “unsinkable” ship had betrayed those who trusted her. With over 2,000 people aboard and only twenty lifeboats available, hundreds of people were left to perish. The lifeboats, some only partially full, rowed to safety beyond the desperate reach of those struggling in the frigid waters. (first officer Harold Lowe). Those safe in the lifeboats rowed aimlessly into the night, listening to the horrible cries of the lost and justifying why they could not go back to save those who were drowning. The fear of capsizing paralyzed the very ones who could offer help and hope.
But the survivors in Lifeboat No.14 chose a different course. Compelled by the sense that they were morally bound to save as many as they could, they rowed toward the voices in the darkness. A precious few were saved. They were the only ones who went back.
Will we (church and Christ-followers) sit in the darkness listening to their cries because of fear? Or will we put fear aside, and row back in to save those who are unable to save themselves? Will we choose to be on mission with Jesus?
Thoughts for week 2
Part 1.
Read Nehemiah 4:1-15
In this passage, the Jews face two attacks from satan; one from the enemies who sought to gstir up troubleh for them and the other from within. The attack from within came in the form of despair and discouragement. The task seemed too great and the opposition to strong. To answer these threats, Nehemiah protected the people of God by posting families at the weakest spots, and protected their mission by giving them a sense of unity and purpose.
Let us pray that God would move in the hearts of the families of CCC and knit us together in unity that we would stand firm against the efforts of the enemy to divide us and destroy the mission we strive for.
Also, at the end of this passage, Nehemiah reminded them of the greatness of God who stood with them.
Let us pray that CCC would fix their eyes upon Jesus as we continue this time of fasting and prayer, and be encouraged by the reminder that it is His power and might that works among us and through us.
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Part 2.
Read Nehemiah 4:16-23
In this passage, Nehemiah devises a plan for how to both accomplish the mission and protect the family. A call to arms is issued.
Let us pray that CCCfs leaders would continue to seek God in identifying practical and effective steps to accomplishing the mission God has placed on us to connect people to Him and to protect our church family.
In this passage, the Jews respond to the encouragement from Nehemiah and begin to work fervently at the rebuilding task. Yet they do so armed each step of the way with armor and sword.
Let us pray that we would all be encouraged to work with zeal in the calling God has placed on each of us in our own way in our own lives. Also, let us commit to arming ourselves with the sword of the spirit by spending time in His word each week.
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