Dangerous church: dangerous leaders September 27

“Dangerous Church: Dangerous leaders”

September 27, 2009

RUMC

Here we are at the end of the Dangerous Church series.  We have talked about our dangerous God, our dangerous savior, the dangerous mission, praying dangerous prayers, reading a dangerous book, and being dangerous servants.

But as I told you about the Bible “if this is where it ends.  There is no danger at all.”  If today is the end of the Dangerous church then we are no more dangerous than the paper on which I wrote these sermons.  If we leave this message about the dangerous church on the page rather than picking up and taking the risk to run with it- I would have to say the lion not only has no roar, but no teeth- and maybe it is just a stuffed kitten after all.

So what am I saying?  I am saying that our Dangerous God and dangerous savior are only as dangerous as those who answer their call to a dangerous mission.  Our prayers and our book are only as dangerous as the servants who live them.  And the servants are only as dangerous as the leaders who point the way.

Without dangerous leaders the church is a safe little clique, using our stained glass to shield us from the emaciated children who would peer at us with hollow eyes, using our walls to keep out hurting and hopeless people because they are different from ourselves, and locking our doors to our neighbors who just want someone to care enough to point them to Jesus.

That is not the kind of church we are.  That is not how we want people to remember the Reinbeck United Methodist church when the doors are locked and the weeds have grown up around the sign.  Because if we play it safe that is surely what will happen.

Throughout all of time God has called ordinary  people out of the midst of the congregation to be dangerous leaders.  I want to lift up one today.

He was just a shepherd.  He had been raised in the Pharaoh’s palace, but he was just a shepherd watching sheep for his father-in-law Jethro.  They weren’t even his own sheep.  He didn’t have any remarkable powers.  In fact he was kind of shy and had a speech impediment.  I am talking, of course, about Moses.

As ordinary as he was- there were three things that made Moses dangerous.  And the first thing was faith.  He was faith filled.  What do I mean?

There are two kinds of people.  There are people filled with faith, and people filled with themselves.  When Moses saw the bush burning but not being consumed,  he went over out of sheer curiosity.  He heard the voice.  “Moses, take your shoes off.  You’re standing on holy ground.”

If Moses were filled with himself, and his own issues and problems he would have said, “Yea, right.” Turned around and went back to his sheep. The self filled person has no reason to look outside of themselves.  No reason to look outside of their family or their little circle of friends and their job.  They have no sense that there is anything beyond themselves, beyond the here, or beyond the now.

Moses was just an ordinary person- like us.  We are just farmers, and teachers, and office workers, and mechanics, and merchants, and retired people and preachers.  We are just ordinary people living in an ordinary place going about our ordinary business… but not really; because we have heard the call of God to take off our shoes and stand on holy ground.  That’s what we are doing right now.  We come to this place week after week, year after year to stand on holy ground- God's ground- because we know that there is something beyond ourselves.  Something bigger than ourselves.  Something bigger than our family and our job and our house.  We come because we have faith.  We are faith filed people. 

So take off your shoes.  This is Holy ground.  If you have faith that you are sitting in the presence of God.  If you have faith that you are sitting before the High God Almighty take off your shoes right now. All of us should be in our stocking feet right now.  If you didn’t believe this was special you wouldn’t have even come today.

Don’t worry, if everyone takes them off no one will be able to tell whether it is your feet or your neighbors that smell. 

The second thing that made Moses dangerous is that he inspired by God’s vision.  God said- “Moses  I want you to lead my people out of Egypt.  I see a people who are no longer oppressed by pharaoh.  They are no longer enslaved in a foreign land.  They are no longer whipped.  They are no longer beaten.  And I see you leading them out to a land flowing with milk and honey.” 

Now Moses didn’t immediately see the vision.  He didn’t drop his staff and run to do the job.  Moses was the man of 101 excuses.  But by the time God was done with him, he was inspired.  He dropped his staff, his job, and his doubt and headed off to Egypt to face pharaoh.

The word “inspire” means to breathe in.  Just like the spire of the great  cathedrals or beautiful stained glass is designed to make us inspire- you know (gasp)  God's vision is designed to make us breathe it in- to breathe in the vision- to breathe it in to our lungs where it is exchanged into our blood to circulate through our entire body.  When one is inspired God's vision becomes their vision – a part of their very being - a part of who we are even as our breath becomes part of us.

 I am talking about something inside of you.  Something that goes beyond faith.  Something that stirs in your heart and lungs, or burns like the bush in your belly inspiring you to want to do something.

Inspiration has nothing to do with survival.  Much of what the church, in general, has been about for 50 years has been survival.  When you are struggling to survive you don’t have time for inspiration.  You don’t have time to dream with God what the church can be.  You don’t have time to seek with God, God's vision for the church.

Don’t get me wrong.  We need people who will make sure the bills are paid, the light bulbs changed and the toilets cleaned.  Those are important, but those people are not necessarily the leaders.  Christian leaders might not have the least idea how to set up an accounting system, or scrub the steeple, or print bulletins- though they might.  But Christian leaders look beyond those mundane tasks, catch a glimpse of God's vision for the church and are inspired to share it with others.

That all sounds pretty high and lofty.  But it really isn’t.  Let me put it in real simple terms.  Dangerous leaders are faith filled people who want their church to do more than survive.  They want their church to be God's church.

If you are sitting there with your shoes off, and you really deep down inside want your church to be God's church.  I am going to ask you to raise your hand.

Look around you.  These are the people not satisfied with survival.  These are the people not satisfied with just getting by and keeping the doors open. You are not alone.  I want you to look around and be encouraged by this.   But be careful, these aren’t all dangerous leaders. . . yet  There is one more criteria. You can put your hands down.

Did Pharaoh let the slaves go on Moses’ first request?  NO.

Second? NO

How many did it take?  Let me give you a clue there were 10 plagues.  Ten requests that’s right.  Did it happen instantly?  NO. It took TIME.

Once they crossed the red sea the Israelites were in the Promised Land and everything was good right?  Wrong. 

They were in the wilderness and they wondered there for how long?  40 years.  It didn’t happen instantaneously.  Could God have simply transported the slaves right from under the taskmasters whips to the promised land?  Sure.  But instead he selected a leader- or leaders who would give what? . . .  TIME into achieving the vision.

That is the final criteria for Christian leaders.  Not only are they faithful, not only are they inspired, but they will give their time.

In this church giving time is a lot harder than giving our money.  It is a lot harder to pry ourselves away from the other important things we do in order to make time for the church.  I know I am preaching to the choir in one sense, but on the other hand there are a lot of people who raised their hand who don’t give much time to the church.

I understand that time is precious.  But is it more precious than God?  Is it more precious than your inspiration? 

I am not saying that Christian leaders have to give 1.6 hours per day which would be approximately a tithe of your waking hours.  I am not saying that Christian leaders have to give any certain amount of time to God through the church.  What I am saying is if the inspiration is real to you-- you will make the time necessary to see it through.  Significant amounts of time.

If anyone wants to argue about being too busy I will put my schedule up against yours any day.  That is the lamest excuse of them all.

When we wake up in the morning we all have 1,440 choices to make, about how you are going to use each of the 1,440 minutes we have been given that day.  Some will be for you, others for your family and work, but how many will be dedicated to answering the call to fulfill the inspiration God has placed in your heart.

If the answer is 0 or almost 0, Satan can breathe a sigh of relief because that is one more Christian playing it safe. 

Truly dangerous Christian leaders-- dangerous in the best sense of the word – are those who are faith filled, inspired by God, and giving significant time to God's work in the church.

We need servants who are FIT to be leaders for the church.

Now- this is not for everyone.  Remember last week I talked about the importance of dangerous servants. We have to have servants too. Servants are faithful and give time to seeing the inspiration of the leaders fulfilled. This is not for everyone- but of those of you who had your hand up that you are inspired. If you commit or are willing to commit significant amounts of time to faithfully seeing that inspiration blossom in this church come on up front.  I want you to come up front and stand with me facing the congregation while we sing- Here I am lord.

DANGEROUS CHURCH: Dangerous servants September 20th

Dangerous church: Dangerous servants

Sept 20, 2009

Rumc

What was Jesus thinking?!

This was his final banquet. Everyone should have been dressed in tuxes, with fancy food, and speakers to honor him. The media should have been there, the caterer should have been standing by- the red carpet should have been rolled out when his limo arrived, and all eyes should have been on Jesus.

He was after all God’s son. The firstborn among all creation. The alpha and omega, the first and the last, the savior of the world, messiah and Lord.

· Perhaps reading the parallel passage in Luke, James and John had just had their argument about who would be the greatest in the Kingdom.

· Perhaps knowing a little bit about the oriental custom that the guests bathed before they came to a banquet, but because the roads were either dust bowls or mud pits depending on the season and the weather, a servant washed the guests feet as they entered the home, and knowing that this little band of disciples didn’t have any servants; none of the disciples were willing to lower themselves to do the servant’s job of washing the feet.

· Perhaps they were all too busy. Without servants or caterers, the disciples may have had several chores to do to get the dinner ready, and they thought “oh, someone else will do the washing.”

· Perhaps they each said, “I did my bit.” It‘s time for someone else to do that job.

· Perhaps someone said “I’ll wash my own feet, but I’m not going to wash anyone else’s.”

I don’t know what all the circumstances were, but I do know that the Lord- the master- the Messiah, the king of kings- the great high priest- the son of God- the guest of honor got up - found a basin and towel, knelt down and started to wash the disciple’s feet.

· Jesus Didn’t think he was too great to do the servant work

· Jesus didn’t think he was too busy to do the dirty work.

· Jesus didn’t think he was too important to do the menial work.

· Jesus didn’t say “I’m doing my share by dying on the cross for your sins. It’s someone else’s turn.”

· Jesus didn’t say “I can’t do that”

· Jesus Didn’t say “I have too many other commitments”

· Jesus didn’t say “I’m not very good at that.”

· Jesus didn’t say “Don’t we pay someone to do that?”

· Jesus didn’t say, “I had a bad experience once and I’m not going back there.”

· Jesus didn’t say “I can’t do that tonight, I have to get home to watch project runway.”

· Jesus didn’t say “I don’t want to do that it just feels like work.”

· Jesus didn’t say “Well no body asked me”

· Jesus didn’t say “But this is my only day to sleep in”

· Jesus didn’t say “I gave money, that should be enough.”

· Jesus didn’t say “I don’t serve because I give all my free time to my family”

You might think some of that sounds silly but I promise they are all reasons I have heard not to volunteer. They might be good reasons not to volunteer but we aren’t talking about volunteering. Jesus didn’t call volunteers. This was not volunteer appreciation dinner. This was no volunteer training session. This was servant hood training

How many of you believe you are better than Jesus.

If you have ever given one of those “reasons” you are behaving as though you are better than the one who got up, put the towel around his waist, knelt down and washed their feet.

He made himself nothing; he took the humble position of a slave and appeared in human form. Philippians 2:7

Jesus never used the word volunteer. But he used the word slave many times. Let’s put that key verse up.

You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, Ro 6:22

Say that with me!!!

Jesus never asked his followers to give up a few hours of their day off, but he did call them to give up everything they have. Say it again

You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, Ro 6:22

Church volunteers have to be cornered, coddled, and convinced that their participation won't take up too much of their time. Servants gladly give what they have. Say it again

You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, Ro 6:22

Volunteers ask, "How little can I do to get you off my back?" Servants go the extra mile.

You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, Ro 6:22

Volunteers serve in their spare time- Slaves of Christ make serving a priority.

You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, Ro 6:22

We don’t need more volunteers who give away what time they can spare. We need more slaves whose lives belong to the Lord.

You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, Ro 6:22

Is it Dangerous for a pastor to get up and shoot down all of excuses behind which people hide? Sure, but the truth is the only person your hiding from is yourself because we all see right through the excuse and so does God.

Is it dangerous for the chairman of the nominating committee to say we don’t need volunteers? Sure it is, but not as dangerous as putting the work of God in the hands of the uncommitted.

Is it dangerous to live as a slave to God? Sure. But not as dangerous as not living as a slave to God!

One more time- with one little change in the scripture.

We have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, Ro 6:22

The response this morning is printed on your insert called towel and basin survey. First things first- everyone put your name on a survey. Everyone needs one and everyone needs to put a name on one.

Now just answer the question. If you were going to serve on a committee (Not saying you are, but just imagine) which jobs would you rather do? (Mark all that would be acceptable.)

Do that while we sing amazing love. Then while the next two songs play, come forward for baptism renewal? Place your survey in the bowl and receive baptism renewal saying I have been set free from sin and have become a slave to God. Ro 6:22

If there happens to be anyone who has never been baptized and you are ready to profess faith in Jesus Christ let me know and we’ll gather around and baptize you. If you have never been baptized and aren’t today, bring your survey up and ask for a blessing I will lay my hand on your head and pray a sentence prayer.

­­­­­DANGEROUS CHURCH: READS A DANGEROUS BOOK

RUMC September 13, 2009

When I talk about dangerous books I am not talking about physically dangerous.  Though I suppose it is in theory possible to be killed by falling books or injure your back lifting a heavy Bible, most of us use smaller versions that are in that sense much safer.

I’m also not particularly referring to those who abuse the scripture by warping it and using it for their own personal or political agenda like the pastor from Arizona who uses the Bible to justify preaching and praying for the slow and painful death of the president of the United States.  That is an issue for the secret service and qualified mental health professionals, not a sermon.

When I refer to the Bible as a dangerous book I am really only referring to two groups of people.  They are equally dangerous in completely different senses of the word.

1.  Those who never read it and don’t know what it says.

2.  Those who do read it and know full well what it says.

You know, I guess that includes just about all of us doesn’t it?

Our congregation as a whole, falls somewhere in the middle.    Do you remember that a while back – about a year ago you took the same survey you took this morning?  At that time the percentage was 16% of you read the Bible at least 3 times a week.  Since then I have been challenging you to read with me, we have started a new Bible Women’s Bible Study, I have offered an on line source for the upper room.  I have done everything I can think of to encourage you.  Now, let’s see how you are doing today?

_________% of you read the Bible at lease 3 times a week.

That means that you are still somewhere in the middle.  For some of you the Bible is dangerous because you don’t read it and you really don’t know what it says.  For others it is dangerous because you do read it and you do know what it says.

Let’s look at both groups.  First the larger group of those who don’t read the Bible regularly. 

Let’s try something.  Let’s see how well you know your Bible.  Where does the Bible say “God helps them who help themselves?”  Do you remember?  Was it at the end of one of the parables? Or was it the Old Testament?  Do you remember which one? 

I’m sorry it was a trick question.  It’s not there!!  That was Benjamin Franklin that said that!

 I’ll be the first to admit that when I buy something, I would rather try to put it together myself then follow the directions.  It is much more interesting that way.  When was the last time you sat down and read in its entirety, the manual that comes with your cell phone?  Or your new TV or anything else.  Most of us would rather try to figure it out ourselves.  How does that work for you?  I have to admit that I have almost completely assembled things only to realize that I have to take it apart to get the last part on? 

How about directions.  I hate directions too.  I remember when Robyn and I went to Rochester earlier this year.  We got to the hotel and had reservations at the restaurant at which we had been engaged.  I looked up the directions on faithful Google directions and followed them.  Out the parking lot to the north, couple of blocks to find a one way street going the right direction, make a right and the restaurant will be on the right.  We parked, had a wonderful dinner, listened to the band, looked at the pictures of all the famous people how had eaten there, came out to get in the car, looked up and there across the street was the hotel.    The directions had taken us 8 blocks to get across the street.  Do you know the lesson- some people will fall for anything!

If you don’t read the Bible, how do you keep from falling for anything?  If you don’t know the Bible how do you decide whether your friend who believes differently from you is right or wrong?  If you don’t know much about the Bible how do you know what your faith stands for?

Oh, I’m pretty sure that most people know John 3:16 and Psalm 23 and 4 or 5 other main passages, but that’s about the end of it.  And they are taught things like “God helps them who helps themselves” and they swallow it hook line and sinker.  Apparently they are willing to take about anyone’s word for what they Bible says

Sixty-five percent of Americans agree that the Bible "answers all or most of the basic questions of life."  Amazingly, 28% of Americans who believe the Bible “answers all or most of the basic questions of life” say they rarely or never read the Bible (The Gallup Organization, October 20, 2000).  Therein lays the problem.

o        Among born again Christians, 10% believe that people are reincarnated after death.

o        Among born again Christians, 29% claim it is possible to communicate with the dead.

o        Fifty percent of born again Christians contend that a person can earn salvation based upon good works  (Barna Research Group, October 21, 2003).

Don’t miss this. We are not talking about the beliefs of Americans here. We aren’t even talking about the beliefs of churched Americans. We are talking about “born-again, churched Americans.”  These are things believed by the people who sat in the pew next to you last Sunday.  /And from a biblical perspective, they are all equally wrong.

Let me tell you.  We may worry about the fact that we are told that now 35% of our nation’s adults are functionally illiterate.  That’s abysmal, but that is nothing compared to 84% of our church that is functionally biblically illiterate.  Some might call that sad.  I call it dangerous.

Second, and dangerous in a completely different way, are those who do know the Bible.  How can that be dangerous?

The Bible stands in stark contradiction to much of our culture. 

The principle of justice in our courts is nothing compared to God’s vision for justice communicated through the prophets.

The concept of love as it exists in our culture today stands in stark contradiction to the love we see described in 1 Corinthians 13.

The idea of hope- which politicians love to exploit has nothing to do with politics, power or personality.  Biblical hope is based only in God and Gods future.

The American way of borrowing our way into wealth, taking advantage of the next guy; the consumerist grab, the greed and the gluttony is outright condemned by the Biblical principles of stewardship, community and generosity.

Can you see that people who hold a true biblical worldview might be considered dangerous by the rest of our society?

Let’s move to the church:

Imagine- Just imagine- if we as a church read the Bible and decided together that the Bible calls each of us to tithe.  And together we decided to tithe.  Suddenly we would have so much money we would collect 2 ½ times as much money as we have budgeted to spend.  What would we do with all the extra money?  I don’t know but I’ll bet we could really make some changes.  We could really do some awesome things.  We could make a pretty good run at turning at least our little corner of the world upside-down.   A church with those kinds of resources would be a dangerous church indeed.

Imagine if we read the Bible together and decided that we were truly going to be driven by love.  Just imagine that we started really loving those around us.  Not just the people like us, but those who are very different from us.  Not just those who believe like us but those who believe the church is a sickness.  Not just those who love us back but those who are the most self absorbed, and self seeking people we can find.  I don’t just think I know that people would start to look at us out of the corner of their eye, thinking we had all gone insane.  A church that started to love like that could really upset the status quo.  A church like that would be a really dangerous church.

Or imagine that we studied the Bible together and agreed together that we were going to be a Matthew 28 community.  Do you know what Matthew 28 is?  I just preached on it last week.  “Go therefore into all the world and preach the good news. Baptizing in the name of the father and the son and the Holy Spirit.”  Just imagine that we all did that.  Just imagine what they other churches would think if we started hauling in new Christians by the boat load.  Just imagine if each and every one of us became a Matthew 28 Christian and took seriously the command to GO- and TELL.  How long do you suppose it would take for some other pastor to get threatened by us and declare us “dangerous?”  I don’t think it would be very long.

Let me tell you, I’d rather be declared dangerous because we are learning the Bible, following the Bible and living the Bible out in our ministries than because we don’t know our Bibles.  Wouldn’t you love to belong to a church that was seen as a danger to greed? A danger to hatred?  A danger to sin? A danger to fear? A danger to all varieties of unrighteousness? Wouldn’t you like to belong to a church that is considered dangerous because of what we know, rather than what we don’t know? A church that is considered radical because we rely on the power of the almighty God, rather than one that believes that Jesus said “God helps him who helps himself?  Wouldn’t you like to belong to a church that is considered on the cutting edge of society because we take God’s Biblical vision for humanity seriously and live it in our everyday lives?  I’d like to be part of that kid of dangerous church.  Won’t you join me??

And let’s start by getting to know our Bibles. 

Dangerous?  Sure- but I’m willing to take that risk.  How about you?

Dangerous Church: dangerous mission

RUMC

September 6, 2009

Many of you remember the show mission impossible.  In each episode the series the Impossible Mission Force as they were called, was presented with what seemed like an impossible mission.  Somehow,

·         No matter how impossible it seemed they always seemed to do the impossible.

·          No mater how amazing it was they did the amazing.

·         No matter how dangerous it was they faced and survived the danger.

I want to tell you today, you are God’s IMPOSSIBLE MISSION FORCE.

Thorough the Bible, God’s people have always been an impossible mission force.  But then that only makes sense because, to quote the angel speaking to Mary,” with God nothing is impossible.”

We can start with creation itself- create something out of nothing?  Mission impossible?  Not with God.

Noah- Flood the whole world and save one family? Mission impossible?  Not with God.

Abraham and Sarah.  A child from an old woman?  Mission impossible?  Not with God.

Escape from the slave drivers in Egypt? Mission impossible?  Not with God.

Walk through the red sea without getting wet? Mission impossible?  Not with God.

Survive 40 years in the desert? Mission impossible?  Not with God.

A shepherd boy kill a giant with one small stone? Mission impossible?  Not with God.

That same shepherd boy become the greatest king of Israel? Mission impossible?  Not with God.

The exile, the prophets, Daniel and the lion’s den?  All Mission impossible?  Not with God.

Virgin birth- God incarnate? Mission impossible?  Not with God.

Water into wine, feed 5000, heal the sick, raise the dead, beat the Pharisees at their own game, defy the temple authority,  die and be raised again, appear to friends after death? Mission impossible?  Not with God.

Take an uneducated, un couth rag tag band of fishermen, farmers, tax collectors and sinners and turn them into the greatest bunch of prophets, PR  men and  preachers  the world has ever seen.  Their message of salvation spreading like wildfire through the known world to become the official religion of history’s greatest empire within 2 centuries.  Mission impossible?  Not with God.

If none of those things are impossible for God what makes us think we are so special?  What makes those who are proclaiming the death of the church in America so sure that God has been beaten this time?  What makes them so sure that God has played his last card and the next 20 years will be the last 20 years for the American Christian church?    Isn’t it possible that someday a preacher will stand here and add to the list?

Take the American church- whose death seems almost sealed by decades of decline, top heavy bureaucracy, out of touch management and lazy leadership and turn it into a living vibrant powerful force for good and the gospel of Jesus Christ? Mission impossible?  Not with God.

Do you remember that I told you a few weeks ago that the people who study population trends – particularly church trends- tell us that by 2020-- That is in 11 years this church and most others like it will be decimated by an aging population and migration to urban areas?  They say that in 11 years 75% of the people you see here today will be gone- either dead or moved. Look around you and add 11 years to everyone’s age.  Kortney and Brooke will be two of our varsity girls basketball stars -   but we are being told they will not have a church to which they can bring their friends.

I say it isn’t going to happen.  At least it doesn’t have to.  I say if we believe that God created everything out of nothing.  Nothing is impossible with God.

 I say if we believe that God came in Jesus Christ to save us from our sin.  Nothing is impossible with God.

I say if we believe that God can take a dead as a doornail Jesus and resurrect him to live and breathe and eat and send the disciples out to be the church.  Nothing is impossible with God.

I say that if we believe that Jesus gave a bunch of normal everyday people, farmers and fishermen,  office workers and physicians, business people and government workers the power to go into all the world --- and they became this great church of which we are a part, nothing is impossible with God. Dangerous, but not impossible.

The fist thing that makes us dangerous is we have a mission.

Is it dangerous for us to believe that God has given us a mission? Of course it is.  Look at what people have done in the name of religion.  The crusades, the inquisition, witch burnings, Jim Jones.  Those around us will say these are dangerous people because they believe that God has called them to share love, and grace and hope where those are scarce.  They will say these are dangerous people because they are willing to put themselves out, take risks and make sacrifices for the good of others.    Or will they?   I guess that is really up to each and every one of us.  Do you have a mission?  Do you feel an obligation, a duty, a commitment, a responsibility to step out and take risks for God?  Or do you think your responsibility ends right here in your pew.

The second reason they will say we are dangerous is because we have a vision.  They will say- they want to change the world.  They want to turn the world upside-down.  They want to change everyone.  They want everyone to be like them.  Let’s see “like us would be living the fruit of the spirit” - fruit of the Christian life is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness and self control.  I guess they are right.  We do want everyone to know the love we know.  But is that a bad thing?  We want everyone to be filled with the joy of salvation.  Is that such a bad thing?  I guess they are right we do want to change people from hatred and violence-loving to peace loving people for whom peace comes first from the heart then  flows to our relationships and finally to society and the world.  I guess they are right if we brought patience to our chaotic world it would seem like everything was turned upside down.  If people started treating each other with kindness and goodness what would they talk about on the news?  If all people exercised self control- stopped and thought before they talked, or lashed out, or flipped the bird, or shot at someone, or strapped on a bomb, … the world would be completely different wouldn’t it.  Maybe our vision is dangerous.  But I guess that is really up to everyone here. Do you have the vision- God’s vision for a world in which we have loved, and witnessed, and shared the good news and brought all people to Jesus to be baptized in the name of the father son and Holy Spirit? 

·         Do you have a vision for this congregation like I do, that it each and every one of us will experience a revival and be recommitted - to growing closer to Jesus? 

·         Do you have a vision for this congregation like I do, that those who sit in the pews Sunday after Sunday but believe they have nothing to contribute will be empowered to give whatever time, experience, leadership, encouragement, and service they can muster?  That they will understand that their widow’s mite is more valuable to God than anything any pastor has ever done for anyone? 

·         Do you have a vision for your congregation like I do, that it will unite behind a common outreach  that will not only make a difference in people’s live, but will bring a steady flow of new people  to know Jesus.?

If that vision lies on the pages of the Bible and is never given life by those of us who read it, it is a very safe vision indeed.  If that vision comes out of my mouth here this morning and falls to the ground like a lead balloon because no one picks it up and makes God’s vision their vision it is a very safe vision indeed.  But that safe vision is not God’s vision.  God’s vision is that we would become world changers, game changers, life changers right here in the Reinbeck UMC.

Finally we see from this passage that we are not only to have a dangerous mission and a dangerous vision, we are to be filled with a dangerous hope.  Hope that we are not alone.  Hope that we don’t do this for ourselves.  Hope that we are not a doomed congregation in a doomed denomination in the doomed institution of American Christianity because we have one who walks beside us.  He says, Lo- I am with you.  I am with you when you are mocked for sharing your faith.  I am with you when you fear that your pet program might fail.  I am with you when you have the opportunity to reach out and help someone in Jesus name, but you don’t know whether they will accept it.    I am with you; Jesus says when you fall flat on your face and when you soar like an eagle.  I am with you when you take the risk to have an outreach event and no one comes and I am with you when people do come and you aren’t sure that you know what to do with them.    Lo, I am with you when you have an opportunity to witness to someone even if you choke on your words and stumble

Lo I am with you always.

Lo, I am with you when you sit in your pews and cower in fear for the future of your congregation - and I am with you when you step out to follow the mission I have given you even if it seems risky, dangerous or downright impossible.  Lo, I am with you always, Even to the end of the age.

At the beginning of mission impossible they always had a tape that said “Your mission if you choose to accept it. 

Your mission if you choose to accept it is what I am calling the 600% challenge (Video)

100% of us actively growing closer to Jesus.

100% of us giving 100% of what we can in life-giving love, positive leadership, and willing service,

100% of us believing 100% that Jesus is 100% faithful when he says, Lo, I am with you even as we rethink church.  Your mission if you choose to accept it. . .

Cadi's trip

What a joy it was to receive a letter from Cadi about her trip to Kenya.  It was a tremendously forming experience.  I am certain that this is a young lady who is feeling the call of God on her life.  I don't know where God will take her.  Until I can post the letter, please go to her web site

http://cadi2kenya.xanga.com/

and read her thoughts.  You will be inspired and I pray that some of her excitement and passion for Jesus will rub off on you.

tp