Living On Mission with Jesus

Living On Mission with Jesus

What do you think life is like in the Kingdom of God?  It’s probably not what most people expect.  Matthew 9 gives us some examples of the things Jesus did when He was preaching and teaching about the Good News of the Kingdom.  He healed a paralyzed man to prove that He could also forgive sins.  He befriended a tax collector.  He hung out with sinners.  He feasted instead of fasted.  He healed a sick (and unclean) lady on His way to raise a young girl from the dead.  He healed two blind men.  He exorcised a demon that kept a man from talking.  These things surprised and confused folks.  They didn’t expect a holy man to touch an unclean woman or to hang out with sinful people.  That was against the rules.  Wasn’t it?  Every time He demonstrated the way of the Kingdom, it went against religious traditions and WOW people didn’t like that…but they did like the miracles, and they did recognize that He had authority.

“When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.  He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.” (Matthew 9:35-38)

We are called and commissioned to be His workers and announce the Good News about the Kingdom.  People will probably be confused because most have such a distorted view of God and His Kingdom.  Have compassion on them.  Heal them.  Befriend them.  Hang out with them.  Love them.  Give them a glimpse of the Kingdom.  We serve a mighty God who longs for people to come to Him and gain eternal life.

Let’s practice living on mission and get caught RedHanded – LovingOurCity.

Pastor Angela

Living On Mission with Paul in Jail

Living On Mission with Paul in Jail

I have a confession.  I’ve spent a lot of time at the county jail.  Ok, before you start to wonder about the thoroughness of background checks for pastors, let me ease your mind a little.  When I was a kid, my best friend was the daughter of the county sheriff. The jail and the sheriff’s apartment were both housed in the penthouse of the county courthouse.  Fancy, huh?  Not really.  One of the things I remember most is the concrete floors (these were of course used throughout the jail too.)  While concrete floors were GREAT for roller skating, they were not so great for sleepovers.  Hey, but at least we had sleeping bags and pillows, right?  Even those in jail on the other side of the penthouse had bunks to sleep on.  I’m guessing that Paul often had no such measures of comfort in his jail.  And yet…

Paul chose to stay.  In jail.  On earth.  He chose to delay the comforts of heaven and all of the pleasures that he knew awaited him there.  Why?  So that he could help others.  He showed us what it was like to live not for ourselves, but for others.  He poured out his love, his gifts, his knowledge, and his very life for the sake of others. 

What would it look like for us today to live for our city?  Could we give up some of the luxurious comforts that we enjoy in order to have the means to give to others? Could we go out of our way to show kindness when it’s not convenient? Could we begin to think of the needs of others as more important than our own needs?  This would certainly be a new way of life for me.  I believe that this is the way of life in the Kingdom of God.

Let’s practice living on mission and get caught RedHanded – LovingOurCity.

Pastor Angela

Living On Mission with Paul

Paul must have been quite a character. People either loved him or hated him. He messed with the religious belief systems much the same way that Jesus did and therefore got treated pretty much the same as Jesus did by religious people. They were intrigued at first and then became angry when their comfort zone was invaded. (Because of this, he often didn’t stay in one place very long.) I can almost hear them now, “What do you mean we’ve had this wrong all along? Stop messin’ with our traditions!” Regardless of whether he was being loved or hated, Paul was always on mission. He knew what he was sent to do; preach Christ. And he did so—boldly, fearlessly, and in a culturally relevant way.

That’s why I love these stories in Acts 17. They show us that Paul knew how to work with the culture wherever he went. In Thessalonica he used his knowledge of the customs and beliefs of the Jews as a launching pad to tell the story of Jesus. In Berea he again went to the synagogue and started preaching about Jesus, knowing that they would continue to study the scriptures to determine if he was right or wrong even though he was only there a short while.  In Athens, he recognized that, “All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas,” so he found a way to weave the story of Jesus into their daily discussions. (Acts 17:21)

Paul was smart and used the culture of his day find ways to preach Jesus. He didn’t try to win people by doing something completely foreign to them. He didn’t rush out and bring Billy Graham and his gigantic crusade team into town. He met the people where they were and found culturally relevant ways to bring the good news of Jesus to them.  He didn’t soft-pedal the message in order to fit in culturally; he boldly proclaimed Jesus as Messiah, the word of God, and showed how God has been at work, “…so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us.” (Acts 17:27)

We have been sent by God to proclaim the good news.  All of us. Let’s ask the Holy Spirit to help us identify ways that we can use the culture of our city/workplace/neighborhood to bring the love of Jesus to those around us.

Let’s practice living on mission and get caught RedHanded – LovingOurCity.

Pastor Angela

Living On Mission with Jeremiah and the Exiles

The prophet Jeremiah was given a message from God to His people.  “This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon:  “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce.  Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”  (Jeremiah 29:4-7)

Exiles are outside of their home country, not by choice. Often exiles have been banished from their home country as a means of punishment. Notice in the passage above that God said HE carried the people into exile. (A result of sin.) As Christians, we are citizens of the Kingdom of God. It could be said that we are living as exiles because we are not living in our spiritual home country. That perspective makes this passage very relevant to our lives today.  God wants us to engage in life and community where He has placed us; it’s a call to live incarnationally—among the people, and to ask God for good things for them.

God also gives this incredibly comforting word for those who are living as exiles; He will listen to our prayers and He will be found when we seek Him. “This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.  I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.” (Jeremiah 29:10-14)

In the passage above we also find that this God-induced stint in exile also came with a promise to bring them back home. Sound familiar? Jesus promised that He would return and take us to be with Him forever. In a very real sense, we will be living in exile until Jesus returns and we finally experience the full Kingdom of God. Meanwhile, what should we do? Pray for the cities where God has placed us. Know that He hears our prayers and desires for us to seek and find Him. Look for the day of His return and pray, “Your Kingdom come…on earth as it is in heaven.”

Let’s practice living on mission and get caught RedHanded – LovingOurCity.

Pastor Angela

Living On Mission with James, John, and Jesus

I sometimes see the earthly ministry of Jesus through rose colored glasses, as if everything was perfect. The crowds loved Him.  The disciples adored Him.  He healed people.  He fed people.  He brought goodness everywhere He went.  What’s not to love, right?  Well, the truth is that Jesus really was loved, but He faced opposition. Sinners loved Him. Religious people, not so much. He messed with their beliefs and traditions and that was very upsetting.  He rocked the boat.  He upset the apple cart—right along with the tables of the money changers.

Earlier this week, Pastor Amy pointed out that one of the reasons that the Samaritans didn’t welcome Jesus was because He was going to Jerusalem instead of worshipping at their beloved Mount Gerizim. Were they offended?  Could they have been hoping that Jesus would endorse their religious traditions?  Perhaps they decided that their way was the only right way and that everyone else must therefore be wrong.

Whatever their reason was for opposing/rejecting Jesus, James and John decided that it was judgment time.  They wanted to call down fire from heaven to burn up those rotten Samaritans.  But, Jesus rebuked them and made it very clear that judgment was NOT their job.  It’s not our job either.  In fact, Jesus is so very patient that He is not in a hurry to bring judgment to anyone. In 2 Peter 3 we learn that His judgment is coming and it is inevitable, but verse 9 says, “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”  He is delaying judgment.

Living missionally means we are joining with Jesus, acting as agents of redemption; wanting everyone to come to repentance instead of judgment. Just like Jesus, we may also encounter opposition and/or rejection, and it might come from religious people. They might not agree with the way we raise our hands, love our neighbors, feed the poor, welcome strangers, or with our stance on certain social justice issues.  We may not like or agree with their dress code, politics, the way they sing their hearts out in raucous praise, or the way they cut their grass on Sunday. But, we must remember that it is not our job to seek or pronounce judgment on people or to call for their destruction. We love, we pray, we ask for salvation, we always seek redemption.

So, the next time we face opposition, go ahead and call down fire from heaven!  Let’s just make sure we’re asking for the fire of the Holy Spirit out of love and for the purpose of redemption.  I often pray, “Pour out your Spirit, Lord, on your people. With your Holy fire, burn away everything that isn’t of you. Draw us to saving faith and fill us with Your presence.”

Let’s practice living on mission and get caught RedHanded – LovingOurCity.

Pastor Angela

On Mission with Daniel and the Boys

Jerusalem and the land of Judah had been overtaken.  Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were outstanding young Israelites who were brought to Babylon to be trained in the ways of the Babylonians for three years prior to serving King Nebuchadnezzar. They were surrounded by strange customs, languages, and religious beliefs. The officials even changed their names. Surrounded by an unfamiliar (and evil) world they remained faithful to the one true God and were His witnesses. They became influencers in the kingdom by finding favor and earning a solid reputation with the officials and the king.  They also maintained their relationship with God and held tightly to the good news that their God was THE God and able to deliver them.

Favor + Reputation = Influence

Almost immediately upon their arrival these four young men found favor with the officials. Psalm 5:12 says, “For you bless the righteous, O Lord; you cover him with favor as with a shield.” (or a fireproof suit) Because of the favor, they had the opportunity to build a credible reputation. They proved that their eating habits were healthier than the royal eating plan. They proved that through God they could interpret dreams better than anyone Babylon had to offer.  They proved that their beliefs in the one true God were solid enough to carry them – literally – through any fiery trial.  These fellas were up to their eyeballs in credibility and they wound up with great influence in the kingdom because of it.

The Gospel

Wait. What? Back up a minute. What could these Old Testament fellas know about the Gospel?  Well, this story is a beautiful example of what God’s desire has been all along: to rescue and redeem His people. That’s the heart of the Good News! Obviously these four young men didn’t have the entire picture, but they had a very real relationship with a very real God who would deliver them.

How can we use this story to help us live on mission today?  These four Israelites were thrust into a new world but they didn’t conform to it. They remained faithful to God.  We, too, find ourselves living in a world that doesn’t understand or even know about the Kingdom we were born into.  Instead of being influenced by the world we live in, we must remain faithful to our King and the ways of his Kingdom. Our mission is to share the Good News and to make disciples, teaching others to live as we live – shaped by the beliefs, customs, and practices of the Kingdom of God, not of this world.  As we remain faithful to God, His favor will open doors for us to build a credible reputation and earn influence in our communities so that we can act as agents of the Gospel of redemption. 

Let’s practice living on mission and get caught RedHanded – LovingOurCity.

 

Pastor Angela

A Bottle of Water Matters - A Letter from Pastor Todd

Dear Missional PoC,

This will be our third year passing out water at Miller Park on the 4th of July. Last year we had such a HUGE turnout and such a powerful workforce. The fireworks were even more meaningful knowing we were sitting among friends in the city. I really hope you and your family can join us.
 
It can be so hot there in the park, especially after waiting all day for the festivities to begin. Many people in the neighborhood consider this fireworks show to be one of the highlights of their summer. With little income to treat their family, a 4th of July display is a wonderful way to get out of the house and enjoy time with each other. The lake is lined with vendors selling drinks and funnel cakes and hot dogs and such, but all of this can add up quickly. Many families can’t even afford to think about spending that kind of money. Let me tell you about one encounter with a little boy and his sister last year.
 
So, this little boy from the neighborhood came up to me and said, “You really giving away free water?” I said, “Yes, I am. My cooler is empty, but I’m going to go fill it up and I’ll be right back. I’ll come right back here to this spot.” I could tell he didn’t believe me. He said, “Is it really free? Are you really coming back?” I assured him it was free and that I would be back. I filled my cooler and hurried back to the spot. There he was, waiting for me, along with his big sister. She said, “He told my mom that you were giving away free water.” I looked at the boy and said, “I told you I’d be back.” And, then I looked to his sister and said, “Yes, it’s free.” She just looked at me like I was a fool and said, “What do you mean, it’s free?” I said, “We just want to serve our city. Honestly, you can have as much as you want.” She folded her arms, cocked her head back, squinted into the sun and said, “Why you do that?” I said, “Well, it’s hot . . . people are thirsty . . . we know that the concession stands can be expensive . . . and our church wants to help.” She looked at me after a moment’s reflection and said, “Can we take two? And, one for our mom?” I laughed and pointed across the way to our huge mountain of water where other PoCers were quickly refilling their coolers and said, “You see that mountain of water? You can have as much as you want.”

And, right then, she smiled. Her brother giggled and playfully hit his sister in the arm and said, “I told you it was free!” They grabbed several bottles of cold water, and ran off. That was a cool, very cool, way cool moment. I’ll never forget it. A bottle of water matters.

I don’t know anything about these two kids, except that it seemed to be a little difficult to accept the fact that people could be . . . nice and kind. And in that moment, I was extremely grateful that God is the one who draws people to Himself and that all we have to do is obey the missional impulses that he gives us, along with our missional community, to serve and love and represent Him. As I’ve thought of these two kids, I’ve prayed, “God, they are yours, not mine. Draw them to yourself and surround them with people that continue to show them your kindness.” It’s very cool to know that this is God’s work that we are a part of. I hope you can join us.

Bring your lawn chairs, wear your PoC shirt, and invite everyone you know to meet at Miller Park!
*Come as early as 3pm. There will be games for adults and games with prizes for kids. Feel free to bring your own outdoor games too.
*Dinner is at 5pm. We will provide pulled pork, drinks, and tableware. Please bring a side dish or dessert to share.
At dusk, we will pass out 3,500 bottles of cold water to people gathered in the park to watch fireworks!
*We need trucks to haul the water, and coolers—either with wheels or on wagons we can pull. (Please contact Denis Rutledge (309) 261-0728, if you have trucks, coolers, or wagons we can use.)
*Finally, when the water has been given out, we'll watch the fireworks together!
*If you have questions, please contact the event coordinator, Suzan Bensken via phone, text (217-418-0266), or Facebook.

Pastor Todd