Loving Well
Ephesians 3:14-21 (TNIV)
14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
List of 10 things one Pastor believes about the Church
(quoted in the sermon)
#1 – I believe the potential for the local church to do good and create positive change in the world is greater than it has ever been.
#2 – I believe that the ROOT of the desire to do good and create positive change in the world HAS to be the GOSPEL…and if it isn’t what will develop is cool ministry fads and ideas…but nothing revolutionary that will impact the world.
#3 – I believe that some of the greatest Christian leaders that the world will ever know are currently in elementary school, middle school and high school…thus making youth and children’s ministry one of the greatest mission opportunities that the local church can invest in.
#4 – I believe that more and more church leaders are going to begin to take radical steps of faith rather than trying to repair broken systems.
#5 – I believe that more and more church leaders are going to continually put personal preferences of ministry aside and work together with other people to accomplish more ministry than they could have ever done alone.
#6 – I believe that we’re going to see some of the greatest moves of God this world has ever seen in the next 20 years…MOST of them happening because the local church finally decided to step up and be the church.
#7 – I believe God wants to use your church to do unbelievable things in the community in which HE has planted you.
#8 – I believe the key to a healthy church is healthy church leadership…leaders cannot fly at the speed of sound and expect to hear God’s still small voice. The healthier we will get the healthier our churches can be.
#9 – I believe that if ALL leaders took the advice God gave us in the Scriptures that we would see breakthroughs like we’ve NEVER seen before.
#10 – I believe God has called the church to CHANGE the world…not complain about it!!! We are an empowered body of believers whom He has called to attempt the “impossible” so that people can see Him
Loving WellEasier said than done. Especially when we take the time to feel the tension. For all of the ease with which we talk about loving well, we still live in a world where the citizens in the ten wealthiest countries in the world are seventy-five times richer than those who live in the ten poorest ones. What does it mean to those in the poorest countries of the world when they hear those in the ten wealthiest countries talk about feeling economic pain? It's worth thinking about. Even more than that, it's worth caring, really caring, about.
Are we really surprised that violence between the two groups escalates?
Have we really forgotten the difference between "power over" and "power with" others?
Don't we have something to contribute to the conversation, and to the actual living out of what we believe, that could make a difference to both groups?
What if those who took the name of Christ decided, not just with their words, but in their lives, that they would become part of the answer rather than ignoring or contributing to the problem? What if we began to live, love, be more fully who Jesus has invited us to become? What would happen then?
Those of some of the questions that Pastor Isaac raises and invites us to think about. If you would like to listen to the sermon once again, or perhaps for the first time, you can access our sermon library by clicking here.