Let’s be honest . When we read these words, don’t we usually think about ourselves? Don’t we usually translate it “God so loved the Church,” or “God so loved the Christians?” But clearly God doesn’t see it that way— “God so loved the world,” and, of course, that means everyone in it. Mean people and nice people. Heathen people and religious people. Buddhists. Moslems. Jews. Everyone. Red and yellow. Black and white. All . . . everyone . . . precious in His sight.
So . . . question . . . If that’s the way God feels, why isn’t the Church doing more to reach, touch, bless, even learn from that world? Why aren’t we praying: God what is your will in the world, instead of what is your will for my life? What is your passion, oh God? What are the things that break your heart? What are the things that move you, drive you, compel you to do what you want to do?
These are the questions that you have to ask and answer when you begin to “do” church inside out. Taking the things, the realities, we experience inside the church to the world outside the church where God is already working—that’s what it’s all about.
INSIDE OUT is our theme for this year’s State of the Church Dinner at the Civic Center. Folks, believe me, you do NOT want to miss this one. This is our annual Super Bowl of church events. It’s going to be incredible! Already we are becoming an INSIDE OUT Church. The special offering for Haiti this past Sunday is proof enough of that -- $11,962. Wow! We are also preparing to be the “collection center” for the Health-Kits for UMCOR (see related article in newsletter). That’s Church INSIDE OUT!
This coming Sunday is the big day. The Sunday morning sermon will look at “Lessons from the Life of Gideon.” And then, it will be 5:00 o’clock before you know it, and time for the STATE OF THE CHURCH. See you then!
Stan
Posted on
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
by Stan Cosby