If not now, when? Yesterday (make sure you read part 1 before reading this post-click back) we talked about this grand adventure and big mission that God has hand-picked His followers to be on and we asked what could be more valuable and worth more energy, effort and time than that? Today we look at other side of the picture: the world/ community around us.
I made this statement this past Sunday: “For the first time in my almost 4 years here, I’m comfortable inviting guests to join us here at Grace.” So let me explain, it’s true I’ve encouraged us all to invite guests over these past 3 and 1/2 years, and you might also like to know that I too HAVE invited guests many times over these last 3 and 1/2 years. I think even when churches aren’t fully “ready” to receive company, our call is still to invite because God works in spite of us and our best efforts. It’s God who rescues people, not us. So if we waited till we had it all together to invite, we never would. (By the way, I don’t think we have it all together now, we’re just further along than we’ve ever been). There has been so much that has been good at Grace over these last years and God’s Spirit has been very very evident here over those years and God has also rescued dozens of people as they took steps across the line of faith — so don’t hear me say, “don’t invite until you’re ready” — God doesn’t need us to be ready, just available!
This Sunday, I’m preparing to share some of my heart and the anticipation/ expectation for this fall season at Grace. In reading, listening and thinking, I came across this section from Charles Haddon Spurgeon who is often called the “prince of preachers” and I even heard him referred to by several as the best preacher to ever live (except for Jesus)! What I find fascinating is this quote comes from a sermon preached in 1873, I think in London. But, wow! powerful and personal and direct words this pastor shares. Would you agree with his statement? what keeps us from being mobilized on the mission of God?
So on Sunday we tried something I’ve not seen done in a church service before: gave time for personal Bible study. Granted it was only 5 minutes and we mostly only had time for some cursory observations on the biblical text — but it was cool to see people engaged. I really wanted to show people how they could do this on their own outside of the worship service environment, plus I feel like, as Christians, we could do a much better job being in the Word of God more regularly and with intentionality. There is lots of access these days to tools and resources to really make your time in God’s Word beneficial and helpful. (Before I get to some tips and ideas, allow me to put a shameless plug in for “Digging Deeper” our Sunday morning Catalyst that will take you miles further than this blop post will be able to do.)
Yesterday we talked about the importance of spiritual friendship — that when God called us as a church together, He intend(ed/s) that we are engaged with each other in ways to inspire Godly living. I personally feel that this is lacking and it seems so difficult to break through to this. So what happens is we move all biblical community to the counseling office and we shirk our responsibility as believers with each other. I’ve found it difficult even in many of the friendships that I have to turn the conversation to things of a spiritual nature, and I’m a pastor — I’m guessing it’s not easy for others as well.
So how do we begin as a church to move towards God’s design in this regard? Well, my experience tells me that things like this (that go against many “norms”) require intentionality. It won’t happen if a few of us don’t decide to get active with it.
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