GOSPEL :: FAMILY :: MISSION
There’s this classic scene in the movie Rush Hour where Jackie Chan gets off a plane and meets Chris Tucker for the first time. Chris Tucker walks up to Jackie Chan and says, “Please tell me you speak English. I’m detective Carter. Do you speak English? Do you understand the words that are coming out of my mouth?”
We’ve been examining Ephesians 3:14 – 21 for the last six weeks. We considered Paul’s posture in prayer as he kneels before the Father of every family in Heaven and on Earth. We looked at the reasons Paul prayed in light of our identity in Christ. We thought about our source of true spiritual power in the riches of God’s glory. We discussed what it means to have Christ settle down and dwell in our hearts through faith. We examined what it means to be rooted in the love of Christ like a tall tree with deep roots, strong character and godly fruit. And we studied what it means to be grounded in the love of Christ like a tall building with a solid foundation.
What are the results of people giving away their time, talent and treasure? What is the outcome of our generosity? Why should we be generous?
I have a short list of friends who will answer the phone regardless of what time it is. It’s reassuring and encouraging to know that I’m not alone and it’s helpful to know that someone is ready and available to listen in my times of trouble and need.
Who are you pursuing with the message of the gospel in your extended family? Your work place? Your neighborhood? Your friend circle? How willing are you to have your life completely turned upside down so that you can be engaged in the mission of the gospel?
Our mission is to be a gospel centered church family of gospel communities that grow missionally engaged disciples who glorify God. This means that we value the transforming message of the gospel. We value the diversity of the church family. We value and want to be wholeheartedly invested in the work of God’s mission throughout the world.
Why is it important to give? Our giving is an investment that reflects our belief in the generosity of God in the gospel.
James is straightforward and blunt. He doesn’t pull punches and he doesn’t gloss things over. His instructions are simple.
Some days are like a whirlwind. Some weeks are like a whirlwind. When I think of a whirlwind I think of a tornado. I remember the tornado that rolled through Hallam, NE back in 2004. Hallam was a small town of less than a 1,000 people that was struck by a two and a half mile-wide tornado in the middle of the night.
The author of the book of Job says that “God spoke to Job out of the whirlwind.” God spoke to Job in person, out of a whirlwind. What would that look like? What would it be like to speak personally with God in the midst of a whirlwind? What would it be like to be so grounded in the love of Christ that when the nastiest of storms hit my life, I seek the presence of God until he shows up and speaks to me?
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