3 Year Anniversary

RECAP THE LAST 3 YEARS

I WANT THINGS TO HAVE A PURPOSE

I said why a lot as a kid.

I just want to know that what i’m doing and why i’m doing it has purpose.

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE CHURCH

HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT ABOUT THAT?

You can raise your hand.

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST THOUGHTS ABOUT CHURCH?

Good? Bad? Fun? Boring?

For me I felt that it was:

Boring

Just Tradition

Lot’s of white diamonds perfume

The one day a week we would go out to eat

I would pray that I wouldn’t have to go to church

AND NOW IM THE PASTOR OF A CHURCH. GOD HAS A SENSE OF HUMOR RIGHT?

CHURCH FACTS

3,700 churches close each year with 50% being church plants that failed in the first year

Over 1,700 pastors quit… every month

Over the past 20 years church attendance is down 20%

IS THIS WHAT JESUS HAD IN MIND?

Have you ever walked out of a church service and thought “I mean is that it”

Maybe you’ve done that here or other places. But that’s not meant to be the way it is.

I believe a big reasons churches close. People leave. Pastors quit. All the things in between? It’s because they lose sight of the purpose.

Matthew 28:16–19 CSB

16 The eleven disciples traveled to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had directed them. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped, but some doubted. 18 Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

THE QUESTION IS HOW DO WE DO THIS?

There is a famous story in the bible that Jesus tells a group of people. Almost everyone has heard it at some point or at least heard a reference to it.

Lost Sheep

Lost Coin

Lost Son (Prodigal Son)

THIS STORY WAS ALL ABOUT JESUS SHOWING WHAT HE WAS ALL ABOUT

Luke 15:11–12 CSB

11 He also said, “A man had two sons. 12 The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate I have coming to me.’ So he distributed the assets to them.

Now this was the ultimate insult. This son was basically telling his father that he wished he was dead. Your money, my share of your wealth is worth more to me than this relationship, its worth more than you alive. I want it now. Can you imagine raising a child, or even pouring time into a relationship only to wake up one day and something like this happen? I mean what would you be thinking as the father? Would you ever be able to forgive this?

Luke 15:13–19 CSB

13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered together all he had and traveled to a distant country, where he squandered his estate in foolish living. 14 After he had spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he had nothing. 15 Then he went to work for one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to eat his fill from the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one would give him anything. 17 When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough food, and here I am dying of hunger! 18 I’ll get up, go to my father, and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. 19 I’m no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired workers.” ’

This is the place where I like to imagine that Jesus stopped for a second. Because this is the place where everyone at the time is thinking “serves you right. You stole your dads money, you ran off and wasted it doing sinful things, and now you are down on your luck? serves you right, you deserve it, he’ll never take you back.

This is why Jesus told this story. Because he knew that these people believed that they were perfect. That they never made a mistake, and that they deserved God’s love.

Religion says: I messed up my father is going to kill me

The Gospel says: I messed up I need to run to my father

This is the GOOD NEWS! That there is freedom, forgiveness, and purpose on the other side of running to Jesus.

The problem is that often those inside the church forget that at one point they were in need of forgiveness. They forget what they were forgiven of.

So slowly over time we drift as a church, as a people, as a movement into making our churches all about… us. Because I’m the one in need. It’s all about… me.

Luke 15:20–24 CSB

20 So he got up and went to his father. But while the son was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. 21 The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I’m no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 “But the father told his servants, ‘Quick! Bring out the best robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Then bring the fattened calf and slaughter it, and let’s celebrate with a feast, 24 because this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ So they began to celebrate.

THE CHURCH IS A PARTY THAT WELCOMES PEOPLE HOME