Comm/unity week 3

Intro…

Common Unity — Vision and Purpose

1st week we talked about inside shared activities and outside sharing experiences.

Last week we talked about the example of Jesus…that he came to SEEK and to SAVE the lost.

We also looked at the example of the Thessalonican church:

a. how they kept the main thing the main thing,

b. purposely sought those in their surrounding communities to communicate the gospel

c. and became an example for all the surrounding regions.

Leadership has been praying about the Vision and Mission of Community Christian for the past few months. But this process began a year ago…

My own story of looking coupled with this church fasting and praying last February resulted in the Lord leading us together

Throughout biblical history there have been moves of God that have began with the physical but pointed to the spiritual.

I want to look at a few places in scripture that illustrate this well.

First is in the story of the tabernacle in Exodus 25:1-9

Exodus 25:1–9 CSB

The Lord spoke to Moses: “Tell the Israelites to take an offering for me. You are to take my offering from everyone who is willing to give. This is the offering you are to receive from them: gold, silver, and bronze; blue, purple, and scarlet yarn; fine linen and goat hair; ram skins dyed red and fine leather; acacia wood; oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense; and onyx along with other gemstones for mounting on the ephod and breastpiece. “They are to make a sanctuary for me so that I may dwell among them. You must make it according to all that I show you—the pattern of the tabernacle as well as the pattern of all its furnishings.

Show video of virtual tour. 2:03

Background - Moses recieved the instructions for the tabernacle and everything contained therein from the Lord himself…but here’s the interesting part…the instructions for the physical space and all its contents were given before the ten commandments were even written on the physical tablets. The commands had been given but hadn’t been written down yet.

There are a couple of concepts in this passage I want to highlight:

the offering from the people for the physical space was the Best of materials…precious metals, expensive colored yarns and fabrics, precious gemstones, and oils and spices that took a lot of time to prepare. They only used the best for the physical space that they would worship in.

the word for pattern is not an exact blueprint or even a physical model. It was an idea within the given parameters. The Lord told Moses to gather skilled craftsmen to actually craft and build. The Lord’s instruction combined with the creative skill of trained craftsmen brought forth the final design and product.

The concept here is echoed in 1 Corinthians 15:45-46

1 Corinthians 15:45–46 (CSB)

So it is written, The first man Adam became a living being; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, then the spiritual.

The physical thing comes before the spiritual thing but they are completely linked together. The physical space was constructed so that the spiritual could be facilitated. This building has provided a space for people of all walks of life to gather for studying scripture, communion, fellowship, and prayer. But just like anything else, we need updates, maintenance, paint, new furniture, and even new materials and methods for accomplishing those things.

In talking about the pattern of the tabernacle, the writer of Hebrews illustrates the importance of the physical as it facilitates the spiritual:

Hebrews 8:5 (CSB)

These serve as a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was warned when he was about to complete the tabernacle. For God said, Be careful that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown to you on the mountain.

One particular object in the tabernacle served as a symbol of the people’s connection with God and the anticipation of his full light shining on them: the lampstand!

The Hebrew noun for “lampstand” (מְנוֹרָה, menorah), which occurs 42 times in Scripture, derives from the verb meaning “to shine or be radiant” in joy

Jesus then borrows this physical object and lets us know how we fit:

Matthew 5:14–16 (CSB)

“You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

We have to make sure that we are shining our light in such a way that all can see…not just ourselves. Otherwise, we have the same warning that Jesus gave to the church in Ephesus.

Revelation 2:1–5 CSB

“Write to the angel of the church in Ephesus: Thus says the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand and who walks among the seven golden lampstands: I know your works, your labor, and your endurance, and that you cannot tolerate evil people. You have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and you have found them to be liars. I know that you have persevered and endured hardships for the sake of my name, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you: You have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember then how far you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. Otherwise, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.

Our desire as leadership is to let our light shine brighter, so, while we are making changes and updates to the physical space, it’s so we can shine brighter and introduce the next generation to Jesus.

Paul and Rene have been working tirelessly with the preschool to figure out ways to utilize space better so that we can have fresh spaces to facilitate nursery, children, a functional youth ministry space, and improved storage.

So many have sacrificed offerings over and above their tithes so we can transform this space and use it for multiple purposes.

So many have gone before us and have sacrificed time, skills, and money…coupled with spiritual gifts and abilities so that we can have this opportunity. This year is the 60th anniversary of this church but so many congregations have influenced where we are today. Not only the congregations all of you have been a part of, but the various ministries of camps and bible colleges that have shaped the lives of so many preachers of the gospel that have poured their lives into us.

We are excited about the future vision that God is revealing for this church; based on the Great Commission and the Great Commandment and looking to scripture as the foundation for everything we do.

Philippians 2:13–15 CSB

For it is God who is working in you both to will and to work according to his good purpose. Do everything without grumbling and arguing, so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God who are faultless in a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world,

Invitation - Collective Prayer