Who are we? / Why are we here?

Manuscript Template

Title:  Who are we? / Why are we here?

Focus Statement:  

Function Statement:  

Tweetable Phrase:  

Main Text:  

Supporting Text:  

Redemptive Closure (point to Jesus):  

Benediction:  

Questions to Review

Is the bottom line clear? Main point should be able to be said in a single sentence.

What’s the opening line? Not hello, start with a question or something to grab attention.

Is the transition from the introduction to main point clear?

What’s my main point? Make it short and memorable

Does it matter? Is the topic relevant to the congregation?

Where is the power in the text? What word or phrase highlights the tension?

How am I moving toward application?

What is my main to-do (application)? Be specific.

What does it matter? The WHY creates urgency.

How am I closing? Have a plan.

5 Things Each Sermon Must Do With the Biblical Text

Teach it: Cultural context, exegesis, what does it mean?

Illustrate it: Add emotion, illustrations, pictures, stories.

Apply it: How do we respond?

Distinguish it: How is this different? Invite the Holy Spirit in.

Portable-ize it: Make it RHYME (no WIN in COMPARISON), ALLITERATE it, make it ECHO (who are of infinite worth to the infinite God), use a METAPHORE (the Root of murder is anger...only God can uproot it from our hearts), or make it CONTRAST (a life devoted to self, leave you alone)

https://ideogram.ai/t/explore

WELCOME

Good morning!!! My name is Ryan Hanson, and I have the honor of serving here at The Light KC as the lead pastor. I’m so glad you’re here with us.

‌Welcome to those joining us online. We hope you're doing well and hope to see you in person in the coming weeks.

And a special welcome to those joining us for the first time. We’re so glad you chose to be here.

ME/INTRO - Tension

I think people’s view of church changed during COVID.

I’m not sure what your experience was during COVID, but I want to start today by sharing mine.

When COVID started I was a teaching pastor at a large (750 person church). I taught every 4-6 weeks and attended / served the other weeks in various roles. In Michigan the rules related to COVID varied depending on church size. As I was at a relatively large church, we had to close and go 100% remote for nearly half a year. During that time the worship team would come in on Wednesday, practice and then film the worship set. Whoever was preaching would come in on Thursday with one tech team member and record the sermon. The week’s I preached it was literally me on stage, a TV in the front row showing the video of myself talking, and a tech team member in the back that I could not see making sure the recording was working. It was traumatic watching myself and trying to deliver a sermon. I kept thinking about facial expressions and where my arms were. It was crazy. The worship and sermon would then be combined into one video Friday and someone from the tech team would stream it Sunday morning.

As a family, we developed quite the comfortable routine. We had found a few churches that streamed their children’s worship and sermons from around the country and started our Sunday morning with the kids watching their church. We tried to get them involved, singing, doing the motions, etc. but in reality most often we sat on the couch in our pajamas under blankets. After the kid’s service was over, we would stream the sermon from the church we attended (if I wasn’t preaching, as I didn’t want to watch myself), or another church from around the country that had a pastor I enjoyed listening to. Again, sitting on the couch in our pajamas under blankets. If I am being completely honest, most often we would fast forward through the worship as the kids didn’t like the adult service worship and we already listened to the worship during the kid’s service.

Let’s be honest, church during COVID was very nice. It catered to everything we wanted.

We could watch at times that worked for us

We could fast forward through parts of the service we didn’t want to watch

We could select which church, pastor, and topic we listened to on any given week

AND...we didn’t have to get out of our pajamas

When the church we attended opened up again, it was in a very limited capacity. You had to wear masks, could only sit in every other row and there had to be 2 empty seats between families to ensure 6’ social distancing.

Needless to say many people did not come back.

And that has been true of many churches and has remained true.

COVID gave people

An excuse not to go to church

AND...turned church into just another podcast that would be listened to whenever was convenient for you

COVID made people ask the questions

WHY GO TO CHURCH?

WHAT VALUE DOES CHURCH PROVIDE FOR MY LIFE?

AND...many people did not come back to church

>75% of people don’t ever attend church

Of the 25% that do attend church, the average person attends only 1x per month (down from the 2x per month before COVID)

WE - Tension

This is obviously not true of everyone in this room because you chose to come to church today, but I think it is a good question to ask ourselves periodically...

Why do we go to church?

Why do we go to this church?

What is the benefit of going to church in person when we can tune in online?

Is there something about meeting in in person that cannot be replicated online?

These are the questions I’d like to talk about today as we start our new series titled “The 5W’s of Church”

Over the next 7 weeks, we’re going to go over our church’s mission, vision, and values to answer

WHY - THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH exists

WHO - we are as a local expression of the church, The Light KC

WHAT God is calling us to do as His church

WHY we feel God put The Light KC WHERE He has in Overland Park, KS

and...HOW - we as the church feel called to live out the mission and vision God has given us

I hope you’ll be able to join us each and every week for this series as we break down the mission, vision, and values that a group of 16 of you came up with earlier this year and look forward to what that means for us and our collective future.

We’ll be in quite a few different places in the bible today.

We’ll have the scripture on the screen, but if you have a Bible with you, or Bible app on your phone, I’d encourage you to turn to the passage and follow along. There is nothing that replaces having God’s word in your hand.

AND... if you don’t have a Bible, we have Bibles under the seats. If you don’t have a bible and would like one, please come see me after the service and I’ll get you one you can keep.

Let's dive in.

GOD - Text

I think, to answer these questions we have to do three things.

First, find out what the bible says about WHAT THE CHURCH IS

Second, find out what the bible says about WHAT PURPOSE THE CHURCH SERVES

Finally, find out what the bible says about WHAT THE CHURCH IS CALLED TO DO

So let’s start by answering the question, WHAT THE CHURCH IS...

The church is...the bride of Christ

This imagery is used to describe the church throughout the bible. One example I particularly appreciate is in Revelation 19:7-9

Revelation 19:7–9 NIV

Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.” (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God’s holy people.) Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” And he added, “These are the true words of God.”

And as the bride of Christ, we are to treat Christ as our beloved, as we would treat our spouse.

During wedding ceremonies, we promise that we will do three things for our spouses; love, honor, and cherish.

The church is called to do each of these things for Christ.

The question is...do we?

Let’s look at each one

Do we Love Christ?

Definition: To love someone is to put their needs before your own.

But loving God sometimes feels hard to get our minds around.

How do we love a God that is all powerful and needs nothing?

Luckily He tells us.

1 John 4:19–21 NIV

We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.

We love God by loving each other well.

Do we love our Christian brothers and sisters well?

Or...do we come to church to consume?

Like my story about COVID, do we treat faith like a buffet?

Engaging only when it is convenient for us

Only going if the music is exactly to our taste

Only going if the sermon topics speak directly to our current needs

Jumping ship, finding another church or leaving church altogether, if challenged to step outside of what we’re comfortable with

The problem we run into is that to love someone is to put them first.

Church is not a podcast, church is an opportunity to experience God’s presence with God’s family.

My love language is QUALITY TIME

Church is one of the main places we come and spend quality time with God; worshipping, praising, and hearing from Him with our fellow Christian brothers and sisters

So I ask you, do you Love Jesus?

Do we Honor Christ

Definition: To give great respect

Revelation 5:12–13 NIV

In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!”

Do we honor Christ by giving Him our respect?

If we are to honor Christ, we would need to...

do what He says

believe that He has our best interest at heart

that when we want something different than what Christ teaches, we submit to His will

Do we do these things, or do we treat Christ like a vending machine, only going to Him when we want or need something?

So I ask you, do you honor Jesus?

Do we Cherish Christ

Definition: To hold dear, care for, to keep in one’s mind

Romans 8:38–39 NIV

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

What separates you from the love of Christ?

How often does Christ enter your mind on any given day?

In 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Paul says that we should be praying continually.

The way I understand that is that we should be in a constant dialogue with Christ throughout the day as if we’re friends spending the day together.

Is Christ always with you, or do you only seek Christ’s presence when troubles arise?

The church, if we’re living out our call to be the bride of Christ, should be loving, honoring, and cherishing Christ.

So...The Church is the bride of Christ, but the church also...

The church serves... as an example of God’s Kingdom, here on earth

Romans 14:17 NIV

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,

When people think of this church, do they see us as an example of God’s Kingdom here on earth?

Do you think that the average person in Overland Park even thinks of this Church?

If The Light KC ceased to exist, would anyone in Overland Park care?

If not, we’re probably not serving as a very good example of God’s Kingdom.

So how do we, as the church, serve as an example of God’s Kingdom to the non-beleiving world?

Be a disciple

We start by each committing to be the best disciple of Christ that we can be.

John 8:31–32 NIV

To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Are we each doing everything we can to follow the teachings of Christ in the bible?

Are we doing everything we can to even know what those teachings are?

I’m so excited for our re-launched Wednesday bible study where we can dig deeper into the topic of the previous Sunday’s sermon together.

Last week was so good, we had such great questions and amazing discussion.

Everyone was truly seeking to understand what God is calling us to do, and how to practically live it out in their daily lives.

If you haven’t come to a Wednesday night since we switched to the new “digging deeper” format, I encourage you to do so

But to serve as an example of God’s Kingdom, we need to do more than be a disciple, we need to disciple others.

Disciple others

We have to actively work to help others become the best disciples they can be.

Mark 2:15–17 NIV

While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Jesus hung out with all kinds of people, teaching everyone, and helping them learn what it meant to follow Him.

We’re called to do the same.

This could be a friend, your children, your co-worker, another youth you know through volunteering, etc.

If you don’t have someone that you are actively pouring into, I’d encourage you to pray that God opens that door for you.

Finally, to serve as an example of God’s Kingdom, we need to model God’s love for us through how we love each other.

Model God’s love for the world by the way we love each other

Do we love each other well?

Does our love for each other, reflect the love that God has for us?

1 John 4:7–8 NIV

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

I think this is one area that this church does exceedingly well at.

It honestly was one of the main reasons my family chose to come down here.

It is rare when a community loves each other well.

My prayer is that we don’t lose this

I pray that we continue to love each other well, reflect God’s love to others, and love each and every person who join us in the future well.

So...the church is the bride of Christ

The church serves as an example of God’s kingdom to the non-believing world

But...the church is also called to seek and save the lost

The church is called...to seek and save the lost

Luke 19:10 NIV

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

I think as the church, to do this we each need to ask ourselves three questions regularly.

Do you love people? All people?

Matthew 5:43–48 NIV

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Are we doing this?

Can we say that we love our enemies? Wish the best for them?

Are we praying for people, regularly, that wish harm to us?

Do we love ALL people?

Do you have non-believing friends?

Matthew 4:19–20 NIV

“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him.

This is an area I have struggled with greatly since I moved down here.

To be honest, everyone I know and interact with is in this room.

Andrea and I have worked to get to know our neighbors, but for some reason they keep moving away. We’ve lost 3 on our cul-de-sac so far.

Having non-believing friends takes work. You have to be intentional to put yourself in situations and engage in activities where non-Christians will be.

But...if we’re only hanging out with other Christians, we’re not living our Jesus’ call on our lives.

Does the way you spend your time align with how Jesus spent His (disciple, serve, fellowship)?

Matthew 13:31–33 NIV

He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.” He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.”

We, as the church, are called to be the mustard seeds and yeast of the world.

We’re called to engage with the world, not to be influenced by the world, but be present in it, so that Christ’s message can be seen though our lives and heard through our words

As a church, we’re working to build relationships with and engage the community

Apache ES

Single Mom KC

Hillcrest Transitional Housing

Habitat

Care Portal

But...it requires that we all engage for the Church to be a presence in the world.

YOU - Takeaway

How are you doing in these areas?

The reality is, for The Light KC to be the church God calls us to be, we need everyone to engage

God uniquely gifted each of us with talents that are needed within His church to build His Kingdom

Ephesians 4:11–13 NIV

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Do you know your spiritual gifting?

Are you using your spiritual gift as God intended for you to use it when He gave it to you?

What next step is God calling you to take this week?

WE / JESUS - Redemptive Close - Call to Action

I want to close with a hard truth

As the church we are called to

be the bride of Christ

serve as an example of God’s Kingdom here on earth

seek and save the lost

But, to answer the question we started with, this can’t happen alone.

None of us can do these things on our own.

The church needs everyone, meeting together, worshipping together, learning together, encouraging each other, … to live our God’s purpose for the church.

COVID was an experience, but Church is not a podcast.

Selfishly consuming sermons like self-help books is not what God intended for the church.

If I was to define the church, it would be like this...

The church is a community of imperfect people representing God’s Kingdom here on earth to the community we’re in by loving, honoring, and cherishing Christ, seeking to not only be the best disciples of Christ that we can be, but help others find and grow in their faith as well.

And we’re not alone.

Matthew 18:20 NIV

For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

Jesus is with us every step of the way.

As for the congregation of this church, my prayer is that Psalm 84:10 can be a true statement for us all.

Psalm 84:10 NIV

Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.

Can we say that Sunday at 10 AM is the best hour of our week?

If not, come talk to me, I’d love to hear your ideas to continue to help this community get closer to what God created us to be.

So...

This spring, 16 of us met for weeks to prayerfully discern what God wants for The Light KC.

We feel like God showed us the following.

WHO ARE WE AS THE LIGHT KC

Mission: To reflect the light of God’s love and grace to everyone, everywhere, at all times.

WHY HAS GOD PLACED US IN THIS COMMUNITY

Vision: To be the family of God, where all people are welcomed, loved, invited into a saving relationship with Jesus, and sent to live out their God-given purpose.

I pray that as a church, The Light KC, continues to grow into the church that lives these out in everything we do.

PRAYER 

Will you join me in prayer...

SONG 

As we enter into our final song, I want to open the steps up front as an altar to anyone who needs God this week. The steps are open for you to pray to the God who is with you, who loves you, you wants to give you His peace.

‌

You may feel a hand on your shoulder as I or one of the elders join you in prayer.

BENEDICTION 

Hebrews 10:24–25 NIV

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

This week...

Let’s not look at church as a PODCAST that we can consume whenever it is convenient for us and good only for the information that we glean from it

As the church, let’s be the bride of Christ, loving, honoring, and cherishing Christ in all we do.

As the church, let’s serve as an example of God’s Kingdom through our acts of discipleship and our love for each other

As the church, let’s live out Christ’s call to seek and save the lost by loving all people, engaging with non-believers, and not being afraid to share our faith

This week, let’s live out our mission to reflect the light of God’s love and grace to everyone, everywhere, at all times.

And let’s continue to live out the vision that God has given this church to be the family of God, where all people are welcomed, loved, invited into a saving relationship with Jesus, and sent to live out their God-given purpose.

Quick reminder...

“Digging Deeper” Bible Study Wednesday at 6 PM (programming for all ages)

Mission / Evangelism Night - October 16 @ 6 PM - Please make every effort to come

If you’re new, please stop by our info desk, or see me. We’d love to say “hi” and get you know you a bit better.

I hope you have a great week.

Go in peace.

You are dismissed.

DISCIPLESHIP QUESTIONS (download into APP)

How does the concept of the church as the 'bride of Christ' affect your perception of your personal relationship with Jesus?

In what ways can we actively demonstrate our love for Christ through our actions towards others in the church community?

What does it mean to you to love and cherish Christ, and how can you implement this in your daily life?

How can our church improve in serving as an example of God's Kingdom to the non-believing world?

Reflect on how you might fulfill your role in seeking and saving the lost as part of The Light KC.

Why do you think many people may have stopped attending church after COVID, and what role do you think you can play in bringing them back?

How can you encourage your friends to see the value of attending church in person rather than just online?

Think about how you can show love to someone in your school or community who feels like an outsider.

What are some practical ways you can engage with non-believing peers while still being a faithful disciple of Christ?

How can you use your spiritual gifts to contribute to your church community this week?