Build a Better Story
Building a Better Story • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Build a Better Story
Build a Better Story
Good morning. I am so glad you chose to join us this morning here in person and online. Please help us get the word out about our amazing church family by subscribing, liking, and sharing today’s message.
I want to thank everyone involved with everything leading up to Easter and the Easter Service. I t was great a Sunday and we want to keep moving forward.
Every Sunday is resurrection Sunday.
Next week we are beginning a new series traveling through the book of Hebrews called “Greater Than”.
This week, I wanted to stop, take a breath, and remember the direction we are going in, where we are headed, and how we will get there.
Open your Bibles, phones, or tablets to Ephesians 2.
As your doing that let me ask how many of you like big stories?
You know like epic tales. It could be reading or watching movies.
Story and storytelling has always been a huge part of who we are as people.
Eugene Peterson once said:
“It is significant that God does not present us with salvation in the form of an abstract truth, or a precise definition or a catchy slogan, but as story. . . . Story is an invitation to participate, first through our imagination and then, if we will, by faith, with our total lives in response to God.”
Build a Better Story
Build a Better Story
All our lives tell a story.
Some may be broken and hard, while others are of excitement and adventure. We are all telling a story.
THis church is telling a story.
Starting in 2017 in a home, going through the joy of setting up and tearing down every week at a school, facing the struggles of a pandemic, and buying property for a home.
Now a new chapter is beginning and I thought it was a good time to be reminded that our story is not done and God is calling us to build a better story.
THis is what I want to dive into today.
I ask you to please stand with me as we read and hear the only words that can change our story.
11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands—
12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace,
16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.
17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.
19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,
20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.
22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
Let’s pray.
Build a Better Story
Build a Better Story
There is no story we could ever think of for ourselves or this church that could could out-do God’s story for us.
In fact anything we build will eventually fall apart.
Why do you think we call ruins ruins. They are ruined.
Just like any building or structure you build, our story has to have a solid foundation.
Building a better story begins with building from faith.
11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
Building a better story begins with building from faith.
Remember, we all started at the same place.
We were all lost.
John Newton, the author of Amazing grace, would always say “There are 2 things I know, I am great sinner, and Jesus is a great savior.”
We were separated from God and really each other.
But for those of us who have surrendered to Christ, our story has changed.
13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility
Building a better story begins with building from faith.
We continue growing in that new story.
We do not grow alone.
15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.
Building a better story begins with building from faith.
We are to grow in that faith together. The foundation is His word and us growing in understanding and living it out.
14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,
Building a better story by building for families.
Jesus came to restore and reconcile us to a relationship with the Father.
17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.
Building a better story by building for families.
Also to restore relationship to each other as family
19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,
Building a better story by building for families.
We are created and desire community.
We need each other to live.
The most basic form of the is the family.
Before God ordained a nation , or the church, He created the family.
It is the core of society.
It is why Ronald Reagan said:
“Because there's nothing more important to all of us and nothing more important to our society and our nation and our future than the family. The family is where our children learn a moral view; it's where the values of personal responsibility and loyalty and kindness are taught. And it's not saying too much to say as the family goes, so goes the nation.”
Building a better story by building for families.
Our families are being attacked and falling a part.
We as a church commit to stand for and with the families of our community.
20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.
Building a better story by building for families.
This is why we must have men’s and women’s ministry to support, encourage and hold accountable.
We must have children and youth ministries to come along side parents to support them as they disciple their kids.
We need small groups and Bible studies to grow in our knowledge, understanding, and faith.
Every person and every family in Apopka deserves a chance to hear the Gospel and make up their own minds.
THis is the story God is building in our world and we are invited to join Him here in Apopka, in New Mexico, in India, and everywhere else He wants us to go.
Building a better story as we build for the future.
22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
Building a better story as we build for the future.
Notice it said: being built.
It is an ongoing process that continues moving forward.
We celebrate our history, but we move forward.
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
Building a better story as we build for the future.
We run the race set before us. Have we shared the Gospel with everyone in Apopka?
Then we aren’t done.
Even if it it one small step ahead each day, we keep moving forward.
We do not know what is coming, and how it is going to work out, when it is going to happen, but we know WHO.
We don’t wait for anything except God.
Build a Better Story
Build a Better Story
We are building abetter story.
We believe a big part of that is developing this property so that we have the room and resources to serve more people and families.
Many of us made commitments to this vision and direction.
We committed financially, to pray, to serve.
Honestly I believe some have taken the position of lets wait and see what is going to happen.
Let me tell you this is not about building a building or about who is standing up here.
This is about reaching:
12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
Build a Better Story
Build a Better Story
Outside these doors there are people and families feeling hopeless.
We have the opportunity to change that story.
It will take renewed commitment.
It will take sacrifice.
It will take faith and trust
"Relying on God has to begin all over again everyday as if nothing had yet been done." — C.S. Lewis.
Build a Better Story
Build a Better Story
Let this story begin again
For those of us who have committed - recommit.
For those who haven’t - now is the time. You can talk to one of the Pastors and we can sit down with you about it..
Today I urge you let God write the story of your life and this church.
Let’s pray.
