Mission of the Church: The Next Steps Intro

This summer, we are going to explore three very specific themes to help us carry the messages that we received as part of the Vitality program into our future here at CHC. The point of us doing these studies over the summer is to understand that the message of the vitality program is nothing new and it certainly isn’t anything we have not talked about before, but rather as a reminder that we are to be good stewards of everything that we have been given and that includes the Vitality of our church. So today we begin that journey and I want to give us a scriptural basis for this time...

John 15:16 NIV

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.

Jesus chose each one of us to be here, to be part of this body of Christ, this church. But, the second half of that statement is just as important as this first part…so that you might go and bear fruit. We are called to bear fruit in this world and the fruit that we bear, leaves a lasting mark on the world. No matter how small or insignificant we may feel at times, this church has and will continue to make its mark on the world, but it is up to us as the bodies of this church to listen and do. Remember this too…the building is not the church but rather the people who gather within the protective shelter of its walls are the ones who make up the church. Before I get too far this morning, I want to share a little illustration of how I think many folks think of the church...

There's the story of a man who was lost on a deserted island for a decade. When he was finally rescued people were astounded to discover that he had built an entire town out of palm branches. There was a movie theater — with no movies, of course — a grocery store with empty shelves, an apartment building, a department store, several houses, and at each end of the little town he had built a church. So, there was the North End Church and the South-side Church. He was asked why had he done it. His very simple reply, "To keep sane." When he was pressed to explain why there were two churches, he said, "Well, this church, on the North End, over here is the place where I worshiped my Creator. Though I was cast adrift, cut off from all human contact, I never felt alone because God is with me, and even though the pews were empty I felt that the communion of saints, believers both past and present, were never more than a breath away. I needed this church more than I needed life itself." When asked about the other church, "Oh, that," he replied curtly. "That's the church I wouldn't be caught dead in."

Our Ideas of Church

We all have different ideas about what makes a church and what a church is called to do. So much so, in fact, most Christians disagree about what a church looks like or even should be doing. Some believe that you need to have a huge cathedral to feel like you connect with God. Some believe that having a building only holds you back from the work that God truly expects from us. Still others believe that the building and its maintenance is what makes a church a church and unless you have stained glass windows, you cannot truly do the work of God. I have my ideas of what church should be and I am going to keep them to myself at this time, just understand that I don’t think there is one concrete idea of what God expects of the church, but there is some wisdom and truth in each of these perspectives. The issue comes down to what the people, the actual body of Christ, believe their vision and calling to be in this world is and more importantly what God is calling those same people to do in the world to make it more like the Kingdom of God. Here’s the thing, we need to be open to God’s vision for us, that is the key to discovering who and what we are as God’s people in this world.

So, as we begin this study and this period of time in which we will be reflecting on what we have learned from the Vitality program, we need to begin by opening our hearts to the movement of God in our lives. I don’t know how each of us does this on a daily basis but it is something that is really important to our spiritual lives and to our lives in general. Because, we truly need to discover the way that God speaks to and through us in today’s world.

The Power and Authority of the Church’s Mission

The church of today is vastly different than the church of Paul’s time. Would you agree with me if I made that sweeping statement? The world has changed and so have people. Because of this, the church has also changed throughout history, right? At one time, the church did not have buildings but rather met in places where people felt connected to God. For some people of Paul’s time, more specifically, the early church, that place was in the home of someone they knew or their own home. For some people of the first churches, that place was in a building where they felt the Spirit moving amongst the people gathered. For others, that place might have been in nature.

We find ourselves today in the midst of some early Christians who found their power and authority at a river’s edge. Here’s the one thing we really need to keep in our hearts for this morning and going forward for that matter, our power and authority comes from God through Christ not through the four walls of this building. This is merely a place, a physical place, where we can connect with God but it is not the only place we could or should be connecting with God. We should be finding God in the midst of everything we see and do.

With that being said, I want to spend just a few moments speaking about Lydia because she could be any one of us here today. As such, she should be an example for us going forward...

Believers continue Jesus Christ’s mission

Paul is the main character of this section of the book of Acts and historically speaking, we find ourselves amid his second missionary journey. This journey from Antioch into and through what is part of modern day Europe, leads him to a place where there is no synagogue in which to worship on the Sabbath.So, Luke tells us that Paul and his fellow travelers go in search of another place in which to worship and they discover some believers at the side of the river.

This group of believers consists mainly of women, one of whom is named Lydia. Based upon what Luke reveals about her, we can presume that Lydia is quite wealthy. She is a dealer in cloth and not just any cloth but purple cloth. She is the leader of a household, which tells us that 1) she owned a house and 2) she had servants. These things give a glimpse of who Lydia was but what does any of this have to do with us today or what our summer study will teach us…wellllll, it is stated in verse 14 for us:

Acts 16:14 The Message

One woman, Lydia, was from Thyatira and a dealer in expensive textiles, known to be a God-fearing woman. As she listened with intensity to what was being said, the Master gave her a trusting heart—and she believed!

For us over the coming months, we need to have the heart of Lydia. I know that change is difficult and that doing new things is scary. I get it…I am one of those people who resists change the most. I don’t like anyone to mess with my routine or the things that I have grown accustomed to doing. But here’s the thing…a few moment ago, we all agreed that the first church and the churches of Paul’s time were vastly different from what we have grown accustomed in today’s society. Yes, the main reason for that is that our society is vastly different from Paul’s. If you think about it, our society and what we are accustomed to is vastly different than the society of even say, 30 years ago. Yes?

If that is the case, then I think I need to challenge us to question why we are so happy and comfortable with doing the same things we did 30 years ago…if we admit that the church has evolved since the first church was brought together, then why is it that we want to cling so hard to the things that we continue to do and that have not been different than even 5 years ago. I would argue that the reason we want to cling to the comfortable is that we are just that, comfortable. And I have to believe that God has so much more for us…so many more blessings, so many more folks with whom to associate, and so many more visions for us to see.

The Task of the Church in Mission

We have many things that I believe God is calling us to consider but if we don’t open our hearts to the possibility that God might have more in store for us, we are going to go the way of many of the churches that were in this area just 100 years ago or even 50 years ago. Lydia’s story stands in stark contrast to what the norms of that society were and yet God chose to send Paul into her midst to develop a worshiping congregation amongst people who did not know the risen Christ. But because Paul was willing to listen, and Lydia was willing to be open to God’s prompting, there was something new created.

As we delve into what it is that God has in store for us over the summer, we are going to look at some of the next steps for us as a worshiping congregation by looking at stories from the early church and exploring what it means to train vs. try, who our mission might be to reach, what it might mean to invite others to join us on our journey, learning to live a life of gracious friendship, among other topics. I pray that WE will be different at the end of the summer and that we have opened our hearts enough to hear what God might have in store for us...

Prayer

Let us pray…gracious and loving God, as we delve into listening this summer, help us to open our hearts to your voice and the movement of the spirit amongst us. When we are challenged, strengthen us. When we want to close ourselves off, open our spirits. And God, when we want to say that we can’t or that it won’t work or it never worked like that before, give us the courage to step out in faith, trusting in you and your instructions for us, Amen.