Re:volve

Are you familiar with geocentric ideas? In the ancient world, especially Rome and Greece, the people believed that the Earth, not the Sun, was the center of the universe. This idea was based on the fact that from anywhere on the Earth all the other heavenly bodies- sun, moon, stars, were moving. This lead them to believe that everything else was spinning around the Earth. Of course with limited science and no rockets at their disposal, this idea was left unchallenged until around 1500 AD when Galileo and others began to teach our current understanding of how the universe revolves around the sun.

1500 years…that’s a long time. And for all of those years mankind had the silly notion that we are the center of the universe. They lived all that time thinking that if the Earth fell everything else would fall part. Well, its now 2019 and we know better now. We now know that the Sun is the center and it is the thing we depend on for light and life.

Today we continue to talk about Re: words as I share with you my heart from myself and for our church while I am on Sabbatical. Today we also stand together with Brother Andrew as he receives his ordination. So, today I couldn’t think of a better word than revolve.

The word revolve means to rotate around an a central axis. There is an anchor point to which the object spins. Can I ask, what is the central axis of this church? Of your life? Andrew, to what will be the central axis of your ministry? What do you rotate around?

In today’s passage we see Peter’s first public sermon since Jesus’ departure. Pentecost has just happened, and naturally when people start speaking in different langues and such someone needs to make a public address- so Peter stands.

Think about this for a moment, if there was anyone who would have had the clout, the courage, the ability to stand and place themselves at the center of church life it was Peter. After all, remember in when Peter makes his confession of faith? Jesus looks at him and says on this rock I will build my church. This would be the perfect moment for Pete to stand up and say “Well, Jesus did give me the keys, guys...” and place himself squarely in the middle of the new church, but that is not what Peter does.

Instead, Peter casts Jesus squarely in the center of the church. Jesus is the axis- the cornerstone, the base.

So, please appease me for just a few moments this morning as I would like to offer a few moments of pastoral reflection today- first to Andrew on this day of ordination, then to each of us as individuals, and then to us as a gathered church family.

Andrew- All of us are so glad that God brought you to Mt Zion. It really was by God’s grace that you found your way all the way from Fort Defiance to Linville. We have watched you grow as a minister, and we have taken a sense of pride in who you are becoming.

You have a long road of ministry ahead, friend. God has given you some amazing gifts for this journey. You are down to Earth, relateable, and humble. And we all know you have a deep and strong faith.

Andrew, like Peter, always cast and keep Jesus at the center of your ministry. As a pastor you will have many demands on your time, energy, and focus. As I heard someone say the other day, as a pastor I often feel like a stray dog at a whistlers convention. You will have sermons to write, prayers to pray, visits to make, and so much more. It will be easy to allow the demands of ministry, or people’s opinions, or your own ideas of what faith should look like to become the center of your ministry. Friend, here my heart- guard the center of your ministry. Yes, you are called to serve the church, and for this season in your life specifically here at Mt Z. but never forget you are called to serve Jesus through the vehicle of the church.

To each of us individually- A few weeks ago I preached on the worry passage and how God will take care of us. At the end of that passage in Jesus encourages us to store up treasure in heaven, and reminds us all that where our treasure is, is where our heart is- or in this context our center. One of the easiest ways of telling what is in the center of your life is to take an inventory of how we use our time, treasure, and talent.

In 2005 Barna research found that 73% of Christians said that they are not growing in Spirituality- whats more troubling than that? of those 73% another 80% said that they lacked to time and effort to do anything about it and 50% said they did not think God wanted them to grow.

Friends, I cannot make you grow in Christ, neither can your wife, or your mother, and truth be told God cannot grow you in until you are ready to make discipleship a priority in your life.

Remember, your life can revolve around good things too. Many people revolve their lives around their kids, or their marriage. These things are certainly better than a lot of other things that we can revolve around- but they are not what Scripture calls us to revolve around- Jesus.

As A Gathered Church- So, if we were to lay our cards on the table right now, what story would they tell about us as a church? What is the center of our church, what do we revolve around? That is something I am going to praying about during my Sabbatical, both for myself and for our church.

The world is crazy and too often churches revolve around things like budgets and attendance everything they do is dictated by numbers. Other churches are revolving around the culture- we have to update our music or our style to stay alive. Or my greatest fear as a pastor, that I or any pastor would become the center axis of this church.

If there is one thing that I hope continues to be lifted high while I am on Sabbatical I hope it is that Jesus is the Conerstone of this church- Jon is not! Please, never allow anything or anyone take the place of Christ in this church.

But how? Do we have some sort of guide on how the church keeps Jesus at the center of our ministry? Of course we do! Scripture starts to paint a litmus test for us as we are doing this work. I want to read a few of the Scriptures that provide the framework for evaluating our ministry.

Matthew 28:17–20 ESV

And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Matthew 28:

Matthew 25:34–40 ESV

Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

:

English Standard Version Chapter 28

And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

English Standard Version Chapter 25

Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

English Standard Version Chapter 25

Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

1 Corinthians 14:26 ESV

What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up.

Hebrews 10:24–25 ESV

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

At the end of the day, we are called to consider what we are doing for the Kingdom of God in this church, and is Christ the center. Too many people evaluate churches with the wrong systems. They evaluate by attendance, or if the music is good, or if the preacher gives them chills and goosebumps. They look at all of these external factors and make those an evaluation of the church. But listen to what  “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.

It is spiritual fruit.

We can paint a pretty good picture if we judge by anything else.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), .

Man, attendance has almost doubled

Right now our average attendance is around 120.

Our offerings are right on track with what we need to make budget.

We have integrated a praise team and some modern tech into our worship time

We have done a major building expansion and 2 significant renovation projects.

Some would say these are the measurements of how we are doing as a church, and they are part of the equation, but they do not tell the whole story. Can I tell you the things that make me most energized as a pastor? They are these:

We have baptized at least 2 people every year since my call to this church

Every person who reaches out to this church is offered assistance- it may not always be money, sometimes it is food or another resource,but we do anything we can to help those in need.

We support local missions and efforts in Ava Care, the Arc, Habitat, and others, we international missions with Grace to the Nations, Pastor Geordanny, and Operation Christmas Child

We have around 180 active members- among them are people as old as in their 80’s, down to little Eli who is 1, we have men and women, singles and married, widowed and divorced. We have big families and small families. The church at large has allowed sexuality as the only thing that constitutes if a congregation is “inclusive” or not. That is a lie. We hold a pretty conservative view of sexuality here at Mt Zion, but I will tell you that I see this church as inclusive at it gets because there is no one- NO ONE who walks in our doors who is not invited to worship the good King Jesus will us, and that makes my heart soar as a minister.