Paul’s Thanksgiving Summary
1 Thessalonians 1:2-3

1.     INTRO: You don’t want us to do cheesy corporate outreach, do you?  But we do have a charge from God to reach out, don’t we?

Ø    So how do we live out our mission?

Ø    Authentically…, but authentically what?

Ø    Real Christ-followers.

Ø    New book, 1st passage from leaders retreat, so…

2.     Scripture, 1 Thessalonians 1:2-3

Ø    Each of the 3 remembered things of vs.3 has to do with service: work, labor, & endurance.  The last is likely the endurance in this work & labor.

3.     Live by Faith

A.    What Faith Is

Ø    Not primarily what we do because of doctrine we believe. “The Bible says…”

Ø    It is not what we do because we know it will work out the way we hope and envision it.

Ø    It’s what we do because we know God can be trusted.

Ø    Some might argue this isn’t what vs.2 means; that it’s faith in Jesus & his work on the cross.  But this is trusting him; turning away from self leadership & deciding He can be trusted to lead.

B.    Why Don’t We See It?

Ø    If Jesus is God, if God is good, if life in Christ is joy-filled and abundant, why don’t our lives consistently demonstrate that we trust him?

Ø    One of the greatest obstacles to living by faith is being too ok with the ways things are, in our personal lives and in the world.  Status quo.

Ø    We must become desperate for change and convinced that only God can be trusted to do it.

Ø    To truly evolve from one more organization to an organic movement of Christ-followers we must fully live by faith, making more and more decisions that prove God can be trusted.

Ø    Muslim evangelism risk 20:38 – 27:35 (7”)

C.    Do Our Lives Prove God Can Be Trusted?

Ø    What r we doing that proves God can be trusted?

Ø    We took “The Box” on faith.  We did not grow as fast as expected, but we are still here.  But, taking “The Box” on faith isn’t big enough is it?

Ø    I put my family on the line moving here.

Ø    Baby Steps:

·   Someone who broke up with his boyfriend.

·   Another quit running from overwhelming life challenges unsure how God would work it out.

·   Another covered that person’s rent for months so that they could climb out.

·   Many others sacrifice lots of hours & money that could have been spent on pleasures investing it in the kingdom instead.

Ø    They were all convinced that God can be trusted when he says life lived this way is better.

4.     Known by Love

Ø    Love must begin in God, but it must flow to others or it is false.  We love because he first loved us.  If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.  And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.  1 John 4:19-21.

Ø    Love God with all, love neighbor, love enemies, known by love for one another.

Ø    People aren’t a project, they’re to be loved.  God loves us & wants us to enjoy & be w/him 4ever.

Ø    R we busy running programs or loving people?

Ø    @CCC we avoid programs, preferring simpler people-centered activities, because we agree, in matters of love you must go personally.

Ø        Can people look @CCC & say “people are their highest value” that our labor is prompted by love?

Ø    Rainy homeless man = “best sermon,” son caught on steps 32:28 – 40:01 (7½”)

Ø    People aren’t moved by systems & teaching alone.  They want to know “if I jump, will the Father catch me?” We must be the proof.

Ø    Segue: Recap Main Points

5.     Voice of Hope (40’)

Ø    Hope – Unrealized expected future.  Due to God’s power & promises, tomorrow will be better than today.

Ø    If we live by faith and are known by love, I belief we almost per force become a voice of hope.  Our radically changed lives will scream that God can do the same for other broken people.

Ø    We must simply make this thought clear in our minds and then speak it to others.

Ø    Is there more hope in Christ @CCC than desperation in the world?

Ø    The future can be ours to create in Christ.

Ø    Give us faith that you can do in the 21st century what you did in the first.

6.     Invite:

Ø    Will you live in a way that proves to others that God can be trusted?

Ø    Will you jump and trust God to catch you; for your own sake and for the sake of those who are watching?