08/21/21 "All In"
Well here we are… and I’m feeling it
when I first began to realize we would be here
I would like to tell you…God is working on me
Took the summer
to learn how much I don’t know
To think and pray about what God has for this church
My realization: we are not short staffed
300 people sitting here that God has called into full time ministry
Introducing the series:
where we are
sometimes what we expect of ourselves, our impression of ourselves and what we can do, are called to do, or are able to do - is considerably less than What God has in mind for us.
“It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”
― C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory, and Other Addresses
This is what All In is about - about finding God’s calling individually...
God’s calling collectively...
Out of love for us
God knows what is best is not partial commitment, but complete, total, life encompassing commitment to Him
Need everyone!
Who are we?
Let’s look at the first one:
All are welcome here
Just because you’re here doesn’t mean...
Our message will be
Uniquely Christian
Uniquely Adventist
Most of us here have chosen this. But here’s the thing - there isn’t really a way to dip your toes in. If you have chosen Jesus, he wants all of you. He wants you to be all in.
we sometimes seem to forget that. We think following Jesus only applies to church or bible study.
What does Jesus ask of us?
59 To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” 60 And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” 61 Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” 62 Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Lk 9:57–62). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
First of all - it is setting a new priority
Other priorities don’t automatically become bad - they are just no longer what your life is about. There is no longer room for other priorities. In EVERYTHING - Jesus comes first.
Jesus is saying: “I have to be the first priority in your life, or you’re not a disciple; if you don’t put me first in your life, it’s not that you’re just uncommitted or lazy, disorganized or undisciplined. No, you just don’t get it! You don’t really see who I am and what I’ve done; you don’t understand the meaning of my life and work. You need to wake up!” - Timothy Keller
one example from a speaker, Barbara Boyd
One example that I found helpful is to think about your name...
“To say, ‘Jesus, come into my life, forgive my sins, answer my prayers; do this for me, do that for me—but don’t be the absolute master of my life; Jesus, Savior, come in; but Lord, stay out,’ how can he come in at all? Because he’s all Savior, and he’s all Lord. He’s Lord because he’s Savior. He’s Savior because he’s Lord.” - Barbara Boyd
You have to decide - are you willing to put everything in that order?
All in = Jesus First in All
Jesus first in family
Jesus first in schedule
Jesus first in ALL interactions?
What does Jesus first look like?
We know that we can’t see Jesus now, but he gave us something better - his spirit. Anytime we need to know if something is from Jesus, reflects jesus, is Jesus first, we have the spirit to guide us. And here is what the spirit does in us:
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” -Galatians 5:22,23
All in=Jesus first=fruit of the Spirit
this is who I want to be
I won’t do it perfectly, but I serve an infinitely patient God
value in seeing my imperfection
When I truly see myself, I can no longer look down on others.
Value in growth - gives me patience with others
God doesn’t get impatient with us.
Teachers - how much joy is there when you see students have their aha moments? Teachers don’t think “good, now moving on, we are going to get them good at everything, instantly” - there is value and joy in the journey
Through Prayer
All of this only works in relationship, and we know that relationships revolve around communication. We will be talking more about prayer through this time.
we are a praying church
we need to keep lines of communication with God open
All In = Jesus First = Fruit of the Spirit = Prayer
Transition: Will be unpacking more - but this is a jumping off point, even if this is all you are here for. Take this, chew on it, is it right? Is it incomplete? What is missing?
God is calling you into service
This isn’t just about living your normal life and inviting God in - that matters! AND - we are called to be in active service
I don’t know about you, but when I hear about needs, I feel guilty
Over this series, you’re going to be hearing about ministries
Local, international, church, kids, more
We don’t need 300 deacons, or 300 Sabbath school leaders or praise teams or even 300 ACS volunteers (seriously, 3 would be an answer to prayer)
What we ABSOLUTELY need is 300+ people who are all.in. in serving - people who have found their own unique way of serving Jesus. If everyone here was active in ministry, the results would be exponential
Ok - but how?
glad you asked :)
In the weeks to come...
meanwhile
Engaged Class:
Friday, August 27, 6:00-7:30
Friday, September 10, 6:00-7:30
Sabbath, September 11 9:30-11:00 a.m.
Tuesday, September 21, 7:00-8:00 p.m. via Zoom
Jesus is calling you - all of you.
All one body
“May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 15:5,6
will be coming back to this
All in=Jesus First=Fruit of the Spirit=Prayer=All In
God wants infinitely more than you can imagine for you. You are precious and beloved. I invite you to be all in today.