Back to Church Sunday--the importance of inviting others

BACK TO CHURCH SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30th, 2012, 10:30 AM

Back to Church Sunday, September 30th, 10:30AM

Back to Church Sunday, September 30th, 10:30 AM--"Come as you are", an international movement

A promotional video from 2009. The movement is still going strong!

You are invited! Come and visit us for our special Back to Church Sunday Service, September 30th, 10:30am, and then join us for a barbecue with our friends from Bread of Life Community Church

BACK TO CHURCH SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30TH, 10:30 AM

 Every invitation Counts!

BACK TO CHURCH SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30th

JOIN US FOR "BACK TO CHURCH SUNDAY" September 30th, 10:30 AM

Ever think about going to church?  Don't feel you're "good enough" to be in church? Check this out.

September 16th sermon: Jesus' Church Growth Program

                                                

One of the big questions which has been on the hearts of Christians living in the western world, especially in this city, has been the question of church growth.

            How can we grow the church? This question has become central. In the face of declining attendance, closing congregations, leaders have been scrambling to develop solutions. And many church growth programs have been developed and offered. There’s been lots of talk, lots of discussion, lots of seminars, tons of books, and all kinds of formulas.  Perhaps more cookies have been baked and coffee has been brewed  to keep people awake for long-winded lectures, seminars and meetings over this question than any other.

            But when we read scripture, we actually find that Jesus has something to say about church growth. When we open the Gospel of Mark to the 16^th chapter, we red about the ascended Christ speaking to his disciples. In verse 16 Jesus says, “ Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation,” In Matthew, chapter 28 Jesus says to these same disciples, “ 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.” In Luke Jesus says, “ Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.”  So we see that Jesus was very interested in growing the church, and he tells his disciples very clearly how it is to be done—through witness and discipleship.

             Witness  and Discipleship. To witness is to testify, give testimony.  Witnesses in a court of law testify to what they have seen, what they have heard.  They are called to speak the truth about whatever matter is being judged. So those early disciples were called by Jesus to testify, give testimony, to  speak about the truth  they had seen and heard. And what they had seen and heard was Jesus, Jesus the Saviour, and speak about the foundational difference he has made to the world and to their lives. Jesus didn’t just talk about Good News, he was and is and will be the Good News. Through his life death and resurrection,  the great gift of eternal life has been offered to all. Through Jesus God’s New Creation has begun and will be completed when Christ returns again. When the disciples followed Jesus, their lives were difference.  When he came to them after his resurrection, there could be no turning back—their lives would never be the same again. Jesus makes a difference in the lives of people. To this truth those disciples were called to witness. To this truth, all disciples of Jesus, across time and space are called to witness. In fact, Jesus commanded it “ Go into the world and proclaim the good news to all creation.”

            “ Go into the world and proclaim the good news to all creation.” Well what does that mean? It means to testify to Jesus, to speak about Jesus, but more importantly to speak about Jesus through actions.  It is to witness to Jesus through what we do and who we are.  It was true then, and its true now, that what people pay attention to most  are actions. And those actions are key part of the first component of Jesus’ church growth program.

            This brings us to the second key piece of Jesus’ church growth program, and that’s discipleship. I’ve already used that word a couple of times, but what does it mean? What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus. It means to follow him in every way. It means to do everything he says. It means to get the job done the way he wants it done in every single aspect of our lives.

            Now that isn’t easy. It means giving up a lot. Really it means giving up everything for Jesus. This is the call of Jesus, and we read it today. “ if any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lost their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel will save it.”  Now those are perhaps the scariest, and most challenging, most  difficult words we’re going to read in any of the gospel accounts. Scary and difficult because we naturally like what we have, we naturally like to be comfortable, we don’t like to give up things.  Even in the church, we don’t like to give up things that might not be essential—or make things essential that are really not  But giving up things isn’t even the scariest part. It’s  taking what Jesus has to offer and what Jesus has to offer is the cross—the cross of suffering and shame endured out of total obedience to God. And we naturally do not want any part of that.  Those original disciples, the chosen twelve, they didn’t want any part of it. So when the trouble came, and Jesus was headed for crucifixion, all of them, every single one, got out of Dodge as fast as they could.

            So we see that discipleship is not easy. But it is the second necessary piece of Jesus’ church growth program. 

            But how can we do it? How can we fallible humans, with our attachments and shortcomings, foibles, and selfishness be these disciples of Jesus? How can I do it? How can I take up that cross and really follow Jesus?

            Well, first of all, we need to know which cross Jesus is telling us to take up.

             In today’s gospel lesson Jesus speaks to the disciples about his crucifixion and death. He is speaking plainly about what is going to happen to Him. He is speaking of the cross which looms ominously on the horizon, the cross which has yet to be filled with his body.

            When Jesus speaks to us today, and tells us to take up our crosses, he is speaking of the same cross--but with a key and foundational difference.

             It is not the cross which has yet to be filled. It is the cross which has been filled, and which now is empty, and never has to be filled again. Jesus Christ filled that cross once and for all. It is the cross of total and complete fulfillment which is to be the one which we carry. On Easter Morning we process the empty cross into our worship space to show that it is finished, that the saving work has been done.  And this is the cause for celebration. Jesus, perfectly obedient, perfectly righteous imputes—or gives—his righteousness to us.

            So discipleship is not rooted in ourselves.  It is rooted in Christ alone Through the Holy Spirit, he gives us the power to do it.

            You see the empty cross represents freedom—the freedom to be witnesses and disciples of Jesus even while we struggle as sinners. So those reasons some folks might have for not witnessing or standing back from the work such as “Well I’m not holy enough, learned enough”.  Those excuses don’t stand up. After his resurrection Jesus entrusted the same fallible humans who had turned their backs on him, to build his church and bear the empty cross.

              If you are a Christian, then Jesus has made a difference in your life. He has made a difference in your life by suffering  death so that you do not have to die eternally. He became sin so you don’t have to stand in judgment for those sins. He has given you hope  that the world cannot give.  And he has called you to be his witness and his disciple.  And he has also entrusted you and the rest of his church, all the members of the body, to do his work on earth.  

            Today, the morning bible study group, resumed its study of the Book of Acts. And that Book we read about how the Holy Spirit Grew the church, how the Spirit gifted the disciples of Jesus. We read about their work—their work of witness and discipleship. That work—that work of witness and discipleship hasn’t ended. It has been passed on to those who confess Christ as Lord wherever they might be, and that includes this place, this  neighbourhoods, our families and friendship circles, and even our places of work. Are people not going to like it? Count on it.  But count on this: Jesus has given us everything and wants others to know that he has given them everything as well.  This is our call—this work of witness and discipleship. And in carrying it need to pray and trust God in the direction is leading us, confidence in God’s love and guidance.  Now may the peace which surpasses all understanding  guard your hearts and minds in Chrsit Jesus. Amen.