One Prayer, week 2
This week, Fellowship Church continued the church (small c) wide series “One Prayer” with 1493 other churches and 849, 036 people (at last count). We represent a small portion of that numerically, but I feel like our church is coming together to pray and to fellowship in ways that I could have never imagined. I’m so excited about the direction of “the FC” and how our people are stepping to become part of the “One church” God wants us to be.
This week’s service is one I won’t forget for a long time, from beginning to end, as there just seemed to be a spirit of humility and unity in the entire room. I can’t of course speak for everyone, but I’m just sharing my perception of the morning. I spoke on my “one prayer” for the church-at-large – “God, make us lead.” I thought I would share my outline with you in this post, in case you missed it or were interested. Later I’ll share the podcast.
“Make us lead”
“Leadership is not reserved for those in position power. The leader is the one who cares most about the mission or endeavor.”- by someone.
Our mission – “To lead people into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ.
How do I make other people want to lead? Dont teach them bullet points, or that it’s cool to lead, teach them to care with all their hearts about “Leading people into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ.”
As a church, what I want for us is to be successful at our mission, “to LEAD”
To lead is to care. This is not about personality!
If you don’t “care” about your (Family, job, time, finances) someone will “care” (lead) for you.
My testimony – Good kid. Went to Christian school, Christian college, bought Christian t-shirts, and I didn’t care.
The story of Samson, the judge who God had a purpose for, but didn’t care.
Hebrews 12:1a -
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith,
“let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up.” (Hinders our progress)
Sexual sin
Pride
greed,
gossip
And then there are the things that probably aren’t sin, but just hold us up. What are those things in your life?
“sin takes you farther than you want to go, keeps you longer than you want to stay, and costs more than you want to pay.”
“And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.”
Hupomones – “the characteristic of a person who is not swerved from his or her deliberate purpose and his or her loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and sufferings.”
I’m afraid for some the hardships are too hard and the discipline it takes to follow Christ is too great, and so we’re not willing.
Hebrews 12:5-11
“No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening!”
We have to be willing to overcome. Willing to go through adversity. (email 1)
Usually what we do is complain, gossip, and worry.
“People become our heroes because they fight through things and overcome circumstances, not because they’re glorious.”
Become somebodys hero!
and here’s how we do that (run with endurance), the writer of Hebrews says,
“by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish.”
So this is how the author finishes the thought in Hebrews 12:12,13
12 So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. 13 Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those follow you, the weak and lame, will not fall but become strong.
Because what you do will be effects those people who follow you – your kids, your friends, your loved ones.
1. Heroes seem to be in the right place at the right time.
2. Heroes fight through adversity.
3. Heroes don’t have to tell everyone what they did.
4. Heroes work on it, or they stop becoming heroes
Become somebodys hero!
Here’s what this looks like for the church - creating environments for people that are relevant and focused for people to connect and grow in a relationship with Jesus Christ.
How you can be a part:
Do what you can do.
Build real community in the life of your church. (why I believe in small groups)
care about the mission.
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