"I want the whole Christ for my Savior, the whole Bible for my book, the whole Church for my fellowship, and the whole world for my mission field." - John Wesley (Founder of Methodism)
Rick Warren did something most pastors would never do during a sermon celebrating Saddleback's 30th anniversary. He said, "Let me just be honest with you as somebody who loves you. If you passively just want to sit around in the next 10 years and just waste your life on things that won't last, you probably want to find another church because you're not going to really feel comfortable here. Because if you're in this church, I'm coming after you to be mobilized." Saddleback Church in Southern California initiated a strategy to reach twelve international cities with the story of Jesus Christ and how following him can change the world. You can read about it here.
Passive Christianity is dying out for good reason. Many local churches are vigorously mobilizing for a global expansion. People everywhere are beginning to crave an active Christianity that ignites our passion to whole-heartedly serve Jesus Christ and help others know him in a transformational way. How Christians live after they say "yes" to Jesus matters. Worship is our response to his love, acceptance and forgiveness. We then set out to share the good news in mission to the lost and broken world. We are to reflect Jesus Christ. We are not only consumers of Christ's work. We are to be doers of Christ's mission. The consumer mentality many Christians suffer dissolves when Jesus Christ puts his arm around our shoulders, turns us toward the lost and broken world and says, "Go into the world and preach the good news to all creation." (Mark 16:15 NIV) There is plenty of work to do.
Our current preaching series is called Forged (what happens after we say "yes" to Jesus). Our biblical text is the Apostle Paul's response letter to issues raised by the church in Corinth, Greece. You may want to read it for yourself and discover the topics the early church struggled with over 2,000 years ago aren't much different than the issues we face today. This week we will be challenged to think about our Christian behavior within the church when it comes to lawsuits. (I Corinthians 6) How shall we act toward one another within the church? What does our conduct say to those outside the church? Christian character must certainly be forged within us. Our whole decision making process must be altered if we are to be formed into the image and likeness of Christ. The Apostle Paul believed the people of the church could be righteous leaders in the church. So do we. Join us this weekend and find out why being forged into the image of Christ matters not only to us but to the entire world.
"Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s." I Corinthians 6: 19-20 NKJV
-Pastor Jen