The Call to Be Missional

We are now a few weeks in to our summer preaching series: The Call to Be Missional.  I am having a blast with series.

The Call to be Missional

We are taking a look at the Great Commission and how it relates to Powell Church’s mission statement to Win the Lost, Make Disciples, and Meet the Needs of People.  In addition to that, we are also looking at Jesus’ parables and teachings prior the the resurrection and recognizing how they all point toward the Great Commission.  This series runs through September 26.

We began the series on July 18 with the story of Jesus and Zacchaeus.  It is here we find Jesus announce his mission “To seek out and save the lost.”  From there we are spending 3 weeks on Luke 15 – the lost chapter.  Two weeks ago we focused on the lost sheep.  This past week we looked at the lost coin, and this coming Sunday we will discuss the lost son.

Beginning August 8 we will move into the “Make Disciples” portion of the series.  During this time we will be looking at what makes a disciple.  Our focus passages will be Luke 14:25-33, the cost of discipleship; Acts 1:1-11, where we are called to “go;” and Luke 14:7-14, humility and hospitality.

Finally, our last three weeks of the series will focus on “Meeting the Needs of People.”  We will discuss the call for disciples to serve others.  Our focus passages will be Matthew 25:31-46, the call to feed the hungry; Luke 10:25-37, the story of the Good Samaritan (who is our neighbor); and Luke 9:18-27, the call to be sacrificial (taking up our cross in order to follow Jesus.)

I’m not sure I have ever been as excited over a sermon series as I am for this one.  My hope and prayer is that God will use this excitement and passion to help make us all better disciples as we accept the call to be a missional people.

A Prayer for Peace

Has life ever been so crazy that you don’t know what to do?  It seems like you are being pulled in a million different directions, and you can’t seem to accomplish anything?  That’s how I’ve been feeling for the last couple of weeks, and to be honest with you…I’m exhausted. I was trying to do my devotions today, and it just wasn’t happening.  Every time I would think about it, something else would pop up.  As I continued to get frustrated, I remembered a prayer I once heard from St. Augustine.  As I meditated on it for a few moments, my world began to slow down and my frustrations began to subside.

If you have been feeling the same as me, overwhelmed and exhausted, then I hope you too may find peace and comfort in these words:

O Lord, my God,
grant us your peace; already, indeed, you have made us rich in all things!
Give us that peace of being at rest,
that sabbath peace,
the peace which knows no end.

— St. Augustine

Great Ads

Here are a few ads I ran across that just made me laugh.  Enjoy!!

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Nordic Track $300 hardly used, call Chubby.

Free Yorkshire Terrier: 8 years old. Hateful little dog.

Free puppies: ½ cocker spaniel, ½ sneaky neighbor’s dog.

Free puppies: part German Shepherd, part stupid dog.

German Shepherd, 85 lbs. Neutered. Speaks German. Free.

Bill’s Septic Cleaning: “We Haul American-Made Products.”

Shakespeare’s Pizza. Free chopsticks.

Tickle-Me-Elmo, still in box, comes with its own 1988 Ford Mustang, 5L, Auto, Excellent condition $6800.

Handing on my story

I have to admit that I am horrible when it comes to reading scripture and taking time out for quite time with God. While I don’t consciously think about it, I am sure I unconsciously use the fact that I am always studying for sermons or teaching lessons as my excuse for not having a personal devotional life.  Prayer is pretty much the same.  I do spend quite a bit of time in prayer throughout the day, but it is mainly for other people when they have asked me to remember them, a loved one, or a situation in prayer.

However, I have been studying 1 Corinthians 11:17-34 for a school project.  My project basically revolves around Holy Communion, its history, and its liturgical and communal aspects.  I know…Blah, blah, blah, and whoopidy do to you, right?  But it has been a fascinating study for me.  One of the key elements, however, was found in verse 23 when Paul talks about handing the story (of the Lord’s Supper) on to the people of Corinth.  He sets this statement up by declaring it (the story) was handed down to him (Paul) by God.

It got me thinking.  First, has there been a story that God has handed down to me?  Second, have I passed on any story to those I come into contact with?

If you know me at all, you know that I am fascinated with stories and storytelling.  So these are big questions for me.  How about for you?  Has God given you a story?  Have you shared it?