As We Start Our Second Year Together
As I mentioned in last week's e-mail celebrating the start of our second year together, there is so much potential in this congregation to do great things, to be transformed by God's grace into something beyond our description as we seek to fulfill our calling to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
As a starting point for this conversation, the way in which we will go about this work, I want to echo the words of the very first pastoral e-mail I sent to you on June 22, 2011, where I answered the statement so many of you made during my first few days as your pastor: "Whatever we can do to help you, just let us know."
Below are five things each and every one of us can do to help strengthen our own faith and strengthen the life of this church as we move into our best days to come:
1. Pray
Specifically, pray for North Cross, that we may be a community that does nothing more and nothing less than the will of God in and through all things. Pray that we will be instruments of divine grace, bringing healing, comfort, restoration, and hope to all with whom God allows us to interact every moment of every day.
2. Worship
The heart of any congregation's life is found in it's worship, and the people of God are called to gather in worship together. Period. It is easy, especially in the days of summer and other things, to think that we're not missing out on much when missing worship on a regular or semi-regular basis, when the truth of the matter is that it is in our gathering on a regular, weekly basis is the starting point for all ministry of the church, period. Through our discipline of worshiping together, we are part of a greater narrative that unfolds over time, for weekly worship is not a 'one-off' event, but the latest installment in the grand story of God's saving work in the world through God's people.
3. Invite
We exist for the purpose of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. If we sit on God's grace and are not sharing it with others, we are missing our calling. Invite those of your friends, neighbors, and others in your life who do not have a church home to come and be a part of North Cross. In our membership vows, we call this our commitment to support this church with our witness. Through living lives transformed by God, we are witnessing to the divine grace that we choose to draw from by being active participants in the life of this congregation. The primary vehicle for the church to grow is when the people of the church take the time to invite your unchurched friends and family to be a part of what God is doing here.
4. Participate
You read in last Monday's e-mail that there is a lot on the docket for our congregation over the next year, and there was a lot that was not even mentioned. While worship, fellowship, and study are very important things in the life of our congregation, we must realize that Christianity properly lived out through the life of the local church is not a spectator sport, and is not designed for our entertainment (ask Ronnie), but as a call to service. By supporting through service the ministries of our congregation, we are investing in God's work in others, for the transformation of the world.
5. Tithe
One thing you will learn early is that I firmly believe in the calling from God for the faithful to return to God at least 10% of income. I believe in this not as a way for the church to pay it's bills, for tithing is a spiritual matter, not a fundraising mechanism. I believe in tithing because it is a tangible response to God's grace and a measure of one's faith in God to provide all that is needed. Tithing is not about money. It is something Erin and I have practiced from the day we got married, and we know that by being obedient, God has taught us more than we could possibly imagine.
There's a lot to be done, and a lot to anticipate as we move forward this year. Thank God that through these opportunities, and others, we can joyfully participate and facilitate what God is going to do through North Cross.
See You Sunday!
Lamar