Come Follow MeRe-imagining “CHURCH”

Introduction

Our Church has once again come to a crossroads.

Crossroads are milestones which we must decide on wether to go right, left, go the way we came from or

continue to move forward.

Since 2003, our churches have been moving forward by God’s good grace!

We have formed shared leadership groups

gone into learning more about the Word

delved into different leadership philosophies in trying to find the right match for the right time.

Empowerment, openness, process, etc... became bywords

We came up with MVG’s

Allowed the sectors or regions some autonomy in finances and at times in direction.

We implemented faith based principles

Through all these, the church has indeed moved forward. We are learning to love the Lord, learning once more (although redefining this through our faith partnerships/groups) to love one another.

We still need to learn what it means to love the lost today!

How can we be effective ?

In leading people to Christ?To make our lives count and

make a difference in this world?

To live out the purpose of the church?

1. Move Out

Matthew 4:17-22(NIV) 17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 At once they left their nets and followed him.21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

As soon as John was put in prison, He began his focus on building the Kingdom - He called for people to repent!

He calls a dedicated small group of people to transform the world upside down!

The personal commitment that Jesus motivated into his disciples certainly made the difference.

It is therefore important to actually integrate and live out the teachings of our Lord.

The part Jesus plays is doing the transforming. He was the carpenter, the first called were fishermen

Our part is living the message and getting it out into the world!

so the first thing we need to do to be effective is to go back out to the streets!

Church simply needs to move out!

John 17:18(NIV)18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.

every disciple must go out into the streets.

The mission has a church and not the church has a mission.

Church is not just about having excellent worship every Sunday. True worship is about obedience to Christ!

In some ways, we have gotten stuck on doing Church instead of BEING Church.

We can BE Church by moving out!

Taguig, Marikina, RCBC, Prince Plaza, etc...

start small. One person can make an impact.

Keep your focus narrow.

Church, it is time to Move Out!

2. Move In

1 Corinthians 9:22-23(TNIV) 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

In order to save many, Paul had to learn to adapt to the culture of the city he was in. For example - Athens in Acts 17

Paul Moved INto the community

Jesus was always with sinners. He did not just stay with those that were saved. In fact - he was sent to seek and to save what was lost. (Luke 19:10)

We must re-learn that God made man in His own image.

In other words, there is a piece of God in every human being.

There is a longingness for some spirituality

Why do people gamble, go or participate in sports, go to clubs, take drugs or go to the movies?

People are seekers

Salvation, cause to belong to, community, escape loneliness, overcome guilt or pain, to feel again...

As Disciples of Jesus we need to get involved

Matthew 12:3030 “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

This verse is convicting

We have to Move in and re-build our OIKOS

One way in doing so is VOLUNTEER.

3. Move Beside

Matthew 4:12-1612 When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he withdrew to Galilee. 13 Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali— 14 to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah:

 15 “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,    the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan,    Galilee of the Gentiles— 16 the people living in darkness    have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death    a light has dawned.”[a

Jesus did not go in and out of an area.

He lived where he preached.

As Disciples, we need to pay importance to geography.

We must have a turf or territory.

Matthew 28:18-20 is not just about sharing your faith. It is about making disciples - long term relationships.

We must grow once more and learn how to evangelize.

A dream is needed in our hearts to begin again.

All of us can make a difference

Start where you are!

Taguig wants to form

Dumaguete, Lucena, LP, Alabang, etc...

4. Move On

Matthew 13:10-15(NIV)10 The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?”11 He replied, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 12 Those who have will be given more, and they will have an abundance. As for those who do not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables:

   “Though seeing, they do not see;    though hearing, they do not hear or understand.

   14 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:

   “‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding;    you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.

15 For this people’s heart has become calloused;    they hardly hear with their ears,    and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes,    hear with their ears,    understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’[a]

   16 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 17 Truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.

Jesus spoke in parables because He wanted people to question their own lives.

He was not always directly confrontational

He wanted people to go on a search for the truth.

What will make us different from the other churches out there is our lives.

Not so many are concerned with the difference between this or that church.

What people want is a church that cares.

A church who does not only preach doctrine but lives it out.

The only way to help people MOVE ON is to allow them the opportunity to observe our lives.

Ex. Meeting with a religious leader in my community.

Our relationships are crucial

Our faith groups are so important

Our lives are what people actually depend on.

When people see how radical we are with our relationships, money, time, power sharing, our commitment. They will see Jesus!

Conclusion

It is time to FOLLOW HIM

Re-imagine Church

Move Out

Move In

Move Beside

Move On