A Fellowship of Differents For the Sake of

A Fellowship of Differents For the Sake of the World to the Glory of God

Review? • We all live in two stories at the same time: • Our personal stories: unique, based on all we have experience • A larger framing or legitimating stories: World religions or philosophies of life • The universal human experience is trying to make sense of life – why am I here, what am I to do? • Unique story of meaning – the true story in a world of competing narratives is that presented in the Bible • Begins with creation, ends in new creation – we are participants in this story… • Jesus came to bring us back to that true story…

What is the Church in this Narrative? • Church as “renewed Israel” • Called to be a people demonstrating to the world what could be and will yet be: proleptic eschatological community. • Proleptic: we create in the world a desire to be that which will come when God sets all things right – we demonstrate to the world the person of Jesus the Christ so they might join us in this amazing, redemptive story. • Eschatological: we embody the “end-times” life – a life of obedience – a life of serving for the sake of the other. • Community: all are welcome, all have a voice. Inter-racial; inter-economic status; intergenerational – all have a place to find their calling • The purpose of community (church) is to rehearse the story, remember the story, participate in the story of God’s glory in the world

The Challenge of our Culture… • We live in a self-centered world – specific culture calls us to value personal freedom above all else… • Value incubators? Based on presupposition of self-advancement and self-focus. • Any activity that works toward servanthood is counter-cultural… • Churches talk about “serving one another” constantly. • But at the same time, personal liberty is one of our highest values… • What happens in this tension?

Need? A Fundamental Reorientation Into God’s Story • Why did Jesus come? What did Jesus come to accomplish? • Creation – all is initially very good… • Humankind took initiative from God – rather than using gifts to God’s glory – used all that was given and became self-determined. • Through Abraham, God called a people back to God’s purposes for life – a journey of faith to God’s glory for the sake of the nations… • Israel failed. Why? They thought it was about them. Wanted a king! • Isaiah’s “servant-songs” as God’s redemptive solution for humankind.

Deepest Need for Church? To Become the Jesus the World Needs… • What will unite the generations is to identify a common identity and purpose. • Can we encourage one another to become “slaves of righteousness? ” • Can our primary concern became helping one another realize their potential in the work of God? • Can we develop a common vision – that expressed by Paul in Philippians 3 – putting everything else behind us – we press on to being more like Jesus every day? • Value incubators? Encouragers? Coaches? We are all one body. • Cultivate an environment for spiritual growth… “What can I do for you? ”

Invitation? “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me— watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly. ”