Tag Archives: changing world

stretching

Spiritual Stretching - finding new answers to big questions - September 2011

I’m excited about our September sermon series called STRETCHING.

Regardless of political affiliation, spiritual background, occupation, or age, most people understand that our world is changing, and each year, we face new kinds of questions that challenge not just our intellects but also our faith. Some of these questions may be easier than others to answer, but most challenge us to our core. What about my friend who is fundamentally a good person but has only been hurt by the Christian faith? Why does my country keep waging wars on other nations? Why are so many black young men incarcerated? Why are we stuck in an endless loop of political bickering when larger problems loom for our world?

We may have heard answers to these questions. We may know where we stand… but we may not. We also may not understand that the Bible, though wielded as an instrument of judgment by a lot of folks, may offer completely different answers than we think. This is a series to discover some of those answers. And though we may disagree, by stretching deeply around these issues, we may be more prepared to love others as God loves us.

Here’s a preview:

September  11 – Deep Wounds
Finding healing and hope in times of war

September 18 – Open & Affirming
Understanding God’s gift of sexuality

September 25 – Finding Reconciliation
Living for reconciliation in a diverse world

October 2 – A Universal God
Is God bigger than one people or one tradition?

October 9 – Real Conversations
Learning how to agree to disagree

Stay tuned for more updates as this great new conversation unfolds, beginning September 11.


Invitation

Nathan & Josephat the zoo, being invitational

It’s good to be back from Nashville.

In between great conversations and informative workshops, I had a chance to pick up a few books, including “Missional Worship” by Cathy Townley. I had this initial issue with the book – it just rubbed me in the wrong way during my first skim on board the flight back home. But as I’ve had a chance to dig in more deeply, I am intrigued by it.

The key thing is simply this – don’t be attractional; be invitational.

The world is changing out there, and job seekers will even tell you that all the traditional advice no longer works. You can’t wait for that great job to come to you – you have to go out, beat the bushes, work your contacts, and even court your next employer. You have to go invite opportunities and possibilities through networking, hard work, and relationship building.

Likewise, for those of who follow Christ, responding to God’s call to share the good news of God’s love, hope, and wholeness for the world is no longer something that can be done by waiting for others to come to you. We can’t just live a certain way and expect people to figure it out themselves. We do have to talk. We have to go and be among the people in our neighborhoods, get to know them, and tell them about the good news. The more time we spend inviting, the more our community of faith will grow, the more disciples will be made.

What do you think? Have you experienced this change in some other place in your life? When do you remember being invited in a way that changed your life?

Post your response below.


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