Living Life “on Mission”

August 29, 2010

Title: Invisible No More!
Text: 1 Corinthians 12:12-27

Life is Lived to be Seen:  Can you even imagine life that you couldn’t see or touch or experience in some way through your senses?  While we might be able to conceive of life outside of or apart from the body, we almost certainly “see” that life in reference to our body, to our physical surroundings, to the material world.

Life is infinitely more than a feeling or a thought. Life always involves action or movement or growth or even death. It’s by definition something more than “what’s inside our head.” Life is meant—TRUE LIFE is meant--to be seen, to be noticed, to be experienced.  True Life, living life with purpose, joy and passion, is life that takes shape over time, becomes “visible” to others through us, through our actions, through the world
we create.

Even God—while infinitely good—chose to become visible through his son Jesus Christ. Even God—while eternally whole—chose to create a world in which his presence, his goodness, his character could become known and experienced. Even God has chosen to “reveal” himself to us, to make himself known and, in some pretty amazing ways, make his presence visible.

Let’s Make Christ Visible:  This Sunday we’ll be opening 1 Corinthians 12:12-27.  Here, Paul also is thinking about how God has chosen to make himself known and visible to a world desperately in need of hope. In sharing his Spirit led insights into Christ and the church, Paul shares how we—those of us who worship at cvCc—are a “body.” Each one of us has a place in and a part to play in making visible the love of Jesus Christ, in making visible the body of Christ.

All too often we talk about the “invisible” church or the church “universal.” We forget that we—right here and right now—are the body of Christ and, unless we become “visible” as the body, there’s no way for anyone to really know that we are real, that we are present and—critically—that we are really alive. Even more, unless we become Christ’s visible presence—God’s unique presence in contrast to the world—there’s no reason for anyone to believe that what we proclaim as true is anything more than just another fantasy world.

I invite you to think about this, to grapple with it and to see if there might just be something to what I’m suggesting. Please spend time reflecting on 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 or perhaps other passages such as Romans 7:4-6 or Ephesians 4:1-24. Let God’s Spirit prepare your heart and mind for worship. Together, let’s do all we can to make visible the love of Christ.  If we don’t, who will? If we don’t, why should the world give us the time of day? If we don’t, do we really have a basis to claim that what we proclaim is truly transforming and truly powerful?

If nothing else, think about these things. I am and I hate to “think” alone. See you Sunday.

Yours with Love in Christ,

Eric

Living Life “on Mission”

July 25, 2010
Text: John 21:4-22
Title: The Call Remains

God of the Second Chance: As we finish our journey with Peter, we meet him just after the lowest time in his life. When Jesus needed him most, Peter denied even knowing Jesus. Not just once. Not just twice. But three times! Definitely not a good day for Peter.

Still, Jesus never gave up on Peter. He met with him. He shared a meal with him. Jesus even asked Peter some challenging questions, loving Peter patiently and for his good. Jesus gave Peter a second chance and despite Peter’s terrible fall, Christ’s call on his life remained. 

As was true with Peter, Jesus never ceases to give us another chance. While we must never take for granted his deep and serious call to obedience and submission, we can live with unending confidence that Christ acts for our good. Jesus will give us, until we ourselves reject it, a second, a third, a fourth . . . a fiftieth chance. Truly, Christ’s mercies are new every day.

Think about it—Where might Jesus be offering you a second chance? In what relationship, what habit, what attitude? Christ is willing. Are you?

But notice, Jesus did not restore Peter to leave Peter feeling relieved. No, Jesus immediately called him back into the work. Jesus never restores us to leave us as we are.

Rather, Jesus always restores us both for our good and for the good of others. Peter was restored not so he could retire and tell stories of his time with Jesus. No, Peter was restored and his call renewed so that he could care for others as they learned what it meant to follow Jesus.

Think about it—Christ has given you a “second chance.” What are you doing with it? In what ways are you extending the light, love and goodness of Christ into your world?

Do You Love Me: In our text, Peter is asked three times if he loves Jesus. Peter, humbled by his recent “fall,” acknowledges his love for Jesus but makes no claim to love Jesus perfectly or as Jesus loves him. And yet, Peter loves Jesus.

And that’s the issue. It was the issue for Peter and it’s the issue for you and for me. Do we love Jesus? And if we do, well, then our lives should look like that love. Our lives should reflect our love for Christ through the ways in which we love others—in the ways in which we love those we’ve been called to care for, to shepherd, to influence and to tend. Our answer to Christ’s question, “Do you love me,” is given through our actions far more than through our words.

Think about it—Christ’s call is always a call to love. How would others describe the ways in which you love them? How are they experiencing God’s love through you?

Hope to see you Sunday! Remember, God never gives up on you and neither will we.

Yours in Christ with love,

Pastor Eric