The church has always had to navigate a tricky course when it comes to the pull and pressure of the surrounding culture. We're told not to be "conformed to the pattern of this world" (Rom 12.2). And yet Paul says that he makes every effort to engage people through the surrounding culture ("I have become all things to all people so that I might, by all means, save some." 1 Cor 9.22). So, which is it? Are we to engage culture and use it to share the Good News of God's love in a way that is culturally relevant and accessible? Or are we to do so by actively working against the prevailing culture?
My answer? Yes. This isn't an "either/or" question; it's "both/and." This Sunday we're going to look some more at the distinctions made in the early church between Jews and Gentiles. It was a huge debate: do people need to become Jews in order to be true followers of Jesus? Acts 15 answers this question clearly and finally -- all people are called to follow Jesus and do not need to be circumcised (i.e. follow the Jewish Law) in order to do so.
So then, why does Paul have Timothy circumcised when he decides to take him along on his next missionary journey (Acts 16.1-5)? And more importantly, what does this have to do with us today?
Please join us this Sunday at 10am to find out. Or on the web at www.nassagaweya.com and follow the link to "Sermons". Hope to see you soon!
August 28, 2009
August 20, 2009
The Cost of Mission
What are you willing to spend money on? Most people, I find, have one or two things that they can easily spend money on, even when they don't really need anything new at all. For me, it's books and computers. I don't tempt fate by browsing through a book store unless I'm prepared to buy a book, because I'll almost always find something I think is worthwhile to buy. For some people it's clothes, or shoes, or tools, or music, or sporting equipment, or... (fill in your own blank here).
And why do we do this?
"Because we're mindless consumers who, no matter what we actually say, seem to believe that money can buy us some amount of happiness?"
Well, yes, that too, but that's not what I was going to say. It's because we see the value of the things we buy. Unfortunately, all too often the value we find in this "stuff" is dubious at best -- no, that new pair of shoes is NOT going to transform your life. It can even be downright harmful -- "Hmmm... healthy groceries for my family? Or a down payment on a killer 60 inch flat screen TV?"
But what are the really valuable things in life? What are the things worth suffering for? What, if all else fell away, would we continue to continue to fight for, no matter the cost?
This Sunday, as we continue in our series "Paul: A Man With a Mission," we'll look at what Paul thought was worth suffering for. It's not that God asks us to go looking for trouble or suffering. But we need to ask ourselves if we are ready and willing to suffer for the sake of Jesus, if need be. If you're curious about what Paul says, here's a clue for you: 7 Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ. 8 More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but one that comes through faith in Christ.
And why do we do this?
"Because we're mindless consumers who, no matter what we actually say, seem to believe that money can buy us some amount of happiness?"
Well, yes, that too, but that's not what I was going to say. It's because we see the value of the things we buy. Unfortunately, all too often the value we find in this "stuff" is dubious at best -- no, that new pair of shoes is NOT going to transform your life. It can even be downright harmful -- "Hmmm... healthy groceries for my family? Or a down payment on a killer 60 inch flat screen TV?"
But what are the really valuable things in life? What are the things worth suffering for? What, if all else fell away, would we continue to continue to fight for, no matter the cost?
This Sunday, as we continue in our series "Paul: A Man With a Mission," we'll look at what Paul thought was worth suffering for. It's not that God asks us to go looking for trouble or suffering. But we need to ask ourselves if we are ready and willing to suffer for the sake of Jesus, if need be. If you're curious about what Paul says, here's a clue for you: 7 Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ. 8 More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but one that comes through faith in Christ.
Please join us Sunday at 10 am, or find us on the web at www.nassagaweya.com. We hope to see you soon!
August 14, 2009
Your Mission, Should You Choose to Accept It, Is...
Actually, I don't know what your mission is, not in a specific sense anyway. Sure, I could talk about our mission as a church, how we are called to Worship, Discipleship, Community, Service, and Outreach, but that's not what I want to focus on right now.
Starting this Sunday and over the next couple of months, we are going to be looking at the life of the Apostle Paul as told in Acts 13-28. Now Paul was a man with a mission, no doubt about it! He journeyed all over the Roman Empire sharing the Good News about God's love made known in Jesus. Almost half of the New Testament was written by him -- letters he sent to churches he had started or at least visited. He also worked hard to support the poor and needy. He was always clear on his mission, right?
Well, maybe not. When we read back in Acts 9-13 and compare that information with Galatians 1-2, we find a period of about 17 years when very little is known about what Paul was up to. But God wasn't finished with Paul, not by a long shot. During a time of fasting and worship, the Holy Spirit tapped Paul and Barnabas on the shoulder and set them apart for a new and challenging work. It is from that point onwards that Paul does, and writes, almost everything we know about him.
Are you willing to consider the possibility that maybe God isn't finished with you yet either? If you're not, then don't bother coming out on Sunday -- it'll just be a waste of time. But if you are, then please join us as we not only consider this possibility, but begin to seek God's direction and leading for each of our lives. (Or, if you can't make it, you can listen to the message on the web next week at www.nassagaweya.com and follow the links to the recent sermons page.)
Starting this Sunday and over the next couple of months, we are going to be looking at the life of the Apostle Paul as told in Acts 13-28. Now Paul was a man with a mission, no doubt about it! He journeyed all over the Roman Empire sharing the Good News about God's love made known in Jesus. Almost half of the New Testament was written by him -- letters he sent to churches he had started or at least visited. He also worked hard to support the poor and needy. He was always clear on his mission, right?
Well, maybe not. When we read back in Acts 9-13 and compare that information with Galatians 1-2, we find a period of about 17 years when very little is known about what Paul was up to. But God wasn't finished with Paul, not by a long shot. During a time of fasting and worship, the Holy Spirit tapped Paul and Barnabas on the shoulder and set them apart for a new and challenging work. It is from that point onwards that Paul does, and writes, almost everything we know about him.
Are you willing to consider the possibility that maybe God isn't finished with you yet either? If you're not, then don't bother coming out on Sunday -- it'll just be a waste of time. But if you are, then please join us as we not only consider this possibility, but begin to seek God's direction and leading for each of our lives. (Or, if you can't make it, you can listen to the message on the web next week at www.nassagaweya.com and follow the links to the recent sermons page.)
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