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Our hearts’ desire for
MHCC – your ideas and God’s will
Dennis Mullen
- January 20, 2008
Romans 12 begins like this: 1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Over the past several weeks, a number of you went through an exercise that, I hope, allowed you to test and approve God's will. We included in your bulletin a sheet of paper that asked you to submit “My heart's desire and prayer for MHCC in 2008.
Today I want to talk about what you turned in. I'm not going to give anything like a complete rundown of the results, but I do want us to focus in on two big ideas that occurred on a high number of surveys, expressed in different words, two things that according to Scripture are close to the heart of God.
As for the rest of the many ideas and desires expressed, I want you to be assured that I have read them all several times, and all the ministers and elders have copies of what you submitted, and your voices, prayers, and hearts' desires will be heard. I can't promise that they'll all be enacted, but they will influence where we go from here.
As for the papers, 31 were turned in the box over the past three weeks, which is pretty good for an open-ended question like we were asking. A multiple choice survey might have made it easier for you to respond, but I think the answers as they are are more valuable.
In addition to the 31, the high school and middle school classes also sat down and did these as an in-class project, and they turned in 16 papers - 7 from HS, 9 from middle school class
The papers you turned in were gratifying in that most all of them raised issues of substance. No one said “My heart’s desire and prayer is that we’ll start 15 minutes later so I can sleep in,” or “My heart’s desire, my prayer is that we’ll serve Earl Grey tea”. Instead, 95% of the ideas that you said were your heart’s desire and prayer were very obviously matters of importance, issues a lot closer to the center of church life than the fictitious examples I have given.
Today let's talk about two of the issues you raised that are not just CLOSE to the center of church life, but AT the very center, according to God’s Word. The encouraging thing about these items is that, for the most part, they appeared on a great number of surveys, which indicates that we understand what is important to God. But the other side is that these items appeared on a lot of surveys because they are weaknesses of our church, or areas that need some improvement. We don’t want the most important things in Scripture to be our greatest weaknesses.
Two desires we strongly expressed which are close to God’s heart...
IOW, we want our church through its people to be out there in the community and larger world, taking Christ to people in a way they can understand and appreciate, and to an extent that changes the community and the world. And at the same time, we need MHCC to be a place where we ourselves, our children and our families (not to mention people who will come here in the future because of our outreach) find something to strengthen and sustain us in our daily walk with Christ, which is sometimes as much of a battle as it is a walk.
To see a world-changing Gospel flowing from here.
16 out of 31 turned in by adults spoke directly of outreach or evangelism, and 5 out of 7 turned in by HS class did. The way I think of this first one: “Kingston and Roane County – significantly better with Morrison Hill Christian Church than without her.”
You put it this way: “To reach out in our community and let God use us to win souls back to him…” Encouragement for outreach to those who don’t know Christ” rather than simply “building up the church and wait(ing) for them to come to us”. “That we could show love that reaches to Kingston, Roane County, Tennessee and all the states, even the whole world.” “To reach out to those who are lost. I know there are many people in this area who are seeking the truth.” One person spoke in detail about taking the message of Christ to those around here who don’t believe, and then said: “We would be passionately obeying Christ, and Roane County will never be the same!” Another person prays “that His resources with flow through us to non-believers, the community, and that we the church will truly become a “light on a hill” for all to see, and we will openly proclaim Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords.” “I pray and desire that we become more active. Love is action, not word. I want to actually reach out – visit the elderly, help the sick, feed the poor…”
Jesus put it this way: MT 5:13 "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.
MT 5:14 "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
And: MT 25:34 "Then the King will say to those on his right, `Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
MT 25:37 "Then the righteous will answer him, `Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
MT 25:40 "The King will reply, `I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
And: MT 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
I have put some things together that weren’t necessarily together on your sheets, things which in practice we may need to train for separately, but which he HAVE to conduct together. Those things are evangelism and serving this community.
Let's get basic and talk about evangelism for a minute. “Evangelism” is a churchy word, but it is based on a good Bible word. The “evangel” in Greek is the message of good news, the message, the content of the Gospel message. The word “evangel” is translated into English as “good news” or “Gospel”. When the NT uses the word “evangelist” it is talking about someone who can share the good news. When Jesus tells us to go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them and teaching them, he is telling us to get busy with evangelism, with teaching people to accept and live the Good news.
I heard Bob Russell preach one time that it would have been nice if Jesus had just come down from heaven and said: “I’m hear to announce good news. You are all going to heaven when you die. My Father and I have taken care of it. I just wanted to let you know.” But in fact, the good news that Jesus DID announce is one that calls for a response. The message says that, yes, there is such a thing as sin in this life, but you can have it washed away in God’s eyes and there is power to break free from its claws too. You can live with purpose, you can live according to the things you really value, and you can have assurance that the pain and sickness and even death of this present age will not have the last word. That’s the good news, and it calls for a response: This freedom is available to all who belong to Jesus Christ, who live their lives in him. This isn’t because Jesus doesn’t like competition and so he won’t offer his life to anyone who won’t join his cause, but rather its because he IS the life, and apart from himself he doesn’t have life to give. It’s like if I offer you my friendship, and you say: “I want to be your friend and have nothing to do with you!” It makes no sense. Jesus offers friendship, but even more, he offers life…but understand that he IS the life – he doesn’t have life to give away apart from himself – he IS the life, and the way and the truth, and no one comes to the Father except by Him. So the Gospel message calls for a response. Will you take Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord? Will you enter his life, or stay out on your own?
That’s the Gospel message and that’s the response it calls for. Many of you said on your sheet that we should do more of that, and do it more intentionally, and one astute person said that this would look different around here for our church in this time and place than it would look elsewhere, say in Chicago or Atlanta, and they said that the church needs to change to reach a changing culture. Many of you said we need to get busy with evangelism, but I think the message behind that message is that you don’t feel confident in presenting the message to others, or maybe you don’t think you have any gift from the spirit for evangelism, or maybe you feel that the opportunities in your circle are pretty limited.
All of that points to the need to have some ongoing training about how to get into a spiritual conversation and stay in one, and how to talk about the basics of the Gospel message (as we talked about in Walk Across the Room – listen online). But we make a big mistake if we think that our presentation skills are the primary issue…
The fact is, people are incredibly skeptical about religious claims today, and the younger they are, the more skeptical. And while there are many for whom even basic Christianity is new, there are many more in the US who have heard all they care to hear. There are adults in their 20s and 30s who have been to our VBS and youth groups and camps and they heard the basics, but they have also seen our materialism and lack of love toward people and they have perceived that politics is the most important thing to us...and their hearts are hard. But their hearts might be softened if they saw us living our faith, being the leaders in humble service to our community, and especially to the people in our communities who have the least to give back.
I just finished reading I Sold My Soul on eBay. In spite of the sensational title, it is a simple book by an atheist, Hemant Mehta (who, BTW, went to Middle School in Farragut in the mid 90s) about his visits to many churches, small and large. The book is printed by a Christian publisher and the object is to give us Christians some inside information on how we come across to people who don’t believe.
As you might suspect, Mehta was most impressed by churches that are doing good things for people who need help. He says that some of the churches he visited made it very clear how they were helping their communities and the rest of the world. One church he visited in a poor section of Chicago offers free tutoring to every child in their zip code. Another church in Houston led the way in revitalizing an entire neighborhood in a struggling section of town. Some churches assist single moms, help people get medical care, provide job-skills training, etc., to all people regardless of religious affiliation.
Listen to his words here: “On the other hand, some church bulletins announce women’s quilting night. I have nothing against quilting, and I know that catering to the preferences of atheists isn’t the primary focus of any church…but when we atheists see how a church is making a positive difference locally and globally by meeting crucial physical needs of people, it’s hard to argue that churches are not a valuable part of society or that they should not be supported in their work.” P. 141 He says later that although he isn’t any closer to accepting Christ than he was at the start, “I did gain a newfound respect for some churches…especially those that make a difference by helping all people (Christian or otherwise). Those are the churches that practice Christianity instead of just preaching it.” P. 159
So, our hearts' desire is to see a world-changing Gospel flowing from here. We know that there is a Truth, a Person who IS Truth, in fact, that people need to accept. And we're beginning to realize that many have HEARD enough about him...and they need to SEE him at work in this community through us. Will you help build this church into a church like that?
The other desire...To see a world-changing Gospel flowing from here, AND...
Here's how some of you said this on your papers: “To move beyond a church of individuals who come together for a couple of hours each week to a family that helps each other grow in our relationship with God.” “Accountability – not just with small groups, but individually. It has really hit home recently how high the divorce rate is among believers. We need to be there for each other before it goes that far.” “I wish everyone would come seeking God and that be the only reason. I wish that everyone would become closer to each other and comfortable in church.” “I would like our church to become more like a big family, more connected to each other.”
And here are a few things the Scriptures say:
JN 17:20 "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: 23 I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
RO 12:9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.
24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
When Hemant Mehta was writing his book about an atheist visiting church, he visited one large church and heard a well-known minister. Afterwards he said that even though he didn't believe in the God that was preached, he could say that nevertheless, he heard truth gracefully preached and he believed that thousands of people would leave that church and live better lives that week for having been there.
THAT needs to be the goal of every sermon I preach...and every lesson in every Sunday school class and youth group meeting. It is THAT important. The world can be a pretty mean place. People may stab you in the back at work and put you down at school. You may have to deal with some incredible disappointments at home or in life in general. And even when things are pretty good, there is always the noise of the material drowning out the whisper of the things that really matter. So when people come here, they – WE – need to be strengthened here for life out there. That doesn't just happen through teaching, but through relationships – how we choose to treat folks in the Atrium in a few minutes, or who we go out of our way to talk to, or who we take a minute more than we think we can to listen to. But in all these things, may it be said of us that people go out of here and will live better lives having been here today.
Two desires we strongly expressed which are close to God’s heart...
Will you help make MHCC that kind of place?
Morrison
Hill Christian Church
P.O. Box 59 - 1008 E.
Race St.
Kingston, TN 37763 (865) 376-5205
