Becoming Relevant (Part 5) Series

The SPIRIT-led Lifestyle

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are children of God.

Romans 8:14

Part 5: Becoming Relevant

James 2:18-19

illust--Matthew Woodly relates an account of meeting some children in a park. He had stopped to spend some time alone in the park when the children approached him. “Before I could object or move, the oldest child launched into a complicated story of family dysfunction: "Hi, my name is Deanna, and I’m 12; my sister is Kristy, and she’s 10; and Mikey, my brother——doesn’t he look fat in his Lion King T-shirt?——is 6. Actually, though, we all have different dads. My dad is dead; Kristy’s dad disappeared; and Mikey’s dad beats him up, so our mom is divorcing the creep. My mom and her fiancéé, Larry, are at the casino because they need time alone, so she bought us all a burrito at the Town Pump and told us to stay in the park for two hours. Can we sit by you?"In order to be polite, I said yes, then asked if they lived in town."No," Deanna, the family spokesperson, answered again. "We used to live in town, but my mom lost her job. I don’t like living in a tent. By the way, what’s your job?""Well, I’m a pastor."After a long silence, she asked, "Mister Pastor, can you tell me something? I’ve heard stories about Jesus walking around healing people, loving people. Why doesn’t he do that anymore?"

– Well, why doesn’t He? Is our ministry relevant at all any more? If what we do doesn’t make a difference, shut the doors and let’s all move on with our lives.

The world cries out to us, “Show us your faith by your works!”

Relevant: As a church we want to bridge the gap between

what we believe and how we live

Relevant means we are REAL

R esponsive

Equipped

Authentic

Loving

1. Be Relevant In Our Message

But we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 1 Corinthians 1:23-24

Everything we teach & preach is to..

1) Communicate the gospel of Christ

2) Apply the power of Christ to change your life

3) Pursue the wisdom of Christ to help make choices

2. Be Relevant In Our Ministries

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. 1 Corinthians 15:58

1) We are sensitive to eternal consequences

2) We are intentional in seeking opportunities

3) We are confident of the reward

3. Be Relevant In Our Mindset

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16

1)We are not a church building,

but a church building people

2)We all are ministers

in our family

in our school

in our job

3)We are not a hiding place from the world, but the

corner of a boxing ring. In a few minutes the bell rings, and we’re shoving you back out there into the fight. Our church is not a couch to lie back on, but that uncomfortable little stool that gives you a brief respite before Monday raises its ugly head.

4)We are a hospital for sinners because Jesus was a healer.