Babies Don’t Stay Babies
Everything grows up and becomes mature.
And usually they aren’t as cute! Babies become teenagers. Kittens become cats. Puppies become dogs. Tadpoles become frogs. Baby Alligators become really big Alligators. Mice become rats – no wait that isn’t right. Well, you get what I mean.
Churches are different. Churches grow up to become the beautiful bride of Jesus. At least that is the plan and that is what the church can be. But sometimes churches become… well churches are interesting because they have the potential of becoming a lot of different things. And the fact is that they do become a lot of different things – which leaves a lot of confusion about what the church is and what it is supposed to be.
Some people see the church as a second-rate religious organization when compared to other groups. For them the church is a bunch of old people singing old songs in an old building with old paint flaking off the old entrance in an old part of town.
For others the church is a loose confederation of the like-minded. What they believe isn’t very important. What is important is that they believe – so we call them “people of faith”. The church is just another
subset of society that works together from time to time. They run preschool’s, sponsor community events, hold musical programs, and organize youth events.
Many more see the church as a private club (for members only) where the programs are by and for the people who are already present. It’s kind of a privileged class of those who hang out together on Sunday mornings and who don’t really care about others. They say they want to reach out and grow but when visitors show up they are given a very careful looking over.
Some see the church as a vehicle for social change – kind of a spiritual political action committee. They want to fix all of the social problems in our culture by passing laws and challenging the norms. They are involved in demonstrations, protests, marches, and are constantly pushing to vote on resolutions demanding change – some conservative; some liberal – depending on the political views of the people involved.
Finally, some see the church as a fortress of security where the pious people separate themselves from a world of sin. They see themselves like innocent little bunnies hiding in their safe burrows while the fields above are plowed into dangerous rows of materialism and self-gratification. The only reason they leave their safe rabbit holes is to run and dive into a friends safe rabbit hole. Then they sit around congratulating themselves for making it for making it through the world and it’s dangerous temptations.
None of this is remotely close the church Jesus Christ died to establish. None of these images picture the church described in Acts 2:43-47 and none of these views are what we are about at the Meridian Christian Church. Come this Sunday and learn what a real, authentic, and prevailing church is like...
The Church is…
The Prevailing Power of God
Acts 2:43-47
Everyone around was in awe - all those wonders and signs done through the apostles!
The church is not a second class religious organization
No one really wants to stay in a two star hotel. When I went to India I traveled by train to a small city in the southern part called Kotoyam. There I taught about 30 Indian ministers in a seminar about building a small group based on cell church concepts. I was housed in a hotel called the “Green Lawn Hotel” which proudly proclaimed itself a two-star facility.
Let me tell you about this hotel. First, there wasn’t a green bit of vegetation for 200 yards in any direction so I don’t have a clue where they got their name – maybe it was a hope and a dream. Second, I was there three days and there was hot water one day. Third, the air conditioner made lots of noise but didn’t do much in the way of conditioning the air. Fourth, the restaurant only had one person eating in it – me. And I got sick.
I repeat. No one wants to stay in a two-star hotel – especially if they know what five-star service is like!
So, why do some people look at the church and see a two-star organization? Could it be that we have presented it that way? Could it be that we have lost sight of the need to be excellent in all that we do – especially considering the fact that we are the five-star kingdom of God!
The Church is a Place of God’s Prevailing Power
This doesn’t mean we are to be glitzy and glamorous.
It does mean that we are to be and to do God’s work with excellence – we are to do our very best!
The Goal: Helping People Find their Way Home – through a warm welcome.
With excellence as the five-star prevailing power of God Church. There should be a “wow” factor when people come into the church! We have that – sometimes. Let’s be honest – sometimes we don’t. It’s hard to be consistent when you invent yourself from scratch every Sunday in a rented school. But it can be done and we can do it.
Wow: Welcome – Front entry; greeters; foyer; display tables. Not easy to do this consistently every Sunday when you have to set up and tear down every single week! We need some help from you – officially and unofficially. Unofficially: come early and come often! Officially: Join the wow-greeters team.
An Intimate Community
Acts 2:43-47
And all the believers lived in a wonderful harmony, holding everything in common. They sold whatever they owned and pooled their resources so that each person’s need was met.
The church is not a loose confederation of the like-minded
Some see the church as a fellowship of people that are all alike. They all wear the same style clothing and all have the same likes and dislikes in music, politics, and art. The truth is that the church is a collection of peoples of the ultimate in diversity!
The church has people of all varieties, races, social strata, financial strength, educational background, and political stripe. They are liberals and conservatives. Some are for unions and some are against. Some are into clothing, well-dressed hairstyles, and the latest fashions. Some are into hiking, canoeing, and camping in the mountains. Some are into pickup trucks and some are into zinc yellow mustangs!
The Church is a Community of Believers, Committed to Loving God
We are a diverse and disconnected bunch. One thing bonds us together with more strength than superglue on skin or a tongue stuck to a pole when it’s below freezing.
It is the commitment to loving God and serving Jesus as Lord. We are sort of like the musketeers. All for one and his name is Jesus. That is what holds and binds us together all over the world.
The Ukraine trip illustrates that. 8 MCC’ers traveled thousand of miles and met people are using the clothes we send to minister to others in their part of the world. All of us are committed to serving and loving the same God through Jesus Christ. There is a bond that is real.
The Goal: Helping People Find their Way Home – through an intimate community
We are the community of God and we should constantly be looking to support and encourage one another. Are you in a Home Group yet? We’re getting ready to launch a couple of new groups. We are going to have a couple of “test-drives” soon. One for the 20-something crowd and one in the Williamston area.
A Safe Place of Authentic Acceptance
Acts 2:43-47
Everyone around was in awe - all those wonders and signs done through the apostles! And all the believers lived in a wonderful harmony, holding everything in common. They sold whatever they owned and pooled their resources so that each person’s need was met. They followed a daily discipline of worship in the Temple followed by meals at home, every meal a celebration, exuberant and joyful, as they praised God. People in general liked what they saw. Every day their number grew as God added those who were saved.
The church is not a private club for members only
George Barna did a focus group for a church in a community some years ago with these results: “The weaknesses of local churches were summed up by two major thoughts: The churches have nothing of relevance to add to the lives to these people, and they do not seem interested in anyone outside of their “dues-paying” members”.
This is not an unusual view. In fact it is prevalent while it couldn’t be further from God’s plan for the church.
The church is the one place where everyone is welcome and accepted.
The Church is a Place of Acceptance
We are connected to each other. We are Family. We eat together. We play together. We cry together. We get together. We help each other out when we need one another.
Turn to someone and say, “We are family” (don’t sing it – say it!)
The Goal: Helping People Find their Way Home – through authentic fellowship
We are the community of God. This summer I invite you to connect with one another as the family of God. This summer is going to be a summer to “Soak up the Sun Son” at MCC!
Remember these dates
June 1 – Meridian Men Promise Keepers Challenge Sunday (Aug 8-9 Promise Keepers Trip)
August 24 – MCC @ Lake Lansing Band Shell
An All-Inclusive People Movement
Acts 2:43-47
Everyone around was in awe - all those wonders and signs done through the apostles! And all the believers lived in a wonderful harmony, holding everything in common. They sold whatever they owned and pooled their resources so that each person’s need was met. They followed a daily discipline of worship in the Temple followed by meals at home, every meal a celebration, exuberant and joyful, as they praised God. People in general liked what they saw. Every day their number grew as God added those who were saved.
The church is not an exclusive political action committee
Back in the 60’s it was the anti war movement during Viet Nam. In the 70’s it was the “Ecumenical Movement” and COCU (Council on Church Unity). In the 80’s it was Jerry Farwell and the Moral Majority and family friendly legislation. The 90’s were the beginning of the gay acceptance agenda, more tolerant views of the family, and laws to prevent abortion. Today, we still see all kinds of churches getting involved in all kinds of social engineering agenda’s.
While I personally agree with some of these agendas and I disagree with others (And my disagreement is usually very firm) the advancement of social goals is not what the church is called to do.
We will never change people by making laws – only by changing lives.
The Church is an All-Inclusive People Movement
When people understand their value comes from the intrinsic worth given to them by God and upheld through the sacrifice of Jesus – his only begotten, unique, one of a kind son – then they will understand the importance of valuing every human life. It won’t come from making laws against abortion or euthanasia. It will come from the comprehension that every soul is God-breathed and has value.
This is a movement. We are a movement and a movement has real power. The people of God are an avalanche of God’s power on this earth.
What is really significant is that this is not an “exclusive” people movement. It’s “inclusive”. We aren’t trying to box people out. We want to draw them in.
Get with the movement of God or the movement of God will overtake you. Listen, It’s fun to ride the wave of a movement of God!
The Goal: Helping People Find their Way Home – riding the avalanche of God
We have the buzz. We are part of the people of God. We win. Winners walk, talk, eat, and act differently than losers. You can see it in their eyes, the set of their shoulders, and the squaring of their jaws.
I am pumped about being part of God’s Kingdom. Not always easy – in fact it rarely is. We have struggled to find a place to call our Ministry Center. We have invested heavily in a young, exciting staff to build some great programs. We have had to borrow against our reserves and to hold the pension payments of our staff over this past year. This coming year we have the challenge of catching up and going to the next level – and we will.
Because we are riding an avalanche and we shall prevail – MCC is a movement of God’s people!
An assembly of Saved Sinners
Acts 2:43-47
Everyone around was in awe - all those wonders and signs done through the apostles! And all the believers lived in a wonderful harmony, holding everything in common. They sold whatever they owned and pooled their resources so that each person’s need was met. They followed a daily discipline of worship in the Temple followed by meals at home, every meal a celebration, exuberant and joyful, as they praised God. People in general liked what they saw. Every day their number grew as God added those who were saved.
The church is not an isolated fortress of the pious
One of the saddest times for the world was a time we call today the dark ages. It was dark because the church isolated itself from the world. It was dark because Christians hid in castles and concentrated on personal piety rather than caring for the people in a dark world. On the outside of the walls there was poverty, sickness, and immorality. On the inside of the walls were pious pray-ers with personal gardens and quiet times of reflection and reading.
The church today must never become a monastic hiding place for the spiritually minded.
The church is an assembly of Saved Sinners
John Stott said that Christians are all too often like scared bunny rabbits who are afraid of the world. They run from hole to hole and stay there. This is wrong. We need to understand that our role is to be in the world – while not being of the world. How will they know that what we have is wonderful if we never come in contact with them and never introduce them to Jesus? We have what they are searching for. If you gotta be a bunny – be a bunny rabbit that shares the carrots!
The Goal: Helping People Find their Way Home – by investing in and inviting our friends, relatives, associates and neighbors
I will never be able to make the contacts and impact that you can make!
This summer I invite you to invest and invite others to come to MCC. We’re planning some events to make it easier – but need you to do your piece in your world.
It’s time to Grow Up!
Everyone around was in awe - all those wonders and signs done through the apostles! And all the believers lived in a wonderful harmony, holding everything in common. They sold whatever they owned and pooled their resources so that each person’s need was met. They followed a daily discipline of worship in the Temple followed by meals at home, every meal a celebration, exuberant and joyful, as they praised God. People in general liked what they saw. Every day their number grew as God added those who were saved.
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