Good morning, and thank you for worshipping God with me. For those new here, we’re involved in a really awesome emphasis right now – how we are better together! And let me tell you that some really cool things are happening!
• Surprise attacks on many people this past week (like John and Jeff!).
• A lady called her small group friend and took her shopping.
• Two of our small groups are almost ready to birth new ones…WOW!
• A new couple called and said, “We’re coming.” They went!
• A couple reads together while driving to work.
• A carpooling group in CA watches the video in transit…you may need to do that as I-235 is still under construction.
In other words, we’re involved in a LOVE REVOLUTION! (Easy now, all you who remember the 60’s…) Truth is, that’s exactly what we’re learning to do: Love one another! And as we learn to do that and live out what matters most, we find that our arms are open, not closed. In fact, do this with me --
(Todd has people open arms and reach out…)
…doesn’t that feel good!?! This is a great symbol for what we do as a church: REACH OUT!
Today I want to ask you to look at the idea of reaching out together, and to do that I want us to look at a specific passage in Philippians. Would you turn to Phil 1 and let’s read verses 12-18. Be sure to take out your teaching tool and a pen so you can take some good notes as God’s Spirit teaches us about reaching out together.
[Read Text and explain context, words, background, then make this point:]
“The Gospel is more productive when I’m a partner, not a party pooper, with the people and circumstances around me.”
So endure the things that aren’t pleasant, see through the surface to what God is doing, look behind the curtains at what is really happening inside someone’s life, don’t criticize others who are doing the right things simply in a different way. WHY? Because reaching out – and reaching out more – is one of the best ways we show love to people and represent the heart of God to the world. And the more it happens, the better off we are!
Reaching out is such a fundamental issue at FFC that we made sure it was in our DNA from the very beginning. In fact, take your worship folder and locate our mission statement on the back…do you see how much of it involves the idea of reaching out?!
We’re not alone in this thinking. Dr. John Jackson, a pastor in NV and author of Pastorpreneur, says this when he writes...[BOOK QUOTE].
And Gary McIntosh and Glen Martin, authors of Finding Them, Keeping Them, echo the same thingw hen they write [BOOK QUOTE].
The bottom line is this: Churches that reach out beyond themselves, individually and collectively, overflow with life, energy and enthusiasm.
This past week I was part of an all-week conference on church planting, and I picked up a simple comparison of living churches and dead churches…let me share with you. It may explain why God has been so favorable to FFC and help you be more patient with our own set of frustrations and irritations.
[LIVING CHURCHES vs. DEAD CHURCHES CHART]
Aren’t you glad something fresh, alive and exciting is happening at First Family? What if we had the other set of frustrations? No thanks!
There’s a man in our church who called me two weeks ago and said this very thing. He said, “I don’t know if you see it, but there’s something alive at First Family.” Do you remember saying that Brad?
[intro Brad Russman … interview hima nd let him share his story]
Thanks, Brad. Now Brad was brought to a place of recognition through the efforts of many people, people just like you and the others in your LH. They were partners who simply did what they were asked to do. And God did what he said he would do!
This is not the only way or the only case of partnering going on right now. In case you didn’t know, we’re asking all of our LHs to get involved together in something that reaches out to our community. Why? So that more and more people can hear about the Gospel – so that the cause of Christ can be furthered. So that together w can reach out better!
For instance…(various mission projects by FFC LHs)
• Clothing Drive by the Zea/Kullish LH
• Friendship Center staffing by one of our LH
• Operation Christmas Child by Local Fire LH
• Reverse Trick or Treating by Lamb LH
• Project 318 and Angel Tree (just wait!)
And why do we do these things? Because people matter and the Gospel is the answer!
Maybe you’re here as a recipient of one of these partnerships, or a friend invited you, or you found us on the Web…we are all reaching out together so that you may know that Jesus Christ offers you life and a real purpose. As Brad said, pray something like this [PRAYER]. In fact, let us know and we’ll partner with you in helping you get more connected and involved!
Think about this – if one person tried to do all those things, reach everyone, we’d never make any progress. It would take too long and be too frustrating. But when we partner, WOW – more gets done and the Gospel goes further. The power of partnerships!
This is not any different than what FFC does with your financial gifts. The partnership principle shows up in our financial giving. Since we give monthly to NAMB and IMB, we have a share in what happens with over 11,000 missionaries. WOW! That’s partnership. That’s cooperation. In fact, YOU have a stake in it. That’s why giving here is a good idea – you are partnering with many others in helping the Gospel go further!
And it’s not just limited to our Lighthouses or finances. As a church, we’re also going to be involved in a project that reaches out to our community. You ask, “What’s that, Todd?”
Well, as we prayed and thought about a way to serve our community, we asked ourselves – What could our people do on top of what they’re already doing? How can we have impact beyond the 10-12 projects going on? That very week we received an e-mail from one of our missionaries in Peru – the Davidsons – expressing their need to outfit their children’s areas in the church in Manchay, Peru (which one of our members built, too). That got us thinking even more – church building, outfitting, new plans, etc…so here is what we’re seeking to do as an entire church on Day 41 – receive a special offering for our community in Peru and for our community here in Ankeny. Do you see this picture? It’s our land, and one day there’ll be a physical representation of FFC on that site, just full of life and energy for the soon-to-be 50,000 people in this city.
[SHOW PICTURE OF LAND]
After all, one of the greatest gifts we can give our city is a church alive, one with a vision and a desire to build a place where our ministry can exponentially grow and flourish. We make no bones about it – we’d like to break ground next year. To do so, we need to really give beyond ourselves. We can start on November 20 in our special Day 41 offering, of which the first $3,000 goes to the Davidsons.
How will all that happen? By partnering together to reach out! In fact, I’d like you to say the word with me. Ready? "PARTNER!"
How can my group make a difference in my neighborhood? Say it with me – PARTNER!
How can I see my friend come to Christ? Say it with me – PARTNER!
How can our church grow and make even more impact? Say it with me – PARTNER!
How can my family help the people just down the street? Say it with me – PARTNER!
This is one of God’s ways His Gospel is furthered, his kingdom expanded, his work multiplied…we partner together and we’re better.
If you or your Lighthouse is looking more some more insight about this idea of partnering, I have posted on our Web site an acrostic for PARTNER – verses and and action points that will help you with concrete ways your group can partner together for the cause of Christ.
And this is something we should be doing…read Philippians 1:5 with me:
“I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the Gospel…”
So let me close by asking you a simple question:
Will anyone be in heaven because of you?
Will anyone be in heaven because of what you gave?
Will anyone be in heaven because of what you said?
Will anyone be in heaven because of what you did?
Will anyone be in heaven because of where you went?
As I pray, will you commit to partnering with God and others for the great cause of His kingdom? If you have spiritual needs we can help with, let us know on that card in your WF, e-mail us, see me outside…make sure you obey God today as he speaks and works here at FFC. Let’s pray.
