Wrecking The Roof Series

But we have a choice…

How did the religious respond to Jesus’ help for this paralytic…

6 Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, 7 "Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?" 8 Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, "Why are you thinking these things? 9 Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, ’Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ’Get up, take your mat and walk’? 10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins..."

We can either blame society, or take issue with the color of someones skin… and never choose to be a part of the solution or we can change our focus to be Driven by eternity and live for others… and meet their needs…

Rather than condemning the hurting of a city we should be the visionary church of today and ask what roof tiles we must tear down to get the hurting to Jesus… rahther than our backs to a dying community we must turn around and embrace the lame, the hurting, the poor, the prostitue, the drug addict… we must find a way to stop going to church and be the church. We must rethink all that we do… and be ready for more change for the sake of the cross of Jesus Christ.

I am saved, redeemed, and carry the greatest most glorious message of salvation in our world and I cannot be silent… I must get my hands dirty with the reality of life… a 3rd world nation is outside my door – and I cannot be blind to it.

I believe every teacher in our surrounding area deserves a sincere thank-you. Every cop, every fireman… every pastor  deserves a sincered thankyou from us…

Real change – to be DBE.

1. Wreck the roof – tear down the tiles that are in the way.

2. Recognize the need in our community

And Third…

3. Third step to real change: Hear our Rally Cry as a church

A rally cry – A charge or challenge called out to rally the troops!

What is our rally cry as a church…

Love God, Love people – for the CHURCH IS ONLY THE CHURCH WHEN IT EXISTS FOR OTHER PEOPLE.

Keep moving forward and bring people to Jesus…

Do whatever it takes to reach the shattered and the hurting…

Be ready for change – I am fundamental in my beliefs but progressive in my methodology – I am more concerned about the heart of God and His voice for our community then I am about man’s systems of tradition… be ready for change and shift your heart from self-centered focus to being about others…

For what happens when we bring them to Jesus – this is our rally cry!!! What happened to the parapaligic?

Healed, saved, forgiven!

Every person we bring to Jesus – healed, saved, forgiven!

That’s something to be excited about… or you’re dead on the inside and I fear for your soul!

What happens when a church fully embraces the whole Gospel and sees the reality of God move in it, through it, and use it to reach others…

At the end of our passage…

12 He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this!"

God may we live as a church in such a way that people around us are amazed!

What roof tiles do you need to break?

Hear the rall cry today – [everyone looking at me.]