You And Me In The World

You and Me in the world

Last week we talked about vision…We tried to see vision via God’s eyes….Which I believe is not limited by the walls of a building or a membership. A church that does not have a vision that extends past the walls or the church property is held back by man made limits and not using God vision for His church.

We uses scripture to see how Jesus described free will, choice by God’s creation to do right or wrong. We can set limits and standards for ourselves and even for others in how to move closet to God. It is almost like we create a maze of walls that helps us in some ways but they dramatically limit us and others because they are our rules or understanding and not God’s.

So it is important that Christians and groups of Christians have a vision more that goals.

Personally, I had hoped that you might consider what your “personal vision statement” might be. It might include what kind of Church do you want to be a part of. What impact it might have on a community and members. What kind of a church that you would feel comfortable to help other people to move closer to Jesus. God is passionate the reach out the people that are separated from Him and he has no limits on welcoming people home. He looks outside the walls of the church with the expectation that his invitation will be accepted and as his children we should too.

This week we are looking at the role that a Christian is expected to play in God’s mission.

The scripture this morning from 1 Peter 2:1-12 – Peter refers to his preaching to them and this verse picks up.

Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him—you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For in Scripture it says:

"See, I lay a stone in Zion,

a chosen and precious cornerstone,

and the one who trusts in him

will never be put to shame.

" Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, "The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone, "and,

"A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall." They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

Video clip

This clip is from Pygmalion (not related to swine flu in any way) Elisa makes her living on the streets of London selling flowers, practically begging. Ms. Doolittle had a chance meeting with Mr. Henry Higgins and has made up her mind that he can help her to speak like a lady. She knows that she has problems that have limited her and can better her self with his help…..

This scene opens with her coming to Mr. Higgins home to pay for lessons…Her offer of a few cents an hour is weighed against the normal amount charged for the family of an élite in his society and he sees that she is offering an equivalent of hundreds of dollars per lesson.

START - Scene form Pygmalion..

Elisa Doolittle after a brief exposure to a strange man takes a first step to improve herself and ultimately was chosen to be something more than she could have dreamed ort even understand.

While Higgins is not the kindest teacher…he does know what he is doing. He offers Elisa the promise of her highest obtainable goal (working in a flower shop) to gain her complete cooperation.

When we come to Christ , when we receive and accept the Gospel we in a way enter into the home of a teacher that can help us to obtain our highest imaginable goal.