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Grace to Be One!

February 2, 2011 in Bible Teaching,Discipleship,Ed's Sermons,Grace Works! with 0 Comments

We Need Unity

If we truly desire to be used by God in the ways our Trusting Grace, Releasing Life Galatians-vision outlines, we will need unity.

We Need Grace

If we’re going to live out the true unity the New Testament writers described, we’ll need all the grace we can get. The church is the greatest power for good on earth, but without unity, the power is dissipated:

Unity unleashes the power of the church!

During the first month of every year, we remind ourselves of our new commandment—love one another.

Here’s the link to the sermon, study notes, and discussion notes from last Sunday:

Grace to Be One

Church Unity Takes a Lot of Grace!

January 30, 2011 in Bible Teaching,Discipleship,Ed's Sermons with 0 Comments

Grace to Be One

Selected Scripture

For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. (Galatians 5:13)

Our focus is relational discipleship rather than numbers and community rather than buildings and programs. Passing through the threshold of 500 has presented unique challenges to our storied church. The elders, staff and I have been discussing all of this in light of our priority to affirm our commitment to each individual, every marriage, and every family.

Our biblical text this year will be the Book of Galatians. Paul’s “Magna Carta of Christian Liberty” is all about accessing the grace of God in ways that release new life in Christ. I’m going to be teaching it with our specific community of faith in mind. This means that all of us, together will be saying, “We want to help you trust the grace of God in ways that will release your new life in Christ”.

This brings a huge commitment on our part. As we’re saying this to others, we should be asking ourselves, “How do we treat people as special as they are to Christ?” Our discussions and actions over the next 12 months will center on determining how we multiply groups, multiply and equip leaders and organize ministry so that we stay in touch with those who need God’s grace, encouragement, and guidance. The overarching Breakthrough Prayer we’ve settled on is simple but stretching: Please mature us as a church as we extend grace to more and more.

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When I say, “unity”…

February 3, 2010 in Grace Works!,Radical Christianity with 0 Comments

What is your first thought?

If you’re a Christian, your first reaction may be guilt and shame when you read words like these from the lips of Jesus:

“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me” (John 17:20-23).

One of the surest signs of how far the church today lives from the New Testament’s emphasis on unity is that most of us read these words as a challenge rather than a comfort.

It’s time to look at them again, as if for the first time and in context!

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