Tuesday Memo

Hi Five Oaksers:

I'm splitting my mid-week memo into two parts this week. Here are a few of things I want to tell you about today.

Hi Five Oakers,

There are several things I want to share with you today.

#1 – Get a recap of the weekend services with highlights of our prayers, readings and songs here.

#2 – We just sent out this postcard to 6000 area residents. Trying to make lemonade…

#3 – One of members wrote this some time ago as she reflected on inviting her neighbors to the Feed Event, and it fits well with last weekend's message:

Reasons Why I Wouldn’t Invite Neighbors

• We are not the most popular family on the block
• We are not the most involved family in the neighborhood
• We do not have kids the “average” ages of most on the block
• We are not the most neat or organized
• Our yard is not the most envied
• I am not the most extroverted person
• I am not the  most beautiful person
• We do not have a model perfect marriage
• I do not have super deep history with my neighbors
• Our garage is not the cleanest
• Our barking dog probably makes himself obnoxious barking too early or too late in the day
• I am not on board with some of the choices my neighbors make
• I am too busy to find the right words to ask others
• I assume others may want to help but are too busy as well—if I invite them, they’ll just say no anyway

The more I read over my list, the more I realized what sorry excuses these are.  It seems to me that Jesus’ philosophy was pretty simple—get involved in people’s lives!

I can do this by  providing food for the poor as I fill bags at FMSC. BUT also giving my neighbors the opportunity to feed  the poor could touch a spot in their own hearts that draws them that much closer to a relationship with Christ. 

The bottom line? Jesus promised—“  My Power is made perfect in weakness. All I need to do is be his instrument. He is responsible for the rest.

I look forward to seeing Him at work.

#4 – Yeah, this guy will be here Thursday and Friday for the Finding Faith movie. Read more about the movie here. 

#5 – 220 or so kids will be here all next week for VBS. I wish everyone could see their energy in the worship center when they sing and convene for large group. I wish everyone could see the youth who help lead this in preparation for leading it this summer on their mission trip. And all the dedicated volunteers that decorate the building and run this event. God bless you all!!!

#6 – Crazy energy and crowd for the Saturday service at the new time, 6pm. May have been our largest, non-holiday Saturday in years. Funny thing is I argued with our team against this time. I am happy to say I was wrong.

#7 – Here’s the message in 10 Tweets (“Worship Evangelism” in the Mission of God series):

1. Why is it so hard to invite people to a church service? Should we? What’s it all about, getting bigger?
2. There is a firm biblical foundation for inviting.
3. 1 Cor. 14:23-24 – Paul expected the unchurched to be invited.
4. The Jewish synagogues outside Palestine were teaming with seekers in the first century.
5. Temple court of the Gentiles: To get the nations as close as possible to God’s people worshiping.
6. Mk 11:17 – Jesus, “My house shall be called a house of prayer for the nations.”
7. Solomon anticipated seekers at the temple. “Sovereign Lord, when they pray, give them what they ask for.” (1 Ki 8:41-43)
8. Most of us need help leading someone to cross the line. Help is here every week. The gospel permeates our services. 100’s make decisions.
9. "Then in my 30s I find a church that helps me understand what it all means...my life changed that moment...crossed the line of faith…"
10. I’m so glad a neighbor friend invested in me (an unchurched kid) and invited me to his church.

I have a few more things to share tomorrow.

Blessings, Pastor Henry

Off the Cutting Room Floor

As I mentioned during my message, I had to leave some sermon material on the cutting room floor for time's sake. Basically, I would have liked to talk more about redemption as restoration. Here's what I cut from my manuscript:

Redemption always involves restoration.

The goal of redemption is to recover what’s been lost, to restore what’s been ruined, and to return what’s been taken captive.

The Survivor Tree was restored—it not only lived, it was replanted where it once stood, at the site of the Twin Towers. At one time it was buried under the concrete, steel and glass of the two towers that fell on it. It was lost and ruined and held down. And there it is today again. It was restored.

And that’s what Christ did. Look at what Paul says in Galatians.

⁴ But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, ⁵ to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. ⁶ And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” ⁷ So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God. (Galatians 4:4-7)

Look what shaped his language and understanding.

²² Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the Lord, Israel is my firstborn son, ²³ and I say to you, “Let my son go that he may serve me.” [Purposely ambiguous term meaning service or worship.] (Exodus 4:22-23a)

We are restored into a personal relationship with God. And the restoration of our relationship is only the beginning. We are restored for service and worship. We are being restored for doing good.

Titus 2:14 (NIV) – [Christ] gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

When God gives the law to Israel he says that by keeping it they will show the world how good and wise God is.

⁵ See, I have taught you statutes and rules, as the Lord my God commanded me, that you should do them in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. ⁶ Keep them and do them, for that will be your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’ ⁷ For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the Lord our God is to us, whenever we call upon him? ⁸ And what great nation is there, that has statutes and rules so righteous as all this law that I set before you today?