Trinity Family 2007
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Trinity Family 2007
Anyone make any New Year’s resolutions? Anyone break any New Year’s resolutions? This morning we are NOT talking about NY’s resolutions. But the New Year’s season is a perfect time to reflect upon the last year and project where we’re headed. Last Sunday, we offered the chance for you to do exactly that as individuals and as families. We had prayer stations and activity stations set up across the sanctuary and people reflected, confessed and committed. Afterward I had people come up to me with tears in their eyes, thanking us for that opportunity. Others told me “that was exactly what I needed.” It was a great time and if you missed it, I’m sorry but we’ll do it again next year.
So last Sunday was more individual, this Sunday we’re going to reflect and project as a church. Where have we been, where are we going.
So if we’re going to set our sights somewhere, we should probably head the same direction toward which Jesus has already pointed his followers. In Matthew 28, we see where Jesus has pointed us. These are the last 4 verses of Matthew’s gospel. He puts this at the end of his book about Jesus’ life to let us know that as followers of Christ, this is important, important stuff. Matthew 28:16-20 Gospel Response
When I study a passage to preach on Sunday, I try to imagine the people of TFC being there in the story. Sometimes it takes a bit of imagination to connect our current lives with a biblical story. Not this one, it’s pretty easy. It’s as if Jesus typed out an email, sent it to the first century church and told them, “forward this to all your friends, to everyone who comes after you. This is what I want all of my followers to be doing, from the first to the 21st century and every century beyond. These words are spoken to every single local church that’s committed to following Christ.
Every church that ever has existed or ever will exist is to be all about making disciples of Jesus Christ. A disciple is someone with a disciplined commitment to imitating the person they want to follow. TF is a community of people committed to following Jesus Christ. Living the way he taught us to live.
Now Jesus was a radical dude. Totally countercultural. His way of life goes the exact opposite of the way most people live. This means that imitating Jesus is not easy and it doesn’t come naturally. It would be nice if it were easy, but that’s not the case.
What if you wanted to hit a baseball like Barry Bonds, what would you do? You’d imitate him. Next time you’re at the plate, maybe this spring on our next TFC softball team, you’d make sure you’re wearing a Giants helmet, wearing the same shoes, hold the bat like he does, strap on a bunch of body armor. If you look like him, decide you’re going to swing like him, then you must be imitating him right?
Well, we know that’s crazy. You don’t become a major league hitter standing in a major league batters box, dressed up like a major league hitter. You become a major league hitter by practicing like a major leaguer, working out like a major leaguer, eating like a major leaguer and taking the right kind of steroids. And you don’t just do this once; it’s a process you’re committed to repeating over and over and over. Trusting that process of practice, exercise, diet and injections to shape you into a top athlete.
The same is true for being a disciple of Jesus Christ. You don’t wake up one morning and decide “I’m going to live the way Jesus taught me to live.” You’ll strike out. Instead, you commit yourself to a repeatable, continuing process of spiritual growth that shapes you into a person that is imitating Jesus Christ.
And the privilege and responsibility of every single community of Christ – followers is to train people to live the way Jesus taught them to live. Trinity Family is here to make disciples, providing the opportunity for every person that enters into our community to live the way Jesus taught them to live.
The leadership team of this church, our Advisory Council has decided it’s time for us to become more intentional about disciple – making. So we spent a couple of months talking about this. We asked ourselves the question, “what does a disciple at Trinity Family look like.? What are some behaviors we could point out in person’s life that would let us know they’re growing as disciples? A disciple at Trinity Family does ____.”
We filled in that blank with 5 observable behaviors that would tip us off regarding their growth as disciples. These are all things Jesus taught us to do. A disciple at Trinity Family: WORSHIPS GOD I’m going to keep building on “a disciple at TF”, please find a way to make each step stand out from “a disciple at TF.”
Jesus taught us to worship God. In Matthew 4, he responds to the tempters offer to give him all the kingdoms of the world if he’d just bow down before him by saying this, “You must worship the Lord your God and serve him only.” In Matthew 18, Jesus gives us this promise: Matthew 18:20. And in John 4 he told us this: John 4:23-24. Jesus is pretty clear – followers of Jesus are to worship God. Naturally, we’re incredibly self-absorbed. Worship is being intentional about taking my focus off myself and focusing upon God.
Worship doesn’t just happen at 10:30 on Sunday morning. Worship is both private and corporate. Private worship happens when you’re riding in your car, praying to God. Sitting in your living room, reading your Bible. Or enjoying God’s presence while you go on a walk. Privately focusing upon God.
Corporate
worship happens when we gather together as a church, at a specific time and
place so we can together focus upon God.
For churches in
The first step of a life of a disciple is entering into worship.
I also want to assess each of these areas. How are we doing in the area of worship? Are we helping people worship God?
Last year at this time, our church was 20 weeks old and we were averaging 89 people in Sunday morning worship. Over those same 20 weeks this year, we’re averaging 97 people in worship. Every number represents one more person we’re helping fulfill they’re purpose for being created, to worship God.
Of course, just having bodies in the sanctuary doesn’t mean people are worshipping God. Our worship leaders can’t make you worship (obviously) but we can commit to excellence in worship and finding new and creative ways to engage the whole person in worship. As we begin a new sermon series next Sunday, we’ve got some new creative ideas we’re going to experiment to help you further engage in the worship experience.
A disciple at Trinity Family: CONNECTS WITH BELIEVERS. The Christian life is not a solo act. We cannot do it alone. God created us as relational beings, we need each other. Jesus taught us this, too. John 13:34-35. And a few chapters later, Jesus prayed that his followers would be united as one. You grow as a disciple by building relationships with other disciples.
This happens somewhat on Sunday mornings. Especially for those who get here early to eat donuts or really early to help with set-up. But the main avenue for relationship building is our church’s small groups. Groups that meet in each other’s homes to share a meal, pray and read the Bible. Life change happens in small groups. I’ve seen it. I watched light bulbs go on during conversations between new Christians and established Christians. If you’re not in a group, you need to be.
Right now
about half of our church is connected into some sort of small group. This year we’ll be working for a higher
involvement in that area. We’re kicking
off two new groups this month. Aaron and
Michelle Williams are going to be hosting a group that will kickoff on Tuesday
night, Jan. 23rd – meeting just a few blocks from here. Joe and Vanessa Kumor are going to be
starting a new group in
Studying scripture, sharing life together – that’s what the Christian life is all about! Disciples connect with other disciples.
A disciple at Trinity Family: SERVES OTHERS. Just before Jesus was crucified, he gathered his disciples together for one final meal. And just before this meal, he got a towel and a bowl of water and washed the feet of each of his disciples. Now this was the lowest most humbling act of service a person could do back then. After he was done and his disciples were still in a state of shock he told them, “yes, as your master and Lord, I’ve washed your feet. Now you’re to do the same for each other – serve each other.”
Jesus didn’t say, make sure to consume all you can from others. Make sure to look after your own needs first. He said, pick up the bowel, grab the towel and serve. Look to serve before you’re served. Be a giver, not a consumer. Put the needs of others before your own.
And Jesus knew the paradox of service – that when you serve others, your own spiritual needs will be met. When you put others first, God honors that decision and you experience a different type of blessing. Jesus knew that we’re created to be disciples.
About 70% of our church is involved in some sort of ministry. That’s awesome!
Our challenge will be to continually involved new people in ministry.
But service
doesn’t just happen within the church.
We’re called to serve people who have never even heard of TFC. A couple weeks ago, we did this when we
offered free Christmas wrapping at the new Wal-Mart. A lot of you showed up for that – that’s
serving others. Ringing the
A disciple at Trinity Family: GIVES SACRIFICIALLY Matthew 6:19-21 We value the work of God’s kingdom by giving to God. We value others by giving to others. This is so countercultural. We’re bombarded over and over with the message “get more, get more, get more.” And the lie that goes along with it, “just a little more and you’ll be happy.” The more in-tune you become with Jesus, the more you’ll be able to see though that lie.
Sacrificial giving isn’t just throwing some loose change in the Salvation Army kettle. It’s more than throwing a few dollar bills in the offering plate. It’s driving an older car so you have more cash on hand to give to a family that needs it. It’s writing your tithe check before you buy that new TV. Even before you buy your groceries. Intentionally living on less so you can give away more to others. People with bigger houses and nicer cars will tell you you’re crazy. Jesus will say, “you’re looking a lot like me.”
Last month we bought Christmas presents for 4 kids in the Kansas Foster care system – you guys went crazy, spending $100’s. Proud moment in our church.
A couple of months ago, when we went through that sermon series on Generous Living, we dreamed together on things we could accomplish as a church if we were all living generously. If we were all living up to the biblical challenge of giving the first 10% of our income to our local church. We just had a notepad and easel up here. Here are some of the highlights: Permanent facility, Food pantries, giving away clothing, immediate help to areas hit by natural disasters, Huge service/outreach events, (favorite) sponsoring an entire village in poor country – paying for food, clean water, education. That sounds like a lot, but it takes less money than you’d think to help pull people out of poverty.
During that series, we also shared with you our operating budget for the fiscal year. My favorite part of our church’s budget is that 27% of our money goes for service and outreach, saving up to start a new church. That operating budget was based on $9,000 a month. Our fiscal year is July to June and entering December we were averaging $7,800 a month, putting us $6,000 behind for the first half of the year and I was getting nervous. Our Advisory Council met and we talked about what we could cut. And they also said, “Donnie, you’ve gotta tell the church.” So, I was preparing to give a not-so-fun financial report today.
But God showed up in December. Many of you gave so sacrificially that we caught up $4,000 of that $6,000 we were behind. God takes care of this church. But he works through your obedience.
Imagine where we could go as a church if we were all obedient in giving a full 10%. We could invest that money in serving others.
Just this week, I talked with a family in our church who told me, “we give our first 10% to the church, but I can’t stop myself from just giving away to other people all the time. It’s so great to just give and give and give.” This family is not rich!
I challenge you this year to grow toward that type of generosity. That’s the way to live.
A disciple at Trinity Family: INVESTS IN UNBELIEVERS In Luke 15, Jesus tells back to back parables about 2 people doing whatever it takes to find a valuable item that they’ve lost. A shepherd risks his entire herd to find one sheep that has wandered away and a lady searches her entire house to find one lost coin – when she finds it, she throws a party. These parables are images of Jesus’ commitment to reach those who are far from him.
A disciple knows it’s not just about me! What about you? Do you have that same commitment to building relationship with people who have yet to commit their lives to Christ?
We ought to be able to look back and say,
‘Here’s what I’ve spent in time and energy trying to reach people outside the
family of God.’ We should be able to open
our ledgers and say ‘Here’s what I’ve invested of my resources to help make
evangelism happen through supporting the church’s outreach efforts; buying
Bibles, books and tapes to give to spiritual seekers; spending money to take a
nonbelieving friend to breakfast or lunch; inviting non-Christians into my
home.’ ‘People matter to God and they
matter to me too.’ - Mark Mittleberg
A disciple of Jesus imitates Jesus. Jesus spent a lot of time with people who were far from God. Who are you going to invest in this year?
I went through the church directory and counted off 15 families that had brought someone to TF that wasn’t a part of another church or that we telling me about conversations they were having with someone at work.
And you don’t just knock on your new neighbors door and say “hey, want to come to church?” A relationship must be built. A relationship that is committed to loving that person whether or not they ever decide to become a Christ-follower.
It must break God’s heart to know that our churches are filled with people who have no relationships outside the church. They’ve isolated themselves from unbelievers. Folks, you’ve gotta’ call that what it is – that’s sin. Completely unChrist-like.
We are going to remain intentional as a church about not overloading you with church activities so you never have time to build other relationships.
Friday nights and Saturday nights are usually open on our church calendar. That’s a time to building relationships. And when we plan church events on those days, they’ll be the type of event to which you can invite a friend.
Who are you going to invest in this year?
So here’s our discipleship process as a whole statement: A disciple at TFC worships God, connects with believers, serves others, gives sacrificially and invests in unbelievers.
Repeat…
Our church is going to keep following Jesus. Striving to imitate him in everything we do. We’ll keep following this process.
Trusting God to shape us into disciples of his Son as we follow the teachings of his Son.
Prayer
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