Date: January 9th, 2011
Speaker: Pastor Kevin Snyder
Title: From Here to There
Text: Acts 9:26 - 28; 2:42 - 47
Introduction
At the beginning of the year I like to take a morning and try and lay out the theme, emphasis and goals for us spiritually as a church. Where I believe God is leading us…kind of like a “Speech from the Throne” but in case of church more speech from the basin.
This past fall I had the opportunity to attend a leadership conference in Moose Jaw with some of the staff and leadership. On the Friday night Bill Hybels did a talk called “From Here to There” that articulated a lot of things for me.
Main Point: The task of leadership is essentially to move people from HERE to THERE.
Resonated with what I have identified as my calling and that is as a “reformer”. The words that crystallized that for me was “Kev, you don’t hate the church, you just want it to become all that it can be.”
I have never been content to just “maintain” a church. I’m just not wired that way. I just am continually striving after to be that church we read in Acts 2:41- 47 (New Century Version)
41 Then those people who accepted what Peter said were baptized. About three thousand people were added to the number of believers that day. 42 They spent their time learning the apostles’ teaching, sharing, breaking bread, and praying together.
43 The apostles were doing many miracles and signs, and everyone felt great respect for God. 44 All the believers were together and shared everything. 45 They would sell their land and the things they owned and then divide the money and give it to anyone who needed it. 46 The believers met together in the Temple every day. They ate together in their homes, happy to share their food with joyful hearts. 47 They praised God and were liked by all the people. Every day the Lord added those who were being saved to the group of believers.
Used to think that get people to go there was to cast the vision of what life would be like over there. (ie. King: “I Have a Dream”)
But from my experience I have found that whenever I have cast a vision for there I would always get emails or comments or murmurings that essentially said “I don’t want to go THERE. I want to stay HERE.”
So what do we do?
Tendency: Repeat it. Ramp it up, try and paint an even more exciting, & clearer vision of THERE. And again, to a leaders disappointment, you get the emails saying; “I don’t want to go there. I want to stay here.”
And Hybels pointed out that before we are ready to move to “THERE”, we have to be discontent with “HERE”.
- We need to be convinced that we can’t stay Here.
- We haven’t arrived. This is not all there is.
- If you think of a church’s full redemptive potential – what it could be when we are all spiritually on the same page, working for the same goal, and all working in our God-given niche. I know we have no yet achieved our full redemptive potential.
- And I don’t think we have yet as a church reached our full redemptive potential.
And so, the questions are for us today:
- “WHAT IS “THERE” FOR US?”
- WHAT IS WRONG WITH “HERE”?
And we can answer those questions in many ways….different realms
“WHAT IS “THERE” FOR US?”
a. Outreach & Community Involvement
We took a big step in this last year with the Center, KIN Program, and Angel coupons ($1000).
The Center is a part of “There” in terms of seeking to meet a need in the community. Big step towards that part of our mission statement “To live his mission.”
And yes, it is in its infancy, and we are just beginning to get our feet landed.
But part of the fruit was New Year’s Eve seeing 2 kids who have been to the AARC program &one of the Fresh Start kids hanging out there….an alternative for them.
We came to a point where we said to stay in our 4 walls isn’t good enough. We saw a need and to stay “Here” wasn’t good enough. And so we took a big step to go “THERE”
b. Committed People
“THERE” is also people like you who committed yourself financially to the church & Capital Campaign. You have shown your commitment with your giving…put your money where your mouth is. In your commitment financially you made a huge statement that we aren’t content to just stay “here” but want to be THERE.
Could also add your commitment to ministry…hours you have given faithfully. Enabled us to move closer to there.
We looked around and said “If this is going to happen it is going to take some people to step to the plate…to commit themselves, to take the risk, and raise the banner. And as a church we said “Here’s” level of commitment isn’t enough. We need to go “THERE” and you did that big time…pledging an additional $400,000 over 3 years to make it happen.
c. Mission
“THERE” is being a globally involved church. A church that sees its place in the global community, and is willing to generously give of itself to help the world’s most needy.
And over the last couple of years we have seen a huge surge in this regard. I was counting up how many people from East Side went on a short-term mission trip last year and with the youth trip, Mexico Mission, and individual trips we had 55 – 60 people who went last year. We have one of our own couples, Steve & Lisa, renewing their commitment with HCJB and moving to Malaysia.
And yeah, we have a hiccup with the Mexico Mission trip this year but God will guide and open doors again in some way.
- Add to that the 1200 Operation Cmas shoeboxes, the youth and leaders that went to Calgary to pack them,
- The $700 that went to Mexico uniforms
- $1300 to a family in Swift
- $4000 that went to Christ’s Birthday offering
- & over $8000 to regular mission support
And so, “THERE” is being a glocal church.
Not content to stay “HERE” and not be involved when…
- 1.75 billion people live in poverty,
- 1 billion are hungry,
- and 2 million children are exploited in the global commercial sex trade,
- and kids can’t go to school in Mexico because to poor to afford a uniform
Given that we couldn’t stay “HERE” and not be more involved globally…We have become increasingly aware that “HERE” breaks the heart of God
We have continued to move to “THERE” as a globally conscious church
d. Kids & Youth
If “There” is, as our REVEAL survey shared, having a stronger program for Kids and Youth we have taken some big steps towards “THERE” by
- adding staff
- adding Upwards ministry
- partnering with West Bank
- Significant budget increases (totals close to 20% of budget now when look at staff & programming)
- designing Center to be able to be used also for our youth
We have now positioned ourselves to get closer to “THERE.”
Summary
And so we have been making some pretty significant steps to getting “THERE” in several realms.
But church is complex. It’s like spinning a bunch of plates. As soon as you focus on a few, a few others start wobbling.
And so to get “THERE” is never a straight line like it shows. It is more like “2 steps forward, 1 step back”.
THIS YEAR
But if we are going to continue our quest to get “THERE”
What areas do we need to focus on this year?
Well, as I have been thinking, praying, & listening to you there are a couple of aspects of “THERE” that I want to challenge us to rise to this year. They aren’t capital projects. They are spiritual and behavioral changes.
For us “THERE” involves 2 things this year.
1. RAISING THE SPIRITUAL TEMPERAURE
THERE = is a spiritually alive, intone, Spirit-led, vibrant, growing community.
= a church that believes that God is communicating daily and seeks to hear his whisper in their personal and corporate life on a daily basis. =There is where we are increasingly spirit-led , not tradition-driven, need-driven, financially-driven, or image-driven but led by the gentle whisper of God. Where 2-way prayer is part of how we operate.
i.e.
Christ is Head of the church.
Our understanding of our bodies is that the brain (head) sends messages that direct every one of our actions.
ie.
typing – letter key to punch – message goes to hand
I wonder if we would be live less anxious, pressure –driven lives if we were Spirit-led. If we could hear regularly the still, small voice of God’s spirit in our souls.
ie.
“God-jar” – money in a jar
Listen for a whisper of what God would have you do with that.
HOW?
Several Steps:
1. “Power of a Whisper” Spiritual Campaign
Jan 16 – Feb 6, 2011
Starting next Sunday, and for next 4 weeks- going to be involved in a campaign, that focuses on
- How does the Holy Spirit speak?
- What types of whispers does God share?How do you recognize God’s voice?
- How can we become more in tune with those whispers?
Goal to kick start this raising the spiritual temperature.
Individual Actions
- Attend worship – messages and clips that introduce the topic
- Read Book – sign up to order at info booth
- Small group – several small groups are going to do the series.
- Tues nights – Jan 18th , 25, Feb 1, & 8th - group here at church – watch video, discussion….invite you to join in
2. Reveal Survey – take our spiritual temperature again as a church & help focus our priorities for the next couple of years.
3. Intentional Spiritual Formation Plan – intentional path to help move you from a “seeker’ to a “an mature, equipped minister/leader. (Deacons been working on that)
2. WELCOMING CULTURE
THERE = CULTURE SHIFT
Every church has a culture. It is what makes every church unique. Part of our culture is to be community involved. Part of the culture has been the Care ministries. It is our DNA as a church.
Culture is shaped by our theology, our spiritual temperature, our mission. And it is expressed by our attitudes and behaviors.
And I over the last while this is an area God has been disturbing my heart. I just can’t stay “here”.
Culture Shift: How we welcome and include and incorporate new people.
Swift Current changing – more people coming from other provinces and other parts of the world…people who have no connection but a job to this community. So, no natural family or friendship connections to people…have to be more intentional.
Perhaps asking:
“Why?” “What’s wrong?”
Story of HERE
young couple – ended landing at another church
But how many don’t?
How many prepare and sweat for weeks before they come and depending on what happens make a decision if they will ever go back
What does THERE look like?
“THERE” is a hospital church with a bursting maternity ward…always new people.
- church growing because it is welcoming, inviting, and incorporating new people
- There is a church where the baptismal stories we had in November are common.
- There are guys like Dan McKenna.
- There is a church that isn’t content to stay at 300 – 350 for the next 5 years…that wants to grow through impacting this community with the light of Christ.
How do we get to “THERE”?
By following the example of Barnabas…
i.e.
Acts 9:26 -28
26 When Saul went to Jerusalem, he tried to join the group of followers, but they were all afraid of him. They did not believe he was really a follower. 27 But Barnabas accepted Saul and took him to the apostles. Barnabas explained to them that Saul had seen the Lord on the road and the Lord had spoken to Saul. Then he told them how boldly Saul had preached in the name of Jesus in Damascus.
Barnabas did 3 things:
- He initiated contact with Saul – he reached out his hand in friendship
- He invited him into the fellowship
- He included him.
I guess I want to challenge all of us to become Barnabbas’s this year. To follow his example.
I want to challenge you to be the most welcoming church in town.
3 Behavioral Challenges:
a. Initiate Contact
What would it look like if all of those who have been here for more than a year saw it as our role to greet every new person or person we don’t know within 2 rows on each side of you?
That’s the challenge: To greet and welcome every new person who comes into your zone. Most of you sit in same place…see to it that you get to know and greet every new person in your zone (2 rows ahead and behind)
Visitors: decide in 1st 10 mins
This activity will make us a friendly church. But people aren’t just looking for a friendly church they are looking for a friend.
They’re looking for a Barnabas.
b. Include
Many of you go for lunch after church. Often go with the same people.
What would it look like if you took it upon yourself to include others in that lunch group? What if you were active in inviting people to your small group or to coffee?
Maybe you go for lunch once a month? (your outreach money) Or maybe make that a goal…go once a month and include one new person or person you don’t know with you.
c. Invite
Starting in Feb we are going to be doing some fun, seeker-friendly events once a month or every 6 weeks.
- In Feb we have a group of youth pastors out of Calgary who do a fun parody of the Beetles…fantastic sound.
- In March trying to line up a comedy group.
Donna Magee is heading that up.
Plan is not that you just come…that would be a waste. Plan would be to invite the people who you greet, and do lunch with to these events.
At every event we want to have someone that shares a story that illustrates the culture of East side.
Anyways, we have called this “Operation: Connect”
Operation Connect
Behavioral Commitments
- Initiate Contact
- Include
c. Invite
It’s not a program. It’s a lifestyle shift. And the more of us that adopt it, the more it creates a culture shift.
How can you become involved?
Friday, Jan 14th you are invited to come and learn more of how this will work. By coming you say “I want to help us as a church move from HERE to THERE”. I want to be a thermostat that will help change the welcoming temperature.
If regular, or new person, who wants to be a part of a group that is committed to putting these 3 activities of initiating, including & inviting into your lifestyle then want to invite to come on Friday night.
- do some crowd breakers & have some fun
- share more about the events
- talk more about the 3 activities
Wrap-Up
Response form in bulletin
FROM HERE TO THERE RESPONSE FORM
____I want to personally be involved this year in helping East Side move from HERE to THERE spiritually and culturally.
A. Raising Spiritual Temperature (“Power of a Whisper “ Campaign)
____I would like to order a copy of the book “The Power of a Whisper” for the upcoming series.
____I would like to come on Tuesday nights (Jan 18th, 25th, Feb 1st, 8th) to the video/discussion times at the church.
____ (Small Group Leaders) I would like our existing small to participate by doing the video/discussions for the next 4 group meetings. (Please arrange for DVD and Leader’s Guide with office)
B. Welcoming Culture (Operation Connect)
I want to follow Barnabas’s example and be a part of moving East Side from “Here” to “There” (a church renown for exhibiting the friendly, welcoming love of Jesus).
_____I will come on Friday, Jan. 14th @ 7:00 pm to learn more about Operation Connect.
_____I want to be a part of this endeavor but I am unable to attend on Friday night. But please count me in to accept the challenge to initiate, include and invite.
_____I struggle with these “people-person” things but would be willing to assist in organizing events, preparing the venue, serving coffee, etc.
Name: __________________________________________________
Contact Info (phone/email) ________________________________
Click here to return to sermon page
n breaking bread This may mean a meal as in verse 46, or the Lord’s Supper, the special meal Jesus told his followers to eat to remember him (Luke 22:14–20).
The Everyday Bible : New Century Version. Nashville, TN. : Thomas Nelson, Inc., 2005, S. Ac 2:41-47
The Everyday Bible : New Century Version. Nashville, TN. : Thomas Nelson, Inc., 2005, S. Ac 9:26-27