My greatest desire isn’t to see Epic Church become great; rather to be used by Jesus in a movement to see the Gospel transform the lives of all people within our city.
We are in part 2 of our Membership Series at Epic Church titled: Growing a Movement. As I have prepared for this series it is totally humbling as I notice all my short comings as it relates to growing a movement which would transform my city and the nations. This week is about Giving Ourselves Away. It sounds good. I mean it is a great title for a sermon but making it become reality is going to be HARD work. But by the grace of God I pray the Holy Spirit will use those connected to Epic Church to transform their communities by enabling them to give themselves away.
So much is going on in my life right now I can’t really verbalize it all. But, one thing I do know is that Jesus is up to something in my life. He is doing a work in my life.
As the scriptures say, ” 17Iron sharpens iron and one man sharpens another.”http://ref.ly/Pr27.17
I had an outstanding time today with a friend.You see all too often we forget to have meaningful relationships.Relationships were we can just talk openly and honestly.Where we can confess sin.Where we don’t have to have it all together.That was one of those meetings today for me.
If you don’t have someone, of the same sex, where you can put all walls and facades down and away; I encourage you to ask Jesus for such a friend.
I have been doing a ton of research for tomorrow’s sermon. In all honesty I was looking forward to Epic Church’s Porn Sunday. I was thinking it would be fun to talk about something so taboo. But in all reality porn and lust are destroying, yes DESTROYING, the life Jesus has created for us. We think we know best. We think we can “handle” our sin. You know what – we don’t handle sin, sin handles us. It is only by the power of Jesus that we are able to flee from sin. Not because we remove it from our lives but because Jesus takes it away.
Isn’t that the Gospel message? Not that we did anything, but that because of a deep unfathomable love Jesus has taken all of the crap of our lives and lives everywhere upon himself so that we may experience freedom.
Enough is Enough. Lust and Porn are so entrenched in our culture. I can’t even begin to think how or where to start to reverse the tide, but I tell you this – my life will be focused on Jesus and I will fight to the death for my purity. Purity with Jesus. Purity in my marriage. Purity in my relationships. I must allow Jesus to work within me and though me.
Sitting in the Starbucks tonight studying for class and working on my sermon for Epic Church two weeks from now, titled: Growing a Movement. This picture came to mind as I see the people coming and going.
The church used to be the focal point of any community, the tallest building and the soul of the city. Only 50 years ago, it was the place where neighbors and near neighbors came together at least once a week. Today churches can be difficult to find in the city where the skyline is dominated by banks and business buildings. Still, the search for purpose goes on and the hunger for spiritual wellbeing is as great as ever. As it says in Jeremiah 29:7 – “But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.”
It begs me wonder, what am I doing to on Jesus’ behalf for the welfare of the city? And what I am doing, is it enough? Maybe it is enough but could I be doing it better? And who could be doing it with me? Our communities have real problems, real hurts, real needs and as cliche as it sounds, Jesus is the answer. The question is though, how am I being Jesus to my community?
