Friday, November 2, 2007

Have you been lately?

Have you been to youth lately? Have you been to Bible study small groups on Wednesday nights? Have you attended Sunday morning class? Have you been to one of our two worship services?

You might be able to answer “Yes,” to all, some, or none of the above listed activities, but does merely going make you a better Christian? Well I guess it really depends on how you define the word better. I would certainly agree that attending these things will improve your life and your week. But too often just attending will not allow you to grow to your fullest potential.

I might instead ask you if you have read your Bible lately? Have you spent time in prayer lately, not only talking to God but listening to Him as well. Have you taken the time to encourage, serve, or meet the needs of someone else? Have you personally found time in your busy schedule just to worship God in everything that you do?

Now this list is much more personal and is as important as the first set of questions. If you are going to make the most of your church going activities, you need to make the same investment in your own personal journey with Christ when you are away from church..

You might ask “Why?” You can not grow into what God is calling you to be with a mere hour or two a week within a Christian building. You need to be in community with other believers throughout your week, learning and doing life together. You need to be reading and expanding not only your mind of God, but your heart as well. God is asking us to serve others as we grow.

Also, when you are growing and deepening your walk with Christ, you are helping your fellow Christians. If you are more in tune with God’s Spirit before you walk through the doors of FUMC, the sharper you will be for God to use you to help, support, and encourage others.

Too often I hear people disappointed in their church, its activities, and its worship. Why is this? Maybe because they are not giving of themselves. Maybe they are concerned only with receiving and not giving.

We live in a very consumerist culture. And the church has become very consumerist as well. We expect God and the church to give us what we need for the week, and we expect it now!
The problem with this thinking is that God never intended this for the church.. When you look at scripture and the structure of the early church, you see a community of people living out their love of God in their community.

We, meaning me as well (guilty), program our lives into compartments. We do church here. We do outreach here. We serve on mission here. We give to the needy here. We learn and study here. Why are these things not just naturally incorporated into our daily lives and a part of the make-up of our families and who we are as individuals?
These are very difficult questions, and I don’t believe I have the answers to all of them. But coming early this next year, we as a church are going to be in a study called “Reconnecting”. I want to strongly encourage everyone to attend and be a part of what God wants to show us through this series. Join a small group, come to church, do your own personal study , and be a part of the Church! What great and wonderful things that God has in store for us. I am excited and hope you are too!

New & Improved

If you haven’t been to the church website lately, you should. Click on over to the new youth pages. We have taken the time to update and improve the content on the website. It has just started to change and much more will follow. We want to create a place where you can get up to the minute info and also get connected with other resources. If you have any suggestions please submit those.

Besides the new website, I want to talk a little about the new you. You may be thinking, “What do you mean the new me? I wasn’t born yesterday!” How true those thoughts are, but how contrary the truth really is. You are new. You do have a new start.

Let me share with you this passage of scripture. In 2 Corinthians 5:17 it says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” Did you know that when you accepted Christ you became something new; that the old ways of your life are slowly falling away and God is transforming you into His desired “You”. Yes God has a plan for you, and He has a way to change you into this new you. Well you might be thinking that you are not much different, or that you can’t remember what life was like without Christ. Trust me God is transforming you. You can’t escape His work in your life. Many people try avoiding Christ or even try running from Him. But it seems that Christ is always drawing us back to Him. I think that is what is so amazing about His love and grace. I know without His mercy I would be condemned.

It is so great to know that God is a God of second chances. Psalm 103:11-12 says; “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” God has forgiven us. He is transforming us into new people, and He is continuing to improve who we are. Start living a life of freedom, a life of forgiveness, and a life that has been given that second chance. What might God be asking of you? What might He be telling you? Listen and sense His forgiveness and His transformation in your life. Then live it out!