Sunday Recap for 3/8/09

I just realized that this blog never got posted. My bad. I obviously forgot to click the "publish button".

• Today was a BEAUTIFUL spring morning!
  
• There was a lot of expectation going into this Sunday, because I did one of those "pastoral" sermons. We are in between series right now, and I took the opportunity to share some things the Lord ahd really been speaking to my heart over the past few weeks.
• There were a few first-timers as well, which is always great to see.
  
• Set up went down without a hitch. All of our volunteers are just incredible people!
  
• The worship was really great. I am totally digging the prayer that was read during the set.
• I spoke from my heart on some organic imagery the Lord has been giving me concerning our church.
• Jesus spoke to his disciples about the church in very organic terms- sheep, goats, fruits, vines, and branches.
• Church is not be static, and we should avoid viewing the church in certain lights that place it in a static position- like names, locations, buildings, or ministries. The church is much more than this.
• Because of its organic nature, it lives in all areas of our lives. The home should be the church, the job should be the church, life in the body can't be lived outside of the body!
• Because of its organic nature, it produces fruit. A fruit is categorized as a seed bearing plant. Church is to be fruitful, and reproductive.
• I used some pots, dirt, and flowers to relay some imagery the Lord had given me in prayer about our church. We have been really growing lately- new converts, new members, lots of first timers.
• While there are several areas that need immediate attention- starting a nursery, and expanding our children's church to accommodate all the kids. But I have struggled, because I didn't want to tap into our new growth already, and spread out our people on Sunday morning.
• But the Lord gave me this imagery, of three pots. One stuffed full of vines, and two that were empty. He then took some of the vines and spread them into the other two pots. It looked funny, the once full pot was now half empty- and the empty pots were only partially filled. Then, the vines started growing again, and eventually all the pots were full.
• The Lord was telling us that we need to continue to stretch out for the sake of the empty pots. It will be awkward for a while, but eventually the organic nature of the Kingdom of God will come into play, and our pots will be full!
• So I made a mess with dirt and flowers, but I think the visual was very successful.
• Our follow up with first timers was very positive. Amidst my reservations about being very pastoral in a setting where there are lots of first timers- apparently they all really enjoyed hearing it.