Member’s Only

“Members Only.”   I was a golf caddy for four years during high school and college, and each day as I arrived at work I was greeted by a number of signs with that message on them.   I always wondered, what was behind those doors?   What was so special in the member’s only space?   Finally in my last summer caddying, I was called to enter a member’s only space to receive my tip from a golfer who had no interest in walking back outside in the pouring rain.   I remember getting ready to walk through the doors with such excitement and wonder.  I had been told what the other side was like.  I had read books and seen movies that depict it but now I was going to get a chance to experience it first hand.

Country clubs were not the first to come up with the idea of a “member’s only” space.   Ancient Jewish culture had two clear members’ only spaces.   First was in the temple.   There was an area in the middle of the temple that had a veil covering the entrance that was called the Holy of Holies, which could only be entered by a selected priest once a year.   Yet when Jesus died on the cross we read in scripture, “With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last. The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.” (Mark 15:37-38, TNIV)  The second “member’s only” space were a system of roads that only could be used by priests and powerful political figures.   We read in Isaiah 35 about these roads that when Jesus comes, “And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness; it will be for those who walk on that Way…But only the redeemed will walk there, and those the Lord has rescued.” (Isaiah 35:8-10, TNIV)

In both of these passages the message is similar; Jesus’ coming will signal a change in how we engage God.   Before Jesus only a select few priests would have the opportunity to engage God closely at the temple. When the temple veil is torn, symbolizing Jesus’ death clearing a path so that God’s people have and can continue to directly engage God.   Isaiah’s passage lays out a vision of a special road that is made for all of God’s people, not just the elite or royalty to travel to meet God.

Each day people drive past churches all across America and see these little “member’s only” signs.   They see it on the church building, the front doors, and the people who worship inside.   There are many who need to be at church, and some who even desire to come here and spend time with God and others, but fear that they don’t belong because this is a “member’s only” zone.   We could tell them that it is not the case, but our examples today from scripture are not about rationally convincing people of a new reality.   Instead both our passages are showing and engaging people in that new reality, inviting them to come and meet God in a real and personal way.  So this Holiday season, perhaps you will invite someone to come and meet God, and to experience first hand that this is not a “member’s only” zone, but rather a place where all who desire to meet God are welcomed and loved.

Soundtrack of Life

A few years ago Starbucks coffee came out with a TV ad campaign that has stuck in my memory.  In the commercial an everyday normal person wakes up to get ready for work, and finds that he has a rock band that follows him around giving him a soundtrack for his day.  The band is there to pump him up, to encourage him, and to narrate his day through their music, essentially giving him a soundtrack for his day. (You can find it at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9buedr_YDQ)  As I watched this commercial I began to think, what if my life had a soundtrack?  What if a band narrated each day in my life as a Christian?  What would it sound like?

Throughout scripture we are reminded that as Christians our faith must be present and lived out in our daily actions as well as in our quiet time.  In the book of James we are told, “You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?” (James 2:20, TNIV)  In Ephesians we are reminded that we have an obligation to use the gifts and experiences that God has given to us, “So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up“ (Ephesians 4:11-12, TNIV) There are countless other scripture passage that point us to the importance of living out our faith in our daily lives.  In each we are reminded that all that we do, in word and deed are a reflection of Jesus.  We are his ambassadors, his representatives; we are the body of Christ.  We are reminded that in all that we are to reflect Jesus to the world.

So what kind of soundtrack would our church have?  As someone walks through our doors are they overwhelmed by the love of Christ, and devotion to following Jesus?  Do they sense a passion for doing God’s will?  Do they hear a song of hope, a song of salvation?  Or looking to our lives personally, what would your soundtrack be like?  Would it be filled with joy or pain?  Would it be rockin’ or a bit mellower?  Would it be filled with words of life and encouragement, or lyrics of hurt, and discouragement?  Jesus has given to each of us gifts, talents, and experiences to bring glory to Him, and to make an impact in this world.  So the next time you are listening to your iPod, or radio, or stereo, be thinking, what would my soundtrack be like, what would our church’s soundtrack be like?  Is there a clear reflection of the message of Jesus, of Hope, of forgiveness, or restoration?  Whether or not we like it everyone around us is listening, waiting to see what they hear, what they see, and what they experience.  They are wondering and observing these Christians, and about our church.  So let your life’s song ring true, may it be a reflection of Jesus to everyone that you meet, and everyone that you know.

What is Your Heart?

What is it that gets you excited each morning as you wake up?  What is it that keeps you going when you are down, what is it that focuses your work, your finances, and your time?  For the apostle Paul it was helping people to know God.  Paul had been given a second chance at life by God, and wanted to extend that same opportunity to others.  He says this in 1 Corinthians 9, “For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all that I might win more of them.” (1 Corinthians 9:19, ESV)  Paul goes onto say that he has become like Jews, gentiles, lawless and lawful people all so that he could share the gospel with them, so that he might save some.  Paul’s heart is for the gospel, and in all that he does he is seeking to share the gospel and introduce others to God.

So we have to ask ourselves, what is our drive as Christians?  What is it that gets us excited about church, about our faith?  Is our drive to find a nice church that tells us what we want to hear, or instead to challenge us and help us to grow?  Is our drive to read all of scripture, or just focus on the sections that we like the most?  Is our drive for more people to know Jesus because of us, or does that idea makes you a little uncomfortable?

Paul writes this passage knowing that he once was outside of Jesus’ church, and in fact spent his time persecuting Christians all across the Romans empire.  But God gave Paul a second chance, He saved him, and gave him a new purpose in life: carrying the message to non-churched people who have not heard it.  Paul knew how Jesus could transform a life, it forever changed the direction of Paul’s life.  For him he knew he had to give back, to show his thankfulness for what God has done for him by taking the same message to others, and helping others to know God.

So where is your heart?  As you think about what gets your excited about your faith, about church, about life, what is it that drives your heart?  Each of us have been transformed by what God has done for us and through us, shouldn’t our hearts be to help others know that same God who changed our own lives?  Read these lyrics from the song “I’m for You” by Christian artist Toby Mac, and think about where your heart is, “Whatever I gotta be  I’ll be for you, Whatever you need from me To see it through”  Do our hearts say this to God?  Does our heart for God and his work push us like Paul to, “become all things to all people so that I might save some.” (1 Corinthians 9: 22).

Time to Start

I want to thank each of you for a wonderful Easter breakfast and service last week.  My first Easter at Trinity was truly a wonderful day of worship, fellowship, and celebrating the resurrection with each of you.  It was thrilling to pack out the fellowship hall for our Easter breakfast and the sanctuary for our Easter worship service.

How do you follow that?  For many of us Easter is a day of joy and celebration, it is hard not to feel energized as you leave church following the Hallelujah chorus.  Yet why is it that for so many it will be the last time they return to a church until Christmas or the next Easter?  I believe that for many it is because on Easter something special happens.  Churches sing special songs, have special breakfasts, and do other activities to celebrate the resurrection.  Yet visitors can feel or see that those same churches seem to return to normalcy after Easter.  It can appear that even those who are mature Christians seem no different or changed by Easter the following Sunday. So how do we live lives in response to the empty tomb?  What would that look like?  How will Trinity feel different because of Easter?

We are called to live differently because Jesus reminds us that his resurrection is not just one day that we celebrate each year, but instead is a sending point for his disciples and us into ministry.  The New Testament did not end after the resurrection, it had just begun, before he left them Jesus called for his disciples to, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20, ESV) Christ’s resurrection was just the beginning of their ministry.

This week we are beginning a four week sermon series called, “Time to Start.”  Jesus tells us that his death and resurrection are not an end but a reminder to us that it is time to start.  We will be looking to scripture to guide us about where and how to start living this new life in Christ.  The bible tells us that it is time to start reaching out, time to start growing, time to start serving, and time to start caring.

April 11^th- Time to Start Reaching: Isaiah 61:1-4 and Luke 4:16-21

April 18^th Time to Start Growing: Ephesians 4:1-6

April 25^th Time to Start: YOUTH SUNDAY

May 2^nd Time to Start Serving: Hospitality- Luke 14:7-14

Pastor Bill

For Those

This past week I was thinking about our upcoming Rush of Fools concert and listening to their song, “For Those.” Read the words of the chorus:

Lord we know it’s for those You’ve come
Lord we know it’s for those You’ve given Your Son
Lord we know it’s for those who can’t come on their own
That You’ve come, You have come for those

Hear these words of Jesus from the gospel of Mark, “On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Mark 2:17, TNIV When you read this, who is it that Jesus is coming for, who specifically do you see? Jesus came “for those” who are those? If you are like most people you see “those people” as outside the church. You can probably even envision a neighbor or co-worker. Have you ever envisioned that you are the one Jesus came to save? Jesus came to save those who can’t come on their own, those who are sick, and those who are hurting, and that is us. This song, this passage is not just about people who are outside the church, they are about us.

During this season of Lent we are focusing on the life of Christ, and what he did for us. Have we forgotten that Jesus cleanses us from our sins? Jesus washes us clean; Jesus came to heal our brokenness, our addictions, and our struggles. It is because of Jesus’ work on the cross and in his resurrection that we all can stand with hope today; it is because of Jesus that we live life with purpose.

Knowing he did that for us, does it change your day? Does your life look any different since you invited Jesus to be your Lord and Savior? Our pews are filled with countless stories of God’s grace and the work of the Spirit. The work of the Spirit in our lives is real and powerful, if we can slow down enough to listen and look for it. Knowing what God has done for you, that he gave his Son so you might have life and life to the fullest. John 10:10 What will your response be?

This passage and song reminds us that “those” Jesus came for include us, but it also includes a number of people who are not here right now. Jesus came to save a number of people who don’t know the Good News yet. As those who have been told, whose lives have been changed we have a responsibility to share that Good News, to invite others into that full life that Jesus promised to us. Easter is a time of year to extend that invitation, since a number of people who usually don’t regularly attend will go to church Easter. But this does not end with Easter; we as a church have dedicated ourselves to a call to be, “Community Focused, Caring, Growing, and Open to All People.” Jesus’ message needs to touch and drive each part of that vision, and for us to be a church who seeks to continually invite “those” in, who do not know the Good News….yet.

Pastor Bill