I’ve loved this sermon series on “God’s calling” where we look at numerous Old Testament characters and how God called them. So far we’ve done Ruth with circumstances, Samuel by name, and David as a king that is after God’s own heart.
As I’ve written these sermons, these stories cause me to pause: where is God calling Hope Community Church? This year has hardly been an “easy” transition. We’ve seen numerous changes in our culture and church family. Some of these changes can be due to a change in pastoral leadership: most studies would state that you “lose” 15% of everything during a pastoral change. However, many of these changes are far beyond a pastoral change. Through this change I have seen God affirming and steadying numerous leaders. I have witnessed creativity arise in numerous situations. Grace poured out over and over. Most of all, I sense God is calling Hope Community Church into a new season of being a church. In several of the Old Testament stories we see prayers or God comforting by saying, “do not let me go to the left or the right” of the path that we should be going. This is particularly important in Israel as mountainous roads are only shoulder-width and doom literally was a step to the left or right. I find myself saying that with all the change above. God, keep our feet along the path you would have us. Do not let us go to the right or the left. I do believe that the next steps ahead of us are clear. They come right from the mission that we have: Hope exists to bring others closer to Jesus. If we took that mission seriously, we would see transformation in our church. Revival in our families. A church that takes itself less seriously on the outward appearance and more seriously on changing our hearts towards Jesus. I want to be a church where we have prisoners, orphans, and widows opening their hearts every week in praise. I want to be a church where membership statistics and finances are secondary to seeing children and youth know and live out the Gospel. I want to be a church that takes the next step(s) in faith and not by sight. Trusting our savior to call us towards Him and keep us from stumbling and falling. I’ll continue to work towards that as your pastor, and invite you to come alongside me for the journey. Blessings, Pastor Scott
11 Comments
10/5/2018 11:29:36 am
Nice post. I learn something more challenging on different blogs every day. It will always be stimulating to read content from other writers and practice a little something from their store. I’d prefer to use some with the content on my blog whether you don’t mind. Naturally I’ll give you a link on your web blog. Thanks for sharing.
Reply
10/13/2018 11:46:25 pm
There are certainly a lot of details like that to take into consideration. That is a great point to bring up. I offer the thoughts above as general inspiration but clearly there are questions like the one you bring up where the most important thing will be working in honest good faith. I don?t know if best practices have emerged around things like that, but I am sure that your job is clearly identified as a fair game. Both boys and girls feel the impact of just a moment?s pleasure, for the rest of their lives.
Reply
10/23/2018 07:51:49 pm
Nice post. I learn something more challenging on different blogs everyday. It will always be stimulating to read content from other writers and practice a little something from their store. I?d prefer to use some with the content on my blog whether you don?t mind. Natually I?ll give you a link on your web blog. Thanks for sharing.
Reply
12/28/2018 06:07:38 pm
I hate it when people say that it is our obligation to go to church and listen tot he sermon of the priest. Isn't it more be sinful if you force someone to praise and go there just because of their obligation. Based on what I have understand, we should respect each and everyone;s belief even if we do not have the same beliefs. We should also never forget that God really is true, but religions are just human kind creations. I guess that our relationship with God does not affect in whatever religion we may take as long as we believe and have faith on him.
Reply
6/16/2020 12:02:56 am
Thanks for every other informative site. The place else may just I get that kind of information written in such an ideal means? I have a venture that I’m just now operating on, and I have been on the look out for such information. Visit game in happy island living launch week.
Reply
2/1/2022 07:05:49 am
Hello I am so delighted I located your blog, I really located you by mistake, while I was watching on google for something else, Anyways I am here now and could just like to say thank for a tremendous post and a all round entertaining website. Please do keep up the great work.
Reply
3/21/2022 04:14:44 am
This is a great post I seen because of offer it. It is truly what I needed to see seek in future you will proceed after sharing such a magnificent post.
Reply
5/13/2022 06:37:17 am
Pretty section of content. I just stumbled upon your weblog and in accession capital to assert that I get actually enjoyed account your blog posts. Any way I will be subscribing to your augment and even I achievement you access consistently quickly.
Reply
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorScott Martin is pastor at Hope Community Church. Archives
December 2018
Categories |