Making Disciples

The Beatles sang, "Ah, look at all the lonely people." The world is full of lonely people. The world is full of broken down, beat up people. Some 2,000 years ago, Jesus set in motion a plan to help those people. He established a system, the Church, so that broken, hurting, lonely, dirty people could find a "cool drink of water." We don't want those people in our churches anymore though. They're users and takers; they don't have anything to contribute to the institution. In his new book, "It," Craig Groeschel writes, "Jesus came for the outsiders. He came for those who were lost. Broken. Hurting. Disenfranchised. Alone. Overlooked. Poor. Jesus came for those whom religion rejected. Many churches unwittingly focus inward and forget those who are the very purpose of Jesus’ coming, the very purpose for our being here on earth." Jesus said, "Go make disciples." In essence He said, "go, give. Serve my people." Are we doing that? And I don't mean pass the plate three times each service so we can buy a new bus. The Gospel is FREE - it costs nothing to share it with someone else, and it has priceless value for the one who receives it.

Redemption

Are you struggling to find your place in this world? Times are tough for many. Confusion over life circumstances is common. You may wonder, what is God up to? I hear people say, "it's time to get your Spiritual life in order." Hmm ... and what should we do about our "other" life? John Ortberg writes (in The Life You've Always Wanted) "God is not interested in your spiritual life. God is just interested in YOUR LIFE. He intends to redeem it." God wants your whole life back in order - that's why he sent his Son - so that you could have life to the fullest. What is God up to? Restoration! He wants to restore mankind to the glory we had in the Garden of Eden when we knew no pain, or sadness, or poverty. He wants to redeem and restore you. When you accept that about God, your journey will be a lot smoother. Your troubles won't go away, but you can learn to go with the flow of your life instead of swimming up stream.