Jeremiah 29:11 – I have plans for you,? declares the LORD, ?plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Proverbs 3:5-6 – Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.
This is the Word of the Lord…thanks be to God. As most of you know I grew up in the big city of Dover, Delaware. However, I?m not an authentic Delawarean. No?like many of you ?Montgomery-county-ites,? I?m an ?immigrant? to the north. My roots lie in the deep south. Specifically?my mom is from Florence, Alabama, which is located just off Alabama Route 72?and my dad is from Tomnolen, Mississippi, which is just off Mississippi Route 82. Mom and Dad met in 1952 while they were both attending Southern Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, a beautiful city located at the intersection of Interstates 65, 64, and 71. That intersection is important to me because Louisville is where I came into the world 55.5 years ago. It?s also where Sue and I spent the first four years of our marriage?and where Daniel was born.
After graduation from Southern, dad and mom loaded up their car and took to the roads the led east where he pastored churches in Maryland and Delaware. His first church was Upper Seneca Baptist which is just north of here on Highway 27 but his longest pastorate was in Dover?and that?s where I grew up?from 4th grade on.
Now?every summer my Delaware family had a vacation tradition. Dad always took the month of August off and we loaded the family STATION WAGON for our annual pilgrimage south to visit grandparents and uncles and aunts and cousins. For those of you who?ve never visited an antique car museum?and therefore have never seen a STATION WAGON, think of it as the precursor to the mini-van. We?d use our station wagon to sightsee up and down the Skyline Drive and throughout the Smokey Mountains…and we would divide the rest of the time between visiting my mom?s family in Alabama…and my dad?s family in Mississippi.
When I was a kid we always looked forward to those annual trips. We counted the days until our departure. To my siblings and I the summer vacation was better than Christmas?for so many reasons:
…uninterrupted time with family,
…staying in motels and better yet?swimming in motel pools. We?d swim until our fingers wrinkled like prunes and our vision was cloudy from all that chlorinated water.
We also loved eating ?fast food? at Howard Johnsons or Hot Shoppes (This was before the invention of MacDonalds!).
But Mac attacks weren?t the only thing that hadn?t been invented back then. Our first annual trips south were made before the invention of Interstate highways. Prior to the opening of I-81?and I remember that year?we had to take lots of two lane roads and make lots of turns down various routes between Dover and Florence and Tomnolen.
As a kid, I remember being VERY impressed with dad?s navigational skill. I wondered, ?How does dad find his way from Dover, to Alabama and then Mississippi?and all the way back? How does he always know where to turn? Why don?t we get lost on our vacation trips??
Dad?s secret was his trusty Esso road map. This was before the invention of Trip-tiks and Tom Toms. And ESSO was the pre-cursor to EXXON. In case you haven?t figured it out yet?I?ve been around awhile!
Well, dad knew where to turn?he knew which road to take because he was constantly consulting his map. He had it folded so he could hold it in one hand and see where he needed to turn. Every night he?d unfold the map and go over the next day?s route. So?dad was never lost?he always knew where he was going.
I share all this because there?s a sense in which we do the same thing every year here at Redland.
Once a year, as a staff we stop and consult with God. We pray alongside the members of our church council at our fall retreat. Here?s a pic of this year?s gathering. We consult with our Heavenly Father. We acknowledge Him in all our ways so as to make sure we are on the right path?the right road as a church?and then on VISION Sunday I report on the results of our prayers. In my VISION SUNDAY message, I tell you what roads we?re going to be on over the next twelve months?roads that I believe will put us right where God wants us to be as a church.
We?ve done this for decades but, in my mind, this year our annual ?map check? is especially important?because?well, let?s be honest. In a sense, it feels like for the last six months or so we?ve been lost. I say this because last year when we consulted God?s road map we made plans to enter the ROC early in 2009. We thought we had the ?route? all planned out such that we would have pulled up in front of a fully functional Recreation and Outreach Center several months ago?right on schedule. We believed 2009 was to have been ?the year of the ROC.? Remember when I showed you this logo? Remember how excited we were about going down that ?road? as a church? We planned to dedicate the ROC last year with this logo at center court. We scheduled a BLOC the ROC party to invite our community. We even printed up hundreds of snazzy invitations!
We made lots of plans…plans that we were sure would be the beginnings of great things…but instead of ?rolling in? to the ROC in ?09, we have hit nothing but dead ends and road blocks in the form of permitting troubles and construction delays?not to mention that broken pipe a few weeks back that halted construction for a while and threatened to destroy our precious hard wood floor.
You may remember that our capital campaign to pay for the ROC was called ?The Crossing,? and I for one feel like instead of crossing over into the ?ROC promised land? this year, we have wandered in the wilderness?much like the Hebrew people. Remember? The Jews didn?t cross over because God knew they weren?t ready and after much prayer and planning, I have come to believe that we haven?t entered the ROC for the same reason. We?re not ready?yet.
I have come to this conclusion because I believe in the sovereignty of God?to the extent that He is sovereign even over our delays and road blocks. In my prayers over the past few weeks I?ve asked Him to help me understand what He?s up to?why we haven?t arrived at our ?destination? yet. And today?I want to report on the answers to my prayers?the things I believe God wants us to do to make us ready to use that ALMOST complete building to my left. Let me put it this way. I believe there are some ?roads? God wants us to go down BEFORE we open the ROC doors. Here they are:
(1) First, I believe there are a few misc ?back roads? GOD wants us to cover.
Now?I hate back roads. I don?t like going slow. I much prefer the speed of a by-pass around a town. I would choose a four lane Interstate highway over a winding two-lane country road. I remember the Adams family cut several hours off our travel time to and from Alabama and Mississippi when I-81 opened?further proof that going fast seems so much more productive than going slow.
But the problem with Interstates and by-passes is you miss out on things?important things you really should slow down long enough to see. For example, you fly by things like state parks and scenic overlooks and museums and outlet malls?pick which thing is most important to you?and you?ll get my point!
Well, many times in their haste to get somewhere quick churches fly by things they need to stop and focus on. This year I believe we need to do some of that.
A. For example, in 2010 we will need to re-vise our by-laws?our ?rules? for how we do things.
I know that sounds about as thrilling as a root canal but we need to do this for two reasons.
First, the by-laws say we have to. There?s a ?rule? adopted by the original writers of the by-laws that says that every five years we have to revise them as necessary. It says, and I quote,?The church council will insure that the church?s constitution, by-laws, policies, and procedures are reviewed and updated as required at regular intervals of five years or less.?
And it?s been MORE than five years since we last did that. So it?s time.
The second reason we need to do this is because the by-laws don?t reflect how we do things these days. We do things differently than the programs described in the by-laws. In essence, we?ve outgrown them in many ways. For example, we still do missions?but we don?t use things like RA?s and GA?s and WMU, anymore. Now we build missions education into our choir program and AWANA. We learn about missions through interaction with our Furlough House Residents and by going on actual mission trips and by doing missions projects through our Ladies Bible Study group. And another thing?our staff plan has changed since the by-laws were written?and there is probably a better way to do things that the old committee structure format. In any case, we need to pull off the road this year long enough to get these rules up to date before we can proceed on our journey as a church.
This past fall on our annual church council planning retreat we interviewed two pastors to hear all that God is doing in their churches. Both of them spoke of the importance of having up-to-date by-laws and I think that was providential. So this year?I?ll appoint a by-laws revision committee and we?ll get to work. Pray for us as we do! This kind of committee work can be grueling?but it is important.
B. Another ?back road? we need to travel is the strengthening of our infrastructure.
Churches that try to by-pass this road always get in trouble. I mean, failing to build a good infrastructure would be like constructing a tall building without the proper foundation or electrical system or water supply. Sure?you could build faster if you take those shortcuts?but soon what you built would either fall down of cease to function. I can?t help but think of that old disaster movie, THE TOWERING INFERNO…where the builder took a short cut by using substandard wiring and ended up with this. [pic]
As I?ve told you for years, I believe the ROC will stimulate growth here at Redland. Believe it or not, it?s already doing that?but that growth won?t last, unless we have the proper?FOUNDATIONAL?infrastructure in place. For example, once the ROC comes on line, we?ll need a new custodial plan in order to keep it clean while still taking care of all our current buildings. I?m not sure what that new plan will look like?but we need to be thinking about that?how to care for 50,000 more square feet of space?square footage that I hope will be VERY used.
We also need to beef up our secretarial pool somehow. Michelle is fighting a brave battle but even with Sheila coming in one day a week she?s sure to be overwhelmed when the ROC comes on line. With all it?s scheduling and all the ministries it will generate, well, there?s no way around it?we?ll need more help in the secretarial area. As you know finances are a challenge right now so for the meantime we?ll need to do this with volunteers?and I think we have someone who?s willing to come in two days a week to help.
C. I also think God wants us to strengthen?or shore up?our UNITY this year.
We have a precious fellowship here at Redland. We really LOVE ONE ANOTHER around here…but we must not take it for granted?especially as we begin to experience growth. I feel a burden about this because I have never seen our country more polarized. The nightly news casts almost feel like a boxing match with each network?s news anchor in an opposite corner giving his or her spin to the headlines. People are labeled as FOX watchers or ABC watchers?as Washington Post readers or Washington Times readers?as Redskins fans or Cowboys fans. I jest a little?but you know what I?m saying so hear me on this. Wherever we stand on the political issues of the day?if we are to grow and reach more people with the Gospel?we must remember that as Christians we ALL stand under the cross. Jesus is LORD?not presidents?not political parties?and we must obey our Lord?s command and do all we can to stand out as a place where polarization is replaced by Christlike love. Remember?I tell you every Sunday, ?As members of one body?the Body of Christ?you are called to peace.? With this in mind, as your pastor, I?m going to ask you to be careful with your e-mail forwards and your comments on the issues. Make sure that every word you say and every deed you do EDIFIES our relationships in this church family. I?m also going to ask our fellowship committee to plan some more church-wide fellowships this year….times when we can forget the issues and just enjoy being together.
Okay?enough back roads, here?s the first MAJOR directional change I think God wants us to make before we can proceed:
(2) I think God wants us to stop at what I?ll call ?reminder rest area? so that we can remember what the church is for…what we are called to do and be.
You know these days, it seems to me that there is this constant pressure to come up with a fancy, glitzy vision for the church. Slogans are very popular in most Christian circles. In fact, their popularity has generated an entire industry where several Christian companies are always generating campaigns and slogans along with clip art and banners and sermon ideas. Well, I?ve grown wary of these things. Don?t get me wrong. Vision is VITAL. As God warns, without it, the people perish! And good, clever communication?communication that helps people?s wrap their minds around the vision?is important as well. But many times as Christians we get to the point where we constantly long for something new and flashy?a newer, spiffier banner to follow. In essence we say, ?I?ll follow God as long as it sounds exciting. Give me a CUTE phrase or saying and I?m there!? And?as I inferred?cute sayings are nice. They can indeed motivate people?but friends we must understand that sometimes?MANY times?following God is not ?flashy.? Plus if we?re not careful with all this, we?ll focus too much on the flash and forget the content.
Here me on this! God has called us as a church to do the SAME FIVE THINGS…THINGS we will do every day of every month of every year until Jesus comes back. God has called us to worship, outreach, discipleship, fellowship, and ministry. That?s not going to change. As a church we exist for these five purposes. That?s why we are here. We LIVE to GIVE these things to our Lord.
I think that perhaps one reason we have ?wandered in the wilderness? this year is that God wants us to stop and remember those things. He wants us to wrap our hearts around these five purposes once again. So next week I?m beginning a sermon series called ?Live to give.? There?s your flashy saying for the year! And I?ll begin it with a message intended to remind us all of our unique calling as a church. At Redland live to give GRACE. We haven?t talked about that in a long time?too long. We?re also going to re-institute our weekly practice of saying together our purpose statement before the offering. Remember when we used to do that every Sunday? Let?s practice.
Who are we?
We are a grace-driven church for a grace-needing world…where people:Grow in the love of Christ?that?s DISCIPLESHIP!
Reach in the name of Christ?that?s EVANGELISM!
Affirm in the body of Christ?that?s FELLOWSHIP!
Care in the nature of Christ?that?s MINISTRY!
And,
Exalt in the glory of Christ?that?s WORSHIP!
This leads me to mention a third route change I think we need to make.
(3) We need to cruise down what I call ?Increased Volunteerism Road.?
In other words, we need to get more people directly involved in ministry. Now?I?m thankful that we have a higher than normal percentage of involved people here at Redland but if the ROC is to work, we need to increase that percentage?and of course, God knows this.
One proof of this principle is this. UPWARDS basketball is in its first year and its going well?but we need more coaches. We can?t involve other children and their families until we get them. And listen?if I can coach?anyone can coach! By the way, I LOVE coaching UPWARDS! It is so fulfilling for me to get out from behind my desk and meet these kids and their families. It energizes me to go to practice and games. Yes?it adds hours to my week?but it also adds energy to my steps! Well, we need more of you to leave the pew and get directly involved in ministries like UPWARDS.
Usually at this Vision Sunday Service we have a commitment card for you to fill out?and during the invitation time you come forward and lay your completed card on the altar. You do this as a way of saying, ?Here?s how I?m going to get involved this year.? Well, in 2010 we?re going to do things differently. I don?t want us to make a commitment in February that many of us forget in July?so we?re going to have WEEKLY calls to commitment. Here?s my plan:
We are going to use the power of personal testimony to motivate you. Every Sunday this year, starting next week we are going to have LIVE TO GIVE testimonies. I?m going to ask those of you who are involved in various areas of our church to share how your involvement rings your bell as a believer…how it makes your day. I believe that those testimonies will motivate people not just this one VISION Sunday?but all year long to ?just jump in? ? to get off the pew and get involved in areas where we need help…areas where we will need more workers if we are to grow as a result of the ROC: like in children?s SS and AWANA and nursery and Upwards and Manna food bank and St. Martin?s Soup Kitchen and Vacation Bible School, and the AV team, and the Welcome desk, and ESL and Youth Ministry and Music, and building and grounds, and fellowship, and communication…and so on.
This fall we are also going to do a study from Willow Creek called NETWORK. This will be church wide in SS…and the idea is it will help more of you know your spiritual gifts and how you can use them.
Another thing we?ll be doing this year is expanding our church data base, so that we know who has what spiritual gift and who is involved where and who?s not and who should be. This will help us do a better job of putting the right people in the right places for the right reasons at the right time. Here?s a fourth road we?re going down this year.
(4) …the Stewardship Highway.
This year our mortgage will come on line. That and our excellent but full staff requires us to increase giving if we are to meet our budget.
Now?if GIVING?if TITHING scares you?then I would remind you of God?s promise. In Malachi 3:10 He says,
?Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,? says the LORD Almighty, ?and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.?
This and other texts tell us that God promises to provide for our needs. He asks us to give to His church?but He promises to give back so that we?ll have all we need to live. And remember God GIVES better than we do. As I told you a few months back, His shovel is bigger than ours so we can trust Him to provide. Knowing He will should motivate us to give generously…sacrificially…faithFULLY! To help us embrace this truth, I?m doing a sermon series called ?GOD PROVIDES? starting March 18. It involves messages on texts in the Bible where God miraculously provides?and it is matched with a series of short movies from Crown International Ministries. We?ll show them on Wednesday nights and study these texts more deeply.
(5) In 2010 we are also going to be traveling down ?Discipleship Drive.?
This is an important road for us to take because if we are to use the ROC to its fullest potential each of us needs to mature in our walk with Jesus. The more like Him we are, the better tools we will be in reaching our community. To help us in this part of our journey, I?ve asked Bobby to broaden his family ministry responsibilities to include Christian education by working directly with Tom Peters, our SS director. Bobby?s coming now to speak briefly about this but before he comes I would remind you how Family Ministry has worked this year when it comes to helping stimulate discipleship.
Starting Sunday School classes for adults, children, and youth that use the Faithweavers curriculum has helped stimulate discussions in families that push all ages toward Christlikeness.
Men?s Fraternity is drawing an average of 20 men to Redland each Tuesday morning at 6:30 to learn more what it means to be a Godly man.
Under Bobby?s leadership, preschool, children, and youth, ministries are learning to function as a team. They are getting better at passing the baton of spiritual growth along.
I was thinking the other day that with Men?s Fraternity and Ladies Bible Study, every Tuesday we have nearly a hundred Redlanders involved in IN-DEPTH Bible study. That?s wonderful!
Bobby come and tell us about your plans for ?discipleship drive.?
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BOBBY SHARES
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Another thing we?re doing this year to help with discipleship is a sermon series I?ll be starting in June?an expository study of the Gospel of John. It?s going to take years to complete?but I?m looking forward to learning more of what it means to follow Jesus by studying John?s account of the first Christ-followers.
Okay?one more road and we?re done.
(6) Before we enter the ROC, I think we need to go back down what I think of as ?Personal Evangelism Highway and By-way.?
Do you remember Bill Wehunt?s words? He said we are building the ROC, ?…to give people what they want so we can then give them what they need: JESUS.? We must never forget that the ROC is being built for one purpose?so we can share the Gospel with more and more people in Montgomery County. I?ve asked JOED CARBONELL?our Recreation Ministry Director?to come and speak to this.
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JOED comes.
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One thing that helps us when it comes to our individual commitment to evangelism is going on mission trips and this year we?re doing two. One has already taken place. I?m sure we all remember last week?s share service about those of us who went to the DR a couple weeks ago. We?ll be going back to work with Pastor Carlos in 2011…but you don?t have to wait that long to go on a mission trip that will help prepare you for the ROC mission trip that never ends. July 24-31 Bill Jones is leading a group of Redlanders to help a new church plant in Connecticut.
We?ll be working with Brian Hart, the same church planter we worked with in New Hampshire for six years. Remember, you don?t need a passport to go on this trip. You don?t need to get shots. You don?t need to take a malaria prophylactic. You don?t even need to buy an airline ticket! Plus?this is a family friendly trip.
We?ll be doing construction, prayer walks, some sort of Bible school/kids camp, and much more. We have an informational meeting set up for February 28 after the 11AM service. Lunch will be provided.
Well, that?s it?those are the ?roads? that I think God wants us to go down this year. You can re-fold your ?maps!? Now?if you are our guest and you are looking for a church home then you came on the right Sunday because you have heard exactly what we are going to be doing as a church. You?ve heard the routes we?re going to be taking this year. And, if after hearing all this, you feel God leading you to join us on the journey by becoming a part our church, then we invite you to walk forward during our closing hymn and ask to move your membership here.
Others of you attending this morning may not be Christians and in our worship you have come to see your need for Jesus?Jesus Who is the ONLY Way?the ONLY Road?to what you need most: a personal relationship with God. We invite you to walk that ROAD this morning?accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior and then come and share that decision this morning and to share it with us.
Some of you may realize you?ve been traveling the wrong road in life. You?ve been avoiding the straight and narrow?and instead going down the broad roadway that leads to destruction. You may want to just bow your head and pray and commit to change your route.
Let?s all respond right now as God leads.
BENEDICTION:
Let the PEACE OF CHRIST rule in your hearts
since as members of one body you were called to peace.
Let the WORD OF CHRIST dwell in you richly
and whatever you do…in word or in deed
Do it all in the NAME OF CHRIST giving thanks to God the Father
through Him.