B.L.E.S.S Commitment Sunday
I have so enjoyed our journey together through our B.L.E.S.S. series. I hope it has been rich for you on both theological and practical levels. What if the missional life is the good life? In Luke 10, Jesus sends out 72 disciples who proclaim the Kingdom of God and see people experience freedom that only the Lord can provide. And they returned with Joy. What is more, they begin to experience Jesus’ joy. So, what if the invitation to B.L.E.S.S. is really an invitation to experience the good life? What if stretching toward Kingdom mission is a lifestyle that brings us into the very joy of God?
Story
Every Christ follower has a story with Jesus. Reflecting on God's work in our lives can deepen our relationship with Him and help us see His faithfulness. Sharing our stories can introduce others to Jesus or grow their faith in Him too. This Sunday, we're going to talk about some of the ways we struggle to share our stories, and how God can use our stories to be a blessing to others. We'll also talk about a beautiful opportunity to share our stories together, and you won't want to miss it!
Serve
This week's message will feel a bit like preaching to the choir. Mosaic people serve better than most. You guys have an amazing ability to show up again and again with food, hugs, compassion, prayer, and whatever else is needed so that others sense themselves loved and closer to Jesus. Thank you for being that kind of community that loves to serve more than being served. As we continue to talk about how to BLESS others, you have a head-start on what it looks like to serve in practical ways. So come on Sunday and let's celebrate the ways we can (and do!) serve the way Jesus served.
Eat
Shakespeare once asked, “What’s in a name?” This week we ask, “What’s in a meal?” Sharing a meal was a sign of friendship in the ancient world. In many ways Jesus saw it as a sign of His Kingdom. When done with the right heart, sharing a meal creates space for God to work. It also gives people a taste of the life to come. So, this week, we will look at how Jesus used the dinner table to give of himself and invite people into the good life.
Listen
Jesus was and is a really good listener. Consequently, Jesus' miracles were almost always preceded by a conversation. That means the answer to the question “What would Jesus do?” is often, He would take time to really listen to people. So, what if listening to a person gives God the opportunity to show us what He is doing in that person's life? What if it is part of the way we become conduits of God’s grace? What if learning to listen well is part of how we bless those in our circles of engagement?
Begin with Prayer
Prayer is hard for do-ers (can I get an Amen?)! It feels like we aren't "doing" at all. And yet, maybe the most counter-intuitive thing we do, when we want to serve like Jesus, is to do a thing that feels like doing nothing at all. If we want to love our neighbors in a way that changes the world, all the spiritual wisdom encourages us to begin with prayer, so this week that's where we'll start. We'll start with what it looks like to listen for the voice of the Holy Spirit and go where he sends.
B.L.E.S.S. Overview
Do you have a heart for people in your world who don’t know Jesus, but you’re not sure what to do about it? We live in a world where evangelism often gets a bad rap and sometimes for good reason. What if God is the ultimate evangelist? What if Jesus had a vision of blessing people so they can experience God’s grace and discover that God is indeed good? What if community, not slick salesmanship, is essential to this vision of evangelism? This Sunday, we will kick off a series called B.L.E.S.S. that will show us how to join God in the work He is doing, calling people around us into deep, life-giving relationship with Him.
We Can Help Shape Each Other’s Stories
When we listen to God's voice and listen to others, God can use us to help shape their stories.
The Promise, The Story, and The Blessing
Genesis 46 -48 | The Promise, The Story, and The Blessing
Friends, we are coming to the close of a powerful and rich journey through the Book of Genesis as a community. I can’t tell you how much I have enjoyed walking through it with you. This week, we get to see this beautiful story come full circle. It leaves us asking the question, what does it mean to give the blessing? Come and together let's discover the invitation to participate in giving the blessing to those around us, and by doing so, join God in restoring the world.
