Pastor's Message+Sermons

A Message from the Pastor.....

Dear Members and Friends of First Church,

There is an old saying that when the “planets are aligned,” the heavens are then trying to tell you something. Well, they must be trying to say something to me as I have experienced the confluence of three separate events this morning which seem to indicate that the Holy Spirit is trying to get my attention about something really important. That something is “evangelism.”

First, in my e-mail inbox, I received my weekly “Ott-gram,” a short message of encouragement sent out to all participating churches from Dr. Stanley Ott, the originator of the church transformation program that most of the churches in our presbytery are now using. In it he speaks of evangelism as essentially the proclamation or announcing of the good news of Jesus. He says we need to think of evangelism in these four movements: Sharing the good news of Jesus Christ in sensitive and effective ways; Calling for faith in and followership of Jesus Christ and participation in the community of fellow believers; Relying on the power and the timing of the Holy Spirit, and; Leaving the results to God. It is sharing, by means of our words and walk (our lifestyle), consciously introducing the person of Jesus into conversation in ways that communicate his reality, his love and presence and doing so in ways that are appropriate to the conversation. More than just informing other persons about Jesus, it calls and invites them to trust in and follow Jesus and join with Christ’s people for mutual encouragement. Jesus said, “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28). He says that when we share Jesus’ invitation, lovingly invite response and leave the results to God—that’s evangelism!

The second incident concerns my choice of sermon topic for the week after next—”Who do YOU say I am?” In keeping with my sermon series on Great Questions of the Bible, I had chosen this text several weeks before as one of the most important ones we can ever be asked—one that can only be answered by oneself and no one else. The answer can’t be a recitation of the Apostles’ Creed or even a recapitulation of the answer given by Peter in Matthew 16. It is “what does Jesus Christ mean to YOU, PERSONALLY!” Is he REAL to your life? Does he remain a constant companion—one you can go to confidently knowing that he will never leave your side regardless how trying the circumstances may get or how low your life may sink.

And then thirdly, this month is “Evangelism Sunday” month for our denomination. Where most of us “mainliners” may feel intimidated by the term, or intrusive of where others may be spiritually, or perhaps even unsure just what it is we ARE to share, let me remind you what Peter said in his First Epistle to the Early Church: Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting of the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and reverence. (1 Peter 3:15,16)

In other words, evangelism is nothing more than sharing that which is most important in the life of any Christian: that we know God as our Heavenly Father and Jesus, God’s Son, as our brother and friend. He has given us a hope which endues us with an uncommon courage in the face of tragedy and injustice and even death. He assures us without end that we are his and that no one, not even the DEVIL, will ever be able to snatch us from out of his hand. He gives us a new orientation towards life (one that embraces even the poorest and weakest among us), a new acceptance of ourselves, and a new family of brothers and sisters to share our lives and deepen our faith with. Such news as this can never remain hidden for long under a bushel but if it is real and deep will eventually become intrinsic to our lifestyle and even to what and how we speak.

If this is your hope, and I believe it is, then I encourage you to be willing to share this truth as opportunities arise in your family and among your friends—doing so “gently” and “reverently” as the Apostle says. We cannot allow such “good news” to remain private or stay completely hidden for long, can we? If we only lay aside our inhibitions and trust the Spirit to speak through us as we share with others, each of us will then discover how we are all ministers in our OWN right and that such faithfulness has been the only sure path to personal and church growth.

Let’s all look forward to a great fall,

Pastor Dave