Emergent Discussion

Soundtrack for April 23

2006-04-22T11:58:00.000-07:00

(welcome)
Soul Meets Body, Death Cab for Cutie
The Wise Buddah Edit, Delerium
Miracle Drug, U2
Wunderkind, Alanis Morissette
Nein, Swod
Slow Mood, Riccardo Moretti
Saathi, Midival Punditz & Ustad Sultan

(prayer)
First Light, Brain Eno

(communion)
All Love Can Be, James Horner

(exit)
Candeloop, US3
Lift Me Up (Super Discount Mix), Moby
Alive (Mystery Vocal Mix), CAS
You and I, Filur
Un Simple Histoire, Thievery Corporation
Better Days, Robbie Seay Band
Beautiful Day, Laidback
Cap Negret, Arrojas

Links for April 16

2006-04-15T22:50:00.000-07:00

Art (to go along with each station of the cross)
MP3 of the stations of the cross reading used (right click to save)
Ecce Homo (Flash loop that was used)
Resurrection - Byzantine fresco from the 14th century

Soundtrack for April 16

2006-04-15T22:42:00.000-07:00

(welcome)
Exaltation, Matisyahu
Sunrise, Afterlife (DJ Thunda & K20 Allst)
On Fire, Switchfoot
The Walk, Imogen Heap
Above, Blue Man Group
Spiders, The String Quartet

(communion)
Agnus Dei (V Modo), Gregorian Chant
Abadalad, Now People

(exit)
White Bird (Airscape Mix), Vanessa Mae
See The Light, Heav'n
Alive (Mystery Vocal Mix), CAS
Fix You, Coldplay

Soundtrack for April 2

2006-04-01T10:56:00.000-08:00

(welcome)
Supa Wyde Laces, Mix Master Mike
Meu Destino (My Destiny), Thievery Corporation
Hollywood, Madonna
Colours The Soul, Coldcut

Video: Naima, John Coltrane, 1965

(self-directed prayer)
The Mystic Flame, Simon Cooper

(communion)
Water Shows the Hidden Heart, Enya

(exit)
Little Girl Blue (Postal Service Remix), Nina Simone
It Began In Afrika, The Chemical Brothers
Gone, M83
Chariots Of Fire, Vangelis

Sermon for April 2

2006-03-28T17:24:00.000-08:00

We are in week 4 of our series on stewardship. This week we will be continuing with part 2 of our discussion on work and rest:
1) What are we called to do?
2) How are we called to do it?
3) What do we need in order to do it?

Our text is Genesis 1-2.
I'm at home with the flu this afternoon, but maybe will post some more thoughts from the sermon tomorrow if I get in to the office. Do you have thoughts from last week? We covered a lot of ground and felt like there were some good conversations around the tables.

Links for March 26

2006-03-23T13:16:00.000-08:00

Stewardship in Work

Enuma Ellish - ancient Babylonian creation story
Pandora's Box - one Greek story of creation

Marxism - wikipedia
Communism - wikipedia
Capitalism - wikipedia

affluenza .org - interesting website
Affluenza - PBS Series

Conversation Starters:

1) If you could choose any job, what job would you choose? (quickly go around table)

2) Which story best describes your feelings about work? How so?

Pandora’s Box – work is a punishment or curse
Genesis 1 & 2 – work is good

3) How could a Genesis view of work change a person?

4) What are some ways that a person could “look in” and determine their gifts or talents. Do you have any idea what some of yours may be?

Soundtrack for March 26

2006-03-22T14:09:00.000-08:00

(welcome)
Little Girl Blue (Postal Service Remix), Nina Simone
Somwhere I Belong, Linkin Park
When the Red Robin Comes Bobbin' Along, (Mover Mix) Jo Stafford
American Life (Felix da Housecat Radio Edit), Madonna
Chariots Of Fire, Vangelis
Naima (Alternate Take), John Coltrane
Saathi, Midival Punditz & Ustad Sultan

(self-directed prayer)
Podcast 6 (edited), LotusCast

(exit)
Blue Monday, Fats Domino
Star Guitar, The Chemical Brothers
From Creation, Thievery Corporation
Hollywood, Madonna

Sermon for March 26

2006-03-22T08:12:00.001-08:00

Question: What are we talking about this week?
Answer: Work
Question: Sounds fun, right? :)

We are in week 3 of our series on stewardship and I think this is a critical topic for us to discuss in order to understand what we have been created for and the rythms of work and rest. This will be of value for those currently working (including stay at home moms/dads) and those in school.
Our text is Genesis 1-2.

Three questions about work that we will be answering...
1) What are we called to do?
2) How are we called to do it?
3) What do we need in order to do it?

Sermon for March 26

2006-03-22T08:12:00.000-08:00

Links for March 19

2006-03-18T09:18:00.000-08:00

Stewards of Power

Mark 10: 35-45 - Scripture passage for today

Matthew 20:20-28 - Parallel story of today's text in Mark 10

Rock The Vote - Register to Vote!

The Triumph of Evil - PBS Frontline Series on Rwanda

Hotel Rwanda - Official Movie Site

Senior US Congresswoman Calls for End to Darfur Genocide - March 17 News Story

Website about the current Dafur Genocide

Lecture from Martin Luther King Jr after winning the Nobel Peace Prize

Soundtrack for March 19

2006-03-18T08:35:00.000-08:00

(welcome)
Voice of Truth, Casting Crowns
Better Days, Robbie Seay Band
Beautiful Love, Afters
As a Dream, Mutant Beam

(self-directed prayer)
First Light, Brian Eno

(communion)
All Love Can Be, Charlotte Church & James Horner Lyrics

(exit)
Better Days, Robbie Seay Band
Voice of Truth, Casting Crowns
Change We Must, Jon Anderson
Follow Me, Lange

Sermon for March 19

2006-03-15T07:11:00.000-08:00

Thank you for reading our text this week (Mark 10:35-45) and adding your observations and questions. Last week we defined a steward and talked about stewardship of truth - what we are doing with the knowledge that God has entrusted to us in the Gospel. This week we will focus on stewardship of power, as Americans. What does Jesus have to say to those who have been born into the most powerful and prosperous nation in the world about our involvement, through voting, in this democracy? How could this be a part of the "giving" and "serving" character of Jesus?

Links for March 12

2006-03-11T11:38:00.001-08:00

Stewards of the Kingdom

Sermon Text: Luke 12: 42-48

When I read that, from my perspective, I think about Jesus coming back. I think about all the good work that that I, that we, are blessed to be a part of in building God’s Kingdom as a church. I picture Jesus watching and cheering from heaven when we do well. I picture him upset with us when do nothing constructive.

But as we tell a story of a steward today, know that when Jesus told this parable to his disciples, they didn’t think about the 2^nd coming of Christ. In their perspective, Jesus was still with them. So it could be that Jesus here is speaking not about the second coming, but about another event, years later, the destruction of the temple and the establishment of the church.

I don’t think we can simply say, therefore, that the stewardship referred to in these stories in Luke 12 of watchfulness is the same as the ‘stewardship’ over creation entrusted to Adam. It has to do rather with the responsibility of the disciples for the ‘household’, ie. for Israel or the people of God. That said, I also think that we need to learn how to worship a God who took delight in the creation of the cosmos. As ‘priests’ of a creator God we are bound to embody his interests in the world. We also need to anticipate in our lives and in our witness, practically and prophetically, a final redemption that will embrace all things.

Deuteronomy 8:18

Job 41:11

Matthew 25:14-30

Genesis 1: 26-28

Questions for Conversation:

1) Who do you know that is a good example of a steward for you? In what area? How?

2) Come up with a list of areas of our lives where stewardship may be overlooked.

3) What is probably the most difficult thing for you to see as belonging to God?

Soundtrack for March 12

2006-03-11T11:38:00.000-08:00

(welcome - 10:45 am)
When The Saints Go Marching In, Louis Armstrong
Galaxy Bounce, The Chemical Brothers
Beautiful Love, Afters
You And Me, Kidz Bop (Lifehouse)
Speed of Sound, Kids Bop (Coldplay)
As a Dream, Mutant Beam
His Majesty King Raam, Lemon Jelly

(communion)
Can't Take It In, Imogen Heap Lyrics

(exit - 12:15 pm - shorter "family day" schedule)
Here Is Our King, David Crowder Band
Follow Me, Lange
Gone, U2

Family Day at Emergent

2006-03-08T13:48:00.000-08:00

This Sunday is our first family day at Emergent. We will have a shorter 60 minute gathering where children stay with us and things are hopefully a bit more "family friendly." We would appreciate your help in spreading the word about this to parents that may find it valuable to have the chance to model their faith for their children in a church setting.

Sermon for March 12

2006-03-07T14:11:00.000-08:00

We value your input about the weekly Scipture on this blog! This Sunday we will be starting a new series on being a blessing to others by wisely using the resources we have been given. Our Scripture this week is Luke 12:42-48, from which we will tell the story of the steward. To those whom much has been given, much is expected.

As you read and think about these words of Jesus I would appreciate not only your questions and comments, but also any short stories that come to mind which may be appropriate for children. If you are familiar with the Lord of the Rings movies, I am considering talking about the Steward of Gondor.

Links for March 5

2006-03-05T09:55:00.000-08:00

Sermon Links for "Insert Your Name Here"

Background on Colossians - Holman Bible Dictionary

Rethinking Evangelism - Article by Dallas Willard

What is the Gospel? - Blog Post

What is the Gospel: Participation Not Consumption - Article

Lay's 2005 Superbowl Commercial (video will start automatically)

Philemon - Read the letter this week

Search Link - Luke & Demas

Soundtrack for March 5

2006-03-02T15:55:00.001-08:00

(welcome - 10:45 am)
Strong Tower, Kutless
Come with Us, The Chemical Brothers
Exaltation, Matisyahu
Brothers and Sisters, Coldplay
The Wise Buddah Edit, Delerium
Silence, Delerium

(self-directed prayer)
Track 9, Vangelis & Llewllyn

(communion)
You Are Mine, Third Day

(exit - 12:30 pm)
Talk, Coldplay
Silence, Delerium
Beats and Pieces, Coldcut
A Satisfied Mind, Johnny Cash

Sermon for March 5

2006-02-26T22:08:00.000-08:00

Our text for this week is Colossians 4:2-18.

- What questions does this text raise for you?
- What observations do you have?
- What difficulties do you have with what is said?
- What kind of church does this text paint for us?

I'll be putting the sermon together on Thursday and Friday this week and welcome your posts as a way to direct me in how I approach and preach the text this week. Your input quite often helps in writing questions for us to talk about around our tables as well.

I would also welcome any sermon links that you would suggest that we should have on the blog for this Sunday.

Thanks for your participation, which is a part of your worship of our Heavenly Father.

Links for February 26

2006-02-25T17:54:00.001-08:00

Resources:
Early Christian Writings (background on Colossians)

Slavery in the Bible:
Evil Bible - anti-Bible/christian site where you can see how others view the Bible about this issue.
Does the Bible condone slavery? - short article

A Weekend to Remember
Visalisa, March 10-12
For: Husband Wife or Engaged Couples

Turning Hearts Tour
Clovis Hills Community Church, May 12-13
For: Parents and Teenagers

Heart Connex, A semi-weekly family e-devotional (free)

Have a link you think would be helpful? Go ahead and click on the title of this post to add your link to the comments.

Table Discussion Questions:

1) How do God’s instructions to families help family
members grow to into a mature & healthy faith?

2) What is one way you can improve the way
you treat each member of your family?

3) How can you have an attitude of service
toward others at your work, school or ______?

Soundtrack for February 26

2006-02-25T17:54:00.000-08:00

(welcome - 10:45 am)
Lebanese Blonde, Thievery Corporation
Open My Eyes, Inhabited
More Beats & Pieces, Coldcut
More Than This, Charlie Hunter & Norah Jones
Oceans Apart, The Fire Theft
Water Shows the Hidden Heart, Enya
Far Away, Trumpet Thing

(self-directed prayer)
Podcast 8, Lotuspike - Progressive Ambient Music(edited)

(communion)
When I Survey The Wonderous Cross, Artist Unknown (Celtic)

(exit - 12:30 pm)
Beautiful (Benny Benassi Remix), Moby
Children Go Where I Send You, Nina Simone
Take Me As I Am, Mary J Blige
Drinking Vinyl, Micael Delta

Participation as Worship

2006-02-20T13:26:00.000-08:00

In yesterday's sermon I shared an invitation to each person to begin particpating, if you aren't already involved, in our Sunday gathering. We definitely need everyone's help in March, but this is about much more than that. This is an act of worship. Your service to our community of faith is taught to be an offering to God. The invitation is for you to grow in your worship of your creator by...

1) Looking through our plansheet for March , and post on our blog where you would like to serve (or questions about that area).

There’s everything from playing with toddlers to, writing a poem to creating a prayer station to stacking chairs to reading a Psalm. It's not enough to come and sit and watch. We need more. We need to make sure we're participants in worship and not spectators.

Click to enlarge March Plansheet

2) Next, you can start praying and dreaming about the direction we need to take next. I don’t know when, but I do know where – it needs to be out of the building, out in the neighborhood or city, somewhere. Jesus mission isn't for us to have a weekly gathering at 11:15 on Sunday mornings, but that’s a good starting place for us to being seeking His direction. As His representatives, our mission is out in the streets and homes of our city. I would love for you to post your prayers and thoughts on this page.

More from the sermon yesterday...

Part of Colossians 3:16 says, "Use his words to teach and counsel each other." (NLT)

This was written to a church. Do you come to Emergent expecting to teach and counsel each other?

Maybe people expect to hear it from the front, to get taught and counseled from the pastor. I love great preaching, but we are losing something by making Pastors the primary (or only) teachers of God's Word. I'm a pastor, but I can say this: we all expect pastors to say certain things because…..they're pastors. I think we also believe that they're at least a little removed from the life of an average person. They work for churches; you work for some guy your pastor wouldn't know how to handle if they ever met. So when the pastor speaks, it's not always directly into your world, because your pastor doesn't completely understand your world.

It makes a huge difference to hear another stay-at-home mom talk about a passage of Scripture that's really helped her cope with the challenges she faces. It's helpful to hear another parent of teenagers talk about his struggles, and how he's found comfort in God's Word that have helped him deal with having a teenage daughter. That's very different from just having the pastor speak. You’re the experts on figuring out how the dangerously wonderful life of Jesus is fleshed out in the Valley here.

Some of you aren't speakers or teachers, but I'll bet each of us have something to offer - an insight or an encouragement. We believe we can "teach and counsil" each other through weekly art contributions and conversation around tables as well. Another passage talks of some other ways we can participate in the worship life of a group of believers. 1 Peter 4:10-11 says:

10God has given gifts to each of you from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Manage them well so that God's generosity can flow through you. 11Are you called to be a speaker? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Are you called to help others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies.

You get the idea of a group getting together to worship God. Some are good at speaking, and can't wait to share what God has been teaching them lately. Others head right to the kitchen to make the coffee and food that are going to be served. Others come with a poem or art piece to share their story in a variety of brushstrokes. Others come in and quietly sit beside someone who looks down and who needs a bit of encouragement. I could go on. Everyone has something to offer, something they naturally love to do. Nobody's a spectator.

1 Corinthians 14:26 puts it this way:

"When you gather for worship, each one of you be prepared with something that will be useful for all: Sing a hymn, teach a lesson, tell a story, lead a prayer, provide an insight" (The Message).

Everyone should come to our gatherings expecting to contribute something. And don't forget the the focus isn't on the front. It's on God, through each other. The audience is listening, but the audience isn't the people who come. The audience is God. Everyone participates in some way of offering worship to God.

Sermon for February 26

2006-02-20T13:08:00.000-08:00

Colossians 3:18 - 4:1 (New Living Translation)

18You wives must submit to your husbands, as is fitting for those who belong to the Lord. 19And you husbands must love your wives and never treat them harshly.
20You children must always obey your parents, for this is what pleases the Lord. 21Fathers, don't aggravate your children. If you do, they will become discouraged and quit trying.
22You slaves must obey your earthly masters in everything you do. Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. Obey them willingly because of your reverent fear of the Lord. 23Work hard and cheerfully at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. 24Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and the Master you are serving is Christ. 25But if you do what is wrong, you will be paid back for the wrong you have done. For God has no favorites who can get away with evil.
1 You slave owners must be just and fair to your slaves. Remember that you also have a Master--in heaven.

I think many Christians would agree that one of the most difficult place to live our our faith is at home, with those closest to us. Our recent sermons and blog posts have touched on ideas of living out our faith and how for many of those who claim Christ in America, there is no behavioral difference that can be seen between Christians and those of other or no faith.

Colossians is a letter written to a church of people at a sepcific time in a certain culture. As God's Word it still speaks to us as a gathering of people of faith. However, what about those who are not husbands or wives? What does this talk of slavery have to say to us in our culture? For women, is this another example of men using their religious authority as another power trip and "keep women in their place?"

What questions does this text raise for you?
What observations do you have?
What difficulties do you have with what is said?

I'll be putting the sermon together on Wednesday and Thursday this week and welcome your posts as a way to direct me in how I approach and preach the text this week. Your input quite often helps in writing questions for us to talk about around our tables as well.

Thanks for your participation, which is a part of your worship of our Heavenly Father.

Links for February 19

2006-02-18T22:41:00.000-08:00

"The Audience is Listening" THX Video's (right click to save)
Broadway
Broadway2000
Cavaclade
Cimarron
Grand
Simpson's Parody
SST
Tex
Tex2
Wings
The story of "Deep Note"

George Barna's Revolution - A Review (Amazon book link)

Questioning Church (Blog Post)

Bono's Sermon from the National Prayer Breakfast

Soundtrack for February 19

2006-02-18T08:19:00.000-08:00

(starting at 10:50 am)
Open Skies, David Crowder Band
Un Simple Histoire, Thievery Corporation
Let Go, Frou Frou
Several, Christian Kleine
Beautiful Day, Laidback
Horus Children Song, Stefano Raffaelli (edited)

(self-directed prayer time)
Each Year of our Lives, Ansi (Podcast)

(communion)
Funeral-Rebuilding Serenity, Serenity Soundtrack

(starting at 12:30 pm)
Stars, David Crowder Band
Sometime, Stefano Raffaelli
Union (Featuring Sting), Black Eyed Peas
Humate-3.2 Bedrock, Cafe Del Mar

Sermon for February 19

2006-02-13T14:07:00.000-08:00

Thanks for reading our Scripture for Emergent this week - Colossians 3:16-17. I'd like to hear what you notice here and any questions or thoughts you have about these two verses.

Last week on the blog our two posts were good, but disappointing in that there were so few that posted. So I invite you to share your thoughts, even if you may not think they are valuable.

Links for February 12

2006-02-09T13:07:00.000-08:00

Text - Colossians 3:1-17

The Scandal of the Evangelical Conscience - Book by Rod Sider (book review)

From The Evangelical Scandal - Article from Christianity Today, Rod Sider

How do we turn the ship around?
We need to rethink our theology. We need to ask, "Are we really biblical?" Cheap grace is right at the core of the problem. Cheap grace results when we reduce the gospel to forgiveness of sins only; when we limit salvation to personal fire insurance against hell; when we misunderstand persons as primarily souls; when we at best grasp only half of what the Bible says about sin; when we embrace the individualism and materialism and relativism of our current culture. We also lack a biblical understanding and practice of the church.

I would think that evangelicals would want to get biblical and define the gospel the way Jesus did—which is that it's the Good News of the kingdom. Then we see that it means that the way to get into this kingdom is through unconditional grace because Jesus died for us. But it also means there's now a new kingdom community of Jesus' disciples, and that embracing Jesus means not just getting fire insurance so that one doesn't go to hell, but it means embracing Jesus as Lord as well as Savior. And it means beginning to live as a part of his new community where everything is being transformed. (read the rest of the article here)

Anne Lamott quote

...when you ask God into your life, you think that he...is going to come into your psychic house, look around, and see that you just need a little cleaning - and so you go along for the first six months thinking how nice life is now that God is there. Then you look outside the window one day and see that there’s a wrecking ball outside. It turns out that God actually thinks your whole foundation is shot and you’re going to have to start over from scratch.

A Generous Orthodoxy - Book by Brian McLaren (Tom has if you want to borrow)

From A Generous Orthodoxy....an interview with Brian McLaren

Question: What is a generous orthodoxy?
McLaren: Well, I took a whole book to try to answer that, and still didn't do it justice, but in a sentence, a generous orthodoxy is an attempt to remarry two things that never should have been divorced --- truth and love, orthodoxy and orthopraxy, doctrine and ethics/mission. The phrase comes from Hans Frei, a leading postliberal theologian. I think it represents the hopeful possibility of a convergence of postliberal and postconservative Christians.

Orthodoxy - from the Greek ortho ('right', 'correct') and doxa ('thought', 'teaching'), is typically used to refer to the correct theological or doctrinal observance of religion, as determined by some overseeing body. (right beliefs)

Orthopraxy - derived from Greek meaning "correct practice". It refers to accepted religious practices and may include both ritual practices as well as interpersonal acts. (right practices)

Generous (Evangelical) Orthodoxy - Excellent post from Scot Mcnight's Jesus Creed blog

Matthew 6:33 - Strive first for God's Kingdom

The Ragman - Story by Walter Wangerin, Jr.

Soundtrack for February 12

2006-02-09T07:44:00.000-08:00

(starting at 10:45 am)
Canteloop, US3
One Thing, Finger Eleven
Gone Going, Black Eyed Peas
Miracle Drug, U2
Extra: Bono's sermon from the National Prayer Breakfast on Feb, 2.
Watch video or read text
Say Hello>, Deep Dish
Cab Negret, Arrojas

(Self-Directed Prayer)
Another Green World, Stream of Consciousness

(Communion)
Meditation, Santana and McLaughlin

(starting at 12:30 pm)
King Without A Crown, Matisyahu
Slow Mood, Riccardo Moretti
Fa Away, Trumpet Thing

Have a song you think might work well next week? Post the title and artist.

Sermon for February 12

2006-02-06T14:41:00.000-08:00

Welcome to our weekly sermon blog! Last week was a good week of input on the text. I'd like to see that continute to grow to where we are averaging 10 people posting a week. Feel free to spread the word about this blog - all ages are welcome.

The text this week is Colossians 3:1-17.
In the sermon, I'm planning to focus on how we live out what Jesus has done for us. There is this classic paradox of Paul here. Christ has already defeated the powers, but his reconciling rule has not yet been established in history. The purpose of this section of the letter to the Colossians is to help them navigate life in the reality of that "already and not yet."

I have lots of ideas banging around in my head about the text, but I think there are some ways of thinking that Paul hit on that are important:
1) A change of focus from the temporary to eternal (vv 1-2)
2) Killing off the old self (vv 3-8)
3) Putting on the "clothes" of Christ (vv 9-14, 17)

Anyone have access to mannequins we could borrow? Let me know if you do.

You've invited to:
- Ask Questions
- Make Observations
- Tell a Story
- Share an Insight

Don't worry about making your comments "pretty." You may click on the title to post.

Help Needed This Month

2006-02-06T14:31:00.001-08:00

This past Sunday we had out the list of all the different areas of our Emergent gathering that people are helping out with and the openings for others to start helping. Thanks to those that filled in some of those spots! There are a few more areas where we could use your help for the next 3-4 weeks:
1) One person set up our welcome table
2) One person to help Christi C with toddlers
3) One person to help Cathie S with elementary age children
4) Sixteen people to create some kind of art to display in our gallery (Contact Mandee M)
5) 4 females to read our Psalm and pray our opening prayer
6) Few more people each week posting on this blog about the sermon text

Question: Do you think it would be beneficial to have set table leaders?

Links for February 5

2006-02-03T18:35:00.000-08:00

"Don't Settle for More"

Text - Colossians 2:16-23

Study Guide: The Letter to the Colossians

"Whenever authentic, joyful confidence in Christ diminishes, regulations are brought in to preserve what the power of Christ once created."
~ John Piper

Discussion Questions

1) What is one rule (any rule) you don’t like?

2) How should followers of Christ deal with legalism when we encounter it?

Legalism:
- adding requirements of conduct beyond Scripture and make them essential.
- taking the standards of conduct taught in the Bible and make them regulations to be kept by our own power in order to earn God’s favor.

3) Do any rules come to mind that you might need to let go of?

Additional Information: Homosexuality
While this weeks sermon isn't on the subject of homosexuality, some of your posts on our sermon text did head in that direction a few times. This section of links is shared in hopes of fostering humble conversation and an attitude of love and respect. It is of great value to listen to other viewpoints. While there are many beliefs about the issue of homosexuality, no matter what you believe, I think we can find common ground on the reality that there has been much hatred and violence from Christians against the gay and lesbian community. This is unacceptable because it is outside of the character of Christ.

Gay Forum (mp3)
Audio from the Generous Orthodoxy Conference in Washington D.C. October 7th & 8th, 2005.

Forum Description:
"Is homosexuality really the biggest evil of our time? Some have said as much. If not- then what is? How do we live together? What are Christian communities learning about this process? How did we become our culture’s moral policemen? Why are we so familiar with Paul’s thoughts on this topic yet so unfamiliar with Jesus’ on the poor?"
(more audio from the conference here)

Conversation from the Forum:
How do you feel about the phrase “love the sinner but hate the sin” when used against homosexuals?
Response from gay woman: “I don’t think Christians should hate.”

Said to a gay Christian: “You would be welcome at my church. We welcome adulterers, fornicators….”
Thoughts of gay person: “I don’t really want that kind of welcome. I don’t want you to hold your nose to welcome me to your church.”

Quote: "I just want to love people period. I don’t want to love them, but. And I think a lot of us have really big but’s. And when you have that sentence, the 'but' looks so big, they can’t see the love."

Question to those on the forum who are gay Christians: “Suppose someone comes to you and says, “I’ve read the Bible verses and I don’t think I can go to accept what you all have said about yourself. I can’t get past the idea that homosexuality is a sin, but at the same time I don’t want to be a bigot and treat people in a terrible way.’ What advice would you have for them?”
Response 1: Just be friends with people. The most powerful thing you can do is get to know somebody.
Response 2: Love the person. (Difference in opinion creates an opportunity to love, not an obstacle to love.)
Response 3: Consider what Jesus had to say about the subject and the types of people that He hung out with.

Link - Police Hunt for Supspect in Gay Bar Attack (Forbes, Feb 4, 2006)

Dr. Tony Campolo on Homosexuality (more from Radical Congruency blog)
Clip 1 (5.8Mb - 4:29)
Clip 2 (12.8Mb - 9:50)
Clip 3 (11.1Mb - 8:33)

Dr. Campolo's position on homosexuality is conservative: he believes that the Bible forbids all homosexual activity. However, he does not support attempts to "convert" gays into straights; rather, he advises gay people to pursue celibacy. His position is what some refer to as "Side B."

Peggy Campolo, Dr. Campolo's wife, takes a different view. She supports monogamous, same-sex relationships, and believes that marriages should be recognized in the church for both heterosexual and homosexual couples. Peggy's position is what some refer to as "Side A."

Two committed Christians with two different views - yet they are able to share the same bed each night and respect each other's faith. How do they do it?

Listen to Dr Campolo and his wife, Peggy, here (From Gay Christian Network)

Soundtrack for February 5

2006-02-03T17:55:00.000-08:00

(Welcome and Exit)
(65 min)

(Self Directed Prayer)
The Mystic Flame, Simon Cooper

(Communion)
I Will Remember You, Sarah McLachlan

Sermon for February 5

2006-01-30T15:14:00.000-08:00

Thanks for visiting our blog. We could use your help in encouraging a few more people to read our text every Tuesday and then post about it. We didn't reach our goal of an average of 10 people posting each week in January. Let's see if we can get there over the next few weeks. Spread the word about the blog - all ages are welcome.

The text this week is Colossians 2: 16-23. Right now, without yet hearing from any of you, I'm leaning towards a continuation of the last week and focusing on three "red flags" out of this passage. Paul points out that there is an issue if someone:
1) requires more than Jesus requires (vv. 16, 20-22)
2) adds to Jesus teachings (v. 18)
3) recieves glory instead of Jesus (vv. 18, 19, 23)

You've invited to:
- Ask Questions
- Make Observations
- Tell a Story
- Share an Insight

Remeber, there is no need to make your comment "nice and pretty." Also, don't forget that you can comment about other people's posts. Click on the title of this post to see comments.

Links for January 29

2006-01-29T06:49:00.000-08:00

"All That We Need"

Text - Colossians 2:6-15

Study Guide: The Letter to the Colossians

Wikipedia - Cubic Zirconia

"We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased." ~ C.S. Lewis

Amazon - 18322 results in "spiritual" book search

How Do Circumcision and Baptism correspond? - Sermon from John Piper

Discussion Questions:

1) What good advice have you never forgotten? (short and quick)

2) If you are a follower of Christ, how did you receive Him? What assumptions did you have about what the Christian life would be like and were your expectations met?

If you are not a follower of Christ, what assumptions do you have about what the Christian life would be life if you were to put your faith in Christ?

3) What "additions" to faith in Christ have you encountered in the Christian community?

4) When we have the "real thing" what words should describe us?

Soundtrack for January 29

2006-01-28T12:09:00.000-08:00

(starting at 10:45 am)
Sadness, Enigma
Fields of Gold, Eva Cassidy
Les Nuits, Nightmares on Wax
Play Dead, Bjork & David Arnold
Northern Sky, Nick Drake
Shout, Tears for Fears
Feeling Good, Nina Simone
Angelica, Lamb

(Self-Directed Prayer)
First Light, Brian Eno

(Communion)
If I Could Be Where You Are, Enya

(starting at 12:30 pm)
Energy 52, Cafe Del Mar
Slip Into Something More Comforatble, Kinobe
What Does Your Soul Look Like, DJ Shadow
Stranger on the Shore, Acker Bilk

(right-click to save)

Sermon for January 29

2006-01-24T08:25:00.000-08:00

Our passage for this week that I am inviting your questions and comments on is Colossians 2:6-15. A few weeks ago at Emergent during our conversation at the table I was sitting at someone shared that Jesus is the answer to everything. I wanted to explore this idea that "Jesus is all we need" and "Jesus has done everything we need" with this text from Paul.
I look forward to reading your thoughts. If possible, please post as early in the week as possible for you so that I can have time to think and pray about how this talk needs to be fleshed out.

Links for January 22

2006-01-17T15:38:00.001-08:00

Background Information - Ancient Corinth
Background Information - Images of Corinth
Background Information - A Brief History of Corinth

In our text Paul says that he would no longer look at people the way the world does. Pretend that you are walking down the street and a very different looking person is coming toward you. This person could be wearing a suit or several piercings, or of a different race, or holding hands with a person of the same gender. What would a worldly person say about them? What would Jesus say about them?

1. According to Paul what causes disciples of Jesus to live the way they do?

2. Paul says the death of Christ changes us. How? Be specific.

3. Paul talks about the “human point of view.” What does he mean by that? How is it different from Jesus' point of view?

What could we learn from Babbette in the movie "Babbett's Feast?"

Look at these four articles and read them in light of 2 Corinthians 5:16,20.

Article 1 - The Excommunication of Paul
Article 2 - Cultural Refugees in Gay Nightclubs
Article 3 - True Story – What would you do?
Article 4 - Katrina Instpires Generosity of Black Americans

Soundtrack for January 22

2006-01-17T15:38:00.000-08:00

This week I was into soundtracks. Can you tell?

(starting at 10:45 am)
Any Other Name, American Beauty Soundtrack
Cavatina, Deer Hunter Soundtrack
Sibylla, Kingdom of Heaven Soundtrack
The Letter That Never Came, Lemony Snickerts Soundtrack
Gymnopedie No.1, What Lies Beneath Soundtrack
Gabriels Oboe, The Mission Soundtrack
An Ending, Traffic Soundtrack
Light Of Life, Kingdom of Heaven Soundtrack
Closing Credits, A Beautiful Mind Soundtrack

(starting at 12:30 pm)
Also Sprach Zarathustra, Meirelles
Club Nowhere, Blue Man Group
Goodnight and Go, Imogen Heap
High and Dry, Radiohead
Maybe Tomorrow, Stereophonics

Sermon for January 22

2006-01-17T15:24:00.000-08:00

Bruce Logue will be preaching this Sunday at Emergent. You can get some info about him off his blog if you want to poke around.
Our text this week is 2 Corinthians 5:11-20.(MSG) We welcome your questions, thoughts and observations. Bruce will be checking our blog this week to see what has been shared about Pauls words here to the Christians in Corinth. Don't hold back, jump in and be a part of the conversation here.

Links for January 15

2006-01-13T18:00:00.000-08:00

Modern Day "Empire" of Consumerism?

Roman Emipre - background information

The Corporation - Film
Some theologians have compared the modern day corporation, or more specifically global consumerism, to the Roman Empire. I'm including this link, though it is coming from a liberal worldview, because I think the film does have some validity and is valuable to watch - no matter what your political views.
Film Description: The Corporation "explores the nature and spectacular rise of the dominant institution of our time. Footage from pop culture, advertising, TV news, and corporation propoganda, illuminates the corporation's grip on our lives. Taking its legal status as a 'person' to its logical conclusion, the film puts the corporation on the psychiatrist's couch to ask 'What kind of person is it?' "
This movie can be rented at Blockbuster (link) or borrowed from Tom.

Four modern day examples of our "consumer empire"

1) Wal-Mart Takes Over The World - MSN article

2) Starbuck's Campaign - Information from the Organic Consumer's Association. This group can get rather extreme so just toss out whatever doesn't fit for you.
Why Starbuck's? - FAQ
Send an E-Fax to Starbucks CEO, Orin Smith here.

Local coffee shop alternatives that serve better beans:
1) Dry Creek Coffee - in Old Town Clovis (Fair Trade certified) Hours & Location
2) Java City - in Old Town Clovis (offer "Eco-Ground" coffee: rainforest alliance, fair trade, shade-grown/bird friendly. Have to ask for the "eco" coffee, but they do carry it.)
3) Gloria Jeans - Fashion Fair Mall (they use certified Rainforrest Alliance coffee beans)

3) President Bush - This comment in the sermon is not a critique of the current administration as much as it is a reminder that Jesus Christ is the one ultimately in charge of everything, including America. I do however, disagree with the idea that Christians need to vote down the Republican line in order to be faithful to Christ.
In speaking about an empire of consumerism it is very intersting that after 9-11 the President summed up our nation's status by using a business/money metaphor with the statement, "America is open for business."
Do you pray on a regular basis for our administration? - Presidential Prayer Team
For some interesting reading, here is a free .pdf copy of the first chapter from Jim Wallis book, God's Policics. (free chapter) I have this book if you want to borrow it.

4) Microsoft - is there really an explanation needed here? Can you say anti-trust? :)
Windows Anonymous - a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and home with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others recover from the use of Microsoft Windows operating systems. Funny.

Misc Links

Flexitarian - MSN News Story on vegetarians that eat meat.

Biblical background on redemption

Background Links from Last Week:
Ancient city of Colosse

Historical background on Paul's prison letters - Link
Historical background on Colossians - Link

Wiki definitions - Tolerance & Pluralism

Soundtrack for January 15

2006-01-13T17:54:00.000-08:00

(starting at 10:45 am)
Xtal, Alphex Twins
Soul Meets Body, Death Cab by Cutie - Lyrics
Tropfstein, Triola
III Street Blues, Moonrock
Edelgruen, The Orb
Beautiful, Mandalay

(starting at 12:30 pm)
Burning Bright, Ulf Lohmann
Baghira, Markus Guentner and la Grande Illusion
Cascade, Quaid
Iceblink, Pass Into Silence

Sermon for January 15

2006-01-09T09:15:00.000-08:00

Thanks to those who have started sharing their thoughts and observations here each week. Feel free to email this page to others as an encouragement and reminder of our weekly interactions to share in preparing for conversations about the text on Sunday. Our goal by the end of this month is to grow to an average of 10 people posting here each week.

Please read through Colossians 1:13-23 and share your observations. This is where I end and you begin posting :)

January 8 Soundrack

2006-01-07T21:33:00.000-08:00

No mp3's this week. Having FTP issues. Sorry.

Links for January 8

2006-01-04T12:10:00.001-08:00

Ancient city of Colosse

Historical background on Paul's prison letters - Link
Historical background on Colossians - Link

Wiki definitions - Tolerance & Pluralism

Optical Illusions

Illusion looks like the face of a beautiful woman, but it also looks like a cartoon of a man playing some music on his saxaphone.

Tilt your head to the right, and you'll see a duck. Then turn your head to the left and you'll see a bunny rabbit.

24-7 Prayer - Link
24-7 prayer diaries from around the world - Link

Global and Local
Amnesty International
Ekklesia Project
God's Golden Acre
Habitat for Humanity
iAbolish
IJM
Jubilee
Locks of Love
Poverello House
Sojourners
Volunteer Fresno
Volunteer Match

Sermon for January 8

2006-01-04T12:10:00.000-08:00

This week we will begin working our way through the book of Colossians. Our text for this week is Colossians 1:1-14. We need you to read through the passage and post your thoughts, observations, stories and/or prayers.
This interaction is critical for our congregation's hearing of God's Word each week, so thank you for your involvement and contribution!

Soundtrack for December 18

2005-12-12T12:26:00.000-08:00

Every Monday the soundtrack post is deleted to save some space. So get 'em while their hot.

City of Blinding Lights, U2 (Lyrics)
And Then So Clear, Brian Eno
Candle in the Dark, Medwyn Goodall
The Mystic Flame, Simon Cooper
Elysium, Hans Zimmer
Only One, Yellowcard (Lyrics)
4th of July, K-Pax Soundtrack
Message, Vangelis

Links for December 18

2005-12-12T11:16:00.000-08:00

Fantastic Caverns - One of Tom's favorite caves in Missouri.

Black Hole - Interesting look at how they work.

Hubble - Telescope sheds light on dark matter.

Light and Dark - Game for kids (ages 5-6)

To Us A Child Is Born (pdf) - Sermon on Isaiah 9:6, Martin Luther on December 25, 1531

For Unto Us a Child Is Born - Lyrcis and background on the song from 1850 (warning: midi starts automatically and includes funky background singing, ha!)

Bread for the World - Bread for the World is a nationwide Christian citizens movement seeking justice for the world's hungry people by lobbying our nation's decision makers. BFW Institute seeks justice for hungry people by engaging in research and education on policies related to hunger and development.

Shalom - What is it?

Sermon for December 18

2005-12-12T09:53:00.000-08:00

Our text for week 4 of Advent is Isaiah 9:1-7. Read it, think about it and post personal stories, thoughts you have when reading the text, information about background on the verses, how we need to reorient our lives in relation to this text, or anything you want to share.
Your input this week will shape our sermon. Spread the word about this blog to others as well and encourage their input.
Listen to Captain Picard (ok, not really) read Isaiah 9.

Advent Journal Reminder: These are supposed to make their way back to Emergent every Sunday. They are part of our worship every week. Thanks!

Links for December 11

2005-12-10T17:56:00.000-08:00

Advent texts for this week
Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Psalm 126
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
John 1:6-8, 19-28

Images of the Prophet Isaiah
In Prayer, circa 1170's
Image On Wood
Stained Glass

Mercy & Justice Links
Angel Tree
Amnesty International
Compassion International
God's Golden Acre
Habitat for Humanity
iAbolish
IJM
Jubilee
Locks of Love
One Campaign
Poverello House
Volunteer Fresno
Volunteer Match
World Vision

Good News, Bad News - Alternative news browsing experience. On the left-hand side shows realtime news images and headlines pulled from CNN.com. The right-hand side shows news posted by users.

Sermon for December 11

2005-12-05T10:27:00.000-08:00

Our text for week 3 of Advent is Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 & Luke 4:14-30.

Would appreciate your input on the text - personal stories that come to mind that I could use in the sermon, thoughts you have when reading the text, information about background on the verses, how we need to reorient our lives, or anything you want to share.
Your input this week will shape our sermon. Spread the word about this blog to others as well and encourage their input.

Listen to Captain Picard (ok, not really) read Isaiah 61 or Luke 4.

Links for December 4

2005-11-28T11:56:00.000-08:00

These links go are part of our weekly sermon. We invite you to bring your wireless laptop to Emergent to browse these resources and learn extra stuff too.

People Get Ready - NPR site on the historic song
Original Song - Lyrics and chords

Sahara Desert - Pictures

Talmud - The most significant Jewish oral tradition interpreting the Torah.
Caanan - Brief summary and a map of the Promised Land.

Psalm 137 - "Oh, how could we ever sing GOD's song in this wasteland?"
Comfort, Comfort Ye my People - A 1671 German hymn by Johannes Olearius.

You may also comment and post other sites of interest that may fit with our text.

Sermon for December 4

2005-11-28T10:54:00.000-08:00

The text for this Sunday is Isaiah 40:1-11. Read over it and post your thoughts, stories, ideas, etc.

Is there anyone with a story about difficulty in getting pregnant and eventually you did? If so, post your story.

Ideas from the text that I'm planning to include the sermon:
- Israel is in the desert: desolate, unfruitful, barrenness, wandering
- Options: Give up on God, take things into their own hands
- A voice of hope cries out: Announcement that God is coming - get ready!

Click on the grey number at the top right of the title for this post to comment.

Links for November 27

2005-11-27T10:15:00.000-08:00

History of Advent
History of the Advent Wreath
The Season of Advent
Babylonian Captivity - Wikipedia
Babylonian Exile - Hope University

Sermon for November 27

2005-11-21T12:14:00.000-08:00

This week we're starting our Advent series at Emergent. This will take us through the Christmas season. The text for this Sunday is Isaiah 64:1-9. It's a dark and desperate passage, which I think turns in verse 8 with the word "still." Isaiah is saying that even in the midst of a dark time "God is still our Father." I plan to pick of the theme of waiting on God, which is a historic theme of Advent. What thoughts or personal stories come to mind (maybe waiting room?) about this passage and the theme of waiting?
Thanks so much for your input for this week's sermon. Click on the grey number on the top right of this post to add your comments.

Sermon for November 20

2005-11-15T14:46:00.000-08:00

This week at Emergent we're using our value of "story" to shape the gathering. There will be 7 "chapers," using a reworked summary of "The Story We Find Ourselves In." I'm trying to incorporate our elements of worship into each of these chapters, with each chapter being about 10 min long.
I would appreciate: ideas on rewording, things to take out or put in, elements that may fit into each of these chapters. Thanks.

Creation
We are all connected to the Creator by a story. God created order and life out of nothingness. But God is not enough in this story. God doesn’t want to be the only reality in our lives, the only relationship in our network. The Creator wants man and woman to find each other, as a lost part of themselves. The rib is taken out of Adam by God. God seems to want Adam to feel incomplete. God nicks a part of him on purpose. That means that Adam is, meaning we are too, incomplete by God’s design. The only real option is for us human beings to enjoy the company of our (1) Creator and (2) creation, animals, and especially our companions, a wife or husband and our friends, in whom we find a lost part of ourselves restored to us again. It is not good for a person to be alone, not in God’s story anyway. We humans bear the Creator’s image and are given the most amazing gift of creating. We are growing, changing, becoming, as we are masterpieces in progress, so creation is continuing in us. We are created by God to join Him in creating, as creation reflects His beauty.

Crisis/Chaos
The Creator did not create humans as robots or machines, but as humans with the freedom of choice. So we are free to respond to God’s invitation to be in relationship with Him, to be in His story, or to go our own way, and then create our own story. This is the beauty and the curse of free will. We have a tendency to lean toward isolation, independence, and aloneness. We fight for control and accumulate stuff, losing connection to God. We feel internal shame and this alienation disrupts our relationships. Selfishly we become our own top priority. It is this independent spirit that destroys connection, relationship, community, and that is what eating the fruit is all about. Human achievements are impressive, like the Tower of Babel, but tragic too, because we keep messing things up and we can not get along. Our evil has the capacity to unleash a flood of complete chaos and destruction.

There used to be one world, one story. But now, we have separated ourselves, moved out of that world and that story and went out to form our own. We have broken the harmony of goodness, so humans struggle in conflicted relationships, like Adam and Eve. New economies arise and compete, often with lethal results, like Cain and Abel. Languages and cultures strive for dominance, as at the Tower of Babel, and civilizations develop in the flood plain of complete chaos and selfish destruction. We have messed up the story. That is the crisis and chaos, the story we find ourselves in.

Calling
God entered into a special relationship with a man named Abraham, who lived in a land that is now called Iraq. The Lord said to Abraham, “Leave your country, your people, and your father’s household, and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”
Throughout the last four thousand years, because of our tendency toward crisis and chaos, we have misunderstood those words. When we think we are chosen only to be blessed, and forget that we are blessed to be a blessing - we distort our identity and drift from God’s calling for us. When we see ourselves as blessed to the exclusion of others rather than for the benefit of others, we become part of the problem instead of part of the solution. If more of us understood what it meant to be religious in this way, being blessed to be a blessing to others, then Christianity would have a better name in Clovis, Fresno and the world.

Abraham’s family is being enrolled as God’s helpers, partners, team-mates in cooperating with God in the ongoing creation of good in the world. So calling means God recruiting us to be part of this movement of people who want to bring God’s blessing back to the world. To be called is to say that we have signed up with this higher purpose or mission in life, to be blessed and to be a blessing.

Conversations/Cycles
God continued in relationship with his people through Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, and Moses. Over a period of time God raised up Judges and then Kings. God continued to be faithful to His people even though they disobeyed Him by walking out of relationship and then writing their own story. God inspires people among them who fulfilled several important roles to keep the communication flowing between God and God’s people. God continuously called His people back to join His story. He sent priests who were the spiritual educators and guardians of the people. They helped the people sustain and strengthen their faith through the regular rituals of worship, through weekly Sabbaths, and annual holy days. He sent prophets who were seized with a passion to convey a message from God. Often they confronted the people about their moral and ethical failures. The prophets cried for justice and genuineness. He sent poets who tried to capture the experience and emotion of the people, their grief, hopes, joys, praises, fears, holiness, anger, doubts, faith, affections - the whole range of human emotions and experiences. They articulated the hearts of the people toward God, and they tried to capture the heart of God for the people too. David is the most famous of the poets. God also sent philosophers. Philosophy for the ancient Jews simply meant a way of life characterized by a passionate pursuit of wisdom. So there’s the book of Ecclesiastes. Proverbs is a kind of practical philosophy. So God through conversations, the title for this chapter of the story, partners with the people, guiding them, but not manipulating them, not robbing them of that special gift of freedom.

Christ
If God creates a real universe and if people of this universe really do have the freedom to make choices, and if they make some bad choices, then we have a real problem. God sent Jesus into the world to absorb all the punishment for our sins. That is what the cross was about. It was Jesus accepting the punishment that all of us deserve. He became the substitute for all of us. As He suffered and died, all our wrongs were paid for, so all of us can be forgiven. God’s merciful acts of absolute goodness and selflessness in giving Himself through Jesus on the cross satisfied God’s just anger about human evil and selfishness. By entering into and overcoming death, Jesus opens the door for us to enter into an eternal relationship with Him.

Jesus becomes a representative of all humanity. The cross demonstrates Jesus’ self-giving, His complete abandonment to God’s will. He makes visible the self-giving love of God. When that sacrificial love touches us, we are changed internally - “constrained” is the word Paul uses for it, so that we want to stop being selfish, and we want to join God in self-giving, beginning by giving ourselves back to God, and leading us to give ourselves to our neighbors and the world too. Jesus gives Himself to God, for the sake of the whole world, and He invites us to do that same. He is showing God’s loving heart, which wants forgiveness, not revenge, for everyone. Jesus shows us that the wisdom of God’s Kingdom is sacrifice, not violence. It is about accepting suffering and transforming it into reconciliation, not avenging suffering through retaliation. The cross shows God’s rejection of the human violence and dominance and oppression that have spun the world in a cycle of crisis from the story of Cain and Abel through the headlines this morning in the Fresno Bee. The cross calls humanity to stop trying to make God’s Kingdom happen through intimidation and force, which are always self-defeating in the end, and instead, to welcome it through self-sacrifice and vulnerability.

Community
Jesus called people to follow Him...to be His disciple. A disciple is a follower, a learner that wants to know and do what the teacher knows and does. Jesus was creating a community of followers. There was a way of living as a disciple. Later, they got the nickname “Christian,” which means “little Christ” or “mini-messiah,” and their way of living became known as “Christianity,” which might better be called a messianic way of living. They were also apostles, who would be sent out to practice and teach what they had learned. That is what apostle means, a person who is sent on a mission. So Jesus brings together this community of men and women who are called out from the crowds to be disciples, and then these disciples will be sent back into the world on a mission of expressing Jesus’ message of God’s Kingdom, and helping others become disciples who will in turn help others, and so on.

This revolution begins on Pentecost, 50 days after the resurrection of Jesus on Easter, with the arrival of the Holy Spirit and spreads from country to country and from generation to generation. It often feels less like we have the mission, and more like the mission has us. Jesus was sent into the world to express, in word and deed, the saving love of God. We, as a community of faith at this church, are similarly sent into the world to express, in word and deed, the saving love of God. Jesus was sent here on a mission, and He said, “As the Father sent me, so I send you.” This mission has us! The Holy Spirit is changing us to be Christ-like people - transforming our lives from the inside out. The Holy Spirit tries to do something in us, makes us more like Jesus, and then tries to do something through us by involving us in God’s mission and giving us some special part of the mission to do. The Holy Spirit connects us with other people, so that what He does in and through one person is coordinated with what He does in and through another person, and so on. That way it is not just a bunch of individuals working on the same cause, but it’s a mosaic of God’s people, united in one Spirit. And that is what the community of faith is supposed to be.

Consumation
Instead of history being driven by the past, what if history is constantly being invited to receive the future? Imagine - God unleashes history in the beginning. God helps the baby to stand in the beginning. But God is also out ahead, calling us, His children, homeward across the room - He doesn’t force it. Sometimes history responds, or some parts of history respond, but others resist or rebel. And God keeps calling. Not just pushed from the past, or even engineered in the present, but being pulled, invited, called, into the future, which keeps coming to us as a gift. God is waiting to give Himself to us across the room, and so we are pulled toward Him by hope and desire. What are we called to do? To enter the Kingdom of God - to come into the future of the Kingdom of God. And that is a great way to understand the church. The church is a community of people who are learning to live the way everyone will live in the future.

We can think of it like a love story, a romance. God creates the universe, and loves her. God calls her to Him in the future, and at first, she refuses to come. But God beckons her and this is a great way to understand Jesus - entering time and space and by coming to her to declare His love. God comes to walk beside her wherever she roams. She rejects God. But God’s love can’t be defeated, and eventually, by patiently walking beside her, God wins her heart. And God continues to call her into the future, and she finally comes to God, and God comes to her. When they meet, because all the wrong, all the evil, all the dishonesty and ugliness and distrust are judged and gone and forgotten forever, God can take everything to Himself in an embrace of boundless, uninhibited, limitless love. And that is the new beginning. That is the consummation: that embrace.

Sermon for November 13

2005-11-08T18:45:00.000-08:00

Theme: Mission of God
Series: Values of the Emergent Congregation
Texts: We're not using one passage this week, as it is more topical. Here is some scripture and thoughts I'm working through for the underlying story that I want to tell this week. I'd appreciate some feedback, ideas, personal stories of how our lives intersect with these.

Genesis 12:1-3
In Genesis, after the stories of creation, we read the story of how God deals with fallen people after being booted out of Eden and the problems and challenges of the world as people began to gather in larger groups in Gen. 1-11. After the stories of the Flood and the Tower of Babel, if you hadn’t heard the rest of the story, you could wonder if there was any kind of a future for the gathered people and hope for the nations, or if God’s judgment would be the end of it all.

Abraham’s story, beginning in Genesis 12, tells us that God isn’t giving up on humanity. In fact, God makes a promise to bring blessing to the nations, when he tells Abram: 'all the families of the earth will be blessed through you' (Gen. 12:3). It’s an announcement repeated six times in Genesis and it’s the foundation of all biblical mission. It is the mission of God to bless all the nations through Abraham’s descendants.

So God gave Abram a new name to reflect his new identity (“exalted father” to “father of many nations”)

From Abraham came the nation of Israel. Still today, Jews look back to Abraham as the father of Judaism. Israel was chosen, not as a superior nation, but as God’s gathered people to accomplish his mission.

The announcement to them is that Yahweh, the God who had called out Israel (Deut. 10:14f), was also the creator, owner and Lord of the whole world, and that He had chosen and blessed Israel to carry out his purpose for the world, not just for Israel. God choosing Israel wasn’t a rejection of the other nations, but for their benefit. Israel was blessed in order for them to be a blessing to others. Their identity is tied directly to their mission as God’s gathered people.

After 400 years of silence in scripture, Jesus is born and there is a change in Covenants, old to new. But Jesus and the early church continue to have their purpose as God’s purpose – first in the conversion of Jews and then welcoming in Gentiles, or non-Jews, which would include the rest of humanity.

Luke 4:14-21
Within Jesus and the early church is still the foundational element that started with Abram being blessed in order to be a blessing.

Matthew 28:16-20
Like the first Christians and the early church, we are a “sent” people - a missional community
Also, we have a heritage tracing back to Abram of being blessed to be a blessing

The term "missional" asks this question: what is the purpose of the church? To enfold and warehouse Christians for heaven, protecting them from damage and spoiling until they reach their destination? Or to recruit and train people to be transforming agents of the Kingdom of God in our culture? A missional church understands itself to be blessed not to the exclusion of the world, but for the benefit of the world. It is a church that seeks to bring benefits to its nonadherents through its adherents.

Romans 8:18-27
God’s ultimate purpose is redemption of all creation.

Galatians 3:6-9
God’s purpose of blessing all the nations is so important that Paul refers back to Genesis when he says God announced "the gospel in advance" to Abraham.

Galatians 3:26-29
Again, if we belong to Christ we are Abraham's seed.

Revelelation 7:9
The closing vision of the Bible shows the fulfillment of the promise to Abram, as people from every nation, tribe, language and people are gathered among the redeemed in the new creation.