Road Trip

I’d mentioned that MC’s brother Thomas and his wife Holly are on a 2 month cross country road trip, visiting with friends, ballparks, national parks, etc. Saw Holly’s dad at church Sunday. 

Thomas and Holly have the whole route planned out: starting in Hilton Head, back through Atlanta to Memphis to KC to Denver to to Utah to Vegas to San Francisco then up the coast to Oregon and Seattle, then east through Idaho and south through Montana to Wyoming and Nebraska to KC, then home through Memphis and Alabama. Follow them at @GilbertsGoWest 

Sermon Notes:  Clay Smith JFBC

A topic close to Clay’s heart. Like a total body scan of the church, what God sees and thinks about the church.

Five areas for each church to address…Worship, Community, Stewardship, Service, Multiplication

One in particular: service here at JFBC, since this is where we are committed to.

Romans 12:3-8.

Salvation is granted individually, but expressed corporately. You are dead to self yet alive to Christ, set inside the family of God. Are we still doing what God wants us to do as a church?

Think - sound judgement - not better than others, humble not prideful. Not prideful. But don’t think less of ourselves, but thinking of ourselves less.

God has slotted to each a different measure of faith but Christ is the standard.

Phil 2 do not consider yourself higher…

Emulate Christ, and we will be exalted in our humility.

V 4-6 we are different members of the body with different functions.

To be a church that God honors we need… 

1. To focus on unity

2. Diversity is needed, not just racially but different ages and experiences and gifts. 

3. We need to depend on one another. 

These days people think about church more as a consumer than as a member with responsibilities and commitments.

The big question: based on all we know and learned, how am I using my Gad given gifts and abilities to build up the body of Christ here at Johnson Ferry?

Seven gifts are listed by Paul in Romans 12. More gifts are listed in Ephesians 4 and I Corinthians.

1. Prophesy Romans 6 not preaching or predicting the future but speaking for God. Be very careful. Cautious. God speaks to individuals to speak to others, not about myself.

2. Service…some are called to service. Good to not to be noticed when doing something. But when something doesn’t get done people notice.

3. Teaching. James 3 teachers will be judged more harshly.

4. Exhortation. Come alongside and call out, like training wheels. Encouraging. Helping so others won’t fall. Ask others questions as opposed to talking about myself.

5. Generosity, without motive.

6. Leadership with zeal and diligence.

7. Mercy, with cheerfulness. Thinking about others.

If we don’t use the gifts that God gives us, it’s like nice things people are practically giving away at a yard sale.

Baseball has been introduced to Bhutan, one of the most remote countries on Earth. You'd think they'd find a better hitter to emulate than Marcell Ozuna.

Interesting Denison column this morning. Authorities are investigating an unlicensed laboratory in California. The CDC found 20 potentially infectious agents, including coronavirus, HIV, hepatitis, and herpes. The biotech company has ties to China. A combined biological and cyber attack could be the weapon of choice in the next world war. This according to Richard A. Muller, professor of physics at Cal Berkeley, whose article in the Wall Street Journal is titled “World War III Will Be Fought With Viruses.” China has hidden malicious computer code inside networks controlling America’s power grids, communication systems, and water supplies. Given the dangers posed by the rise of Chinese aggression and the threat of Russian nuclear weapons, it is unsurprising that counselors say we are “living through one of the most stressful periods in American history.” The American Psychiatric Association showed that 70% US adults feel anxious about keeping safe.

Why are so many Americans opting out of church? “Contemporary America isn’t set up to promote mutuality, care, or common life. It is designed to maximize individual accomplishment as defined by professional and financial success.” Workism reigns in America, so community in America, religious community included, doesn’t fit in.” Given the materialistic success of American society, many don’t believe we need what Christian community offers. We are not willing to make the investment of time and passion such community requires. And so we feel isolated and lonely, because we are. Let me be blunt: Western culture, with its insistence on individual status and achievement, is lying to you. Its roots lie in ancient Greek philosophy, not biblical revelation.