WHY WE NEED JESUS

This is the sermon summary of the message presented at Prairie Chapel, January 12, 2014.

 

 

We are all subject to the human condition.  Some may operate closer to the edge and experience it more acutely.  Some may experience it in the pain of love for others; but we all feel rejection, loss, abuse, depression or we have an equally hurtful list, maybe dozens long.  Economic status, social status, status high or low has nothing to do with it.  We have needs that need to be filled.  We all suffer from the human condition

Jesus met a woman at a well.  It was a divine appointment.  She didn’t know she needed Jesus until she came to know him, to know him as a prophet, to know him as Savior.  She didn’t know she needed Jesus until her needs, her social impoverishment, met “who Jesus is.”  We find we need Jesus when “who we are” intersects with “who he is.” 

At the well, Jesus crossed all sorts of boundaries in talking with a women, a Samaritan, a woman of questionable lifestyle, a person of another denomination.  Jesus crossed all sorts of boundaries because all sorts of people need Jesus.

But we don’t know we need Jesus until we come to know him, “who he is”: Son of God, Creator, Image, Good Shepherd, Savior, Resurrection Lord who gives us hope, King, Grace, Friend. 

Then we find what’s at stake in accepting him: Salvation, relationship, joy, happiness, freedom, life-together.  Do you want to miss that?  Do you want your friends to miss that?

And the last thing at stake is transformation, change.  Yes, Jesus loves us just a we are, but he doesn’t leave us there.  He fills our needs and leads us forward.  Bottom line: We need Jesus because Jesus is the answer to the deepest longings of the human heart.*  We need Jesus.

*Adam Hamilton.  Leading Beyond the Walls.  pg 22

 

HUMILITAS: LOST KEY TO LIFE, LOVE, AND LEADERSHIP

Sermon Shadow from Prairie Chapel UMC (Fulton, MO) 12/29/13

 

Luke set out to write an orderly account in which he emphasized the Nativity and within that included the “shepherds.”  We’ve mythicized them over the centuries when they were at best the hired hands, really of no account.  Not the kind you would invite to your Christmas party directly from work, or call to come the hospital to see and hold your new born.  Yet God chose them to be the first to hear the good news. 

We find throughout the Gospel that God favors the poor the oppressed.  What is it? What virtue do they have that we must emulate to gain God’s favor?  Author John Dickson, Humilitas: The Lost Key to Life, Love, and Leadership would suggest “humility”; not groveling, not humiliation, but humility.  In fact, there must be a certain element of self-worth to love others, to do so humbly.  We define humility as “holding one’s power loosely for the sake of others.”

And there is a practical aspect of humility in our relationships, in our businesses, within our families.  A man was beset on a bus by three youths but did not react.  On departing the bus, he handed them a business card reading “Joe Louis, Boxer”; holding his power loosely for the good fortune of the three.  Compare that to Mohamad Ali.  Which do you find more attractive? 

In business, Stanford professor Jim Collins, Good to Great, finds that the leaders of great companies universally marked by a paradoxical mix of professional will and personal humility.  In many cases they are self-effacing, reserved, even shy.  They deflect praise from themselves to their subordinates but stand ready to take the blame. 

In personal relationships we have the power to hurt those we love the most.  Good partners hold their power loosely for the sake of others.  Humility is a treasure in our relationships with one another.

How is it we become humble? It must be a desirable goal, thought of as a thing of beauty or it will be just another un-kept resolution.  Then we should “act as if.”  It is the only way to exercise our humility muscle.  Finally, we learn to be humble by spending time serving the shepherds among us.  In person, if possible, but if not, with thoughtful charity.

Do you see the trait of God here, holding his power loosely for our sake?  Do you the trait of Jesus here, holding his power loosely, in fact nailing it to a cross, for our sake?  Do you see the traits of those God chooses and uses?  Make humility a beautiful thing.  Act as if.  Serve the shepherds among us.

 

LSM BROCHURE BLOG 4: Lay Servant Ministries’ Relevance to the Mission and Ministries of the United Methodist Church

(Previously, “Missional Results of Lay Servant Ministries: Transformational Congregations”

The purpose of this blog is to provide narrative to the “LSM Briefing Brochure” introduced at the ACDLSM convocation in January 2013.  The brochure is intended for use by Lay Servants who want to fully inform their pastors, DSs or other church leaders about the Lay Servant Ministries program.  It’s a great brochure, please use it.  Please be an advocate for Lay Servant Ministries.  The brochure is available at http://tiny.cc/LSM4PNLBROCHURE

 (If you are using the brochure along with this narrative, time to open to the inside then fold over the left hand panel putting  “Missional Roles and the Four Areas of Focus” on the left and “MIssional Roles and the Call to Action” on the right)

Now I want to address one crucial issue, that is “Is Lay Servant Ministries still relevant to the ministries and mission of the United Methodist Church?” and the answer is emphatically, “Yes.”  First, the church has chosen “Four Areas of Emphasis” as its means of fulfilling the vision of John Wesley in the 21^st Century:

1.       Developing principled Christian Leaders for the church and for the world.  If I were to go to the umc.org website, in addition to the emphasis on developing ordained leadership for the future church, I would find the statement that the church must “Offer leadership training to laity who are in ministry in countless ways.”  That training is the core of Lay Servant Ministries.  Further, one of the primary avenues for or ordained clergy has been and will continue to be the Lay Servant Ministries program.  Church leadership is one of our principle means of service.

2.       Creating new places for new people by starting new congregations and renewing existing ones.  While few lay servants are involved in new church starts, there isn’t a lay servant out there who should not think about ways to renew and revitalize his or her church every time they walk up the front steps.  Trained and effective laity are key to congregational renewal.

3.       Engaging in ministry with the poor.  Engagement does not occur without engaging leadership and without champions.  LSM can provide the champions and leaders in local congregations leading them to engage in ministry with the poor both near and far.

4.       Stamping out killer diseases by improving health globally.  Again, congregational involvement requires leadership and champions.  We believe that laity called, equipped and sent through the Lay Servant Ministries program can provide the champions and leaders in ministries like “Imagine No Malaria” and clean water projects that will motivate and engage congregations to play a significant role in stamping out killer diseases.  Involved laity provide the connecting pieces to the "connection," the church that is so powerful in making a difference world-wide.

If the Four Areas of Focus are the church’s answer to living Wesley’s vision of "doing no harm, doing good, and loving God," then the way the church will fulfill its vision will be to engage equipped United Methodist Laity in all facets of lay ministry, and it will do it best by taking full advantage of  the Lay Servant Ministry program. 

And it will do it best through vital, fruitful congregations resulting from the focus of the Council of Bishop’s “Call to Action.”  The “Call” has a long-term focus of building effective practices in local churches.  The local church is the primary arena for disciple-making, and Lay Servant Ministries is positioned to equip laity to work in collaboration with clergy and laity to build up the local church.  Every church should strive to have a team of Lay Servants who are called, equipped and gifted in key areas contributing to the congregation’s vitality as listed in the key drivers below:

Key Drivers of Vital Congregations (As noted in the “Call to Action”)

1.       Vital Congregations have effective Pastoral Leadership and Preaching.  Lay Servant Teams can complement and supplement pastors, working in cooperation with them, in ways that allow them to reach their maximum effectiveness.  It should be a goal of the Lay Servant teams to do those things that make their pastor the best he or she can be. 

2.       Vital Congregations have multiple small groups and programs for children and youth.  Lay Servant Ministers can lead small groups and are effective teachers and leaders.

3.       Vital Congregations have a mix of traditional and contemporary worship.  Again, multiple worship services require significant additional resources to happen.  Lay Servant teams can be equipped to work in all areas of worship to make them passionate and enthused.

4.       Vital Congregations have a high percentage of spiritually engaged laity in leadership roles.  Equipping spiritually engaged laity is a primary purpose of Lay Servant Ministries.

In answer to the question, “Is Lay Servant Ministries relevant to the twenty-first century mission and ministry of the United Methodist Church?” the answer is an emphatic, “Yes!”  Lay Servants and clergy should be working hand in hand to develop teams of equipped laity of a variety of gifts to make congregations vital and the denomination fruitful in addressing the issues of humanity today, in being the Body of Christ in a world of need.  That is the call.  That is what we are drawn to.  So may it be with us all.

(This the final blog providing narrative to the "LSM Briefing Brochure."  Go and spread the word.)

LSM BROCHURE BLOG 3: Missional Results of Lay Servant Ministries: Transformational Congregations

(Previously, “The New Role of ‘Lay Speaker’”)

The purpose of this blog is to provide narrative to the “LSM Briefing Brochure” introduced at the ACDLSM convocation in January 2013.  The brochure is intended for use by Lay Servants who want to fully inform their pastors, DSs or other church leaders about the Lay Servant Ministries program.  It’s a great brochure, please use it.  Please be an advocate for Lay Servant Ministries.  The brochure is available at http://tiny.cc/LSM4PNLBROCHURE

(Inside Matrix)

We often confuse input with output since we don’t have an objective test to evaluate results.  When asked how our training is going, we say “We had twenty in training this past session,” or “The really enjoyed it.”  Both are inputs.  Rather outputs would be how Lay Servant Ministries is contributing to the vitality and fruitfulness of local congregations. 

As a director, when I am fortunate to be part of a clergy gathering, Annual Conference or district events, I often ask clergy “How are your Lay Servants doing?”  While an occasional blank stare occurs, the response I strive for is (actual response) “O, nothing happens in my congregation without my Lay Servants.”  That’s output.

This Matrix (Brochure inside panels) is intended to portray the desirable missional results of the Lay Servant Ministries program.  Our course work is intended to “call” Lay Servants through the “Basic Course” and aid them in exploring it through “Discovering Spiritual Gifts.”  Note that these courses are open to all laity and would be beneficial to all congregations to have a significant team of laity who have taken these courses.

The second column lists categories of equipping Advanced Courses available in the Lay Servant Ministries program.  It is not intended that Lay Servants take them all since most gravitate to their areas of gifts, however a team of Lay Servants in the local congregation can be equipped to address nearly every facet of lay ministry need to make congregations vital and fruitful.

That brings us to the Missional Impact column, the third column in the matrix.  Wouldn’t it be great if we would ask that pastor mentioned above about how the team of Lay Servants in her congregation was doing, that he or she would say, “O, because I have a team of Lay Servants my congregation

·         “Is more outwardly focused, welcoming, hospitable, invitational and effective in witnessing.

·         “Has worship services that are more enthused and passionate leading people to encounter Christ and hear a call on their lives.

·         “Has more spiritually deepened people, becoming more Christ-like and obeying his call to love God, one another, serve the world, changing lives in Jesus Christ.

·         “Has more hands, feet and heart serving the community and the world in more risk-taking ways.

·         “Is a more generous congregation in terms of time, talent, and treasure to transform the world, near and far.”*

*Some might recognize these five categories of impact as the “Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations” from Robert Schnase’s book of the same name.  (Abingdon Press, 2007)

Again, the emphasis of the Lay Servant Ministries program is ministry in the local congregation working in cooperation with pastors and other laity.  It is most effective when teams of Lay Servants and called, equipped, sent, and effectively deployed to achieve the missional impact of creating vital, fruitful, transforming congregations.

(Next: Lay Servant Ministries and Denominational Emphasis)

LSM BROCHURE BLOG 2: The New Role of “Lay Speaker”

(Previously, “Changing the Name and Renewing the Vision”)

This blog is the second in a series to provide narrative to the “LSM Briefing Brochure” introduced at the ACDLSM convocation in January 2013.  The brochure is intended for lay servants who want to fully inform their pastors, DSs or other church leaders about the Lay Servant Ministries program.  It’s a great brochure, please use it.  Please be an advocate for Lay Servant Ministries.  The brochure is available at http://tiny.cc/LSM4PNLBROCHURE

The New Role of “Lay Speaker” in the 2012 Book of Discipline

The renewed vision of Lay Servant Ministries emphasizes the part teams of Lay Servants play in working in partnership with pastors and laity in making vital, fruitful, transforming congregations.  Even then, pulpit supply remains an important ministry in many conferences.  In one such conference there are as many as 85 churches (ten percent) whose ministers are laity or local licensed pastors who moved directly from the laity role.  The resident Bishop emphasizes that most are second or third career people who will only remain in the pulpit five to seven years.  It may take as many as 150 laity in the pipeline to keep quality lay ministers in those pulpits.

Certified Lay Servants can also be called to fill their historical function of pulpit supply in their own or neighboring churches when the pastor is at conference or on vacation.  Because both of these tasks (occasional supply and being assigned to a church) require honing of skills as well as gifts and graces, the 2012 Book of Disciple recognized the need of providing additional training and selection criteria for those aspiring to pulpit supply.  In doing so they created the new role of “Lay Speaker” whose name honors the past while the stated requirements recognize the need for gifted and well-equipped laity to perform pulpit supply.

Candidates aspiring to the new role of Lay Speaker (Note that I am avoiding using the “C” word, i.e. “Certified.”  We have way too many of those already.  The process will instead “recognize” those who meet the criteria.), must complete “Lay Speaker Required Courses” consisting of classes in six categories: Worship, Prayer, Discovering Spiritual Gifts, Preaching, United Methodist Heritage, United Methodist Polity, and/or any other courses that may be determined by the conference committee.

Certified Lay Servants must also apply for the new role.  While there is no published application form, I recommend that candidates transmit their last three Lay Servant Annual Reports, along with any preaching evaluations from classes or supply opportunities through their pastor and Admin Council or Charge Conference to the district committee on lay servant ministries.  I’d also recommend that district committees set aside some time during Advanced Courses to interview candidates that have applied.

Because it is the intent of the Lay Speaker role to improve the quality and qualifications of those recognized, it is not intended that people be grandfathered from any previous status.  However, it would be reasonable for district committees to look backwards three years for coursed completed by the candidate in that time frame.  All but the preaching courses are available at www.beadisciple.com so completing the course work in reasonable time frame is manageable. 

In summary, Certified Lay Servants can be called to provide pulpit supply.  Those aspiring to preach have the opportunity to upgrade their skills, be recommended by their church, go before the district committee and be recognized in the new role of “Lay Speaker.”

(Next: Missional Results of Lay Servant Ministries: Transformational Congregations)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LSM BROCHURE BLOG 1: Changing the Name and Renewing the Vision

The purpose of this blog is to provide narrative to the “LSM Briefing Brochure” introduced at the ACDLSM convocation in January 2013.  The brochure is intended for use by Lay Servants who want to fully inform their pastors, DSs or other church leaders about the Lay Servant Ministries program.  It’s a great brochure, please use it.  Please be an advocate for Lay Servant Ministries.  The brochure is available at http://tiny.cc/LSM4PNLBROCHURE

(Front Panel)

Brochure Front Cover

We have a new name and a renewed vision for laity leadership in the United Methodist Church.  If you think about it, prior to 1992, lay speakers went off to be trained, then returned to their congregations waiting for a call to serve, primarily in other congregations rather than their own.  With the introduction of “Leading, Caring, and Communicating” in 1992, the program set on a course to equip United Methodists for all facets of lay ministry.  He Book of Discipline emphasized giving primary attention to the local church.  Our name change renews that vision.  “Servants” equipped by the Lay Servant Ministries program are ideally suited to work with pastors and other laity to create transforming congregations.

The primary arena for transformation, changing lives in Jesus Christ, is the local congregation.  By forging partnerships with our clergy and laity we strive to fulfill our vision and our ministries of leading, caring and communicating, to make our local congregations vital and fruitful.  That was the vision of 1992 and our vision renewed by our name change twenty years later.  We are ready, equipped and desirous to serve the local church as servant-partners in all facets of lay ministry. 

(Back Panel)

Moving to the back panel.  Certification requirements remain exactly the same, that is to apply, be recommended, and take the Lay Servant Ministries Basic Course.  Next, to become Certified Lay Servants, candidates are required to take an Advanced Course and be approved by the District Committee on Lay Servant Ministries.  Local Church Lay Servants and Certified Lay Servants must reapply annually, and must take a refresher course or advance course, respectively, every three years to maintain their status.  So as you can see, the requirements remain the same.

Certified Lay Servants shall continue to serve the local church, and as called upon may serve beyond the local church to include pulpit supply in the district and conference.  But their primary arena of service remains the local church.

(Next: The New Role of Lay Speaker)

Further Along the Road: Serving Others

The Lay Speakers at Fairview offered the message, "The Road of Discipleship." The first two portions of that message, "Loving God," and "Loving Others," were posted in the previous two Blogs. You may want to start there. Jesus tells us that the "gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few that find it." (Matthew 7:14) The Good News is that there are resting places, way points, dwelling places along the road. We like to picture them as park benches. Please join us as we travel the road that leads to life.


(Laity Voice Four) And the last Park Bench is “Serving Others.” The work of serving others is another form of love.

Scott Peck teaches us that love implies effort. We are to extend ourselves against the normal inertia of laziness and fear. Loving, extending ourselves, overcoming fear is not sedentary, it requires effort. Love requires effort. In fact, Scott Peck emphasizes that if our act is not an act of work or courage, it is not love.
Serving others is an act of work or courage that nurtures the spiritual growth of another and therefore it is an act of love. That understanding may help us bring together what most of us believe are difficult passages. Remember this passage from James? (2:14-17) “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm and eat your fill,” and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? So faith by itself, if it has not works is dead.”

Or how about this one from 1 John? (3:17-18) “How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and refuses to help? Little children, let us love not in word or speech, but in truth and action.”
If our actions involve work or courage, they are love. James could have easily said, “faith without love is dead.” I think we can understand that.

So, how are we doing? How is the love of serving others playing out at Fairview and in the Missouri United Methodist Church? I thought I take a few minutes to follow up Serve2011, the day the church left the building to serve our communities.

(Show Mission Cast: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_hcovxgac8 )

We work to change lives, to transform lives, to nurture the spiritual growth of another. For Serve2011, Fairview worked on Jim’s house. Jim suffers from Cerebral Palsy. There is no doubt that as a result of our efforts, Jim was able to see God more clearly and because of his improved circumstance to pursue a relationship with God more easily. What happened that day in Jim’s house was love. Love is a verb! And it takes place during the time we dwell around the park bench of “Serving Others.”

Close (Laity Voice One)

“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. For the gate is narrow and road is hard that leads to life, and few will find it.” (Matt 7:13-14)

Most of us are on the interstate, four lanes, limited access as we speed through life without the time, the effort or the courage to love, to develop relationships with God and others, to make a transforming difference in the lives of others through service.

That is the narrow road, the one few will find. It is the road less traveled by, and it is the road that leads to life. To life. That is what being a follower, a disciple of Jesus Christ offers, Life.

It is the road any one of can take if we will choose the rest stop and give God our time through prayer and reading Scripture and listening to him.
Then to give him our time through weekly worship, being here, dwelling on that park bench that focuses our lives on Him, connects to Him, begins that journey of love of Him. We really begin our journey on the Road of Discipleship by “Loving God.”

But it’s not just a solitary walk in the woods, it is a hike we take with others in community where we connect with others, love others in obedience to God’s command. The second park bench where we dwell in “Loving Others.”

Then, we learn to “Serve Others,” changing lives in Jesus Christ.

And through it all, God loves us, we grow spiritually, and we too are changed.

And it’s not just a stroll, but a journey, one where we invite others along, sharing the Good News of the love of God as we learn to Love Him, Love others, serve the world, changing lives in Jesus Christ. It is the journey on the Road of Discipleship. So may it be in all of our lives. Amen.