Dear Friends in Christ,
Along with most of the Session Members who will serve this
congregation next year, I recently attended the Presbytery’s Regional
Leadership Development Training. There was a workshop on Officer Training that
was a little history, a little theology, and a little rules and regulations.
Another workshop was about Stewardship, especially how stewardship is not
fundraising—it’s an exercise in discipleship. The third was on Church
Transformation. This is the one I want to talk about here.
At the start of the workshop, the leader shared Matthew
16:13-14
When Jesus came to the region of
Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do
people say the Son of Man is?”
They replied, “Some say John the
Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
Then he asked us to think about our congregations and answer
this question, “Who do the people say that we are?” There were all sorts of
answers coming from all over East Texas, some of them weren’t very complementary.
People know the way the grapevine works and they were hearing some very sour
things.
He then challenged us to change gears with verse 15 just
like Jesus challenged his disciples:
“But
what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
He challenged us to take the turn again asking who we as the
leaders of the church say that we are. This is where the workshop began to
soar. Some say we are caring, others say we are giving. Some say we are
welcoming. Others say we are aging. There were some encouraging words and
others that were pointed.
He challenged us to know and remember the stories of the
Body of Christ. As for this part of that body the Jesse Walker Bells and the
Joe McDonald crosses. It includes the Dubach’s and the Abrahams’.
It’s the story of how the children used to hit up the men of
the church for camp donations on the steps while they were trying to have a
smoke before worship in peace. It’s the story of Glen Newberg ringing the
Sunday School bell so people would get to worship—and ring it again when people
wouldn’t get along into the sanctuary.
It’s the story behind the name “Ladies of the Evening
Circle.” It’s the story behind the smiles you seen when someone says, “I’m
confuuuused!” It’s the story of the first thing Miss Constance said to me after
my first Sunday as your pastor. (Please ask me, I love to tell that story!”)
It’s the story of baptisms and confirmations and weddings
and funerals and living everyday together faithfully. It’s the story of living
in relationship with one another and with our Lord and God.
What was most interesting from the session was when people
were asked why they worshiped at the church they worshipped, the answers were
family, friends, and relationships. Nobody said that the reason they attended
was because “Presbyterian polity spoke to me on a deep theological level.”
We worship a Lord who came became like us in every way
except for the way of sin. The Lord Jesus calls us to come and join him in a
better relationship with him, with the Triune God, and with one another. This
was the message of Church Transformation, we must allow our relationships with
God and with one another to transform us. We get to tell the old stories. We
get to write new stories.
And there is one story we must never forget. It’s the story
all Christians share. It begins with Matthew 16:15 and ends at 17:
“But
what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
Simon Peter answered, “You are
the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not
revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.”
This is our joy, this is our blessing, this is our story.
God sent Jesus to Earth to be in full relationship with the people so that we
can be in full relationship with one another. Let this transform us and this
part of the body of Christ.
See you in worship!
Paul
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