A Church Like Jesus – Part 2
As the take-away from this past Sunday’s Vision 2K10 Day, we asked the question – “How do we become a Church Like Jesus?” We came up with single words that described what a Church Like Jesus would look like, feel like and be like.
Here are the words that you came up to describe a Church Like Jesus:
~ Caring
~ Selflessness
~ Loving
~ Non-judgmental
~ Doctrinally sound
~ Active in the community by sharing the life-changing message of Jesus Christ with others
~ Active in the community by caring for others
~ Consistent
~ Serving
~ Compassion
~ Forgiving
~ Sacrificial
~ Prayer-focused
~ Authentic
~ Uncompromising
~ Courageous
~ Encouraging
~ Exhibit humility
~ Full of praise and worship
~ Focus on people’s needs
Let’s copy this list and pray that TCU would live this out even more in 2010 – and beyond.
A Church Like Jesus – Part 1
This past Sunday, as we looked at the three “lost” stories that Jesus shared with some pretty irate religious leaders of the day in Luke 15, it was clear that the most important person in each story was the “one that was lost.” “Lost” simply means “out of place.” People are out of their place of belonging with God. In Luke 15, Jesus is trying to show these religious leaders that the heart of God is for people who don’t have a personal relationship with him. God’s desire is to bring every single person into a place of belonging with Him by trusting in Jesus Christ.
In this day and age, it seems to me that more and more people appear to be lost. They don’t know who they really are. They don’t know what they’re supposed to do with their lives. They don’t know what’s going to happen to them in the future. The gospel of Jesus Christ is good news for people because it paves the way for us to live life with God – to the fullest – now and discover a place of belonging that we never experienced before.
If you think about it, perhaps more than It’s the stories and parables of Jesus that show the that God loves deeply – especially those who don’t know Him. As a take-away from these stories Vision 2K10 Day, we did an open share time and reflection on this question: “How do we become a Church Like Jesus?” (SEE THE PART 2 BLOG FOR THE ANSWER.)
Great 2K10 Day! Our Mission for 2010
DIGGING DEEPER ~ The Week of January 24, 2010
Nothing happens without prayer. Praying is a starting place for experiencing all that God has for us in 2010. Will you begin to pray this week for us to begin to live out these four mission areas listed below?
OUR MISSION FOR 2010:
1) CONNECT (UPREACH and INREACH):
~ 1. Everyone has something to contribute on Sunday mornings.
~ 2. Build into our kids and students.
~ 3. Create midsize fellowship and community environments.
~ 4. Invest in making Sundays the best it can be and invite new people.
2) GROW (INREACH):
~ 1. Mentor more Life Group Leaders and add new Life Groups.
~ 2. Encourage everyone to engage in the spiritual life process of becoming a growing follower of Christ.
3) SERVE (INREACH):
~ 1. Help people live out their God-given purpose at church too.
~ 2. Create a ministry environment where everyone serves in an area of passion.
4) CARE (OUTREACH):
~ 1. Empower people to use their natural abilities and talents to build bridges with people, families, kids and students in need in our community.
~ 2. Create ways for people in our church to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with people in the community and in their everyday lives – in normal, natural ways.
NEW UPREACH, OUTREACH AND INREACH THIS YEAR (ideas from people at TCU):
UPREACH
~ A TCU Choir
~ Upcounty Kids Singing Group
~ A Sunday Creative and Visual Arts Team
INREACH
~ Sunday Night UpLift
~ New Upcounty Community Bible Study Classes
~ TCU Care & Prayer Group ~ Upcounty Life Clubs
~ Dinner4Six Gatherings
OUTREACH
~ TCU sponsored Marriage Seminars that take place in the community
~ Job Skills Workshops~ Upcounty Tutoring Group for kids in the community
~ Prayer Walking
~ Hampton Apt. Community Connecting
~ Capital Outreach Musical Events led by Josh Kemp~ Easter Outreach
At each outreach, we want to train up people to share be ready to share the gospel.
Let’s pray together about the mission that God has given us. “NO LIMITS” (Ephesians 3:20).
Vision 2K10 Day on 01.24
Don’t miss our special Sunday service on Jan. 24th. It’s a whole day of celebration. We’re going to unpack what we sense our mission is here in the upcounty area this year and also honor our volunteers too. Then, that evening, we’re having a special social gathering – UpLift – at a local community center in Clarksburg, MD. Everyone is invited. Stop by our website at http://www.upcounty.org for more.
Celebrate MLK Day by serving
Check out this blog on what’s going on around the nation on Martin Luther King Day ~ http://bit.ly/7eR6sn.
