Sermon 9-26-04
Moses and the Israelites/Moses shares the joy
Israelites in Egypt were slaves
Everything that did was about making bricks for someone else
Launch out into the wilderness…
Nothing to do
Complaining
When you are not positively engaged in making something better it is easy to look and see the things that are wrong
It doesn’t take long
Exodus 12 = exodus
Exodus 14 = parting of the sea
Ex 15-17, water food, manna and quail
Ex 18 = moses is exhausted
All within the first 3 months
Moses is beat, the leaders are beat
They need a new paradigm
Woods Chapel UMC
Used to be the pastor was centrally involved in everything
Things that we have learned
1. we want people to spend their time in ministry not committee meetings
2. it becomes your church when you are involved in some way besides worship
3. The pastor cannot be in charge of everything
4. The staff cannot be the paid Christians
There must be another way
Everyone has a role, everyone has a ministry
Divide it up
Lets go be effective
Why did this work for the Israelites?
They got up every morning and saw the pillar of cloud
At night if they wok up there was a pillar of fire
They wanted to be in the presence of god
So, with great joy, they threw them selves at the tasks at hand
Can this work here? It already is
Some things that you are involved in that have become like slavery to you
Hopefully nothing at the church
I want to ask you to see presence of God, to see work that he has done
To find a place to be connected.
To take ownership of the mission
To make this your church
Really want to feel the joy, get involved
Joy of a hug
angels cheer the touchdown in heaven of one sinner who repents.
a doctor is called to operate on a 42 year old woman with an aneurism, due to gods blessing and his skill, the woman is saved. he walks out of the operating room on cloud 9
you travel to russia. among other things, you are bearing gifts from friends. you give out candy bars to children from your friends in lees summit. the look on the kids faces is something you have never seen before, and will remember forever.
people drive onto the church property and are blessed by the beauty. the trees and flowers speak to them of Gods goodness. They walk in the door to worship and are happy.
you see them smiling and know that you have played a role.
Joy
after weeks of teaching sunday school and wondering if you were making a difference, one of the kids says thanks, and gives you a hug. the parents tell you that the kid loves sunday school. you are making a difference. joy
Joy!!!
Consider Jesus who for the joy set before him
Hebrews 12:2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
You have these cards in your hand
There is great joy in serving giving back to God-being connected to something that is bigger than you
There is a train station in the gym today, conductors are waiting to get you connected to a ministry…..come join us on the journey of reaching out to others in Gods world.
Moses and the Israelites/Moses shares the joy
Israelites in Egypt were slaves
Everything that did was about making bricks for someone else
Launch out into the wilderness…
Nothing to do
Complaining
When you are not positively engaged in making something better it is easy to look and see the things that are wrong
It doesn’t take long
Exodus 12 = exodus
Exodus 14 = parting of the sea
Ex 15-17, water food, manna and quail
Ex 18 = moses is exhausted
All within the first 3 months
Moses is beat, the leaders are beat
They need a new paradigm
Woods Chapel UMC
Used to be the pastor was centrally involved in everything
Things that we have learned
1. we want people to spend their time in ministry not committee meetings
2. it becomes your church when you are involved in some way besides worship
3. The pastor cannot be in charge of everything
4. The staff cannot be the paid Christians
There must be another way
Everyone has a role, everyone has a ministry
Divide it up
Lets go be effective
Why did this work for the Israelites?
They got up every morning and saw the pillar of cloud
At night if they wok up there was a pillar of fire
They wanted to be in the presence of god
So, with great joy, they threw them selves at the tasks at hand
Can this work here? It already is
Some things that you are involved in that have become like slavery to you
Hopefully nothing at the church
I want to ask you to see presence of God, to see work that he has done
To find a place to be connected.
To take ownership of the mission
To make this your church
Really want to feel the joy, get involved
Joy of a hug
angels cheer the touchdown in heaven of one sinner who repents.
a doctor is called to operate on a 42 year old woman with an aneurism, due to gods blessing and his skill, the woman is saved. he walks out of the operating room on cloud 9
you travel to russia. among other things, you are bearing gifts from friends. you give out candy bars to children from your friends in lees summit. the look on the kids faces is something you have never seen before, and will remember forever.
people drive onto the church property and are blessed by the beauty. the trees and flowers speak to them of Gods goodness. They walk in the door to worship and are happy.
you see them smiling and know that you have played a role.
Joy
after weeks of teaching sunday school and wondering if you were making a difference, one of the kids says thanks, and gives you a hug. the parents tell you that the kid loves sunday school. you are making a difference. joy
Joy!!!
Consider Jesus who for the joy set before him
Hebrews 12:2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
You have these cards in your hand
There is great joy in serving giving back to God-being connected to something that is bigger than you
There is a train station in the gym today, conductors are waiting to get you connected to a ministry…..come join us on the journey of reaching out to others in Gods world.
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