Sermon 6-29-14 neglected virtues- flexibility Jonah 2:10 -3:5=-
Neglected virtues. A new series.
Like
this old car, forgotten in the pasture.
Something
to find, rediscover and restore.
Today
the familiar story of Jonah
10 And
the Lord
commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.3 Then
the word of the Lord
came to Jonah a second time: 2 “Go to
the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.” 3:1Jonah
obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Nineveh. Now
Nineveh was a very large city; it took three days to go through it. 4 Jonah began by going a day’s journey into the
city, proclaiming, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.” 5 The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed,
and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.
Today’s virtue is Flexibility –
flexibility -right……….
It
means, Dealing w change
Do
you like change?
let’s
be honest, some of us were never flexible to begin with.
Maybe
we should call it the undiscovered virtue
Sometimes I think about what we have
dealt with at WCC
New ministers came and went - Add a service
Change service times - Add a contemporary
service
Sell our building - Take the old stained
glass windows out
Move to the hospital - Set up church every
week and tear it down
Church in the gym - Church in the sanctuary
Finish the balcony - Buy five more acres
Go to 4 services - Build the youth and
mission building
Build the connecting wing - Add the branch
service as a simulcast
Attempted New church start -Build the worship
center
Buy the missions center -Open a branch in
Raytown
Life
is crazy for us – and for Jonah. you must be flexible to survive
Jonah-
ahh what a week.
At home watching tv
The
world cup is on
God
speaks and his life is disquieted
On
a boat - In a storm- in the water- swimming for his life- in a whale’s belly-
on the beach
That’s
one trip to the beach that no one would enjoy.
In
a belly, on the beach- suddenly a preacher- resting- pouting
At
home watching tv
Friends do you want God to be at the center of your life, leading
you?
If you do then be ready to be disquieted. Get ready to
become flexible
The biblical characters are so
human. I hope you see this and love this.
The psalmist is up and down. - Job is
struggling.
Thomas is a doubter. - Peter doesn’t get it.
Jonah is a mess - The Israelites want to go
back to Egypt.
A great question of spiritual merit for
us to consider is this
What is God doing in this world and how can we stop trying to fight
it?
What is God doing in this world and how can we stop trying to
control it?
We
want things to remain the same
How
can we become more comfortable with it
Go
with the flow
There
is a relationship between worry and trust. Fear and trust
You
never depend on god until you stop trying to be in charge
And here is my problem with the story
of jonah.
Not
that the fish couldn’t swallow him
But
that he was so stubborn that it took him three days to repent
You can never follow God until you stop trying to be in charge.
Whether it is Jonah, or us, there is
the pattern of movement in our lives
From
start to the middle to the end
Egypt.
The wilderness. The promised land
Sometimes
we feel like we are forever in the middle
Wm bridges – managing transitions identified things
that people need to understand in regards to changing times
1.
Those
who are bothered most by change are those who are most affected
2.
To
deal effectively with change, a person needs to understand that the tools of
yesterday will not help them understand today
The
young people of today are not going to be won to the church by the ideas that I
had when I was young.
The
church near st Louis. David hyatt. Wont change worship styles
3.
Where
there is a painful, troubled time – an invitation to become a different kind of
person is taking place. God is trying to teach you something
Questions for you to consider as a
spiritual person
Are
you more Stubborn or accepting
Can
I see it if I am wrong?
How
hard is it for you to see god at work in a thing
Joseph - You meant it
for evil, but God meant it for good
Change
is hard for churches
Consider
the folks at Raytown…what they have had to endure
we can forget that Churches have wilderness times. Times of struggle
we can forget what we are about-
can
act as if we never knew what we were about….
Harrisonville…….The church that didn’t want to grow
The church that preferred the pastor visit them in the hospital than new
people who were visiting.
Forgotten what we were about
are we on or Off mission.
Harrisonville…….The church that didn’t want to grow
The church that preferred the pastor visit them in the hospital than new
people who were visiting.
Forgotten what we were about
are we on or Off mission.
“Spiritually developed people are those who have set aside their
personal preference and comfort for the sake of the mission”
Wilderness isn’t always lost, sometimes its more like the time in-between…
This is good time…..
In-between the last season of growth and change.
Praying, looking to what is next.
Time to clarify the vision
It
happens a lot
In-between jobs, in between stages of life
In-between jobs, in between stages of life
where
your kids are at
In between where you are and where you want to be
The wilderness is a time of natural worry and concern
Yet, good leaders help people be ok, even in the wilderness.
Being in the wilderness can also feel like being lost
In between where you are and where you want to be
The wilderness is a time of natural worry and concern
Yet, good leaders help people be ok, even in the wilderness.
Being in the wilderness can also feel like being lost
there
is fear when the water is troubled
If you are feeling lost. If you are struggling
This is a normal part of life
Not our favorite part, but a normal part.
Three things that help us in the wilderness of change
1. God wants us to Listen- circumstances will get your attention – let them!
2. God wants us Learn- once they have your attention, learn the character for success
If you are feeling lost. If you are struggling
This is a normal part of life
Not our favorite part, but a normal part.
Three things that help us in the wilderness of change
1. God wants us to Listen- circumstances will get your attention – let them!
2. God wants us Learn- once they have your attention, learn the character for success
the
ways of the past may not take us where we need to be for today
learn the lessons that are needed for today
3. God wants us to Trust- we usually trust God the best when we can no longer make it on our own.
3. God wants us to Trust- we usually trust God the best when we can no longer make it on our own.
how
flexible are you? How trusting?
Very well, very well story.
Virgin
Mary – angel Gabriel - May it be unto me as you have said
Jesus
in the garden……Not my will but thine be done
If
you are alive, things are changing.
There
is only one way to get things to stop changing, and that is for a person or an
organization to die.
Successful
Christ followers
will deal proactively with change, difficulty and chaos,
And
will see these things as a sign that god is with them working with them.
Taking
them into his purpose
You
may not hear God’s voice, you may not see the pillar of cloud by day.
You
may not see the fire by night.
But God is still there. The bush of Moses is still burning.
But God is still there. The bush of Moses is still burning.
The
key to dealing with change is trusting in God
Trust in God. He will provide. He is with us. Always.
Let us pray.
Trust in God. He will provide. He is with us. Always.
Let us pray.
