Creekside Church Sermon of January 25, 1998 "Our MIssion" Acts 1:6-8	Rev. David Bibbee
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Walking through the sanctuary this week, I saw a folded paper on the back pew. I walked by and left it, but something said to go back and pick it up. I'm glad I did. It was a TERRIFIC JOB CARD someone had filled out and forgot to pass on. Now I never open other people's mail, and I apologize to Margaret Risden for taking a note intended for her, but the contents are too good to be heard only by her. It says-To Margaret: "Thank you for teaching us kids a lot of neat stuff about Jesus Crist." From: Heather Hostetler. If you ever wonder what the kids are learning in Sunday school, here's your answer.

Two weeks ago we began this sermon series naming our need for confession concerning the essentials we have neglected as a church. Last Sunday we examined the need for a Vision to guide us to tomorrow, and said that mission is a clear mental image of a preferable future given by God and based upon a clear understanding of God, ourselves, and our circumstances. Today we come to mission. Webster defines mission as, "A body of persons sent to perform a service or carry out an activity." I define mission as what happens in a three way meeting between human need, resources offered by the church, and the Christian message defined by Heather as teaching people about Jesus Christ.

Jesus' last words to the disciples in Matthew were marching orders. I like Eugene Peterson's translation of it: "God authorized and commanded me to commission you. Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the three fold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I'll be with you as you do this, day after day, right up to the end of the age." This was their mission-not to craft an apostolic constitution and bylaws or organize themselves into a board and sub-committees. The organizing principle was mission. Their call was to share the message of Jesus, targeting it to the point of people's needs.

Mission is our only reason for being. Christianity is other-oriented. It's direction is outward and forward. My best friend just sold his daughter's boyfriend a car. He gave him a very good deal, and this financially strapped college kid knew it. "I don't know how to pay you back for this," he said. "You can't pay me back," Vaughn said. "You can only pay forward and do something for someone else." "Where did you come up with this 'pay forward' business?" I asked him. Someone sold me a car once. I was nearly broke. If I didn't have a car I would have to drop out of Ohio State. Then this guy who knew my situation sold me a car for a song and a dance. If he hadn't come along at that time, my life could have been very different. He never knew what a blessing that was for me. I owe a part of who I am to him. I couldn't pay him back, so I try to pay forward every chance I get. I try to do something that will matter in the long run for someone else." "Who sold you the car?" I asked. There was a reflective pause and he answered..."Your dad."

Our mission is to touch lives for Jesus Christ. There is no paying back for what we have received. We can only pay forward. We pass on the gift we've been given by him. "Go," is what Jesus said. It's significant to note that Jesus never told anyone "Come to church." In one of the resurrection appearances he passes a message to the disciples: "Tell them to go to Galilee, there they will see me." Not Jerusalem. Not Religion Central, but Galilee where the good news would be taken to the real needs of real people.

Without a mission there is no church. We exist to do the bidding of Christ...to reach out, teach, baptize, make disciples who are credits to Christ's cause, to earn the right to be heard by virtue of the quality of our love and service. The mission is not to ourselves for ourselves. I was struck by something I read which put the focus of mission in perspective. John Westerhoff said, "If pastors are spending more than fifteen hours a week working on projects outside the church, they are wasting their time. Pastors are needed in the congregation, equipping the saints for their demanding work of ministry in the world. But to the laity he says, "If you are spending more than fifteen hours a week in projects within the church, you are probably wasting your time. Your mission consists of sharing Christ's ministry in the world."

What happens HERE is vitally important. Worship, teaching and encouragement equip us to engage the world. But I wonder what portion of our conversations about faith and life take place where we live and work and how much happens here? How much of your reaching out for Christ's sake to others needs is for those already in the church, and how much to those who aren't? Don't get me wrong. We must minister to one another, but while one eye is on the church, the other is on the world.

"Go make disciples of the nations," Jesus said. In Acts 1: 8 when he says goodbye, Jesus tells the disciples, "You'll be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria, to the ends of the world." So where is our Judea and Samaria? Does it encompass the areas where we live? Is it defined by South Central Elkhart? Is it to people like us? Is it to those who are different in culture, race, and economic class? Is it to people who are doing well materially, but don't have the spiritual foundation to know there's more to life? Is our mission to the poor who need a helping hand and can teach us about what it means to live in poverty? Our mission isn't to be all things to all people, but the answer is yes to all the above.

As the song goes, "People need the Lord." The poor and prosperous that Malcom Muggeridge called "Beggars in velvet".

I don't know what you will decide next Sunday. What I urge you to understand is this-whether you decide to remain or relocate or find a creative way to do both, you will need a new orientation. To stay without taking steps to be a visible, helpful presence will spell continued decline. To relocate and not be enthusiastic about Jesus Christ and the church and make no effort to invite people into the church and faith will gain nothing. Christ has given a mandate to minister to the poor. What we do or don't do for them we do for him. But we must also ask where we can have the greatest impact and make the best use of the strengths God has given us. A vote to escape the neighborhood or a vote to escape the challenge of relocating will net the same result. Without a mission the church isn't a church...a club or a discussion group that sings and has pot lucks, perhaps, but not a church.

Two weeks ago Kenny West came into my office to tell me about a dream he had the night before. I believe that dreams can be messengers and since Kenny believed it has significance for him and us, I'll share it with you. In the dream we are all gathered in the church. A party atmosphere permeated our gathering. People were cleaning up, fixing up, cooking up a storm and decorating for a grand event. Then someone asked Kenny, "Who did you invite?" "Well...I guess I didn't invite anyone. Who did you invite?" Everyone assumed that someone else would extend invitations. Everyone was chagrined that no one was coming to the church, and in walks someone from the street department who said, "We're going to tear up the street in front of the church."

Is someone trying to tell us something? Streets are a means of getting from one place to another. The old street would be taken up which suggests a new one will take its place. A new avenue for a church ready to have a party with lots of invitations to extend? Who's going to do it? Who's going to be counted on to accept the challenge and take the risk of venturing something that we can't do alone?

Two boys showed up at the dentist office one Saturday morning. The bigger one did the talking. "Doc, I want a tooth taken out and I don't want to fool around with it. We're in a hurry. We've got a ballgame this morning and don't have time to mess around. I don't want any gas or that deadener stuff, just get the tooth out of our way." Amused by his boldness, the dentist said, "You're a pretty brave guy. You want a tooth pulled with no gas and you don't want it deadened?" "That's right, Doc. Just yank it." "O.K., but you'll need to show me which one." Then the talker nodded to his silent pal. "Show him your tooth, Robbie."

It's a cinch to propose something when the task is for someone else. What we have before us is a venture God won't bless with just a handful of workers. The old twenty/eighty rule won't work...twenty percent of the membership doing eighty percent of the work. We already have a mission statement which I believe captures what this church and every church is called to do. We are to seek God's love in our lives. It's the only constant on which to base our lives. We are to celebrate God's love in vital worship, because God is the only being worthy of our worship. But seeking and celebrating aren't enough. We must share that love...open our mouths, hearts and hands, and get out of our pews and go out of our way to make friendships for Christ's sake, open our eyes to needs and touch them and witness to the one in whose name we are doing it.

Let's say for a moment it is our last mission-this task of making a decision and putting our energies into making it a reality. God only knows that for some of us, this may be our last mission. For all I know, it could be mine. How important it would be to say, "I made a decision that counted for something. I did my part to help the church make a difference. I allowed myself to be used by Christ to extend his love to the poor in resources and poor in spirit.

I think about Peter and his pals at sea in a storm. They see Jesus coming to them and think it's a ghost, but Peter blurts out, "If it's you, Lord, call me and I'll come." Jesus did. And Peter did. With nothing but an invitation and trust he stepped out of the boat and began walking on water. Then rational thinking invaded this irrational act. Possible and impossible clashed. He got self- conscious and wondered, "What am I doing out here? I can't do this, can I?" Then Pete began to slip below sea level.

We are being asked to step out of the craft that has taken us thus far. It's scary stuff, I know. But Jesus never said, "You're on your own." Before he told the disciples to go make disciples, he said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me." In Acts he tells them, "You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you and you shall be my witnesses." What's his is ours. We would not dare come to this time of decision if we didn't have the promise of Christ's spirit that will support and reward our willingness to step out. We wouldn't be asking you to decide if we didn't believe we had what it takes to make it work.

We have been given a mission. We can take it, or not take it. It's Christ's, not ours, but he has entrusted us to increase it. The only guarantee we have is his presence and power, and that is enough.

Before I close, I want you to listen to some sentences addressed to each of us concerning the fact that all of us have been given a mission, and we all play a part in the future before us:

Is there a means whereby you can discern what God wishes you to do? You may say, "Even if it be true, how can I possibly find what it is?" Maybe you are tempted to add: "I'm an everyday sort of person. How can there be something wonderful awaiting me?" or "If there were, how could I possibly know it?" The answer is divinely simple. From time to time God has whispered it into your heart what he is wishing you to do or be. It is nothing less than what is called your heart's desire.

The most sacred wish that lies deep in your heart, the thing that you hardly dare to look at or think about because it seems so far beyond anything you are, is the very thing God is wishing you to do or be for him.

The dawning of that secret dream was the voice of God himself telling you to arise and come up higher because he has need of you.

The closing quote is from Your Heart's Desire by Emmet Fox

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