1. Christ: The Center of My Church
February 12, 2012
Christ: The Center of My Church

2. Jesus Christ at the Center
Last week we talked about Jesus being the center of our lives.
Our lives and our church are intimately interconnected.
To fulfill God’s purpose for us, Jesus needs to be the center of both.
If Jesus is at the center of our lives or our church…the evidence will be growth.

3. Jesus Christ at the Center
Let’s take a look at how this plays out in our personal and congregation lives.
The Muddlers and Newlers
A story in the style of Dr. Seuss

4. In the place where we live there are two kinds of people
and both can be found
inside buildings with steeples.

5. sit ‘neath steeples each week but while the Muddlers muddle,
The two kinds of people
sit ‘neath steeples each week
but while the Muddlers muddle,
the Newlers seek.

6. They seek to be different when they go out from within.
A whole new experience
of life to begin.

7. do not think quite the same they certainly don’t want
The Muddlers, it seems
do not think quite the same
they certainly don’t want
their lives to be changed.

8. with no challenge or surprise
All that they want
is to muddle on through
with no challenge or surprise
in all that they do.

9. But challenge and surprise are needed to grow, and the Newlers rejoice
for in challenge they know;

10. the power they need
to accomplish the task,
is already waiting…
all they need is to ask.

11. For the One in the buildings with steeples they meet
will give them the power
the change to complete.

12. what the One wants from them they seek a new challenge
And when they become
what the One wants from them
they seek a new challenge
to grow once again.

13. The Muddlers think they have grown quite enough
they have had all the training
in just the right stuff.

14. sent His Son to the earth
They know that the One
sent His Son to the earth
and believing in Him
they have a new birth.

15. When from the buildings with steeples they go
they do not want challenge,
they know what they know.

16. new learning means change…
To learn something new
would be scary at least
new learning means change…
and change is a beast!

17. They want all their lives to stay just the same
no challenge receiving,
no change in their game.

18. They don’t want to learn to be all they can be
because the work of becoming
is stressful you see.

19. But the Newlers don’t feel
it is stressful at all
changing they find
can be quite a ball.

20. wants for them to become Is really quite awesome it is even fun.
To become what the One
wants for them to become
Is really quite awesome
it is even fun.

21. for us all great and small do you hear His voice
The One wants the best
for us all great and small
do you hear His voice
will you answer the call?

22. and if you fall backward
To become is a journey
you can daily begin
and if you fall backward
you can start again.

23. comes straight from the One
The power to travel
comes straight from the One
Who gives us the Spirit
Who gave us His Son.

24. With the One, Son and Spirit,
The journey is joyful
but the end is the best
With the One, Son and Spirit,
we enter our rest.

25. with two kinds of people and meet every week
If you live in the land
with two kinds of people
and meet every week
in the buildings with steeples

26. A Newler is what I pray you will be
A life of becoming…is joyful indeed.

27. 2 Peter 1:3-8
vs 3 HIS DIVINE POWER has GIVEN US everything we need for LIFE AND GODLINESS through our knowledge of him who called us by HIS OWN GLORY AND GOODNESS.
His Power
His Provision
His Purpose
His Person

28. 2 Peter 1:3-8
Vs 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious PROMISES, so that through them you may PARTICIPATE in the DIVINE NATURE and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
Promise
Participation

29. 2 Peter 1:3-8
Vs 5-7 For this very reason, make every effort to ADD TO YOUR FAITH GOODNESS; and to goodness, KNOWLEDGE; and to knowledge , SELF-CONTROL; and to self-control, PERSEVERANCE; and to perseverance, GODLINESS; and to godliness, BROTHERLY KINDNESS; and to brotherly kindness, LOVE.

30. 2 Peter 1:3-8
These are the participation in the Divine Nature. What do these look like in real life?
Goodness: Acting rightly
Knowledge: Intimate knowledge of God
Self-Control: Be perfect=Be Complete
Perseverance: The way to defeat the devil
Godliness: Demonstrating God’s Character
Brotherly Kindness: Consider others above yourself
Love: The result of it all!

31. 2 Peter 1:3-8
v8 For if you possess these qualities in INCREASING MEASURE, they will keep you from being INEFFECTIVE and UNPRODUCTIVE in your knowledge of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Increasing measure. Always a next step.
What effect and what product?
Personally
Congregationally

32. Jesus Christ at the Center
Personally: A life that is beyond compare. Filled with a quality and vitality we can not even imagine.
Congregationally: Impacting others lives now and for all eternity.
Counted as sheep and not goats of Matthew 25
Be spoken of as the Church of Philadelphia and not Laodicea of Revelation 3
Bringing glory to God until Jesus returns.