The Mission of Light and Life Goleta, parts 1 and 2

January’s theme for LLG KIDZ CLUB is “Orderliness”.  I thought it would be a great opportunity to preach on the Mission Statement of our church.  The Mission Statement of LLG is “Compelling people to Jesus Christ, maturing them through discipleship, and assisting the world through acts of love”.  Week 1 was explaining and detailing the first component of the Mission: “Compelling them to Jesus Christ”.  This last week I shared on what it means to “mature them through discipleship”.  I want to give a little description of both today on me blog.

In describing what it means to compel people to Jesus Christ, I used a little formula.  The formula is C=CU and it means “compelling equals (or means) creative urging”.  In my preparation, I read a famous sermon by Charles Spurgeon titled “Compelling Them to Come” where he admitted to “changing his note” when the message did not elicit the proper response.  By this, he didn’t mean he would change his content of the message, he just meant he would change the tone, wording, etc…to rephrase the message for a more effective result–that of changed lives.  That is what we are doing with LLG KIDZ CLUB.  The eternal message of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ doesn’t change, but we certainly are packaging it differently!  Let’s hope and pray and continue to work diligently that the desired results come about.

 Part II of the mission is “maturing them through discipleship”.  As Wesleyans, we are aware of our history of small group ministry.  It is through sharing life with fellow followers of Christ that we grow spiritually in the most effective ways.  No Christians can be mavericks or “lone rangers”.  If the very TRINITY is a God in relationship (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), how important are relationships to our spiritual welfare! 

Referring to the primary importance of our relationships, I used the analogy of my wireless internet card.  I have found that there are places in town (coffee shops, restaurant, etc.) that I cannot link to the wireless internet they offer.  Perhaps it is too many competing signals or faulty/virus-laced ones, but my wireless receiver cannot handle it and will shut down (blue screen) under duress.  My only option is to disable my wireless internet card from receiving any signals at all.

This is a picture of what is absolutely necessary for new Christians.  Some old relationships will not nurture the spiritual life in us at all. They are poisonous.  Others are just fine…usually the difference between true friends and false or co-dependent ones.  While it might make us unpopular for a short time, discerning who we need to “SHUT OFF” is vitally important. 

Relationships that nurture the spiritual growth are so important.  I pray that we will discern our relational “connections” and move toward those which edify.

MAY GOD SWAMP YOU!

Dave