Another Unexpected Encounter

I tried a new setting on the church alarm, so—in anticipation of accidentally tripping the sensor, I preemptively called the Alarm company. I gave them my passcode, identified myself as Pastor, and asked if they had time to sit on the phone while I walked out of the office. They did have time (apparently it’s a slow night for alarms when it’s below freezing) and I was able to exit without issue, but the person on the other end of the line randomly asked me about the church. Apparently they (their spouse) we’re looking for a church home. I did nothing to start the conversation. In fact, the person apologized for “talking shop” ad I was headed home. Again, a Holy conversation simply fell into my lap! “You will see greater things...”

(community class name here) and the name of Jesus

Someone came into the office today to sign up for a community class.

Unable to pay more than half of it, though, they started to walk away.

I explained that the mission for the whole Wednesday class program was to connect with the community and empower folks to live life abundantly in Christ.

"The faith part," I said, "the Jesus part--is unashamedly us. We're not pushing or requiring that from anyone. so if this class will help fill you with abundance, we will scholarship the rest. Please don't let limited finances hold you back from participating." 

As I expected, the person decided to sign up and pay what they could.

I did not expect them to turn around and ask the volunteer at the front desk about Jesus.
but they did.

Apparently, I was the third person this week to 'bring up Jesus.' 

They had always believed in the existence of God and knew that a man named Jesus lived in Israel, but never had a relationship or a connection with him and wanted to know if we could talk about that... 

I was like, "Are you kidding me?!?! Be still my heart!!"

If I'm being honest, the faith comment was not intentional or strategic on my part. It flowed out of a habitual repetition of the church's mission statement: "to empower others to live life abundantly in Christ."
But talk about a moment where God burst open my expectations:

"You will see greater things than these."

I believe this person will be in worship on Sunday, so let's be very intentional about offering welcome to everyone who walks through our doors. You never know who is waiting to hear the name 'Jesus' for the third time (and you never know if you're the one to have those first two conversations so that the third can be fruitful).

Kale Soup and Pumpkin Bread

A pastor friend of mine was struggling with her congregation.
...unsure of her place. unsure of the fit.
Feeling unwanted, unloved, unliked
(sometime, churches are NOT the most loving places--to guests, to one another, to pastors...)

Then she was sick.

And a church member reached out to say that they had made her "kale soup and pumpkin bread"

Which was a beautiful life-giving thing for her (a vegetarian).

It meant that people cared. That people cared for her (on the term of her needs).
It was a warm and home-like sense of, "they know me here!!!!"
Which is exactly what you need when you're sick.

It also meant that the entire church wasn't defined by the angry, critical, voices.
She could choose to define the quality of the congregation based on kale soup and pumpkin bread.

Notes on Nathanael's Story

Another sermon where the text had more possibilities than could possibly be preached:

• Evangelism. empowering OTHERS. (calling Nathanael) --Philip invites him. Philip literally echos Jesus' own words: 'come and see' (how does this look in a world full of skeptics?)

• Active discipleship. Following JESUS-- not the pastor or anyone else.
  It's not enough to believe. We need to follow.
  --angels ascending and descending: faith is a two-way street. God reaches out to us. We respond
  
• Called--despite out shortcomings. what is a disciple? "I'm not because a disciple is this BIG thing..."
  ...except that God works in the small, the insignificant, the unworthy.
  (at this point in John) "Jesus has performed nor miracle, showed no sign, engaged in no teaching... He is just Jesus from Nazareth, the son of Joseph."
  In Nathanael's view, Jesus could be nothing more than a simple Jew from an insignificant village in Galilee. The Messiah would certainly be of more prominent parentage and come from a more significant town.
  
• Who is Jesus? Revelation/Epiphany/Praise(can anything good come from Nazareth?)
  ...the answer is 'yes!'
  --> him whom Moses in the law and the prophets wrote
  --> Rabbi, Son of God! King of Israel!
  --> source of revelation and the opening of heaven on earth; the bridge between God and humanity
  
• Importance of Honest/Authenticity
  In a 'fake news' world where you don't know who to trust
  In a photoshop world where photos are false
  In a world where Christians ARE hypocrites (we are)
  Philip is without guile. Authentic. honest. genuine. --but not without flaw

Jesus can read his heart--and change it
God knows you. KNOWS you. KNOWS the unworthiness... even before we do.
...and calls you anyway.

• Short-sighted vision and judgment--Nathanael scoffs and judges.
  John 6:7 --Philip counts the cost of feeding the 5,000:  ‘Six months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.’ (Jesus shows him otherwise)
  --but Jesus promises that he'll see even greater things. 
  -= That scoffing is a sin. It's an arrogant failure to notice the work of God.
  (Jesus had walked by him and Philip didn't even notice)
  An invitation to see beyond our limitations.
  Choose to follow Jesus.
  Leave your prejudice behind.