Creating a Community of Faith, Love, and Hope, Part 2

I think the first step in building a community of faith, love, and hope is to recognize the adventure one has to undertake in order to achieve such a thing.

A community of faith, love, and hope is people of faith, having faith that they can make an impact on the world through love, so that the world will have hope through Christ Jesus.

This is something that we must adhere to! It takes commitment, sacrifice, and risk. I believe it is possible for a community to embrace this mission, and I envision a world where the followers of Jesus would fulfill God's purpose by embracing such a crazy idea.

In a fast-paced world of individual achievement and of such insecurity, commitment to building real, face-to-face commmunity where people have problems and where people have to get dirty with the problems of other human beings can easily be ignored.

I mean, why have a community of human beings that you can get to know in person, and see them up-close, when you can hide behind the screen of a computer or a television?

Why build a community that commits itself to helping the poor and needy by bringing them into their homes and spending one-on-one time with the homeless, if you can just give money to an organization to "give them what they need"?

(Hope that you hear my sarcasm...)

What they may really need...is you. Not your money, but your time, your attention...you.

The first step in building a community is realizing the adventure of actually working and sharing and SERVING other people. Realizing the adventure that comes with risking your time, your money, and your relational security to help others.

The next step is to ask God to show you where and who needs YOU

And to obey Him. Get out there!

P.S. This Blog Has Upgraded!

By the way, there is a new title for this blog. It went from

"Ryan Sutherland Writes Volumes"

to

"Momentum: Building Change"

Thought we'd change the focus a little bit. Don't worry, you'll be getting crazy off topic stuff too.

Enjoy!

Creating a Community of Faith, Love, and Hope, Part 1

Something that I want for the NewSpring community is a real sense of (or emphasis on) community. I really feel like many people who go to our church do not take the time to look at the strangers sitting beside them and get to know them.

At NewSpring we have an awesome group of volunteers that greet and accomodate thousands of people every Sunday! We also have Home Groups and GroupLink to help people to gather on their own during the week to grow in faith.

I think we need to take this a step further.

A few months ago we did a series entitled, "What If?". In the series, we discussed how the early church was a incredible community- built on faith, abounding in love, and full of hope.

I think we really underestimate the power of a community. It seems as though our individualistic society has all but destroyed the sense of true community.

God created us as relational beings, "fearfully, and wonderfully made" to do great things.

God created us for true community: helping those around us and helping those beyond us.

It is my hope that because there is a movement of God in this place, in this town, in this county, known as NewSpring Church, we would see that each person made on purpose, with a purpose, and for a purpose would realize their potential to change the world and glorify God through a community built on faith, abounding in love, and full of hope.

God Downloads: Part 2

So! I had this idea while I was in the shower yesterday (all good thoughts come from the shower, by the way...) and I think it would be great to encourage the young 'uns at church to do this!

Well, the thought came from this: "How can I teach my Ignite kids to not be so timid to invite other kids from school to Ignite and the NewSpring community* ?"

In my experience talking with students, the majority of them don't really talk about Jesus on a regular basis. I understand why, though! One of the hardest things to do in your walk with Christ is telling complete strangers about Jesus. I mean, let's face it, most middle schoolers (and some of us) are afraid of being judged, labeled, and stereotyped. And sometimes it's not the strangers that it's hard to talk to, but the people we know too.

Although it is sometimes a difficult thing to bring up, I think it is easy to talk about Jesus in terms of HOW GREAT YOUR GOD IS! Share what He has done in your life and your community!

And, if you need some experience inviting people to Ignite or Fuse, just look around at the main service at NewSpring. I'm willing to bet that there are people who go to main service but don't go to Ignite or Fuse! This is a chance for Ignite or Fuse people to make some new friends (who might already have an idea of how great God is!) and to get them active in our community. That's how just about all of the Ignite leaders got invited to Ignite! Some leaders took the jump and made some crazy new friends at the main service!

Next time at NewSpring, just take a minute to look beyond yourself. Do something crazy and radical for Jesus-- make a crazy friend! Then maybe they can do the same as a part of creating a community of faith, hope, and love.

My Crazy Friends

* Next Post on creating a community of faith, love, and hope.

God Downloads: Part 1

Yesterday I was having my quiet time, sitting with God, and he pretty much downloaded an entire sermon outline in my head! (Actually it was more like a fill-in-the-blank kind of thing)

It was awesome!

So, I figured I would share all the things God showed me in a series of installments. (Don't worry if i write them all today. I'm at work and I have nothing better to do. Like I said...don't worry)

Here goes:

GOD IS AWESOME. Here's a reason why: His Love for YOU and me doesn't depend on how perfect we are but on how perfect JESUS IS.

Despite all our imperfections, screw-ups, stupidity, pride and stubborness, Jesus allows us to KNOW Him and to FOLLOW Him.

This is really hard to do. Several times during the week, I would begin to sin or do something that that was really stupid and the Holy Spirit would whack me over the head with a 2 x 4 with nails in it. AND THEN I WOULD START TO MAKE ANOTHER MISTAKE A FEW DAYS LATER!

Through the whole experience, God was showing me just how narrow the path is sometimes. In the Scriptures, highway to Hell is essentially an eight lane, one way freeway. It's easy to get there and it is hard to stay on the road less traveled by.

Christ made it easy for us to know this road by sending His Holy Spirit to dwell IN us. But lots of times the "human" in us makes it difficult to listen to the "spirit" in us. The human part of us was born with sin, but we still have God's likeness and spirit in us that holds virtue and guides us.

We will stumble and we will fall. The storms always come in our lives. But Jesus always has us by the hand. How many times did Jesus fall carrying the weight of our sins? I don't think it was just the weight of the cross-- sin is heavy.

But Jesus, in his infinite wisdom, love, and commitment to us, had the strength to get back up, and He will help you back up when you need it. Even if it is over and over and over and over again.

Home From IOP, CHUCK, & An Awesome Time With God!

Yo! I am back and ready to attack! Just returned home from the beach w/ the fam. While I was there I finished "Chasing Daylight" by Erwin McManus. It was REAL good. I definitely loved the way it centered around the way Jonathan seized his opportunity to do great things for God in 1 Samuel.

My fav lesson from the book: "Go, unless you get a no" in other words "Forcefully advance the kingdom of God!"

I was inspired to make a few graphic ideas (see above)

Also at the beach I read through Isaiah. That was a good book to read. I liked how at several times, Isaiah writes about the relationship between God and His children, and how God did created something new: the hope and fulfillment of a Saviour for us. I appreciated all of the allusions and prophecies that showed just how much God loves us. (I know this is vague, but I don't have my notes at hand...writing off the top of me brain!)

Some other thoughts:

- We (the church) should not be satisfied with "keeping up" with the culture and society we live in. We should strive to lead the way in changing the world around us!

- Jesus calls us to believe, to place ALL our trust in Him, and to allow our hearts (and passions) to be transformed. Then we will be guided by Him in all we do.

Day Three @ Sea...Well, the Beach

Today marks the third day of staying by the shore with the fam. All 12 of us are here from SC, FL, and PA. We're staying at Isle of Palms, SC which is just outside of Charleston.

It's a pretty cool spot. So far it has been overcast and rainy off and on (which explains why I am inside writing this blog) and I think we shall all go to Mt. Pleasant this afternoon to catch a movie and possibly some shops.

I've been trying to devote my time here to God and family. So far I've had a heck of a lot of the family, and I have also had a whole lot more time to pray and read God's Word.

Yesterday we went to a Catholic church on Sullivan's Island...

Yeah, that wasn't fun at all. Not because it was Catholic, but because we went to the service that was completely in Latin. I wasn't too pleased, and I'm not sure how God feels about it. The message that the priest gave (in English) was pretty good, if not more like a dramatized lecture. But I agreed with some of his points. It just seemed very dark and Gothic in tone. (ugh)

I got nothing out of the service except an appreciation for the architecture of the church (probably cause I was busy staring at that during service). I understood what was going on during the service, but it held no meaning for me. There was no real participation from the congregation. I would have given $1000 to see Lee or somebody from NewSpring walk down the aisle with a guitar and lead everyone in loud, clear, and awesome worship!

By the way, I am very sad I missed "Hosanna" on Sunday at NS. I've been waiting for the band to use that song for months!

Congrats to Perry and Lucretia on their baby's arrival! I know they'll be rockin' parents!

Anyway, off to the beach! K C YA !