Resurrection Sunday in a new space...Matthew 27.62-28.20

 

Resurrection Sunday has come and gone but it was a sweet day to be with the gathered saints of the Stillwater Community Chapel.  We are venturing through the Gospel of Matthew and this Sunday will take us back to Matthew 1.1 but last Sunday we were in Matthew 27.62-28.20.  It was a lot to cover so the white board was truly a help to keep me on track.  This year in my Resurrection Sunday message, I focused on the contrast of the cover-up story of the disciples stealing the body of Jesus fueled by a bride and the commission of speaking of a risen Lord fueled by boldness.

After the service upstairs, we ventured downstairs to the lower level and had a great meal together.  The conversations around the tables allowed us to continue to talk about the passage of Scripture we covered upstairs.  Maybe this is a very informal picture of what happens at the Waushara Community Church called the "Going Deeper" classes of the Come For More hour following the Sunday morning worship gathering.  I do feel the introduction of the basics back into this church will be a big part of it moving forward.  Knowing the basics and doing the basics is the complete package.  Sometimes we just settle on the knowing without the doing.

This brings me to a closing illustration of the Sunday message.  It is similar that we can do one without doing the other in light of the message we have to share with all the nations that Jesus has risen from the grave and He is coming again.  We can invite people to our home (the proclaiming of Christ) but not feed them (the partnering in Christ) or we can be feasting at the table but not inviting anyone new to join us.  

I don't know if I said this in the message but I believe if there is true evangelism happening, the genuine desire to proclaim Jesus to others, then discipleship, the partnering together to grow in Christ, will happen.  The other way is also true, if there is true discipleship happening, the partnering together to grow in Christ, then evangelism, the genuine desire to proclaim Jesus to others, will happen.  Some traditions have focused on converts saying the prayer but haven't provided them a seat at the table.

May we be churches that are unashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ and always providing and encouraging people to sit at the table of growing in Christ.  May we be churches that see the opportunities that God gives us to proclaim and then to partner with those who have responded to that proclamation that Jesus is the Way and the Truth and the Life!  May we be churches, bodies of believers, who show great boldness with this life transforming message and not cower to the world's bribe to become complacent for the idols of comfort and the path of least resistance.  May we proclaim and partner all the more in this new church calendar year. 

Adam