Invested (3 of 4)
Series: Relationship Goals
Jeff Strite
I Peter 2:4-6
OPEN: It was Palm Sunday 8-year-old Bobby stay home because of strep throat. When the family returned home carrying palm branches, he asked what they were for. His mother explained ''People held them over Jesus' head as he walked by''. The boy sighed and said. ''Wouldn't you know it. The one Sunday I don't go... Jesus shows up!''
Sunday is a time when we expect Jesus to show up.
That's why we get together each Sunday... we're looking for Jesus.
We look for Him in the sermons, the singing, communion, our prayers, the fellowship, and Sunday School. And what we're looking for is Jesus.
That's kind of what Peter is saying here: ''you come to (Jesus), a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious'' I Peter 2:4. That's Jesus we're looking for - chosen and precious.
(PAUSE) Now this has always been a great church because Jesus is what you folks have come looking for each Sunday. And I brag on this church all the time. Visitors are always telling me what a loving and kind congregation this is. People always feel welcome. And people often come to us who have been damaged in other churches, because this is a healing church. I don't know if I've ever told you, but I've been fired from my first 2 churches - by contrast I've been here for 23 years. Any church that won't fire me after that long has got to be a great church.
In addition, we have Hispanic and Burmese worship services. God has been kind enough to entrust that to this congregation. And once a year, we have a ''Unity Worship Service'' where all three language groups gather for one large worship gathering and carry-in meal to celebrate that, in spite of the fact that we are 3 different languages, we are ONE church serving one Lord.
And I'm always telling people 40% of the people do 100% of the ministry (compared to 10% in many churches). There's people doing things around here that I don't eve ...
Series: Relationship Goals
Jeff Strite
I Peter 2:4-6
OPEN: It was Palm Sunday 8-year-old Bobby stay home because of strep throat. When the family returned home carrying palm branches, he asked what they were for. His mother explained ''People held them over Jesus' head as he walked by''. The boy sighed and said. ''Wouldn't you know it. The one Sunday I don't go... Jesus shows up!''
Sunday is a time when we expect Jesus to show up.
That's why we get together each Sunday... we're looking for Jesus.
We look for Him in the sermons, the singing, communion, our prayers, the fellowship, and Sunday School. And what we're looking for is Jesus.
That's kind of what Peter is saying here: ''you come to (Jesus), a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious'' I Peter 2:4. That's Jesus we're looking for - chosen and precious.
(PAUSE) Now this has always been a great church because Jesus is what you folks have come looking for each Sunday. And I brag on this church all the time. Visitors are always telling me what a loving and kind congregation this is. People always feel welcome. And people often come to us who have been damaged in other churches, because this is a healing church. I don't know if I've ever told you, but I've been fired from my first 2 churches - by contrast I've been here for 23 years. Any church that won't fire me after that long has got to be a great church.
In addition, we have Hispanic and Burmese worship services. God has been kind enough to entrust that to this congregation. And once a year, we have a ''Unity Worship Service'' where all three language groups gather for one large worship gathering and carry-in meal to celebrate that, in spite of the fact that we are 3 different languages, we are ONE church serving one Lord.
And I'm always telling people 40% of the people do 100% of the ministry (compared to 10% in many churches). There's people doing things around here that I don't eve ...
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