From the Preacher's Pen July 2009      


Putting God first = SERVICE


James and John, the sons of Zebedee came to Jesus with a request that not only made the other ten disciples indignant but also showed that the disciples had a misunderstanding of what it meant to put Jesus first in your life. They were asking for a prominent position when they asked "Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory." Knowing their misunderstanding He called them together and said, "You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 43Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Jesus' whole life was externally focused in service to others; even to the point of giving His very life for us as a ransom. Jesus wanted all of us to know that to put Jesus first in our lives means to live our lives in service to others.

The Church of Jesus Christ is purposed by God to be an externally focused body reaching out to others within the community. Christians are to serve Christ in serving others. Right now as I write this article Jessica Rood is serving the Lord in inner city evangelism in Louisville Kentucky and Greg and Amy Heindel are on a Mission trip to Mexico. Soon several of our young people will be leaving for a work camp in New England and our congregation on August 10-15 will be reaching out to our own community with the "Lord's Helping Hands" project. Many people are serving in leading worship every Lord's Day. We hope you will be in prayer about the many ways you can be of service to God in reaching out to those around us in the area. God would have us to be an externally focused congregation. In the book, "The Externally Focused Church" we find four characteristics of a church that is externally focused. We hope in this year to focus on these four characteristics for our congregation. (1.) The externally focused church is convinced that Good Deeds and Good News can not and should not be separated. (Luke 9:2; 11) Meeting the needs of others as they shared the Good News was the work of service for the followers of Christ. (2.) The externally focused church sees itself as vital to the health and well-being of the community. Jesus told His followers that they were the salt and the light of the world. (3.) The externally focused church believes that ministering and serving are the normal expressions of putting God first (Mark 10:45). Jesus in His life set us the example of what it means to put the will of God first as we serve Him. (4.) The externally focused church is evangelistically effective. Jesus sends us out into the world to make a difference in the lives of people for eternity (Matthew 28:19-20).

"Externally focused churches are internally strong, but they are oriented EXTERNALLY. Externally focused churches ask the question, "Whose lives are different because of this CHURCH." Rick Rusaw and Eric Swanson, in their book, "The Externally Focused Church" state, "nearly everything that is done in the church should prepare and equip people for personal growth but also for personal impact. Like every church, externally focused churches have their problems and challenges, but they are determined to make a difference in society. Internally focused churches help individuals, but externally focused churches change the world."

Those focused on Jesus and not themselves are externally focused in SERVING others. Stay focused as you serve!

                                                                                                    Focused on Jesus,