God Can Change Us
January 17, 2010
(Celebration of ideas from Prayer Groups and how God can call us to new things)
Wow!
What a powerful passage we have before us today!
Jesus – who as John relates the story of His ministry has just begun to travel throughout the land teaching healing, and calling on others to follow – attends a wedding at Cana – and “saves the day” with a wonderful miracle of changing water into wine.
Jesus saw the wedding is going badly after the wine gave out – or maybe it’s Mary’s bringing the problem to His attention that makes Him become concerned about the situation – and changes the water that is available into wine.
The party had come to a grinding halt when the wine gave out – but Jesus provided more wine – in fact much better wine than at first – and the party was saved.
Wow!
Wasn’t that really nice of Jesus to save the party – and provide wine?
Pretty neat – don’t you think?
Maybe Jesus would be a pretty good person to have around. He sure does know how to keep a party going!
But – that’s not what’s really going on here – is it?
Of course not!
Jesus did not change the water into wine just to keep the party going!
I don’t believe that Jesus was all that concerned about the party.
I think Jesus was concerned with people realizing that He could create changes in the very nature of things and make things different.
I don’t think Jesus was interested in the people at the party having a good time – I believe He was interested in grabbing their attention so He could show them how to have the best time – indeed the best life — possible.
That’s what I think this story before us today is all about.
God can take us – change us – and give us the best life possible.
God can change us!
How can God change us?
Last Sunday morning we looked at God’s word to the captives in Babylon as Isaiah 43 records it and the Baptism of Jesus and saw how God has a future for us that is much more glorious than our present. Last Sunday afternoon we celebrated the Prayer Groups we had last fall and shared ideas of things God might be calling us to do in our future as individual Christians and a Church. Today I want to give all of us a chance to look at some of the things we discussed last Sunday afternoon – because I believe that these are ways that God can change us – – just as Jesus changed the water into wine – and give us the best life – and the best Church – possible.
I’m going to ask some of you to help me hand out these sheets as we look at how God might change us.
At our Prayer Group celebration last Sunday, we shared ideas of what we felt God was calling us to be doing as a Church. A list was made of things we are already doing that we wanted to celebrate and continue doing and lists were made of new things we felt God might be calling us to be doing.
Hopewell’s Mission Statement gives us a good way to consider what we are doing and what we might be called to do. The Mission Statement is:
We at Hopewell Presbyterian strive to live out three basic commands of Christ:
- 1. Love God and others (Matthew 22:34-38)
- 2. Serve others (Matthew 25:34-46)
- 3. Tell others about Christ (Matthew 28:16-20)
We believe that, as we worship, study, fellowship, and serve we show our love for God, each other, and others.
Things discussed last Sunday that we are doing now to show our love for God and others, serve others, and tell others about Christ that we want to celebrate included:
- 1. Outreach
- 2. New members and “friends” who are not members but very active — showing some growth
- 3. Youth
- 4. Wednesday nights (fellowship, youth, young adults, Dave Ramsey, Bible Study)
- 5. Active Session
- 6. Christmas outreach
- 7. Reaching members in times of need
- 8. Youth to work camps
- 9. Fundraisers for missions and other activities always supported well
10. “Community Clean Up Days”
What are some other things we are doing and want to celebrate and continue doing?
Ideas for things God might be calling us to do that would help us do a better job at showing our love for God and others, serving others, and telling others about Christ were divided into different areas. Things the entire congregation can do was one area. Other areas included things Session Committees would oversee. Things the Session as a whole can do was another area, and things the Pastor could do was another area
Congregation
- Each member needs to hold himself/herself accountable for his/her own personal relationship with Christ. (This was returned to several times and in several different ways of expressing the same thought – such as we all need to pray for God’s Spirit to anoint us, we all need to work on our own excitement about the Church and serving God, each member needs to “step up and do what they can”, etc. This is the one thing that – if implemented – would make the biggest difference in the Church.
- Need to be ministers to each other
- Need to be committed to spreading the Gospel
- Should support missions, local, national, and international
- Need to support church members and others who are having personal difficulties and rejoice with them in their blessings.
- Need to develop an atmosphere of “family” within the church.
What are some other things the entire congregation can be doing that would help us do a better job at showing love for God and others, serving others, and telling others about Christ?
Things Session Committees can oversee that will help us do a better job at showing love for God and others, serving others, and telling others about Christ:
Christian Education:
- Have a plan for presenting certificates and pins for attendance, etc
- Program of memorizing scripture passages
- Find ways to encourage people to bring their Bibles to Sunday School and Church
- Sponsor or promote workshops for teachers that Presbytery sponsors
- Encourage congregation members to “use their gifts” as far as being teachers and Christian Education volunteers
- Look into small group studies in people’s homes, etc.
- Encourage great commitment of teachers
- Review materials for classes – children, youth, and adults
- Continue to look for new ideas for Wednesday nights and new people to assist with teaching and leading activities on Wednesday nights
- Look at ways to reach the college age young people in Church and community (Francis Marion University, etc.)
What are some other things we can be doing as far as Christian Education that would help us do a better job at showing love for God and others, serving others, and telling others about Christ?
Congregational Care
- Help nurture feelings of nurturing each other in the congregation (prayer chain, etc. – maybe meals to those in need. The “new” e-mail Prayer Chain list and the way it is being used was praised!)
- Help devise ways to support church members and others who are having personal difficulties and rejoice with them in their blessings.
- Help develop an atmosphere of “family” within the church.
- Continue: cards to sick, anniversaries, and birthdays – Communion to members who are Homebound and in Nursing Homes, gifts to members who are Homebound and in Nursing Homes.
What are some other things we can be doing as far as Congregational Care that would help us do a better job at showing love for God and others, serving others, and telling others about Christ?
Fellowship
1. Find ways to promote activities, outings, meals, etc. that get us together so we can share our lives and our faith together
2. Help Congregational Care Committee in working to develop a “family atmosphere” within the Church
3. Plan a church wide retreat one weekend in the fall or spring—not summer.
What are some other things we can be doing as far as Fellowship that would help us do a better job at showing love for God and others, serving others, and telling others about Christ?
Mission and Evangelism
- Help nurture a commitment to spreading the Gospel among the members
- Help support and promote Missions
- Provide transportation for those who are unable to drive at night or for those who have no means of transportation.
- Identify and invite the un-churched in the community to attend church programs
- Arrange transportation for the children in Sunnyfield and other residential areas near the church
- Look into being involved in Gospel Clubs at public schools
- Consider buying a church van to use for youth and senior retreats
- Continue offerings to Church supported agencies, collections for Thornwell and others missions, and suppers at FMU
What are some other things we can be doing as far as Fellowship that would help us do a better job at showing love for God and others, serving others, and telling others about Christ?
Finance and Stewardship
1. Promote finance and Stewardship concerns
2. Promote ways to get congregation more committed to being good steards of their gifts and talents
What are some other things we can be doing as far as Finance and Stewardship that would help us do a better job at showing love for God and others, serving others, and telling others about Christ?
Worship and Music
- More upbeat or spirited service particularly music
- Have a revival in October on the years we don’t have Homecoming which we used to do.
- Have a children’s choir if enough are interested.
- Try a worship service one Sunday night a month.
- “Fifth Sunday Night Hymn Sing”
What are some other things we can be doing as far as Worship and Music hat would help us do a better job at showing love for God and others, serving others, and telling others about Christ?
Youth
- 1. More support and encouragement for those working with youth
- 2. Continue wonderful job with Sunday night and Wednesday night programs and Mission trips
What are some other things we can be doing as far as Youth that would help us do a better job at showing love for God and others, serving others, and telling others about Christ?
Things the Pastor can do to help us do a better job at showing love for God and others, serving others, and telling others about Christ was also a category. The following ideas were shared:
- More “meat and potatoes” and “fire” in sermons
- Less repetition in sermons
- Sermons should challenge the congregation
- Sermons should teach Scripture, refer to Bible commentaries and esteemed authors.
- Sermons should be spiritual and expound on the scripture chosen for the service
- Children’s sermons should be geared more to the learning levels of the children involved.
- Announcements that are in the bulletin should not be read to the congregation.
- Needs to visit every member of the church
- Needs to be a strong leader who leads by doing things
- Needs to talk less and listen more to suggestions of others
- Needs to prepare more challenging, scholarly sermons
- Be respectful to all members of the congregation
- Visit in the community in order to interest new members
What are some other things the Pastor can be doing that would help us do a better job at showing love for God and others, serving others, and telling others about Christ?
Things the Session as a whole can do to help us do a better job at showing love for God and others, serving others, and telling others about Christ was also a category. The following ideas were shared:
- Be prayerful in all actions they undertake
- Remember they are serving God, not themselves
- Listen to members of the congregation when suggestions are made and take them seriously
- Treat all members of the congregation with love and respect
- Be good stewards in the management of church affairs and money.
- Be conscientious about fulfilling duties they undertake
- Try to attend all Session meetings
- Treat each other with respect – let everyone speak their minds – even if you disagree
- Agree to disagree (Disagree without being disagreeable)
- Try to support programs of the Church – attend functions
- Follow through on ideas and things have agreed to do
What are some other things the Session can be doing that would help us do a better job at showing love for God and others, serving others, and telling others about Christ?
Last Sunday afternoon – and today — we have looked at where we are – and shared ideas on what God might be leading us to do so we can do a better job at showing love for God and others, serving others, and telling others about Christ. We have looked at some ways God might be able to “make us new”.
What will be done with these ideas and suggestions?
The Session is having a planning retreat the first Saturday in February where we will begin looking at these ideas and suggestions — and how we can implement them. Every idea might not be done this year — every idea will be considered.
As for the things I might need to work on – I will consider them and pray for ways to implement them. I want each of you to know that I am very approachable and that I will listen to your ideas and suggestions and take them under consideration – for I firmly believe that God speaks to us through each other.
Let’s all do the first thing under what the congregation as a whole can do – be accountable for our own personal relationship with Christ and pray for God’s Spirit to anoint us, work on our own excitement about the Church and serving God, and “step up and do what we can”. This is the one thing that would make the biggest difference in the Church – and be the instrument God can use to change us. As we pray –worship – and work together we can all be changed – and the Church can be changed.
Just as Jesus changed the water into wine – God can change us – and give us the best life – and best Church – possible. Amen.
