W HERE DO we go from here? That’s the question after an October of worship focusing on the five practices of fruitful congregations.
I heard very positive comments on the October sermon series. We spent much of that time looking outward. Non-traditional ways for Christian education, worshiping in other locations, taking mission and service to people in need rather than expecting them to come here. Extending hospitality every day.
All of this done in the name of Christ without concern if they will ever join our church. A ground-up process, not a top down dictate of what will be done for whom.
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ISAIAH SPEAKS to the people long in despair. Uncertain about their future. He assures them that God’s guidance is present. Their ears will hear, “This is the way; walk in it.” What is the way?
The elders are going to be stationed around the sanctuary. For today’s sermon time, you are invited to gather with them to engage in conversation, building on the sermons on the five practices from the month of October. The elder will summarize the sermon topics you are asked to discuss and will take notes.
Even if you were not here, you have something to offer the group. Even if you are here for the first time, you have something to offer. Those worshiping online have something to offer. The purpose of this group sermon is to hear your ideas that have grown out of October worship, for you to vocalize your visions, your ideas of practicing fruitful living — individually and as a congregation.
This is not a time to debate the value of ideas. Just to name the ideas. Not to flesh out a thought but to verbalize that thought for later evaluation. Each group will have three weeks of sermons. You might not get through all of them. You have a total of 15 minutes.
The elders will stand. Please move to one of them.
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Oct. 3
Worship Under the Bridge
(risk-taking mission and service)
Sermon summary:
A CHRISTIAN COUPLE walked around a homeless camp and asked one question: “What do you need?” The answer: “Food, socks, underwear, batteries.”
The couple returned, brought the items, hung around and listened to stories, shared experiences. Sometimes it was awkward. That’s often part of a risk-taking mission and service.
Risk-taking mission includes the projects, the efforts, and work people do to make a positive difference in the lives of others for the purposes of Christ, whether they will ever be part of the community of faith.
The safe-taking mission strategy would be to simply collect money for socks, food, underwear, and batteries. Church folks would feel good that they had “helped” the least of these.
But this couple was all in. They asked their pastor to join them. She agreed. The three went to the bridge where they worshiped, prayed, and celebrated communion with the people who called the bridge home. They brought “church” under the bridge along the Guadalupe River. And continued doing so every month.
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Use any or all of the following conversation prompts as you talk about risk-taking mission and service:
■ What is the most unexpected place your faith in Christ has taken you in order to make a difference in someone’s life?
■ How is Swift perceived by those with no power — the poor, the unemployed, the stranger, the homeless, etc.?
■ How are relationships formed between Swift and folks in the community?
■ Dream of Swift’s/your involvement in risk-taking mission and service.
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Oct. 10
A Life of Welcoming
(radical hospitality)
Sermon summary:
RADICAL HOSPITALITY is not confined to the church property. In fact, radical hospitality extends into our lives and into our homes.
Ethel lives in an assisted living facility in Fairhope. Currently, she was a rehab patient of Lisa’s in Pensacola. In a conversation, Ethel spoke of how she needed to get back to her facility. She said, “God has a purpose for me there.”
Ethel practices radical hospitality though helping others who also live at the ALF. Ethel shared how a new resident moved in. This resident repeated herself in conversation. The mentally healthier residents stayed away because they grew tired of hearing the same stories over and over. But not Ethel. Ethel sat with her at meals. Ethel shared stories and listened to repeated stories. Ethel became her friend.
Ethel talked to the other women and chastised them for their exclusive attitude. Ethel uses where she is, in this assisted living facility, to represent Christ to others. She takes the verse seriously: “Welcome one another therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.”
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Use any or all of the following conversation prompts as you talk about radical hospitality:
■ What is the one activity you could do, which, if done with excellence and consistency, would have the greatest impact on fostering a culture of radical hospitality?
■ What is one step you are willing to take to practice radical hospitality in your neighborhood?
■ What routines and normal events can you turn into a means of practicing the hospitality of Christ?
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Oct. 17:
Worship Is ________?
(passionate worship)
Sermon summary:
YOU MIGHT SAY we need to get people back in worship — physically gathered in the same room at the same time. But some people will never be back in person, some can no longer return because of health or distance.
Some worshipers (online) we do not know and may never know. They are not, and may never be, part of a worshiping community anywhere except worshiping with us through Facebook or YouTube.
Worshiping — not watching. People deliberately gather online seeking an encounter with God in Christ. Is that worship? Yes. Is there something missing? Yes. I won’t argue against the value of physically being in the same room. But, that is not possible for some people, not probable for others.
What constitutes worship is changing. COVID just sped up those changes. Worship is mobile, portable, on the move, going where people live and work and play — bars, parks, back yards, lunch breaks.
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Use any or all of the following conversation prompts as you talk about passionate worship:
■ What practices, readings, resources or relationships sustain you in your own personal devotional life?
■ When you hear that there are people who seek God and community but not in the traditional church, who does this bring to mind for you?
■ Dream of alternate expressions of worship Swift might offer?
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Oct. 24
Maturing in Faith
(intentional faith development)
Sermon summary:
Every few years at Large Presbyterian Church, the Christian education team would begin a new class for young adults. They had the right tactics. Recruit a young adult to be the leader, make a list of people within the age group, contact them, publicize, invite, plan a kickoff dinner.
The same routine, the same results. About a third of the invited young adults showed up for dinner and the first class. After a few weeks about 25 percent of those dropped out. Within a few months, the class would dwindle to a handful of faithful participants, then ultimately die out.
There’s a saying about doing the same thing over and over, yet expecting different results.
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Use any or all of the following conversation prompts as you talk about intentional faith development (Christian education):
So, what do we do as the church that falls under this category of faith development?
■ What do we try over and over and get the same results?
■ How does Swift encourage members/guests to form small communities in places away from the church to give people opportunity to form relationships and explore faith?
■ What small-group ministries could Swift offer to help people form relationships as they study, learn, experience and practice the faith?
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Oct. 31:
The Scariest Word in Scripture
(Extravagant generosity)
Sermon summary:
The Scripture was about the woman with two coins who gave them both (ALL) in the church offering. Instead of asking, “Am I a good steward?” Think about the question, “Am I a generous person?”
Generosity has nothing to do with wealth. There in the temple treasury, the wealthy gave out of their excess. The widow gave out of her poverty. She was the generous one.
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Use any or all of the following conversation prompts as you talk about extravagant generosity
■ How has someone else’s generosity touched you?
■ Who helped shape your practice of generosity?
■ What’s the most fun you’ve had giving money? What made the experience memorable, delightful, meaningful?
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THANK YOU for your participation. We’ll collect your thoughts from today, share them, and then move forward, following the way of God. While the bell ringers are getting in place, please wrap up. You may stay where you are or move back to where you were.
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(Everyone’s input is welcome. You can use our sermon comment form if you would like to answer the questions above.)
