Sermon Tone Analysis

*Topical: The Mission of The Gathering*

*/September 28, 2008/*

 

*Prep: *

·         Sermons selections:

 

 

*Opening:*

 

Next week will mark *one* *year*.

It has been a great year: We feel like we have come home and we have been welcomed into the *family*, without any feeling of being the “new folks.”

·         The church has been growing, in *size*, *health*, *excitement*.

·         And today we look at where *God* is *taking* us.

*Prayer*

 

Ongoing prayer is that you *direct* this church.

You have kept it and *protected* it supernaturally through many *trials*.

If it weren’t for you working though a very *dedicated* *few*, this church would have *collapsed*.

·         Thank you for them and bless them.

And now with great *optimism*, we look forward to what you have ahead.

I believe that you are taking us *forward* into our *greatest* *moments*.

·         Not for our pride, but for you *glory*.

This church will see more people growing *closer* to you and to each than we thought possible.

·         *Excite* us and *energize* us for what is ahead.

*Why is that such a big deal?

*

 

Today, we are unveiling our *new* *mission* statement.

That of itself is no big deal.

Missions statements are a dime a dozen, and usually include words like *paradigm* and *utilize*.

·         On the Dilbert website, there’s a *mission* *statement* *generator*.

·         I wish I would have found it months ago when I first started working on this thing.

Q   *What* is a mission statement and *why* do we need one?

Jesus didn’t have one!

A mission statement is a simple, clear *memorable* *phrase* that succinctly *defines* who we *are* and what we are *doing*.

It should not cover the *obvious* stuff about being a church, but the distinctives, what makes TGCC *different* from other *church*.

Q   But *why* do we need them?

A mission statement is simply a *tool*, a tool to remind us *why* we are here, what we are *doing*.

It is a tool that we can use *describe* ourselves to others.

·         It also helps us evaluate what we do.

Our new mission statement is *not* big *surprise* – I have been referring to pieces of it for the past several months, and it’s on the back of the bulletin.

We are a Christian community striving to glorify God and engage our culture.

Each piece has a specific meaning which we will draw out.

And there with be a Q &A at the end: Text questions or write down.

*Christian*

 

Jesus is what this is all about.

He is the *center* of who we are, what we do, and what we *preach*.

*1 Corinthians 2:2 *  2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.

·         At the core is Jesus and what he did for us.

Yet the name “Christian” has been *muddied*.

Christians don’t always act like children of God, from the *Crusades* to any of us when we are *jerks*; Christians frequently *discredit* the *Gospel* and our precious Savior.

·         The best way to fix this is *not* to *distance* ourselves from Christianity, but to be *better* *examples* of Christ’s love.

And as Christians, we are not *ashamed* of the *Bible*.

It is our source and guide in all matters of *life* and *doctrine*.

But this does not mean we are *close*-*minded*.

The Gathering values free *discussion* and *dissent*.

We are called to be to think and reason, not intimidated by *skepticism* or *doubts*.

*Community*

 

Community is *not* simply an *element* of the Christian faith; it is the *environment* where it is lived out.

Christianity happens in *community*, not in *isolation*.

·         Together in community we *grow* and are *transformed*.

God created us with a “*Human* *shaped* *hole*.”

We need each other.

*Trinity = Community *

 

In fact, the *basis* of community is found in God’s very nature as *Trinity*: Three persons, one God, living in *deepest* *relationship*.

Our need for relationships comes from this.

 

*John 17:20-23 *My prayer is not for them alone.

I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message,  21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.

May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one:  23 I in them and you in me.

May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

·         When we live in community is not only a *reflection* of *God*, but it is also a *testimony* to God working among us.

Q   So what is community?

It is being a part of each other’s lives, being connected, it means: *Fellowship*, *support*, *growth*, and *accountability*.

It doesn’t mean that you are *everyone’s* *friend* or that you are something you are not.

Some have the gift of *hospitality*, some do not.

But it does mean that you have *other* *people* who know what is going on in *your* *life*, and you know what is happening in thiers.

*Crowd or community *

 

A church can have one of two attractions: *Crowd* or *community*.

People will come to this church because they want to be part of a *community*.

That’s why I am here, and why most of you are here.

·         The *greatest* *joy* I have is watching the people of this church *create* *community*.

Not just because I am a connecter, but I know the *power* of community in my life and that community will ensure that these *people* *grow*.

·         I look around and see people here not because of the music or the coffee or the sermons, but because they are *accepted*.

*Striving*

 

We choose the word “striving” because we are *works* in *progress*.

We have not arrived, we are on a *journey*.

By the *grace* of *God* and the *power* of *Spirit*, we *struggle* to become what he has called us to.

Because God has so much grace for us, we in turn *demonstrate* *grace* to others, Christians and non-Christians.

·         The church should be known for *grace* more than *rules* and *love* more than *judgment*.

*Glorify* *God*

 

Our highest *goal* and *purpose* in life, both as a *church* and as *individuals* is to *glorify* and *honor* God.

That is my constant prayer for this *church* and for *myself*.

Q   What does that mean?

To *glorify* *God* means that in everything we *do*, *think*, *feel*, or *say*, we are becoming more *captivated* by God’s *grandeur*, *love*, *holiness*, and the entirety of his *greatness*, that we are *acting* accordingly, and that we are *causing* *others* to do the *same*.

·         Glorifying God does not mean that we *add* to his glory, it means that we more fully *see* it and help *others* *see* it.

·         Everything we do is an opportunity to *glorify* or *dishonor* God.

We *glorify* God both by living in such a way as to *honor* *him* and *demonstrate* his *goodness* to the world, and *exalting* him through *song*, *prayer*, and *artistic* *expression*.

We worship and glorify God through all of the many ways that we experience his wonder.

·         It’s not just *singing* – great news for the *musically* *handicapped*.

“Man’s chief and highest end is to *glorify* God, and fully *enjoy* him forever.”

·         As a church we are called to *discover* how awesome God is and *proclaim* it, it is *not* our *duty*, it is our *joy*.

*Engage our culture**(s)*

 

*Citizens of another world *

 

To be a Christian means to be a *citizen* of *another* *world*.

We should *never* feel *completely* at *home* here.

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.