September 25, 2024 Weekly Update
Last Sunday I “preached to the choir.” I told the regular worshippers that you were like the ancient disciples of Jesus – super-fans who were super committed to Jesus and his church. You give your time, money, gifts, and resources because ‘rooting’ for Jesus and the church is a core part of who you are. Wouldn’t it be silly if the disciples had foam fingers like the image above? We should get these for worship!
As we continue to explore the idea of Fresh Expressions and Messy Church, we must recognize that many of us are super fans of Jesus. But the culture around us has changed. Many of our neighbors can’t fathom attending a Sunday morning service on a weekly basis. They are more like the crowd that gathered to hear Jesus preach and see him heal. They might be curious enough to come once. They might get fed or healed in the process, but their relationship with God is fuzzy, and their understanding of Jesus might be a little messy compared to our “super fan” theology.
As that crowd of 5000 + gathered long ago, Jesus had no expectations for them. He didn’t put people in categories like insider or outsider. He fed them, loved them, and encouraged them, teaching the disciples to do the same. Faith journeys take a long time and include many ups and downs. Messy Church offers a safe place where children, tweens, parents, and older generations can explore their faith journey while hearing and experiencing the good news of God’s love through Jesus.
Next Sunday we’ll look at the values of Messy Church and reflect on how they fit with our values.
Join us in person or online at 11am!
Blessings,
Pastor Jared