CHAPTER 10: PARTICIPATION PROMOTES AUTHENTICITY

Polity: A form of process of civil government or constitution; an organized society

The Grove Church, Arizona

Lead Pastor: Palmer Chinchen

www.TheGroveAZ.org

And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!’
Romans 10:15

“The more people participate in the mission of the church, the more they grow, the more they flourish and the church thrives. The more we ask them to participate in culture, the more they shape it. The more we challenge them to participate in doing justice, the more passionately they live.” Palmer Chinchen

THE CHURCH OF THE PAST CREATED SPECTATORS. THE CHURCH OF TODAY WANTS TO PARTICIPATE.

MOUNTAIN OF FORGIVENESS

All our sins were left on the cross…

“Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.” Then He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” Then He said, to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”
Luke 7:47-50

The Hebrew people call Mount Sinai the mountain of forgiveness. Deuteronomy 5

So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.” He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep. Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.” This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.”
John 21:15-19

SPECTATORS

Some people have spent a lifetime watching, never doing. Critiquing, never participating.

Spectators are not really playing they are just fans.

God inhabits the praises of His people, not the seats and stages we declare them from.

Authentic Spirituality compels God’s people:

• to participate in His redemptive plan for this world
• to rescue exploited girls
• to compose music
• to repair blighted neighborhoods
• to plant gardens
• to hang mosquito nets
• to make art
• to care about immigrants
• to share the good news of God’s love

CHAPTER 11: FROM INSTITUTIONAL TO AUTHENTIC

Pontification: to assume pompous and dignified airs, issue dogmatic decrees

When a congregation is known more for its social status than for its resemblance to God, that’s a problem.

“Contemporary theological learning is essentially cerebral…We pry open people’s heads, pour in a cup or two of information and close them up again. They have the information, so we mistakingly conclude that job is complete. Contemporary theological teaching is data-transfer education.” Frank Viola

Over-intellectualizing our faith can lead to dispassion.

Faith can’t only be about knowing but doing…

The early church…the one Jesus started, was led by Godly people who depended on guidance from the Spirit of God.

Lord, this is what I wanted for Living Ministries – but it seemed the only people we had to build with had agendas and lots of ideas – but we didn’t know what to do and I felt like I had to run it and push it and drag it until I got sick and no one kept it going for us. Now I don’t know where to start. Lord I give Living Ministries to You. If You want it to grow please make it so. If You don’t, thank You for the opportunities I had to connect with and love people. Please show me where I need to jump in. Amen

• Jesus valued inclusion.
• He embraced all people.
• He lifted up the least among others.

To Have Authentic Faith We Must:

• Be available
  • Jesus was always ready for interruptions
  • Interruptions are opportunities to be like Christ to people needing our attention opportunities to serve and love
• Be yourself
  • Jesus was agitated by inauthentic people
  • Don’t allow others to badger you into being someone you are not
• Be honest
  • We need to be gracious an loving but honest and real
  • If we are always trying to please people we can’t be completely genuine
  • Listen to creative ideas, but if the answer is “No” let it be “No”
• Be valuable
  • People (some of them) like transparency
  • Jesus was honest about His fear
    • And He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.”
      Mark 14:36
• Pay attention
  • Take notice and regard people
  • Make the person you are speaking to know they are the most important person right now
  • God does that for us

CHAPTER 12: OUT OF THE BOXES OF SHAME

When Christians screw up or don’t meet our expectations we often stick them in a box of shame.

• divorce
• foreclosure
• lost job
• rebellion
• addiction
• marital status
• chronic physical and / or mental illness
• ANYTHING THAT DOESN’T MEASURE UP TO OUR STANDARD

Shame keeps us from being honest about our struggle and sorrows.

We want people to think we are happier, more successful and less troubled than we are. We hide our scars because we don’t want to be judged.

When we say that bad things happened because God is angry about something someone did, we are buying into and accepting a theology created to control us – this is ridiculous.

BEING JUDGED BY FRIENDS, PARENTS, PASTORS AND GOD IS ONE OF LIFE’S DEEPEST FEARS.

Some parents withhold love from their grown children to prove a point, to make them conform and perform.

Love is ruined when it is withheld until we perform or “get right.”

LOVE WITHOUT EXPECTATION AND FREE OF CONDITIONS IS A DRIVING THEME OF THE BIBLE.

GOD NEVER WITHHOLDS HIS LOVE FROM US FOR ANY REASON.

For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:38-39

Jesus came to free us from our own exhausting attempts to deal with our shortcomings.

Jesus has brought us into His own presence by what He did on the cross. In Him we are holy and blameless and we stand before Him without blemish.

For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Galatians 3:26-28

GOD’S KIND OF GRACE IS UNNERVING AND MOSTLY UNPRECEDENTED IN THE CHRISTIANITY MOST OF US KNOW.

“The truth is, God no longer sees you as the failed one or the messed-up one. Because the kind of grace Jesus talked about is one in which God only sees you as the precious one, the priceless one.” Palmer Chinchen

PRICELESS by for KING & COUNTRY

GRACE MEANS WE ARE TRANSFORMED FROM PEOPLE WHO PERFORM TO PEOPLE WHO LOVE

Jesus came to take our shame.

• We can be vulnerable.
• We don’t have to be perfect.
• We can’t be honest about our humanity.

Dishonesty is always at odds with justice and it stunts spiritual growth.

Dishonesty and inauthenticity were the things that irritated Jesus the most.

AMEN!

Feel free to leave your comments below!

My name is Summer. That is how you can call me. I hope that I am a blessing to you. I am not perfect. I will fall again. But I am forgiven.

Do you know Jesus? Do want the Holy Spirit to fill you and give you understanding and salvation? Ask Him. Want someone to pray with you? Contact me.

If you would like to know Jesus as your friend, but want to make this amazing commitment by yourself please pray something like this:

Thank you Jesus that You are the Son of God, the God that created heaven and earth. Thank you Jesus that You came to earth in the form of a man so that You would be able to empathize with my humanity. Thank You that You did this in order to fulfill the promises You made at the foundation of the world.

I realize that I am a sinner and do things that hurt myself and keep myself away from you. Thank You that You died for my sins so that You could defeat death and bring me into Your life. Please forgive me.

I ask You to be Lord of my life. I ask you to heal my hurts and show me what my new life, empowered by You looks like. Thank You for Your mercy.

Amen

The Lord is with you always.