Newsletters - Lee's Summit Missional Church

Greetings LSMC!

Erica and I hope and your families keeping warm and safe. Last week our leadership announced that for now and the immediate future we will stay a virtual church, as pointed out last week, this is a great opportunity for LSMC! That said, I know many of us may have some reservations about change, some even fight change because it goes against your nature which is totally understandable. Change is good and necessary for healthy spiritual growth.

I have been fortunate enough to travel to most of the states in our country, I even lived in two other states but one reason we continue to live in the Midwest is because of the change of seasons. The fresh starts we get at the beginning of each season affords us the opportunity to start over, rethink our position, evaluate where change can bring new adventures and opportunities, change is a good thing!

Change Is Essential

To achieve truly great things, you have to experiment. Let's say you have a theory about something: how to do something new, fix something that's broken, or improve something lackluster. If you don't change things (experiment), how can you ever make things better (find out the outcome of your test)? You don't have to know what the results will be to make a change. In fact, you usually won't know what outcome to expect. That's the compelling thing about change--you often end up with a result you would never expect.

To not change would be unbearable. Imagine being stuck in a state of fear and unhappiness because you were too afraid to take the risks necessary for change. Trying to stay the same prevents you from making new relationships, love, and growth. Resisting a change may help you feel secure; you know what to expect, but you never achieve all you can and you experience a limited life.

God’s Word Embraces Change

Romans 12:1-2: Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18: Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

John 8:32: Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

2 Corinthians 5:17: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

Change can be difficult at times especially when you’ve done things the same way most of if not all your life, yet change is necessary for development and growth. Join me in bathing our change in prayer and in God’s Word and let’s see what God has in store for our journey together!

Pastor Corey