Sunnyside Church of the Nazarene
Sunday, March 15
  • We are on a journey. A journey is the norm for God’s people. To move forward, to progress, to advance - that’s the norm. To not fully know what’s ahead yet press on - that’s the norm for God’s people. So, to ask, “Why we can’t just leave things alone or why can’t we just stop changing things and stay here,” - there is none of that for God’s people. There are moments of rest, but the journey never ends - at least not in this life. To stop progressing as a church, to stop moving forward is to die.
    Annual Meeting
    We - Sunnyside - are on a journey. A journey is the norm for God’s people. To move forward, to progress, to advance - that’s the norm. To not fully know what’s ahead yet press on - that’s the norm for God’s people. So, to ask, “Why we can’t just leave things alone or why can’t we just stop changing things and stay here,” - there is none of that for God’s people. There are moments of rest, but the journey never ends - at least not in this life. To stop progressing as a church, to stop moving forward is to die.
    The Lord took me to
    Genesis 12:1–2 ESV
    Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.
    ​
    this past week. In short, we’re on a journey like Abram. I believe God is saying to us, “Go, leave some of the comforts; leave some of the routines; leave some of the security and go. And I’m going to lead you every step of the way.
    Two revelations came from that: 1) He wants us to be a blessing to others. 2) I asked the Lord for a word and immediately in my heart I heard, “Do not be afraid.” Do not be afraid where He takes us or what He asks us to leave behind ….
    You’ll hear more about that later.
    I often mention that
    Our mission is to help people reach their full potential in Christ.
    What is this potential?
    The idea of potential is a holistic approach to people.
    It incorporates the whole person - the physical, the spiritual and the mental or emotional. This is the soul, body, spirit concept we find in Scripture.
    You shall love Yahweh your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
    Deuteronomy 6:5 ESV
    You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
    ​
    Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
    1 Thessalonians 5:23 ESV
    Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
    ​
    These are just two examples, but the point is this, God is concerned about the whole person - physical, spiritual and emotional. But how do we get this idea of a potential? Just because God cares about the physical, spiritual and emotional doesn’t necessarily mean there is a potential. Is this just a popular buzzword? Is this a Dr. Phil thing? I don’t think so.
    I believe Scripture provides many indicators about our potential - about growth - about maturity - about becoming all that God desires for His children to become. For instance, every good parent desires that their children become better, become more successful, make something of themselves. We love watching our children grow up and become men and women. I believe this is true of our Heavenly Father as well.
    For example,
    1 Peter 2:2–3 ESV
    Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.
    Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation - if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.
    ​
    … we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
    Ephesians 4:15–16 ESV
    Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
    ​
    mentions adding to our faith virtue, knowledge and love –
    2 Peter 1:8 ESV
    For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
    For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
    ​
    So you can see that
    Growth (i.e. potential) of the believer and of the church is expected.
    Let’s look at , the Great Commission and see what Jesus said about potential. Look at
    Matthew 28:18–20 ESV
    And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
    And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
    ​
    We often think of the Great Commission in terms of just evangelism. Telling people about Jesus and then praying with them to receive Jesus. There’s truth to that, but there’s more to it. The whole truth is that we are to make disciples. There is a difference between getting saved and becoming a disciple.
    What is a disciple?
    Is a disciple someone who believes in Jesus? Is a disciple a person who attends church? Listen - a person can be forgiven and believe in Jesus Christ without being a disciple. A person can faithfully attend church and never miss a Sunday and still not be a disciple.
    So what is a disciple?
    A disciple is one who chooses to spend a lifetime learning, maturing, emulating, pursuing and becoming like Jesus.
    A disciple listens, processes, applies and obeys. A disciple follows and serves. A disciple continually transforms his or her soul, body and mind (the physical, spiritual and emotional) to become all that God wants them to become. So you can see, to be a disciple of Christ is anything but passive – it implies growth – something to strive for, to grow into - hence the word, potential.
    So Jesus said,
    “Go and make disciples.” He’s inviting His people to participate in the disciple-making process. He’s inviting us to help people reach their potential in Him.
    He’s asking us to follow Him on a journey. I’m asking you, who’s going to take the journey with me. Kind of like when Susan and I moved to Oregon. We didn’t know exactly where we were going, we just knew it was Oregon. So we started the journey by sending out applications to churches trusting that God would lead us along the way. (Ally)
    So, as begin this journey, I suggest that we change our language and our thinking. Let’s get rid of words like mission and vision and replace them with
    Three critical questions that we must continually ask and continually answer: 1) What? 2) How? 3) Why?
    1) What? 2) How? 3) Why?
    First, let’s focus why. Why do we do what we do? Why do we have Sunday school? Why do we have Connection Groups? Why do we have CR? Why do I preach?
    Why? Because we believe every person has a potential to reach in Christ.
    Because we believe every person has a potential to reach in Christ.
    That needs to become our Why. That needs to become our belief. That needs to become our motivation.
    If we believe that’s true, then
    What are we going to do about our Why?
    What are we going to do to help people reach their full potential in Christ? Before we answer that, we have to ask what does this full potential look like.
    I believe
    Potential in Christ is centered around 3 key areas: Identity, Strengths and Service.
    I will briefly touch on those in a moment, and then explain each in greater detail in later sermons. But to make sure we’re on the same page, I’m proposing that Sunnyside Church of the Nazarene (us, we) become a church who is known for helping people reach their full potential in Christ by helping people embrace their identity in Christ, by helping people discover their strengths and spiritual gifts and by helping people know their place in life - know where to serve.
    Sunnyside Church of the Nazarene (us, we) become a church who is known for helping people reach their full potential in Christ by helping people embrace their identity in Christ, by helping people discover their strengths and spiritual gifts and by helping people know their place in life - know where to serve.
    So, let me say it this way -
    Why do we do what we do? Because we believe every person has a potential to reach in Christ.
    What do we do? We help people embrace their Identity in Christ, Discover their strengths and gifts, and know where to serve.
    How are we going to do this?
    We’re not there yet - but we’re on the journey. We are in the beginning stages of creating strategies.
    What do I mean about Identity, Strengths and Service? Those will be future sermons, but let me say this:
    Identity: It’s the most basic, fundamental concern of all people, of all ages, and all nations. Who am I? Where do I belong? If a person does not know his or her identity given to them by their Creator, it’s a never-ending search for significance, value and purpose.
    It’s the most basic, fundamental concern of all people, of all ages, and all nations. Who am I? Where do I belong? If a person does not know his or her identity given to them by their Creator, it’s a never-ending search for significance, value and purpose.
    So,
    Identity in Christ - knowing God personally - knowing who He is and knowing who we are in Him is paramount to everything else.
    Strengths: Most people don’t know what their strengths are, how they’re wired or how to identity strengths. And what happens is people typically focus on their weaknesses and they just spend their wheels in life, never really getting anywhere or they quit and settle for status quo.
    But God has wired us for more than status quo. So, I believe we need to become a church that helps people discover their identity, strengths and gifts.
    But it can’t end there - people need to know where to serve.
    When people embrace their identity in Christ, discover their strengths and gifts, and know where to serve they are on their way to reaching their potential in Christ.
    So who’s in?
    Last thing, then we’ll break for annual meeting. Here’s a real-life example about identity, strengths and service. Mike Meredith.
    Describe your life after retirement?
    Before my sabbatical, you were trying to help me with church administration, but it didn’t work very well. Do you recall why?
    You were helping me focus on my weaknesses. You would send me stuff and what would I do with it? How did you interpret this?
    By me not knowing my identity, my strengths and my place … had a negative impact on me, Mike, the board and the church. You, not knowing yours ….
    What changed after my sabbatical? I took the CliftonStrengths assessment. We discovered what we were doing wrong. You are designed to do what you were trying to help me do?
    How has life changed for you?

      • Genesis 12:1–2NLT

      • Deuteronomy 6:5NLT

      • 1 Thessalonians 5:23NLT

      • 1 Peter 2:2–3NLT

      • Ephesians 4:15–16NLT

      • 2 Peter 1:8NLT

      • Matthew 28:18–20NLT

Sunnyside Church of the Nazarene
office@sunnysidenazarene.com
503-771-3934
http://www.sunnysidenazarene.com
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