Over the past number of months we have been working diligently to give an overhaul of our church’s core values. We have recognized the need to more clearly articulate the shared convictions that guide our actions and reveal our unique strengths. In this way, our values work as missional motives. They answer the question: “Why do we do what we do at the Church?” These values become the springboards for daily actions and filters for decision-making. They distinguish our philosophy of ministry and shape our culture and ethos.
Over the next few weeks I will be highlighting another one of our five newly articulated values. You can examine All of our re-articulated values here.
This week I would like to highlight “Ordinary+”
(read, ordinary plus). We articulate it this way:
Ordinary+
because ordinary people connected to Jesus share in Christ’s extraordinary mission.
(Mark 1:16-18; John 4:1-30, 39-42; John 15:16;
Acts 4:13)
Take some time to reflect with me:
Read Mark 1:16-18
Mark 1:16-18
New Living Translation (NLT)
The First Disciples
16 One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. 17 Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” 18 And they left their nets at once and followed him.
Answer these questions:
Do you ever dismiss God’s personal call because you don’t feel your contribution could be significant enough?
The Good News about Jesus makes missionaries of all God’s people. How does this truth change your perspective?
One of the major barriers to our active response to God’s call in our lives is the misbelief that “the call” is “for someone else.” We somehow have gotten duped into believing that participation in Christ’s extraordinary mission is for a select few; that it is for the extraordinary. I praise God that as this value gets lived out more and more, it will inspire greater participation in Christ’s extraordinary mission.
An “Ordinary+ Prayer”
“This is the day the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it. We rejoice, God, today as we gather to celebrate an ordination and installation. And yet, we know that a pastor is simply a gift given to the church, by your design, like a father to a family, a mother to a family, or a child to a family. Ordination is not where we become servants of the Lord, to be about the Lord’s Work. That takes place in Baptism, when you adopt us into Your family. We thank you for making us your children, and for making all of us bearers of your Holy name. Bless us, in every vocation that you place us in, whether our role at work, play, home, school, as neighbors, friends or anywhere, that we would bring glory to you, by being visible reflections of Jesus. As we learn to follow Jesus, help us to invite others to learn with us. Send your Holy Spirit, to change hearts and minds and make followers of Jesus from all over Madison who, in turn, make more disciples, until all of Madison is transformed. …” a portion of the Prayer for the Church that Pastor Matt prayed on our behalf at the end of his ordination on Saturday, June 8th.
Pastor Jeff
