Title: Rethinking Church

Date: 2009-07-26

Reference: Luke 10:1-9

"By Jere Sutton At this year's Annual Conference the theme was “Rethink Church”. Jane Profitt was our church delegate and I was an equalization delegate from the Sunshine District. The opening session started with a short video that I want you to see.

Video ------------

Re think Church – What if church was a verb instead of a noun. What if we stopped thinking of church as a building? What if church wasn’t a place we go, but something we do?

Who am I? What is our purpose in life? I believe each of us is expected to work to bring God’s Kingdom to earth. That is our everyday task.

Jesus sent 72 to all areas where he was to visit and declare the Kingdom of God is at their Doorsteps.

What instructions did he give? He told them that there was an abundant harvest and to call on the the Lord of the harvest to furnish more helpers. He told them to travel lightly and not to stop and make small talk. They were to offer Peace to the house in which they stayed and if it was accepted to stay in that house as long as they were in that town and not to be moving from one place to another to try and find who was the best cook (according to one translation). A worker deserves 3 square meals. (Message translation)

We are all ministers and are expected to care for the flock! We are shepherds and servants to serve the Lord.

How can we minister? We minister with: Love , Respect, Serving, Forgiving. Throughout history we have learned of other Lay persons that have ministered to the people.

Schindler that made a list that saved lives of countless number of Jews during World War II. There was a TV movie called Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler. She saved 2500+ Jewish Children. When she was asked why she kept up with her labor, She made this comment that her mother had said to her----- “If you see someone drowning, you should try and save them even if you are not able to swim.” Schindler and Irena Sendler were not pastors but lay people. Schindler was an owner of a business and Irena was a social worker.You can be a Salesperson, Secretary, Mechanic, Soda jerk, business owner, janitor , doctor, nurse.

Civic Clubs: All have similar rules to live by.

Rotary (Four Way Test)

“Is it the Truth?

Is it fair to all concerned?

Will it build good will and better friendships?

Will it be beneficial to all concerned?”

Pastor Rick, in a sermon not too long ago stated:

“What we are is God's gift to us. What we do is our gift to God.

I will not ask you to hold up your hands, but who knows the Apostle Creed?-------Affirmation of Faith

Who remembers the vows you took when you became a member of the Methodist church? “Faithfully participate in the ministries of the United Methodist Church by our prayers, our presence, our gifts and our service.”

Jesus said we should tithe 10% of our profits to the church. Giving for Methodist is approx. 2% on an average. If we all increased our giving by 1%, budget issues & debt go away.

Jim Griffith, a speakers at Annual Conference, known as a planter of churches stated “Craft a church to reach your grandchildren.”

Holy Pretzels (Laity session) a group of high school students (65) from 15 different schools, had given 13 concerts in 7 days and in 5 states. They gave a Choral Concert at one of the evening Laity programs. – They were terrific and gave us a wonderful message. It was asked for all to ponder. What if we could believe that 10 years from now every one of the Holy Pretzels were still members of a United Methodist Church? (or any church)

What if church wasn’t a place we go, but something we do?

We must rethink church!!!

Let us make church a verb instead of a noun.

“Hope is listening to the music of tomorrow. Faith is dancing to it today""