Ministers Desk 9 October

Thank you for the feedback we are receiving on the proposed purpose (Growing Disciples who Exalt, Explore, Embody, Engage).  I want to respond to two of the comments that have been made.

At Elders on Monday night we talked about the gift of limits.  Too often we find that we are pushed to do more things than we are called to do.  In the book The Emotionally Healthy Church, Pete Scazzero writes, “Emotionally healthy people understand the limits God has given them.  They joyfully receive the one, two, seven or ten talents God has so graciously distributed.  As a result, they are not frenzied and covetous, trying to live a life God never intended.  They are marked by contentment and joy.  Emotionally healthy churches also embrace their limits with the same joy and contentment, not attempting to be like another church.  They have a confident sense of God’s ‘good hand’ on their church ‘for such a time as this’ (Esther 4:11 – 14).” 

There is so much that we can do, much that we should do, but there is a limit to what God calls us to do.  We believe that the call Jesus makes to his disciples is to continue to grow in our faith in him and deepen our relationship with him.  We will do that through regularly and frequently worshipping God, being part of a small group, having at least one avenue of service where we use our spiritual gifts and rely fully on God and have at least one intentional relationship where we are able to share faith with the belief that God will lead the other to faith in him.  The purpose asks each individual to do four things as a means of growth.  At the same time it provides a clear scope for the activities that our church will and will not pursue.

The challenge in this is to go narrow and deep.  Limiting what we do allows us to commit quality time to significant ministries.  It allows us to reflect on our practices, develop new skills, commit intentional time to pray, reflect theologically on what we are doing and respond obediently to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.  Limiting the things that we do, broadens the scope of how God can change and transform us through what we do.  So rather than being restrictive, the challenge presented by our proposed purpose leads us further into the life of Christ in us.

Some people have commented that they feel inadequate to the tasks that are being asked of them, particularly sharing faith.  Over the coming years we will provide opportunities to learn and develop skills to express our purpose.  These will happen in worship and small groups primarily, but we’ll also find other appropriate means.  At the same time we’ll also concentrate on reducing some of the fears and inhibitions we have.  As we do this we’ll realise the abilities we already possess.

One small group responded that they saw this as a challenge.  The challenge requires each individual to rise to meet it, when this happens the whole congregation will grow and mature.