Living Chosen: Embracing Our Mission with Commitment
Summary
### Summary
Good morning, everyone. Today, we conclude our vision series, "Living Chosen." This series has been a journey of understanding our identity and calling as God's people to share the goodness and love of Jesus. I want to start with a story about Jadav Payeng, an Indian environmentalist who, in 1979, began planting trees on a barren sandbar. Over several decades, his relentless effort transformed this barren land into a lush forest covering over 1,300 acres. His story teaches us that consistency and long-term commitment can produce significant results. Similarly, as we embark on this journey, it will take time and consistent effort to see God work through us to bless our community and neighbors.
As we navigate our strategic growth process, we aim to be a church that reaches more people, worships with more people, and connects more deeply with our community through service. This reflects our values and our desire to see Jesus change lives as His word intersects with theirs. We want to see families and relationships thrive, grow deeper, and form stronger connections because when Jesus is at the center, everything is naturally stronger. Our church family is here to encourage and support each other through difficult times and celebrate victories together.
We believe Jesus has planted us here for a purpose: to be a blessing to our community. Ministry isn't confined to Sunday mornings or weekly gatherings; we are missionaries in our everyday lives, where we work, live, and play. Our values shape us and guide our mission to help on-the-go families find rest and discover powerful friendships connected by faith. Our heart is to help people encounter Jesus, grow in a deep relationship with Him, and experience the abundant life He promises.
In Mark chapter 6, we see Jesus sending out His disciples to preach, cast out demons, and perform miracles. They return on a spiritual high, having witnessed God's work firsthand. However, Jesus, mourning the death of John the Baptist, invites them to a quiet place to rest. But the crowd follows them, and Jesus, moved by compassion, sees them as sheep without a shepherd. He begins to teach and care for their souls. As the day progresses, the disciples urge Jesus to send the crowd away to find food, but Jesus challenges them to feed the crowd themselves. This teaches us that the people in front of us are our responsibility, and we are called to care for them.
Jesus takes five loaves and two fish, blesses them, and miraculously feeds the entire crowd, with leftovers to spare. This story illustrates that Jesus works through ordinary moments and events to bring about miracles. He takes our scarcity and creates abundance. As we look at our lives and the people around us, we must ask how we can care for them and remove barriers to access Jesus.
Our vision for Mount Olive is to be a welcoming place where people experience Jesus' love and grace, changing lives and restoring souls. We aim to be mission-minded, serving our community and meeting the needs of those who walk through our doors. We want to see our community develop deep, fulfilling relationships with Jesus and actively engage in living out their faith. This vision includes growing our preschool, connecting people through various ministries, and potentially expanding our facilities to serve our community better.
This journey will have challenges, but with consistent, long-term commitment, we can achieve great things. Like the disciples who brought their limited resources to Jesus, we must bring our time, talents, and resources, trusting Him to create abundance from scarcity. God has been faithful thus far and will continue to guide and provide for us. Our vision may seem grand, but it is attainable with God's help. Are you ready to embark on this journey with us?
### Key Takeaways
1. Consistency and Long-Term Commitment: The story of Jadav Payeng teaches us that significant transformation requires consistent effort and long-term commitment. Just as he turned a barren land into a lush forest, we must remain steadfast in our mission to see God work through us to bless our community. This journey will take time, but with perseverance, we can achieve great things. [01:36]
2. Jesus at the Center of Relationships: When Jesus is at the center of our relationships and families, they naturally become stronger and more cohesive. As a church family, we are called to support and encourage each other through difficult times and celebrate victories together. This strengthens our bonds and helps us grow deeper in our faith. [03:18]
3. Missionaries in Everyday Life: Ministry is not confined to Sunday mornings or weekly gatherings. We are missionaries in our everyday lives, where we work, live, and play. Our mission is to help on-the-go families find rest and discover powerful friendships connected by faith. This mission-minded approach to life helps us encounter Jesus and experience the abundant life He promises. [04:42]
4. Compassion and Responsibility: Jesus teaches us that the people in front of us are our responsibility. We are called to care for them and meet their needs. This requires us to put our faith into action and sometimes take risks. By removing barriers, we can help people have better access to Jesus and experience His love and compassion. [09:37]
5. Abundance from Scarcity: Jesus takes our limited resources and creates abundance. The story of feeding the 5,000 illustrates that Jesus works through ordinary moments to bring about miracles. When we bring our time, talents, and resources to Him, He can turn our scarcity into abundance, meeting our needs and the needs of those around us. [12:59]
### Youtube Chapters
[0:00:00] - Welcome
[0:01:36] - Consistency and Long-Term Commitment
[0:03:18] - Jesus at the Center of Relationships
[0:04:42] - Missionaries in Everyday Life
[0:07:53] - Compassion and Responsibility
[0:09:37] - Abundance from Scarcity
[0:12:59] - Jesus Feeds the 5,000
[0:15:59] - Vision for Mount Olive
[0:17:24] - Engaging the Community
[0:18:52] - Future Expansion Plans
[0:20:31] - Trusting God for the Future
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Mark 6:30-44 - Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand
2. John 10:10 - "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."
### Observation Questions
1. What was the initial reaction of the disciples when Jesus asked them to feed the crowd? ([09:37])
2. How did Jesus respond to the disciples' concern about feeding the crowd? ([11:10])
3. What was the outcome after Jesus blessed the five loaves and two fish? ([12:59])
4. How does the story of Jadav Payeng relate to the concept of consistency and long-term commitment in the sermon? ([01:36])
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Jesus chose to involve the disciples in the miracle of feeding the 5,000 instead of doing it all Himself? ([09:37])
2. How does Jesus' compassion for the crowd reflect His character and mission? ([07:53])
3. In what ways does the story of feeding the 5,000 illustrate the principle of God creating abundance from scarcity? ([12:59])
4. How can the church's vision of being mission-minded and serving the community be seen as an extension of Jesus' ministry? ([17:24])
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt you had limited resources. How did you see God work through that situation to provide for your needs? ([12:59])
2. How can you apply the principle of consistency and long-term commitment in your personal faith journey or in serving your community? ([01:36])
3. What are some practical ways you can put Jesus at the center of your relationships and family life? ([03:18])
4. Identify one area in your life where you can be a missionary in your everyday activities. How can you start making an impact there this week? ([04:42])
5. Think about someone in your life who might be like the crowd Jesus had compassion on. How can you show them care and meet their needs this week? ([07:53])
6. What barriers do you see in your community that prevent people from accessing Jesus? How can you help remove one of those barriers? ([09:37])
7. How can you contribute your time, talents, and resources to support the church's vision of being a welcoming and mission-minded community? ([20:31])
Devotional
Day 1: Consistency and Long-Term Commitment
The story of Jadav Payeng, an Indian environmentalist, illustrates the power of consistency and long-term commitment. In 1979, Payeng began planting trees on a barren sandbar, and over several decades, his relentless effort transformed this barren land into a lush forest covering over 1,300 acres. This transformation did not happen overnight; it required years of dedication and perseverance. Similarly, our mission to bless our community and see God work through us will take time and consistent effort. We must remain steadfast in our commitment, trusting that our consistent actions, no matter how small, can lead to significant results over time. [01:36]
Galatians 6:9 (ESV): "And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up."
Reflection: What is one small, consistent action you can start today to contribute to the transformation of your community or personal spiritual growth?
Day 2: Jesus at the Center of Relationships
When Jesus is at the center of our relationships and families, they naturally become stronger and more cohesive. As a church family, we are called to support and encourage each other through difficult times and celebrate victories together. This mutual support strengthens our bonds and helps us grow deeper in our faith. By keeping Jesus at the center, we create an environment where love, grace, and understanding flourish, leading to healthier and more fulfilling relationships. [03:18]
Colossians 3:14-15 (ESV): "And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful."
Reflection: How can you intentionally place Jesus at the center of one of your key relationships today? What practical steps can you take to foster a Christ-centered connection?
Day 3: Missionaries in Everyday Life
Ministry is not confined to Sunday mornings or weekly gatherings. We are missionaries in our everyday lives, where we work, live, and play. Our mission is to help on-the-go families find rest and discover powerful friendships connected by faith. This mission-minded approach to life helps us encounter Jesus and experience the abundant life He promises. By living out our faith in our daily interactions, we can be a light to those around us and demonstrate the love of Jesus in practical ways. [04:42]
Matthew 5:16 (ESV): "In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."
Reflection: Think about your daily routine. How can you be a missionary in your workplace, neighborhood, or social circles today? What specific actions can you take to share Jesus' love with those around you?
Day 4: Compassion and Responsibility
Jesus teaches us that the people in front of us are our responsibility. We are called to care for them and meet their needs. This requires us to put our faith into action and sometimes take risks. By removing barriers, we can help people have better access to Jesus and experience His love and compassion. Jesus' example of feeding the 5,000 shows us that even when we feel inadequate, we can trust Him to provide and work through us to meet the needs of others. [09:37]
James 2:15-17 (ESV): "If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace, be warmed and filled,' without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead."
Reflection: Who is someone in your life that you can show compassion to today? What practical steps can you take to meet their needs and demonstrate Jesus' love?
Day 5: Abundance from Scarcity
Jesus takes our limited resources and creates abundance. The story of feeding the 5,000 illustrates that Jesus works through ordinary moments to bring about miracles. When we bring our time, talents, and resources to Him, He can turn our scarcity into abundance, meeting our needs and the needs of those around us. This teaches us to trust in Jesus' provision and to be willing to offer what we have, no matter how small, for His purposes. [12:59]
2 Corinthians 9:8 (ESV): "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel you have limited resources? How can you offer this to Jesus today and trust Him to create abundance from your scarcity?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "If you have a dream, you need to protect it. If you want something, go get it, period. And it's his relentless effort that turned this world into a barren land. He turned this once barren land into a flourishing forest that now covers over 1,300 acres. And what he teaches us, and the reason I share this story, is because he reminds us and he shows us that consistency over time with a long-term commitment can produce big things." [01:36]
2. "We are missionaries who get to be part of what God is doing in the lives of the people around us, where we work, where we live, where we play. And these values shape us. They form the boundaries in which we are going to do things to achieve the mission that God has placed on our heart, to be a church that helps on-the-go families find rest and discover powerful friendships connected by faith." [04:42]
3. "Jesus works through the ordinary moments in our lives. He works through the ordinary things and events and brings about miracles. This is why we see ourselves as a people who have been called into this responsibility. This purpose to be missionaries in the everyday moments of life where God has placed us, to share his goodness and his love with the people around us." [15:59]
4. "Jesus takes the simple food and he turns it into a complete meal, a meal that people will not soon forget. See, Jesus works through the ordinary moments in our lives. He works through the ordinary things and events and brings about miracles. This is why we see ourselves as a people who have been called into this responsibility." [15:59]
5. "The disciples see a lack, but Jesus sees an abundance. And so from the scarcity of five loaves of bread and two fish, Jesus provides a meal for everyone. Jesus takes not enough and creates more than enough. It wasn't just a snack, but rather he filled them to the brim because Jesus's compassion is overflowing. And so he meets their physical needs while caring for their soul." [12:59]
### Quotes for Members
1. "We want to see families and relationships thrive and grow deeper and more meaningful and stronger connections and bonds, because we know that when Jesus is at the center of relationships and families, they're naturally stronger. They're more cohesive. And what we see then as a church family is we come alongside people that we are able to encourage and support them whenever they're going through difficult times and celebrate victories with them." [03:18]
2. "Jesus, compassion, he has this pity in his heart, this deep longing, desire to help someone, to feel sorry for someone, that ultimately moves him to action. And he sees not just a large crowd, but a lost people, people who were searching for answers. It was a group of people without direction, without purpose, without a leader. And so, ultimately, Jesus, in this moment of compassion, begins to care for their souls." [07:53]
3. "Jesus says, you give them something to eat. And so, what we see in this moment right here is Jesus teaching us a valuable lesson, that people's problems, the people in front of us, the people that God has placed on our path, they're not someone else's problems, but they're our problems too. See, for us, it's the people in front of you. Our Jesus's people. And he commands us to care for them." [09:37]
4. "And so the question is, maybe for us, some of us feel like the disciples and there's not enough in an area of our life. That maybe it's a financial short or lacking or relationship lacking or health or time, energy, or maybe we're experiencing a spiritual dryness. Who knows? Because we're all going through things, but maybe this is where we are. And whatever the case, whatever it is you're feeling or you're lacking that's consuming, know this, that God can turn a little into a lot. And he is able to turn things around and create an abundance from scarcity because of his power, because of his love and his compassion for you." [14:16]
5. "And I realize that parts of this vision seem big or grandiose. And depending on who you ask, maybe it's not big enough. But here's what I truly believe, and I hope you see it too, that it's attainable, and it's big enough that God has to show up. That God has to show up. Because again, no risk, no faith. You see, God has been faithful thus far, and He's led us to this moment right now. And He will continue to guide us." [20:31]
Chatbot
-
I'm an AI bot trained only on this specific sermon. Do you have any questions about it?