A quarter

Psalm 25. Nine months into this daily relationship with God, we are about 25% of the way through his Word.

Four verse of this Psalm stood out to me.

"I've thrown in my lot with you."

This month, we will talk a lot about tending relationships: with the synod, among our Council and team leaders, how we do mutual ministry as a congregation...what relationships God would like to us to nurture within and outside of our faith community in the future. These are exciting times! We will also have the opportunity to get out of our comfort zones to love and serve God and our neighbors.

"Show me how you work, God; School me in your ways."

I have no idea if 4 or 40 of us are doing/reading this blog. The next level jump is going to be a vibrant Christian Ed hour with dozens of adults participating in the Bible study, modeling for our teens doing the Faith Lens and children in Sunday School. Rally Day is September 19th.

"My question: What are God-worshipers like? Your answer: Arrows aimed at God's bull's-eye."

What is God's bull's-eye for us? I think it starts when our worship is genuinely about drawing people to his glory. How can we usher others into his presence?

Looking at other churches' mission statements is pushing me to flesh ours out a little bit. When I arrived in January, we didn't have one, but growing churches do, so I asked around and Faith is a Family is what we came up with on the fly. A lot of mission statements have three verbs (i.e. learning...loving...growing, etc).

When I was called, we had a three-fold purpose, which could be written out like this:
Using our gifts,
Passing on the faith,
Serving God and loving our neighbors.

If you can't remember it, think UPS, the tightest ship in the shipping business. We could be the healthiest church in the churching business.

"Put me together; I wait to see your finished product."

God is putting us together as a community. He's not finished with us yet.

As we grow and change, our mission statement will grow and change along with us.

If I've said this once, I've said it a dozen times, but I think it's particularly appropriate today. Growing churches:
1. Talk about God like he's in the room.
2. Have a mission statement everyone can remember.
3. Have a quarter of their Confirmed members studying the Bible.