My favorite chapter in this Gospel

Matthew 25 has always struck a cord with me, but especially during this Advent. Our four part sermon series on time, talent, treasure, and touch ended on Sunday. If you missed any of them, please consider going back to listen to those sermons online.

This chapter is broken into three parts:
The Story of the Virgins was covered during the sermon on time.
The Story About Investment was covered during the sermon on talent.
The Sheep and the Goats pushes us out into the world to serve...well, Jesus himself.

Communion is huge at Faith. We have had only 3 worship services all year without it (Memorial Day, Labor Day, and late service last Sunday due to the children's Christmas program). On the same night that Jesus was betrayed, he washed his disciples' feet (including Judas) and told them (us!) to go and do likewise. The very reason we celebrate communion nearly every Sunday is so that we will have the strength to "go in peace to love and serve the Lord".

The "sheep" have faith and serve people as a natural result. Human beings go naturally to self-preservation, so the "goats" don't care for the hungry, thirsty, homeless, sick, strangers, and those in prison. If they had known it was Jesus, they would have served him.

The mainline church in America is struggling. Dying actually. Unfortunately, institutions go naturally to self-preservation too. If Faith is to not only survive but also thrive, we need to live like the sheep. Not to get into heaven, but because God will provide for us if we are about his kingdom work. It's what we do.

Last night at Council was budget night. We worked hard for 3+ hours. The 80-20 rule was brought up. Many of you have heard it before: 20% of the people do 80% of the work, 20% of the people give 80% of the offerings, etc. The truth is 20% of ELCA churches are growing and will be healthy enough to reach out to others. We are nearly there.

I will go back to what Rolf Jacobson teaches at Luther Seminary. There are three things that set the 20% of churches apart from the rest:
1. They have a mission statement that everyone knows. Many have been saying, "Faith is a family," but that comes across to new member and visitor ears as inwardly-focused, so my business card now says, "All are welcome." As we move through the synod Doing What Matters process, we will develop an outwardly-focused mission statement with vision and two or three verbs. For example, our middle school youth group in MN wore t-shirts that said "Faith is a verb," based on Micah 6:8 (Do justice, LOVE kindness, WALK humbly).
2. They talk about God like he's actually in the room (because he is). The Council has committed to praying daily. This will go a long way toward recognizing that God's Spirit is blowing in our midst (because she is).
3. 25% of Confirmed members are reading the Bible daily. I have also encouraged our Council members to do just that.

You are obviously reading the Bible. I encourage you to pray daily and join us for Bible study between the services (starting on Jan 9th). We will be starting our Doing What Matters study that Sunday.