Here is a question I was asked recently: "What is Bellwood doing to meet the needs of our community?" I had trouble answering this because I didn't exactly know. Another question was: "What are the needs of our community?" I am embarrassed to say, I didn't know the answer to this question either. Then, of course, not being able to answer either question made me question my leadership abilities and begin to get down in the dumps.
A few days later I came across an article entitled "Beyond Groundhog Day" by Brad Powell. Remember that movie with Bill Murray? Every day is exactly the same for him. Nothing changes. Same ole, same ole and then all of a sudden, one day his outlook changes and it's a new day. It feels like Groundhog Day many times in the church, but as the article said, "Our reality is defined by the Resurrection, not the tomb."
The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead is present in us - in the church. I love what the Apostle Paul writes in Ephesians 3:20 "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us". This verse gives me renewed hope. This verse excites me. What is it that we haven't even imagined that God might want to do through us?
Powell says, "The reason church starts to fail is because over time the church tends to turn inward - to focus on pleasing those on the inside. They stop reaching out to the lost. As a result a church becomes a comfortable museum of what God once did rather than an example of what God still does." He goes on to say that "we must get excited about people finding Christ than anything else. After all, God does. Luke 15:7 says, "I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 righteous persons who do not need to repent."
What are some things we need to "imagine"? What are some things we need to "ask"? How can we better see this power at work and unleash it?
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