Liberty Fam,
Church. This single word brings up feelings of all kinds. For some the feelings are positive and hopeful. For others, just the mention of the word church causes them to recoil. Yesterday, Pastor Nancy encouraged us to lean in and truly be “Together in the Church.” We celebrate what God has done. We lean in farther to get to know the Lord and each other. We reach out to invite those who have either never known the beauty of Christ or have become disillusioned by church life. Church is not just one thing. It can’t be explained without both studying the Scriptures and listening honestly to one another’s stories. Our heart and aim through this series is that we can truly be together in the church, together with the Trinity, together in missions, and together in the Kingdom of God.
One thing I have tried to do in these first weeks together at LVC is to get to know you guys. You have all been so very gracious as I have reached out, traded a text, had coffee, or prayed together. As someone who has primarily pioneered new ministries and served on the mission field for many years, my natural tendency is to want to charge ahead and take the world by storm. I came across an African proverb some years ago which says, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” That is what I long for in these early days as we continue to get to know one another. I say “hands in the pile” quite a bit but it truly is a rally cry I have for us to truly grow together in love, unity, and purpose. . . .and hopefully to laugh and play a lot along the way. Being “together” in the church is critical and we are all better for being reminded of God’s truth on this yesterday. As we grow in trust as a church, the mission can be propelled forward exponentially.
Some questions to ponder as we process the message this week:
- Who at LVC would I like to invite to go farther together with me this week? How might I invite them to do so?
- Who do I know that is either out of church because they have never been invited or because they have become disillusioned? How might I meet them on their turf and take the church to them?
- What gifts do you see in others at LVC? Consider dropping them a note or giving them a call this week to thank them for their gifts and even encourage them to use their gifts all the more.
Let’s keep leaning in to the Spirit, leaning upon one another, staying together shoulder to shoulder. Next week we will be looking at “Together in Relationships” studying the friendship of Jonathan and David. Blessings to you all as you kick off a new week!
Hands in the pile,
John
John D. Trotter
Senior Pastor, Liberty Vineyard Church
Sunday’s sermon: Together in the Church (Pastor Nancy Penton)