Liberty Vineyard family,
In just over 100 hours, we will be celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ – Christ is risen! Christ is risen indeed! Jesus overcame every enemy on the cross, including hatred, evil, sin, suffering, decay, and death. How the whole world and all of creation groans for restoration! Meanwhile we live in the time between the times, in the already-but-not-yet-fully-arrived kingdom of God that Jesus inaugurated. God’s plan to put everything right has been launched, and that’s why we celebrate Easter! Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, life has come to life and is pouring out into the world in the power of love. Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, we can make sense of God, the world, and ourselves. Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, we are invited to be part of the project of restoring and transforming God’s new world to the flourishing harmony God has always desired. This good news of Jesus Christ is not just informational but transformational. One day God’s restoration and transformation will happen, completely and utterly, to all creation. The good news is that right here, right now, every single person, whoever we are, can be caught up in that transformation as we surrender our lives, hearts, minds, and wills to Christ Jesus. We are transformed to be agents of transformation, by the power of the Holy Spirit!
As I ponder the last couple of weeks at Liberty Vineyard, I’m reminded of Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s words in Life Together, “The person who loves their dream of community will destroy community, but the person who loves those around them will create community.” Who among us could have imagined a year ago that we would be learning to love people by being present through Music and Ministry at Meadowbrook? or hosting a Pet Blessing on the grass? or having Midweek Prayer on Zoom? or enjoying so much creativity in worship and other gatherings through drama, crafts, painting, music, and more? No matter what kind of life or experiences we’ve had, we are invited to continually lay down our dreams and take up the simple yet profound challenge to be present to and love well the people around us (whether family or friends, acquaintances or strangers, allies or enemies). And again. And again. And again.
We finished our 10-part series on Vineyard Values – here are a few gleanings:
- A Biblical Community – We looked at what it means to be a Kingdom-oriented biblical community. We don’t just search the written word … because to be a biblical community is to search the Bible together, so that we may better know and follow Christ. We don’t just stand by waiting for eternal life after we die … because to be a biblical community is to find our place in God’s story. We don’t just seek signs and wonders … because to be a biblical community is to proclaim and demonstrate the words and the works of Jesus. We considered who we could meet with regularly to search the Bible together, in order to better know and follow Christ. We considered the next step we could take to find our place in God’s story. We considered how we could love someone we find hard to love by not just telling but also showing God’s kingdom.
- Worshipers of God and Rescuers of People – We looked at ways in which we can participate in God’s rescue of people, through intercession, intervention, and invitation, as we worship God. We exalt God who hears, sees, and answers. We can, like Moses, plead with God on the basis of God’s character and reputation. We can ask well-placed questions with the kindness of Christ that can turn hearts and invite change. We can prepare ourselves to answer anyone who asks the reasons for the hope that we have. We considered God’s specific assignment for us in participating in rescuing people. (And we remembered the wise reminder that sometimes we don’t know we’re rescuing people, as we simply do what God would have us do.)
Buckle up for a new sermon series starting right after Easter, as we take a deep dive into the Gospel of Mark. It’s a joy to do life together with each of you. Through it all, Christ Jesus is faithful!
With you on the journey,
Pastor Karen
Liberty Vineyard Church
Karen Sculley – (404) 388-0518, karen@srsoln.com
Recent Sunday sermons: