Wednesday, August 28, 2024
As some of you know, last week was DreamTeam Launch—a night I look forward to every year. Our staff and volunteers from all campuses gather together to focus our hearts and minds on what God has ahead of us.
But can I share a confession? That Wednesday at 5pm, as staff were preparing everything for the DreamTeam, my heart was not in it. I had some frustrations and worries on my mind, and I didn’t want to be there—at least at first.
As the evening continued, God shifted my perspective. I began to see the incredible connection between our staff and DreamTeam. I saw a group all united around one mission: introducing others to Jesus and the life-changing adventure with him.
Then, as I listened to Ben Snyder cast vision about what’s ahead, I was reminded what everything our church does should be centered around—people. Jesus wants a relationship with people. Growing in our own relationship with him and helping others do the same is the adventure. It’s about the people who serve at our church, the people we serve on the weekend, and the unchurched people outside of CedarCreek who all of you are reaching by shining Jesus’ light. But it's easy to get caught up with other things that seem more important.
In Revelation 2:2-3, the church of Ephesus is initially praised by Jesus…. But then he shifts to a warning.
Revelation 2:4-5
4 “But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first! 5 Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first. If you don’t repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches.”
No matter how hard we work, how much we endure, or how much we refuse to tolerate evil, if we don’t have love for other people, it means nothing. If we ever forget this, I fully believe our church would face the same consequences Jesus gave to the church of Ephesus. But if we keep our hearts and minds on Jesus and his mission for our church—loving others—I know he will continue to use our church in amazing ways to reach our communities.
It's my prayer that our church—everyone from our executive team down to the newest attendee—never loses sight of this.
Questions:
Do you love others the way you did when you were first introduced to Jesus?
What can you do to rekindle this love? How can you live it out in your everyday life?
Next Steps:
Write down your top five people to be praying for, reaching out to, and investing in. Think of ways you can serve them, show them the love of Jesus, and help introduce them to him.
21 Days of Prayer - Day 17
Focus: Our Neighbors (Mark 12:29-31)
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we praise you for the gift of community and the joy of neighbors. We ask for your peace and protection over our neighborhood and every home in it. We pray you would fill our streets with grace and mercy, and that you would teach us to love one another as you have loved us. We lift up to you those who are sick, hurting or lonely, and we ask for your healing and comfort in their lives. Lord, we desire that our neighborhood be a place where your presence is known, and your name is glorified. Help us to be good neighbors who shine your love and light to the world. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
Series Theme Verse:
Hebrews 3:14
For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ.
This post was written by Payton Lechner, a regular contributor to the LivingItOut Devotional.