Us and Them

Immanuel – God with us. Jesus didn’t just come down and join us, he became one of us. He was part of THEM – the trinity, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. And He became one of us.

If you are a disciple of Jesus, you have been called to follow him – do what He did.  For some of you, that thought is very scary. I’m going to become one of THEM.

You’ve spent your whole Christian life staying away from THEM. In too many churches, it’s all about us and THEM, the evil, nasty sinners who reject God and stand against everything we believe.

The truth is, most of them just ignore most of us. In fact, according to the Barna Group, most of them can’t tell any difference.  Most of us, live our lives just like most of them – but we don’t cuss. That was the one noticeable difference between believers and nonbelievers.

Somewhere along the way, we got it wrong. God doesn’t want us to hide from them in our church buildings, but live our lives like them in the world. He wants us to spend our time out with them in the world, but live our lives like Him.  Him…the one who became one of them…one of us.

How can we ever love our neighbor as ourselves, if we don’t know THEM? How can we truly take care of the orphans and widows in their need if we don’t spend time with THEM? How can we go and make disciples if we don’t walk with THEM – the ones who aren’t already disciples?

Honestly, most of us don’t. We’ve decided being comfortable is more important than being obedient. What we fail to realize is that while we sit and sing hymns about God, our failure in this area shows how little we really love him.

Jesus said, “If you love me, you’ll obey my commands.” And then He followed that up with, “This is my command: love one another.” “One another” includes THEM. If you don’t love THEM, you don’t love HIM.

It’s not easy becoming one of THEM. It’s even harder loving THEM. Jesus did it. What about you?

Follow Him with me,

Darin

The Need Today

Dear Church Member,

Jesus had to wait about thirty years before he could begin his ministry. Did He dream about the big day as He built furniture with Joseph? Perhaps He preached his first sermon over and over in his head, planning for the beginning.

It didn't happen that way. It all began at a simple wedding in Cana. The wine was gone, and the party was about to be over – rather abruptly. But Mom stepped in.

“I know who you really are, my Son. We need your help.” She didn't actually say those words. She just told him, “The wine is gone.”

“What does that have to do with me, woman?” This is not the dream I've been dreaming. I can’t preach my greatest sermon here. It’s not yet my time.

Mary was undaunted. To the servants she said, “Do whatever He tells you.” To Jesus she was saying, “Not concerned with the ‘big day’ I’m concerned with the needs today, and I

know you can help. I believe in you.”

Too often, we are waiting “to find God’s will.” But he has already told us, He does not want any to perish, but all to come to repentance, and how will they believe unless someone tells them about him? The need is here – today?

Follow Him with me,
Darin

Let Me Get Out of Your Way

Pastors are often in the way.

Dear Church Member,

Let me get out of your way. We pastors have kind of messed things up. Ephesians 4 tells us pastors were given to the church to equip the saints for works of ministry so the body of Christ will be built up.

Somewhere we got in the way. We decided you were there to support our ministry. You pass out bulletins, invite your friends, help in the nursery, show up every Sunday, and, of course, pay our salary – so we can stand up there and do our thing. We forgot our “thing” is to prepare you and send you out to do your thing in a dying world.

Maybe we like to feel important, to get the applause of people. Or maybe we just didn't know any better. That is what they taught us in seminary. 

But you deserve better. You can’t truly follow Jesus if we are standing in the path. So please, let me get out of your way.

The church needs a pastor who leads

Follow Him with me,

Darin

You Have An Appointment

Dear Church Member,

You have an appointment. Don’t worry, you won’t be late, and you can’t miss it. Your appointment is with Jesus.

When you stand before him, you won’t see a baby in a manger, or a smiling shepherd with a little lamb over his shoulders and a little child on one knee. You will see the King of Glory. When John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, saw the King, he fell down as dead.

As you stand in front of the One who sacrificed everything for you, do you truly want to present him with the life you are living right now? Remember, He said, “as the Father sent me, so I am sending you.” You have been sent to sacrifice yourself for sinners – just like the One you are following.

“Going to church” is NOT following Jesus. Perfect attendance will not win you a “well done.” But it’s not too late to follow, not too late to lose your life for his sake.

Follow Him with me,

Darin