Allan Blythe - I Chose You! (Sermon notes)
Last week I talked about the reason why I am here, in ministry, accepting your invitation to come and conduct an Intentional Interim Ministry with the able assistance of my wife. I suggested that it was probably the same reason that most of you and countless millions of others are gathering to worship around the world Sunday by Sunday - the simple but profound truth that - “The Lord is”.
Part of the lordship of our God is his power and authority to choose, to choose to create, to choose to give life, to take away life, to choose suffering as the pathway to glory and beautification, to choose to pay in full the cost of restoring a rebellious and broken world, to choose you and me and every other saint from now until Christ’s return as messengers of the good news of salvation, reflecting and proclaiming the salvation of God as nature continues to proclaim both his eternal power and his divine nature.
On Monday night Jordana explained in excellent detail to the young adults group how disciples of the scriptures usually chose the rabbi to whom they wished to be attached. Following the vine and the branches metaphor of Jn 15 Jesus makes it clear to his disciples that they did not choose him, as was usually the case, rather he chose them.
“You did not choose me; I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit, the kind of fruit that endures. Jn15:16a,b
I chose you
How is it to be chosen?
How is it to be chosen to be on a team?
Can you remember sport afternoon and the chosen captains are taking turns to pick all the kids in the class onto two teams and there’s hardly any kids left and you still haven’t been chosen?
Or maybe training all last year and not getting in the team this season..
Imagine being chosen to play for the Mariners! How would you feel?
You have been chosen, chosen by God to be His, a prince or a princess in His everlasting Kingdom, a servant, appointed to bear fruit for His pleasure - yes, fruit! Not just to be a branch on the vine, a healthy branch like those that burst forth following a heavy pruning, but a fruit bearing branch!
God chooses us to be productive, to bear fruit. I believe that means growing in Christ-likeness ourselves and as a community and new people accepting that God has chosen them to be His and receiving Jesus Christ, who has died, is risen and is coming again for them as Lord. This principally is the work of the Church until Jesus comes.
Following the very effective ministry of Peter Wakeley, the Wyoming Church of Christ has chosen to have an Intentional Interim Ministry. Today Julie and I want to introduce you to the first step - the appointment of the Transition Team. In order to be aware of what will be involved I’d like to take a few minutes to review the whole IIM process.
5 tasks 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
The Intentional Interim Minister
Acting senior minister
With Julie coaches the Transition Team
They are
Welcomed
Accommodated, remunerated & provided for
With a covenant of understanding re terms & conditions (Which includes being overseas for 9 weeks at the time of World Convention of Churches of Christ in July August)
The Transition Team
Usually 10-12 people
Represents the congregation
Appointed by the congregation
Leads the church through the 5 tasks
Ceases to exist and operate on arrival of the new Senior Minister
Appointing the Transition Team
Who should choose, confessing Christians, baptized?
All committed to the church, prayerfully consider possible Transition Team members
Everyone will be asked to nominate 4 names
You will be asked to put your name & signature
Appointment Procedure
10th Feb - church commits to pray
17th Feb nomination forms available, return in offering bag, to Church Office or by post
24th Feb last Sunday nomination forms available
29th Feb closing date for nominations
Who would you choose?
Who would God want you to choose
Prayer & fasting
Let me share a few models for choosing:
God chose Noah because he was a righteous man, blameless in his generation Gen 6:9
In choosing who should enter the promised land of those who had known slavery in Egypt it was Joshua and Caleb alone who were obedient to God in the face of apparently overwhelming obstacles, Caleb followed God whole-heartedly. Joshua 14:14
Knowing her life was on the line, Queen Esther filled with compassion for her people, asked all the Jews of Susa to join her in a 3 day fast, then approached the King, further risking her life, and so God used her to save all the Jews. Esther 4:4
When the Lord chose David through God said through the prophet Samuel, “Man looks at the outward appearance but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Sam 16:7
Appointing the first officers of the church, the apostles commanded, “Choose 7 men among you who are known to be full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom…” Acts 6:3
And we also recall Paul addressing his young novice pastor Timothy saying, “Do not let anyone look down on you because you are young, but be an example for the believers in your speech, your conduct, your love faith and purity.” 1 Tim 4:12
So you may not be Alex Wilkinson, but you do have a team to choose. And your choice as a church will potentially have much more far reaching consequences than the Mariners entering the Asian League.
With the full support of the elders, Julie and I want to invite the whole church to make this a week of special prayer as you think about whom you will nominate. Please take this very seriously. I’m sure you will, especially if you remember the words of Jesus.
You did not choose me; I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit, the kind of fruit that endures.
I think I can hear Jesus saying to us all this week something like this… “As you make this important choice, remember, I chose you!”
