Why Two Service Styles?

Over the last several years the leadership here at Osceola Grace has puzzled over, discussed, prayed about and planned for the occasion when we would need to go to two services and change the twenty year old paradigm of “how we do church”. This spring, it became evident that we were close to that point but the surprising twist was that the catalyst was not what we anticipated. We thought that we would reach a point where we would have a capacity crowd that would force us to change. Instead, we spent some time listening to the needs of some of our extended church family that were feeling like they were not able to connect to God in a meaningful way during the services. Part of it was due to the style of music (of course, that is always a reason for dissension), part of it was that we use illustrations that involve some fun yet crazy activities, part of it was the videos clips that we use and part of it was the dramas. Any one of those things is of little consequence to some (especially in today’s culture) and in and of themselves – there isn’t anything wrong with them. However, due to the broad age span and worship experience of our families, we were causing some to struggle with the ability to have their heart in a right place when it came time for the message.
I know, you say – this is absurd – you cannot let people gripe and complain and force you to change because of their heart condition. True, but also, I want to do ALL that I can to become whatever I need to be so that some may come to Jesus Christ. If they are part of the body of Christ and simpy adding a second traditional service with more traditional songs is a means of helping them to connect with our God and move a step closer to Jesus then isn't that worth doing? Therefore, we prayed a lot more and planned a lot more and decided to go ahead and start a second service – a traditional one! It starts at 8:00 AM and will end by 9:15 AM. It will not have childcare or children’s programs available nor will it be permanent if it does not grow and accomplish its’ purpose. This service will be more formal and will not use the lighting, power point, dramas, videos or activities that the contemporary service will have. However, it will have meaningful hymns and an identical message and challenge to its audience to live out our core values.
We want all of our families to move people closer to Jesus Christ through intentional relationships and friendships, we want to see each family expanded as they seek to meet and include new people in their families and we want to continue to do activities that will show our community that we care. Those are the core values that we live by at Osceola Grace.
Plus - I work hard on planning and presenting what God leads me to and through - why not have two shots to get it right! :)

i Live by Faith - but Faith in Whom?

The latest verse that I have been working on memorizing is below – Galatians 2:20…
Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
However, I just had a conversation with someone last night who said that while they are memorizing verses in their head, it is taking time for them to sink in to their life. Well, ME TOO! I can say this verse and I KNOW the first part is true…Christ lives in me. But I so often question the second part of this verse in my life. Can I really say that I live by faith in the Son of God? I sometimes sit and reflect on where my faith is placed and I am usually discouraged to find that I place a lot of faith in myself and my abilities. I think pretty highly of myself (contrary to Romans 12:3) and thus many times I should say, “…the life I live in the body, I live by faith in Greg Serafino, who loves himself and would not give himself up for another.” Wow. I actually wrote that out. It is there for the world to see. I struggle with living by faith in Jesus Christ, my Savior. I shouldn't be there, I am a pastor, after all, and we should be above all of that. Right?
Another passage I have also been working on is Colossians 3:1-3 – Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set you minds on the things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
If I died then I should not be living either FOR myself or IN my own strength. Hidden in Christ…am I willing to hide behind my Savior? To let Him get the glory? To point people toward Him and not ask them to follow me?
So…do I live by faith – Yes!
Do I live by faith in Christ Jesus, my Savior, who died and gave himself for me? Sometimes – more now than last week, last month and last year but not ALWAYS! I need to make it present tense – every day.

You’ve Got It All!

I am amazed at the things that I see on TV or hear on the radio or EVEN hear from people in the church that appeals to my sense of greed vs. need. There are so many things that I do not have and so many ways that I "fall short" by the standards of the community in which I live and yet, I continue to find out that I am truly blessed with those things that I DO have and by the way that God meets my every need. I have learned so much as I try to depend on Him more and more and yet I also keep learning that I do not depend enough on Him. An interesting dilemma to be in as a disciple of Jesus.

I find that same principle at work in my spiritual life, too. I find that I want to be a mature Christ follower but I often don't think I have what it takes to accomplish it. There is always someone more "spiritual" than me or more" in tune with the Spirit" than I am. So what am I missing? There must be a trick, a secret, a special thing I have to have or do that makes this "spiritual life" thing work. Well, 2 Peter says it is not a secret and there is something involved that we have to do – I am trying to run through this 2 Peter chapter 1 cycle more and more and as I do I find my faith growing. So what is the secret?

2 Peter 1:3 says we have been given everything that we need for LIFE and GODLINESS – WOW! Then it goes on to say that as a believer in Jesus – one who has placed faith in Christ for eternal life – I should add to my faith. What do I add? Seven things:

1. Goodness - that action that follows our faith and moves us toward service and change
   
2. Knowledge – the expanding of what it means to be like Jesus by reading His word and gaining insight and understanding
   
3. Self-Control – UH OH – once I have knowledge of something I should do and have not OR something I should NOT do and yet I DO – it puts me in a place of decision. Will I or won't I obey? Discipline to choose the right path and step forward to follow through.
   
4. Perseverance – AHHH – once the right decision is made, inevitably, we are faced with a struggle – follow through on the hard path or give up. Here is where the rubber meets the road. Do you trust God to help you through or not? Stick with it when you know it is right!
   
5. Godliness – Whoa! At this stage your level of "godliness" is raised. How about that – "godliness" that attribute of being like God. Not that you are God – that ain't gonna happen, BUT you attain a level of that that includes humility in having persevered and succeeded. Give credit where credit is due – Who helped you through? The Holy Spirit.
   
6. Brotherly Kindness – you are on the track of realizing that this is not all about you and it is about serving those around in need. You begin to develop a love for those around and see their needs and look outside of your own person interests. Seek the good and well being of others and you are growing and stretching your faith.
   
7. LOVE – true "Agape" love. That love that gives itself freely for another without expecting anything in return. You are there! NOT QUITE!
   

The passage goes on to explain that we can make it through one cycle of that and become a little more productive and effective but we need to have these qualities in "increasing measure". Now that you faith has grown a little through one cycle – we walk through the cycle again and grow a little more. And then a little more. Again and again and your faith (and mine as I do this also) grows and stretches. The hardest part for me is 3 and 4 – deciding the right course and then sticking with it through the hardest of times. But when I have – I can point to those times as to when I have grown the most. Press on in Real Life – that is all we have!