CHURCH!

As a pastor I struggle with church because:
I am not sure that the current model is helping people to become more like Jesus. If and when someone decides to become a Christian by accepting Jesus as the Son of God, they are accepting the responsibility of joining God in His mission of world redemption. And with that responsibility we are also accepting the role as being a servant to others. A servant whose primary role is always to expand God's Kingdom here in this world to those who do not yet know God. And the only way we can effectively expand God's Kingdom in this world, is when we are empowered by the Holy Spirit. It is not something we can do on our own. We are to be Holy Spirit filled people.

Now to some, even hearing such a thing as,  "We must become Holy Spirit Filled people!" will make them cringe and walk away. Why? Because too many people have developed a false image of what being Holy Spirit filled means. I cringe when I hear politicians "God Blessing this, and God Bless that state or this county."  I cringe when I watch some TV church services and see people acting like a bunch of drunk loonies because they are supposedly "filled with the Holy Spirit!"
There is no one wiser than God.
There is no one filled with more wisdom than God.
God is not going to change people into mindless idiots to represent Him to expand His Kingdom on this earth. He is smarter than that.

The bible is full of incredible stories of people who have surrendered their life to God and the results of that surrender. The greatest of these stories is the life of Jesus. If you want to know what a Spirit filled life looks like, study the life of Jesus! God did not make Him wealthy from a worldly definition. God did not give Him a lucrative place of employment. God did not make life easy for Him. He did not even give Him a long life. It was a very difficult life filled with obstacles and hardships. Yet, Jesus now has the highest place of Glory for all eternity. Look at the passage from Philippians below:

Philippians 2:5-8In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross

So, this next Sunday I am going to look at an old testament story and at Jesus' life and ask all of you if you want to recommit your life to being a Christian. Not a Christian that is defined by someone who belongs to a church, but someone who belongs to Jesus and wants to walk in His footsteps. Here is what I know as I struggle to walk that path myself, nothing in this world can bring greater Peace, Joy, and Fulfillment than walking close with God filled with the Holy Spirit. 

Come learn about what some of God's greatest stories are saying to you and I today, in this life that we are living here in Edwardsville Il.  "God is Real!"  "Jesus is Real!" "The Holy Spirit is real!"

I'll see you Sunday, 9:00am and don't forget to move your clock forward an hour. The PCF singers and band will be leading worship. Make this next Sunday a life game changer for you and your family. I'll see you there! Love, pastor kent