DECEMBER 2012 By Pastor Mike Sindelar DECEMBER 2012 By Pastor Mike Sindelar “For God so loved the world that He gave…” My niece recently introduced her new boyfriend to our family. We were all prey impressed that he had the courage to walk into a room full of Sindelars. Love certainly has a way of geng us out of our comfort zone! Now that I am seeing more and more of them on Facebook, it is clear to see that they are a wonderful couple and seriously in love. We are all excited for them in this stage of life where love is exuberant and consuming. For those who have a few more miles on the road of life, it is understood that, as wonderful as they are, they are not in themselves enough to sustain our relaonships for the long haul. Life has a way of molding, shaping, tesng and strengthening the love that takes root in those early days. The depth of that love will be shaped by the events, people, voices, messages and circumstances of life. Not unlike our walk with Christ. Our identy in Christ, resng in His opinion of us, should not be hard to figure out. The concept is surrounded by amazing truths. Starng with John 3:16 and the truths of God loving the world, sending His Son and, because of His love for us, paying the full penalty of sins. His love for us is seen in the way He defends us, gives victory over those things that would stand against us and leads us into His full life. Psalm 23 is another well-read passage of truths regarding His abundant and intenonal love for us. So why is it so hard for us to simply dwell in that love? If we know these truths, and we do, why do we find ourselves struggling to let His great love for us be the movaon and compass for our hearts? Our r12 study of God’s Word has been taking us into these very quesons. I’m amazed at how crical it has been to wrestle with our view of God and our identy in Him. The boom line is that we can know the truths of God and study His Word all of our lives but, we sll find ourselves listening to voices that cast a curtain over our comprehension of God’s love for us. Our r12 study and discussions this last week have surfaced some observaons. First, the words we speak are crical to building others up. Our words are compared to giſts of grace given to others. Second, properly placed expressions of appreciaon have deep impacts on our lives. Third, parents play the leading role in our lives – as children or adults – in shaping our idenes. Dads, you take first place in this role. In our small group discussion, several comments in this area of love and identy began with, “My dad…”. As we enter the Advent season, it seems a good me to pracce what we are learning through r12. It means leaning into the love of God. It also means going out of our way to give giſts. Not tangible giſts, but giſts of words, giſts of expressions of appreciaon, giſts of grace. Then the words, “For God so loved the world” will take deeper root in our hearts.
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Transcript
D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 2
By Pastor Mike Sindelar
D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 2
By Pastor Mike Sindelar
“For God so loved the world that He gave…”
My niece recently introduced her new boyfriend to our
family. We were all pretty impressed that he had the
courage to walk into a room full of Sindelars. Love certainly
has a way of getting us out of our comfort zone! Now that I
am seeing more and more of them on Facebook, it is clear
to see that they are a wonderful couple and seriously in
love. We are all excited for them in this stage of life where
love is exuberant and consuming.
For those who have a few more miles on the road of life, it
is understood that, as wonderful as they are, they are not
in themselves enough to sustain our relationships for the
long haul. Life has a way of molding, shaping, testing and
strengthening the love that takes root in those early days.
The depth of that love will be shaped by the events, people,
voices, messages and circumstances of life.
Not unlike our walk with Christ. Our identity in Christ,
resting in His opinion of us, should not be hard to figure
out. The concept is surrounded by amazing truths. Starting
with John 3:16 and the truths of God loving the world,
sending His Son and, because of His love for us, paying the
full penalty of sins. His love for us is seen in the way He
defends us, gives victory over those things that would stand
against us and leads us into His full life. Psalm 23 is another
well-read passage of truths regarding His abundant and
intentional love for us.
So why is it so hard for us
to simply dwell in that
love? If we know these
truths, and we do, why do we find ourselves struggling to
let His great love for us be the motivation and compass for
our hearts? Our r12 study of God’s Word has been taking
us into these very questions. I’m amazed at how critical it
has been to wrestle with our view of God and our identity
in Him.
The bottom line is that we can know the truths of God and
study His Word all of our lives but, we still find ourselves
listening to voices that cast a curtain over our
comprehension of God’s love for us.
Our r12 study and discussions this last week have surfaced
some observations. First, the words we speak are critical
to building others up. Our words are compared to gifts of
grace given to others. Second, properly placed expressions
of appreciation have deep impacts on our lives. Third,
parents play the leading role in our lives – as children or
adults – in shaping our identities. Dads, you take first
place in this role. In our small group discussion, several
comments in this area of love and identity began with,
“My dad…”.
As we enter the Advent season, it seems a good time to
practice what we are learning through r12. It means
leaning into the love of God. It also means going out of
our way to give gifts. Not tangible gifts, but gifts of words,
gifts of expressions of appreciation, gifts of grace.
Then the words, “For God so loved the world” will take
deeper root in our hearts.
I suffered through Physics, barely survived Chemistry, and got by
in Calculus. Math and science, to say the least, weren’t my
favorite subjects in school. But I always had an affinity for Algebra.
I liked how the complex formulas could be reduced in predictable
patterns. Familiar methods conquered the complexity of
intimidating equations. Figuring out a system of numbers and
letters was satisfying, maybe even reassuring.
In the last few years I’ve realized that I often approach ministry a bit
like Algebra. I have a tendency to think that I will be able to reduce
the complexity of ministry to a few predictable practices. I focus my
energy on developing methods I could apply to all situations or
groups of people. But I have been learning that ministry is not like
Algebra at all. Ministering to people—whether they grew up down
the street from me or a world away—is not a division of math or
even science. Ministering to people is an art.
Two events sponsored by ReachGlobal this fall drove that home for
me. The first was an event called Global Shift which prompted those
in attendance to consider how we do ministry in light of
globalization, increased partnership with Christians from the Global
South, and the biblical mandate for ministries of justice and
compassion. Statistically speaking, we have never had the chance to
work across national and ethnic lines to both speak out and live out
the gospel as we do today.
I was challenged to consider how this could impact the way we do
ministry, both at home and abroad. The U.S. is increasingly
multicultural and multi-lingual and virtually every city in Europe has
significant and diverse immigrant populations. Between migration
P A G E 2
for work or school, the global nature of the economy, and the
relative ease of transportation, we interact more frequently and
more substantially than ever before. We have an incredible
opportunity to not simply reach those in other cultures, but to work
with those from other cultures to reach other cultures. What better
way to demonstrate the availability and unitive force of the gospel
than to work in partnership with those people groups who were
once the aim of missions endeavors!
But I am the first to admit that this opportunity is also a challenge. It
can be cumbersome to work with others who don’t speak English as
a first language (or at all) and exhausting to work through
misunderstandings. Just the other day I was in the home of a young
European family and realized my body language was inappropriate
and maybe even offensive to them as hosts. If I had not become
aware of what I was doing, it would have had a negative impact on
our developing relationship.
But cultural frustration and misunderstanding can strike at an even
deeper level when we have to wrestle through culturally influenced
approaches to leadership, decision-making, teaching, learning or
scripture. There is no doubt that working in partnership with
Christians from other cultures to reach other cultures will take
intentionality, perseverance, humility and the power of God. But
with Christ at the center and the lost in focus, we can truly be
enriched by our differences rather than stuck by them.
The second event was a case study of ReachGlobal’s new ministry
initiative in Berlin. Berlin is a complex urban center with incredible
spiritual needs (often referred to as the “Atheist capital of Europe”
with around 63% claiming no religious affiliation whatsoever and
By Katie Dudgeon VEFC Missionary Serving in Madrid, Spain With ReachGlobal
about 1-2% evangelical) like many of the European cities in which
ReachGlobal works.
Immersed in a week of urban theology and vision casting, we were
exposed to new models of ministry in a city that is decidedly post-
Christian. Berlin may be one of the most prominent welcome mats
for post-Christianity in Europe, but Madrid is not far behind. The
political and religious influence of the Roman Catholic Church is still
strong among certain generations, but its spiritual impact is quickly
dissolving or absent among those under 40. I was challenged and
inspired to think outside of the ministry box and consider new ways
to relate to those who have no religious affiliation or are even
hostile toward organized religion.
Did I get answers to address the challenges I face in ministry right
now from these two events? No. Was I challenged to consider how
God might be working in new ways? Absolutely.
So join me in prayer as I figure out what it looks like to toss out the
formulas and pick up a paintbrush in Madrid. There is no answer
key to check, only a palette of colors to employ. Because ministry is
not a science—it’s an art.
____________________ 1 Approximately 61% of Christians in the world today hail from Sub-Sahara
Africa and Latin America, referred to as the “Global South.”
www.pewforum.org 2 Post-Christian is used to describe the shift away from Christianity in
particular areas of the world such as Europe, Canada and Australia where
Christianity and a Christian worldview once dominated but no longer
influence society and thinking like they once did.
Faith @ Home
10 Ways to Encourage Your Child’s Faith Through Serving Others this Christmas Season
1. Mix up a big batch of your favorite snack mix, trail
mix, etc. Put in small cellophane bags, tie with a pretty ribbon and have near the front door for when the mailman, UPS man, etc. comes by – then watch them smile!
2. Stack 8 birthday paper plates, 8 napkins, and 8 cups
– wrap in cellophane gathered at the top with a big bow. Tie on a tag that says, “Have fun celebrating Jesus’s birthday! “ Have the kids deliver these to several neighbors.
3. Be a “Secret Servant” to other family members:
Sneak in and make a sibling’s bed when they
aren’t around, Clear another’s plate from the table, Make a batch of hot cocoa and surprise the
rest of the family, Let a sibling go first when playing a game, Do a sibling’s chore before they get to it, etc.
4. Invite someone who doesn’t have anyone to spend
Christmas with, to spend the day with you and your family.
5. Deliver hot cocoa to a Salvation Army bell ringer. 6. Keep small gift bags in your car to give to homeless
people at intersections. 7. Offer to babysit someone’s children while they are
preparing for Christmas. 8. Pick out a missionary family overseas to send a care
package to for Christmas. 9. Write letters of love and encouragement to your
friends and family, as well as those who are lonely and hurting.
10. Shovel your neighbor’s driveway before shoveling
5:45 pm—Hiders arrive at and mix in with the shoppers 6:00 pm—Students arrive and begin searching for hiders. 7:00 pm—Searching ends and everyone meets at the Food Court to find out who won! Then, go see “The Hobbit”, if you want. theater.
Want to go Somewhere Warm this Winter? Valley is considering a short-term mission trip this winter (probably one week in February) to either an orphanage in Mexico, or possibly to Jamaica or Haiti. Contact Mel Swanson with questions or to let him know you are interested at 952-448-2679 or [email protected]. After we find out who is interested, we will meet to plan the trip.
The Church Office will be CLOSED from Christmas Day through New Year’s Day (in case of emergency call Pastor Mike)