Telling your story of Christ in the World
CentralChristianDallas.org ~ 9/16/18

What is your story of Jesus? How has God transformed you? How are you still being transformed? The most powerful witness for Jesus is your own story of transformation. Who are you because of Jesus? Who would you be without him?
 
What story do you want to tell with your life?
If your life were a novel, movie or play, what story would you want it to tell? What message of impact would you bring? How would you want the reader/audience to be moved, to be different after encountering your narrative?
 
 
Within this narrative, what role does God play? How are Jesus’ love and the Holy Spirit’s power present and impacting the arch of your life?
 
 
How do you introduce others to your story? Where does your story begin? In the present, and then flash back, or do you start at “the beginning”? What do you think of as “the beginning” of your story of faith and transformation?
 
 
How do you filter or sanitize your story? Do you hide the chaos and brokenness? If so, why?


ADDITIONAL NOTES FROM WORSHIP:
TEXTS: Acts 26:11-18; Psalm 126
   Also (Gal 1:11-24; Psalm 107; Exodus 12)
 
CTW: from Ps 107)
L: Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. 
P: Let the redeemed of the LORD tell their story
L: God delivered those who wandered in the wilderness, hungering and thirsting and without hope.
P: Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind. 
L: God redeemed and restored those who rebelled against God by oppressing their neighbors.
P: Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind. 
U: God lifted the needy out of their affliction. The upright see and rejoice, but all the wicked shut their mouths. Let the one who is wise heed these things and ponder the loving deeds of the LORD.

Our primary goal with this retreat is to bring both congregation and community into dialogue around the mission statement and missional priorities, leading to collaboration and resulting in actual calendared events for late 2018 and through 2019 that are expressions of our mission and priorities.
 
In this we are prompted to ask: How do we partner? Who are our neighbors? Who is being left out/behind? How can we do better? What does it mean to experience transformation for ourselves, for others, together? We recognize that this calls us to affirm true transformation only comes when all experience God’s love, and that it is indeed God who works in/through/among us. The power is not ours to transform ourselves or others. Transformation is not something we accomplish internally or externally. It is something we receive, and something in which we cooperate.
​
The Mission of Central Christian Church of Dallas: 
As followers of Jesus Christ we partner with our neighbors
to experience God’s transforming love. 

This expression of our particular mission here at Central was crafted by the Elders over the spring and summer of 2018. Our invitation to the congregation and community is to join in pursuit of this mission. In the process we will focus on three particular Mission Priorities which are part of our legacy, are essential to our present, and we believe will strengthen our future. They are commitments that give particular shape to our core practices of Worship, Discipleship, Fellowship, Evangelism and Outreach. These priorities are being articulated as: Diversity and Inclusion, Creativity and the Arts, Wholeness and Flourishing. A brief word about each:

Diversity and Inclusion: Central expresses this in a variety of ways. though the congregation is predominately Caucasian and some folks might not look at us and think, “Wow, that’s a diverse group!” We are diverse in income and education and in political philosophies. We are fully inclusive of women and men in leadership, and of both straight and gay folks at all levels of leadership. These are significant priorities that distinguish us from many congregations in our community. We also currently have 4 different worship services on weekends which represent racial, ethnic and age diversity – Sundays: 11am Sanctuary Service, 10am Berean Ethiopian Church, 9am service in the Dog Park, and Saturday 6pm with The Gathering. That’s over 100 people per weekend worshipping on campus and online.  We strive to serve people with a variety of physical and intellectual abilities – specifically though not exclusively through our partnership with Connecting Point.

Creativity and The Arts:   Obviously we have wonderful music in worship, with talented musicians and vocalists focused on traditional church music but extending their range periodically. Our legacy theatre program Westside Players is currently dormant, but numerous folks would love to see its revival. A Sanctuary Drama Team is in development now! Last summer we hosted a two week Summer Showtunes Broadway camp and we’re hopeful to serve a much larger group in summer 2019 focused on kids from Maple Lawn and Rusk. We have several incredibly talented painters and there’s talk of a gallery show this Fall with consignment pieces. We have drawn creative dancers and cooks, and innovative entrepreneurs.

Wholeness and Flourishing:  We may not be accustomed to using these terms, but we certainly know their meaning, and when they are present or not. We seek wholeness when we encourage physical health and wellness through tai chi classes (and soon yoga). We support wholeness when we host 12 step groups where individuals work together to achieve and maintain sobriety. We encourage flourishing through our partnership with Connecting Point – a program designed to help individuals and families living with disability to pursue their fullest potential in life. Our current Dog Park and former community garden are both expressions of seeking wholeness and flourishing through our partnership with God at work in creation. When we welcome people who have historically been marginalized and oppressed in society and even in the church – including the disabled, immigrants, people of color, and the LGBT community – we are supporting their wholeness and flourishing as well as our own.

A quick look back at our 2017 Community Impact Report shares even more of the story of how we partner with our neighbors. Click on the link or get your printed copy at the church.

The Invitation: God continues to call us forward in mission and ministry in this community, in fact a nexus of 6 distinct communities. The Mission Statement and Missional Priorities help clarify why and how we go and do our work together with one another, our neighbors, and of course with God. In the process we work to build God’s kingdom on earth as in heaven, glorify God, lift up Jesus whom we follow and serve, and share the transforming light, love and power of God’s Holy Spirit. What better way could there be for us to spend our lives and all that God has given?

THE MISSION OF CENTRAL CHRISTIAN CHURCH

As followers of Jesus Christ
we partner with our neighbors
to experience God's transforming love.


THE MISSIONAL PRIORITIES OF CENTRAL
In this mission, these priorities focus how we will live out our faith as a community:

Diversity and Inclusion: 
We intentionally deepen and widen our circle to include more experiences, and perspectives
to reflect the limitless beauty of the Image of God in and beyond us.
God's transforming love calls us to continually expand our definition of neighbor.

Creativity and The Arts:
We seek and embrace creativity in all our practices,
knowing that the God who creates beauty in love calls and empowers us to do the same.
God's transforming love inspires us to make beauty,
to see God in the beauty around us, and to see one another as beautiful.

Wholeness and Flourishing:
We see in the scriptures, and especially in the ministry of Jesus,
God's longing for us to be whole and complete and fruitful. 
God's transforming love created us beloved and whole.
God's Spirit works with ours to redeem and restore the chaotic and disrupted.


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The Mission of Central Christian Church of Dallas: As followers of Jesus Christ we partner with our neighbors to experience God’s transforming love. This expression of our particular mission here at Central was crafted by the Elders over the spring and summer of 2018. Our invitation to the congregation and community is to join in pursuit of this mission. In the process we will focus on three particular Mission Priorities which are part of our legacy, are essential to our present, and we believe will strengthen our future. They are commitments that give particular shape to our core practices of Worship, Discipleship, Fellowship, Evangelism and Outreach. These priorities are being articulated as: Diversity and Inclusion, Creativity and the Arts, Wholeness and Flourishing. A brief word about each:


Diversity and Inclusion: Central expresses this in a variety of ways. though the congregation is predominately Caucasian and some folks might not look at us and think, “Wow, that’s a diverse group!” We are diverse in income and education and in political philosophies. We are fully inclusive of women and men in leadership, and of both straight and gay folks at all levels of leadership. These are significant priorities that distinguish us from many congregations in our community. We also currently have 4 different worship services on weekends which represent racial, ethnic and age diversity – Sundays: 11am Sanctuary Service, 10am Berean Ethiopian Church, 9am service in the Dog Park, and Saturday 6pm with The Gathering. That’s over 100 people per weekend worshipping on campus and online.  We strive to serve people with a variety of physical and intellectual abilities – specifically though not exclusively through our partnership with Connecting Point.


Creativity and The Arts:   Obviously we have wonderful music in worship, with talented musicians and vocalists focused on traditional church music but extending their range periodically. Our legacy theatre program Westside Players is currently dormant, but numerous folks would love to see its revival. A Sanctuary Drama Team is in development now! Last summer we hosted a two week Summer Showtunes Broadway camp and we’re hopeful to serve a much larger group in summer 2019 focused on kids from Maple Lawn and Rusk. We have several incredibly talented painters and there’s talk of a gallery show this Fall with consignment pieces. We have drawn creative dancers and cooks, and innovative entrepreneurs.


Wholeness and Flourishing:  We may not be accustomed to using these terms, but we certainly know their meaning, and when they are present or not. We seek wholeness when we encourage physical health and wellness through tai chi classes (and soon yoga). We support wholeness when we host 12 step groups where individuals work together to achieve and maintain sobriety. We encourage flourishing through our partnership with Connecting Point – a program designed to help individuals and families living with disability to pursue their fullest potential in life. Our current Dog Park and former community garden are both expressions of seeking wholeness and flourishing through our partnership with God at work in creation. When we welcome people who have historically been marginalized and oppressed in society and even in the church – including the disabled, immigrants, people of color, and the LGBT community – we are supporting their wholeness and flourishing as well as our own.

A quick look back at our 2017 Community Impact Report shares even more of the story of how we partner with our neighbors. Click on the link or get your printed copy at the church.


The Invitation: God continues to call us forward in mission and ministry in this community, in fact a nexus of 6 distinct communities. The Mission Statement and Missional Priorities help clarify why and how we go and do our work together with one another, our neighbors, and of course with God. In the process we work to build God’s kingdom on earth as in heaven, glorify God, lift up Jesus whom we follow and serve, and share the transforming light, love and power of God’s Holy Spirit. What better way could there be for us to spend our lives and all that God has given?

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Simon Sinek - The Golden Circle
In developing these thoughts, we have been 
   making use of Simon Sinek's Golden Circle:


​
Why – Core Mission (purpose)

How – Core Priorities (values focus)

What – Core Practices (actions)



​​The Result? – Core Vision (Who will we become?)
A description of our future state. Sometimes described as a future story or “a day in the life” in the future, perhaps 5, 10, or 25 years from now.
“In 2025, Central Christian Church will be known as a hub of community life were diverse people and groups gather and collaborate with creativity and innovation to enhance life for all humanity and creation. In particular we will…”

Who’s in charge here? -- Seasons and epochs in our lives are market by transitions in leadership. We ask who is responsible, who is in charge, and point fingers it the direction of authority. Sometimes we point toward ourselves, other times we point to someone in charge, or an individual or group who has taken action and ownership of decisions. Scripture demonstrates these transitions, different ways that people respond, and how we are called as followers and leaders. Ultimately we look to God as revealed through Jesus as our leader, and take responsibility for our own decisions and their consequences.
TEXTS: Exodus 16:2-7; Ephesians 4:1-7  (Also: 1 Corinthians 3) 

Inspired by "I Know Him" from Hamilton by Lin Manuel Miranda, sung by Jonathan Groff.

The lyrics of this brief song echo sentiments expressed by the religious and political rules of first century Jerusalem and Galilee - "Who does this Jesus think he is? He's not qualified to exercise authority. We knew him way back when... And he's certainly not the first and won't likely be the last to claim the title of Chosen Leader (i.e. Messiah or Christ).  GOOD LUCK!!!"

The song also invites us to reflect upon our own lives and who exercises leadership and authority. As we grow up we transition this role from our parents and other adults to ourselves. U.S. culture encourages us to think that we are the masters of our own domain, captains of our own destiny. While there is truth in this, it also reveals an arrogance that rejects the role others play in our lives. We continue to need mentors and advisers and coaches. Those who have found healing through the 12 Steps of AA recognize the need for a power outside ourselves to help us in those areas of life where we experience powerlessness - whether that's addiction to substances, or failure in relationships, or an inability to manage finances, or a lack of hope. It is at these places where we are invited to recognize God as the leader, guide and source.​

In our staff meetings we allocate time regularly for leadership skill development.
​​Continuing our discussion of communication, we watched the following video 
Elizabeth Lesser - Take the "Other" to Lunch

She also appeared with Guy Raz on Ted Radio Hour, and you can read the transcript here or download the mp3 and listen here.

Here are some of our quick notes for your reference.

As we "partner with our neighbors to experience God's transforming love" we will increasingly be called to practices like this - getting to know and appreciate (and eventually love) our neighbors.

"Neighboring" as a verb means to treat "the other" as we want to be treated, and seek to know and see the image of God in them.

Start by taking "the other" to lunch.

See you at the table.

Peace,

ken

Seeking Input for New Teaching Series Coming this Fall
 
It’s easy to recognize that Jesus loved to teach through stories. Nearly every description of God’s kingdom involves a narrative. When he described God’s love for us and the aspiration of our love for neighbor, again he told stories.
 
In our own lives we experience the power of telling our own stories, hearing the stories of others, and immersing ourselves in a novel, TV show, movie or play. Even poems and songs, however brief, enfold us in imaginary worlds that move us.
 
This Fall we will again explore the spirituality of stage and screen. You are invited to share below stage plays, musicals or films which you find powerful or provocative. Which stories from our culture give insight into the human condition and call us to our better selves? Which characters highlight the heights and depths of this life? Which teach you about God and self?

Send your thoughts to Central(dot)Christian(dot)Dallas(at)gmail.com.
Or fill out the form below:
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SERMON NOTES for 072218:
(TEXTS: Jeremiah 23:1-6;  Ephesians 2:11-22) 

From the perspective of the Covenant of God with Abraham and his descendants, the human race was divided into two groups: Jews and Gentiles (literally “races” or “peoples”). Paul calls them “circumcised and uncircumcised” (Eph 2:11). That’s it. The whole human race divided into “God’s covenant people” and “everyone else”. Which may sound harsh and cynical and frankly pretty narcissistic of the Hebrew people and stingy of God. Till you actually hear WHY the children of Abraham were called:
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Now the Lord said to Abram, "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." (Genesis 12:1-3)

BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING
Abraham was promised that, through the covenant God was establishing, the world would experience blessing. That was the purpose of the special relationship. The people often lost sight of that. The covenant became a source of pride rather than humility, and the covenant became a wedge and a hammer rather than a source of healing and flourishing. Until finally Jeremiah had to say, “You’re going to be in captivity 70 years for your faithlessness. And after that time God will redeem and restore you.

In the meantime... return to your first purpose. Bless your neighbors. Put down roots and commit to your community like you love it, like you need it and they need you. For you will only be able to experience God’s blessings to the degree that you first bless others.” (Jeremiah 29:4-15 paraphrase) Those people in that other group, the ones who you consider “outsiders”, love them as you love me.

And then along comes Jesus, who “breaks down the dividing wall and the hostility between us, making of the two groups one people.” (Eph 2:14-16). Because of the work of Christ on the cross, there are no longer two groups of people. There is just one chosen people, the human race. The call still exists to be a blessing. Its extends now to all humanity, and those who hear it are drawn into it. Whether people recognize, believe, accept or embrace this, it is a true and completed fact. God has extended the call of “blessed to be a blessing” to the whole human race. Jesus is the redeemer and savior of all. There are no insiders and outsiders any longer. There are no hoops to jump through or requirements to meet.

YOU ARE BELOVED. YOU BELONG.
The witness of the gospel of Jesus as Paul articulates it to the Ephesians is that God through Jesus has done away with the distinctions that used to separate Jew from Gentile – chosen from excluded. The church has spent much time, spilling measureless ink and blood, to declare and prove that some are IN while others are OUT. It continues today, with people still arguing in word and practice the following: Male = In / Female = Out. Straight = In / Gay = Out. Rich = In / Poor = Out. White = In / Everyone Else = Out. God declares that the dividing walls are torn down. The borders and barriers that we erect between us, and even that scripture has been interpreted to construct, are eliminated.

You don’t have to change to belong. You already belong. Everyone belongs. Welcome home.
As you come, allow God to continue working in and through you to move toward fullness and flourishing. God accepts and welcomes us as we are, but does not leave us such. God calls and crafts us forward from chaos to wholeness.

​What are some useful and reliable measures of “True Faith”?
Plumb Line. Used in construction to ensure that the upper parts of a structure built upon the foundation are square and in line with the cornerstone. Are the walls vertical and true?
The first element in a structure is the corner stone, from which all measures are taken horizontally, vertically and diagonally (to ensure square angles). When setting frame timbers, or building a masonry wall, the plumb line helps to ensure that the walls are perfectly vertical, and set directly over the cornerstone rather than leaning in or out.
It is vital to remember that the chief cornerstone for our faith is not the Law of Moses, or any other set of rules. Jesus is the chief cornerstone for the community of faith (Eph 2:20). His person. His reality. His teaching and witness and ministry of healing and justice and transformation. Jesus is the primary reference point for our lives of faith, from which we line and measure so that we are true and plumb with His work.
Jesus, as much as we can know him, is known through the witness of scripture, from the teachings of the church through the last 2000 years, and through the ongoing witness and teaching of the Holy Spirit who continues what Jesus began. Another term we might use is canon – as in the canon of scripture – derives from the Greek word for a ruler or measuring stick. It was a piece of reed or bamboo that was cut to a standard length and could then be used to ensure everything else “measured up”.
The Christian Faith is built upon the identity of Jesus, who is the canon for matters of faith. We ask questions like, “How does this ‘measure up’ against what we know about the life, teachings and work of Jesus? Paul tells us that “in Him the fullness of God was pleased to dwell” (Col 1:19). So Jesus is God’s self-revelation to us. Jesus is what God wants us to know about God’s self. Jesus is thus the measure of what is true about God, or at least what God wants us to trust and upon which we build our lives.

​The question remains, “What measures do you (we) use to confirm that our own words and actions align with the person of Jesus?” What is our plumb line to ensure that we are building lives of faith (and the church) true to the chief cornerstone?

Join us for a free, public event of peace through understanding. Please RSVP so we can prepare sufficient food and seating for all who wish to attend, learn, and grow together as neighbors.

Christians, Muslims and Jews trace their heritage to Abraham and his descendants. As such, we are siblings within the family of the three great monotheistic religions. This is reason enough to share life together. Beyond this, we understand that at this time in human history (and in our own nation and communities) it is essential that we seek peace through understanding. We fear what we do not know and understand, and we learn to hate what we fear because this emotion is less threatening somehow. The holy month of Ramadan is a time for faithful people to draw near to God through prayer and fasting, reminding ourselves that we are dependent upon the provision of a loving God.

We are excited to invite you to join us at Central Christian Church for a special Ramadan Dinner on Wednesday, June 6th at 7:30pm.

The evening will start with a welcome by the host and followed by a Ramadan presentation. Tasty home cooked meals will be served at the dinner. Fast breaking time is at 8.34pm sharp and the evening will end after dinner.

Join us to make this a memorable night and break bread together in the holy month of Ramadan!
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This event is cohosted by The Dialogue Institute of Dallas, whose aim is to promote mutual understanding, respect & cooperation among people of diverse faiths & cultures by creating opportunities for direct communication. You can also find them on Facebook at @DialogueInstDFW. 

Hebrews 2:10 reads: “It was fitting that God, for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many children to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through suffering.” The Greek word used here is teleio. This word can mean perfect, but a better translation (given our modern connotations of that word) would be complete or whole. If you’ve been working on a 5000 piece puzzle and you fit in the last few pieces, then the puzzle has reached its telos – its intended end or purpose. It is now complete, whole, perfect. You can see the full image in all its beauty and complexity and the puzzle has and is fulfilling its purpose.

Jesus needed to suffer not because suffering itself is a means to perfection, but because without that Jesus would not be complete as our mediator. Jesus-as-God-in-flesh must undergo the full human experience, which includes suffering and death. Only then is Jesus complete, whole, perfect. Only then is the puzzle of the Messiah finished. Jesus even said from the cross, “It is finished.” This was not an affirmation of suffering itself, but a declaration that through his own suffering on the cross he had achieved full and final union with humanity, and thus was able to redeem the fullness of humanity not in his death but through conquering death in the resurrection.

Unfortunately, this one verse has been used by the church for two millenia to justify the use of suffering as a means to sanctification and perfection of the followers of Jesus. This is blasphemy. We already suffer. If human suffering could have been redemptive then we would not have needed Jesus to join fully divinity and humanity in one being. You do not need to suffer to experience God’s salvation. Christ has suffered for you.

And yet, Jesus also calls us to take up our cross and follow him. The author of Hebrews references the sufferings of his own audience (10:32-39). He states explicitly that “[Jesus] had to become like his brothers and sisters in every respect…” including “sharing in their flesh and blood” and thus their sufferings. (2:14-18)

Biblical perfection – “Be perfect as God is perfect” (Matthew 5:48) – means to be mature, whole and complete, and thus to fulfill one’s end or purpose. It is not about never making mistakes, nor ever changing one’s mind. It is not about flawlessness of speech or skin. This phrase from Matthew could be understood in this way: Seek God’s measure of perfection rather than the world’s measure, for “humans look on the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7).

God does not seek to shape our hearts by suffering, but to redeem our sufferings. Jesus became “perfect” in that he was fully like us only when he suffered and died, thus making him able to redeem and transform our humanity fully. When we “take up our cross” for the sake of the gospel we are following Jesus’ example of accepting suffering and hardship rather than forsake the calling and turn our backs on those Jesus desires to reach through you and me. God does not will or desire that we suffer. God recognizes that we will, and becomes our ally and advocate by joining fully in our suffering. When we suffer for the sake of the gospel, for the sake of justice and righteousness on behalf of the kingdom of God, then our sufferings become efficacious because they are joined with those of Christ (Colossians 1:24). When we willingly endure suffering for the sake of others this becomes our testimony to them – an extension of Jesus’ own testimony of suffering for the sake of the world. It becomes our solidarity with God-in-Christ and with the world Jesus came to save.

Jesus suffered so that you would not be alone in your suffering, and so that through his own suffering, death and resurrection he might transform all suffering. God does not directly answer the question “Why is there suffering?” or “Why does God allow suffering?”. God’s response to those queries is Jesus. “I am with you. You are not alone. Your suffering is not the final word. Death is not the final word. I will redeem, restore, make new. I have (already) reconciled to myself all things through Jesus’ life, death and resurrection.”

We might wish, hope and long for a God who would eliminate suffering. This is fruitless. Rather, we have a God who comes to be one of us, to undergo all things in human experience, and thus is able both to understand and to redeem.

Whatever you’re going through, you are not alone.
God really does understand and really does care.
This is cause for hope. This is Good News.