Matt Richards
Colossians 4:5 Behave yourselves wisely [living prudently and with discretion] in your relations with those of the outside world (the non-Christians), making the very most of the time and seizing (buying up) the opportunity.
Use your heads as you live and work among outsiders. Don't miss a trick. Make the most of every opportunity.
We all have the same problem. There's just not enough time in the day. So how we spend our time is so important.
Many people are treading water at the moment.
What do I mean by that? Many people are waiting for this Covid to be over to get back to 'normal.' They are trying to get through, killing time.
Waiting to get back to church; in a building, to get back to normal.
[Greeting, three fast songs three slow songs, offering, notices, motivational sermonette, "how you doing, I'm good, great to see you", coffee and home.]
But what if that wasn't ever going to happen again?
What would you do? Continue to zoom meet? Online stuff, meet in cars, meet in gardens?
What if Jesus doesn't like the old model of church anyway? Jjust a question don't get upset with, we can't have you challenged or upset in church, you must be comfortable.)
What if Jesus wants something more authentic than this?
What if the Holy Spirit is challenging our western model of 'Church'?
What if He wants a New Wineskin?
I saw an advert at a petrol station yesterday and it said, "the new normal breakfast as usual".
Some businesses are adapting and changing and making the most of this bad situation. They are moving on.
People still need breakfast.
How about you? How about me?
How about breakfast, no I mean,
How about church?
There is such an opportunity right now to seize the moment. To take church outside the walls and do it in open spaces, parks, beaches and city centres.
I want to redeem the time. Take the opportunities. I just can't sit around anymore.
People still need breakfast, people so much more still need Jesus.
The building, the format, the structure is not what is sacred to me: it's Jesus that is.
In fact church is not about your comfort or mine. It's not about your favourite song or preacher; yep you got it, it's all about Jesus.
Wait for it...
Church will NEVER go back to normal again.
That's the TRUTH right there...so we need to get over it. Move on.
This is the NEW NORMAL..breakfast as usual.
Adapt, change, redeem the time, buy up every opportunity.
Prayer:
Father help us to move on. Help us to do church like You want us to. Help us to lift up Jesus. Help me to make the most of every opportunity to lift You up, in Jesus' Name, Amen.
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