Good evening/morning friends.
My name is Dennis Camplin.
My wife Wilda and I are happy to be part of Lakeview Church again.
We have been here before –on staff -- a few years ago…
In fact, we have hung around Lakeview for a long time…
Not to say anything about being part of the Free Methodist Church for a very, very long time… Maybe not that long!
But, as I said, I am here now to serve in a calling that has come to me in recent years.
And that calling is not necessarily to inspire and motivate like Joel Olsteen – or to preach and evangelize like Dean Angel – but my calling is to help churches when they are in periods of leadership change and transition.
And even though the Lord sort of pulled me in through the back door on this one – I am glad to be here as we work together to move into the plans that God has for us!
We build from the past – but we look to the future!
If you are a parent or grandparent – or even if you are a young adult you will likely have had an experience like this.
You are heading out on a road trip – maybe a few hours – or a few days – and just nicely started – you’re just out of town and a little voice from the back seat asks – “
Daddy, (or Mommy) are we there yet?”
Or, another question that lets you know that it is going to be a long trip – “How much longer will it take?”
Let me tell you -- long before ipods, video players and text messaging – Wilda and I have taken a number of multi-day road trips with our own children -- and I clearly remember those questions.
Actually, they are very good questions – especially when you consider that these questions are asked out of the context of a rather limited awareness of what the journey ahead entails --- or for that matter -- what the designation looks like!
Where are we going?
I’m speaking figuratively now, but if you’re sitting in the back seat of the church -- you might be asking the same questions.
Where are we going?
How long will it take us to get there?
Are we there yet?
That last question is the easiest one to answer. Because the answer is - No!
Where are we going? And what will it look like when we get there?
These are the better questions – though certainly more difficult to answer!
I have to tell you that I am neither a prophet nor the son of a prophet – certainly in the sense of fortelling or predicting the future before us.
But, as I stand before you today – I do have a prophetic responsibility in the sense of forthtelling or telling forth – speaking forth the word of God.
We don’t do this alone, of course, because the Bible has a lot to say about this organization – both human and divine – this living dynamic gathering of people that we call – the church!
On the basis of what I see in the scriptures, I have a dream of what Lakeview Church can be in the days ahead.
I mean – I have some kind of an understanding of where we are going and what the future looks like.
You know, the Bible tells us that in these days “Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. “
So, on that basis alone, I qualify to have a dream for this church!
Let me modify the claim of a dream just a little more. A more basic – and I think, more important question is:
What is God’s vision and what is his dream for His church?
What did God have in mind as He began to form – and continues to develop the church?
You know, there are a lot of metaphors given in the New Testament that paint for us some pictures of God’s intention for the church. These pictures themselves give us some ideas of what the church should look like.
For instance---
1. It is called the body of Christ – where each member of the body is necessary for the functioning of the whole.
2. It is called the Bride of Christ – a Bride who is filled with a growing and glowing beauty as she awaits the time for presentation to the Groom.
3. It is called a temple – a temple strangely enough -- made up of living stones where each part fits together in an active and dynamic way in the exercise of spiritual gifts that function for the benefit of everyone.
Listen to how Peter makes use of this metaphor:
As you come to him, the living Stone--rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him-- 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house…
Not a scripture image – but a good one I think – was it St Augustine who said “if God is my father, then the church is my mother” – the church is the one who nurtures and cares for me in the faith!
In all of these pictures we begin to see some of the characteristics that describe the vision that God has for His church.
However, it is really as we follow the work and life of the Apostle Paul that we see the practical developing formation of what has now become the institution of the church.
(By the way, in an upcoming series that is in the planning stages by our Programming Team --together we will be looking at the whole story of this man that we call the Apostle Paul and so, today we will limit ourselves to more of a broad survey of his influence in the formation of the church.)
As we take that broad survey we discover that: --
1. Paul -- once bent on the destruction of the growing influence of the resurrected Jesus – this man became as zealous in converting people to Christianity as he had been in persecuting them.
A transformation of his life happened in a dramatic way and this wild man -- Saul of Tarsus became the Apostle Paul! Still wild by most people’s definition – but now, wild for the cause of Christ!
You see, he knew that the message of hope was for everyone – and he spent his life and passion – he risked his life moving from place to place --declaring the message that Jesus is alive.
And people then, as now responded to that message!
And as they responded Paul established them into fellowships of believers.
Gerald May, in his book Addiction and Grace begins by saying:
“After twenty years of listening to the yearnings of people’s hearts, I am convinced that all human beings have an inborn desire for God. Whether we are consciously religious or not, this desire is our deepest longing and our most precious treasure. It gives us meaning…”
**It is the business of the church to help people in this journey of discovering a relationship between us and God.
One book that I am reading presently suggests that the main responsibility of the church is to create a space where we all (we each) can seek for ourselves.
§ A place where we can grow in our understanding of relationship with God.
Create a space… provide opportunities where people can connect with God, and, I think, in providing the opportunities we also trust the Holy Spirit to make the connection!
Matt-Hughes … a champion wrestler of some renown… was going through a difficult time in his life. There had been some disappointments and failures.
He began to hang around some friends (including his brother) who had become followers of Jesus and part of a church fellowship.
In fact, he joined them on a missions trip to an orphanage in Mexico…
All during that time his friends were zealously asking him…
“How are you doing spiritually?”
They kept bugging him with that question.
He said that he thought he was doing pretty well as he had just recently started attending church and reading his Bible.
But the repeated question became ‘a space’ for God to work ---and during that week – at a gathering and while other stuff was
going on around him -- Matt just quietly and privately prayed a prayer and gave his life over to the Lord.
He said, “I knew in that instant that I had moved into a walk with God.”
I think here at Lakeview we do a pretty good job of creating a space where each of us can pursue our search for God and where God can make Himself known to us.
- I am convinced that we make every effort to be what God wants us to be – a Finding church!
A church that is constantly looking for ways to communicate the love of Jesus and the message of relationship with a Saviour who forgives -- to people everywhere – in any situation of life!
This has been our past – this is our present – and this will be a vital part of our future!
2. As we follow the Apostle Paul in his journeys and in the establishment of churches it is very apparent that he has a passion that people who turn to Christ would grow in their knowledge and experience of Christ.
What does it mean to be a Christ-follower?
How does spiritual growth and change happen in my life?
In order to answer these deep cries of the heart Paul writes letters to the believers and in those letters he gives clear instruction on what the new life that we have in Christ is all about.
And those letters were valued so much that they were passed from church to church. These people of new faith wanted to learn all that they could.
And we still value his letters today because they make up a large portion of the New Testament. They are so practical as we give attention to them.
Listen to some of his words of instruction:
Here’s one addressed to a church: Romans 12 -- And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice – the kind he will accept...
2 Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.
Here’s a word to an individual: Philemon 1: 4 I always thank God when I pray for you, Philemon, 5 because I keep hearing of your trust in the Lord Jesus and your love for all of God's people. 6 You are generous because of your faith. And I am praying that you will really put your generosity to work, for in so doing you will come to an understanding of all the good things we can do for Christ.
And here is a great word of encouragement from 1 Thessalonians:
16 Always be joyful. 17 Keep on praying. 18 No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
The point is this – as we read from the Bible as Pastor Dean mentioned in his sermon on Hope a couple of weeks ago and as we incorporate what we read into our lives in practical ways – we grow spiritually – we mature in the best sense of the word.
Lakeview Church is a place where learning happens – in the weekend services, in classes offered from time to time, in small groups in personal and private disciplines and conversations..
It is a place where we do not stay as we are – But it is a place where we grow in our faith walk with Jesus!
At Lakeview we want to create a culture of learning!
3. As we read through the letters that Paul wrote to the churches – we get a huge sense that the formation of the church from place to place provided unlimited opportunities to care for one another --and to be cared for by one another.
We have to understand some of the context of this.
In Acts 8 we read: “A great wave of persecution began that day, sweeping over the church in Jerusalem and all the believers except the apostles were scattered through the regions of Judea and Samaria.”
And even though those who were scattered had hardships of their own – there was a generosity in looking after each other -- in providing for the needs of the leaders back in Jerusalem as well as the needs of others. Collections were taken and sent to those in need. It was a beautiful picture of sharing and generosity.
And or course, those opportunities are still there! Or should I say – still here?
The vision for Lakeview is to be a caring church.
Caring for one another within the community of faith.
Caring for the needs of people who are not yet a part of our community.
This is loonie/toonie weekend – and loonie/toonie has been a creative tool to motivate us to respond to needs around us.
This has been good – but our reputation of caring goes far beyond this – in small group projects, and a whole lot of goodwill ---
Almost every day that I’m here I hear a story about the caring that is happening throughout and all about this faith community – and yet the potential is unlimited.
However, friends, in order for us to care effectively we need to be responsive and responsible in caring for the obligations that we have -- just in being a ministry -- and having a staff of dedicated servant leaders, -- and having a beautiful facility such as we have to work from.
You can do the arithmetic.
You see the brief reporting on our financial cash flow situation in the information folder week by week.
From your homes or business – you know the high cost of utilities and maintaining a building these days.
If you are an employer – you know what it takes to care for those who serve you in your business endeavours.
You know the cost of quality…
If you have ever gotten behind in financial obligations – you know as well as I do how difficult it is to re-arrange things in order to meet obligations.
The reality is this: As we come to our fiscial year end on June 30 – we have a lot of catch-up to do!
And you know what?
We don’t need only the one or two people who can write the large check – though I’m quite sure that that would not be refused!
But to be a healthy, caring, community of faith we need a whole bunch of people who are willing to do and give whatever they can -- maybe an extra $200.00 or $500.00 or $1000.00 or whatever amount you can between now and the end of June so that we can enter into the summer with our operating line of credit in the black.
And you know what? We can do it!
We are a caring church that is generous to its internal obligations as well as external opportunities!
4. Are we there yet?
Well, almost. I mean in my talk – we are almost finished.
But the best is yet to come – because Lakeview is a church where fully devoted followers of Christ go forth – go from this place – to be – to do what Christ sends us to be and to do.
A Christ follower in the workplace… in the home… and in the social settings of life.
A carrier of hope in a hopeless world…
A person responding to the faithfulness of God – by being faithful in all of life…
A bridge of faith influence to the community…
We can become a church of irresistable influence.
Take a look!
Are we there yet?
No, but the journey has begun!
And the real question is: Will you be part of the team? Will you get involved in the impact that this church can have on this city and community?
I invite you to come aboard!
Let’s pray.
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