love from the center…
I’ve recently begun a series of sermons out of Romans 12:9-21.
I’ve been working on a theme entitled, “Love from the center.” The church is to be a place where God’s love overflows from the heart’s of God’s people. How does this happen though given the multitude of differences not only socially and economically, but theologically when you look at the church?
On some days I love the themes on what it means to be a “missional” minded community. On other days it drives me nuts. I was recently talking to a pastor friend who pastors a small church like myself. He had shared that one of the “biggie” churches locally had begun planning a satellite church within a couple of miles from his church. This is totally missing the point at least in my understanding of what it means to be a missional community.
Would it not be better for the “biggie” church to convey a message to its folks that one of the ways the larger church can make an impact on the church universal for the kingdom of God is to equip the smaller churches to becoming missional communities within their neighborhoods? Instead of setting up “shop” down the street from our brothers and sisters who are simply trying to do their best, with the smallest of resources, in teaching what it means to “love from the center of who you are as God’s people?”
What I’m hoping to cast within the church I serve is this idea that we the body of Christ should simply focus on the concept of doing community well. What does this mean and how do we live out God’s Word in the context for which God has placed us in our community? How do we become a church that, “plays second fiddle?”
I had recently shared that I wish I could put the passage below on the walls of the church. It would hang in the bathrooms, in the kitchen, and on every pew. It would be put to music and would be recited in every which way possible. It would be recited over and over and over again. It would simply change the way we currently do church.
I leave you with Peterson’s Paraphrase from Romans 12:9-21.
9-10Love from the center of who you are; don’t fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.
11-13Don’t burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don’t quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality.
14-16Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your happy friends when they’re happy; share tears when they’re down. Get along with each other; don’t be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don’t be the great somebody.
17-19Don’t hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you’ve got it in you, get along with everybody. Don’t insist on getting even; that’s not for you to do. “I’ll do the judging,” says God. “I’ll take care of it.”
20-21Our Scriptures tell us that if you see your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch, or if he’s thirsty, get him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness. Don’t let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good.