Sacrificing for Shelbyville and Beyond: Beginning with Prayer
A friendly Monday morning competition brought me back to a heart for lostness.
It was completely random. I attempted to freehand draw the state of Kentucky on our office whiteboard this morning before challenging Daniel and Kenny to a competition to see who could draw it best. (Please submit your votes. My competitive spirit wants to win! Ha!)
As I evaluated the 3, I thought about the large wall hanging of Kentucky with our logo over Shelbyville in the lobby. Our heart is for those in Shelbyville -- and througout Kentucky -- to know Jesus. I've been reminded in 2 recent conversations that there's many who don't even know his name in our midst. Generations of lostness in a family will do that no matter how saturated we might believe the culture to be with the gospel.
I can tell you this: Our ability to draw Kentucky is not correlated to our heart to see it reached for Jesus.
It was a good reminder that the mission doesn't depend on my excellence, but it does ask for my effort.
We sacrifice for Shelbyville - for the people who need to hear the name of Jesus!
The Insanity of Sacrifice
We explored the idea of renewed sacrifice together in Ezra 3 yesterday. There's no better expert on that topic than Nik & Ruth Ripken! In fact, they wrote a 90-day devotional entitled "The Insanity of Sacrifice" that you should check out - especially if you've been in a season where you need to get back into God's Word!
Taking ownership of lostness & praying for Shelbyville
Spiritual lostness is one of those things that's always easy to outsource as someone else's problem.
What if you and I (we) took responsibility for lostness?
How does one even begin to do that?
I believe it starts with praying for the lost.
We're going to do that next Monday night at CCC. 6:30. Nothing fancy. Just getting before God on behalf of those who don't know Jesus in our community.
Come join me.
Speaking of prayer...
We're praying for Vince & Kelli Monks as they head to Ethiopia!
Be pryaing for them as they invest love and the gospel in people's lives in Ethiopia over the next couple weeks.
A Strong Start for Students!
Both our middle school and high school groups got off to a strong start this past week! We're so thankful for strong teams of leaders who are investing in and discipling our young people!
If you're a parent of a middle school or high school student, you've got no better partner in parenting than a loving local church with godly leaders who are faithfully investing in your kids. Making the Wednesday night middle school group or the Sunday night high school group a priority for you and your kids is an investment you won't regret!
Cast your Crown
All this talk of sacrifice and asking myself what I need to give to God was being wrestled down in me as I read Revelation 4 in my time with the Lord this morning.
One of the visuals really hit me in verse 9-11:
Revelation 4:9–11 (CSB)
9Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to the one seated on the throne, the one who lives forever and ever,
10the twenty-four elders fall down before the one seated on the throne and worship the one who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne and say,
11Our Lord and God, you are worthy to receive glory and honor and power, because you have created all things, and by your will they exist and were created.
What a picture. Elders, leaders, casting down their crown as part of their proclamation that they're giving up themselves to give Jesus the glory and honor he deserves.
Picture it..
Then cast your crown.
