Renewal (Luke 14:12-14) // Sunday, September 1, 2019

Renewal (Luke 14:12-14) // Sunday, September 1, 2019

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Luke 14:12-14 (Common English Bible)

12 Then Jesus said to the person who had invited him, “When you host a lunch or dinner, don’t invite your friends, your brothers and sisters, your relatives, or rich neighbors. If you do, they will invite you in return and that will be your reward. 13 Instead, when you give a banquet, invite the poor, crippled, lame, and blind. 14 And you will be blessed because they can’t repay you. Instead, you will be repaid when the just are resurrected.”

Summary:

Based on the book by Dr. Candace M. Lewis and Dr. Rodney T. Smothers, Resurgence is a movement toward renewal, revival and recovery of relevance in ministry. This month, we explore our calling to surge forward as followers of Jesus and in ministry with our community.

On a road trip, we see landmarks and landscapes. Landmarks point to significant places in the past. Landscapes encompass new places we haven’t experienced yet.  Emphasis on landmarks leads to focus on maintaining what we have. When we look toward landscapes, we see the needs of who’s here, but also the needs of new people who will newly connect with Christ and the church.

In order to “resurge,” Jesus teaches us to invest in the people the world thinks have nothing to offer, for God will give the return. There is resurgence when we rediscover our mission to reach new people  in hope, love and justice in Jesus’ name.

Reflection Questions:

  1. What comes to mind when you see the word: resurgence?
  2. What are the landmarks you cherish in the life of the church? What do you see in the landscapes before us?
  3. What ministries of the church make us, our community and, most importantly, God sing with joy?