Purple Driven Life - Part 1 - Churches That Stand out - P2

Continued...

The Church, the creation of God through Christ, was not designed to blend in.  It was designed to have a mission and purpose that would cause it to stand out.  Here are three characteristics of churches that stand out.

1.  They have an uncivilized approach.  But God is a civilized God, John.  Really?

(Matthew 3:1-6 NCV) “About that time John the Baptist began preaching in the desert area of Judea. John said, ‘Change your hearts and lives because the kingdom of heaven is near.’ "  “John's clothes were made from camel's hair, and he wore a leather belt around his waist. For food, he ate locusts and wild honey. Many people came ...They confessed their sins, and he baptized them in the Jordan River.”

Here is a guy who preached that we need to change our hearts but also our lives.  If we believe we have God in our heart but never change our lives we have not had an encounter.  Encounters with God are not just about realizing that He loves us unconditionally but it's also allowing that love to unconditionally change us!

Not only was his message interesting but did you check out the clothes and diet?  Clothes were made from camel's hair, leather belt, eating flying insects and drinking honey from a bee hive. HE POSSESSED AN UNCIVILIZED APPROACH!  What was the outcome?  "Many people came...They confessed their sins, and he baptized them in the Jordan River."

(Matthew 21:12-13 NLT) “Jesus went into the Temple and threw out all the people who were buying and selling there. He turned over the tables of those who were exchanging different kinds of money, and he upset the benches of those who were selling doves.  Jesus said to all the people there, "It is written in the Scriptures, 'My Temple will be called a house for prayer.' But you are changing it into a 'hideout for robbers.' ”

Jesus, the Son of God, is depicted in this scene as a man who was so upset that he kicked people out of the building and turned over the furniture!  Then he accused them of using the house of prayer as a place to rob people in the name of ministry.  HE POSSESSED AN UNCIVILIZED APPROACH!  What was the outcome?  Crucifixion on a cross, resurrection from the grave, sits at the right hand of the Father making intercession for us, so that we can be called Children of God!

CRITICAL QUESTION:  When was the last time you had an uncivilized encounter with God?

Tomorrow, Characteristic #2 of Church that Stand Out!

Comments

[Pastordude]

Love the question about "an uncivilized encounter with God."

Reminds me of Faith's recent comment to me, "Dad - when it's just our family we don't have to act civilized do we?"