Disclaimers & The Actual Life You Have
Sermon Recap
This is the end of our fall Vision Series. We’ve explored our vision statement (To see the goodness of God’s kingdom fully realized in the Refuge Family and our city) and our mission (Being transformed through life with Jesus).
We’ve named the 4 strategic anchors that we believe will keep us focused and grounded – Prayer, Worship, Small Groups, and Discipleship Pathways.
David walked us through our 10-year target, an expression of what we hope is true of Refuge 10 years from now, as expressed in 10 goals or hopes that we have for Refuge.
Honestly, it feels like a lot. And these kinds of conversations can provoke a wide spectrum of responses in us, from hesitation and skepticism to enthusiasm and motivation.
In the 1st century, the church in Philippi was a young congregation beginning a new season of life together, with new leaders, after having been planted by a uniquely gifted pastor. The pastor who planted that church – the apostle Paul – was imprisoned in Rome.
Out of concern for his current well-being and future ministry, the church sent a letter and care package to Paul in prison. The book we know as Philippians is his letter back to them, answering their concerns and helping them look with joy and confidence into their future.
Everything that Paul has to say to the church launches out of his confidence in this one thing: “the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6). The real work belongs to God, and we can trust him to complete it.
That is the promise that frees us from anxiety about having to have plans, practices, words, sermons, strategies, etc., that are “just right.”
It’s also the promise that can give us rest when we don’t know what God is doing, in our church or in our individual lives. We trust him to continue his work of loving us and making us more and more like Jesus (John 17:24-26). We can rest in his love, without feeling pressure to “narrate” what God is doing.
We make our plans carefully because we want to be faithful to God and the gospel. But we hold our plans lightly, because we trust that God will be faithful to Himself.
Entering Conversation
1. What stood out to you from this week’s sermon? Did anything especially connect with you?
2. Have any of you had a moment or even a season where you just felt deeply loved by God? What was that like? What effect did it have on you?
3. Close your time together by praying. Give thanks for the love of God and for His promise to complete the work of transforming us into the character of Jesus. You might use passages like Ephesians 3:14-20; Philippians 1:9-11; 1 Thessalonians 5:12-24 to help you.
Practice for the Week
How might you remind yourselves of God’s love often? Do that. And give thanks.