Love
If you have been streaming The Chosen, you may recall a scene from Season 2, Episode 2 where Simon presses Jesus about the need for developing and documenting a clearer organization structure and better management and communications approaches with their growing ministry – all with the unstated, but obvious design of elevating Simon to a position of authority over the other disciples. (If you haven’t seen it, I have included a link at the bottom of this article.) Jesus – in a wonderful leadership lesson to us all – reveals his understanding of Simon’s true motives by first telling him how much he appreciates his attempts to make things better for the group, then reminding him he “could stand to be a little nicer sometimes.” I don’t think you will find this dialog in any translation of the Bible, but I can see it happening.
In fact, I have seen it happen here at NUMC. It ultimately led to an undesirable outcome for our church and caused me to stand before a town hall gathering of our congregation and make a promise that has defined my approach to church leadership from that day to this. My promise was to “think less about bringing what I have learned at my work to my church and more about bringing what I have learned at my church to my work.” The first step for me was to just be “a little nicer sometimes.”
I have spoken before about the concept of “core competencies.” It is a competitive business term that was originally coined to described something one company did better than any other in its market. It is that one product or service that sets the market standard and ensures competitive advantage for as long as it can be protected and maintained. In the minds of consumers, it is clearly associated with its brand – Coca Cola, Kleenex, Apple, Microsoft, Tesla, etc.
Did you know Christ declared a core competency for the church? He did. Look at John 13:34- 35.
“ 34 A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
The core competency of the church is love. Through Christ and by the power of His Holy Spirit, we can offer each other and the rest of the the world something no one else can – pure, unadulterated love. By that standard, the church should be widely regarded as the undisputed and leading purveyor of love in the world. So why isn’t it?
I believe the answer to that question can be explained using another business concept known as the “hollowing out” of a core competency. Hollowing out refers to one competitor’s ability to diminish another’s core competency by offering products or services that are better or very similar in nature, but better in other ways – cheaper, easier to get, etc. Think of companies, like Sears, IBM, Kodak, America On-Line, that have lost their core competencies to others, like Wal Mart, Apple, iPhone, Google. I believe many modern-day churches have allowed their core competency to be hollowed out by inferior substitutes for the love and acceptance the world around them continues to desperately seek. They, just like Simon and me, have often focused too much on protecting those aspects of our ministries we bring in from the world and less on being devoted practitioners of the Christian love and grace we can take into it. So people look elsewhere for love, too often after being hurt by our unwillingness to love them as Christ has loved us.
This was a key factor for me when I left church for nine years. I came back when I found a church that seemed to take seriously Christ’s command to “love one another, as I have loved you.” While we are not perfect here, we have at the very least committed ourselves to a vision of being Christ’s love to this community.
A few weeks ago, I began this three-part series by pointing you to the banners hanging on the eastern outside wall of our sanctuary. There are three of them and they read, “Light,” Life,” and “Love.” I explained that those banners describe the three elements of the NUMC church vision – “To be the Light, Life, and Love of Jesus Christ.”
A vision is simply a statement of WHAT we are working to BE. It offers a view of what we wish to become and what we hope to be known for in the community. As I said in the previous two articles on this subject:
“It is a leadership responsibility to articulate and cast a vision for the church, and it is our individual responsibility as members to interpret that vision in the light of what God is calling each of us to do to make it a reality. That can be a little challenging. What does it look like for a church to be the light, life, and love of Jesus Christ? It takes a lot of prayer, a lot of preaching, a lot of Bible study, a lot of service, and a lot of good discipleship to help us understand what the vision means to each of us and how it can inspire and energize our work. I am doing this series in the hope that sharing my personal understanding might make that challenge less daunting for some.”
My last two articles covered the first two elements of our vision – Light and Life. Today, I will complete the series with the third element, - Love. What does it take for us to be the Love of Jesus Christ to the world around us? I think He gave us the clear answer in verse 34, above – we must love them like He loved us. Jesus welcomed me into His family and allowed me to feel as if I belong there, before He ever asked me to change a single thing about myself. I believe the church that is Love will give others that same sense of belonging. It will:
Be open and welcoming to everyone. We don’t have to agree with people to love them. We don’t have to change them to love them. It will help a lot if we can untangle our politics from our mission to make disciples.
Always encouraging and helping those who need it. Our church has always been one to promote Christ’s love through social action. We acknowledge, as Christ did, the hurt and suffering that exists all around us and we commit ourselves to relieve it to the best of our ability. James 2:15-17 reminds us to love with both “works” and “faith.”
Build life-long relationships around small groups; Everyone should be able to find here family and friendships that last forever in trusting, discrete, and sensitive settings that promote growth, offer support for the difficult times we all face, and help us celebrate the blessings of God in our lives.
Give sacrificially; This may be the true test of our commitment to love others as Christ did. It was for Him. He gave everything so we could be reconciled to the Father, which is every person’s greatest need. While we find it difficult to give up our place in line at the supermarket, he threw off the privileges and comforts of Heaven to bring us back to God. There should be little we would not do to show someone the love of Christ.
Always choose compassion over judgement and seek to restore those lost to fellowship; Christ always looked upon the masses with compassion for the pain they endured because of their separation from God – not with the contempt we often feel for people who engage in behaviors we dislike. Let’s continue to recognize, whatever our levels of piety or depravity, we all need this Risen Savior and His redeeming love.
Bottom line - The church that is Love will be family for its community and it will love them like family. D.L Moody put it this way.
“Show me a church where there is love, and I will show you a church that is a power in the community. In Chicago a few years ago a little boy attended a Sunday school I know of. When his parents moved to another part of the city the little fellow still attended the same Sunday school, although it meant a long, tiresome walk each way.
A friend asked him why he went so far and told him that there were plenty of others just as good nearer his home.
“They may be as good for others, but not for me,” was his reply.
“Why not?” she asked.
“Because they love a fellow over there,” he replied.
If only we could make the world believe that we loved them there would be fewer empty churches and a smaller proportion of our population who never darken a church door. Let love replace duty in our church relations, and the world will soon be evangelized.”
Our vision reminds us that is the kind of church God wants us to be—A place where love replaces duty or structure or power or control in our relationships with others. A place where our true core compentency is love. A place where we can all be reminded to just “be a little nicer sometimes.”
Grace and Peace, my friends.
Scene from The Chosen - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhCPoQAYNu0
I Love To Fly!
RC planes are a popular hobby that I really enjoy. The “Oh Yeah!” feeling of flying an aircraft, even if it’s just a small model, is awesome. But did you know that RC planes can also teach us important lessons about faith? The Bible teaches us to have faith and trust in God’s plan for us. In Matthew 17:20, Jesus tells his disciples, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” RC planes may be small in size, but they require a great deal of faith and trust in the equipment and in our own abilities as RC pilots.
Building an RC plane from scratch can also teach us about accomplishing something, especially if it’s hard. It takes time and effort to build an RC plane, and it can be pain in the you know what when things don’t go as planned. However, with patience, we can overcome obstacles and achieve our goals. Like, in our spiritual lives, we must be positive through challenges and setbacks and trust that God will guide us through difficult times.
Flying an RC plane can also teach us about the importance of focus. We must carefully prepare our planes for flight, ensuring that all systems are working properly and that we are trained as RC pilots. Once in flight, we must stay focused and alert, making adjustments as necessary to keep the plane on course. This level of practice and focus can add to our spiritual lives as well. We must be prepared and focused in our faith, constantly seeking to deepen our relationship with Christ and stay on the path he has set for us.
Flying RC planes can be a fun way to connect with others and share our faith. Whether it’s hanging out at the RC flying clubs or hosting events that involve RC planes and fellowship, there are many ways to use this hobby as a tool. We can share our love of RC planes with others while also sharing our love of Christ.
So, RC planes can teach us important lessons about faith, preparation, and focus. Whether you’re an experienced pilot or just starting out, there are many opportunities to connect your love of RC planes with your love of Christ. So, the next time you’re flying your plane (or want to start), take a moment to reflect on the lessons you can learn and how you can use this hobby to grow in your faith and serve others.
Will You Join The Team?
We read in Matthew 4:18-22 this:
“As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James, son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.”
I know it is only November, but I love March, the third month of the year. I’m sure you’re thinking that this Florida born person loves March because the weather is warmer, the sun is out longer, the azaleas are blooming. That is true, but the true reason I love this month is, it’s March Madness. Some of you may know what I’m talking about but just in case, March Madness is an entire month of college basketball where one NCAA Division 1 team is crowned the national champion. 68 teams will play over a few weeks and will be whittled down to 1. It is during this month that we witness the Cinderella teams, those who are the lower seed teams beat ones that are seeded higher. Each player on each team plays a role, has a function, finds their place so they work together for their goal, playing the best that they can and hopefully winning.
Jesus takes this same approach, assembling a team. He called persons who were not the upper echelon, ones who were considered outcasts, common persons to join him. None of them were worthy of being called but yet they were called, and they responded. They found their role, their function and they worked together to share all that Jesus had taught them. The team today is much larger than 12 people. You see God is calling all to be on the team. When we answer that call, we discover our role, our function in how we can share God’s word, love and how we can transform the world. We are on a winning team, God’s team. I encourage you if you have been sitting back and watching, listen God is calling you to the team. If you have answered that call, continue to listen as roles and functions can change according to the plans that God has for you at any given time. By the second week in April, a Division 1 basketball team will be crowned the national champion for 20243 and the pursuit for 2025 will begin. God’s pursuit to have all on God’s team never ends. The benefits of God’s team are greater than a National Championship. I invite you to answer God’s call to join the team.
Navigating the Path of Youth Ministry
As the youth pastor at Navarre United Methodist Church, I've had the privilege of walking alongside our incredible young people on their spiritual journeys. It's a role that fills me with joy, challenges me daily, and deepens my own faith. For my first blog entry, I'd like to share with you some insights into the heart of our youth ministry and how we're striving to make it a place of growth, connection, and empowerment.
Meaningful Relationships. In youth ministry, relationships are at the core of everything we do. Building meaningful connections with our young members is a fundamental step in helping them grow spiritually. We aim to be more than just spiritual guides; we strive to be friends, mentors, and confidants. Trust is the foundation of these relationships, and it's something we cherish and nurture. By genuinely getting to know our students, listening to their stories, and being there for them during the ups and downs of life, we create a safe and loving environment where they can explore their faith.
Intentional Programming. Creating a thriving youth ministry means being purposeful and strategic in our approach. Our programs and activities are carefully designed to engage, challenge, and inspire our young members. We offer a range of activities, from worship services and Bible studies to community service projects and fun outings. These experiences not only deepen their faith but also give them opportunities to build relationships with their peers and contribute positively to our community.
Discipleship. Discipleship is at the heart of our mission. We want our young people to not only understand the teachings of Jesus but also to live out those teachings in their daily lives. Our focus is on helping them grow spiritually, develop a strong moral compass, and discover their unique gifts and talents. By doing so, we empower them to be ambassadors of God's love in our world.
Partnering with Parents. We believe that the partnership between the church and parents is vital for the spiritual growth of our youth. We regularly engage with parents, providing resources, guidance, and open lines of communication. We encourage parents to take an active role in their children's faith development and support them in becoming active participants in our church community.
Student Leadership. One of our key objectives is to empower our young members to become leaders within our church and the larger community. We encourage them to take ownership of their faith journey and actively participate in planning and executing various youth activities. By fostering leadership skills, we are preparing them to be strong, faith-driven leaders in our church and society.
In conclusion, youth ministry at Navarre United Methodist Church is an exciting journey that we embark on together. It’s filled with learning, growth, and the incredible discovery of God's love.
I invite you to join us on this path. Whether you're a young person seeking faith or a parent looking for a nurturing environment for your child, we're here to walk with you. Together, we can create a strong foundation of faith and community for the future generations. If you would like to learn more about youth, or if you’re interested in serving these future leaders, please do not hesitate to reach out to me!
In Christ alone,
Chris Gersic
Youth Pastor at Navarre United Methodist Church
Influential Writings
I experienced a first last week. Some very gracious individual mentioned our second podcast and then informed me that they bought a book that we talked about. I have to admit, I have a mild case of Tsundoku. Don’t worry, I had to google that word. It’s when you end up collecting books more then reading them. I have an ever growing list of books that I would love to read, and some of them I’ve even bought, but I buy them faster than I can read them. I don’t know if you suffer from the same thing, but below is a short top 5 list of books and authors that have been incredibly influential in my spiritual life and that I can’t recommend enough.
1: Henri Nouwen- This is one of the authors we mentioned in the podcast. His writings are incredibly convicting, not in a judgemental way, but in a humility self awareness when compared to Jesus.
My personal favorites of his are Compassion, The Selfless Way of Christ, and Spiritual Direction.
2: Richard Foster- I can’t say enough good things about his books. They generally come from a position of trying to teach you an aspect of the christian life and they exposed me to rich traditions and practices that have been lost to most of us.
My personal favorites are: Celebration of Discipline, Prayer, and Freedom of Simplicity.
3: Shane Claiborne- This is not your typical Christian author, but he asks “What if Jesus really meant everything he said?” And comes up with a very different, but sincere and probably more accurate, approach to the Christian life.
My personal favorites are “Jesus for President, The Irresistible Revolution, and Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals.
4: Karl Barth- He is not for the feint of heart. There are single sentences that take up an entire page. But he is one of the best theologians ever and if you are wanting to really get into the details of Christian theology, there’s no one better to read.
While he has serval other books, the only thing I truly recommend is the 14 volume Church Dogmatics.
5: Dietrich Bonhoeffer- More of a classic theologian at this point, his life is testament to his devotion and interpretation of scripture, refusing to flee Europe during WWII so he could continue to minister and dying in a concentration camp.
Must read: The Cost of Discipleship
Other highly recommended books:
The Book of Common Prayer
The Confessions of St Augustine
Conflict Holiness and Politics in the Teachings of Jesus - Borg
The Hungering Dark- Buechner
The Magnificent Defeat- Buechner
Holiness in Israel- Gammie
Love Does- Goff
The Story of Christianity- Gonzalez
Not A Fan- Idleman
The Imitation of Christ- a Kempis
Christ and Culture- Niebuhr
Under the Unpredictable Plant- Peterson
Radical- Platt
A Plain Account of Christian Perfection- Wesley
The Day The Revolution Began- Wright
The Politics of Jesus- Yoder