Good Morning Hope,
A neighbor recently came to me and said, “The way of Jesus works. In the past, when I was angry with a friend I either exploded or withdrew. I never knew there was a third way. After trying Jesus’ counsel to take the log out of my eye and then lovingly go to remove the speck in the other’s eye, I wish I would have known this years ago. Jesus’ way works! This one insight from Jesus has moved me far along the arc in my journey to know and maybe one day follow Jesus in every area of my life.”
As we begin 2016, I am waking up nearly every morning with gratitude to God for, among other things, clarifying a few things for all of us in the Hope family. Things like our…
- Mission (What should we do): To be disciples who make disciples of all nations. (Matt. 4:19 & 28:18-20)
- Method (How do we do this): Through loving relationships as Jesus modeled and taught. (Matt. 4:19 & 28:18-20)
- Motives (Why would God want us to do this): To see our neighbors restored to God and experiencing his unfathomable love, to see our city look more like heaven and to see people from every ethnic nation come to know and glorify God. (II Cor. 5:17-21, Matt. 6:9-10, Ps. 67:1-3)
- Message (What is the news God wants us to announce): Jesus is Lord (Luke 2:11, Acts 2:36-39, 10:36, Rom. 10:13-15, Phil. 2:11)
In addition to these clarifications, as I hear so many of you relay your desire to follow, live in union with and join Jesus in His mission to help others do the same, I am thankful that He is allowing us to join Him together in this—the greatest endeavor in the world.
Before we go one more day into this new year I want to share with you a defining moment during one of Hope’s recent elder meetings. In the context of prayerful reflection, one of the men said, “God has been gracious to make our church’s purpose and approach clear. As we head into this new year we have a lot to learn so we can all be more faithful followers of Jesus who help others do the same. Let’s keep learning and let’s watch out. There will be many temptations to distract us in the days ahead. With God’s help, let’s stay the course.”
Hope Community Church, we are neither a building nor a thing that exists out there apart from each of us. Like every local church, we are a collection of individuals who unite to form a unified whole. Therefore, the degree to which you and I, with God’s help, avoid distractions will be the degree to which Hope Community Church stays the course. The degree to which you and I invest in prayer, Bible meditation, solitude, worship, generosity, listening to the voice of our King, glad obedience, and other God-honoring habits will be the degree to which Hope Community Church stays the course. The degree to which you and I love one another will be the degree to which Hope Community Church stays the course. And the degree to which you and I initiate time with, listen to, serve, and—when the time is right—speak of our Lord Jesus with our neighbors will be the degree to which Hope Community Church stays the course.
So, for the good of our seeking neighbors, for more glimpses of heaven throughout metro Denver and for the glory of God among all nations, may God help us in 2016 and beyond to stay the course.
Love,
Dean