An Open Door – in or out of the church?

I’ve been working on the sermon for church later today. There is going to be a bit of a tie up between the morning service and Sanctuary First. I’ve been reflecting upon that great little text in 1 Corinthians 16.9 where Paul says this ” a great door of opportunity has opened up for me, but i face many adversaries. I going to be encouraging every one of us to make the most of our life opportunities. We can’t live our lives in regret. never can we live our lives in fear. Too many people over the years have held back from the call of God on their lives because they could only see the obstacles rather than the opportunities. So tomorrow will be “Open Door Sunday”

I think the evening service has the potential to be really interesting. One of the themes we will be looking at is the living dead that inhabit the church. Here’s a sample of the material we’ll be reflecting upon.

A scene of first aid – blue lights flashing emergency noise soundtrack – someone being brought back to life. Paramedics flat on the ground – receiving the breath of life from a passer by. The point is that the church is facing an emergency. The scene depicts the struggle for the Christian who is slipping back into the world. The church is called to be like the rescue ambulance seeking to strengthen Christian life. However the church is dying no longer able to carry out rescue missions.The passion for renewal and revival is now outside the church in the most unexpected places. God is Emerging in the lives of people who would normally pass by.

GET REVIVED OR DIE? – ALBERT BOGLE

(The actor pacing up and down looking at the audience then at the paramedic flat on her back Desperation can be detected from the voice)

They’ve got to wake up!

You better wake up!

So much to do

It’s absolutely ludicrous

I can’t believe what I’m doing

I can’t believe what I’m saying

I can’t believe what I’m seeing

This is a crisis.

Religion is dead

Church is dead But I,-

We need something to believe in

Imagine

Para medics being resuscitated

By the patients

If you where told that

You’d laugh in disbelief

But we’re living in an upside down world

How did the church get into this state?

Something happened!

Something terrible is happening

The world has gone crazy

And the Church with it

Oh what ever happened to you?

Why have you stopped talking?

Why have you stopped explaining?

Why have you stopped believing.?

It was your job to bring us back to life

To bring us hope

Salvation

Meaning and purpose

But you lost

Your heart

Your passion

You got side tracked

into alternative programmes

You stopped believing people were sick

You became sick yourself

believing lies

You got caught up in a counterfeit world

You’ve got to wake up

Start coughing

Breathing

O Please just start

Living again

Loving again

Singing again

Caring again

Healing again

Believing again

I’m the outsider here

I’m not into rescue

I need to be rescued

I’ve got my own problems

My own plans

But people like me need help

Children need love

Don’t look at me like that

You look dead

I’m not like you

I’m the outsider here

I’m not a Church

I can’t do it your way

I’m into relationships

I like it minimalist

Not too complicated

O Please wake up

Strengthen the things that remain

Song – Bob Dylan – From the “Slow Train Comin” – When You Gonna Wake Up