Holy Spirit at Work // M-Note 8.1.26

Worship last weekend was powerful as we ended our series Heaven on Earth. I invited all who wanted to be baptized or reaffirm their baptism to come forward. What followed was inspiring. Across our sites we had over 150 people come forward to be baptized, reaffirm their baptism or commit to membership at The Gathering. All of these represent steps to follow Christ, not just through our words, but in our everyday lives. I want to share with you why these commitments matter.
 
Baptism is a sacrament in the church, an outward and visible sign of inward and invisible grace. In simpler terms, baptism makes visible on the outside, what God is doing in your life on the inside. As a pastor, I sometimes question if all the effort put into the ministries of the church matter. Maybe you feel that way sometimes. You serve or give or invite or show up weekly and maybe you wonder if all of it is making a difference. Is the Holy Spirit really moving among us? The answer is a resounding YES. The work you do matters, and God is moving in peoples’ lives. Baptism is an outward sign of what is happening in so many of your lives. And it was inspiring to see.
 
These commitments also matter for a different reason. Jesus tells his disciples,
 We know all too well that our world is full of people who claim the name of Jesus but do not look like Jesus. There are people who love the title of Christian but don’t want to listen to Jesus’ teachings. There are so many who wear the badge of church membership and yet do not act as Jesus does. And the world notices. Too many Christians use Jesus to promote their own (narrow) social, economic, and political views, cheapening the faith and turning away millions of people tired of this distortion.
 
I pray nearly everyday that The Gathering would be different. That we would be people who both worship Jesus inside the church and live like Jesus teaches outside the church. I want us to be people who are growing in faith, both inwardly in our hearts, and visibly in our treatment of others. I want to be a church of people that do not just care about ourselves and those like us, but work for a world that reflects the justice and equity Christ brings. I am desperate for that kind of church. I think a lot of you are desperate for that kind of church as well.
 
So last Sunday, when I saw hundreds commit to taking a step to follow Jesus more closely in their lives, I rejoiced. Gathering, thank you for being a church that wants to love Jesus and live out the faith of Jesus. Thank you for inviting your friends to experience a church that is different. Thank you for making space where new steps of faith are encouraged and celebrated. If you are interested in being baptized or reaffirming your baptism, please reach out to your site pastor or let us know here. Thank you for not just claiming the title but seeking to live like Jesus in a world that needs him.
 
Peace,
 
Matt
 
P.S. This weekend is a great time to invite someone new to The Gathering. I am starting a new series retracing the life of Moses and learning how his journey can offer us insights on our own. I will share reflections I had during my recent trip to Egypt where I was able to see firsthand many of the places that we will talk about. I can’t wait to share it with you and I hope to see you Sunday.