BUILDTogether, Part 1 - by Justin Renton
February 12, 2024
Sermon recap:
Justin Renton shared the first lesson in our series for the year-BUILDtogether:
- God moves in mysterious ways. The return to Jerusalem and the rebuilding of the temple came about with the help of a pagan king, Cyrus.
- Embrace different perspectives. We can view the same event very differently. Respect one another.
- The work stalls when we lose focus.
Watch the full service and sermon on our YouTube channel (the sermon starts at 53 mins)
Solly Kganyago shares Part 4 in the series, BUILDTogether.
If you missed Part 3 of BuildTogether by Ivor Botha, you can watch on our YouTube channel. The lesson starts at 34 mins.
In Haggai 1: 1-4 God challenged the nation about their priorities. He wanted them to rebuild the temple. They agreed but said, "Not now." Verse 13-14 God promised, "I am with you," when they got distracted by the opposition. What is God saying to us today Wha is stopping us from building his kingdom? We need to seek God, taste how good he is, and trust that he is working behind the scenes.
You can't build something that's already there, unless it's in disrepair. Wake up your faith. Lead, don't supervise, and stand up to opposition.
The Holy Spirit gives guidance and direction in our missionary work. Are we doing the work the Spirit has set aside for each one of us to do? He knows the time, place and person to reach out to. Are we listening and obeying when he nudges us? The Holy Spirit forms Christ in all of us and it's a lifetime journey. Seek to be filled. Listen to his voice. Step out boldly.
Giving is an act of trust. It is also not an obligation but an act of worship. Give from the heart, not as a duty, but as a way to express gratitude. Giving is about unity in the church, it is motivated by grace, not guilt, and a spiritual act of joyful worship. Jesus demonstrated sacrificial giving through his actions, leaving us an example to follow.
To embrace Jesus's mission, I must first clothe myself with Jesus and have his character formed in me. He must become greater, I must become less. Then I"ll be able to do as Jesus did.
God's grace is with me. We need each other. Grace is a gift.