Community Updates from Dr. Bob: 6/21/2023
What a wonderful celebration of the gifts of Lydia we experienced in this past Sunday’s sermon. We saw how—immediately after her conversion—she intuitively began using her spiritual gift of hospitality. It was not a burden but a joy… her actions flowing directly out of the transformative work God was doing in her life. If you missed it and would like to hear the full sermon, you can find it here.
But the question right now for all of us is: How can we participate in the kind of experience Lydia had? How can we serve in ways that do not feel burdensome, but rather in ways we are excited about, that we want to do? There’s a huge gulf between those two starting points, and our vision as a church is that each one of us would serve out of joy for the ways God is at work in their lives and in ways aligned with who he has made each of us uniquely to be. For joyful service to God both flows out of his transforming work in our lives… and contributes to his transforming work in our lives.
An excellent starting point is to make an appointment with one of our spiritual gift advisors. You can first take an initial questionnaire, then discuss the results with your advisor to learn more about how God may have wired you. For some people, that may just be confirmation that they are already serving in the right area. For others, they may discover a role more in alignment with how God has uniquely gifted them.
This is the progression we are aiming for: Grace, Gift, Joy.
That’s experiencing the radical grace of God, understanding and embracing our gifts, then experiencing joy as we live according to the ways he has made each one of us. We pray that God would help each of us discern the best next steps God is calling us to take. Like Samuel, may we say, “Speak, Lord. For your servant is listening.”
The choice before us now is this: Will we draw back or will we lean in? If you vote for leaning in and would like to have a conversation with a spiritual gifts advisor, you can follow up here. As the writer of Hebrews tells us:
You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For,
“In just a little while,
he who is coming will come
and will not delay.”
And,
“But my righteous one will live by faith.
And I take no pleasure
in the one who shrinks back.”
But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved. —Hebrews 10:36-39
Partners’ vote this Sunday
This coming Sunday after each of our morning services, we will have the opportunity for all of our members to come by the tables to vote on approving our goals and budget for this coming fiscal year. This is an important time for you to express your voice as part of this community.
Praise God for the Guatemala mission trip
Thank you Community Church Rancho for your prayers and support for the Guatemala Mission Team! The team was greeted by the preschool students, teacher and community members that wanted to thank Community Church Rancho and Healthy Communities for helping make their dream for a larger preschool a reality. The team was able to do all of the welding, side walls, drywall and roof of the preschool building. There were also about 40 kids that attended the VBS session. The team returned from Guatemala safely Sunday morning.
-Guatemala Team
Our short-term mission team has returned from Guatemala. Be sure to welcome them back home and ask them about the ways God worked in their life through that experience.
Park Night Fun
Our middle school park night last night indicates this is going to be a summer to remember: new friends, epic adventures, and a deepening experience of God in the lives of our Middle School students.
It’s great to be partnering with you on Jesus’ joy-filled mission together!
