The Georgianna Way: Commitment to Outward Focused

Sermon by Pastor Corky

I am deeply committed to all our core values, in fact I find that if you don't stick to your core values especially when they are challenged then they're probably not core values, but really just hobbies, or ancillary interests. But this week's core value of being outward focused is one of my great passions. After all we built a church around the statement that like Jesus, "we exist to give ourselves away". When I read the Gospels I see Jesus extending himself all over the place, to all kinds of people. Jesus doesn't discriminate with his time or energy. For sure Jesus draws a crowd everywhere he goes, but it is always a by-product of engaging others. I think this is how the church should live, being "other" driven as Jesus was. Somewhere in the last 50 years the church has become "inward-focused", more monastery than missional outpost. This is what I call the "sin of neglect". When we make the church about us, our wants, our desires, our needs...then we neglect the very people Jesus created the church to reach. Jesus was passionate about the M.O.B. (the marginalized, the oppressed, and the broken-hearted). We all at one time or another have been a part of the M.O.B. and have received the benefits of Jesus reaching for us. I believe what defines us as a church is our reach, and I never want us to be found with Alligator Arms. Join us Sunday as we continue to refresh our commitments to our core values as the Bride of Christ!