“What’s A Delivery, Anyway?”

Sermon Synopsis, September 19, 2004, Pastor Tim

Atonement has a vision statement! Affirmed in February by the congregation as an expression of God’s vision for Atonement.

We will GO to people in need, not waiting for them to come, delivering invitations to new life in Jesus, delivering God’s love by sharing our blessings and using our gifts.

Note:

        “GO” does not necessarily mean “travel”.  Going is about being intentional and taking the initiative.   Intentional = delivering love/invitations on purpose.   Initiative = creating opportunities for making deliveries. 

        Delivering invitations to new life in Jesus: this is essential to being the Church vs. a Social Service agency.  Expect to have a venture in the future focused on invitations.

        Delivering God’s Love is the focus for this Venture.

Question:  What does “deliver God’s love” mean?

You deliver God’s love when you touch someone’s life with grace.

And what’s grace?

Grace is…. uncommon in our society which runs by “You pay for what you get and you get what you deserve!”

Grace is the opposite:

• You get it for free, and
• You get the good thing that you don’t deserve.

Illustrations

Giveaway stories: Water at Stockyard days, root beer floats at Cub.

Typical reactions when giving away good things for free:

• Suspicion, confusion, disbelief
• Surprise, shock
• Awkwardness (how to accept this kind of gift – so little experience with grace)
• Deeply moved (even seemingly trivial experiences of grace – free floats – rings a powerful bell in the hearts of people.  It’s an echo of the experience of being touched by the true God.)
• Gratitude, Joy
• Curiosity (Why are you doing this???  Who are you people???”)

One woman was so bowled over by the gift of a free float that she called the church the next day to continue trying to express her delight, gratitude and appreciation.

These things listed ate the telltale signs when you’ve delivered God’s love.

This is the kind of thing you see when you touch someone’s life with grace.

The point: not to just give away a lot of stuff.  Rather, find ways to give people a taste of God, which will surely surprise them.

Another story of surprising (shocking?) grace.

(Retired pastor gives a beggar $10 instead of the quarter asked for, but requires that he spend it on “cigarettes and booze”.  “Deep inside I knew, of course, that he would spend the money as he pleased anyway.  So, why not give him a chance to do something honestly? Why not offer a dollop of grace?”  For full story, read the accompanying article “Buddy can you spare a” available at http://www.deliver4jesus.org/sermonfiles/)

The point: is not that poor people should be required to buy cigarettes and alcohol.  The story is an illustration of what it looks like when someone receives a gift that’s

• Unexpected, and
• Undeserved.

Look at that man’s reactions: surprise, shock, gratitude, joy, deeply moved.

That’s how it looks when you touch someone’s life with God’s unexpected, undeserved love.

So, when we set out to deliver God’s love, our goal is to give people that kind of experience.

An experience of grace.

An experience they’ll remember a good long time.

An experience they’ll turn to when they’re ready to turn their life around.