Thanks Revolutionaries!

Below is a copy of the letter that Pastor Aaron read on Sunday, November 27 during the morning worship gathering.  For our fellow Revolutionaries, who were out of town.  Take a read…

Dear Revolutionaries,

The last two years of ministry have been a dream come true for me. I have been able to do ministry the way that I always thought a pastor should be able to. I am eternally grateful for God’s grace and calling to serve as a Pastor. One of the things that I am most thankful for is all of you.

Your honesty has been refreshing. It is so good to serve alongside of people that say what needs to be said. I admit that it has not always been easy to hear correction, but I am a better Pastor and leader because of it. So, keep the truth coming. Just deliver it in love.

Your heart for the Gospel amazes me. We are a church plant, which means we don’t have all the bells and whistles of a lot of churches – and to be honest we will intentionally not have a lot of them. Yet, every week you guys show up, serve and worship Jesus with a growing heart for the Gospel. Thank you for putting the Gospel over your personal comfort.

Your faithfulness has blown my mind. What you see hear is all done with volunteer labor. People show up early every single Sunday to make this happen. As a matter of fact Revolution would not be anything without God’s grace and your faithfulness.

The list of things that I am thankful for could go on and on. I guess what I really want to say is THANK YOU. THANK YOU for a being my partners in taking the Gospel to Oakland and beyond. I couldn’t imagine any other people that I would want to be on mission with. And the best part is…THE BEST IS YET TO COME! New year is going to be AWESOME!

God’s Best,

Aaron

If you would like to hear the audio form this week’s message, you can listen here.

YOU ARE PART OF THE PLAN

This past Sunday – during the worship gathering at www.therevolutionchurch.me – we gave everyone in attendance a card.  On the front of  this card was the series graphic for THIS IS WAR. On the back we printed this phrase – YOU ARE PART OF THE PLAN.  Then we provided space for everyone to list five friends that they would commit to pray for, reach out to and invite to worship.

When we pass out cards like this, we usually see three different responses.  First, some folks just leave the card in their chair.  Second, some folks will fill the card out and then forget about it.  Third, some will fill out the card and see the challenge through to the end.

I have but one question – Which of these three people will see their friends’ lives changed by the Gospel?  

Only the one who is willing to do the work of praying, reaching and inviting.

These responses are very reminiscent of what Jesus said in Matthew 25:14-30.

 14 “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. He called together his servants and entrusted his money to them while he was gone. 15 He gave five bags of silver to one, two bags of silver to another, and one bag of silver to the last—dividing it in proportion to their abilities. He then left on his trip. 16 “The servant who received the five bags of silver began to invest the money and earned five more. 17 The servant with two bags of silver also went to work and earned two more. 18 But the servant who received the one bag of silver dug a hole in the ground and hid the master’s money. 19 “After a long time their master returned from his trip and called them to give an account of how they had used his money. 20 The servant to whom he had entrusted the five bags of silver came forward with five more and said, ‘Master, you gave me five bags of silver to invest, and I have earned five more.’ 21 “The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’ 22 “The servant who had received the two bags of silver came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two bags of silver to invest, and I have earned two more.’ 23 “The master said, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’ 24 “Then the servant with the one bag of silver came and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a harsh man, harvesting crops you didn’t plant and gathering crops you didn’t cultivate. 25 I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth. Look, here is your money back.’ 26 “But the master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy servant! If you knew I harvested crops I didn’t plant and gathered crops I didn’t cultivate, 27 why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.’ 28 “Then he ordered, ‘Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one with the ten bags of silver. 29 To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away. 30 Now throw this useless servant into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Don’t be like the unfaithful servant.  Get in the fight.  Take the Gospel to your friends.  It all begins with a commitment to pray, reach out and invite.

Don’t keep the Gospel hidden in your life.

YOU ARE PART OF THE PLAN.