My dad could be quickly irritated. All it took was a little ice chomping, and he would start to squirm. Provoked. Perturbed. Growing up, anyone chewing ice within audible range of my dad became an instant violation of Scott law. You just didn’t do it. Sometimes I can feel the frozen crunching DNA within me too. I am my Father’s son. (sigh)
What irritates you? How easily are you provoked? Perturbed (I love that quirky word)?
Junior High, politically corrected as Middle School, was a time when our irritation skills were finely honed. Snarky girls were perturbing machines simply because they were taller. Sixth grade was the occasion for tiny wet spitballs to smack the back of your neck. A classroom full of idiots was sitting behind you offering absolutely no admission of guilt. And so I was… you were… irritated. Provoked. Perturbed.
Did you know the Bible calls us to irritate, provoke and perturb each other? Because of how Jesus served and loved us, we are to serve and love each other. “And let us consider how we may SPUR one another on toward love and good deeds.” (Hebrews 10:24). The word “spur” literally, seriously, and no-jokingly means to irritate, provoke, and perturb. Sometimes it takes a sloppy wet spitball of grace to smack us and remind us that we should DO as a response to what Jesus has already DONE.
Western life is designed to isolate, bend us towards narcissism, and selfishly create our own brand of happiness. The Gospel says we are not our own but were bought with a bloody, expensive price.
Gospel-driven, together… means we irritate, agitate and perturb each other to love and serve because Jesus first loved and served us.
On November 13th, we have a great opportunity to restore Lifebridge as a place of beauty so that the beauty of the Gospel can shine brilliantly. Our SERVE SUNDAY is coming up, and we need you! If you haven’t registered, consider this little email a spitball of grace saying, “Come on! Let’s do this together. Let’s be driven by the good news of the Gospel, together.”
If you haven’t registered, you can do that right now by CLICKING HERE. REMEMBER, we need people to register INDIVIDUALLY so we can get an accurate count for our lunch.
FOR THIS SUNDAY, November 6th, we’ll continue to unpack our vision and mission. Sunday’s message is “Mission Part III: FEED people the Word of God.” Don’t forget your workbooks!!
AND… because I felt so rushed last Sunday (trying to get us through our vision/mission material instead of getting this Biblical material through us), here’s our new slow-down Sunday series schedule:
Nov. 6 – “Mission Part III – FEED people the Word of God.”
Nov. 13 – SERVE SUNDAY
Nov. 20 – “Mission Part IV – SPUR people to serve.
Nov. 27 – “Mission Part V – CONNECT people to God through prayer and worship.
Dec. 4 – “Vision/Mission Commitment Sunday”
I’m excited to gather with you this Sunday. I’m excited to teach, receive encouragement, and elevate up to greater glory than any of our smaller kingdoms can. Jesus will be lifted high, and you should invite a friend.
Blessings!
Pastor alan
p.s. – Thanks again for your enthusiasm and encouragement concerning God’s direction, vision, and mission for Lifebridge. Your faithful attendance, serving, and giving are the tangible ways you say “YES!” Thank you for doing that. God is good, and HIS church will prevail.