:: EVERGREEN CHRISTIAN CHURCH ::

In this season of Pentecost, we have been focusing our pastoral conversations on what it means to be church in our contemporary world. In recent weeks we have explored "Pentecostal Living," and "Living as a Redeemed Community." Being a church is about living our common life together in Christ. Being part of the church is not some kind of afterthought tacked on the one's "personal relationship with Jesus." The called community of faith is an integral part of the gospel of Christ. We refer to these called communities of faith as "local churches" or "congregations."

Congregations, local churches, have "life cycles" just like human beings. Today I want us to think about where Evergreen Christian Church is in its own "life cycle."

Our beginning point for this discussion involves the words of Jesus to his disciples about Christian mission in the world (Matthew 10:24-39). It is the gospel text for today. These collected sayings of Jesus are both words of instruction to the church and words of encouragement for the church as it lives its mission in the world. Basically, Jesus is saying to our congregation: "You can face the challenges of being the church in the world without being paralyzed by fear. Here are some things I want you to know, to believe, and to act on as my people in the world." In other words, the first word to us is the word of faith, the theological foundation for our life as a congregation. The second word about "life cycles of congregations" is the sociological word.

"You can count on facing opposition as my followers because I faced opposition in my own life and ministry and the servant is not greater than the master." We may be called names, we may be misrepresented, we may be under threat, but in being so we are sharing in the life of Christ himself. To live as Christ's people in a Christ -opposed world will bring opposition and we should not be surprised by it or promise people a "rose garden" we invite them into the journey of faith with us.

"The movement in Christian faith moves from private conviction to public confession." This is what it means to be a Christian. We may therefore count on moving from private faith to public proclamation, and therefore, from private consolation to public danger. Jesus then affirms that to God alone belong all the issues of life and death, heaven and hell, physical existence and spiritual realities. People, even magistrates, may pass judgment on us. But proper fear or reverence is to be directed toward the God of all life. Whose judgment will effect our behavior: God's or other people's opinions.

But when we make this move in our witness to the gospel, we can be sure that God will not abandon us. Just as God knows and cares about the fate of a sparrow, so much more does God know and care about us.

Then the question of our loyalties is raised by Jesus. And he sets loyalty to Christ before all loyalties, including family loyalties. In other words, loyalty to Christ is set over against the best life has to offer, not just the worst! And finally, Jesus tells us clearly that there is a cost to discipleship, to following him in this world. Since he began these words of instruction and encouragement with the reminder that the servant is not greater than the master, there is also a cross to be born by the servants of the cross-bearing master. But in the losing of one's life in Christ's mission is the finding of one's life in God's love for us.

These words of instruction and encouragement form the foundation of our life and mission together as a congregation of Christ's people-as Disciples of Christ. Keep them in mind as we think about where we are in the life cycle of our congregation. And so we turn to the sociological word.

Those scholars who study the sociology of the life of Christian congregations suggest that all congregations have life cycles, just as do all human beings. In general terms, the life cycle of a person might be: birth, childhood, adolescence, young adulthood, middle age, old age and death. Certain activities, concerns, issues, learnings and commitments belong to each stage of the life cycle.

The life cycle of a congregation suggested by most religious sociologists who have studied thousands of churches would be, in general terms, as follows: birth, growth, stability, decline and death. But in the time of stability or even decline, there are opportunities for the congregation to engage in redefinition of its life and mission, redevelopment of its life and mission, and even rebirth of its life and mission. Thus, some congregations stay alive and vital, and others wither and die. In order to move forward with life and vitality, three things are required of us.

1. A commitment to change, renewal, and revitalization.

2. A willingness to "stand outside ourselves" and view our life and work with a "critical eye." I use critical here not in the sense of finding fault but in realistic analysis.

3. A commitment to grass roots participation in the process by the people of the church. Redefinition, redevelopment, renewal and rebirth in the church are not done by fiat or pontification, but by person to person participation.

Our participation in the recent renewal conference in Pueblo and the exercises we participated in reveal that we at ECC are in a time of plateau and stability. We have many strengths by the grace of God and we will focus on these positives. But we also have the wonderful opportunity for and the challenge of redefinition and revitalization and we are committed to this process. We invite all sojourners in the faith who are seeking a deepened spiritual life and faith community or congregation of compassion, commitment and support to make this journey with us. We will be focused on:

1. Optimism and hope for the future.

2. A commitment to mission and service.

3. The deepening of the spiritual life.

For more information contact the Pastor of Evergreen Christian Church:

Rev. Dr. Victor L. Hunter
Pastor and Preaching Minister, Evergreen Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
27772 Iris Drive,
Evergreen, CO. 80433
Telephone: 303.674. 3413

Sources used for this sermon:

Preaching Through The Christian Year (Philadelphia: Trinity Press International)

Arlan J. Rothauge, The Life Cycle in Congregations.