It's Our ARK Week!

This past Sunday we kicked off our Acts of Random Kindness week! This is an emphasis we are joining in with our Childcare Center to help make a difference in our church, community, and across the world! The premise is simple: keep your eyes and ears peeled for opportunities to do something kind for someone...it can be a friend, family member, coworker, neighbor, or complete stranger! If you have a story to share, we encourage you to post it to one of our Facebook pages: www.facebook.com/CokesChapel or www.facebook.com/CokesChapelChildcare. 

There is a great scene in the Steve Carell and Morgan Freeman movie, "Evan Almighty," where this idea is beautifully illustrated. Evan (Carell) and God (Freeman) are walking through a yard when God asks Evan if he wants to change the world, because God definitely does. Evan replies that he does not know where to begin to accomplish this task. God said that the transformation of the world begins with acts of random kindness, and inspires Evan with a simple gesture of providing drinking water for a nearby dog. You can watch the clip below... 

As we kicked off this emphasis, I reminded those in worship of our current vision and mission emphasis — Cokes Chapel: a place for all GOD's children, making disciples for Jesus to transform the world here, there, and everywhere! 1 John 5:1-2 provides the summation for this vision and mission emphasis as we remember that we prove our love for God in the ways we love God's children. 

I hope that you are taking this emphasis seriously and looking for ways to help transform the world, beginning with simple acts of random kindness. This can begin a chain reaction of love and kindness emanating from our church into the community, from our community into the region, and from the region into the rest of the world. Help us in the emphasis by performing acts of random kindness, sharing your stories, and keeping the chain going well beyond this week!

Your Nets

A couple Sundays ago, I taught from the Gospel of Mark’s account of Jesus calling Simon, Andrew, James, and John to be his first disciples. Those four men were professional fishermen, so nets played a prominent role in this story.

 

In the time of Jesus, professional fishermen used two basic kinds of nets. The first was the kind of net that was tossed out into the water and drawn back in, hopefully catching fish or two along the way. The second kind of net was actually dragged behind the boat, catching the fish in the net as the vessel traveled through the water.

 

As Jesus encountered Simon, Andrew, James, and John, and offered them the invitation to follow him and fish for people (Mark 1:17), we learn that they all immediately left their nets and followed. For Simon and Andrew, they dropped the nets that were being actively used to try and catch fish. For James and John, they left nets that they were mending for future expeditions. I think it is plausible that both kinds of nets were being used by these fishermen in this account.

 

A lot has been said about those first disciples leaving their nets and following. Can you imagine the faith that took? Have you thought about what it would look like for you to drop your proverbial nets and follow Jesus? If the Lord were to walk into wherever it is you are reading this article, and ask you to leave your nets and follow, what would you have to leave? Family? Work? Hobbies? Put simply, what would you have to leave behind to truly follow Jesus?

 

There is no doubt that each and every one of us have things in our lives that we need to leave behind and follow Jesus. These are metaphorical nets that tangle, trap, and tie us down, keeping us from actively following Jesus and getting the most out of the life God wants for us. But in some cases, when mended carefully and prayerfully, your nets might actually provide you the opportunities to fish for people. Our relationships, jobs, hobbies, and everything else when given to Jesus as a faithful follower can be used as a net to fish for people!

 

We can be very strategic and thoughtful in how we cast our nets to intentionally reach people. Invite a friend or family member to worship or a church activity. Use a meal, golf outing, fishing trip, or shopping expedition to build a stronger relationship with someone and share your faith in Jesus. Casting these kinds of nets might require you to mend some things in your life, but they provide you opportunities to engage people with Jesus’ offer of salvation.

 

We also must be very conscientious about how we live our lives when we think no one is watching. Think of this in terms of character or integrity, and your witness. The very way you live your life is a testimony to the One you claim to follow. Obviously we have some net-mending to do here, too, because the net that is cast in the wake of our lives can catch someone for Jesus or drive them away.

 

As you think about the nets of your life, I want you to think about these three questions…your answers might just cast the course of eternity for countless people!

1) Do you have a net that is tangling your life and needs to be abandoned?

2) Do you have a net that needs to be mended to maximize its effectiveness?

3) Do you have a net that needs to be repositioned or repurposed?

 

I would love to hear any answers to those questions.

 

Happy fishing!