What's So Amazing About Grace?

Without a doubt, one of Vickie and my favorite authors is Philip Yancey.  He has written some tremendous books which have really spoken to my heart and challenged my thinking.  My favorite though, is his heart-gripping description of God's benevolent love for His creation titled "What's So Amazing About Grace?"

In this book Yancey "explores grace at street level.  If grace is God's love for the undeserving, he asks, then what does it look like in action?  And if Christians are its sole dispensers, then how are we doing at lavishing grace on a world that knows far more of cruelty and unforgiveness than it does of mercy?" (From the jacket cover)

In a world that is starving for grace, we Christians need to be more gracious, more loving and more compassionate than anyone else.  Although, our society constantly is seeking for justice, we need to remember that Christ's death on the cross "broke up the logjam between justice and forgiveness."  Justice has already been served.  All that is left for us to demonstrate is God's love.

Let me challenge you to read this book.  Yancey's ability to weave a story and to convey truth will keep you transfixed.  In the process your heart will be challenged to look for ways to lavish God's amazing grace on those, like you, who could never deserve it. 

Tomorrow Hollywood Community Church is commissioning Mike and Amy Riddering as missionaries to Burkina Faso.  I AM SO EXCITED! Although I served more than ten years as a missionary in Mexico, and for four years as a director at a missions organization, this is the first time that I have the privilege of being a "Sending Pastor."  Below is an article that I wrote more than ten years ago.  It perfectly explains the privilege and the responsibility that we have in sending the Ridderings to the mission field.  

The Importance of the Sending Church

BIMI World, Volume 2, 1999

Without a doubt, one of the greatest privileges and one of the most awesome responsibilities that God can entrust to a local congregation is to be the sending church for a missionary called to the mission field by the Holy Spirit. Biblically speaking, it is a more intimate fulfillment of the Great Commission. It is one thing to give your mission dollars; it is more difficult to give your children. Nevertheless, that ought to be the goal of every local church.

Of course, we know that Paul and Barnabas were the very first missionaries and that the church of Antioch was the first sending church. Therefore, Acts 13:1-4 narrates for us the beginning of what we now consider the “modern missionary movement.” Let’s notice several principles that are found in this passage.

THE HOLY SPIRIT CALLS

As one studies Acts 13, it is evident that the principal character in this passage is the Person of the Holy Spirit. Someone has aptly called Him the “Commander and Chief of Missions.” As the church at Antioch maintained a spirit of prayer, the Holy Ghost began a work of missions in the heart of that congregation that has become the foundation of our modern missionary movement. Let us remember first of all that in Acts 13 it was with the Holy Spirit that missions originated. It was not an Antiochan or Pauline concept. The idea to reach the world with the Gospel began in the heart of God and was passed on to man by the conviction and direction of the Holy Spirit. We must never take credit for something that He is doing.

Secondly and equally important is the fact that the Holy Spirit continues to call men to the mission field. Many times, as seen here in Acts 13, He calls the best and brightest. Honestly, it can be difficult for a church to “lose” their most faithful members to the mission field, but just as a sovereign God was able to fill the spiritual gap on the foreign field, He is able to raise up additional laborers to take their places. Thank God for the fact that the calling and directing ministry of the Holy Spirit did not cease with the passing of the apostles.

THE LOCAL CHURCH SENDS

Though the Holy Spirit is the Commander and Chief of missions, we must never minimize the importance and the place of the local church. Apart from the Holy Spirit, no other person or organization ought to have as much influence over the direction and decisions of the missionary as his local sending church.

Biblically, the sending church has several responsibilities that are outlined in Acts 13. The first responsibility has to do with recognition. In Acts 13:2 the Holy Spirit commanded the church to separate Barnabas and Saul. The idea conveyed is that the church leaders must be in tune with the Holy Spirit in order to recognize when God’s hand has been placed upon a certain individual to perform a certain task. How is that done? By prayer and fasting! I wonder what would have happened had not the church at Antioch been seeking God’s power and direction through prayer and fasting? Would they have recognized the fact that God had a special ministry for Paul and Barnabas? Would God have had to look elsewhere for His first missionaries? How many missionaries today are not being sent to the field because their local church through prayer and fasting has not recognized the hand of God that has been placed upon their lives? Let us take seriously the command of Matthew 9:38 and pray that God would raise up missionaries for the whitened harvest fields from our own congregation.

The second principle demonstrated in Acts 13 is one of identification. Verse 3 mentions that the leaders of the church “laid their hands on them.” Throughout Scripture the idea of the laying on of hands has symbolized identification.

* Numbers 8:10 - The nation of Israel identified with the priestly ministry of the Levites.

* Deuteronomy 34:9 - Moses and Israel identified with Joshua as the future leader of the nation.

* Acts 6:6 - The apostles identified with the ministry of the new deacons.

* I Tim 4:14 - The church leadership identified themselves with Timothy’s call to the ministry.

In each of these cases those that laid their hands upon God’s servant recognized, identified and supported the mission and the ministry to which God had called him.

This is what we find taking place in Acts 13. After having recognized the fact that God had a very special task for Paul and Barnabas to perform, the Antioch Church identified themselves with their ministry. From henceforth, they would be bonded and united together in the task of sending the Gospel to the regions beyond.

The third principle mentioned in Acts 13 is that of releasing. Verse 3 mentions that after the church at Antioch recognized God’s call upon their lives and identified themselves with their ministry, that they sent them away or released them from local church responsibilities. Tragically, many a deputation missionary has struggled because of having to continue his ministries within the local church while trying to raise the necessary support. The Antioch church allowed Paul and Barnabas to completely dedicate themselves to the ministry to which God had called them.

As believers and members of local churches we have a tremendous responsibility to reach our generation with the message of redemption. I do not believe that the Great Commission is an impossibility! God has given us all of the personnel and the resources needed. Let us as pastors and leaders pray fervently that laborers will be sent out from our midst to reach the whitened harvest field of the world, and let us unite together with them so that they will be successful in their missionary endeavor!

Perfectly and Purposefully Made

In recent weeks we have been reminded by two different individuals that you do not have to be physically perfect or mentally whole to be used of God.  As a matter of fact, God makes it clear that He takes pleasure in using the weak, the unwise and even the disabled for His honor and Glory (I Corinthians 1:20-29).  What a relief to know that God wants to use me just the way that I am!

On Sunday, November 6th we read a testimonial from a college basketball player who shared how that God used our daughter Amber to touch his heart.   Through the years God has repeatedly used Amber's disability to convict and motivate others in their walk with the Lord.  Isn't it just like God to use a little girl that cannot see, walk, talk or even understand to change the lives of others.  Needless to say, we are proud parents!

This Sunday Bernadette Todd will be our special guest.  Doctors once said Bernadette Todd would not live past the age of eight due to an infantile form of Muscular Dystrophy but God had other plans for this remarkable lady. In the face of a daunting childhood plagued with physical pain, being the target of relentless ridicule and personal ostracism, Bernadette pushed back against seemingly insurmountable obstacles and emerged triumphant.

Bernadette has not allowed her disability to keep her from fulfilling God's calling upon her life.  In the past few years, Bernadette has traveled to many countries around the world, including the Philippines, Hong Kong, India and Bolivia, sharing her testimony.

The truth is that Amber and Bernadette are not mistakes. They are God's perfect creation, formed exactly the way that He wants them to be.  That truth is clearly seen in Psalm 139:13-16 

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb.  Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!  our workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.  You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born.  Every day of my life was recorded in your book.  Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.

I don't know how these two ladies testimonies affect you, but they challenge me.  If two beautiful ladies that struggle with disabilities can be used of God to powerfully share the message of the Gospel, don't you think that God can use us as well?  Let me challenge you to follow in Amber and Bernadette's footsteps - allow God to fulfil His purpose and plan for your life!

HCC is on a Mission to Fulfill the Great Commission

At Hollywood Community Church, we take the Lord's command to make disciples of every nation very seriously!  To say it succinctly, our mission is the Great Commission.  We exist to make passionate disciples of Jesus Christ, both in Hollywood, Florida and around the world. 

November is a HUGE missions month for our church family.  Here are several of the mission's activities that will be taking place in the next few weeks.

Haiti Missions Team - November 4-11

Led by Dan Whiteman, our Haiti Missions Team will be ministering in the coastal city of Corail.  Please pray that God would enable them to be a blessing and an encouragement to our Haitian sister church.  They will give a report on their return.

Operation Christmas Child Sunday - 11/13

Last year our congregation collected more than 1050 gift shoe boxes for boys and girls around the world.  We are hoping to do that many or more this year.  Remember that statistics show that one out of every three children that receive a Christmas box trust Christ as their personal Savior.  Let me encourage you to fill out least three boxes.  Lets reach children for Christ this Christmas!

Bernadette Todd - 11/13

Bernadette Todd has a riveting story to share about her life long struggle with Muscular Dystrophy. She knows first hand, God’s amazing grace and transparently tells of her journey from despair to faith. With her personable down-to-earth style and sense of humor, she captivates and challenges audiences of all sizes. Utilizing the platform of her wheelchair, the pain of her childhood and the miracle of her survival, Bernadette delivers a powerful message that transcends racial and cultural borders worldwide and builds a bridge between people and the love and hope of Jesus Christ.

Mike & Amy Riddering Commissioning Service - 11/20 



Our own Mike and Amy will be leaving for Burkina Faso at the end of the month.  On November 20th we will celebrate their commissioning service.  It will be a time of joy, tears and prayer as we send the Riddering family to Africa to fulfill God's call upon their life.  You will not want to miss this service!  Here is the link to their web page - http://reachburkina.blogspot.com/2011_04_01_archive.html

It is going to be a great month at HCC! Let's pray that God continues to use us to impact the world with the Gospel!