These are the notes that I used last week while speaking to the Eastside Staff about the theme of "Forward" for the year. FORWARD!
During this session we will look at the passage in Philippians and then I will give you some guidelines (values) and then I’m going to give you some time consider what "Forward" looks like and means to you in your area of responsibility.
If life is an epic journey with a destination, then “Forward” is the direction I want to keep going.
It is the direction the Church is called to go!
“the gates of hell will not prevail against/overcome it” Matt. 16:18
“Go into all the world and make disciples of all nations”
“Joshua – it is time to possess the land” (Joshua chapter 19)
In Philippians 3 Paul uses the imagery of a race to describe our spiritual journey.
It is a metaphor that also aptly describes our journey as a staff as well.
Before we look at Philippians 3:7-14, I want to share with you a few insights as a person whose identity for most of my life, was as a competitive runner.
I never forget the time I have fallen in a race. I’ve seen runners fall and get up and win. I’ve seen runners fall and get up and finish last to a standing ovation. I’ve also seen runners fall and not finish.
I never forget the victories of fulfilling long sought after goals (I can smell the track, feel the air, see the faces)
In a race I expect to encounter difficult terrain that will slow me down
I expect pain
I expect adversity
In the race that you and are running right now, it isn’t over.
Nike: “There is no finish line” – an apt title for the passage I would like us to look at now.
Philippians 3
7But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. 10I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
12Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
We too are running a race.
You will face adversity.
You’ll stumble You will fall.
You’ll get tired. You’ll get sick. You’ll feel pain.
You are in a battle
It is exciting
It is where you belong
The crowd is for you (you’re the crowd favorite)
You have the best coaching
You’re on a winning team
In the race that you run now, you are a sure win…just don’t drop out.
For sure…The trophy already has your name on it.
There are times to re-group. Re-focus. Recover. Set new goals. Try new things.
Right now, what does “Forward” movement look like to you? In a general sense let me encourage you to allow it to be:
A passionate pursuit of the fulfillment of your calling!
A passionate pursuit of the kingdom!
A passionate pursuit of Christ-likeness!
During the last weekend of the year Pastor Jim challenged the congregation regarding their future by asking three questions:
Will we be faithful to the Word?
Will we be faithful to prayer?
Will we be faithful to one another?
Don’t stop until you reach the finish! (The finish here is the end of our life).
Keep centered in the God who called you. Rest and work. Live out your values. Be healthy!
At EFC as a staff, we are running our own race but at the same time God has given His church a destiny as well.
We have solid values. We have a healthy focus organizationally. These are the course boundaries. There are no short cuts. We must keep these in our sight at all times.
The danger is getting distracted by the tyranny of the urgent.
Let’s not be distracted. It would be OK to say that the building project, for many of us, we a necessary distraction.
But let’s re-focus on the course the Lord has set before us.
Before every race I am given a map with directions of a course. They can be very confusing. Here is what they usually look like…
If it’s poorly marked it’s even more confusing.
I prefer to have a bicycle leading the way. We are course monitors for EFC.
I believe that these things reflect our “DNA . “Churches are not meant to be duplicated. They are not meant to be twins or triplets. They are not even meant to be imitators. Each church has its own DNA” Trevor Bron, senior consultant with Tag Consulting.
Are we being true to our own DNA? Are we being true to our reason for existence? Are we being true to our vision.?
Mission Statement
Eastside Foursquare Church exists to glorify God, make disciples of Jesus Christ and reach out to our world in the power of the Holy Spirit through relationships that express love, acceptance, and forgiveness.
Our primary objective is Worship
Our passion is Evangelism
Our priorities are Home-Based
Our program is Small Group Driven
Our style is Seeker-Sensitive
Can you passionately go forward with these things? Why or why not?
I’m leery of excuses versus “can do”.
The course of this “Forward” race includes some instructions:
We are:
Passionate about outreach
Passionate about Small Groups
Passionate about discipleship (spiritual development)
Passionate about worship
Passionate about leadership development (and volunteers)
Passionate about intergenerational inclusion
What does “Forward” look like to you? (It doesn’t matter what your job is!)
Take a moment now and answer this question.
Personally, what does forward look like to you?
Specifically, what does forward look like when it comes to each of these values in your area of responsibility?
Work on this!
Then get together with your team and share your information.
Then pray for each other.
Effectively moving forward depends first and foremost with your passionate pursuit of Christ.
Enjoy the race!
“I fought the fight. I kept the faith. I finished the race.”
was here to visit, as was her best friend from Colorado Springs, Karma Duggin. Cassandra and Lindy helped put on the party which was a snow-capped Luao with great food, lots of friends, American-Idol karaoke and joy filled chaos. That all happened on Sunday afternoon. Earlier in the week we went to The Diary of Anne Frank at the Intiman Theatre in Seattle -- an excellent production to see. 
