Pastor’s November Message

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

64 EAST NORTH STREET, CARLISLE, PENNSYLVANIA 17013

 

(717) 249-4729

firstumc1@embarqmail.com

UPDATED 11/02/09

Each month Pastor John sends a new message to the congregation. 

 

Topics cover what’s on the pastor’s mind, current events or holiday thoughts.

Rev. John L. Shellenberger

Pastor

LOVING GOD

HOW DO YOU PLAN TO LEAD OTHERS TO A

FIRST-TIME COMMITMENT TO JESUS CHRIST?

 

What a  marvelous autumn season we have been experiencing.  The changing of the color of the leaves, the apple harvest and fresh sweet cider,  football, college soccer, baseball playoffs and world series, church conferences….yes, those special meetings with the District Superintendent that allow congregations to share what has been happening in the past year and make plans for what will be the focus of life in the year to come.

 

Our current DS, Dr. Dennis Keller, has challenged us to consider some mission questions for the coming year.  He has written, “In Matthew 28, Jesus gave his disciples a clear, compelling mission. In the United Methodist Church we claim the Great Commission in our statement of purpose: "Our mission is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world." As you prepare for Church Conference this year, I invite you to meet with the leaders of your church(s) and to develop a specific, measurable, and achievable plan for carrying out your mission in 2010. I've included a series of questions below to guide your conversations”.   As your pastor, I invite you to consider with me these questions.  We will look at them in the next several months.  The first two questions can be placed within our  Our current DS, Dr. Dennis Keller, has challenged us to consider some mission questions for the coming year.  He has written, “In Matthew 28, Jesus gave his disciples a clear, compelling mission. In the United Methodist Church we claim the Great Commission in our statement of purpose: "Our mission is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world." As you prepare for Church Conference this year, I invite you to meet with the leaders of your church(s) and to develop a specific, measurable, and achievable plan for carrying out your mission in 2010. I've included a series of questions below to guide your conversations”.   As your pastor, I invite you to consider with me these questions.  We will look at them in the next several months.  The first two questions can be placed within our    vision statement of Loving God.

 

How many new disciples of Jesus Christ will your church(s) make in 2010?  How   do you plan to lead others to a first-time commitment to Jesus Christ?

 

For some of us, this may be the first time we have ever considered setting a goal of leading persons to a first – time commitment to Jesus Christ.   For others, this may seem like leading to an environment of putting notches on our spiritual belts.  For others this might even seem like begging the question, are we the ones that make disciples or is it God who changes the lives of people? This analysis can lead to a paralysis of inaction. We might even inoculate ourselves against any invasion of the Spirit of God into our lives because we don’t like to be told what to do.

 

If you cannot answer or choose not to answer “the how many” question,  I ask you to consider “the how and what are you going to do” question.  What is your plan to lead others to a first time commitment to Jesus Christ?   This is an action that all of you can do.  We are being asked to be part of the campaign team of Jesus Christ, promoting Him as the chosen candidate of God.  Jesus is the one to whom we give our allegiance and our commitment of life.

 

Let me suggest several steps to incorporate into your plan.

 

1. PRAY . . . pray that God gives you opportunity to connect with others who have never considered Jesus Christ as their personal savior and Lord of their life.

2. PREPARE . . . prepare your own life by understanding your personal story and adventure of your journey that brought you to make a commitment to Jesus Christ.

3. PRESENT . . . after you have prayed, after you have prepared . . . then find an opportunity to share with another person…

 

You are Blessed to be a blessing,

      

 

Pastor John Shellenberger

 

LOVING GOD

LOVING NEIGHBOR

SERVING THE WORLD

First United Methodist Church

Carlisle, Pennsylvania