2nd part of the "Practice & Participation," and final installment of the "New Vision, New Hope, Environments" series.Key Text: Ephesians 4:11-16Love, compassion, hope, restorative justice. All of these virtues are supposed to be a part of the very essence of God's people called the church, or as Paul would say "the body of Christ." To practice these virtues is to "put skin" on them through tangible acts both toward one another and the world around us. This is called "ministry." All Christ-followers are called to be ministers: apprentices of Jesus who participate in God's mission through serving Him and serving others. Ministry is a practice of the grace of the gospel to build up the body and bring change to lives and the neighboring communities around us. It is important for us to remember that ministry isn’t most effective when a church's staff of ministers minister to the people, the city and world. It is most effective when the body of Christ ministers to the body of Christ, and then that carries over into the city and the world. If we do this, the implications for a local church and her surrounding city can be life-changing.

A part of the New Vision, New Hope, New Environments Series Galatians 6:7-10; 1 Corinthans 15:10What motivates obedence? Fear? Blessings? Love? Grace? This is an important question for many reasons. It is important because it is a question of longevity; how long and how well we live the Kingdom of God kind of life. And it is especially important when we realize a principal of God's economy: if we "sow" into our own strength, we "reap" the fruit from our own strength, but if we "sow" into the Spirit of God, we will "reap" from the Spirit of God, in due time.

(Stand Alone Series)Text: Ephesians 6:10-18Paul has written his letter to the Ephesian church while spending time in prison. Throughout the first 3 chapters Paul has over and over again reminded them of what God has done in Christ -- the Gospel. He has reminded them of what is available to them because of Christ, of who they were without Christ, of who they are in Christ, and of what God has done for all people in Christ and how that should affect all those who follow Christ. Then in chapter 4, Paul begins reminding them of how they should live in response to Who Christ is and who they have become in Him.Now in chapter 6, we find Paul’s final and most poignant appeal to human action and response. This is a call to a Gospel-soaked, Gospel-driven life of intentionality that Paul is encouraging. Living in Christ, following Him, living in the Spirit, putting on the new man, or putting on the whole armor of God is not a passive thing. It doesn’t just happen. And it will not happen through church attendance. It is an intentional act; an intentional practice that requires rethinking your life, rethinking your priorities, reframing your actions in light of what it means to be a follower of Jesus. In other words, it will require you to work out your faith in intentional, daily ways as you remind yourself of God’s grace in your life, drawing from a motivation of Who Christ is and what you already have in Him. You have this armor within your reach because you have Christ within your heart. And we must remember that though the essence of God’s grace is opposed to earning, it is not opposed to effort. Right living doesn't just happen and opposition is certain. Jesus followers must choose and move forward accordingly, as one’s who are empowered by God’s Spirit and have chosen to follow Jesus.

(This is a stand alone message)Text: 2 Kings 6:15-17, Exodus 15:1-3, Ephesians 6:10-12Yahweh fights, rescues, & triumphs for His people and to the praise of His glory. He is a Warrior for His people.He will not lose. He cannot lose. His name depends upon it and He is motivated by the glory of His name and love for His people.Yahweh’s people of Israel always found themselves in battles -- battles with other enemy nations, within themselves as sin entered their community and nation, and they battled with their own sinfulness and pride.For us in the year 2011 the battle rages on. We as Christ-followers very often forget we are in a spiritual battle. The troubles and challenges we experience aren’t merely of a physical nature. There is also a very real spiritual consequence as well. Yes, we must sometimes fight these battles on real physical levels. When we are sick we fight to get well. When we lose our jobs, we fight to find a new one. When our marriage is in trouble, we seek help, love better, and serve more selflessly. We don’t sit passively as these "battles" of life rage on. But as we engage these battles physically, we must realize that there is a greater battle raging on. The real war. This battle, when used by the enemy and when we allow him to exploit it, becomes his instrument of getting after what he is really after: your heart, mind, and life.

A part of the New Vision, New Hope, New Environments Series offered by Dave Faith, Associate Pastor.

A part of the New Vision, New Hope, New Environments Series offered by Garrett Laubscher, Youth Pastor.

Text: Matthew 22:34-40“The Christian faith is personal, but not private. It always has social consequences, or it isn’t real.” Archbishop Charles J. ChaputFaith is not a solo journey. It is not a “private” experience. God is trinity, three in One. He exists in community and therefore we should not be surprised that we are created to exist within community. We need to be a church that intentionally nurtures a love for God, love for people and a deeper committment to following Jesus in mission, in biblically informed and practically ways. We need a church culture that nurtures discipleship. This will and must involve more than a weekend service. This must give shape to every ministry, event or activity we engage in as a church. And whatever we do, we must do it together as everyday people in everyday places and in everyday ways. If we are a missional people, we will truly be a missional church of disciples who make disciples.

Text: Matthew 9:9-13; 22:34-40When it came to discipleship, Jesus walked with His disciples in real life, talked with them about new life and showed them how to live it. Matthew watched, listened and joined Jesus in his journey towards discipleship. Jesus was intentional, tangible and practical in His approach to discipling His devoted followers. If WCC is to be a church truly "joined in God's pursuit of restoring lives" then we must become a church of disciples that make disciples. For this is our call. And if we are to live fully into this call and our Vision, we must develop an intentional, tangible and practical approach towards leading others into a life of discipleship, or apprenticing, as we follow Jesus both individually and as a faith community. We need a biblically rooted and informed process by which we carry out ministry.

Text: Isaiah 61:1-5, Luke 4:18-21, (Leviticus 25:8-14)(this conversation casts a new vision of WCC as well as reminds us of Jesus' mission and His vision for a new humanity through the power of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God)Many years ago a prophet named Isaiah had a message for a scattered people: because of God's faithfulness and promise of a Messiah, a certain hope and certain future has been made avaiable in the present. 500 years later this promised Messiah, named Jesus, proclaimed the reality of this certain hope and certain future: His mission and vision of a new humanity. It was a mission of redemption and a vision of a restored humanity and creation. Restoration is about God bringing you into relationship with Him & empowering you to experience renewal & revival in your whole life, so that you become more like who He created you to be and experience more the kind of life He created you to live. In the gospel of Jesus, God wants to fill your heart and heal your soul; renew your mind and make you whole; strengthen our spirit and helps you see, and leads you in to eternity with Him. This is our God & Father. This is Gospel. This is Jesus, Lord and Messiah.