Consumed-The Hope of the World

This past Sunday, we started our new series entitled Consumed. This series is a three week look at the vision we have for Downtown Fellowship and Bethany Church.

The crux of this series is the idea that God is very passionate for His people and for the church, the Bride of Christ. Deuteronomy states it this way...

Be careful not to forget the covenant of the Lord your God that he made with you; do not make for yourselves an idol in the form of anything the Lord your God has forbidden. For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God. Deuteronomy 4:23-24 NIV

God so desired to have a relationship with us that He invaded our world and brought us life through Jesus' death and resurrection. He mae a covenant with the ancient Isrealites and He has made a covenant with us in Jesus. If we have surrendered our hearts and lives to Jesus an trusted Him as the Lord and leader of our life, then we have the promise of eternal life in Him.

But this is not enough for God...He wants our hearts completely. He is jealous of any part of our world that divides our attention and takes away from our devotion to Him. He desires to have this relationship with all of his people, so He created the church as the vehicle of the gospel message throughout the centuries. He first mentions this idea to Peter...

And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. Matthew 16:18 NIV

From the very beginning, God has always intended for the church to carry His message of hope to a lost and dying world. Bill Hybels in his book Courageous Leadership changed my life with the statement "The local church is the hope of the world." The local church is the hope...not the Boy Scouts, not the government, not civic organizations, and not even excellent para-church organizations...but the church.

This idea is both beautiful and frustrating at the same time since the American church seems to be losing its influence in our culture. All across our country churches have either plateaued or declined over the past 30-40 years. Unwillingness to change, lack of evangelistic ferver, infighting and disunity, and a loss of vision are just four reasons why we have seen this trend.

Here at Downtown Fellowship the vision is simple: Making, Being, and Unleashing Disciples of Jesus Christ. 

How will we accomplish this?

By making sure Downtown Fellowship and Bethany Church really is the hope of the world.