semester finale

Intervarsity Christian Fellowship-Origins @ URI 12.3.08

INTRO: Video clip "That's my King" S.M. Lockeridge


PREFACE: If you have been with us this semester we have been journeying through a series entitled “We the People.” We have covered a vast amount of subjects, topics, and people and have hopefully engaged on new levels. We have grown. Hopefully we have used the muscle of asking questions and our advanced ability to REFLECT. And perhaps we have even let what we have heard change us in some way.

BACKGROUND: We began the semester hearing from two of our very own students-Jill & Steve. Who shared openly and; honestly their story of transformation and; decision to partner in this Kingdom we call life and to BE God’s hands and feet on this campus.

We then kicked off the series taking a closer look at the CREATION story… and in doing so we laid a foundation for our understanding of the character of God-who created The Galaxy, Earth & Life-we read and we see in scripture-GOD CREATED all for GOOD. And in our innovative curiosity we choose outside the creators design-damaging ourselves, others and our planet.

Thus beginning THE FALL, the brokenness, the separation and dissonance we see and experience both near and far. But God’s LOVE never failed. We see it written and we see it played out. His MERCY never ceased. His PURSUIT never let up. AND-Because we were CREATED FOR GOOD and are deeply LOVED by our creator.

Time and Time again-The God of All Things-the God of History. This God called us back to Himself and used others as instruments in this mission-Like Prophets and Leaders, and Kings. But we quickly forgot and we were caught in this cycle of forgetfulness and dependence on something shinier, more powerful, and all knowing… this kept us from trusting in a God that said He was Faithful. But it was hard-cause most of the time we couldn’t touch HIM, we couldn’t see HIM.

And it went on, and on, and on-generations came and went-wars were waged. Nations rose and fell… AND we became more removed from the original Garden-from the Promises of our Creator. Maybe we chose otherwise, or we forgot, we just grew apathetic or numb. We were in need of a new start-a new way of life-peace in our hearts, in our lives, in our world. Because we weren’t making a whole lot of progress on our own.

We were created for GOOD beautiful things.

Well, thankfully the story does not end there.
As much as this may seem like a dusty-historical run down of Christianity-we strategically entitled the series “We the People” for a reason. Because whether you want to escape the reality or roll over and not care we are a part of this story. Our Creator is still in pursuit of us and of you. He is at our doorstep.

Restoration and Redemption is possible. Not just for history-or him or her-but for you.

This Restoration, this Peace on Earth, this innate meaningful story God is writing is GOING SOMEWHERE.

See God came to earth in the form of a human some 2,000 years ago. Cause remember-we wanted to see and touch our God. We needed help, deliverance, healing. A way out of our brokenness but also we needed a new game plan-we needed a new way to live. We needed to be taught, showed and released.

A FULLY human but FULLY God entity lived and walked among us. JESUS was HIS name. Healing for HUMANITY was His MISSION. For the systemic MICRO and MACRO-JESUS came to seek and save the Lost-heal the sick-and make a way for us to be right again with God. He came to pay the ultimate sacrifice. HE came TO OVERCOME death-and everything He said came true. All the foretelling-prophetic language of scripture and the telling of the Messiah came true.

“I am the way truth and the life”

NOW it didn’t come in the package we all expected… it came as a baby delivered like any other baby born. As Scripture tells us Jesus was born in a unlikely, lowly manger to a Virgin named Mary and her faithful partner Joseph.

As we conclude our semester series-I want to point out that JESUS, His Life, His teaching, His actions, His Love, His compassion, His service, His devotion, is not just some cozy story of heron saves victim. Or some strict religion based on laws. This JESUS has the ability to transform, change, and save. This JESUS is the reason I stand here today. JESUS is the reason we as a community make Him our mission-want to mimic His ways. Because we think there is no other GOOD NEWS in the world. This Jesus is God in Human flesh.

Christmas is upon us-a season, a holiday that can easily become romantic lighting and gift exchanges. Nothing wrong with either of those things-however it would be a shame to forget. Because we as a community, we as the people, we as God’s children need to remember the GOOD NEWS that is ours. And in that GOOD NEWS we find life-a meaningful life. And out of that gift of Life-God looks us in the eyes and says “Be my hands and feet in this world. I healed you, I showed you, I gave you the tools, and I have given you the Power of the Holy Spirit. GO… love the forgotten, heal the sick, tell them there is a radical way to live, relate, and exist."

The Mission before us is just that-to Live out the teachings and examples of Jesus. We need this GOOD NEWS, I need this GOOD NEWS, and this campus needs the GOOD NEWS. It is my existence, the reason I stand before you tonight. I want people to know, hear & experience the GOOD NEWS. Students in this room, want you to know, hear, & experience the GOOD NEWS.

So as we conclude this semester-I want to give you an opportunity to reflect.

VIDEO CLIP: True Story-James Choung
http://www.jameschoung.net/2007/09/17/the-big-story/

CHALLENGE: Where are you? Where are your friends? Where are people on this campus?

WORSHIP SONGS: Hands of Peace, Changed, This is my Fathers World, O Come O Come Emmanuel, Silent Night