July 11, 2010 - What's Inside?

(All messages posted here are rough sketches of the message given)

Good Morning Saints of Sunrise! How are you doing this morning? Did you have a good holiday week?

Sometimes, things come as a bit of a surprise. Take this for instance – Does anybody these people:

They all look like pretty normal and unassuming people – the average American, but these are eight of the ten deep-cover Russian spies that were caught a little over a week ago. Some of these folk have been here for decades, blending in with neighbors, struggling with mortgages and credit card bills, having children and being members of the PTA, all while spying for the Russian government. The news shocked many people. Neighbors gathered outside of the Murphy family house sharing stories of disbelief. One said, “They couldn’t have been spies. Look what she did with the hydrangeas.”

Even more bizarre is that it seems any of the intelligence that they gathered could be found on the Internet in just a few minutes. It just goes to show that sometimes things aren’t quite what we first perceive them to be.

If you remember, last Sunday we were talking about this transition period from my perspective as the pastor here. The main idea was how I am finding that Sunrise is the right fit for my idea of ministry. Well, this morning, we are turning the tables just a bit and looking at the transition of bringing in a new pastor from your perspective, that is from the church’s vantage point.

Now I know I can’t speak for each of you, but I have been where you are many times before. I grew up a United Methodist, so, just like Carlton shared with you what he remembers about these transition periods, I remember them as well.

One of the things that always bugged me the most is that the new pastor was always different. He didn’t look the same or act the same, so I was naturally a bit skeptical about this new preacher.

That’s how we are about people and things that are…different. Watch this.



Let me tell you, friends, that was exactly the truth in my house the first time we bought (holding up a Costco milk jug) this milk at Costco. I think the only way we could ever get the girls to drink the milk was to pour it in an old milk jug.

We are naturally skeptical about change. We are wary of anything or anybody that deviates from the norm. Now, if you find yourself in that position with me, that’s okay; I understand. But hear this friends, you are in some great company too.

I want you to take a look at a passage of scripture that tells the account of some people in the early church that were pretty apprehensive about a new leader in their community. This comes from the Book of Acts, chapter 9, verses 26-31.

Acts 9:26-31
26 When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to meet with the believers, but they were all afraid of him. They thought he was only pretending to be a believer! 27 Then Barnabas brought him to the apostles and told them how Saul had seen the Lord on the way to Damascus. Barnabas also told them what the Lord had said to Saul and how he boldly preached in the name of Jesus in Damascus. 28 Then the apostles accepted Saul, and after that he was constantly with them in Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 He debated with some Greek-speaking Jews, but they plotted to murder him. 30 When the believers heard about it, however, they took him to Caesarea and sent him on to his hometown of Tarsus. 31 The church then had peace throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria, and it grew in strength and numbers. The believers were walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit.

If you remember from reading your Bible, right before this account, Saul had a dramatic conversion experience. Before he met the resurrected Christ, he had been one of the most ferocious and ardent opponent of the followers of Jesus. He had many of the Jesus followers brought to trial and executed for blasphemy. Needless to say, he wasn’t one that any of the early Christians wanted to meet. Thus, when they heard that he claimed to be converted and was coming to meet with them, they were all cynical and less than trusting about Saul’s intentions. It was only after the testimony of their trusted friend, Barnabus, that Saul was accepted.

As a new pastor here at Sunrise, I understand some of your apprehensions. It takes time to get use to change
- Takes some questions
- Takes some eyewitness accounts

So, I understand anyone who wants to still ask around about me. I hope what you will find out is that I am one who is earnestly seeking to follow God’s leading and directions as your pastor. But in order to do so, friends, I need your help.

Over the next couple of weeks, I am going to be prayerfully seeking God’s vision for Sunrise. And so I am asking for you to be in prayer for God to start revealing this vision to me and others. I truly covet your help with this.

I have to admit, I need your help because coming to Sunrise has put me in a peculiar position. For most of my pastoral career, my focus has been on trying to move churches into passionate worship, small group ministry, and team leadership. But guess what, Sunrise is already doing all of this, so I am having to reorient my leadership strategy. That’s why I need your help.

Hopefully, beginning when I return from vacation in a couple of weeks, we will start dreaming and articulating the journey that God is laying out for us. One thing I am sure of, it will be exciting for us and we will all be changed by our journey together.

In the meantime though, please do be in prayer. But also, feel free to sniff (sniff the empty milk jug) around and find out what’s on the inside.