Jimbo's Jots

July is a busy month in ministry! Having contact with friends in ministry all over (thank you social media!), I see church leaders involved in seminars, lectureships, camps, international, national, and local mission efforts, VBS. You name an activity and someone is doing it.

Even at Plymouth, in July, you have Shults-Lewis mission team, Kelsey Stone’s Grad Open House, IMPACT WEEK and the final preps for VBS.

So as Paul winds down his letter to the Romans, he now makes a switch from the theological to the practical side of what it means to “be right” in Christ. By spending the first 11 chapters talking about WHY Jesus came to the earth for us, he is now able to talk about HOW having Christ in our lives impacts us in the practice of our faith.

He opens up in chapter 12 with surrendering our lives to God. so, just as Christ gave himself up for us, we in turn give up ourselves to God as a living sacrifice. He then turns the conversation to how we treat others by using our gifts to encourage our church family (v. 3-16).

For us Plymouth folk, this should sound familiar. During the month of July, our sermon series is called “The Art of Neighboring” based on a book of the same title. The authors propose the concept of taking the greatest commandments, loving God first and loving our neighbors as ourselves, literally. What would that look like? They even take it one step further by asking how much we know about our literal neighbors – you know the ones next door on either side or across the street.

What would that look like for you? It’s what we’re trying to do with Shults-Lewis and IMPACT week and VBS. It’s sharing the love of Christ to our neighbors, not just because it’s commanded, but also because we love God first. And we use the gifts God has given us to share that love. That’s what Romans 12 is all about!!

Be blessed and be a blessing!