Elements City Church
TOV series - week 5 - Seek Justice & Look to Serve
We've all read and have sadly become accustomed to the revelations of abuse in our culture and in even our churches. These abuses can occur when we neglect to create a culture of goodness that resists evil and promotes healing, safety, and spiritual growth. This series draws from the acclaimed book, A Church Called TOV, to call us forward and give us a map for being the church that Jesus longs for, and a people he can leverage to make a difference. We long to create a culture of godly goodness in our organization and our spheres of influence. Join us in this adventure, friends.
Locations & Times
Elements City Church
1825 N Alvernon Way, Tucson, AZ 85712, USA
Sunday 5:00 PM
Thanks for joining us!
Whether you're on-site or online, we are praying that tonight will be an encouragement to your soul. May God whisper to you and help you in taking your next steps in a journey with Him. If you're new, we'd love to have you fill out our connection card.
https://connect-card.com/yr4Y0g8VLBSqzKXeubjbThis series is based on the book, A Church Called TOV by Dr Scot McKnight and Laura Barringer. We highly recommend this book!
TOV means “good” in Hebrew.
We’ve all witnessed when 'good' is not the norm of a culture, an organization or a group of people and the great damage and pain that can occur when that plays out - the great harm it can do to relationships.
TOV is active (not a passive or set reality) -- which means it can grow or shrink.
1. Nurture Empathy and Compassion
2. Nurture Grace
3. Nurture Putting People First
4. Nurture Truth Telling
5. Nurture Justice
6. Nurture Service
7. Nurture Christlikeness
[From A Church Called TOV]
For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. -Matthew 5:20
Jesus is calling us to behave in ways that measure up to and conform with his teachings, not the teachings of the world.
Put into a formula, justice means to be empowered through the Spirit to do the right thing. And the “right thing” is all of what Jesus teaches.
*We see an injustice, we intervene appropriately, and we offer compassionate care where it is needed.
read: Luke 10:25-37
Go and do likewise...
Respond to the needs that God steers across your path…
Act Justly. Each day. Each conversation. Each interaction.
Do the right thing at the right time as Jesus would do…(WWJD)
Do for ONE, what you wish you could do for everyone.
Remember what Jesus gave us in the golden rule to live by:
“Do to others as you would like them to do to you.” -Luke 6:31
Having a mindset to SERVE is way different than the American dream of achieving a life where you sit back and are SERVED…. This tension is real and this tension has been around from early on…
You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many. — Mark 10:42-45
Quote:
"The temptation here is obvious: Self-concern and self-care must be balanced by an others-orientation or we will become self-intoxicated celebrities in our own minds." -Dr. Scott McKnight
A life in service to others is not heroic from a kingdom of God perspective; it’s meant to be normal.
For even the Song of Man came not to be served, but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many. -Mark 10:45
Giving our lives away in service — is the way of Jesus.
Thank you for partnering with us!
Thank you for enabling us to be the Church in our city! Your gifts help fuel the mission of Elements City Church, as well as our capacity to share His love with as many as we can. You help us bring the HOPE and LIGHT of Jesus to our city! You can give online at the link below or through the Elements app.
http://elementscitychurch.org/give/May you have a blessed week ahead, friends. May you be an agent of TOV in your sphere of influence with Jesus.
We hope to see you next Sunday -- if not before!