Elements City Church
TOV series - week 6: Be Like Jesus
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/yr4Y0g8VLBSqzKXeubjbRecap:
This 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.
This 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.
The Circle of Tov:
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]
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]
The Scriptures are continually calling us to leave behind the impression and impact of Christ wherever we go… I love the challenge from Jesus that how we interact with folks will point them to someone — is it YOU, or is it HIM?
Matthew 5:14 &16
14 “You are the light of the world… 16…let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:14 &16
14 “You are the light of the world… 16…let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
ultimately to be a TOV person is to be a person who is reflecting Jesus more and more.
Romans 12:2
2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
We’re called to watch what is conforming us - the world or will it be Christ?
The role of the pastor, is to mentor people into Christlikeness. To encourage them to be formed into Christlike image-bearer’s… that we reflect our Savior more and more.
2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
We’re called to watch what is conforming us - the world or will it be Christ?
The role of the pastor, is to mentor people into Christlikeness. To encourage them to be formed into Christlike image-bearer’s… that we reflect our Savior more and more.
=The entire Circle of Tov is swallowed up and comprehensively expressed by Christlikeness.
Growing in Christlikeness stands in stark contrast to an achievement and accomplishment culture measured by numbers, power, prestige, and money.
It is a constant temptation for churches, pastors and Christ-followers to be drawn away from a Christlike culture and sucked into the cultural mold of the world.
In a Christlike culture of tov, something completely different from the culture of the world pervades, something so upside down and so backwards it is nothing less than stunning. Jesus calls people to follow him to the cross…
Growing in Christlikeness stands in stark contrast to an achievement and accomplishment culture measured by numbers, power, prestige, and money.
It is a constant temptation for churches, pastors and Christ-followers to be drawn away from a Christlike culture and sucked into the cultural mold of the world.
In a Christlike culture of tov, something completely different from the culture of the world pervades, something so upside down and so backwards it is nothing less than stunning. Jesus calls people to follow him to the cross…
…and the apostle Paul uses that cross-bearing life to redefine true success:
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
-Philippians 2:5-11
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
-Philippians 2:5-11
SERVE SUNDAY DETAILS
read all about Serve Sunday and sign up to serve at GRM if you wish...
https://subspla.sh/f45ypxs/Christoformity is the point…
Read Paul’s words to the Romans:
For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. -Romans 8:29
Read Paul’s words to the Romans:
For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. -Romans 8:29
CHRISTLIKENESS is NOT A SOLO ENDEAVOR
We can grow in our faith journey with Jesus individually and with personal attention to it. Practicing habits that open us up to Christ being formed more and more within us…conforming us to reflect him!
But this happens best within COMMUNITY - the great vehicle of transformational spiritual growth has always been the family of God helping each member take continual next steps in having Christ formed within them!!
*When we live out the "one another's" of Scripture we are being formed ...and transformed.
What can happen when we reimagine church as a hospital for the hurting and a school for sinners who are gradually learning the way of Christ?
We can grow in our faith journey with Jesus individually and with personal attention to it. Practicing habits that open us up to Christ being formed more and more within us…conforming us to reflect him!
But this happens best within COMMUNITY - the great vehicle of transformational spiritual growth has always been the family of God helping each member take continual next steps in having Christ formed within them!!
*When we live out the "one another's" of Scripture we are being formed ...and transformed.
What can happen when we reimagine church as a hospital for the hurting and a school for sinners who are gradually learning the way of Christ?
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/Thanks again for being with us tonight!
May you have a blessed week ahead, friends. May you be an agent of TOV in your sphere of influence with Jesus.
REMINDER: NEXT SUNDAY IS SERVE SUNDAY!
we will NOT be meeting in person next Sunday evening. Serve somewhere, somehow in the morning. You can serve with us at Gospel Rescue Mission if you wish - watch an online only service in the afternoon and then enjoy the 'big game' that evening. We'll see you back in person SUNDAY FEBRUARY 20TH!
May you have a blessed week ahead, friends. May you be an agent of TOV in your sphere of influence with Jesus.
REMINDER: NEXT SUNDAY IS SERVE SUNDAY!
we will NOT be meeting in person next Sunday evening. Serve somewhere, somehow in the morning. You can serve with us at Gospel Rescue Mission if you wish - watch an online only service in the afternoon and then enjoy the 'big game' that evening. We'll see you back in person SUNDAY FEBRUARY 20TH!