"It's Friday, But Sunday's Comin'"--Some thoughts on humility and unleashing the church

Last Friday morning, as I do most Friday mornings, I got to sleep in. The week had been exhausting. I was up late three or four nights in a row, but I had made the promise to myself that I would go back to the gym this morning. 6:00am rolled around and my alarm started blaring--it was time to wake up and go work out. Now, I don't know about most people--but I like to institute what I call the "snooze and snore" maneuver. Whenever my alarm goes off in the morning I hit the snooze button twice...okay three...alright four times! I'll admit it, I like sleep. I will delay the waking up process as long as I possibly can so that I can get a few more minutes of shut eye sprawled out on my bed. And, as happened for many Fridays previous, I did not go to the gym. Instead, a thought shocked my brain like a bolt of lightning--I had not finished my message for Sunday! I had been thinking about it all week, praying about it, even daydreaming about it in all my seminary classes but I had not finished. I realized that it was Friday... and Sunday was coming!

Some of you may recognize that line, which was made famous by Tony Campolo. Tony, a born and bred Philadelphia Italian with the spit and passion to prove it, is one of the most sought after speakers in the Evangelical Christian world. I had the opportunity of attending Eastern University where Tony taught and heard him speak often. Since I graduated from Eastern I have not heard Tony speak... until yesterday when he came to Denver Seminary's chapel. I was reminded of what a good speaker he is. I want to highlight two points that I walked away with from chapel yesterday...

1. HUMILITY Tony eloquently talked about the idea of "power and authority" throughout his message. Power, he said, is something that most people seek in this world. People love to have lots of money and wear two bluetooths in their ears to prove that they are important. So many people think that the world revolves around them. Sadly, the church thinks this same way. We think that if we have a lot of money, big buildings, thousands of people in attendance, then we are important and are really making an impact for God and his kingdom. When those things happen--we may have power, but not necessarily authority. Authority only comes when we prove that we are humble enough to realize that God's kingdom is bigger than us and our egos. Authority comes when we have humbly walked to the walk, not just talked the talk. As the old the saying goes--"We have to earn the right to be heard."

Those who know me best know that I have an issue with this. I feel the need to always tell people my schedule and how busy I am. This has been convicting to me of late--because the world does not revolve around me. I am not that important. And while I may have some kind of "power" by the positions and achievements that I hold--my authority only comes from God the Father Almighty. It is through his grace that I have what I have and by his sacrifice that I have life. This thought should drive us to our knees every day as we humbly depend upon our God.

2. UNLEASHING THE CHURCH You will never hear a time that Tony speaks when he does not mention the poor. He is passionate about Christians going into the darkest places of this world to reach the outcasts and make a difference for the Kingdom of God. As Tony spoke about these things this time--I was reminded of the book and philosophy made popular by Frank Tillapaugh "The Church Unleashed"--(Originally "Unleashing the Church"). The crux behind this philosophy is that the church needs to get outside it walls and make an impact on the city in which it ministers--to all the outcasts that the people of "power" neglect. I have heard sermons recently and over the years that have communicated the need for Christians to minister in the "darkest places." In response, I say that those of us who minister in the suburbs, the privileged middle class, need to get unleashed and start serving in the darkest places. I feel that one of my callings as a pastor is to mobilize and equip the suburban church to minister in the urban community. This is Tony's challenge as well, which is relevant and convicting to all.

As he finished up with power and authority, it seemed appropriate when he used the illustration of the current Wall Street situation. All the people of power are freaking out because they realize their power is found in their money. But if we are followers of Jesus Christ--our power is in our Great God and Savior Jesus Christ. He is still on his throne and everything we have is because of him. Sometimes it may feel like we are in bed on a Friday and we are panicked with the things of this world. But Sunday's coming--and while I may have been a little concerned about my message on that Friday, Sunday was a great day of celebrating our God. He is the one who has saved us, redeemed us, changed us--he is the one who has come... AND HE'S COMING AGAIN! Wherever you are--HOPE in the truth of the Lord Jesus. It may be Friday--but Sunday's coming!