"Break Through"-- Mustard Tree Ministries, Week 6

I was able to go last night to the Mustard Tree Ministries "Break Through" service.  I haven't been since the first night it was held at 1st Centenary UMC.  Last night was Week 6. 

Though the service was normally held in one of the classrooms, last night it was held in the room where they hold "The Vine" service on Sunday mornings because a band from Harrison UMC was coming to lead worship.

I later learned that the youth (and some adults) from Harrison UMC were the ones providing and serving the meal.  Harrison UMC brought about 20 folks and others met them at the church.  They had a good turn out.  There were representatives from Mustard Tree, 1st Centenary, and other churches too.   There were about 103 people in all (give or take a handful). 

It was a good crowd of folks.  Once again, there were black, white, young, middle-aged, older, those with jobs, those without, those with homes, those without.  I met a family of five from El Salvador and sat with them.  The children are bilingual.  It was a blessing to get to know them a little. 

The physical meal of BBQ sandwiches with lots of fixings was yummy!

The spiritual meal of the Word and preaching was good, but not as easy to digest because it was challenging (as always!). 

The verses were Ephesians 6:10--end of the armor section.  As Barry was reading it in English, his wife Diana was quietly reading it in Spanish to the family at our table.  That was pretty cool for me to hear the Word in both languages from them at the same time!

I will share my notes from Barry's preaching.... much of it is what he said, some of it will be my thoughts from what he said.

Barry talked about being hungry for God.  He asked if people were to see this group of people in prayer if they would be able to say that they were hungry for God?  Would our personal lives show a hunger for God? 

Barry spoke about Jim Cymbala from Brooklyn Tabernacle and how he knew folks were hungry for God... those that came to the prayer service on Tuesday nights demonstrated a hunger for God.  Cymbala realized that God wanted the leadership of the church and that fervent prayer was needed for growth.

Barry shared three goals that he has for Mustard Tree Ministries:
(1) That they learn how to pray.  That they come together in unity and in prayer.  We don't have perfect unity because we don't pray with and/or for one another as often as we could.  Churches are family and need to be praying for one another by name.

(2) As a unified body, start going into the darkest and toughest areas in Chattanooga and pray!  Barry shared a story from Nikki Cruz' book One Holy Fire about communism and the power of a handful of dedicated people being able to overturn the world.  Imagine that handful of dedicated people being dedicated to God and dedicated to living and serving as Christ did, people of prayer and action.....

(3) Re-gain our focus, re-focus our prayers.  Become more persistent in our prayers.  For our leaders, for each other, that God will raise us up to make a difference, for our brothers and sisters in oppressed cultures.  Barry cited examples how at times the ministry had prayed specifically for Michael and Angel (among others) and how they are now set free from the life of darkness.  Barry spoke about getting back to praying for people by name.

As Barry prepared the elements, he told us that Jesus wanted us more than anything and that is why he allowed his body to be broken and his blood poured out.  He challenged us to get re-focused and let God change Chattanooga as we are the instruments of that change.  He challenged us to ask ourselves, 'Is my heart's desire totally for God?'

When it was time to serve communion, Barry called up four members of Mustard Tree to serve.  What a blessing!  To be served the elements by these servants was a humbling and blessed moment as it truly exemplified the diverse and unified kingdom for me.

After we shared communion, Angel had a word for the community.  She exhorted us all to be addicted to God like she had been addicted once to alcohol and drugs.  To be addicted to God, to want God more than anything else... that is what she wanted for us, and for herself, and her family.

I don't make it to "Break Through" often, but when I do, I am blessed to worship in a diverse, yet unified body of believers.  Though struggling in many ways, their heart's desire is to become completely God's.

I hope and pray that my heart continues to become transformed thus.  And, that I pray for more fervently for my leaders, for others, and that God will raise me up to make a difference.

What about you?  Are you addicted to God?  Are you fervently praying? 

Blessings on the journey!

~Debra

"Break Through"-- the new service for Mustard Tree Ministries (my 100th post!)

Tonight Mustard Tree Ministries met in its new "home" at its new time.  It has found an indoor place for its Sunday services.  Instead of meeting under the Walnut Street Bridge on Sunday mornings, the ministry will now meet at 1st Centenary's Oak Street Center on Sunday evenings, beginning at 5pm.

The meeting started off with a warm welcome from Brian Davis.

Then everyone was invited to share pizza, brownies, and drinks: tea, lemonade, and water.  The time of food and fellowship lasted about 20 minutes.

Then, Joseph led us in some songs on the guitar.  After worship in song, Barry Kidwell came up to share the message.  (What you'll find in my blog is a combination of Barry's message and some of my thoughts that took off from his message.)

Tonight's verses were: Matthew 4:18-22 and Matthew 9:9-13.  Both of these passages were about the calling of the disciples. 

Barry mentioned how it was strange to not have to get up this morning and be the first one at church, after 32 years of doing so.  But, his alarm was set to get up early and it went off.  He realized he didn't have to get up, so he didn't.  He ended up getting up after a while, got ready, watched some of the 10 year anniversary coverage on CNN and went to worship at Tyner UMC.

10 years ago people were calling out to God for answers after what happened on 9/11.  People are still calling out to God today for healing and answers for that situation and for many others.

Why do people call out to God?  Most people call out to God when there is a need or when the issue of their final resting place has come into question.

Jesus met people where they were.  Sometimes people called out to him, but weren't quite ready to surrender everything.  He met them in their excuses and challenged them.  Jesus pushed people to become what they were intended to be.  As disciples of Christ, we are called to challenge the excuses that people put up and push them to become what they were intended to be.  Let's follow Christ's example in doing this... Christ typically asked questions and allowed people to make decisions for themselves. 

Do you have people in your life who challenge your excuses and push you to be all that you are intended to be?  If so, that God for them!  If not, start praying that God would bless you with such people!   I am grateful for the people in my life who challenge my excuses and who push me to be all I'm intended to be!  It's not always comfortable or easy, but growth never is. ☺(This is one of those thoughts that was spurred from what Barry was saying about people challenging his excuses; these aren't his words.)

Barry quoted Tony Campolo who once asked: "If there were no heaven and if there were no hell, would you still be a follower of Jesus?"

Hmmm.... that is something to think about.  'If there were no heaven and if there were no hell, would I still be a follower of Jesus?'  This question brings out my motive, my focus in following Jesus.  Today, at this moment, I can say, "yes".  What is most important to me is the relationship in following Jesus, not the end.  It is the living in the kingdom as Christ lived that is my focus.  Living with Christ eternally is a good thing, but it is not my focus.

How would you answer that question?

Barry reminded us that Jesus came to prepare us to LIVE, not die.  He came to challenge us in our living.

Barry asked: "How do you make disciples?"  Then, he shared Jesus' method of doing it.  Jesus said to people: Follow me.  Then, Jesus did things in their presence so they could see it done.  They watched, they observed.  Then, there came a time when Jesus said "Go and do."  Jesus remained in their midst and mentored them.  Then, later, Jesus told them it was time for them to go and do as he had done, without him.  That's discipleship.  Walking alongside others, doing ministry with them, showing them the way.  Then, watching them do it.  Then, sending them off. 

We are to go and do as Jesus did.

It takes time for the "come watch" and the "come do it with me".  It also takes time for the "you do and I'll watch" portion.  Discipleship is an investment of time and energy.  But, it is well worth it!

The disciples weren't always sure about life, but they were sure that they saw something they liked and wanted in Jesus, something worth following.

The disciples didn't talk much about heaven or hell, but rather about changing the world. 

Barry noted that the group of people gathered before him tonight looked more like the kingdom of God than most churches.  He remarked that we came from different walks of life.  As I looked around the room I saw children, youth, college students, young adults, seniors, different races, pastors, etc.  Truly, we were the kingdom of God gathered to worship.

Barry challenged us to invest our lives into other people's lives, to follow Christ.  We all need discipling and we all need to disciple. 

Jesus had the intention for the world to "break through".  Like the mustard seed, the mustard tree breaks through and becomes huge so that many can find shelter in it. 

This service "Break Through" is really an extension of what this ministry has been since its foundation 8 years ago when it began at Forrest Avenue UMC.  Many have "broken through" to become what they were intended to become.   They have broken free and broken through and are now ministering to others.  Several ministries have come out of the one seed.  This tree continues to branch out as others "break through". 

It's an exciting time in the life of the Church, in the Kingdom, for those desiring to be discipled and desiring to disciple others, for those seeking to "break through" and become all that God intended them to be.

I got carried away there with some of my thoughts that came from hearing the Word tonight. I forgot to add that we shared communion together and were encouraged to be discipled by someone and to find someone to disciple.

After communion, Pastor Dwight Kilbourne dismissed us with a benediction.

It was a wonderful time of community, fellowship, hearing God's word, praying for one another, sharing in communion, etc.

On your journey, who are you discipling?  Who is discipling you?  Who are the people to whom you can go to when you know excuses are between you and what Jesus would have you be and do?

Peace on the journey,

~Debra