These are the notes I took from our pastor's message yesterday. This is why I feel we are where we need to be right now. You can listen on the web site at www.lakelandcommunitychurch.org, although I noticed they haven't update with the May 3rd message just yet.
There are a number of Grand Stories. Most are meaningless stores. Most of us try to stay busy to keep from realizing our helpless hopelessness. God's Grand Story was the story Jesus followed. Jesus really believed the world was lost and floundering without him and without hope. He felt they needed Psalm 23 rest, which is peace that sheep have when they are under the protection of a good shepherd (Matt 11:28-30).
Most of us live to consume, hoping it will bring contentment. This is a lie, contentment is not one purchase away. If consumerism is our Grand Story are we finding contentment inside of ourselves? May be, but only until the next thing comes along that we want.
God's Grand Story is based on love. Sacrificial love, taking us from more important to less important. He created us out of love for us. Humans screw things up when we try to be as good as God because the next step is to be gods. It's why Adam and Even ate the fruit, so they could be like God. When we go down this road the story of love fades away.
The primary purpose of God is to reveal the one who can give man true rest - Jesus. It doesn't come through power and strength but through weakness and death. Paul says the victory was made complete on the cross - notice, not at the resurrection (1 Cor 15:3-8). Paul is sitting in a prison cell and he says, "Jesus rescued me". Paul's story is God's story and it can be our story. Our story is caught up in a larger story, it has to be!
Jesus' words are, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matt 11:28-30) But, it will cost you everything. You will stop consuming for contentment and start loving to find contentment.
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