Winter 2009 Preview Dinner

Last night as the Exploring Christianity Leadership Team gathered together to pray for the upcoming series, we began by reading these verses from Paul.

But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God's word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ. -2Corinthians 2:14-17

Spreading the Aroma of Christ

What struck us as we began praying together is the significance and weight of this moment in time. For many, this is a matter of life or death. We cannot change people’s hearts, but we can spread “the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.” It is sobering to read that to some this will be “a fragrance from death to death.” Those words bring grief to my heart.

It spurs us on that for others it will be “a fragrance from life to life.” Paul’s words are significant and weighty. No wonder he asks, “Who is sufficient for these things?” The answer is no one apart from Christ, but with Christ, we speak “as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.”

Four Ways to Participate in EC

I want to invite you, CrossWay, to participate with us in Exploring Christianity (EC). Work together with us in this moment in time to spread the aroma of Christ. We need you. I have identified four ways you can participate in this upcoming EC series.

Invite

Invite a non-Christian family, friend, or acquaintance to attend our Preview Dinner on Wednesday, January 21st at 6:30 pm. Recognize that without your investment in them, they may never smell the aroma of Christ. Recognize that without your investment, Christ may never be for them “a fragrance from life to life.” Put aside your fears, put aside your busyness, put aside your selfishness and invest your time in something of eternal significance.

Attend

Attend EC for your own edification. Recognize that you need to clarify your own understanding of the gospel and strengthen your own walk with Jesus Christ. Humbly admit that you have questions and your walk is not what it should be and that God wants you to live more faithfully, and obediently, and passionately for Him. Ask God to reveal Himself more fully to you and pray that God would use EC to do it.

Serve

Serve as part of our EC Team. We have teams responsible for setup and take down, teams responsible for children’s ministry, teams responsible for cooking part of the meal, teams responsible for serving the meal. We have people taking photos, shooting video, making phone calls, doing sound, greeting, leading and helping in discussion groups. Find a place to serve on the EC Team that meets your schedule. If you are interested, contact Steve Handler in the church office and ask him where we need help in EC.

Pray

Pray for our Preview Dinner and pray on every Wednesday evening of EC as we are gathered together. Everyone serving needs your prayers, everyone attending needs your prayers. We need God’s divine intervention. Someone once suggested gathering a prayer team to pray in our conference room during EC. My preference would be to have singles, youth, and families praying around their own dinner tables as we gather together.

If you are the head of your house, lead your family in prayer and build into them the importance of evangelism and model for them a mission mindset. I will be posting a weekly update and prayer requests for EC. Look for the Wednesday posting and lead your family in prayer. Here is how you can pray for our Preview Dinner.

• Pray that many guests would attend the Preview Dinner. Pray that God would remove all obstacles from them attending this Wednesday.
• Pray that our guests would experience the warmth of CrossWay, the love of God, and the need to draw closer to God.
• Pray that our table hosts would be welcoming, friendly, and full of grace.
• Pray that the message would be clear, compelling, and full of truth and grace.
• Pray that all the guests who attend the Preview Dinner register for EC.
• Pray for those serving in setup and takedown, hospitality, and children’s ministry.
• Pray that some would place their faith in Jesus Christ this Wednesday.
• Pray that in everything, God may be glorified and His kingdom built.