As a church, we’ve been asking ourselves the question, “Who is my neighbor?” Over time, we’ve discerned the Holy Spirit leading us to focus our neighborly efforts in three places: West Greenville, the Dominican Republic and our Main Campus.

This weekend, we’ve prepared an innovative worship experience to take you to all three of these strategic locations via our fictitious CovenantAir.

On Saturday night and Sunday morning, we will “take off” for West Greenville where all of us will be participating in a neighborhood block party right here on campus. There will be music, dancing and drama that will be out of the ordinary for a Covenant worship service, but I think it will be obvious that what God is doing on one city block in Greenville is truly the work of the redemption of individual souls and of a part of our city.

We’re then going to “fly” you to the DR, where for the last four years, our church (hundreds of Covenant people) has been concentrating our efforts in La Romana in one of the poorest neighborhoods in the world. Partnering with a number of local Methodist pastors there, we are connecting with these neighbors to make a physical and spiritual difference that has truly eternal value.

We’ll have a layover in the DR and then, Sunday night, I strongly encourage you to catch the return flight at 6pm as we fly back to our main campus to continue to share what God is calling us as a church to do in Greenville and beyond, including a very special and intentional Night of Worship. It will be a night that you will not soon forget!

A couple of reminders:

Remember that we’re inviting everyone to arrive 10 minutes before the flight begins!

Also, remember that we’re encouraging families with children to come to the Saturday night service this week and stay for the Fiesta to follow!

See you this weekend!
Branson

Not that the other three weeks of our “No Regrets” series haven’t been powerful, but I, like many of you, were blown away as hundreds of people during the weekend remained in their seats instead of taking communion. People took me up on the challenge to bypass receiving the elements this month until they could make a relationship right, forgive someone who had hurt them, or at least, “as far as it depends on us…make every effort” possible to repair brokenness in a relationship.

I talked to dozens of people. They all have stories similar to these (paraphrases):

I want you to know that I stayed in my seat Sunday. I realized as you were speaking that I have some people I need to talk to.

I did not take communion today. I haven’t talked to my sister in years so I went home and wrote her a long letter…

I got up after church and went right over to someone that I am not right with and asked them to forgive me…

You might have noticed I did not take communion. I had a conversation last week that did not end right…I’ve got to do something about that this week…

I knew that I could not take communion Saturday night. I have someone who has hurt me deeply, and I know I need to forgive them. Could you share some steps…

All I could say is…WOW! I was struck by so many people humbling themselves in this way. I was impressed that so many people took Jesus at his word in Matthew 6: “Leave your gift at the altar, go make it right with that person, and then come back and worship.”

It occurred to me later that an even bigger thing was going on at Covenant Church this weekend. As a corporate body, I believe we are becoming more and more open to the words God is whispering to us through His Spirit. As a church, we desperately want to be people who are intentional about our walk with Jesus.

That’s why this weekend was so incredible. When we get the little things right, God can really use us. I believe that the Lord has some big plans for us in the future, and we are making it our business to get ready!

By the way, it’s not too late to respond to the message of the week. If there is anyone you are not right with, then humble yourself and apologize, forgive, make up, or whatever you need to do. You don’t want to get to the end of your life with a trail of broken relationships.

Branson

This innovative retailer can be found at the corner of Evans St. and Greenville Blvd., and its signage subtitle says it all: Sell it…Buy it…Love it. I was intrigued by this marketing slogan and recently conducted some firsthand reconnaissance.

No great surprise once I got inside. You sell your stuff at wholesale and can buy other stuff at retail, goodies that your peers have previously sold. It’s essentially an upscale garage sale all in one place, and I can see why the place was packed the day I visited.

The truth is, almost all of us have outdated stuff around the house that can be traded for something more useful. Jesus understood this life principle and invited us to trade our lives for something better. “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself, pick up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.” (Mark 8:34-35)

Jesus was crystal clear: we could not embrace His kingdom and way of life (Buy it) until we let go of our world’s values (Sell it). To be an intentional follower, we must first deny our own rights.

Once we “sell” our life and in so doing acknowledge our need, we can now embrace or buy His way of life; picking up our cross and following. In other words, we exchange a world where we are at the center for a world where He is at the center. We let go our agenda and embrace His. We go from a Burger-King mindset where we “have it our way” to a King of Kings perspective where we bow to His Way.

Jesus called this exchange process discipleship and promised joy to those who acted on this invitation: “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10) Our response to this exchange is obvious, we Love it! What a great deal as we sell our broken humanity for His forgiveness and restoration.

Sell it…Buy it…Love it. This may be a good marketing strategy for a retail business, but it’s an even better summary of the gospel message of Jesus. Personally, it’s a deal I have never regretted making.

This weekend, Branson will wrap up his series on No Regrets, originally set for last weekend. Be sure to join us as we catch up for a lost snow weekend.

Exchanging My Life for His!

Charlie