Some of you may have noticed I didn’t post a sermon this past Sunday.  There was a reason for this. The primary reason is that I will be preaching a very similar sermon this Sunday to a different church. The secondary reason is that I used examples in my sermon that were particular to a past charge I have served. These examples were not speaking ill of the charge at all. They were actually glorifying a few blessed moments of divine intervention where an otherwise disagreeable council did some things that were extraordinary. They trusted God to provide.

We claim to worship a God who can take just a few loaves of bread and a couple of fish and use them to feed over ten thousand. We claim to worship a God who is capable of miracles. This God who created the universe with just a few words, is capable of giving and taking life, and who loves Their creation so much that they would willingly give a part of themselves to show it that it is capable of being saved.

For people who claim to worship a God that is all-powerful, we sure lack trust in Them. We operate our churches as if there is a famine of faith going on. We try to function from a point of scarcity instead of an outlook of abundance. Our councils’ favorite words are “We can’t afford that. We can’t do that. We don’t have enough people for that.” We forget that it isn’t about what “we” can do. It’s about what God can do through us and with us.

Ministry isn’t about church decisions in the way we think it. Ministry is about recognizing what God is already doing in the world around us, recognizing when God sends someone or something to us that we can help with, and responding accordingly to Their mission. The church doesn’t have a mission, God does. The church’s job is to get on board and we are not doing that consistently.

There are great acts of ministry going on in this world but there are far more churches who do nothing but worry about keeping their lights on and their walls standing. This Sunday I preached giving examples from a congregation who in time I was there to bear witness managed to accomplish things both inside their walls and outside of them. They managed to respond to both local needs and world-wide needs. During the brief times where they exhibited leaps of faith, our congregation grew and diversified.

Through technology projects, they not only reached a wider audience but also drew in a few families who recognized this as a sign of positive progress. Through capital projects they demonstrated trust and faith that their building and congregation were going to stand the test of time improving moral and congregational engagement in worship and ministry. Through community outreach, they managed to supply one meal a week for those who had none connecting them with secular and ecumenical organizations as well as giving them a positive name in the community. Through a world-wide, they were able to contribute to the rescuing of war-torn refugees.

This was not a big church. It did not have a lot of money. It was not supported by endowments or wealthy families. What it had were people who, when given the opportunity, chose to serve God with a passion that burned deep in their hearts. Those ministries were successful, helped the church grow, and helped those who serve grow in their faith.

When their focus became too narrow, everything fell apart. When they cared more about what they wanted and not what God wanted, the congregation severed. Morale plummeted. Financial giving drastically decreased. God suffered.

The story of the loaves and fishes is a reminder to us that we have enough. We might not have much, but we certainly have enough to do something great with it. Ministries that are simple and that you have people involved who are passionate and care about the project, and who it benefits will succeed. Projects that are labeled “We’ve always done it this way” are doomed for failure. They don’t care about who they serve or who is serving, only that a ministry that is no longer desired continues purely out of stubbornness and spite.

God is always doing new things. Doing old things in new ways. Doing things that make absolutely no sense to us but somehow became miraculous examples of divine intervention.

In order for the church to survive today, we have to stop thinking about what was and look toward what can be. It’s not about swapping out music, fancy preaching, updated language, restructuring the service, pews or chairs. It’s about caring about what the people in your church are passionate about. It has nothing to do with what they think they “should” do or what is successful somewhere else. It’s about knowing yourselves and what talents God has given your congregation.

Maybe you need to focus on high school students’ special occasions. Got some nail techs in your congregation? Cosmetologists? Start a high school dance ministry that styles hair, provides outfits and shoes, and does makeup for students. Got a bunch of nerds? Play those expensive tabletop games, set up a Warhammer room, run RPG campaigns. Got some teachers or educated attendees? Offer tutoring, exam study groups, research assistance, paper editing, writing assistance, whatever. Use what you have instead of focusing on what you don’t have.

If your area needs a food, diaper, or household goods pantry, that’s great, offer one. But if there is already one in your area help make it better instead of making those who are already short on funds find transportation to drive all over the place. Offer to help deliver for them but if it already exists and is functioning reasonably well, don’t make a new one! Expand on what’s there, work with others, be a team player.

Above all, advertise your church! Countless Biblical examples scream at us, “Go and tell the world what He has done!” Make it personal and talk to others. Gather in coffee shops, restaurants, video arcades, home improvement stores, movie theaters, school events, community arts centers, libraries; for God’s sake, go out and do things together! A congregation that enjoys one another’s company, has friend groups, and has active, friendly organizations is more likely to be successful.

Jesus Christ was all about relationships. Building trust amongst each other makes us more apt to help one another and to work together to help others. We use what we have. What we’re interested in. What we can do. If you can do it, you can use it for God.