All In- this Lent

Lent have begun and so we journey with Christ to His Cross.  Together we will be sharing in Matt Batterson's book, All In, Zonderzan, 2013.  The following is Matt's opening to the book (with some adaptions) as this story also opened our Sunday message.

Centuries ago a group of daring folks became known as ‘one-way missionaries’.  These were folks who were deeply in love with Jesus and answered the call to serve others which they did by purchasing one way tickets to far off places.  Instead of suitcases, these missionaries often packed everything they needed – clothes, Bibles, etc- into coffins.  And then set sail- saying perhaps what might be a final farewell to family and friends. 

A.W. Milne was one of these brave souls. He set sail from his home within the British Isle to travel to the New Hebrides (what we know as China and Malaysia today).   As he sailed with his coffin packed, William knew that the headhunters there had martyred every missionary sent before him. Milne did not fear for himself because he had already died to himself. For thirty five years he lived among that tribe and loved them.  When he died, the tribe buried him in the middle of their village with this epitaph on his tombstone-

When he came there was no light.

When he left there was no darkness.

The question you and I need to ponder this first Sunday in Lent is this- when did we start believing that God in Jesus wants us to send us to safe places to do easy things?  That faithfulness equals holding fort?  That playing it safe is actually safe?  That there is not greater privilege than sacrifice?  That radical is anything but normal?
            Jesus did not die to keep us safe.  He died to make us dangerous.

Faithfulness is not holding the fort.  It’s storming the gate of hell.  The will of God is not an insurance plan.  It is a daring plan.

The complete surrender of your life to the cause of Jesus isn’t radical.  It’s normal.  It’s time for you and I to quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death.  It’s time to go all in and all out for the All in all who is the Creator of the Cosmos, Redeemer of the Broken, and Sustainer of the Heavy-laden!

In other words- time to pack your coffin and mine!

See you at the All In place,

Pastor Michelle