series: vintage

We are to be in the world and not of it, but in it enough to engage it.

Christ City Church

For the entirety of our series, Vintage, we've looked at positive attributes of Vintage. Vintage God. Vintage Faith. Vintage Mission. Today, we're going to flip it on it's head. The reason we need all these positive attributes - the reason we need a vintage God, in other words - is because we have a vintage problem. From the beginning, man has been "prone to wonder" - prone to rebel against that vintage God.

In Mark 8, the disciples were elated to receive the revelation that Jesus was the Christ. At least, until Jesus began to teach that He would suffer many things, be rejected and killed and after three days rise again. Not only was Jesus preparing them for His pending public death on a cross, but for the potential price His followers would pay for their public association with Him.

In 1 Corinthians we see Paul addressing issues, questions, and concerns from the church at Corinth. He has taken a few chapters to honor them by helping guide them through these tough decisions, questions and difficult practices. So when we get to 1 Corinthians 11 Paul is pretty frustrated with the what the church is representing Christ especially through communion with each other and through the Lord's Supper.

For five weeks, we have been in a series called "vintage." Today, we stop to refresh ourselves on what that word means and how it applies to us as Christ-followers. In order for the label "vintage" to be rightfully applied, we must not only properly define it, but also seek Scripture to see how to live it out. This brings us to Paul's declaration in Ephesians 2:10, where he reminds us that as the receivers of God's redemptive grace, we become masterpieces, not made to be "antiques" kept in a case, or "retro" simply called to stick out, but so much more...we are called to be vintage.

We serve a missionary God, with a vintage mission that began in Genesis and will end in Revelation. Jesus is the perfect fulfillment of the mission of God and the purpose for His church's mission. Our mission is a result of the Gospel's mission towards sinners through King Jesus. The mission of Christ City church is to reflect God's mission for His church in Birmingham.

As many were going up to prayer, Peter and John heard a beggar, in that moment they knew they had something to offer the beggar. Do we allow our schedules to be interrupted by those in need?

The story of Peter and his relationship with Jesus is a powerful example of the vintage love of Jesus - a love that doesn't change even as circumstances do. In Peter's story, we see Jesus' love for Peter is the one unshakeable thread weaving throughout their often rocky relationship.

God calls you to something, not from something.