Weed Out Liars

As we start this new series, we're considering planting for our future and future generations. One of our core beliefs as Methodists (or Wesleyans) is that God is present in everyone's life; therefore, we must do what we can to meet God where he works.

"Because we are Wesleyan, we believe that God is present in their lives. Because we are evangelical, we sense a calling to share the gospel with them. Because we are United Methodist, we are committed to the purpose of making disciples for the transformation of the world. And because we are apostolic, we believe that we cannot passively wait for these persons to flow into our church buildings on Sunday mornings at eleven o’clock." (Fresh Expressions: A New Kind of Methodist Church For People Not In Church)

Paul writes to the church in Ephesus, in Revelations 2:1-7. He is trying to get the churches ready for the work before them.

“I know all the things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance. I know you don’t tolerate evil people. You have examined the claims of those who say they are apostles but are not. You have discovered they are liars.” Revelations 2:2 (NLT)

We have hard work before us. For quite a while, the world has viewed Christians as insincere, so our influence has waned. Now, we must earn back the trust of those outside the church. Just as the early church had to ensure those within it were true, we must prove to the world that we are.