Let’s start with an MRI.  In the medical field, MRI also known as magnetic resonance imaging, is a medical imaging technique most commonly used in radiology to visualize detailed internal and limited function of the body.  It’s especially useful in neurological (brain) muscles reletal, cardiovascular, and oncological imaging.)

            No medical MRI today.  Let’s leave that to the medical professionals.  No.  Today, it’s time Stillmeadow had a love MRI: performed by our soul doctor, Jesus.  Let’s start with the letter M.

I.          A Loving Church Is Missional

               1.   Another way to word that question may be are we moving with God?

               2.    Leonard Sweet – “ Mission is not just an activity of the church but an
                     attribute of God.  God is a missionary God, Jesus is a missionary
                    Messiah and the Spirit is a missionary Spirit.  Mission is the family
                    business.

                3.   Pastor Bud, what is God’s mission?

                4.   II Peter 3:8-9

                5.   And here is how Jesus worded the churches mission:  Matthew
                    28:18-20.  The first word of the Great Commission is go. A little less
                    than 200 times does the Bible instruct us to go.  Never once does
                   the Bible instruct us to hide.

            6.      Sure, our mission statement reflects this mission:  more disciples,
                    better disciples.  But are we living this out?  Do you see yourself as
                    a missionary?  John Huffman said: “Either you are a missionary or
                   you need one.”

            7.      Being a missionary is not just something you do.  Missional is who
                   you are, because it is who God is.  Disciples have one mission (to
                   make other disciples) but we express it in many missions (the
                   unlimited ways to fulfill our mission (Stillmeadow examples).
                   Everything about our lives should be missional – how we Twitter,
                   take vacations, talk to our kids, even how we tip.

            8.     “Blessed is the person who finds out which way God is moving and
                    then gets going in the same direction.”

            9.      Jesus said:  “As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.  Jesus
                    is the SENT ONE, we are the sent ones . . .  little sent ones . . .
                    little Christs.

II.        A Loving Church is Relational

1.     Here’s a brief story from the gospel of Mark that stresses how God feels about the church being both missional and relational.  Mark 12:28-34.

2.     Did you know the word religion comes from religare meaning “to connect, to bind together”?  Did you know that the first of our core values is connect?  It’s time for an MRI.  How are we doing when it comes to relational connection?

3.     Oh, there is so much more I could say here.  But let’s leave it today at this:  “There is always room for growth in love . . . with friends, neighbors, family and our enemies.  And that is what this series of sermons is about:  relational holiness? 

III.             A Loving Church is Incarnational?

1.     Let’s do a brief review of what we mean by this term.  The Gospel of John states from the very beginning that incarnation or enfleshment is the Word becoming flesh and blood and dwelling among us.  (John 1:14)

2.     Paul makes an equally radical claim that the church of Jesus Christ is yet another expression of incarnation.  (Read I Corinthians 12:12-27)

3.     “Missional is the mind of God.  Mission is where God’s head’s at.  Relational is the heart of God.  Relationship is where God’s heart is.  Incarnational is the hands of God.  Incarnation is what God’s hands are up to.” - Leonard Sweet.

4.     There are three things you can do with Jesus today. 
1.  You can do your best to imitate Him.  (WWJD)

2.     You can follow in His footsteps (WWJ be doing?) 

3.     You can open your heart for Jesus to tell you . . . to be in such a relationship with Jesus that you begin to share his life.
(WWJ in me be doing).
 (I John 4:15- “”Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.”  Jesus’ Spirit . . . our skin.  Incarnation.