King Jesus and the Queen City
This morning Pastor Alex preached Matthew 19:16-26. This is the story of the Rich Young Ruler. Did you know that if you make over $30,000 per year, then you are in the top 1% richest people in the world? We are definitely financially blessed; but remember, money is amoral. What we do with it matters. In this account, the young man asked, “What must I do to have eternal life?” Jesus responded with keeping commandments 6,7,8,9,5 and to love your neighbor as yourself. The young man was confident that he was doing this, and so asked, “what else”? Jesus knew his weakness, so He tells him to go and sell everything that He has and then come and follow Jesus. The young man walked away sorrowful.

Jesus offers each of us a radical call to conversion with open hands. What we will not give up exposes an idol in our lives. Our lifestyle speaks to this. Before our conversion, Jesus is asking for everything in us because He gave everything for us. After trusting Christ for salvation, He is demanding everything from us, so we must live with open hands.

Pastor Rob joined Pastor Alex and shared his passion for city transformation. Charlotte is known as the “City of Churches”, but church collaboration is very limited at this point. Rob is launching a ministry for the city called ForCharlotte. See the video here. This ministry will help churches and city leaders in united prayer, gospel proclamation, and gospel demonstration. Sending Rob out is a tangible way that Carmel is living with “open hands” for the greater advancement of the gospel. His time as Missions Pastor will come to an end on December 31 so that ForCharlotte can become a reality. Oh, and Rob and Ani still plan to call Carmel their church home!

Remember, we can NEVER be good enough to achieve salvation. It is a gift of God, not of works, so that no man can boast. There is a beckoning of Christ to come to Him in salvation with open hands, and then live our lives with those open hands.

To discuss today
1. What are you not willing to give up that keeps you from being “all in” for Christ’s work in your life?

2. In what ways do things in your home need to change so that you can truly live with “open hands” for the gospel?

3. Pray for ForCharlotte and the unifying ministry this resource will be for our city. Pray for Rob and his leadership team to have favor with those that need to “sit at the table”.

Prayer
Father, thank you for radically loving me enough to love me with open hands by giving Jesus to be my salvation. I want to live with those same open hands for you, but too many times I let fear, doubt, and selfishness get in the way. Father, I confess that _______________ is an idol in my life that limits my effectiveness for your Name. I choose to open my hands and lay that down so that you can use me for your glory. Holy Spirit, please speak truth to the hearts of all that call Carmel home, so that we can be obedient to live with collective “open hands” for the next thing(s) you are calling us to do. Thank you for all of those that have gone before us. I pray that we can honor their legacy by being obedient to your call for our generation.