Going Beyond Together
“Going Beyond Together”
by Pastor Kent Munsey
October 27, 2019
“The Lord said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering. You are to receive the offering for me from everyone whose heart prompts them to give. These are the offerings you are to receive from them: gold, silver and bronze; blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen; goat hair; ram skins dyed red and another type of durable leather; acacia wood; olive oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense; and onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod and breastpiece.
“Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them. Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you.” - Exodus 25:1-9, NIV
Today we are launching the Beyond campaign. This passage details the first capital campaign in scripture. In this passage, God is asking for an offering, for a dwelling place.
We don’t need a building to see God move. God does not need a building to reveal his character and nature. But when God asks us to do something, it is the greatest privilege of our lives to do it.
In this passage, God asks his people to build him a sanctuary or dwelling place. But these were no ordinary people--these people had just come out of slavery. It might seem like it wasn’t the right time to ask them for an offering.
But God knew that they were a nomadic people, so he asked them to build a mobile house so that they could encounter him and interact with him as they traveled to the Promise Land.
This was no ordinary tabernacle. This tabernacle was a smaller scaled, lesser version of the one that’s in heaven. There were 2800 pounds of gold in it. In today’s economy, this mobile tabernacle would have cost over 100 million dollars, and it was financed by people who just came out of slavery.
There are three things we can learn from this passage about how God operates when he asks us to build something or do something for him:
There is a clear vision. God gave his people a vision with specific instructions for the tabernacle he wanted them to build.
There is a provision. God did not ask for something they didn’t have. When God asked the children of Israel to bring an offering, it was because he brought them out of Egypt with more than enough. The Egyptians had sent them away with gifts of gold, livestock and other valuables. God gave a clear vision, but he also gave them provision.
There is a decision: God does not demand the offering, but he asks us to give only of our own free will. It’s important for us to pause and ask God what he is asking for. Where has God brought you from or what has he brought you through?
God was asking for an offering, not for his own sake, but for his people. Through the tabernacle, he was establishing a system of reconciliation, so that when they fell, they could have a place to come back to and experience God’s grace and mercy.
After God asked for the offering, the children of Israel had to be told to stop bringing offerings because they were bringing too much. They went beyond what was asked. If we’re going to go beyond, we’ve got to go beyond together. Where there is unity, God commands a blessing.
Over the next 3-4 weeks, we are asking that everyone pray and participate.
Pray: ask God to help you discern whether or not he is calling us to do this.
Participate: We encourage you to attend the events and participate in the process.
We have a clear vision of what we believe God is asking us to build at City Church Chicago. We also believe that God has supernaturally provided, and now it’s time to make a decision. Will you pray and participate with us so that we can go beyond together as a church?
Discussion/Reflection Questions
Like the Israelites who God delivered from slavery, what have you seen God move you out of?
What has God given you a vision for personally?
How have you seen God provide for you supernaturally?
How do you believe that God wants to move us as a church beyond in this season?
What do you believe God is asking you to do or to give?