Failure to Launch
Within each person there seems to be a desire to fill a void that exist. We seek out what the world has to offer be it work or other acceptable means of staying busy. As time passes the more we seek the more we realize nothing we do will fill the void living within. The pit of emptiness will not fade. This is the life of all that fail to know God. Christians however should not fall into this category.
Christians who fail to launch into ministry as Dr. Stumbo spoke of fail to understand this is God’s mission as we see in 1 Corinthians 15:24-25. The life lived out without this realization leads to an empty Christian. In order to remove the self fulfilling of void space we help Christians learn through the 3 C’s communion, community, and commission.
Launching out in Gods name serving His desires through the 3C’s will allow us to live a fully victorious life just as Christ desires. The 3 C’s consist of communion with God, community with others, and commission to all cultures. In learning to live out the 3 C’s we learn of God’s gifting in our life. We ultimately overcome the failure to launch as we embrace God’s story in our lives .
Communion
Every effort for people to understand their gifting must start with Communion with God and His word. If we are to launch into new ministry and missions everyone must lean into God and His word to truly understand their path forward. Dr. Stumbo ask what hindrances people encounter in Kingdom service? Based on our congregation it is the failure to draw closer to God through study and prayer. The first C is exactly that learning to be passionate and inspirational through time with God.
Community
Community follows up as we are to be a people that gather and love one another. Family and friends will become your focus along with the conversations of what Christ is doing in the midst of His people. This allows you to interact with those that have the same heart and see how you help them with your gifting.
Commission
Commission to God and His people will become front and center after learning to love God correctly. Our vision of culture and those that look different will be changed forever. We will learn to live together as Christ envisioned placing Him at the head of everything. This will allow us to lead as servants. No longer will we look at church as one type or one building. The church we will seek will be God’s and this will include as Dr. Stumbo put it “New Waves” or many expressions. Our commission will teach us to be passionate, culturally aware, and authentic.
Trusting
After learning the 3 C’s we will be positioned to truly trust God. Communion taught us to place God first. “15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”(Ephesians 5:15-16 King James Version). Our time will be reordered to ensure God is priority in our lives.
Community taught us to give God our talents. The gifting’s that were discovered within God’s people will now be dedicated to His glory. “17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” (Colossians 3:17 King James Version) By learning from each other my gifts will now become apparent.
Commission showed that what I have isn’t mine it all belongs to God and I am on His mission. Therefore, I give to God my testimony. “19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20 King James Version) Not only my testimony do I use for God to reach all cultures but knowing God I dedicate my treasure. “2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.” (1 Corinthians 16:2 King James Version) This approach allows you to take one step at a time and develop yourself to be God’s servant not only to those around you but to any culture you meet. God has designed us to be His ambassadors.