Everyone is seeking new ways to be better connected,” Mike McLemore told those attending the annual meeting of the Alabama Baptist State Convention Nov. 13. “Husbands and wives, children, churches, youth. God Himself wanted to connect with His creation, mankind.”
McLemore, executive director of Birmingham Baptist Association, interpreted the Connecting with God’s Purpose segment of the convention’s new LEADERconnect theme.
Describing his vision of Jesus, he said, “I see a man who, when He was in the flesh, was calm, collected, stable, focused.
“This gives me great hope because I have linked my hand with His. I am secure forever. He knows exactly where He is going and where His church is going.”
Jesus was able to remain composed during His time on earth because He was connected to the purpose and mission of God, McLemore said.
“We need more of that stability in our churches today,” he said, noting that there is conflict in the church.
“Sometimes pastors are not stable in their own identity. It is affecting our leadership in the church of the Lord Jesus Christ,” McLemore said.
“I have had times when I was confused and didn’t know what to do — I can take the hand of Jesus.
“You and I must understand biblically what was the purpose of Jesus and what was the mission of Jesus,” he continued.
‘Stand fast in the church’
Jesus’ purpose was to glorify the Father, and His mission is found in Luke 19:10: “The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
McLemore drew the connection between Jesus’ purpose and mission by declaring that His mission grew out of His purpose.
Our mission is the same as that of Jesus, he said. “We don’t need to write a mission statement. His cannot be improved on. … We have to connect with Him, and His purpose becomes our purpose, and His mission becomes our mission.”
One of the problems Christians face is in the church itself, he said.
“There is more of the culture in the church than there is church in the culture,” he explained.
Another problem is not enough sanctification, McLemore said.
“In the temple, they used sanctified vessels. The people were given specific instructions not to touch the vessels. They were set apart to be used for God,” he explained.
“You and I as Christians have been called out of the world for His purpose and His mission. We must sanctify ourselves, empty ourselves of ourselves — take up our cross and follow Him.”
How does one follow Jesus’ example and connect to God’s mission and His purpose?
“It seems to me that our mandate is to live our lives in ways that glorify Jesus — our mission is the same as His, seeking and letting Him save that which was lost,” McLemore said, adding the “same gospel still has the same power and always will.”
He suggested lifting Jesus up when preaching and talking about Him often — as in every Sunday.
“I think we’ll see tears shed in the altars again,” McLemore said.
He called on laypeople, Sunday School teachers and deacons to “stand fast in the church.”
“If ever there was a time when the world needed to see a stable, strong, on-fire church, it is today.”
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