Community, Dedication, and Building God’s House Together

Opening: A Love for Life, a Call to Community

Chuck’s voice began with gratitude: “When you almost die, it really gives you a love for life, doesn’t it?” He shared his own story of nearly drowning, a near miss that brought the gift of another year into a sharp, joyful focus. In that spirit, he reminded us that every one of us is present by grace, not by accident.

He offered warmth and humor, celebrating “one year since my wife and I came to Hilltop,” and finally solving what he called “one of the unsolved mysteries of Hilltop Wesleyan Church”, that June and Doris are not twin sisters. Laughter filled the room. But he was quick to point to something serious: God has a reason and purpose for this church.

Why Are We Here?, The Honest Challenge

Chuck asked us directly: “Why are you here? What do you need?”

He reflected on the core of congregational life: community. But he challenged whether we truly live it:

"We all come here for one thing, right? This is community. Yet, we don’t know each other’s names."

He remembered the days when Sunday school was the largest gathering, even surpassing worship. Back then, connection happened in circles large and small, through teaching, learning, and sharing. Now, gatherings are smaller and people are more spread out, challenged by a distancing world.

He asked: are we investers in church, or simply attenders? Is our investment reflected in the ways we disciple each other, especially the youth? Are we doing more than feeding or entertaining, but truly mentoring and drawing young people deeper?

From Ezra: Rebuilding With Ordinary Hands

Turning to scripture, Chuck led us to Ezra 1 and retold how God called the Jewish exiles to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. Strikingly, God used King Cyrus, a pagan ruler, to give the command and resources for this task:

"You mean God reached out and used a man? Not the church, but a man that did not know God to build his, to order. God used the ungodly to get the people to do their job."

But the people met resistance. After ten years of delay and fear, the prophet Haggai called them back, reminding them that their purpose was not to build for themselves, but for God’s worship.

Chuck pressed us:

"Are we waiting for permission to build our church? No, we have God’s call, right?"

Our moment is not unlike theirs: the world around us may not understand, but God’s invitation remains, step forward together, build, and trust him for the future.

Connecting the Unconnected: Our Mission Re-examined

Chuck drew attention to the church’s stated mission: "Connect the unconnected." He invited us to define what that actually looks like, in our context, now. Who are “the unconnected”? What does true connection mean?

From the congregation came answers: bring people into the family of God, shine light into darkness, serve through our gifts, love like Jesus, establish trust. But Chuck wondered: “How do we do that if all we do is we come in here and we have worship and we go out and wait till next Sunday?”

His challenge was to move from a church focused inward to one connected to Christ and led into the world by obedience. He encouraged unconventional thinking, reminding us:

"If we do the same thing we’ve always done, expecting different results, it’s… Then maybe we need to be a church that does something a little different to connect."

He shared a story of leading an outdoor Sunday school class in Illinois that grew rapidly as neighborhood children dropped their bikes and came to listen. Yet, even in churches, inertia and resistance can arise, sometimes our own traditions hold us back more than the world ever could.

Dedication: Not Just For Babies, Buildings, and Baptisms

Looking to Ezra again, Chuck noted that when the temple was finished, they dedicated it with great celebration. He urged us to broaden our sense of what deserves dedication:

"Maybe instead of waiting till we have babies, buildings, and baptisms, maybe we need to be a dedicated community."

Rather than pursuing fleeting yearly resolutions, Chuck called for a "life of resolution", a sustained, corporate dedication to prayer, holiness, and discerning God’s unique purpose for our body. Every member, every skill, every life counts.

Celebration: Lost Practices of Joy

A church that is only serious, never celebrating, misses part of its call. Chuck fondly remembered when worship was a place for praise, testimonies, and lively prayer. He wondered:

"Shouldn’t we be celebrating here? And then what should we celebrate? Celebrate life. Celebrate God’s goodness. Celebrate how he’s applied, how he’s met our needs."

He asked us to imagine a community known for joy, encouraging everyone to share God’s faithfulness, not just quietly take in a message. Learning from our past shouldn’t mean replaying it exactly, but rather understanding its heartbeat and carrying its hope into new circumstances.

Outreach and Impact: Every Gift in Action

Chuck circled back to impact, especially with youth, but not only so. Are we content with activity, or are we truly reaching and discipling? What outreach could look like is an open question, not reserved for a pastor or board.

He insisted:

"God hasn’t been wasting his time on you all these years. He chose you. He picked you. He called you… He gives you something you can do that only you can do in this community."

He illustrated with the story of a church that became known as a place of prayer, open 24/7, where even a young woman in crisis knew she could run for help. Such an open door, such a reputation, the fruit of ordinary people committing time and compassion.

Practical Visions: Investing Our Gifts

Chuck moved to dreams and practical next steps: restoring the old sanctuary building, launching men’s and women’s ministries, caring for the pastor so he can serve full time, sharing the workload of ministry across the whole body. No King Cyrus will come to order us, our calling is already clear.

He concluded with an invitation:

"If you’re willing to dedicate and to pray, would you just stand up and join me?… Let’s dedicate ourselves. Let’s pray."

And with a prayer, he asked God to move among us for dedication, boldness, and joy on this hill.

Living It Out

This week, let’s be present with each other, with prayer, with our talents, with whatever God puts in our hands. Maybe that means reaching out to help, serve, or simply listen in our community. As Chuck showed, every member matters, and every gift is needed for building what God wants to do.

Discussion Questions

1. What is one way we could invest more deeply in community at Hilltop, something specific and new?
2. The story of Ezra begins with God using an outsider to spark renewal. Where do we see God working outside our expectations today?
3. Can you name a gift or passion you have not yet offered to this church family? What would it take for you to step forward with it?