We’re all familiar with this phrase:
The grass is greener on the other side of the fence.
It may or may not be true but often times if not most of the times, it’s because we spend most of our time dreaming, coveting, envying, complaining, wishing, stop caring, and before you know it, we stop watering the grass on your side.
You may eventually get to the other side of the fence but for now:
Water the da*n grass on this side of the fence.
Here’s the sermon from this past Sunday about 10 things that Build Community. This is the sermon in response to the Things that Destroy Community. This goes about 58+ minutes long and I wished I could have gone a tad longer to flesh out a few more things but I made a pact in blood w/ our other staff to end at a responsible time. And I barely made it this Sunday.
And a short clip about ‘Watering the Grass on This Side’:
Here are the 10 contextual points I shared:
- Know who you are. Created in the image of God. Genesis 1.27
- Be a Host & Not a Guest. We’ve got way too many people playing and wanting “Guest Privileges” when it’s time to step up and Be a Host. Acts 2:42-45
- Learn People’s Story. We learn to love by learning people’s story and seeing them through #1 and through the eyes of Christ: Colossians 3:11
- Make Sundays Count. Hebrews 10:25
- Join a Community Group. Acts 2:42-45
- Get involved & Serve. Potluck Example: First to eat, Last to volunteer, First to leave. John 13:1-20
- Give – Your Treasure. Matthew 6:21
- Forgive. James 1:19. Colossians 3. Forgiveness = Blessing someone to flourish & prosper.
- Rejoice [Party with people] & Mourn with one another. Romans 12:15
- Worship. Loved by God. Saved by Jesus. Guided by teh Holy Spirit. Items 1-9 above are nice but must be covered by our desire to be a Worshipping Community. Colossians 3:16 // Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God
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great word! still meditating on it. we’re so trained to always be on the look out for the next best thing and to keep trying to move higher and higher. sometimes you just have to grow where you’re planted and focus on keeping the grass around you green! love it.
You rock, Eugene! I will be listening at this message and using it, along with a ‘blog post of Richard Daulstrom’s (bethany community pastor – and prob. a friend?) as an inspiration for a new ‘blog i have planned.
PS: Do you answer to “‘Gene,” by any chance?
[...] water the da*n grass on this side of the fence « eugene cho eugenecho.wordpress.com/2009/10/07/water-the-dan-grass-on-this-side-of-the-fence – view page – cached It may or may not be true but often times if not most of the times, it’s because we spend most of our time dreaming, coveting, envying, complaining, wishing, stop caring, and before you know it, we… (Read more)It may or may not be true but often times if not most of the times, it’s because we spend most of our time dreaming, coveting, envying, complaining, wishing, stop caring, and before you know it, we stop watering the grass on your side. (Read less) — From the page [...]
good sermon
PE…I loved what you said, and at the same time, I know that you are someone who is entrapeurnal enough to start a new church, and a new NGO (among other things). How did you know when to stop watering the grass where you were, and go plant a brand new field?
I really liked your sermon this week.
the discovery of one’s life purpose itself is half victory. i feel, the view you have shared here is a key to this discovery
[...] by Don Bryant on October 9, 2009 Eugene Cho has a post worth reading – and listening – [...]
@jennifer: great question.
and no easy answers.
but one thing i would clarify is that the “other side” isn’t a bad thing at all. in fact, in most cases, it can be a good thing but it’s so easy to forsake the current season with the pursuit of the other side.
as for the question of timing, when, and how we know – i guess that’s the million dollar question.
Thank you for this, Eugene. I needed to read your 10 points and be reminded of the foundation of my faith walk. I want to take the time to listen to your entire sermon. Thanks for posting them online!