Sermon themes in Lent will come from Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations by United Methodist Bishop Robert Schnase.  The first practice he advocates is radical hospitality:

Churches characterized by Radical Hospitality are not just friendly and courteous, passively receiving visitors warmly.  Instead, they exhibit a restlessness because they realize so many people do not have a relationship with a faith community.

And faith communities are not ends in themselves — their purpose is to introduce people to Jesus Christ and ground them as his disciples.

The key word in the quote above is restlessness.  Congregations over time often become insular and complacent, but vital churches are restless in developing ways to drew new people into their community and into a deep connection with God.  Restlessness pushed John Wesley out into the fields and marketplaces, preaching to coal miners and factory workers and sharing with them the grace of Christ.

Schnase doesn’t say we all need to be street preachers, but he urges believers one by one to step outside their circle of familiarity and work to draw people who need God into their faith community.

My sermon will focus on the Parable of the Prodigal Son.  A heartbroken father sits at his window every day until he sees his lost son coming toward home; and rather than wait for him to arrive, the father runs to meet the son and embraces him.  Jesus says this kind of restlessness characterizes God, who will not rest until all lost children are safely home.

We’re used to speaking about how human beings are restless until they find their rest in God.  Restlessness also marks the heart of God.  The vital congregation joins with the restless God in seeking out the lost son and the lost daughter.