Have No Fear, Jesus Is Here

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Jesus Unveiled

Have No Fear, Jesus Is Here

(Revelation 1:9-20)

 

INTRODUCTION

“The first summer that my wife and I were dating, she worked as a temp at a bank. In the first two weeks that she had the job, she quickly noticed some extremely unprofessional behavior among the team of four people that she worked with and their supervisor. The supervisor, who was a generation older, was very friendly with the younger staff, taking long coffee breaks with them. College-aged staff would sit on her desk to chat and gossip.

 

The supervisor and her team were so friendly that the group's behavior toward one other new member of the team was a stark contrast. This person, a woman in her 30s who had come on staff just a week before my wife, was shunned. If she walked up and tried to join the conversation during a coffee break, the conversation ended. The group, including the supervisor, made jokes about her behind her back and laughed at the way she dressed. They rolled their eyes and winked at each other when she was present. It was obvious that this middle management worker was perceived as an unnecessary intrusion.

 

Two weeks into the temp job, my wife walked into the office on Monday morning and was surprised to find a much different scenario. No gossiping, no kidding around, no long coffee breaks. All the workers had their eyes riveted on their work. The previous supervisor had been replaced. The cliquish team addressed the new supervisor with formal, businesslike respect. My wife thought she even saw fear in their eyes.

 

The new supervisor was not a stranger. It was the 30-something woman who had been shunned and mocked. It turned out the bank had hired her to be the new supervisor from the first day she came on the job three weeks before, but the bank had concealed her true identity so she could observe the work style of the team.

 

In some ways, this situation resembles the coming of Christ to earth. In his first coming, Jesus Christ revealed his true identity and glory to his true followers, but to those who did not believe, his glory was largely hidden by his humanity. Following his resurrection, Christ ascended to the right hand of God, where he rules all things. One day he is coming again to the earth to establish his glorious kingdom over everything. At that time there will be no mistaking who is in charge.

 

[Craig Brian Larson, editor of PreachingToday.com; http://www.preachingtoday.com/illustrations/2010/august/1081610.html]

 

BODY

  • ME

    • As a son

        • When I first started playing baseball as a child I’m certain my parents went with me and stayed for the practice, because it was something new and I was scared/nervous

        • As I got older, I remember riding my bike into Shippensburg by myself for baseball practice and then riding home afterwards – the fear I had about going to baseball practice was no longer there

        • Every new thing I experienced growing up brought some fear with it (going hunting; going to high school; driving a car; moving to Birmingham, AL; going to college; etc.)

        • The great thing is that I was able to do all of things, because I knew that my parents were right there with me

    • As a father

        • I’ve gotten to experience this from the other side now, as a parent

        • Whether it was going to public school, going through the hunter’s safety course with Wade and Seth, playing basketball at Carlisle Christian Academy, preparing for their permit and driver’s tests, going through the motorcycle course with Seth, filling out the FAFSA form for financial aid, filling out college applications and work applications, and eventually living on their own

        • Those things can be scary when you do it for the first time, but our boys know that Judy and I are right there with them through each of those life experiences to support them and encourage them

 

  • WE

    • Every one of us probably remembers having someone right there with us to go through our life experiences for the first time – their presence provided the strength we needed to do something that scared us or made us nervous

    • As parents, we know what it’s like to be on the other side and to be the one who provides support and encouragement

    • Take a moment to remember the person or people who walked with you through your scary life experiences – thank God for them!

    • Also, take a moment to think about those you will walk alongside of to support and encourage as they go through the same experiences you did

 

John expresses that he is a brother and companion to those who are experiencing suffering, but he also wants us to understand that . . .

 

BIG IDEA – Jesus’ victory guarantees a fear-free future.

 

Let’s pray

 

  • GOD (Revelation 1:9-20)

    • Suffering for Christ (vv. 9-11)

        • John’s circumstance

          • Brother

            • John felt close to those he was writing to, because of their common bond in Jesus Christ

            • They were brothers and sisters in Christ and were experiencing the same things

            • 1 John 3:13, Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you.

            • John 15:18-21, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. ​​ If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. ​​ As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. ​​ That is why the world hates you. ​​ Remember the words I spoke to you: ​​ ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ ​​ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. ​​ If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. ​​ They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me.

            • Just because John was one of the Apostles, it didn’t make him any better than the other 1st Century followers of Jesus – it didn’t give him a free pass from suffering, persecution, or being hated by the world

            • In fact John was a companion with the other followers of Jesus Christ in three specific ways

          • Companion

            • Suffering

              • The word means pressure, affliction, or distress in general terms, but also encompasses the tribulations of the last days

              • As Christians, we will experience difficulties and afflictions because of the Biblical principles we faithfully live by

                • John 16:33, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. ​​ In this world you will have trouble. ​​ But take heart! ​​ I have overcome the world.”

                • 2 Timothy 3:12, In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted

              • “With it, John insists that he shares with Christians in Asia Minor the tribulations of the end time, which consist of possible exile, imprisonment, social ostracism, slander, poverty, economic exploitation, violence, and the constant threat of judicial action.” ​​ [Schussler Fiorenza cited by Osborne, Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, Revelation, 80]

              • Tertullian recorded one saying of Jesus that was still circulating in his day: ​​ “No one can obtain the kingdom of heaven without first passing through testing.” ​​ [Tertullian cited by Keener, The NIV Application Commentary, Revelation, 81]

              • PRINCIPLE – As followers of Jesus Christ, we will experience suffering.

            • Kingdom

              • This refers to Jesus’ reign that began during His first advent on earth and will be fulfilled when He returns the second time

              • It’s because of Jesus’ kingdom and obedience to it that we suffer difficulties and persecution, but it’s also the hope of His future kingdom that enables us to patiently endure right now

            • Endurance

              • “‘Endurance’ or perseverance means to abide under a heavy load, to stay with it, to hang in there, not to throw in the towel or drop out of the race.” ​​ [Akin, Christ-Centered Exposition, Exalting Jesus in Revelation, 21]

              • PRINCIPLE – God provides the strength for His people to patiently endure suffering

                • John’s exile to Patmos did not catch God or Jesus off guard

                • The suffering, the kingdom, and the patience to endure are all ours in Jesus

                • He knew just what John needed to endure

                • James 1:2-4, Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. ​​ Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

              • Perhaps you’re experience suffering or persecution because of the Biblical principles you faithfully live by (family members, coworkers, neighbors, classmates, friends)

                • God is aware of what you’re going through – He is not surprised by it, nor is He caught off guard

                • He will give you the strength to patiently endure

                • My Next Step Today Is To: ​​ Trust God to give me the strength to endure the suffering or persecution that I am currently experiencing.

          • The reason for John’s current location

            • We know that John was currently on the island of Patmos

              • This little island was about ten miles long and six miles wide

              • It was located in the Aegean Sea about 40 miles west-southwest of Miletus

              • It’s terrain was rocky and mountainous

              • Those exiled there were used for hard labor in the rock quarries

              • The island was not deserted, it included a Greek gymnasium and a temple and cult of Artemis

                • I know what you’re thinking, “being exiled on an island with the peaceful sounds of the sea lapping against the coastline doesn’t sound too bad.”

                • “Hey, they had a temple for worship and a gymnasium to work out – it doesn’t sound much different than our prisons today.”

                • John had it made – he didn’t have to pay a monthly gym membership, because it was provided by the Roman government

            • We also know why he was there

              • It was because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus

              • He was preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ and as a result had become a criminal against the state

              • Eusebius records that John was exiled in AD 95 during the reign of Domitian

              • John MacArthur gives us an idea of what John may have been experiencing while exiled

              • “According to the Roman historian Tacitus, exile to such islands was a common form of punishment in the first century. ​​ At about the same time that John was banished to Patmos, Emperor Domitian exiled his own niece, Flavia Domitilla, to another island. ​​ Unlike Flavia Domitilla, whose banishment was politically motivated, John was probably sent to Patmos as a criminal (as a Christian, he was a member of an illegal religious sect). ​​ If so, the conditions under which he lived would have been harsh. ​​ Exhausting labor under the watchful eye (and ready whip) of a Roman overseer, insufficient food and clothing, and having to sleep on the bare ground would have taken their toll on a ninety-year-old man. ​​ It was on the bleak, barren island, under those brutal conditions, that John received the most extensive revelation of the future ever given.” ​​ [MacArthur cited by Akin, 20]

          • We know the day this took place

            • It was the Lord’s Day – by this time it would have been the first day of the week, which represented the day of Jesus’ resurrection (it’s what we refer to as Sunday)

            • John was in the Spirit this particular Lord’s Day

              • John was probably worshiping the Lord when he received the revelation

              • Mounce refers to it as “a state of spiritual exaltation best described as a trance.” ​​ [Mounce, The New International Commentary of the New Testament, Revelation, 55]

              • This same phrase appears in Revelation 4:2; 17:3; and 21:10 and means that John had a vision that was inspired by the Spirit of God [Easley, Holman New Testament Commentary, Revelation, 17]

          • Two of John’s senses are used while he is in the Spirit – hearing and sight

        • What John heard

          • A loud voice like a trumpet

            • This simile simply helps us understand that when Jesus spoke to John it was clear, unmistakable, and intelligible

            • John would not have misunderstood what Jesus was telling him to do

          • The command from the Jesus

            • John was to write on a scroll everything he was about to see and then send it to the seven churches

            • While John mentioned that his letter was written to the seven churches in the province of Asia (Rev. 1:4), we now know the specific churches we was talking about (Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea)

        • In verses 12-16 we see that John uses his sense of sight

    • Characteristics of Christ (vv. 12-16, 20)

        • John turned around to see who was speaking to him and he saw several things

        • Seven golden lampstands (vv. 12, 20)

          • The first thing that John identifies when he turns around are seven golden lampstands

          • We don’t have to wonder what the seven golden lampstands represent, because Jesus reveals the mystery as we see in the second half of v. 20 – they represent the seven churches in the province of Asia Minor to whom John is writing

          • The imagery of the lampstands are significant

            • The lampstand was designed to be placed in the center of a room in the 1st Century and a lamp or lamps were placed on them so that it would give light to the entire room

            • The imagery of the churches being represented as lampstands is a representation of their function within the various cities – they were to be shining lights in the dark and evil world

              • Matthew 5:14-16, “You are the light of the world. ​​ A city on a hill cannot be hidden. ​​ Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. ​​ Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ​​ In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

              • As a body of believers, who are followers of Jesus Christ, we are to be shining lights in our dark and evil world

              • Are we doing that?

                • Yes! ​​ (Upper Adams Food Pantry; Gettysburg Soup Kitchen; Ronald McDonald House; Service projects; Hallelujah Party; Children’s Easter Breakfast; etc.)

                • Can we improve? ​​ Yes!

                • Show Video – Becoming a Welcoming Church, Book Trailer

              • It’s more than just serving and being welcoming

                • It is also sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ with those in our sphere of influence

                • The women’s Bible study is currently going through the curriculum, Tell Someone, by Greg Laurie that provides the Biblical background and urgency with which we should be sharing the Gospel

                • My Next Step Today Is To: ​​ Commit to share the Gospel with one person this week.

                • There are many resources available to share the Gospel with someone – we have some tracts available in the foyer today for you to take and use

          • Before we look at how John describes the characteristics of Jesus, we see that Jesus is standing among the lampstands

            • We don’t want to miss this very important aspect of what John saw

            • After Jesus’ resurrection, we know that He ascended to heaven and is sitting at the right hand of God, but as He is unveiled here in Revelation, we seem Him standing among the churches who are experiencing persecution

            • He is right there with them caring for them

            • “When John says he saw Christ in the midst of the lampstands, he wants to let us know that Christ is not an absentee landlord. ​​ On the contrary, he is in the midst of his churches supporting them during trials and persecutions.” ​​ [Metzger cited by Osborne, 87]

            • That’s a wonderful image of what Jesus is still doing in His churches

              • We can have comfort in the fact that Jesus is right here with us caring for us and supporting us when we experience trials and persecutions

              • Hebrews 13:5b-6, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” ​​ So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. ​​ What can man do to me?”

          • John now uses incredible word pictures to describe the characteristics of the risen Christ

        • Vision of Jesus

          • We see Jesus unveiled here as John writes down what He saw

            • He was putting into human terms the glory and majesty of Jesus Christ

            • He was also identifying multiple characteristics of Jesus Christ that revealed His authority as the Son of God

          • Long robe and golden sash

            • Priest

              • Most scholars see the long robe and golden sash as representing Jesus as our High Priest

              • Exodus 28:4, These are the garments they are to make: ​​ a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a woven tunic, a turban and a sash. ​​ They are to make these sacred garments for your brother Aaron and his sons, so they may serve me as priests.

              • The Greek word used for long robe is only found in this verse in the New Testament, but it is found seven times in the Greek translation of the Old Testament (LXX) – six of the seven references refer to the attire of the high priest [Mounce, 58]

              • We know that Jesus functions in the role of our high priest

              • Hebrews 4:14-16, Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. ​​ For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet was without sin. ​​ Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

            • King/Ruler

              • The long robe and sash were also worn by dignitaries and rulers

              • This imagery of Jesus also fits with who He is

              • Revelation 1:5 refers to Jesus as the ruler of the kings of the earth

              • Revelation 19:16, On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: ​​ KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

            • John moves from the clothing to different parts of the body

          • Hair was white like wool, as white as snow

            • This imagery is also found in the book of Daniel

            • Daniel 7:9, “As I looked, ‘thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. ​​ His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. ​​ His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze.

            • That description is of God the Father, but we see in Revelation that it is attributed to Jesus, which strengthens the idea of the unity between the Father and the Son

            • The white hair was an indication of Jesus’ wisdom and dignity

            • Proverbs 16:31, Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained by a righteous life.

            • PRINCIPLE/TRUTH – Jesus is full of wisdom.

              • This is great news for us, because we can turn to Him in our confusion and when we don’t understand what is going on in our lives

              • He can provide wisdom for the circumstances we are going through

              • That wisdom may come from family, friends, coworkers, the Bible, the Holy Spirit while in prayer, pastors, preachers, etc.

            • John remains looking at Jesus face and focuses on His eyes

          • Eyes like blazing fire

            • Daniel also saw a vision of a man with eyes like flaming torches (Daniel 10:6)

            • The characteristic of Jesus that we see with blazing eyes, is that He sees and perceives everything that is unfolding in humanity

            • It is a penetrating and divine insight that provides omniscient (all-knowing) intelligence

            • Nothing is hidden from Jesus

            • Some children believe their mothers have these kind of eyes – they don’t say she has eyes blazing like fire, but rather eyes in the back of their head (they seem to know everything that’s happening)

          • Feet like bronze glowing in a furnace

            • “Since feet in the ancient world portrayed the direction of one’s life, the image here depicts Christ’s life in both its strength or stability and its absolute purity.” ​​ [Osborne, 91]

            • We can know that Jesus is standing strong and He stable – He will not stumble, fall, or waver

          • Voice like the sound of rushing water

            • Have you been to Niagara Falls and taken the boat to the edge of the falls?

              • What was the sound like? ​​ (deafening)

              • Were you able to talk over it?

            • The imagery here is that Jesus’ voice is powerful – it cannot be ignored

          • Seven stars in Jesus’ right hand

            • Throughout Scripture the right hand symbolizes power, authority, and honor

            • The idea that Jesus is holding the seven stars in His hand represents two things

              • He has acquired or taken possession of those seven stars

              • It also has the idea that Jesus is keeping, preserving, and protecting those seven stars

              • It reminds us of what Jesus said as He compared His followers to sheep

              • John 10:27-28, My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. ​​ I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.

            • We don’t have to guess what the stars represent, because Jesus explains it in verse 20

              • The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches

              • The Greek word used is angelos and can be interpreted as angel or messenger

              • I don’t want us to get caught up in trying to determine whether or not it is an actual angel or a pastor/leader within each church

              • Mounce believes it “was a way of personifying the prevailing spirit of the church.” ​​ [Mounce, 63]

              • Either way, Jesus is holding them and protecting them in their role

          • Sharp double-edged sword coming out of Jesus’ mouth

            • The sword that is represented by this imagery is a long sword used for battle and not a dagger

            • What we understand from this is that Jesus has the authority to judge

            • “In His judgments He is perfect (v. 16) . . . The sword is the Word of God, divine in judgment, power, and authority. ​​ It both cuts and cures, hurts and heals.” ​​ [Akin, 24]

            • Hebrews 4:12, For the word of God is living and active. ​​ Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

          • Face like the sun shining in all its brilliance

            • This wasn’t the first time that John had seen Jesus’ face like this

            • At the transfiguration in Matthew 17:2, John saw Jesus’ face shining like the sun

            • This represents Jesus’ brilliance, glory, holiness, and majesty

            • This is Jesus in all of His divine glory

        • We see Jesus unveiled as the divine authority, who has infinite wisdom, perceives everything, is strong and stable, cannot be ignored, is a powerful protector, and who judges correctly

        • When we recognize those characteristics in Jesus there is only one response

    • Power of Christ (v. 17-20)

        • John’s correct response to seeing Christ

          • He fell down at Jesus’ feet as though he was dead

          • That should be our response when we truly recognize who Jesus is and the power and authority He possesses over all humanity

        • Jesus’ encouragement

          • Jesus touches John with that powerful right hand and tells him to stop being afraid

          • Jesus explains why John doesn’t need to be afraid (Easley outlines it very well)

            • He has power over time (I am the First and the Last)

              • Jesus was there at creation, He is here now, He will be there at the end of time, and He will be in eternity

              • Jesus is eternal

            • He has power over life (I am the Living One)

              • This is a powerful description of Jesus that separates Him from every other spiritual leader

              • “In the OT the title is in antithesis to the idols/pagan gods that have no life or power.” ​​ [Osborne, 95]

              • In the pagan temples in the ancient near-east they had priests who would go in each morning and dress the idols and prepare food for them, because they were incapable of doing it themselves (they were not alive). ​​ They would prepare them for bed in the evening

              • Jesus is alive! ​​ God restored life to Him at His resurrection

            • He has power over sin (I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever!)

              • Romans 3:10-12, As it is written: ​​ “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. ​​ All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.

              • Our sin separates us from God (Rom. 6:23)

              • God had a plan from the start (Rom. 5:8)

              • Jesus lived a sinless life and then willingly gave His life for ours – He took our place on the cross (1 Cor. 15:3-4)

              • God accepted Jesus’ perfect sacrifice and allowed Him to come alive again winning over sin and death

              • 2 Corinthians 5:21, God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

                • It is by believing in Jesus and receiving Him into our lives that we become the righteousness of God

                • Through the blood of Jesus Christ, God sees us as righteous – without sin

                • My Next Step Today Is To: ​​ Claim the righteousness of God by believing in Jesus and receiving Him as my sin substitute.

            • He has power over death (And I hold the keys of death and Hades)

              • “In ancient palaces, the one who held the keys was an important official, able to admit or shut out people from the king’s presence.” ​​ [Keener, 97]

              • The person who holds the keys is the one who has power and authority over those things

              • Jesus has power and authority over death and the grave (the place of all the dead)

          • Jesus is all-powerful!

          • Jesus’ victory guarantees a fear-free future.

          • Jesus commands John to write a couple of things down

        • Outline for the rest of the book

          • Most scholars see verse 19 as an outline for the entire book of Revelation

          • There is debate over whether it has two or three points

          • The majority of commentators see three distinct parts

            • What you have seen is referring to all of chapter 1, including John’s vision of Jesus in His divine glory

            • What is now is referring to chapters 2-3 and the seven churches in Asia Minor

            • What will take place later is referencing all of chapters 4-22

            • This is certainly a viable outline

          • Mounce posits that the first statement is the essential one and the two relative clauses develop the essential one

            • So the verse could be translated this way, “Write, therefore, the things you are about to see, that is, both what now is and what lies yet in the future.” ​​ [Mounce, 62]

            • For us in the 21st Century this helps us think about what is happening right now and what is still to come in the final eschatology

 ​​​​ YOU

    • When we realize who Jesus is, our response should be to fall down at His feet

        • I want to give you that opportunity today

        • Perhaps you’re going through some difficulty or suffering right now and you need to trust God to give you the strength to patiently endure – the altar is open for you today to fall down at the feet of Jesus

        • Maybe you need the strength to share the Gospel with one person this week and you need to be reminded of the urgency of doing that and the transformation that Jesus provided for you when you turned to Him – the altar is open for you today

        • We saw through the vision that John had that Jesus is unveiled as the divine authority, who has infinite wisdom, perceives everything, is strong and stable, cannot be ignored, is a powerful protector, and judges correctly – when we think about those characteristics our only response is to fall down at Jesus feet, so that may be your response of praise to God today – the altar is open for you

        • Maybe you realize for the first time that you need to claim the righteousness of God for yourself by believing and receiving Jesus as your sin substitute – your act of submission to Jesus today is to fall at His feet – the altar is open for you

  • WE

12

 

/by

God’s Plan From Beginning to End

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Jesus Unveiled

God’s Plan From Beginning to End

(Revelation 1:1-8)

 

INTRODUCTION

How many of you are familiar with J. R. R. Tolkien’s series of books, Lord of the Rings? ​​ Perhaps you’re more familiar with the three movies that were produced. ​​ The premise behind the books and the movies is that there is a battle between good and evil.

 

At the end of the third book we read these words, “When Aragorn arose all that beheld him gazed in silence, for is seemed to them that he was revealed to them now for the first time. ​​ Tall as the sea-kings of old, he stood above all that were near; ancient of days he seemed and yet in the flower of manhood; and wisdom sat upon his brow, and strength and healing were in his hands, and a light was about him. ​​ And then Faramir cried: ​​ ‘Behold the King!’”

 

Kendell H. Easley in his commentary says, “This excerpt suggests that Tolkien knew the true King of kings. ​​ He knew that human history is all about a real battle between good and evil. ​​ He knew that the true King has not yet been revealed in his splendor, but will one day.” [Easley, Holman New Testament Commentary, 11]

 

Aragorn was with the Hobbits and the other characters as they fought their way to the mountain where the one ring would be destroyed. ​​ He was known to them as Strider, but He was with them nonetheless.

 

Jesus was physically with humanity for a period of time. ​​ He is with us now through the Holy Spirit that lives within every believer. ​​ We see through all of Scripture that God’s sovereign plan continues to unfold throughout history. ​​ It is His redemptive plan that was set into motion when Adam and Eve sinned. ​​ It continues today and will one day be fulfilled when Jesus Christ returns.

 

BODY

  • ME

    • Past

        • I’ve seen God’s redemptive plan at work in my life in the past

        • I was four years old when I believed in Jesus Christ for salvation

        • I didn’t understand all that a relationship with Jesus meant at that age, but God continued to work in my life as I learned more and more about His Son

        • As a teenager, I felt the call to missionary work, but didn’t know when or where

        • It wasn’t until three years after graduating college that I began to serve with Child Evangelism Fellowship

        • God’s sovereign plan for my life continued to unfold as I was obedient to His call into pastoral ministry

    • Present

        • I’ve seen God working in my life even now

        • As a family we’ve been reading through the Bible and praying for the nations this year

        • It has been an incredible time of bonding as a family and it’s brought up good conversations and some laughter

        • God has also been working in my life through several books I’ve read recently

          • Not A Fan and Radical have challenged me to deny myself, take up my cross daily, and follow Jesus Christ

          • I’m still working through what that looks like for me

    • Future

        • I recently started reading Visioneering by Andy Stanley and that has been challenging me to think about the future and the vision God has given me in several areas: ​​ career, finances, spouse, children, ministry, etc.

        • I’m looking forward to developing and praying about those visions

        • I don’t know when some of them will come to fruition, but I know that God’s sovereign plan will be revealed and accomplished in His time

​​ 

  • WE

    • How have you seen God’s sovereign plan at work in your past? ​​ (spouse, job, career, salvation, etc.)

    • How do you see God’s sovereign plan working in your life right now?

    • Do you believe that God’s sovereign plan will be accomplished in your life in the future?

 

As John begins his letter to the seven churches in the province of Asia, he wants us to understand that . . .

 

BIG IDEA – God’s sovereign plan is seen in the past, present, and future.

 

Let’s pray

 

  • GOD (Revelation 1:1-8)

    • Theme

        • The theme for the entire book of Revelation is “Jesus Unveiled”

          • The very first word in the original Greek text is ʹΑποκάλυψις and it means “the act of uncovering, unveiling, revealing, revelation.” ​​ [Rogers & Rogers, The New Linguistic and Exegetical Key to the Greek New Testament, 610]

          • The book of Revelation is the unveiling of the culmination of God’s plan to redeem humanity

          • That plan includes Jesus Christ at every step

          • We’ll see Jesus unveiled in multiple ways throughout this book

          • If you remember, I told you that I would give you the greatest teaching of Revelation that isn’t found in most commentaries – “right before the final judgment, God is still wooing the people of this world. ​​ His judgments are designed to call everyone to repentance. ​​ God may do His greatest act of evangelism at the very end. ​​ This may be why believers are still here.” ​​ [Dr. Douglas Buckwalter, lecture at Evangelical Seminary]

        • Apocalypse

          • Most movies today that portrait the apocalypse make it look scary and something that should be feared

          • Yet, that is not how we should look at the Apocalypse

          • This is God’s fulfillment of His sovereign redemption plan

            • We saw His sovereign redemption plan in the past

              • He promised Adam and Eve that He would send a Savior

              • He made a covenant with Abraham

              • He promised David that someone from His line would always sit on the throne – it is Jesus!

              • He sent Jesus over two thousand years ago to be the perfect Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world

            • We see His sovereign redemption plan in the present

              • The presentation we showed during halftime at the “Super Game” Night from Sports Spectrum and Football Sunday highlighted interviews from NFL players talking about what Seeking, Surrendering, and Serving looks like for them

              • This past year, the Philadelphia Eagles team saw several players give their lives to Jesus Christ and be baptized

              • It’s not just through NFL players that we see God’s sovereign redemption plan at work in the present, but also through every individual who surrenders their life to Jesus Christ

            • Through Revelation we have a glimpse into His sovereign redemption plan for the future

    • Introduction (vv. 1-3)

        • Transmission of the revelation (vv. 1-2)

          • John gives us a little introductory explanation about how the revelation of Jesus was transmitted to him

            • The revelation that John receives is not his own revelation, but rather Jesus’ revelation

            • There is great discussion about whether the revelation is about Jesus or from Jesus

            • Most scholars believe the original Greek within context favors the subjective genitive meaning – from Jesus – instead of the objective genitive – about Jesus

            • But the meaning of the Greek can be both of/about and from

            • It is definitely from Jesus, but I believe we’ll see that this revelation is an unveiling of Jesus as God’s fulfillment of His sovereign plan

          • There was a chain of communication that took place

            • The revelation was transmitted from God to Jesus

            • Jesus then shared it with an angel who in turn shared it with His servant John

            • In writing this book of the Bible, John then shares it with Jesus’ servants, the congregations of the seven churches in the province of Asia and of course with all believers down through history (that includes us)

          • What must soon take place

            • This phrase has caused some confusion and controversy over the years

            • How can this revelation be something that is soon to take place, if it has been two thousand years since John wrote these words?

            • How is John defining “soon”?

            • The Greek word means “speed, swiftness,” but with the preposition can mean “quickly, suddenly, soon.” ​​ Walvoord explains that the word indicates rapidity of execution [Rogers & Rogers, 610]

            • “It’s the same Greek word from which we get the word ‘tachometer’ – the instrument used to determine the speed of an engine. ​​ Thus, the Lord is telling us in this verse that when end-time events begin to happen, they’ll increase their rpms and happen with greater rapidity.” ​​ [Courson, Jon Courson’s Application Commentary New Testament, 1663-1664]

            • We also have to remember that God works outside of our time/space continuum

              • Jesus’ return is always imminent in prophecy

              • Chronological sequence is always a secondary concern when speaking about prophecy [Mounce, The New International Commentary on the New Testament, 41]

              • We should have a sense of expectation and responsibility when we read that the end will soon take place [Osborne, Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, 55]

              • Live each day as if Christ is returning today

          • Testifying to everything he saw

            • John is letting us know that what he wrote down is everything he saw when he was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day (Rev. 1:10)

            • He also clarifies that what he saw was the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ

            • Those two statements are one in the same

        • Beatitude (v. 3)

          • This is the first of seven beatitudes that we will find in Revelation (14:13; 16:15; 19:9; 20:6; 22:7, 14)

          • The same Greek word is used here as in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:1-12 and Luke 6:17-26

          • It can be defined as “happy”

          • Two groups can count themselves blessed/happy

            • Those who read it

              • There weren’t many in the 1st Century church who were able to read

              • So, it’s not hard to understand why those who could read and did read Holy Scripture were blessed or happy

              • They were sharing the very words of God to those who couldn’t read

              • This is how the Gospel was spread throughout the Roman world

            • Those who hear it and take it to heart

              • To take it to heart meant to “keep” or “observe”

              • Both the reader and hearer were to obey what was read

              • Jesus expresses in Luke 11:28 almost the exact same words as here, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”

              • The theme of listening continues throughout Revelation, especially when addressing the seven churches

              • In each letter we hear these words, He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches (Rev. 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22)

              • Even though each church is addressed individually, all of the churches are to listen and obey what is being said to the other churches

          • PRINCIPLE – God will bless His people who read His word and those who hear it and obey it.

            • We have the opportunity to experience God’s blessing in ​​ our lives – to be happy

            • There are individuals in our culture who cannot read (children, the elderly, the illiterate)

              • What greater privilege than to read God’s Word to them, so they can hear and obey His Word

              • Through reading Scripture to others, we allow them to experience God’s blessing – to be happy

              • My Next Step Today Is To: ​​ Commit to reading God’s Word to someone who is unable to read it.

            • We also have the opportunity to be blessed by God when we hear and obey His Word

              • James 1:22-25, Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. ​​ Do what it says. ​​ Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. ​​ But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it – he will be blessed in what he does.

              • Is there some way God has been challenging you to obey Him through the reading or hearing of His Word?

              • Have you been obedient?

              • My Next Step Today Is To: ​​ Experience God’s blessing and be happy by being obedient to His Word.

          • The reason why they are to listen and obey is because the time is near

        • After explaining how he received the revelation of Jesus, John shares the traditional greeting of the 1st Century

    • Greeting (vv. 4-5a)

        • He identifies himself as the sender – John (the beloved disciple of Jesus)

        • The recipients are the seven churches in the province of Asia

          • This region would have been western Asia Minor

          • Today it is western Turkey

          • “Furthermore, the seven cities were located ‘on the great circular road that bound together the most populous, wealthy, and influential part of the Province.’” ​​ [Mounce, 45]

          • The letter would start at Ephesus, which was closest to the island of Patmos, and would end at Laodicea after completing the circular route

          • Each church probably hand-copied their own, so they could read it again and again

          • The other cities and villages within Asia Minor would learn of this great revelation from those seven churches

        • The greeting

          • Grace and peace

            • This was the standard Christian greeting in the 1st Century

            • We see Paul using this greeting in his letters to the various churches

            • Grace is God’s unmerited favor (unconditional and undeserved kindness)

              • This would have been the traditional Hellenistic greeting

              • The Greek word is chairein

            • Peace refers to wholeness and well-being

              • This would have been the common Hebrew greeting

              • The Hebrew word is shalom

            • It is through Christ that Christians can experience true grace and peace in their lives

          • The source of grace and peace – threefold

            • God

              • John doesn’t say God directly, but we understand that’s who it is from his description – from him who is, and who was, and who is to come

              • This is the first of two times that John uses this description of God – the other is in Rev. 1:8

              • A similar form is also used in Rev. 4:8; 11:17; and 16:5

              • “This paraphrase of the divine name (YHWH) stems from Exod 3:14-15 and calls attention to the fact that all time is embraced within God’s eternal presence.” ​​ [Mounce, 45-46]

              • Exodus 3:14-15, God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. ​​ This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ​​ ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” ​​ God also said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers – the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob – has sent me to you.’ ​​ This is my name forever, the name by which I am to be remembered from generation to generation.

              • PRINCIPLES – God is eternal and sovereign

                • Eternal – God has no beginning or ending. ​​ He is not affected by time. ​​ He has already lived your tomorrows (Because He is eternal we see His sovereign plan in the present, the past, and the future)

                • Sovereign – God has the right to plan my life. ​​ He has the right to rule and make any decision He wants to. ​​ He has the right the change things. ​​ “He has the right to rule and He rules rightly.”

              • Grace and peace don’t just come from God, but also the Holy Spirit

            • The Holy Spirit

              • The description John gives of the Holy Spirit here seems confusing

              • The seven spirits before the throne

              • Most translations have the seven spirits, but some put in a footnote, the sevenfold Spirit

              • Some scholars think it refers to seven angels, but that doesn’t seem to hold true within the context and how the seven spirits is used elsewhere in Revelation

              • Using Zechariah 4:2-6, some scholars believe that the seven spirits are talking about the Holy Spirit, since the angel explains to Zechariah that the seven lamps on the lampstand represent the work of the Holy Spirit and not might or power

                • “While there is but one Holy Spirit, he does not invest himself incrementally in the churches but is always available simultaneously, in his fullness, to all seven congregations.” ​​ [Patterson, New American Commentary, 59]

                • We see this spelled out in the individual addresses to each church to hear what the Spirit says to the churches

              • There is one final source of this grace and peace and it comes from Jesus

            • Jesus

              • John describes Jesus in three ways: ​​ the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth

              • Faithful witness

                • Jesus faithfully passed on to the angel the revelation from God

                • His life on earth was a witness to the truth from God

                • John 3:11, I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony.

                • We see Jesus saying it again in John 3:32-33

                • Jesus was the model for the Asian churches who were about to go through a time of persecution

                • 1 Timothy 6:13, In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession . . .

                • He wasn’t just a faithful witness, but was also the firstborn from the dead

              • Firstborn from the dead

                • This simply expresses that Jesus was the first One to rise from the dead

                • This is significant for followers of Jesus Christ, because His resurrection guarantees that we will also be raised from the dead

                • 1 Corinthians 15:20-23, But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. ​​ For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. ​​ For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. ​​ But each in his own turn: ​​ Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him.

                • John describes then the future of Christ

              • Ruler of the kings of the earth

                • This is a reference to His sovereign role as King

                • This expression looks forward ​​ to Rev. 19:16

              • “There is a sense in which Jesus may be observed in his three ministries as prophet (faithful witness), priest (conquering for man the wage of sin exacted against man through his victory over death), and king (ruling all other kings).” ​​ [Patterson, 60-61]

        • John moves from the greeting to a doxology

    • Doxology (v. 5b-6)

        • John listed three titles for Jesus in the ending of his greeting and now he lists three works of Jesus

          • He loves us

            • Jesus’ love for us was manifested in His death, burial, and resurrection

            • John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life

            • Read Romans 5:5-8 [Bible marker #2]

            • Galatians 2:20, I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. ​​ The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

            • It was through His perfect sacrifice that we are freed from our sins

          • He freed us from our sins

            • Sin

              • Anything we think, say, or do that displeases God

              • Our sin creates a separation between us and God (Rom. 6:23)

              • This separation comes as a result of our own choices

              • We try to bridge the gap that our separation has created with good works, religion, philosophy, morality, and many other things

              • There is only one thing that can bridge the gap of separation – it’s the blood of Jesus Christ

            • Blood

              • Hebrews 9:22, In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

              • 1 John 1:7, But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

            • Become God’s child

              • John 1:12, Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God

              • My Next Step Today Is To: ​​ Become a child of God by believing in Jesus name and receiving Him into my life.

            • “John reminds his audience that salvation is not just what God saves us from (our sins, 1:5), but what he saves us for – for a destiny as his agents and worshipers (1:6).” ​​ [Keener, The NIV Application Commentary, 71]

          • Made us to be a kingdom and priests

            • Exodus 19:5-6, Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. ​​ Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.

            • 1 Peter 2:9, But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

            • These words for Israel in the OT and for us in the NT are to encourage us to remember that we are God’s special people – The Israelites and the Christians in Asia Minor were experiencing persecution and these words would have brought them comfort

            • We are to continue what God initially charged the Israelites to do – to show those around us what a relationship with Jesus Christ looks like

        • Praise for Jesus

          • John concludes this doxology with glory and power to Jesus

          • Amen means “so let it be”

        • Before John begins to share the vision he had, he reminds the churches about Christ’s promised return

    • Promise of Christ’s Return (vv. 7-8)

        • This promise comes from two Old Testament passages

          • Daniel 7:13, “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven.”

          • Zechariah 12:10, “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. ​​ They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.”

        • Jesus return will not be missed

          • It will be seen by everyone

          • Every eye will see Him

          • Everyone will recognize who Jesus is

            • This is obviously a reference to those who crucified Jesus – they will realize that they pierced the Messiah

            • But it is much broader than just the Jews who crucified Him

            • It also encompasses all fallen humanity – there are individuals from every generation that have rejected Jesus, marginalized Him, and have not believed that He is the Son of God or the only way to the Father

            • They will mourn when He returns, because it will be clear to them who Jesus is

          • It’s imperative that we recognize who Jesus is now and not when He returns

            • It will be too late when He returns – we will be one of those who mourns because we will understand who Jesus is and recognize that we have rejected Him

            • 2 Corinthians 6:2, For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” ​​ I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.

          • John affirms this message from the prophets of old – so shall it be! ​​ Amen.

        • There are three principles that God highlights about Himself in v. 8

          • PRINCIPLE – God is omniscient [all-knowing]

            • Alpha and Omega were the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet

            • Alpha and Omega also represent all of the letters in between

            • God was there at the beginning (creation) and He will be there at the end

            • God is also right here with us now

          • PRINCIPLE – God is immutable [unchanging]

            • He is continuing to fulfill His sovereign plan through the past, present, and future

            • God doesn’t change – He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8)

            • God’s sovereign plan is seen in the past, present, and future.

          • PRINCIPLE – God is omnipotent [all-powerful]

            • Almighty simply means that God is all-powerful (omnipotent)

            • There is nothing He cannot do

 ​​​​ 

  • YOU

    • Jesus’ return is imminent – it will happen!

    • Are you reading, hearing, and obeying God’s Word until Jesus returns?

    • Have you prepared for Jesus return?

  • WE

    • We have a responsibility as followers of Jesus Christ to share the good news of Jesus Christ

    • We will be blessed when we read God’s Words to those who can’t read

    • Those who hear and obey God’s Word will also be blessed

 

CONCLUSION

There are many ways that people are preparing for the Apocalypse. ​​ Here is one example.

 

“Are you ready for the end of the world? If not, a company named Vivos can help you and your loved ones get prepared. The Vivos website says, ‘Whether we want to believe it or not … we are on the cusp of an increase in number and magnitude of events that may, in the twinkling of an eye, change the world, as we know it.’ They list a range of possible cataclysmic disasters, including Armageddon, plagues, a solar kill shot, a super volcanic eruption, major earth changes, killer asteroids and comets, mega tsunami's, an economic meltdown—not to mention manmade threats, including nuclear explosions, a reactor meltdown, biological or chemical disasters, terrorism, and widespread anarchy.

 

But for a mere $35,000 per person, you can co-own an underground Vivos shelter in one of their airtight, fully self-contained, impervious complexes designed to survive any catastrophe. Their website advertises:

Our [complexes] comfortably accommodate community groups from 50 to 1,000 people, in spacious living quarters, outfitted and stocked for a minimum of 1 year of autonomous survival to ride out the potential events. Every detail has been considered and planned for. Members need to only arrive before their facility is locked down and secured from the chaos above.

 

Their website warns that ‘millions will perish or worse yet, struggle to survive.’ But they also boldly promise, ‘Vivos is your solution to ride out these catastrophes, so you may survive to be a part of the next Genesis!’ They also offer this reminder: ‘It wasn't raining when Noah built the ark.’”

 

Matt Woodley, managing editor, PreachingToday.com; source: Douglas Rushkoff, Present Shock (Penguin Group, 2013), p. 245; Vivos website (accessed on April 10, 2013).

 

There is only one way to be prepared for the Apocalypse and John is unveiling that truth in the book of Revelation. ​​ He is unveiling Jesus as God’s sovereign plan that we see in the past, present, and future.

13

 

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G.R.O.W. Campaign Devotional 1

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G.R.O.W. Campaign Devotional

February 4, 2018

 

G.R.O.W. Campaign Packet

  • I am excited to share with you about the capital campaign

    • We are calling it the G.R.O.W. Campaign

    • The acrostic stands for Give to Revive Our Worship

    • [Show the GROW Logo]

  • The Board of Administration has been diligently working to prepare a comprehensive document for the capital campaign

    • We have a packet for each family this morning as you leave the worship service

    • This project has been something that the board has been discussing for several years

    • We have been sharing it with you all through the Mission Possible Meetings over the last year

    • We believe that expanding is God’s vision for Idaville Church at this time

  • We realize that this requires a step of faith

    • So over the next four weeks you will be hearing devotionals from four leaders about faith and growth

    • As leadership we are committed to taking the step of faith that we are asking you all to take

 

Rebellion Against God’s Plan (Numbers 13:1-14:45)

  • The Lord instructed Moses to send some men into Canaan to explore the land (God said He was giving the Israelites the land)

  • If you remember Moses chose one leader from each tribe to be part of the scouting party

    • They spent 40 days exploring the land

    • They brought back a cluster of grapes that required two men to carry and also pomegranates and figs

  • Caleb immediately tells the Israelites that they should go up and take possession of the land, because they can certainly do it

  • The other 10 leaders didn’t feel the same way

    • They were probably afraid, which drove them to lead by fear instead of faith

    • They began to spread a bad report about the land among the people

    • Their tactic worked – the people wept and grumbled against Moses and Aaron

  • Leading by faith

    • Moses and Aaron fell facedown before the Israelites

    • Joshua, and Caleb tore their clothes and said this to the assembly, “The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. ​​ If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. ​​ Only do not rebel against the Lord. ​​ And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will swallow them up. ​​ Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. ​​ Do not be afraid of them.”

    • God speaks to Moses and wants to destroy the entire Israelite community, but Moses intercedes for them

  • God’s punishment for being unfaithful

    • God explains to Moses that the punishment for the Israelite’s lack of faith in Him would be wandering through the desert for 40 years

    • The ten leaders who rebelled against the Lord and incited the Israelite community to do the same, were all struck down with a plague and died before the Lord

  • Continued rebellion

    • The morning after all of these things happened the Israelites went up toward the hill country

    • Moses told them not to disobey the Lord’s command

    • They didn’t listen and were beaten down by the Amalekites and Canaanites who lived there

    • The Lord was no longer with them

  • Application

    • We as leadership have a choice to lead in fear or faith – we are choosing to lead in faith

    • You all have a choice to follow fear or faith

    • Our prayer is that you will follow faith instead of fear

      • We have an incredible opportunity over the coming weeks, months, and years to see God do something miraculous

      • This project is beyond our ability

      • If we try to do it in our own strength, we will fail

      • If we trust God to do it in His power, we will succeed, because God will grow our faith and He will be glorified

      • Isaiah 45:3, I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name.

    • The greatest way for us to follow in faith is through prayer

      • I want to challenge everyone to commit to praying about the “Give to Revive Our Worship” Campaign over the next seven weeks

      • We will be opening the church up every Tuesday and Thursday from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm for anyone who would like to come and pray at the church for the church and this campaign

      • I also want to challenge everyone to commit to pray for the campaign on a daily basis

      • Fasting and prayer are a powerful combination, so I’m also challenging everyone to consider fasting at least once a week or more to pray for the growth of our church and this expansion plan

      • Ephesians 3:20-21, Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! ​​ Amen.

    • ​​ Timeline

      • We will hear from three more leaders during the month of February

      • On March 4, 2018 we will have our regular quarterly Mission Possible Meeting during the Sunday school hour (9-10 am)

      • On March 25, 2018 we will have a special Commitment Service during the worship service where each person or family can privately choose to make a faith promise commitment for the next three years toward the G.R.O.W. Campaign [show commitment card]

        • In the coming weeks you will see the outline of a tree trunk painted on the green wall in the entryway to the gym

        • During the Commitment Service we will be asking everyone to place their hand print on the tree as a way of committing to the growth of the church

        • [Show the GROW Logo]

        • We will fill in the trunk of the tree as we grow through the capital campaign

      • If you have any questions about the packet, please contact any of the Campaign Team members at any time (their names are listed on the back page of the packet)

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Treasuring Church Membership

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I AM A CHURCH MEMBER

Treasuring Church Membership

(Matthew 13:44-46)

 

INTRODUCTION

Most of you know how a pearl is formed. ​​ A foreign object, like a piece of sand, gets caught inside the shell of an oyster. ​​ Because the oyster doesn’t have hands and can’t sweep the item out of its shell, it begins to cover it with nacre. ​​ This is the substance that creates a pearl. ​​ The irritant for the oyster eventually becomes something that is smooth and round and doesn’t cause the oyster pain and suffering anymore. ​​ It’s something that takes time and effort on the part of the oyster.

 

BODY

  • ME

    • Epcot Center

        • My favorite Disney park in Florida is Epcot Center

        • There are fascinating things to see and do there

        • They always try to stay on the cutting edge of technology in their exhibits on the front side of the lake

        • But my favorite part of Epcot Center is what is on the backside of the lake – it’s all the foreign country exhibits

        • I could spend the whole day or week just exploring all the various countries and what they have to offer

        • Two times ago, when we were at Epcot Center, we spent some time in the Japanese exhibit

          • One particular thing caught my eye

          • They had a display where live oysters were kept

          • You could purchase an oyster and the Japanese lady would carefully open it and remove the pearl that had been growing there

          • Levi and I spent several minutes watching as different individuals purchased an oyster and waited expectantly to find out how big the pearl was that was inside

          • Of the ones we saw, they were about the same size – they were mid-range

          • They were not the smallest and definitely not the largest

        • God’s creation is incredible!

          • He made the oyster just this way to be able to transform something that’s an irritant into something beautiful and valuable

          • You and I are His incredible creation too!

 

  • WE

    • Irritants

        • At work

          • It’s not hard to identify the person at work that irritates the other employees

          • If you are having a hard time thinking of whom that person is, it’s probably you!

        • In your neighborhood

          • When a new neighbor moves in it can be scary

          • What are they going to be like?

          • Will they be friendly, angry, or distant?

          • Will you get along with them?

          • Will they be irritating to you and your other neighbors?

          • For a time, the houses on either side of us were vacant and I was concerned that maybe we were the irritating neighbors

        • At church

          • It can happen within the church as well

          • Certain people can irritate you

          • They can get under your skin

    • God’s work, God’s institution

        • God is the one who instituted the church

        • He has created you and I with the incredible ability to transform something that is an irritant into something valuable

        • The nacre He has given to us, is love – unconditional/sacrificial love

        • Christ sees the church as a valuable treasure, a pearl of great value

        • He is again our model for exercising and expressing sacrificial love as we’ll see in Matthew 13:44-46

        • Let’s commit this message to the Lord in prayer

 

BIG IDEA – Make love your nacre.

 

  • GOD (Matthew 13:44-46)

    • Background

        • In the 13th chapter of Matthew Jesus shares seven parables about the kingdom of heaven

        • Four of those parables He shared with a crowd of people

        • The last three He shares with only His disciples in a house

        • He begins His time of sharing with the disciples by explaining the parable of the weeds

          • His explanation is very important for our understanding of the meaning of the other six parables

          • The person who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man – Jesus!

          • The field is the world – all humanity

          • The good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom – believers/followers of Jesus Christ

          • The weeds are the sons of the evil one – those who are not believers/followers of Jesus Christ

          • The enemy who sows the weeds – the devil

        • So, keep Jesus’ explanation of the various parts and players in mind as we look at two of the parables He shares with His disciples

    • Hidden Treasure (v. 44)

        • Jesus is again trying to help us understand what the kingdom of heaven is like

        • He talks about a treasure that is hidden in a field

          • If we follow Jesus’ explanation of the parable of the weeds, then we would identify the field as all humanity/the world

          • So, there’s a treasure that’s hidden within all humanity that is obviously very valuable, because the man who found it hides it again and goes and sells all he has and purchases the field

        • What is the treasure that’s hidden in all humanity?

          • It’s not a hard question

          • It can either be the church or better yet the Israelite people

          • Exodus 19:5-6, Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. ​​ Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. ​​ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.

          • Psalm 135:3-4, Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good; sing praise to his name, for that is pleasant. ​​ For the Lord has chosen Jacob to be his own, Israel to be his treasured possession.

          • God set aside the Israelites in order that they would be a showcase of theocracy to all the other nations of the world [Stedman, 4]

          • The Israelites were supposed to demonstrate what a relationship with God looks like, but they failed

          • They were supposed to show what glorifying God looks like

          • They were to model for all the other nations this incredible relationship, so the other nations would be drawn to God, but instead they kept it to themselves, they focused inwardly

            • They were a nation hidden, a treasure not being invested to produce dividends for God [Wiersbe, 47]

            • Israel was an obscure, tiny nation for hundreds of years

            • There was no voice of God in their midst

            • God was not speaking to them through the prophets during this 400 year period

        • Who is the man that hides the treasure again and sells everything to purchase the field?

          • The man would be Jesus Christ

          • When He came from heaven to earth, He briefly uncovered the glory that was Israel

            • You know what happened though

            • Most of the Israelites rejected Him

            • They didn’t believe He was the Messiah

            • He couldn’t be if He died on a cross, because He would have been rejected by God

              • Jesus eliminated this misconception when He rose from the grave

              • He won over sin and death

            • Even though they rejected Jesus, God still has an important role for the Israelites to play during the end of times

            • Romans 11:11-14, Again I ask: ​​ Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? ​​ Not at all! ​​ Rather, because of their transgressions, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious. ​​ But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their fullness bring! ​​ I am talking to you Gentiles. ​​ Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I make much of my ministry in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them.

              • This promise from God is not only for the Israelites today

              • It’s for you as a follower of Jesus Christ

              • Have you temporarily turned away from God and giving in to your own selfish desires

              • Are you struggling in your relationship with God right now

              • Everyone goes through those times in their lives where they feel distant from God

              • Maybe you’re questioning today whether you’ve gone too far and are beyond recovery?

              • The answer Paul gives is for you – Not at all!

              • 2 Chronicles 7:13-16, “When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, if my people who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. ​​ Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. ​​ I have chosen and consecrated this temple so that my Name may be there forever. ​​ My eyes and my heart will always be there.

              • 1 John 1:9, If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

              • It’s not too late, you haven’t gone too far

              • God is ready to forgive, just cry out to Him

              • My Next Step Today Is To: ​​ Claim God’s promise to forgive me by crying out to Him and confessing that I’ve temporarily turned away from Him and have neglected my relationship with Him.

            • He has hidden them once again until His second coming

            • Until He returns, the privilege of demonstrating the grace of God has been given to the church

            • Matthew 21:43, “Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.

          • Jesus was overjoyed when he found Israelites and gave everything He had to purchase humanity, which included them

            • John 11:51, He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation

            • Isaiah 53:8, By oppression and judgment he was taken away. ​​ And who can speak of his descendants? ​​ For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken.

    • Pearl Merchant (vv. 45-46)

        • Who is the merchant?

          • In the other parables the main character is represented as Jesus Christ

            • He is the sower who went out to sow

            • He is the one who scattered the sons of the kingdom throughout the world

            • He is the one who planted the mustard seed in the field

          • So, the merchant is Jesus Christ

        • Who is the pearl?

          • It is the church

          • Why a pearl to represent the church instead of another gem?

            • “. . . the pearl is the only jewel which is the product of living matter.” ​​ [Stedman, 2]

            • “Unlike most other gems, the pearl is a unity – it cannot be carved like a diamond or emerald. ​​ The church is a unity (Eph. 4:4-6), even though the professing church on earth is divided. ​​ Like a pearl, the church is the product of suffering.” ​​ [Wiersbe, 47]

            • There are times when you and I suffer through some difficult things at church – most of those are related to relationships with other people

            • Paul tells us how God desires for us to deal with those difficult relational situations

            • We are to use the nacre of unconditional/sacrificial love

            • John Oxenham wrote a poem that expresses this principle perfectly:
              He drew a circle that shut me out,
              Rebel, heretic, a thing to flout.
              But God and I had the wit to win:
              We drew a circle that took him in!

            • Sanctification is a continual growing process, it’s not a one and done kind of thing

              • You and I have to work at it

              • We can’t ignore the problems within our church – they won’t just go away

              • You and I have to step out of our cultural norms and comfort zones in order to sit down together and lovingly and patiently work out our differences

              • Is there someone within the church that’s irritating you right now?

              • You need to take time this week to meet with them and patiently and loving talk it out

              • My Next Step Today Is To: ​​ Ask God to give me the strength to meet, this week, with the individual(s) within Idaville Church that I’m struggling with.

            • When you and I truly grasp the great value that Christ places on the church and why it’s being formed, it should motivate us to treasure the church in the same way He does

              • Jesus is making for Himself a glorious church without spot or wrinkle or any blemish (Eph. 5:25b, 27)

              • The church has been given the task of pointing the rest of the world to Jesus

              • The church is to be demonstrating what a relationship with God and Jesus looks like

              • “A pearl grows gradually, and the church grows gradually as the Spirit convicts and converts sinners.” ​​ [Wiersbe, 47]

              • Is Idaville Church doing that?

              • Are you doing that?

              • My Next Step Today Is To: ​​ Look for ways this week to demonstrate to my family, friends, neighbors, and coworkers what a relationship with Jesus Christ looks like.

        • What did the merchant do to obtain this pearl?

          • Jesus gave everything He had in order to obtain the church

            • He considers the church something of great value

            • The church is the vessel He is currently using to demonstrate to the rest of the world the kind of relationship He desires with them

          • He willingly sacrificed the glories of heaven to come to earth

          • He took on the form of a human being and suffered just like you and I do, yet without sin

          • He fulfilled God’s purpose for Him on earth by being falsely accused, beaten, and hung on a cross to die, to take your punishment for sin

 

  • YOU

    • Salvation

        • We’re all born with a desire to have our own way (Romans 3:10-12, As it is written: ​​ “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. ​​ All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.”)

        • Because God is just, He cannot allow sin to go unpunished (Romans 6:23, For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.)

        • God’s not only just, but He is also loving (Romans 5:8, But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: ​​ While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.)

        • He made a way for you to be in a right relationship with Him (2 Corinthians 5:21, God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.)

        • My Next Step Today Is To: ​​ Believe in Jesus and His ultimate sacrifice to purchase me, so I can be in a right relationship with God.

 

  • WE

    • Jesus modeled love

        • It was love that motivated Jesus to give everything He had to purchase humanity so that He will be able to use Israel, an incredible treasure, when He returns again

        • It was love that motivated Jesus to sacrifice everything in order to purchase the church, which is the pearl in humanity that points to Jesus

        • It was God’s great love for us that motivated Him to fulfill His plan of redemption through Jesus Christ

    • Love is our nacre

        • 1 Peter 4:8, Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

        • Make love your nacre.

        • God showed grace towards us – He didn’t give us what we deserved for our sin

        • We also should extend grace to those around us, which is an expression of love

        • When we allow love to be our nacre, it can cover over the irritation that we may be feeling toward our coworkers, neighbors, family, friends, and fellow believers

 

CONCLUSION

The Sixth Pledge

 

This membership is a gift. ​​ When I received the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ, I became a part of the body of Christ. ​​ I soon thereafter identified with a local body and was baptized. ​​ And now I am humbled and honored to serve and to love others in our church. ​​ I pray that I will never take my membership for granted, but see it as a gift and an opportunity to serve others and to be a part of something so much greater than any one person or member.

9

 

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Modeling Church Members

, ,

I AM A CHURCH MEMBER

Modeling Church Members

(Ephesian 5:22-33)

 

INTRODUCTION

Show video interview of Candace Cameron Bure concerning a small section in her book, Balancing It All, about submission to her husband. ​​ [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyoeCnbe_TA]

 

BODY

  • ME

    • Our situation is the same

        • Judy and I are communicating all the time about finances, the boys, other major and minor decisions that need to be made

        • When the final decision needs to be made about a major purchase or life change, then Judy looks to me to make that decision as the leader of the household

        • Fortunately I’m not making that decision in a vacuum – I know her thoughts and feelings about it

        • Career change

          • When I accepted the State Director position with Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF) in Ohio, Judy and I prayed about it together and talked through what that would look like – but when the decision had to be made, Judy accepted God’s leading in my life

          • When we moved to Missouri to work at the headquarters of CEF and then when we moved to California to work with Every Generation Ministries (EGM), Judy and I prayed together about these two significant moves, and again she rested in God’s leading in my life

          • When Idaville Church (IUB) called us to serve here, Judy and I prayed together and discussed the logistics of the move and God’s leading and we trusted in God’s leading for my life

          • God has blessed our family through this model

 

  • WE

    • Submit

        • There is one scripture that most men know by heart whether they are Christians or not

        • It’s Ephesians 5:22a, Wives, submit to your husbands . . .”

          • With men who are not Christians they use this as God’s law for their wives to be submissive to them no matter what

          • They become dictators and the wife has no say whatsoever

          • In some Christian homes, this passage of scripture has been misinterpreted and only certain parts of it are quoted in order to accomplish the same thing – for women to be obedient to their husband’s every wish and command

          • This is not done out of love

          • The rest of Ephesians 5:22 says, as to the Lord

            • The Lord is talking to women through Paul

            • Ephesians 5:25 then addresses husbands, Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her . . .

          • If both the husband and wife are acting as Jesus Christ did, then love will rule the day

            • The wife will willing submit to her husband, because she knows that he loves her like Christ loved the church

            • The husband will love his wife, because he feels respected by his wife as she submits to him

            • It’s a mutual give and take

    • Embracing the cultural norms theologically

        • In the passage of scripture we’re going to look at today Paul does not reject the cultural norms of the 1st Century, but rather teaches a Christ-like perspective for household codes

        • It’s amazing how he is able to accomplish this

        • It only comes from the Holy Spirit of God and a desire to love and serve Jesus Christ and learn from His modeling

        • Paul is going to be talking about household codes for husbands and wives

        • He will be encouraging husbands to think differently about their role as the head and leader of the family, now that they are followers of Jesus Christ

        • He is encouraging them to model something different than the Greco-Roman world, considered the norm

        • As church members, you and I have a responsibility to model and lead our families to be healthy church members

          • We’ll see that whether your whole family are believers and attend church, or you’re the only one who is a believer and attends church, you have a responsibility before God

          • If you’re single, you also have a responsibility before God

          • Paul is using the analogy of marriage to communicate about the church

 

BIG IDEA – Leave a legacy of love for the church.

 

  • GOD (Ephesians 5:22-6:4)

    • Background – wives

        • Wives and women in general were not highly regarded in the Greco-Roman world

          • They could not testify in a court of law

          • They were minimally educated

          • They could not adopt children or make a contract

          • They could not own property or inherit anything

          • They were expected to adopt the religion of their husband when they got married

          • They were under the authority of their father, husband, or another male relative’s authority all their lives

        • Wives and women today

          • We’re not too far off from this in our culture today

          • There are still “glass ceilings” for women

          • There is still unequal pay

          • Wives are being abused (physically, emotionally, mentally, and verbally)

          • Women are being raped and sold into sexual slavery all over the world

            • Did you realize that one of the largest sex rings involving young girls and women, from the US and other countries, is centered around the venue where the Super Bowl is played

            • Men who exploit girls and women will be filtering them into the Minneapolis area as the Big Game gets close

        • Paul speaks into a culture that is dealing with these issues in the family and he shares with them the Christ-like way of love – unconditional/sacrificial love – the most excellent way (1 Cor. 13:1)

        • Ephesians 5:21, Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

    • Husband and wives (vv. 22-33)

        • Paul teaches two principles here

          • Mutual subjection

          • Connection with Christ

        • Submission of wives (vv. 22-24)

          • Paul addresses the cultural norm – wives submit to your husbands

            • This was the normal Greco-Roman expectation

            • Unfortunately it could mean, with or without love

            • The wife could submit out of obligation

          • He takes it a step further and teaches them to do it in a Christ-like way – as to the Lord

            • “W. O. Carver has observed that subjection is to be ‘voluntary, personal, and having full ethical value for the one who subjects himself/herself and for others whom he/she serves in spiritual surrender.’” ​​ [Beacon Bible Commentary, 239]

            • As a submissive wife, you should be doing it out of your love for Jesus Christ and not out of obligation to your husband

          • God-given responsibility

            • From creation on down God instituted the role of “head of the household” to the husband and father

            • As husbands you have to take this role seriously, just as Jesus takes His role, as head of the church, seriously

            • The church is Christ’s body and He takes care of it

            • Paul states that Christ is the Savior of His body, the church

              • Christ has such an incredible love for the church and for human beings in general that He willingly came from heaven to earth to die on a cross to bring salvation to those who are imprisoned by sin

              • Romans 5:8, But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: ​​ While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

              • He sacrificed His rights and privileges in order to provide protection for you from the penalty of sin

              • Through the Holy Spirit of God living in you, you have the power to defeat sin in your life

              • You and I should follow Christ’s example of submitting His will to the Father

              • When you submit to God, you become more willing to obey His command to submit to others, to subordinate your rights to theirs

              • As church members, you and I are the bride of Christ and we need to submit to His headship

            • Husband is not a savior

              • It’s easy to see that the husband doesn’t have any redemptive ability to save his wife from the penalty of sin

              • You can be your wife’s protector and provider just like Christ

              • Christ protected you and me from the penalty of sin

              • He provided a way for you and me to be saved

              • Guys you know the quickest way to your wife’s heart is to do something selfless without being asked

              • It’s talking about a man here, “Any sacrifice and self-giving that create a sense of well-being and security will normally evoke free and loving submission from his wife.” ​​ [BBC, 240]

            • “Paul redefines being head as having responsibility to love, to give oneself, and to nurture. ​​ A priority is placed on the husband, but, contrary to ancient society, it is for the benefit of the wife.” ​​ [Snodgrass, 295]

          • Church submits to Christ

            • As church members, you should be giving first place to your devotion and service to Christ

            • You and I should be serving each other and Christ out of love and not obligation, just as a wife should submit to her husband out of love for Christ and not obligation or pressure

            • Perhaps you’re serving here at IUB out of obligation or pressure and not love – perhaps you’re not serving at all

              • It’s important for that attitude to change

              • Perhaps what needs to change is your understanding and perspective of who the head of the church is

              • It’s not the pastor, it’s not the board members, or the commission chair people – it’s Jesus Christ

              • God has appointed those individuals to positions of leadership and He speaks to and through them

              • They are there to help the church find the purposes of Christ [Snodgrass, 317]

              • The reason you may be struggling today is that you aren’t submitting to Christ’s headship as you should

              • It’s two-fold

                • If you’re not a follower of Jesus Christ, you haven’t submitted to His headship in your life at all

                • You serve at the church because you think it’s the right thing to do, but it’s not out of love for Jesus Christ

                • You’re hopeful that your service will counter balance all the bad you’re doing

                • This is a works mentality and it doesn’t result in entrance into heaven

                • You have to submit to Christ’s headship in your life – repent of your sins and turn to Him

                • Ephesians 2:8-9, For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is a gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.

                • My Next Step Today Is To: ​​ Stop trying to work my way to heaven and accept God’s gracious gift of salvation through believing in Jesus Christ by faith.

              • Perhaps you’re not submitting to Christ’s headship in this church through His chosen leaders

                • We’ve been learning about this through the book I Am A Church Member

                • Perhaps you’ve fallen prey to the misconception that the church is here to serve you and to meet all of your preferences

                • When that doesn’t happen you’ve given in to the temptation of gossiping and speaking negatively about those in the church who believe differently than you

                • You’ve stopped praying for the leadership of the church and for those who believe differently

                • You’ve stopped serving at the church, because you don’t like the direction the church is going

                • Maybe you’ve even stopped giving

                • This is not modeling for your family how to be a healthy church member

                • It doesn’t show a submission to the headship of Christ

                • “A greater sense that Christ leads the church, joined with mutual submission in finding his purposes, will move the church past many of its current problems.” ​​ [Snodgrass, 317]

                • My Next Step Today Is To: ​​ Confess to God that I’ve been fighting against His will for IUB and have not been submitting to the headship of Christ.

                  • Lord willing, on February 4, 2018, you will be receiving a comprehensive document concerning the G.R.O.W. capital campaign that will outline the vision God has given the leadership of the church to expand

                  • Each Sunday in February, you will hear a short devotional from different leaders concerning growth and faith

                  • We’ll have our regular quarterly Mission Possible Meeting on March 4, 2018 where we will field your questions

                  • Then on March 25, 2018 we will have a special Commitment Sunday where you will be able to make a faith promise commitment to the G.R.O.W. campaign

                  • God is asking us, as a congregation, to take another step of faith – will we follow?

        • Love of husbands (vv. 25-33)

          • Paul is talking about an unconditional love, a sacrificial love

          • This was definitely antithetical to the cultural norm of the day

          • However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband ​​ (Eph. 5:33)

          • This is the principle of mutual submission that Paul is trying to communicate to the Ephesian believers

          • “Rather than being guided by self-interests, the husband is asked to place the well-being of his wife first and to give himself to caring for her.” ​​ [Snodgrass, 296]

          • He does this because of ​​ his connection to Christ – it’s transformed him into who God desires him to be as a husband to his wife

          • Christ’s example

            • Christ has an unconditional love for the church

            • Christ sacrificed Himself for the church so she would be holy and blameless

          • Husband’s responsibilities

            • Follow Christ’s example of unconditional love

            • Be willing to sacrifice for your wife

            • Paul says he is talking about Christ and the church

          • Church member’s responsibilities

            • Love the church unconditionally

            • Be willing to sacrifice for the church

            • Take care of the church like you would your own body – feed it and care for it out of love for Christ, the Head

            • Leave a legacy of love for the church

              • We do that by praying together for the church

              • By worshiping together in the church

              • By serving together in the church

              • Asking Christ to help us fall deeper in love with the church

​​ 

  • YOU

    • All believers and attend church

        • If your whole family are believers and attend church, you still have a responsibility to lead and model love for the church

        • This is done by having your family pray together for the church as a whole and the leadership of the church

          • Last week we looked at areas where you can pray for the pastor, board members, commission chair people, and teachers

          • Spiritual protection; Protection from moral failure

          • Preaching/teaching the Word; Their families

          • Encouragement; Physical strength; Courage

          • Discernment; Wisdom

        • Worship together

          • What you model for your spouse and children is what they will do

          • If you are enthusiastic and find joy in serving the church, that’s what your spouse and children will do

          • If you’re apathetic and angry about church, then your spouse and children will be too

        • Fall deeply in love with the bride of Christ

          • This means to love the church and its members no matter what

          • You are going to encounter disagreeable people – no one is perfect

          • So, you’re not always going to agree, but you must always love

    • Only believer and attend church

        • If you are the only believer in your immediate family, you still have a responsibility to model love for the church

        • You are a testimony of Christ to the unbelieving spouse and any children in the family

        • 1 Corinthians 7:14a, For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband.

        • God has given you an incredible mission field – your family

        • You’re love for the church is being watched by your spouse and children

        • How you pray for the church and its leaders will be how they pray for the church

        • How you love the church will be how they love the church

        • How often you attend church and how you worship at church will be how often they attend church and how they worship at church

    • Single

        • Perhaps you’re here today and you’re single

        • You have the responsibility to model prayer, worship, and love for the church with your extended family, friends and neighbors

        • They are watching how you pray for the church and its leaders

        • They are watching how often you attend church

        • They are watching how you worship at church

        • They are watching how you love church and the people of the church

 

  • WE

    • Correct modeling

        • When we model love for the church and the people of the church then the community around us will notice that

        • It can be the catalyst that changes their mind about church

        • We’ve all heard individuals say that they will never set foot in a church again, because of things they’ve seen and heard coming out of the church

          • They’ve seen and heard hatred coming out of the church

          • They’ve heard gossip from those within the church about other church members

          • They’ve experienced disunity and criticism coming out of the church

          • It’s no wonder they don’t want to be a part of the church, especially when they experience that at work or in their home

        • We have to model something different

        • We have to model Christ to the world!

        • Leave a legacy of love for the church

 

CONCLUSION

What kind of legacy do you want to leave?

 

“His name was Bob.

He died a few years ago, but, if he influenced just a few people like he influenced me, this relatively unknown and quiet man changed the world.

Bob always seemed to be at the church. ​​ I understand that some people show up at church every time the doors are open out of guilt or legalistic obligation. ​​ Not Bob. ​​ He was always joyous, always serving, always kind. ​​ You could just tell he loved serving the church.

The same could be said about Bob’s wife and two sons. ​​ They too seemed to love the church and to find joy in serving. ​​ The whole family was, well, different. ​​ But different in a good kind of way, if you know what I mean.

I was a young businessman in my early twenties. ​​ I had been married for three years and had just become a dad. ​​ Fatherhood hit me like a ton of bricks. ​​ I wanted to be a good husband and a good dad. ​​ And that meant getting involved at church. ​​ Really involved.

I didn’t know it at the time, but Bob was watching me. ​​ He was concerned for me. ​​ He loved my youthful enthusiasm, but he knew what was coming. ​​ The more I got involved, the more I would see the imperfections of the church, the pastor, the staff, and other church members. ​​ Bob had seen the pattern repeatedly. ​​ Get excited about church. ​​ Get more involved. ​​ Discover the imperfections of the church. ​​ Get discouraged about the church. ​​ Leave the church.

Bob took me under his wing. ​​ When I would begin to get angry, frustrated, or discouraged about something at the church, he would talk to me. ​​ He would explain that no church is perfect. ​​ No pastor is perfect. ​​ No church member is perfect. ​​ And he would gently remind me that I was not close to perfect either.

He told me that we were to find joy in serving the church and those in the church. ​​ We were not a part of the church to see what we could get out of it. ​​ We were part of the church to serve and care for others. ​​ Our perspective should always be on giving, not receiving. ​​ And if someone did something that disappointed or frustrated us, that was God’s way of telling us to pray for that person.

Bob told me that we could never have the perfection of Christ but that we could strive to be more like Him. ​​ He reminded me that Christ died on the cross for people who rebelled against Him. ​​ We should be able, therefore, to love the seemingly unlovable at our church.

Through Bob’s patient biblical teaching, I learned to love the local church. ​​ I learned to love the people despite their imperfections. ​​ Bob would teach me to look at the ‘log’ in my eye (my own imperfections) before I judged the ‘speck’ in other’s eyes (Matt. 7:3-5).

I wish my own parents had taught me how to love the local church. ​​ But Bob was a good spiritual father to me.

By the way, Bob’s two sons are grown men now. ​​ And it’s no surprise. ​​ They are serving and loving their local churches just like their dad.

After all, he taught them well.”

 

[Thom Rainer, I Am A Church Member, 55-57]

 

The Fifth Pledge

 

I will lead my family to be good members of this church as well. ​​ We will pray together for our church. ​​ We will worship together in our church. ​​ We will serve together in our church. ​​ And we will ask Christ to help us fall deeper in love with this church because He gave His life for her.

11

 

/by

Praying Church Members

, ,

I AM A CHURCH MEMBER

Praying Church Members

(1 Timothy 3:1-7)

 

INTRODUCTION

“It’s Thursday morning. ​​ Pastor Mike has a clear calendar, an aberration in his busy schedule. ​​ Actually, the calendar is not really clear. ​​ He has set aside time to finish his sermon for Sunday. ​​ His Bible is open. ​​ Study aids are nearby. ​​ He begins to study.

Then the phone rings.

His assistant tells him about a car accident involving a family in the church. ​​ The ambulances are already on the way to the hospital. ​​ Mike leaves all his study material on his desk and jumps into the car.

On the way to the hospital, his assistant calls him again. ​​ The entire Godsey family of five were in the car. ​​ None are seriously hurt except Gary, the father and husband of the family. ​​ His condition is grave.

Pastor Mike walks into the emergency room. ​​ The family has just been told that their husband and father did not make it. ​​ They see their pastor and run to him sobbing, in total shock. ​​ Mike is there for them. ​​ He stays with the entire family for three hours until he is certain enough people are around to care for them.

He stops by his home to see his wife and grab a quick sandwich. ​​ It is now afternoon. ​​ He’s not sure if he can return to his sermon preparation, but he knows he must. ​​ He must fight the emotional exhaustion of the morning and finish the message. ​​ But as he walks back to the church, his assistant apologetically tells him that two people need to speak with him. ​​ They consider it urgent.

Mike meets with the two men. ​​ One of them is the worship leader of the church. ​​ He is struggling with his ministry and is considering giving up. ​​ For two hours Mike listens, consoles, and attempts to encourage the staff member.

The next visitor then catches Mike off guard. ​​ George is one of the key lay leaders in the church. ​​ Mike considers him a friend and an incredibly vital person in the overall leadership of the congregation. ​​ George struggles to speak: ​​ ‘My wife is having an affair . . .’ There are no more words for five minutes. ​​ Just tears and sobs.

Mike stays with George for over two hours. ​​ They pray together and talk about next steps.

It’s nearly five o’clock in the afternoon. ​​ Mike is too drained to attempt to get back to his sermon. ​​ Instead he begins to look at his crowded e-mail inbox. ​​ He cringes when he sees one of the senders of an e-mail. ​​ But he cannot stop himself from opening the message. ​​ It’s from one of Mike’s most frequent critics in the church. ​​ She has two complaints. ​​ The first irritation was something he said in last Sunday’s sermon. ​​ The second complaint addressed Mike’s failure to visit her sister-in-law who had minor outpatient surgery yesterday. ​​ The woman is not a member of the church. ​​ And Mike knew nothing about the surgery.

Pastor Mike shuts the laptop cover and moves to his car slowly. ​​ He’ll stop by the house to grab a quick bite to eat. ​​ Then he needs to check on the Godsey family. ​​ He will stay with them for a while, but he must leave prior to 7:30, when he is to give the invocation for a local high school basketball game.

Several people corner him at the game, so he doesn’t get home until after nine o’clock. ​​ He goes to his small study in his home, shuts the door, and begins to cry.

Gary Godsey, the father and husband who was killed in the car accident, was Mike’s best friend.

This was the first chance Mike had to grieve.”

[I Am A Church Member by Thom Rainer, 43-46].

That seems daunting doesn’t it? ​​ Now that’s not Mike’s schedule every day or even every week, but there are times in ministry when those kinds of days hit.

 

What we need to understand is that these kinds of days are not exclusive to the pastor, but also to those in spiritual leadership within the church. ​​ There are those within the church right now who are serving in leadership and have had long days, working their regular job and then attending meetings or meeting with individuals from the church. ​​ As we continue to develop elders within our church, they will find themselves in similar situations. ​​ Our current board of administration understands the pressures. ​​ We need your prayers on a daily basis.

 

BODY

  • ME

    • One of those days

        • Over the past 8 years, I can say that I’ve experienced one of those days on several occasions

        • It’s the emergency surgery, death of a loved one, or family situation that supersedes all other priorities

    • God’s grace

        • It’s easy to feel the pressure of completing God’s message for Sunday with little time, emotional strength, and focus available

        • It’s during those times that God’s Holy Spirit supernaturally intercedes and provides just the right words and ideas to communicate God’s message

        • I’ve been blessed to experience those times of God’s movement in my heart and mind

 

  • WE

    • There are those in the congregation that understand the pressures of serving during urgent and critical times

    • Volunteer firefighters

        • When the sirens sound, those who volunteer for the fire department have to sacrifice family time and sleep in order to serve their community

        • They have to drop everything they’re doing and go to the fire station or the scene of the emergency and spend multiples hours helping those in need

    • On-call positions

        • Doctor/Nurse

          • If you work in the medical field and are scheduled to be on-call that means your beeper or cell phone could ring at any moment

          • There is someone who is in urgent need of your help

          • You have to drop everything and go immediately to the hospital in order to serve

          • You sacrifice time with your family and sometimes sleep

        • Utilities

          • As an employee of the utility company or an employee of a heating and cooling company there are times when you have to be on-call

          • For some reason people want electricity, gas, oil, water, heat, a/c, etc.

          • There are times when the need for air conditioning and heat are critical and when the units stop working or run out of oil or gas, you have to jump into service

          • It requires you to miss family activities and sometimes sleep in order to serve

    • Praying Church Members

        • We’ve been discovering the attitudes that make the difference in church membership

        • We’ve discovered how to be a functioning, unifying, serving church member

        • Today we’re going to be focusing on being a praying church member – especially praying for the leadership of the church

        • One of the passages of scripture that addresses the qualifications of eldership is 1 Timothy 3:1-7

        • As we look at this passage this morning we’re going to see some important things that we as church members should be praying about for the leadership of Idaville

        • Being an elder and a board member carries with it very important opportunities for serving and shepherding the congregation

 

BIG IDEA – Prayer support is valuable support.

 

PRAY

Read 1 Timothy 3:1-7

 

  • GOD (1 Timothy 3:1-7)

    • Noble Task (vv. 1)

        • Paul begins this section on overseers and deacons with a common/popular saying of his day and age

        • The NEB translates it this way, To aspire to leadership is an honorable ambition ​​ [Beacon Bible Commentary, 578]

        • NIV – noble task

        • Paul is defining this position of leadership in terms of function and not status or office [Liefeld, 116]

          • Paul is talking about having a desire to serve the church in a way that individuals grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ – this sometimes requires exhortation/admonition, which can be difficult

          • It’s not easy, but it’s important

          • It should never be a popularity contest to serve as an elder, deacon, or on the Board of Administration

          • There has to be a heartfelt desire, a calling, to serve the individuals of the church – selflessly

          • “He is not encouraging people to seek status but responsibility.” ​​ [Liefeld, 116]

            • I’m willing to get my hands dirty to serve the church

            • I’m willing to offer my time, talents, and resources to help the church be healthy

            • I’m willing to hang in there and work out any differences that arise

          • “The offices of God’s Church are not honorary positions bestowed on individuals who have attended church faithfully or who are senior in years. ​​ Nor are they board positions to be filled by good friends, rich donors, or charismatic personalities. ​​ Nor are they positions that only graduate seminary students can fill. ​​ The church offices, both eldership and deaconship, are open to all who meet the apostolic, biblical requirements.” ​​ [Strauch, Biblical Eldership, 68]

          • This is what we’re going to look at next

    • Biblical Qualifications

        • Must be or have: (vv. 2, 3, 4-5, 7)

          • Be above reproach (v.2)

            • It means to be above finding fault

            • It does not mean being perfect, because none of us would qualify – that’s not attainable this side of heaven

            • “It means that a leader in the Church of Christ must have no obvious defects in his character and must be a person of unsullied reputation. ​​ He could hardly be expected to be faultless, but he must be blameless.” ​​ [Beacon Bible Commentary, 579]

            • I’m sure you know of a pastor or spiritual leader within a church who has not been blameless

            • In some cases it has made them unfit for service as a spiritual leader

            • What Paul does with the following qualifications is not describe a person totally without sin, but one morally careful and responsible [Liefeld, 118]

            • “When an elder is irreproachable, critics cannot discredit his Christian profession of faith or prove him unfit to lead others (Neh. 6:13). ​​ He has a clean moral and spiritual reputation.” ​​ [Strauch, 189]

            • So, as a church member you should be praying that the spiritual leaders of Idaville Church are ones that are morally careful and responsible

          • Be the husband of but one wife (v. 2)

            • Many people want to know how this applies to divorce and remarriage, but Paul is not addressing that issue at this point

            • He is primarily focusing on the individuals marital and sexual life and seeing if it is clean morally and spiritually

            • “The point is not how often one can be married, nor precisely what constitutes a legitimate marriage (that the marriage of the candidate is legitimate is assumed), but rather how one conducts himself in his marriage.” ​​ [Towner cited by Strauch, 192]

            • “Whether or not a person has been divorced is not the major issue. ​​ That issue is whether the individual’s life and care of his family now exemplify Christianity.” ​​ [Liefeld, 129]

            • It is supposed to be a positive statement concerning the man’s faithfulness in a monogamous marriage [Strauch, 192]

            • From a negative position it prohibits any deviation from faithful, monogamous marriage, including polygamy, prostitution, homosexuality, and/or any questionable sexual relationship [Strauch, 192]

            • In the first century among the wealthy families, the wife was there to provide legitimate children, but other women could be used to satisfy sexual desires and to have on your arm during gatherings

            • You may be married to one wife and never been divorced, but still struggle with other sexual sins – pornography and lust, etc.

            • If you even look at another women with lust, it’s as though you’ve committed adultery with her in your heart

            • You haven’t been faithful to your wife

          • Be temperate (v. 2)

            • It can mean abstaining from wine entirely or the overuse of it, but Paul says later “not given to drunkenness” so it is probably referring to the other meaning of the word

            • It denotes self-control, balanced judgment, and freedom from debilitating excesses or rash behavior [Strauch, 193]

            • Pastors and Elders need to be mentally and emotionally stable, because they will face many serious problems, pressures, and decisions

          • Be self-controlled (v. 2)

            • It has been translated as prudent

            • It’s means to be sound-minded, discreet, and sensible, able to keep an objective perspective in the face of problems and disagreements

            • Exercising good judgment and common sense

            • This meshes well with temperate

          • Be respectable (v. 2)

            • Someone with a good reputation, well behaved

            • It conveys the idea of self-control, proper behavior, and orderliness

            • As praying church members, you and I need to be praying for self-control for the spiritual leaders at Idaville Church

          • Be hospitable (v. 2)

            • It’s more than an handshake and a smile on Sunday morning

            • It’s more than just having your friends over for dinner

            • It’s an expression of Christian love and care for others

            • It’s not just sharing your home, but also your life with others

            • The elders home is one of his most important tools in reaching out and shepherding the flock

            • As praying church members we need to pray for the spiritual leaders and their spouses as they open their homes and lives with you

          • Be able to teach (v. 2)

            • This is very important

            • Paul expands on this when he writes to Titus, He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught (Titus 1:9a)

            • Paul is referring to ability, not knowledge

            • “New Testament elders are both guardians and teachers of sound doctrine.” ​​ [Strauch, 80]

            • The Bible should be the prospective elder’s continual course of study

              • Some people have been learning God’s Word from a very early age from their parents

              • Sound biblical teaching from the church is another source of learning God’s Word

              • Consistent personal study and the ministry of the Holy Spirit

              • You can’t learn it if you’re not reading it

            • It seems as though not all elders were teachers in the early church, The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those who work is preaching and teaching (1 Timothy 5:17)

            • “An elder who doesn’t know the Bible is like a shepherd without legs; he can’t lead or protect the flock.” ​​ [Strauch, 80]

            • “The real strength of the Church is not the amount of its work but the quality of its faith. ​​ One man who truly knows his Bible is worth more to the Church’s real strength than a crowd of workers who do not.” ​​ [Forsyth cited by Strauch, 80]

            • I think that many people shy away from the position of elder because they feel like they don’t know the Bible well enough

              • We forget about the Holy Spirit’s ability to illumine our minds and give us the words to speak when we don’t know the answer

              • The apostles were encouraged that when they didn’t know what to say that the Holy Spirit would give them the words

            • You know what God has taught you through His Word, so be willing to share that with others and teach them the lessons you’ve learned through it

            • As praying church members, you and I need to pray for the spiritual leaders as they study God’s Word and learn from the Holy Spirit

              • I know I need your prayers each week as the Lord guides and directs me in preparing His message for you

              • Please pray for God’s wisdom, insight, and the words to preach

              • There are spiritual leaders who are preparing Sunday school and small group lessons each week

              • They need your prayers for God’s wisdom, insight, and words to speak

          • Be gentle (v. 3)

            • Equitable, fair, and mild

            • The ability to endure when the pressure is on [Beacon Bible Commentary, 582]

            • Forbearing

            • “Yielding wherever yielding is possible rather than standing up for one’s rights.” ​​ [Strauch, 197]

          • Be able to manage his own family well (vv. 4-5)

            • This includes having a reputation of providing for his family, financially, emotionally, and spiritually

            • His children must obey him with proper respect

              • The context involves children who are living at home under their father’s authority

              • It’s not referring to grown children who are living on their own

              • Every parent has times when their child(ren) treat them with disrespect or are disobedient

              • It’s how the parent deals with the situation that is an indication of their ability to manage their own family well

            • If they aren’t able to manage their family well, how can they take care of God’s church? – the answer is, they can’t

            • As praying church members, we need to be praying for the families of the spiritual leaders here

              • Satan will and does use situations in our family to distract us from serving the church well

              • I know that I worry about neglecting Judy and the boys, because of the pressure of expectations that are on me

              • It’s always a concern how you all and the community view our family – it’s the glass house syndrome

              • I’m concerned about my own health – I’m on the edge of having to start taking blood pressure medication (some of it is hereditary, but some of it is stress related)

              • The other spiritual leaders in our church are dealing with similar situations in their families and they need our prayers

          • Have a good reputation with outsiders (v. 7)

            • Most people spend more time with their coworkers and relatives than they do with their fellow church attenders

              • Those coworkers and relatives probably know them better than church attenders do

              • “Paul is concerned that those who may judge less sympathetically but perhaps also more realistically and knowledgeably will render a ‘good’ . . . verdict both from the perspective of their own consciences . . . and also from their awareness of the particular man’s commitment and consistency in terms of his Christian faith.” ​​ [Knight cited by Strauch, 201]

              • Idaville Church’s evangelistic credibility and witness is tied to the moral reputation of our leaders in the community

            • The devil’s trap

              • A trap is something that is set intentionally

              • The devil has devised a plan to bring the pastor and spiritual leaders of the church down

              • When the pastor and spiritual leaders of the church are above reproach, self-controlled, hospitable, studying God’s Word, etc., they are a threat to the devil

              • The devil wants to tempt spiritual leaders with greed, adultery, anger, addiction, you name it, to catch them in his trap so their reputation is harmed and they are ineffective and eventually removed from service

            • And so, as praying church members, we need to bathe our spiritual leaders in prayer as they represent Idaville Church at their work place and in their neighborhood – we need to pray that they will not get caught by the devil’s trap

        • Must not be: (vv. 3, 6)

          • Given to drunkenness (v. 3)

            • Paul uses strong language here that means not preoccupied or overindulgent with wine

            • He is not saying it is an absolute prohibition, but you have to be careful concerning your testimony for the Lord

            • Scripture warns leaders about the dangers of alcohol

            • It is not for kings, O Lemuel,
              It is not for kings to drink wine,
              Or for rulers to desire strong drink,
              Lest they drink and forget what is decreed,
              And pervert the rights of all the afflicted
              (Prov. 31:4, 5; cf. Lev. 10:8, 9; ​​ Isa. 28:1, 7, 8; 56:9-12)

          • Violent (v. 3)

            • It is also translates not pugnacious

            • A man who is pugnacious is a fighter, bad-tempered, irritable, and out-of-control

            • The Greek word is derived from the verb “to strike” and suggests a violent person who is prone to physical assault on others

          • Quarrelsome (v. 3)

            • Also translated “uncontentious”

            • Titus 3:2, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men

            • Spiritual leaders need to peaceable

            • 2 Timothy 2:24, 25a, And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. ​​ Those who oppose him he must gently instruct . . .

          • A lover of money (v. 3)

            • In the 1st Century, it was the bishop’s responsibility to care for the funds of the church

            • The false teachers were more concerned about developing a gathering so they could get paid

            • The Pharisees loved money (Luke 16:14; Mark 12:40)

            • The chief religious leaders of Jesus’ day turned the temple area into a money making market (Mark 11:15-17)

            • The spiritual leaders of Idaville Church approve the budget each year and approve any expenditures over the budgeted amounts

            • No, one individual controls the finances here

            • 1 Timothy 6:10, For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. ​​ Some people eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs

          • A recent convert (v. 6)

            • This does not mean that a new convert cannot serve the church, but just not in a leadership position

            • New faith needs time to mature

            • Most people within a company or a church are not aware of the inner workings of leadership

              • The stresses involved in leading are not for the faint of heart

              • Spiritual maturity enables a leader to hang in there when things get difficult

            • Paul is concerned with the conceit of a new convert

              • They might think of themselves and their abilities too highly

              • Pride then creeps in and brings destruction

              • The devil was conceited and gave in to pride and was cast out of heaven

              • The new convert should not be put in a position that will potentially cause them to experience the same judgment as the devil

            • Notice that Paul does not put a time frame on this

              • In our humanness we want a time frame

              • How long does it take for someone to be considered spiritually mature?

              • Is it 5 years, 10 years, 20 years?

              • The reason there’s no time frame is because each individual is different

              • We’re not necessarily looking for years of salvation, but rather fruit of the Spirit

              • That is the identifying factor concerning spiritual maturity

 

  • YOU

    • Pray

        • The role of spiritual leader within the church is a noble task that takes humility, love, and self-control

        • Studying and teaching God’s Word takes time, effort, wisdom, and a heart that is listening to the Holy Spirit

        • Spiritual leaders are constantly under spiritual attack as they are faithful to the qualifications outlined in the Bible

        • What seem daunting to you is something that God calls certain individuals to do within the church and they need your prayers on a daily basis

        • “The Fourth Pledge” in I Am A Church Member
          I will pray for my pastor every day. ​​ I understand that the pastor’s work is never ending. ​​ His days are filled with numerous demands that bring emotional highs and lows. ​​ He must deal with critics. ​​ He must be a good husband and father. ​​ Because my pastor cannot do all things in his own power, I will pray for his strength and wisdom daily.

        • My Next Step Today Is To: ​​ Commit to be a praying church member that intercedes daily for the spiritual leaders at Idaville Church.

        • We have continued to pray and approach certain men in the church to consider eldership

          • We would appreciate your prayers as we continue to meet with those men

          • Pray that God would confirm in their hearts and minds, His desire for them to serve in this capacity

          • Pray for wisdom, strength, and courage for them to take the step of faith to become an elder

          • My Next Step Today Is To: ​​ Commit to pray daily for God’s chosen men to serve as elders at Idaville Church.

  • WE

    • As we all diligently pray, God will be glorified and will answer our prayers for qualified spiritual leaders to be raised up

        • We will experience a unity that is only found in obedience to God

        • We will experience peace like never before

        • We will experience the blessing of God here at Idaville Church

 

CONCLUSION

Have the current Board of Administration come forward and ask the congregation to stand and pray with me for them.

Pastor Marc Webb, Laurin Fleming, Bev Fleming, Linda Asper, Derrick Nell, Donna Kerrigan, Marlene McCauslin, Sherl Shaffer, Billie Jo Brown, and Stuart Johns

12

 

/by

Serving Church Members

, ,

I AM A CHURCH MEMBER

Serving Church Members

(Philippians 2:1-11)

 

INTRODUCTION

Notice the restaurants shown on the screen (Burger King, Chili’s, Cracker Barrel, Chick-fil-A, Hoss’s, McDonalds, Olive Garden, Pizza Hut, Red Robin, Texas Roadhouse, Panda Express, and Buffalo Wild Wings). ​​ We’re going to find out which one of these is your favorite this morning.

 

[Go through each logo and ask for a show of hands when the logo is large]

 

Did you see that not everyone has the same favorite restaurant? ​​ Some of you would never set foot in one of those restaurants, because the food style is repulsive to you. ​​ Your gag reflex is working right now as you think about that kind of food. ​​ It just turns your stomach. ​​ It’s fine for you to feel that way. ​​ Other people love that kind of food and are repulsed by other kinds of foods.

 

BODY

  • ME

    • I love food

        • I’ve always been willing to try just about any kind of food

        • As long as it won’t hurt me or kill me

        • I’ve eaten grasshoppers from Mexico

        • Baby octopus

        • Cubes of fat in Romania

        • I’ve tried menudo from a can (a spicy Mexican soup made with tripe, onions, tomatoes, chilies, and hominy)

    • Food wars

        • I’m sure that none of you have ever had to deal with this in your family

        • When our family eats out it’s difficult to decide where to go, because everyone has their favorite kind of food

          • The boys would be content to go to McDonalds every time

          • Judy and Seth would be fine with pizza every time

          • Wade, Levi, and I would willingly eat at a Chinese restaurant

          • There are no arguments about dessert, because everyone likes Rita’s and Sweet Frog

        • Sacrifice

          • While we don’t eat at McDonalds every time, Judy and I will sacrifice our preferences and eat there

          • There are times when Judy and Seth sacrifice their preferences and we eat at a Chinese restaurant

          • There are times when the boys sacrifice their preferences and eat at a restaurant that Judy and I enjoy

          • Why do we sacrifice our preferences?

          • It’s because we love each other and we want to encourage and express our love through allowing the other members of our family to enjoy the kind of food they like

 

  • WE

    • Leader always chose same place to eat

        • I heard a story about a leader who when he met with his team once a month would always choose the same restaurant to eat lunch at

        • The reason he did this was because he liked the restaurant and only came to the area once a month

        • The other team members didn’t mind, because they didn’t want to be the leader

    • Within the church

        • You and I are guilty of acting this way in the church

        • Thom Rainer’s team of researchers conducted a survey of churches who were inwardly focused – that means they were not serving past their own walls and their own members – the churches were largely self-serving

        • They found ten dominant behavior patterns of members in these churches:

          • Worship wars – one or more factions in the church want the music just the way they like it. ​​ Any deviation is met with anger and demands for change.

          • Prolonged minutia meetings – The church spends an inordinate amount of time in different meetings. ​​ Most of the meetings deal with the most inconsequential items, while the Great Commission and Great Commandment are rarely the topics of discussion.

          • Facility focus – The church facilities develop iconic status. ​​ One of the highest priorities in the church is the protection and preservation of rooms, furniture, and other visible parts of the church’s buildings and grounds.

          • Program driven – this isn’t bad unless the program becomes an end instead of a means to greater ministry.

          • Inwardly focused budget – a disproportionate share of the budget is used to meet the needs and comforts of the members instead of reaching beyond the walls of the church.

          • Inordinate demands for pastoral care – care and concern is important in times of need and crisis. ​​ Problems occur when church members have unreasonable expectations for even minor matters.

          • Attitudes of entitlement – the overarching attitude is one of demanding and having a sense of deserving special treatment.

          • Greater concern about change than the gospel – Almost any noticeable changes in the church evoke the ire of many; but those same passions are not evident about participating in the work of the gospel to change lives.

          • Anger and hostility – members are consistently angry. ​​ They regularly express hostility toward the church staff and other members.

          • Evangelistic apathy – very few members share their faith on a regular basis. ​​ More are concerned about their own needs rather than the greatest eternal needs of the world and community in which they live.

        • I can tell you today that I’ve been, and am guilty of some of these behavior patterns

        • I’m also confident that most of you have been or are guilty of some of these behavior patterns too

        • I don’t want you to be discouraged today

        • These things need to be discussed and the biblical solution needs to be shared

    • In good company

        • Jesus spent three years developing twelve disciples and they struggled and had a tendency to fight with one another

        • Mark 9:33-37, They came to Capernaum. ​​ When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” ​​ But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. ​​ Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.” ​​ He took a little child and had him stand among them. ​​ Taking him in his arms he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”

        • Read Mark 10:35-45 [Bible marker #1]

        • Jesus mentioned it twice to His disciples

          • The way to become great is to humble yourself

          • The way to become great is to be a servant to all

          • To become a servant meant to sacrifice your preferences and desires in order to allow someone else to be honored

          • Jesus modeled this for His disciples right before His death, when he wrapped a towel around His waist and washed their feet at the Last Supper

          • But the greatest way Jesus modeled this for His disciples and for you and me is what we find in Philippians 2:1-11

 

BIG IDEA – Serving others means sacrificing self.

 

PRAY

 

  • GOD (Philippians 2:1-11)

    • Background

        • Paul is writing to the Philippian church because of a dispute that is happening there

        • It’s a dispute between Euodia and Syntyche (Phil. 4:2)

        • He is helping them to understand how to deal correctly with it

    • Blessings (v. 1)

        • Paul reminds the Philippian believers of the blessings of being in a Christian community

        • The Greek word translated in English as “If” also has the meaning in Greek of “since”

          • Paul is not questioning whether the believers have experienced these blessings or not

          • He is saying to them, “Since you have experienced these blessings from Christ, then this is what I want you to do.”

        • Encouragement

          • As followers of Jesus Christ we have been united with him

          • Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ​​ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ​​ For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. ​​ (Matthew 11:28-30)

          • Jesus offers for us to be yoked together with Him, so we can learn from Him

          • This promise from Jesus should bring encouragement to you today, especially if you feeling weary and have a heavy burden you’re carrying (financial, work, relational, health)

          • Jesus is there to help carry that burden, just yoke yourself to Him

          • Don’t keep trying to carry the burden alone

        • Comfort

          • This is referring to Christ’s love for His people

          • We know how He demonstrated that – it involved a rugged cross and mistreatment by those who were blind to the truth

          • Jesus willingly died on the cross for you and me – taking our punishment and paying our sin debt

        • Fellowship

          • It literally means “participation”

          • It is referring to participation with the Holy Spirit

        • Tenderness and compassion

          • The Greek word for tenderness literally means bowels, intestines

          • The bowels were considered as the seat of the more violent passions, such as anger and love; but by the Hebrews as the seat of the more tender affections, especially kindness, benevolence, compassion; hence our heart (tender mercies, affections)

        • “The meaning of the verse seems clear: ​​ If there is any divine strength or support available ‘to those who are in Christ Jesus as you are (and there is); if there is any consolation or incentive which springs from your love (and Paul is confident there is); if participation in the Holy Spirit means anything (and it does); if there be in you any affectionate tenderness (and Paul is sure there is),’ then,” make my joy complete by being like-minded. [BBC, 316]

    • Unity (vv. 2-4)

        • Paul lists three characteristics that express the unity of the church

        • First, the same outlook

          • To be like-minded does not mean that you and I agree on everything or like all the same things

          • From a spiritual perspective it does mean that you and I have the same love as Christ did; having the same mind; cherishing the same views, valuing the same thing

          • Every evangelical denomination will agree on the tenets of the Gospel (who Jesus is and what He did)

          • “. . . internal unity is necessary for holding back the destructive forces that would hinder the progress of the gospel.” ​​ [Thielman, 96]

          • Every believer in Jesus Christ should be like-minded when it comes to the Gospel

        • Second, humility

          • Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit

            • “In literature prior to the New Testament, the term appears only in Aristotle’s Politica, where, in the course of discussing the various causes of political revolutions, the philosopher identifies one cause as the greedy grasp for public office through unjust means.” ​​ [Thielman, 97]

            • Vain conceit means empty pride – don’t do something just to build yourself up, which will lead to emptiness

          • In humility consider others better than yourselves

            • “Before the New Testament era, the word “humility” had a negative connotation. ​​ The adjective related to it “was frequently employed, and especially so, to describe the mentality of a slave. ​​ It conveyed the ideas of being base, unfit, shabby, mean, of no account.” ​​ [Melick, 94]

            • Notice that it was used of the mentality of a slave

            • Jesus had told His disciples that they needed to become slaves of all

            • Paul is urging you and me to have the mentality of a slave when it comes to fellow believers; “count others as excelling over us.”

        • Third, consideration

          • Paul is not saying that you neglect yourself or your own interests

            • None of us has a problem taking care of ourselves

            • It’s a part of our American culture and psyche

            • One of our unalienable Rights is the pursuit of happiness – making ourselves happy

            • We pursue our own happiness more vigorously than perhaps anything else – it’s our right!

            • “Much modern social and psychological theory is indebted to the notion that members of the human species, like all other animals, are involved in a relentless quest to dominate others in order to survive. ​​ So we not only enter the church with the belief that we deserve to be made happy but often with the notion that our pursuit of happiness at the expense of others is inevitable.” ​​ [Thielman, 106]

        • “[Paul] sees [the church] as a group of individuals who, despite their differences, are willing to show love for one another through putting the well-being of others first.” [Thielman, 103]

        • Serving others means sacrificing self.

    • Jesus example (vv. 5-8)

        • Being Christ-like (v. 5)

          • How many of you would say that you want to be Christ-like

          • Isn’t it what every follower of Jesus Christ should desire?

          • But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. ​​ To him be glory both now and forever! ​​ Amen. ​​ (2 Peter 3:18)

          • One of the ways to be Christ-like is with your attitude

          • Paul says that our attitude should be the same as Christ Jesus

        • What was Christ’s attitude? (vv. 6-8)

          • First, we have to understand that He was fully God and fully man

            • He didn’t give up His deity to become a man

            • He set aside the right to His glory and power

            • In submission to God’s will, Christ limited His power and knowledge – He didn’t try to hold on to it

            • What made His humanity unique was His freedom from sin

            • Jesus willingly sacrificed heaven in order to come to earth to redeem the world

          • Second, He took the form of a servant

            • When Jesus came to earth, He didn’t come into earthly royalty

            • He wasn’t born in a palace

            • He didn’t grow up to reign over the Roman Empire or even a portion of the Roman Empire

            • As a human being, He was born into a family where His earthly father was a carpenter – not a particularly high social position

            • “By taking the form of a servant He revealed the true meaning of service.” ​​ [BBC, 320]

            • His death on a cross was reserved for individuals who were from the lower classes

            • The only reason a Roman citizen would have ever been considered to be crucified would have been for high treason

            • Death by crucifixion was below the social status of the rich and privileged

            • Even though Jesus was God the Son and had more power and authority than all the Roman rulers, He sacrificed all of that in order to die a servants death

            • He obediently followed the will of His Father

          • Jesus attitude

            • His attitude was one of humility and love

            • In His humility, He sacrificed everything so you could enjoy life

            • It’s through His death, burial, and resurrection that you can truly enjoy your life here on earth

            • It’s through His death, burial, and resurrection that you can enjoy eternal life when He returns

            • John 3:14-15, Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.

 

  • YOU

    • Salvation

        • Perhaps you’ve hesitated to believe in Jesus Christ, because you’re unwilling to sacrifice something in your life

        • Maybe you’re afraid that believing in Jesus will mean that you can no longer have any fun

        • When you believe in Jesus and repent and turn from your sin, Jesus transforms you

        • You now have the power of the Holy Spirit living in you to give you the strength to sacrifice old habits, old friends, and old attitudes

        • You will find joy in serving Jesus!

        • My Next Step Today Is To: ​​ Believe in Jesus Christ and receive eternal life.

    • Spiritual growth

        • As followers of Jesus Christ, you and I should be striving each day to have the same attitude of humility and servant hood that Jesus did

        • As biblical church members, you and I should be giving, serving, putting others first

          • We should be doing whatever it takes to keep the unity in our church

          • You should always ask first what you can do for your church

          • Maybe you’ve been doing this, but you’re frustrated by those whose attitude is not Christ-like

          • These individuals are the ones that God has asked you to serve

          • When you’re tired of sacrificing for others in the church, remember the cross

          • You can’t do it in your own strength – it’s you and God together

          • My Next Step Today Is To: ​​ Pray for God’s strength and wisdom as I strive to have the attitude of Christ while serving those within Idaville Church

        • Perhaps you’ve been struggling with having a Christ-like attitude and you’re more characterized by what the leader did in insisting on eating at the same restaurant every time

          • You’ve been struggling with sacrificing your own personal preferences within the church

          • God’s desire is that everyone be brought to salvation and that none are lost

          • Being obedient to the Great Commission and Great Commandment sometimes requires changes in order to reach the next generation for Christ

          • It requires that you and I sacrifice our preferences in music, programs, our buildings and grounds, and many other areas

          • “. . . no sacrifice of our own comparatively paltry rights as human beings seems too great to make in order that the gospel might be advanced.” ​​ [Thielman, 128]

          • Allow yourself to be “overwhelmed by Jesus’ undeserved love for you that caused Him to sacrifice everything – including His preferences . . .” ​​ [Rainer, 40]

          • Keeping that in mind will enable you to do that for others

          • You can’t do this on your own – it has to be you and God

          • My Next Step Today Is To: ​​ Ask God to help me see where I need to sacrifice my preferences so the Great Commission can be accomplished through Idaville Church

 

  • WE

    • As you and I obediently follow the will of God by having the same attitude as Christ by serving those within our church and sacrificing our preferences, then several incredible things will happen

        • We will experience joy and unity here at church

        • On the final day, God will respond to the lives of his obedient servants with commendation, just as he responded to Christ’s obedient life (Phil. 2:9-11) [Thielman, 128]

 

CONCLUSION

In Mere Christianity, C. S. Lewis provides a helpful description of how the fallible believer can be more like Christ amid the give and take of everyday life.

 

“It helps . . . to pretend to be Jesus, just as a child might pretend to be a soldier or a shopkeeper. ​​ Just as the child’s imaginary games help the child to develop skills that will later be useful as a real soldier or shopkeeper, so the ‘game’ of pretending to be Christ inevitably reveals to the believer places for improvement and guides the believer toward spiritual maturity. . . .The minute we realize we are dressing up like Christ, we will discover ways in which our pretense could become reality. ​​ We will be embarrassed to discover thoughts that Christ would not have had and unfulfilled duties that Christ would not have neglected. ​​ Those realizations . . . should in turn prompt us to more complete obedience.” ​​ [Thielman, 130].

 

 

The Third Pledge

 

I will not let my church be about my preferences and desires. ​​ That is self-serving. ​​ I am a member in this church to serve others and to serve Christ. ​​ My Savior went to a cross for me. ​​ I can deal with any inconveniences and matters that just aren’t my preference or style.

10

 

/by

Unifying Church Members

, , ,

I AM A CHURCH MEMBER

Unifying Church Members

(James 3:1-12)

 

INTRODUCTION

Hearing the word “cancer” is perhaps the hardest thing anyone can go through. ​​ It takes your breath away and instills fear immediately. ​​ It’s been said that everybody has cancer cells in their body, but it’s what triggers those cancer cells to begin growing that’s the real problem. ​​ Most people perhaps don’t even know what caused them to begin growing. ​​ In some cases it can be environmental conditions. ​​ So where you live can cause those cells to start growing. ​​ You may not have been aware that you were surrounded by those environmental conditions.

 

Once those cancer cells begin growing there are at least four ways of dealing with it.

  • One way is the natural way. ​​ It’s providing your body with good food that has not been processed or has had the least amount of processing done to it.

  • A second way is what most people go through. ​​ It’s a harsh chemical and radiation treatment that kills not only the cancer cells, but also healthy cells. ​​ This can be coupled with surgery.

  • A third response is that some people do nothing; they ignore it, which is certain death.

  • The final way of dealing with cancer is what I recommend and it is seeking healing through the power of God (this approach can be done in cooperation with the first one mentioned – providing your body with the best, natural, wholesome foods possible)

    • We’ve been experiencing some great Biblical teaching on healing, the third Wednesday evening of every month

    • We’ve been building a strong foundation so we can say with confidence that it is God’s will to heal everyone

    • We saw this past month how forgiveness of sins and healing of diseases go hand in hand in the Bible

    • Healing and health in the Old Testament were based on obedience to the Lord (Exodus 15:26)

    • In the New Testament, forgiveness of sins and healing are also on the same basis – faith in the sacrifice of Christ on Calvary (Psalm 103:2-3; James 5:15; Mark 16:16-18)

 

BODY

  • ME

    • Both grandfather’s

        • Both of my grandfather’s died from cancer

        • My Pappy Hykes was diagnosed with cancer after having exploratory surgery and died three weeks later on July 3, 1981– he was too weak to have radiation or chemotherapy

        • My Pappy Johns fought cancer for 13 years with radiation and chemotherapy treatments

        • He died 1 year, 1 month, and 1 day after my Pappy Hykes on August 4, 1982

    • Other family members and friends with cancer

        • My Grandma Johns is a breast cancer survivor

        • I have had other family members who died from various cancers

        • My best friend in Missouri, Dwane, fought a brain tumor for several years before being promoted to heaven

 

  • WE

    • Natural Way

        • I’m sure you know individuals who have chosen to treat cancer with natural remedies

        • There are those within the church who are doing that

    • Chemo and Radiation

        • You probably know someone who has gone through surgery, chemo, and radiation treatments

        • We have those in our congregation who have done that and may still be going through that

    • Ignore it

        • Maybe you’ve known someone who ignored their diagnosis of cancer and chose not to treat it at all

        • They chose quality of life over the harsh chemical treatments

        • Perhaps they have passed on or are currently in the battle against cancer

    • God’s healing

        • We have individuals in our congregation who have taken the route of trusting God by faith to bring healing to their bodies

        • They coupled that with a homeopathic approach also, which fuels their body with good, wholesome, natural foods

    • Body of Christ

        • We learned last week from 1 Corinthians 12 that the church is just like a human body

        • There are many parts that work together to keep the unity that the Holy Spirit has already produced

        • Just like the human body can be plagued with cancer, the church can be plagued with a cancer that causes it to not function in a unified way

        • One of the most damaging cancers found in the body of Christ is gossip and other negative talk

        • In his Epistle, James talks about how easy it is for you and me to use our tongues for evil

        • Sometimes we do it right after we have praised God, without even thinking about it

        • We’ll see today how that can happen

 

BIG IDEA – Our tongue has the power to unite or divide.

 

  • GOD (James 3:1-12)

    • All Stumble (vv. 1-2)

        • Teaching, especially in the Jewish culture, was highly valued and respected as a profession

        • James is warning believers to be careful about their desire to be teachers, because they are held to a higher standard

          • A teacher’s responsibility is great

            • My Spanish teacher in High School was from Brazil

            • The native language of Brazil is Portuguese

            • There was a couple of times that she came back the next day and apologized to the whole class

            • The teaching that she had done the day before was in Portuguese and not Spanish

            • I’m not certain how close the two languages are, but I’m still not sure which language I actually learned

            • The Spanish phrase I used most often in class was “Yo no sé” (“I don’t know”)

          • Everyone is listening to what you say and watching what you do

          • As spiritual teachers, people are basing their spiritual lives on your example and your words

            • 2 Timothy 2:15, Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

            • It is important that those who teach spend time studying God’s Word and praying for the Holy Spirit’s wisdom

        • James understands the pull of sin even in the lives of believers

          • He includes himself in the stumbling

          • We all stumble in many ways

          • “Examples of an untamed tongue include gossiping, putting others down, bragging, manipulating, false teaching, exaggerating, complaining, flattering, and lying.” ​​ [NIV Life Application Bible, 2249]

          • You know where you stumble when it comes to sin in your own life

          • Satan knows which buttons to push and which temptations to present you with each day

          • Those habitual sins are the ones you are constantly confessing to God, pleading with Him to remove the desire from you

          • If you’ve stopped trying to resist the evil, fleshly desires than Satan has won

          • If you’re continuing to fight and battle against those evil, fleshly desires that’s good

          • 1 John 4:4, You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

          • You have the Holy Spirit of God living in you, as a follower of Jesus Christ, to strengthen you for the fight

        • Guiding principle

          • Is James saying that if I hold my tongue and not speak, that I’ll never sin?

          • We all know that’s not true – a person can keep their speech under control and still sin in other ways

          • James is going to explain further in the text that no man has ever tamed the tongue

          • Jesus taught about our words and where they come from

            • Luke 6:43-45, “No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. ​​ Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. ​​ People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. ​​ The good man brings up good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. ​​ For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.”

            • Matthew 12:33-37, “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. ​​ You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? ​​ For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. ​​ The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. ​​ But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. ​​ For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.

            • What comes out of your mouth is an indication of what’s in your heart

            • This is how you can come and praise God and turn right around and gossip or speak negatively about someone, because that’s what’s in your heart

            • Part of taming the tongue is the ability to control your desire to say what you shouldn’t

            • You and I can justify saying something we shouldn’t by starting it off like this:

              • “Well, I just have to tell the truth!”

              • “I really need to get this off my chest.”

              • “We should pray for so-and-so, because they are dealing with such-and-such.”

            • Before you speak, you need to ask yourself three questions:

              • Is what I want to say true?

              • Is it necessary?

              • Is it kind?

            • Matthew 12:36-37 says that you will be held accountable on the day of judgment for every careless word you’ve spoken – your words will either acquit you or condemn you – it’s very serious

            • Read Matthew 23:25-28 [Bible marker #1]

              • Jesus is gentle with the Pharisees, but also bold

              • He doesn’t back away from saying what needs to be said

              • The only way you and I can deal with the desire to gossip, put others down, complain, or anything else pertaining to the tongue is to ask God to cleanse what’s in your heart

              • You and I need to deal with what’s on the inside first and then we won’t have to worry about an untamed tongue

              • You can’t do it on your own – it’s impossible

              • You have to commit your heart to the Lord each day and ask Him to cleanse you from the inside out

          • If a person could tame their tongue they would be a perfect person, able to keep their whole body in check

    • Positive illustrations (vv. 3-5a)

        • The horse

          • The bit in the horse’s mouth is small, but with it the horse can be made to obey

          • You can turn the whole animal by using the bit properly

        • The ship

          • Think of the largest ship you can – maybe an aircraft carrier

          • When a storm comes up, that huge ship can be pushed by the wind and the waves

          • The captain of the ship can still steer it from the helm

          • As he turns the wheel, the tiny rudder (in comparison to the ship) responds and moves the ship in the direction the captain desires

        • The tongue

          • The tongue can make great boasts

            • Boasting is not necessarily bad – it’s based on what you’re boasting about

            • Paul says that he will not boast in anything, but Jesus Christ

            • You and I can make great boasts for Christ

          • If Jesus is your rider, He can help you to obey Him with your tongue

          • If Jesus is your captain, He can steer you away from using your tongue in the wrong way

          • It’s all about what’s inside – do you allow the Holy Spirit of God to control and guide your heart?

          • That’s the part of you that thinks and feels

          • You’re going to struggle with this area if you’ve never repented of your sins and received Jesus Christ as your Savior, because the Holy Spirit is only given to those who are followers of Jesus Christ

    • Tongue tragedies (vv. 5b-8)

        • Forest fires

          • When we lived in California there was always the fear of flash fires especially during the hot and dry season with the Santa Ana winds

          • Almost every fire that starts during the fire season was set on purpose

          • It only took a small spark on the dry ground and brush, and before you know it, there is that eerie reddish/orange glow just over the hillside that is very visible at nighttime

        • Fiery tongue

          • The tongue is small in comparison to the body, but it is just like a fire that can spread rapidly through your own life and the lives of those around you

          • How many of you have ever said something in anger that you’d never say otherwise and later wished you could take back?

          • Perhaps you’ve done that with your spouse or your children

            • You can see the pain your words have caused in your wife or husband’s eyes

            • Your child’s eyes fill with tears as they absorb the harsh words you’re speaking to them

          • Maybe you’ve exploded verbally at work towards another co-worker and had to return later to apologize

            • While they forgave you, the hurtful words are still in their mind

            • They now know how you really feel about them

          • You and I try so hard to cover up how we really feel about someone, but when a stressful situation presents itself those true feelings come out

        • Poisonous tongue

          • While all kinds of animals have been tamed by humans the tongue is one thing that man has never tamed

          • Even the poisonous viper has been tamed, but our tongues can be more poisonous than that

          • Psalm 140:1-3, Rescue me, O Lord, from evil men; protect me from men of violence, who devise evil plans in their hearts and stir up war every day. ​​ They make their tongues as sharp as a serpent’s; the poison of vipers is on their lips.

    • Contradictions (vv. 9-12)

        • Morally

          • We come to church on Sunday and sing praises to God

            • Then as we drive to work on Monday we curse or speak negatively about the person driving in front of us or the person who is riding on our tail

              • Those individuals have been made in God’s likeness

              • They are His creation

            • Then we talk badly about someone we saw at church and how they were dressed or something they said

            • Then we complain to someone about the worship or the length of the sermon or the style of the sermon or the special music

          • Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing

          • James says this should not be the case!

          • It’s contradictory to what you say you believe and in Whom you say you believe – it doesn’t show the love that Paul expresses in 1 Corinthians 13, that we looked at last week

        • Naturally

          • James uses unnatural conditions that cannot exist as examples

          • Fresh water and salt water cannot come from the same spring – the salt water will overpower the fresh water

          • Every fruit tree will bear its own kind of fruit, it will not bear another kind of fruit

          • Grapevines will not produce figs, but rather grapes

          • A salt spring cannot produce fresh water

            • This is a reminder of what we spoke about earlier

            • Whatever is in the heart is what will come out of the mouth

            • The fruit of your mouth will not be different than what is in your heart, which is the seat of your emotions and feelings

            • “As is the root, so will be the fruit.” ​​ [Beacon Bible Commentary, 224]

Our tongue has the power to unite or divide.

 

  • YOU

    • Dealing with gossip and negative speech

        • As believers, how we deal with the cancer of gossip and other negative talk in the body of Christ is very important

        • Listen to what the wisest man who ever lived has to say about gossip and the incorrect use of your tongue:

          • Read Proverbs 6:16-19 [Bible marker #2]

          • Proverbs 16:28, A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends. ​​ (NIV)

          • Proverbs 17:4, Wrongdoers eagerly listen to gossip; liars pay close attention to slander (NLT)

          • Proverbs 17:9, He who covers over an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends. ​​ (NIV)

          • Proverbs 18:8, The words of a gossip are like choice morsels, they go down to a man’s inmost parts. ​​ (NIV)

          • Proverbs 20:19, A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid a man who talks too much. ​​ (NIV)

          • Read Proverbs 26:20-22 [Bible marker #3]

        • David has some important things to say also:

          • Read Psalm 34:11-14 [Bible marker #4]

          • Psalm 101:5, Whoever slanders his neighbor in secret, him will I put to silence; whoever has haughty eyes and a proud heart, him will I not endure. ​​ (NIV)

        • The Apostles give great counsel:

          • Ephesians 4:29, Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. ​​ (NIV)

          • James 4:11, Brothers, do not slander one another. ​​ Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. ​​ When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. ​​ There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. ​​ But you – who are you to judge your neighbor? ​​ (NIV)

          • 1 Peter 3:10, Peter is quoting Psalm 34:12-16

    • It can be dealt with in one of three ways – ignore it; treat it naturally; or work to remove it

        • Ignoring it

          • If we ignore it then it’s a guarantee that this body of Christ will die

          • So, leaving it untreated is not an option

          • You and I cannot turn our backs on it, we can’t turn a blind eye to it

        • Naturally

          • Treating cancer in the human body is done by filling it with a good, wholesome diet and proper exercise

          • The same is true of the body of Christ

          • You and I must fill up the body of Christ with a good, wholesome diet and proper exercise

          • The best diet you can get is the Word of God – the Bible

            • It’s not just coming on Sunday morning to hear the pastor preach

            • It’s filling yourself up every day with personal Bible study and prayer

            • It’s filling yourself up once a week with small group Bible study and prayer

          • Treating the cancer of gossip and negative talk naturally, involves allowing Jesus to be the rider and the captain of your heart and asking Him to cleanse your heart daily

            • I’m talking to those who have already repented of their sins, but you’ve taken back the reigns and the helm of your heart

            • Perhaps you’re ready to give the reigns and the helm back to Jesus today

            • My Next Step Today Is To: ​​ Allow Jesus to be the rider and captain of my heart and seek His cleansing on a daily basis, so that what comes out of my mouth will be the good that He has placed there.

          • Perhaps you’ve never repented of your sins and ask Jesus Christ to be your Savior

            • You can use your tongue in a good way today

            • Read Romans 10:8-10 [Bible marker #5]

            • Maybe you grew up in the church, so you know the Bible

            • The verses you learned as a child are in your heart and you can say them with your mouth

            • Don’t hesitate, today is the day of salvation for you

            • Make Jesus the rider and captain of your life

            • My Next Step Today Is To: ​​ Ask Jesus to come into my life and save me from my sins, so I can have the power of the Holy Spirit living in me to guide my speech.

          • Treating the cancer of gossip and negative talk naturally, involves not participating in it or starting it yourself

            • Read Psalm 15:1-5 [Bible marker #6]

            • God calls us to be morally upright

            • He gives us ten standards to determine how we’re doing

        • Remove it with love

          • “. . . if someone in the church begins to share gossip with you, gently rebuke him or her. ​​ You don’t have to be harsh in your response to them. ​​ Kindly say that you would rather not hear any gossip and you would hope it wouldn’t continue to spread.” ​​ [Rainer, I Am A Church Member, 26]

          • When you do this, the person who is trying to spread gossip or negative talk will probably feel like you are being harsh

            • When they use surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation to remove cancer from the human body it is harsh – it hurts

            • The hope is that through the pain the cancer will be completely removed

          • There will probably be pain involved with removing gossip and negative talk from the church

          • My Next Step Today Is To: ​​ Commit to gently rebuke anyone who is gossiping or speaking negatively about someone else, through the power of the Holy Spirit living in me.

 

  • WE

    • Unified church

        • As each person recognizes that they cannot ignore the cancer of gossip in the church and strives to fill their heart with a good, wholesome diet and proper exercise and is willing to gently remove any gossip and negative talk, then the church will be a place of joy and unity

        • 1 Peter 3:10, For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.”

 

CONCLUSION

. . . Make it pass,

Before you speak, three gates of gold:

These narrow gates. ​​ First, “Is it true?”

Then, “Is it needful?” ​​ In your mind

Give truthful answer. ​​ And the next

Is last and narrowest, “Is it kind?”

And if to reach your lips at last
It passes through these gateways three,

Then you may tell the tale, nor fear

What the result of speech may be.

 

(Beth Day).

 

You received another bookmark today. ​​ It has the poem I just read from Beth Day on one side and The Second Pledge from I Am A Church Member.

 

The Second Pledge

I am a church member.

 

“I will seek to be a source of unity in my church. ​​ I know there are no perfect pastors, staff, or other church members. ​​ But neither am I. ​​ I will not be a source of gossip or dissension. ​​ One of the greatest contributions I can make is to do all I can in God’s power to help keep the church in unity for the sake of the gospel.”

12

 

/by

Functional Church Members

, ,

I AM A CHURCH MEMBER

Functional Church Members

(1 Corinthians 12-13)

 

INTRODUCTION

VIDEO – I AM A CHURCH MEMBER: ​​ Book Trailer [https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=83&v=wdgejS3F5kw]

 

How many of you have found that perfect church with perfect people and a perfect pastor with perfect staff members? ​​ You won’t find that here on earth, but that’s the hope of every follower of Jesus Christ. ​​ We will one day experience that kind of perfection, but it will be after there is a new heaven and a new earth – when Jesus Christ returns.

 

Until that time, you and I have to learn the attitudes that make a difference in being a biblical church member. ​​ Over the next six weeks, we’ll be looking at each of those attitudes.

 

I’m not just speaking specifically about becoming a member of this church. ​​ It includes everyone who attends this church regularly. ​​ You are a part of this body of believers and your attitudes are also important in making a difference in reaching our community for Christ.

 

You’re going to find that some of the attitudes are not a problem for you and they are things you’re already doing. ​​ Keep doing those things. ​​ Other attitudes are going to be a challenge for us all as we look at them, together. ​​ The important thing is that you come willing to hear from God concerning your personal attitudes about church membership and what biblical church membership looks like.

 

We have several copies of the book on the table in the foyer. ​​ If we run out, we’ll get more. ​​ If you can’t afford the $5 suggested donation, please take one anyhow and don’t worry about the money.

 

We’ll be spending a little time on Wednesday evening discussing the questions at the end of each chapter in the book.

 

BODY

  • ME

    • People leaving the church

        • I can think of people I know personally who have left the church

        • One individual stopped going to a Christian college and church because of the hypocrites they saw there

        • Another individual I know didn’t see the importance of going to church with other believers, because he could learn just as well at home on his own (it’s easier and less messy to learn on ​​ your own – there’s no church politics, hierarchy, or drama to deal with)

 

  • WE

    • Do you know people like that?

        • Maybe it’s a family member

        • It could be a coworker

        • Perhaps it’s a neighbor

    • What do you say to someone who has quit church?

 

BIG IDEA – Unity through diversity is built on love.

 

  • GOD (1 Corinthians 12-13)

    • Concern for the church today

        • I don’t know about you, but I’m concerned about the church and the attitudes within the church – not just here but in the universal church

        • James MacDonald

          • If you read the book Vertical Church you see some staggering statistics about the church in North America

          • 6,000 churches close every year

          • 3,500 Christians are leaving churches every day (that’s 1,277,500 people leaving the church each year)

          • Less than 20% of Americans attend church regularly

          • Only 15% of churches are still growing

          • 2% of churches are growing by conversions

          • Only 800 church plants succeed each year, we would need 10,000 to succeed to reach everyone

        • Thom Rainer

          • Researched 557 churches from 2004 to 2010 and found out that 9 out of 10 churches in America are declining or growing at a pace that is slower than that of their communities

          • About two-thirds of the Builder generation, those born before 1946 (71 + year olds) are Christians

          • Of the Millennials, those born between 1980 and 2000 (17 – 37 year olds), there are only 15 percent who are Christians

        • Local Pastor

          • I was talking with a local pastor in south-central PA several years ago about his church

          • He said they lost the Baby Boomer generation (1946-1964) in their church and almost lost the Generation X (1965-1979) generation

          • His explanation is that the Builder generation wanted the Boomers to take over leadership of the church, but they did not want them to make any changes – they wanted them to have responsibility without authority

          • When this happened the Boomers simply left the church

          • It almost happened again with the Generation X group

          • A pastor friend of mine told the story of a family whose parents wanted to pass on the family farm to one of their children. ​​ As the years went by the parents were unwilling to pass on the farm and their children eventually bought their own properties. ​​ When it came time for the parents to move out of the family farm, none of the children could afford or wanted to purchase the family farm. ​​ The pastor related this story to the church. ​​ When the older generation only allows the younger generation to assume responsibility of the church tasks without authority to make changes, then the younger generation leaves and goes elsewhere. ​​ Then when the older generation is ready to hand over the authority of the church to the next generation, there is no one there to assume the authority.

        • Thom Rainer believes, and I agree, that those kinds of things are happening in churches throughout America, because there are individuals in the church who have a unbiblical understanding of church membership

    • Country Club Membership mentality in the church

        • The basic premise is, I pay my dues and you serve me

        • For individuals with this mentality about church membership it’s about receiving instead of giving, being served instead of serving, rights instead of responsibilities, and entitlements instead of sacrifices – it’s all about them instead of others

        • It’s revealed in statements like the ones Thom Rainer used in his book:

          • “This is my church, so you have to play the music just the way I want it.”

          • “Look pastor, you need to remember who pays your salary.”

          • “If you don’t do this program, I’ll withhold my check to the church.”

          • “I’ve been a member of this church for over thirty years, so I have a right to get what I want.”

          • “I don’t pay good money to this church to listen to sermons that long.”

    • What does Biblical church membership really look like?

        • Unity through diversity (1 Corinthians 12:12-28a)

          • Paul relates the body of believers to the human body (vv. 12-13, 27-28a)

            • When your body is working correctly, you are able to do things without thinking – it comes naturally

            • It’s when something isn’t working properly that you begin to struggle with tasks that were once easy

              • Individuals who have had major brain trauma can tell you how difficult it is to not be able to do what you once could

              • You know in your mind that you could do that with ease before, but now your body doesn’t cooperate with your brain

            • Your body is a unit made up of many members/parts that all work together to enable you to function

            • For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. ​​ (NASB)

            • Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it. ​​ And God has appointed in the church . . . ​​ (NASB)

            • The body of Christ (the church) is the same way

              • It’s made up of many different members that work together so that the body of Christ functions properly

              • Ephesians 4:1-6, As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. ​​ Be completely humble and gentle; bearing with one another in love. ​​ Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. ​​ There is one body and one Spirit – just as you were called to one hope when you were called – one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

              • I was studying through the book of Ephesians several years ago

              • Ray Stedman is the one who wrote the commentary for the Joy of Living Bible Study I’m using

              • He has some very important points concerning Ephesians 4:1-6

                • “Notice the apostle does not say we are to produce unity; he says we are to keep a unity that has already been produced by the Holy Spirit. ​​ There is a unity that is already there by virtue of the very existence of the church, because the Holy Spirit is the bond which holds the church together.”

                • “We can violate that unity by our actions, we can grieve the Holy Spirit by our sinful behavior towards one another in the body of Christ, we can bring shame and dishonor to the gospel by sinning against our Spirit-given unity, but we cannot create or destroy what the Spirit Himself has produced. ​​ The church can be divided organizationally, but the body of Christ can never be disjointed.”

                • “When we are tempted to feelings of resentment or to such actions as attacking one another or spreading rumors against one another, we should stop and ask God to bless the other person.”

                • He encourages you and me to pray this way, “Lord, show me how I can reach out to my brother or sister in this time of irritation. ​​ Make me a blessing and not a hindrance in that person’s life. ​​ Show me practical ways I can work to maintain the unity between us that you have made possible through your Spirit. ​​ Replace my annoyance with understanding, my impatience with forbearance, my grudges with forgiveness, my bitterness with a sweet spirit, my resentment with love, my hardened heart with a tender heart. ​​ Lord, I am Your prisoner. ​​ I am ready to take orders from You.”

                • The prayer is listed on the bookmark that each person received this morning as you came in (if you didn’t receive one they are available in the foyer when you leave)

                • My Next Step Today Is To: ​​ Commit to praying this prayer each morning when I have feelings of resentment or frustration with a fellow believer.

              • When you and I forget that the unity of the body already exists through the Holy Spirit, we can do things that cause the body of Christ to not function properly and therefore make what should be easy nearly impossible

            • God is the One who appoints you and I to the various parts of His body, the church

              • This is an important point that you and I have to remember

              • We don’t always remember it, as the next two sections show us

          • Unimportant (vv. 14-19)

            • Perhaps you’ve had those feelings about your spiritual giftedness or where you are serving in the church

            • You may be thinking that if you left the church no one would miss you or even care that you left

            • That is furthest from the truth

              • Communication is the key

              • Most people quietly leave the church and never tell anyone, especially the pastoral staff

              • I know that conversation can be difficult to have with us, but please let us know

                • There are others who are asking us if we know where certain families or individuals are

                • My response to those who ask me, is to encourage them to reach out by calling them and letting them know they’re missed

                • I spoke recently with one family member of a family that hadn’t been to church in six weeks – they told me that they appreciated that I had reached out to them, but they also told me that a couple other people from the church had called them also. ​​ They told me that in the two previous churches they had attended that no one contacted them when they left, including their deacon.

                • I want to say how proud I am of those of you who recognize that individuals and families are missing church and then following up with them by contacting them

                • It’s difficult when we have contacted individuals and never hear anything back

                • We’re not going to be upset when individuals leave

                • We would like to know what caused them to leave

              • If you are feeling unimportant, please forgive me and our church body

              • I care for each one of you deeply and I want you to know I’m available for you – I can’t read your mind, so please call me and set up a time to meet

            • Paul reiterates again that God is the one who has arranged the parts in the body just as He wanted them to be

            • You can’t have a properly functioning body that only has one part or one kind of member

          • Overly important (pride) (vv. 21-26)

            • There is no room for an elitist mentality in the church

            • This is spiritual pride and only causes the body of Christ to stop functioning properly

            • The parts that seem weaker are indispensable

              • A friend of mine on Facebook had this as is status several years ago, “Pinky toes are lame. ​​ There is not another part of your body that has a use only for smashing things in the dark.”

              • You know how much that hurts!

              • But do you know how important that pinky toe is to your overall balance and ability to walk?

              • It’s extremely important for balance, which is extremely important for walking

              • You need that pinky toe for your body to function properly

            • Paul again states that God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so there wouldn’t be any division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other

            • If one part suffers every part suffers with it

              • If you’ve ever had an injury you know this principle very well

              • Your body can’t rest well when one part of it is suffering

              • You stay up all night trying to deal with the pain in one part of your body

              • This should be true of church members also

            • If one part is honored, every part rejoices with it

              • When you win a race or competition, you know the joy and feeling of euphoria that courses through your body

              • Every part of your body benefits from the “feel good” chemicals running through your body

              • The same should be true of the church and its members

            • My Next Step Today Is To: ​​ Suffer with those in our congregation who are suffering and rejoice with those who are rejoicing.

        • Based on a biblical foundation of love (1 Corinthians 13:1-13)

          • Paul shows you and I the most excellent way

          • It’s not about seeking recognition for ourselves, but rather loving others within the body of Christ – thinking about what will cause others to desire a relationship with Jesus Christ or a deeper walk with Him

          • Principles of love

            • Patient

            • Kind

            • Not envious

            • Not boastful

            • Not proud

            • Not rude

            • Not self-seeking

            • Not easily angered

            • Keeps no records of wrongs

            • Doesn’t delight in evil

            • Rejoices with the truth

            • Protects

            • Trusts

            • Hopes

            • Perseveres

            • Never fails

          • A person who is loving in this way is not going to leave the church, but will rather strive to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace

          • Unity through diversity is built on love

 

  • YOU

    • Spiritual growth

        • You and I each have a role to play in the church

          • The question is, do you know your role and if so, are you doing it?

          • “The concept of an inactive church member is an oxymoron. ​​ Biblically, no such church member really exists.” ​​ [Rainer, 16]

          • You should never ask yourself if you should be serving your church – that’s a given

        • You should be asking yourself and God, in prayer, this ongoing question, “How can I best serve my church?”

          • The research that Thom Rainer has done has revealed that, to their best estimates, only one-third of members on church roles are real biblical church members that are functioning properly by giving abundantly and serving without hesitation

          • At the end of each chapter there is a pledge for you to make

          • Perhaps today you recognized that you are struggling in the area of being a biblical functioning church member and you’re ready to make the change

          • On the back of the bookmark is the first pledge and a place for you to sign to commit to making that pledge

          • The pledge is between you and God

          • My Next Step Today Is To: Pledge to be a functioning church member by giving, serving, ministering, evangelizing, studying, and being a blessing to others.

  • WE

    • As you and I examine each attitude and willingly ask God to make changes to those attitudes in our own lives, Thom says two things are going to happen

        • You will likely have a new or renewed attitude about Idaville Church. ​​ You will learn the joy of being last instead of seeking to be first. ​​ Instead of being a whiner complaining about what’s wrong with your church, you will be a unifier seeking what’s best for your church.

        • Idaville Church will begin to change. ​​ It will become healthier because one of its members is healthier. ​​ And as the church gets healthier, it will have a greater impact on our community and the world.

 

CONCLUSION

VIDEO – The Body of Christ [https://www.rightnowmedia.org/Content/illustration/97944]

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The Star: A Journey to Christmas

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Christmas Eve

The Star: ​​ A Journey to Christmas

 

INTRODUCTION

Welcome and Merry Christmas! ​​ Tomorrow is the big day, just in case anyone has forgotten that or your children have neglected to remind you since getting out of school for Christmas break. ​​ I’m excited that you’ve joined us this evening as we prepare for one of the greatest days all year. ​​ Tomorrow marks the culmination of a journey we’ve been taking together over the past four weeks. ​​ The four weeks leading up to Christmas are called Advent, which means “coming.” ​​ We’ve been learning about Jesus’ coming that very first Christmas. ​​ We have also been talking about His second coming, which will complete God’s ultimate work of redemption. ​​ We’ve used the star as our guiding light toward Jesus. ​​ This same star guided those wise seekers toward Jesus long ago.

 

How many of you love a good story. ​​ Si Robertson explains in his book, Si-Cology 1: ​​ Tales and Wisdom from Duck Dynasty’s Favorite Uncle, he was taught never to lie. ​​ He says that he never lied, but the Robertson’s are good storytellers.

 

BODY

  • ME

    • Tradition

        • Growing up, my family had an Advent time after dinner every evening

        • My father made an advent wreath that had a place for a daily candle

        • There were the three purple and one pink candle for each Sunday, but we had white candles for the other days of the week

        • My father has written several daily Advent devotionals

    • Stories

        • Judy’s family has some pretty humorous stories that they’ve told multiple years, which I why I know them now

          • These stories are so funny that we’ll all start laughing and can’t stop

          • Judy’s Grandpa and Grandma Young would come to their house on Christmas Day to celebrate with them

            • One Christmas morning as they were driving down the country road to her house, they saw something on the road

            • Once they arrived, Judy’s Grandma told them that they saw something on the road and thought that Santa had dropped a package

            • The item on the road was a dead squirrel

            • Don’t ask me why that story is so funny, but it is

          • Another Christmas story from Judy’s family was about one of the dogs

            • Marvin was a mutt and he would do some pretty funny things

            • He would walk into a room, pass gas, and then walk out like he was disgusted

            • One Christmas morning, the family got up to find that Marvin had added something special to Judy’s father’s gift – a long, brown, log (poop!)

            • Again, when that story is told we all begin laughing and can’t stop

        • Electronic Rugby game

          • I don’t remember how the story got started, but one year leading up to Christmas my father kept telling me that I was going to get an electronic rugby game

          • This would have been in the 1970’s and some electronic games were already being produced (the old red football and basketball games)

          • I played soccer on an intramural team and baseball in the summer, but I had never played rugby

          • As Christmas morning arrived I opened all my gifts, but never got the electronic rugby game

          • They probably didn’t make an electronic rugby game

          • I wish I could remember what I got that Christmas, but all I remember was what I didn’t get

 

  • WE

    • Family stories

        • Perhaps each person here tonight has family stories that will be told tomorrow

        • It’s stories that have been told multiple times, but they make us laugh until we cry

        • We tell of God’s goodness and healing

    • Hunting and fishing stories

        • Those who hunt and fish can tell some pretty wild stories

        • They talk about the huge buck that got away, as they gather in the evening at the hunting cabin

        • They also tell the big fish stories without having any proof that the story is true

    • Black Friday shopping stories

        • Perhaps some of you ladies have some great stories of success while Black Friday shopping

        • You had your strategy all planned out for who was going to which stores and what they were supposed to get

        • Maybe you were standing in line and were the last person to get a particular item before the store ran out

 

Throughout the world, stories have been the means of preserving history, passing along beliefs and values, inspiring, entertaining, and motivating us. ​​ Stories move us. ​​ Shared stories connect us and link us to each other. ​​ They bring meaning to our lives and help make sense of our experiences. ​​ Good stories are messy, full of conflict, suspenseful and moving. ​​ They are filled with victory and defeat, struggle and triumph, fear and courage, conflict and love. ​​ They draw us into bigger and broader story lines and they make us curious about the storyteller.

 

As we think about stories, I’d like us to imagine that we’re outside, somewhere wild and open, maybe a mountaintop, maybe a sweeping meadow set against a flowing stream or rolling hillside. ​​ It’s a clear night long, long ago. ​​ We’re back at the very beginning. ​​ This is creation, and into the inky darkness above suddenly God is flinging stars into the sky. ​​ Where there was only darkness, now there is gleaming, glittering light.

 

The Creator knows each one of these lights. ​​ He knows which ones we’ll be able to see as human beings. ​​ He knows how long they will last before burning out. ​​ He also knows about one special star.

 

This star would pierce the darkness with a unique purpose. ​​ It would serve as a herald and a celestial marker. ​​ It would signal the birth of Christ, the coming of the long-promised Messiah, come to earth at last to change the course of eternity forever.

 

This star guided wise men. ​​ It lit the night for shepherds. ​​ It signaled the way of Immanuel, God with us. ​​ It announced the arrival of the bright Morning Star whose light shines brightest, calling us to see Him, drawing us to Himself to seek and find Him.

 

God’s story is ongoing. ​​ The Christmas story spans all of history from creation to Jesus born in Bethlehem to us gathered here tonight. ​​ It will continue into the future as we wait for Jesus’ return.

 

Tonight as we complete our journey to Christmas, we will be look at each of the four elements of the story. ​​ These are the four gifts that Jesus brought to us when He came from heaven to earth that Christmas. ​​ We will be lighting each Advent candle on our wreath as we talk about the four elements of hope, love, joy, and peace. ​​ We’ll also light the center candle, which is the Christ candle.

 

  • GOD

    • HOPE

        • We began Advent with a journey of hope

        • Through many years and centuries of history, hope burned for a Savior

          • The Israelites had waited for the Messiah to come

          • God had been silent for 400 years

          • They were anticipating His coming, but they didn’t know when He would arrive

          • I’m sure as they waited there were times of great hope and times when they struggled to understand why God was waiting

        • But hope was fulfilled

          • Christ has come!

          • God’s promise to send a Savior was fulfilled with Jesus’ birth, life, death, and resurrection

          • Jesus is our ongoing source of hope

        • We also live in the future hope of Jesus’ second coming

          • His second coming will complete the story of redemption

          • The story is not over yet

          • When darkness rages and deepens around us, we can hold onto hope that Christ will complete His ultimate work

        • Application

          • Not everyone is currently hopeful

          • You might be feeling like you’re hanging on by the last threads of hope

          • You may be struggling with financial stresses, relational dysfunctions, memories of loss, or commercialized expectations

          • 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, Therefore do not lose heart. ​​ Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. ​​ For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. ​​ So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. ​​ For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal (NIV)

          • The great news is that Jesus brings hope in the dark times of life

    • LOVE

        • The second week we went on a journey of love

        • This journey also spans eternity, because God is love

        • Love is part of God’s nature – it’s one of His many attributes

          • His love fueled creation

          • Love drove God to make a way to restore the relationship between Him and humanity

          • God demonstrated His love for us by sending Jesus from heaven to earth (Rom. 5:8)

        • God’s love fuels our relationship with Him – it is through His love in us that we are able to love others as He does

        • We look forward to the future when God’s love story is complete

        • Application

          • We saw on this journey that God has a lasting, conquering, and overflowing love

          • 1 John 4:9-11, 16, This is how God showed his love among us: ​​ He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. ​​ This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. ​​ Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another . . . And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.

          • We are able to love others because God first loved us

    • JOY

        • Our third journey was a journey of joy

        • Jesus’ birth was a joyful event

        • Luke 2:9-12, An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ​​ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. ​​ I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. ​​ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. ​​ This will be a sign to you: ​​ You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.

        • The good news of great joy was that Jesus, the Savior of the world, was born

        • The joy for us today is that the same message of good news is for us today – Jesus offers His salvation to us

        • While we still live in a world where joy and pain coexist, God’s promise is that our joy will be made complete in the future when Jesus comes again

        • Application

          • You may not be experiencing joy today

          • Instead you are experiencing fear (health, finances, relationships, employment, education, spiritual, government, society, etc.)

          • Those concerns may be stripping you of joy – they may be consuming your waking hours and keeping you awake at night

          • Through Jesus Christ, we can have joy in life’s journey

          • Peter told us our walk of faith with Jesus brings us a sense of joy

          • 1 Peter 1:8-9, Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

    • PEACE

        • We looked at the journey of peace this morning

        • Peace can be so elusive in our world, our families, and our own minds

        • Yet we see God’s peace throughout the story line of eternity

        • Jesus came in the past as the Prince of Peace – that is what we’re celebrating at Christmas

        • Jesus’ peace remains today through the gift of the Holy Spirit

        • When Jesus returns the second time, we will experience perfect and complete peace – ultimate peace for the world

        • Application

          • Peace may be alluding you today because of pain, struggles, anxiety, and stress

          • You may appear to be at peace outwardly, but inwardly you are a mess

          • Jesus’ life was filled with hardship

          • He knew that His disciples and us would experience hardship also

          • So, He gave them and us the gift of peace

          • John 14:27, Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. ​​ I do not give to you as the world gives. ​​ Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

          • Philippians 4:6-7, Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ​​ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

          • God’ presence provides peace

 

  • YOU

    • Throughout this journey to Christmas we have learned some very important things about Jesus:

        • Our greatest HOPE in the darkest times of life comes from having a relationship with Jesus

          • 1 John 1:5-7, This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: ​​ God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. ​​ If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. ​​ But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

        • The greatest LOVE we’ll ever feel is the love Jesus expressed when He died on the cross to take our punishment for sin

          • John 3:16, For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

        • The greatest JOY we’ll every experience comes from knowing that Jesus willingly came to save us from our sins

          • John 3:17, For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

        • We can have PEACE with God by believing in Jesus by faith

          • Romans 5:1, Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

    • Relationship with Jesus

        • Before we can have a relationship with Jesus, we have to recognize and admit our need (I am a sinner)

          • Everyone is born with a desire to have their own way

          • We reject God and His authority in our lives

          • Romans 3:23 tells us that we have all sinned

          • Romans 6:23 tells us that there is a consequence for rejecting God and it is to be separated from Him

        • We have to be willing to reject or turn from sin (repent)

        • We must believe that Jesus died for us on the cross and came alive again in three days

        • Through prayer, we have to invite Jesus Christ to come in and control our lives through the Holy Spirit

    • Perhaps you are ready to experience the hope, love, joy, and peace that is a result of being in a relationship with Jesus Christ

        • Repeat this prayer after me

        • Dear God, I have been rejecting You and Your authority in my life. ​​ I have chosen sin over a relationship with you. ​​ I am ready and willing to reject sin, turn away from it, and begin to follow You. ​​ I believe that Jesus died, was buried, and came alive again to take my punishment for sin. ​​ I choose to be at peace with You today and to be saved from my sins. ​​ I accept Your eternal life. ​​ In Jesus’ name. ​​ Amen.

​​ 

CONCLUSION

We have lit all of the Advent candles. ​​ We have completed the journey to Christmas. ​​ It’s time for us to let our light shine. ​​ As a visual representation of that, Pastor Marc Webb and our Elder Laurin Fleming will be lighting their candles from the Christ candle in the Advent wreath. ​​ They will be coming down the center aisle and lighting the first person’s candle. ​​ That first person will then allow the next person in the row to light their candle. ​​ Continue to pass the light down the aisle until all of the candles have been lit. ​​ Once all of the candles are lit, we will close our service by singing “Silent Night.”

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