Sunday Morning – Page 36 – Idaville Church

God’s Plan From Beginning to End

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

- 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.

February 25, 2018/by Office

G.R.O.W. Campaign Devotional 4

GROW Campaign 1 Kings, Luke Sunday Morning Sherl Shaffer Faith, Growth

February 25, 2018/by Office

God’s Provision

Special Speaker 1 Kings Sunday Morning Jason Stansbury Provides, Rest

February 18, 2018/by Office

G.R.O.W. Campaign Devotional 3

GROW Campaign Joshua Sunday Morning Marc Webb Faith, God's Plan, Growth

February 18, 2018/by Office

G.R.O.W. Campaign Devotional 2

GROW Campaign Joshua, Psalm Sunday Morning Laurin Fleming Capital Campaign, Faith, Growth

February 11, 2018/by Office

G.R.O.W. Campaign Devotional 1

GROW Campaign Numbers Sunday Morning Stuart Johns Capital Campaign, Faith, Growth

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)

February 4, 2018/by Office

Treasuring Church Membership

I Am A Church Member Matthew Sunday Morning Stuart Johns Church, Love, Membership

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.

February 4, 2018/by Office

Modeling Church Members

I Am A Church Member Ephesians Sunday Morning Stuart Johns Love, Membership, Modeling

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.

January 28, 2018/by Office

Praying Church Members

I Am A Church Member 1 Timothy Sunday Morning Stuart Johns Church, Membership, Prayer

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

January 21, 2018/by Office

Serving Church Members

I Am A Church Member Philippians Sunday Morning Stuart Johns Membership, Sacrifice, Service

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.

January 14, 2018/by Office

Wednesdays
7:00 pm	Nursery
7:00 pm	Children’s Bible Club
7:00 pm	Youth Bible study
7:00 pm	Worship, Praise, and Prayer
Sunday Morning
9:00 am	Sunday School
10:15 am	Worship Service

God’s Plan From Beginning to End

G.R.O.W. Campaign Devotional 4

God’s Provision

G.R.O.W. Campaign Devotional 3

G.R.O.W. Campaign Devotional 2

G.R.O.W. Campaign Devotional 1

Treasuring Church Membership

Modeling Church Members

Praying Church Members

Serving Church Members

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