Posted by Chris on April 26, 2009 under Sermons
See John 16
Click here to listen to this sermon.
This chapter reminds me of “It’s Friday, but Sunday’s a comin’!” which is the title of Tony Campolo’s well-known sermon that references a sermon by his preacher, Marshal Shepard Sr. at the Mt. Olivet Church in West Philadelphia …
It’s Friday, but Sunday’s a comin’. It was Friday, and my Jesus is dead on a tree. But that’s Friday, and Sunday’s a comin’. Friday, Mary’s crying her eyes out, the disciples are running in every direction like sheep without a shepherd. But that’s Friday, and Sunday’s a comin’ … Friday, people are saying, “Darkness is gonna rule the world, sadness is gonna be everywhere,” but they don’t know it’s only Friday, but Sunday’s a comin’. Even though this world is rotten, as it is right now, we know it’s only Friday. But Sunday’s a comin’.
The good news is that the cross in Friday is not the end. Sunday, the day of resurrection is coming. I want us to imagine the before and after of Friday and Sunday. Think of the cross – there is a Friday side or sorrow, suffering, fear and loss. And there’s a Sunday side where the meaning of the cross has been changed forever.
The cross is the ultimate turning point. An event of great shame and sacrifice that causes offense and fear, becomes the key to salvation and the door of hope. Using the language of John’s gospel, we might say that there is the view from below and the view from above. We see everything, the world, our life, church, even the cross from either the view from below or the view from above. Those who can see from above are those who’ve been born from above.
That’s important because historically, we live on the Sunday side of the cross. We could just set John 16 aside and say that it was written from the perspective of the Friday side when the disciples are very anxious about Jesus leaving and they will not see him anymore. But don’t forget, John wrote this Gospel on the Sunday side. He wrote it for born from above believer on the Sunday side. Why would he do that? He did that because even though we are historically on the Sunday side, in our experience, we all find ourselves on the Friday side of the cross from time to time.
John is preaching to believers beyond the first generation. He’s preaching to those who have heard but never seen. He’s preaching to you. He’s preaching to West-Ark. He’s preaching to the United States.
He says that he knows it is Friday and there is trouble in the world.
- When the Spirit of Fear and Worry is so thick in the air that we cannot get a breath – that’s the Friday side of the cross
- When those who hate Christ and hate the church threaten to smother those who love to talk to about Christ – that’s the Friday side of the cross
- When the Spirit of Despair grips our chest so that we feel like we can never laugh or smile – that’s the Friday side of the cross
- When poverty wins again because you just had a moment when you think you are going to get ahead and its slimy tendril pull you back under – that’s the Friday side of the cross
- When the sorrow overcomes you and you turn back to the pills, the drink, the sex, the party – anything to numb the pain of loneliness and to silence the tapes playing constantly in your head mocking you in your own voice – that’s the Friday side of the cross
That’s the Friday side of the cross. We’ve all been there. Jesus said, In this world you will have trouble (16:33). Isn’t it strange how we try to avoid admitting that. Maybe we assume that good people don’t do that. Maybe we just try and put a lid on it. We want to belong to church so that we can take heart. We want to belong to church so that others on the Friday side of the cross can lift us up to the view from above – so that we can get to the Sunday side. We want to hold someone’s hand while we breathe through the pain like that woman in childbirth. We know that sorrow will turn to joy.
But Jesus is warning us that sometimes the trouble comes not from the world, but from inside the church. When the church is on the Friday side of the cross looking at the cross from below, there will be real sorrow.
Jesus told his disciples to get ready for the time when they would be cast out of the synagogue. He told them to even prepared for the fact that sincere but mistaken people would consider it a righteous act to kill believers in Jesus. This warning never expired. It applied directly to the generation of believers who worshipped in the synagogue with their Jewish brothers and sisters. They would experience sorrow and suffering from those who claimed to worship the God.
But the warning never expired. Through the ages and even in our own day we experience sorrow from within the church. The church that claims to fight and struggle in God’s name, but they cannot see the cross from above. They cannot leave Friday and get to Sunday.
- In 1907, a Brother Harris in the Bellwood, TN Church of Christ published a letter in the Gospel Advocate. He was complaining to E.A. Elam (a member in his own congregation) because the Elam’s had adopted a child who just happened to be black. Harris asked Elam to send the girl to a different congregation so that there would be peace in the congregation. He concludes one of his letters, “I tried to write this in the spirit of Christ, I know; for I hate to see strife in the church. We would like everything to be run nicely and in order.” Brother Harris was stuck on the Friday side of the cross – he only knew sorrow and worry, he had no hope. I hope he figured out that Sunday was coming to Bellwood. Read more through this link.
- Changing the Locks Story
- A few years ago I visited with a woman named Darlene who was dying of cancer. Some of the members of our congregation had befriended her but she had questions and wanted to talk to the minister. She told me about her experience of Friday below the cross. Not only was her sorrow for the cancer and the pain, she was also concerned about her soul. She was afraid that God did not hear her prayers. Why? I wondered. It was because Darlene had grown up with well-meaning but misinformed people who claimed to follow God. According to them, one had to pray with tongues or with the spirit with exuberance – and Darlene just couldn’t do that. All she knew how to pray was the Lord’s Prayer. Those people who prayed so well and sincerely wanted to speak to God had cast Darlene out. They left her on the Friday side of the cross, but Darlene started talking to her Father and found out that Sunday is coming.
- Disfellowshiping the Divorced Story – They realized that they could honor God’s ways, but did not have to add the shame and sorrow of exclusion to the sorrow of broken marriage. They decided to take heart and overcome the world.
Inside the church and outside the church we are looking for the quick fixes that will make the sorrow go away. We want the pill, the book, the verse, the plan, the cash, the bill or the amendment that will make it all go away. We want to jump from Friday straight into Sunday. Jesus doesn’t say there will be a quick fix. He says that we will see him again, not right away, but in a little while.
Jesus says that only in him can we have peace. Only in him can sorrow turn to joy. When the world cranks up its hate and fear, When the church seems to be acting like the world , When we find ourselves standing below the cross on Friday – Jesus calls to us from Sunday and says – “Take heart, I have overcome the world!”
Posted by Chris on April 19, 2009 under Sermons
1 Samuel 3
- Samuel listens to God
– Samuel = “God has heard”
- Time of crisis – No word from God
- Eli’s house will not endure
- Samuel becomes a prophet
Shifts in Succession
The Lost Ark – chapters 4, 5, 6
- The loss of the Ark means that God is not with Israel
- It also suggests that there is a power greater than Israel
- Who can rescue God? God.
- This is similar to the Exodus (gold tribute) – Philistines learned Pharaoh’s lesson.
- Cows who would not be separated from calves
- 70 Israelites killed – Israel is not God’s keeper.
- This is the gospel also – Christ descended and ascended
1 Samuel 7
- Restoration of Israel
– Spiritual Revival (fasting, sacrifice)
– Get rid of false gods
– Overcome Philistia (political threat)
– Time of peace
- Samuel becomes a judge
Posted by Chris on under Sermons
Read John 15:1-17.
The Connection: Vine and Branches
- Jesus at the end of John 14 said, “Let’s get going.”
- Jesus is the Way to the Father. His life has a purpose and we are called to follow.
- The branches are connected to the vine
Notice that Jesus has an agenda.
- Agenda is purpose and mission
- Jesus is risen and that means that Jesus is active. He is not the Jesus who died and went to heaven.
- If we are the branches and remain in him then we must follow him as he moves forward with his activity.
We are friends. We are not servants.
- Servants do not ask questions. They do not know their master’s business. Friends are on the inside.
- Friendship is relationship. A connection like vine and branches.
- Friends respond to another friend out of relationship, not simply in terms of obligation or reward.
- Good friends share their hearts.
- Good friends can finish each others sentences.
- Good friends draw together even when it is difficult to be friends, not just when its easy.
- Good friends put their lives on the line – not just for ultimate sacrifice, but for daily sacrifice.
- We are expected to act like Jesus’ friends. We are expected to be friends.
Jesus has a direction/agenda + We are his friends
- So what is his agenda?
- What have we seen Jesus doing?
- Healing the sick,
- giving sight to the blind,
- feeding the hungry,
- reaching out to the outcast
- forgiving the sinful,
- restoring people to community,
- raising the dead.
- And Jesus wasn’t afraid to cross longstanding boundaries to do all of this. He went into Samaria, he forgave a woman caught in adultery, he held accountable the scribes and teachers and many of them were offended because it didn’t fit their expectations.
- To sum it up, the agenda is love. A risky, world-changing, life-changing love. Love that embodies the spirit of God
Bearing Fruit
- We are expected to bear fruit. Jesus chose us so that we would bear fruit. Vine and branches …
- We can do nothing apart from Christ, so we must remain in him.
- Considering the sort of agenda that Jesus has in this world, what sort of fruit are we to bear? It would be evidence of being connected to Jesus of course.
- Bearing Fruit means putting Jesus’ teaching into practice. When we bear fruit we show that we are Jesus’ disciples – that means follower, learner.
- If we want to remain in his love then we will obey his commands – but not like servants. We obey like friends who regard these commands as teachings for life. Who follow because we know Jesus and are known by Jesus.
- Jesus sums up his teaching with a single command: Love one another.
- And he doesn’t mean a good feeling, he means the sort of relationship and action that bears fruit. Doing what Jesus did in our life and our world.
- And he isn’t exclusive about it. It isn’t limited to “members” or the inner circle.
- We might look at the works of Jesus and disconnect ourselves from the miraculous. But Jesus said that if trust in him then we will be able to do even greater things.
- The point of the miracle stories is love – not power.
- The multiplying of loaves and fishes is a means to an end and the end is compassion for those who are hungry.
- Restoring sight to the blind man was all about glorifying God.
- Raising Lazarus from the dead was all about the power of the resurrection life that is rooted.
- Let’s think about what that means …
- If you have people who work for you and you treat them more than fairly, with respect and love – that’s bearing fruit
- If you are a father or mother and you share your faith with your children by having the sort of character and patience that they respect – that’s bearing fruit
- If you have an opportunity to forgive someone who has done you wrong and you really do so – that’s bearing fruit
- If you treat a friend, a co-worker, a classmate with respect rather than ridicule (to their face or behind their back) – then that’s obeying Jesus. That’s bearing fruit.
- If you visit the house of an elderly neighbor and cast out worry or loneliness – that’s bearing fruit.
- If you keep your heart pure and in doing so keep your covenant to your wife or your parents – that’s bearing fruit
- If you make contact with someone you’ve wronged or insulted and re-establish a relationship – that’s bearing fruit.
- If you show understanding and refuse to jump to anger (even when it’s a church matter) – that’s bearing fruit
So what?
- [Apple Tree story]
- Being healthy = bearing fruit.
- If we are Jesus’ friends, then we will bear fruit.
- If we do not bear fruit, then we are not acting like his friends.
- If we don’t follow … That is if we don’t bear fruit … Then we are cut off.
- Even if we do bear fruit then we are pruned. That’s tough, but the process leads to bearing more fruit.
- But if we aren’t bearing fruit then we are cut off from the branch.
Posted by Chris on under Sermons
“Children’s Sermon”
- Have the children pick up the cards with words. Each has an opposite. Let them find their opposite and pair up.
- John’s gospel is a gospel of opposites. Explain some of them.
- One of these is important for today and every day as we strive to be a “resurrection people”: Alive and Dead. Resurrection people live life abundantly. Jesus is alive, not dead.
- Even though the gospel is about opposites, sometimes God creates a third way that is more than just a simple opposite. [Bring out the RISEN card.]
- Here’s a third option that we would not normally consider. Here is a way that is only God’s Way. Jesus is risen, never to die again. That goes beyond simply being alive.
Read John 14.
Jesus went away, but he is coming back. In the meantime, he has given us another encourager. The first one was Jesus. The second is the Holy Spirit.
- The Spirit enables us to see Jesus. 14:19 – Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Since I live, you also will live.
- This is a vision rooted in faith, not information or sensory input.
- We believe that Christ is alive. So, he is with us.
- We become aware of the presence and the activity of the Risen Jesus.
- Phillip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.”
- Jesus replied, “How long have I been with you – don’t you know me by now?”
- Do we really know Jesus? Or do we just know about him? If we just know about him, then we cannot see him.
“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!” – 14:6-7
- The Spirit teaches us to hear what Jesus taught and to do it.
- This goes back to his mother Mary who told those servants to “do whatever He says.”
- Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them. Anyone who doesn’t love me will not obey me. And remember, my words are not my own. What I am telling you is from the Father who sent me. I am telling you these things now while I am still with you. But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative-that is, the Holy Spirit-he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. – 14:23-26
- The Spirit encourages us to do what Jesus does. To do what he did. We believe what Jesus taught — but more than that, we do what Jesus taught us. We believe it and we put it into action.
- “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it! – 14:12-14
- Jesus is inviting us to do greater things than even he did on earth. He isn’t intimidated by that – his message is that since he has returned to the Father, there is a greater connection than ever between heaven and earth.
- Jesus is beyond space and time, he is beyond life and death and through the spirit he would do great works through us – right here and now.
- I want to show you a video that we’ve prepared that takes the words of a song called “God of This City” and makes it real for us. Understand that God can and will work through us right here and now. In the words of the song … For greater things have yet to come, And greater things are still to be done, In this city
- SHOW VIDEO
- The Spirit teaches us everything and reminds us of everything that Jesus told us.
- We live in a world that is sometimes hostile to the Spirit. We could get troubled and afraid, or we could accept the peace of mind and peace of heart that is the gift of Christ (v. 27)
- (vv. 30-31) “I don’t have much more time to talk to you, because the ruler of this world approaches. He has no power over me, but I will do what the Father requires of me, so that the world will know that I love the Father. Come, let’s be going.
Let’s get going. . . .
Posted by Chris on March 22, 2009 under Sermons
Books of Samuel
Four Stories
Transition
- Politics – Judges, Prophets, Kings
- Social – Rural, Tribal, Urban
- Technology – Weaponry, Architecture
- Wealth – Accumulating Land, Trade
- Threats – Other Nations
God’s Story
- God is always present in the stories. He is active and present in history.
- God is revealed to and through his servants and leaders.
- God has a personality – covenant, relationship, compassion, intent.
Israel is tribal. They are shifting into a kingdom. 1 and 2 Samuel describe the transition that takes place between Judges and 1 Kings.
Hannah
- Sarah, Elizabeth
- Barren woman who devotes herself to God
- Mary sings her song (Luke 1)
The country is a mess. The culture is a mess. The heroic past events of the exodus, Sinai, the wandering and the conquest under Joshua are almost forgotten. Things have collapsed in the Promised Land.
Dark Days when everyone does what seems right in their own eyes.
Ruth
- Similar Time
- Tough situation
- Great-Grandmother of King David
Posted by Chris on under Sermons
Read John 11:1-33, 34-44, 45.
The Message from Bethany:
Lazarus, brother of Mary and Martha, is sick. The sisters send for Jesus. They know he has the power to heal. They know about the crippled man and the blind man. If Jesus will come there, then he can heal Lazarus. They believe it.
Jesus has escaped Jerusalem where a mob attempted to stone him for blasphemy. Now he is working on the other side of the Jordan where the climate is less heated. Jesus receives the message about Lazarus. He says: “This will not end in death. This is happening for the glory of God.” There is no rush to action. Jesus waits for two days.
His disciples probably assume that this is caution and discretion. Jesus is a marked man in Judea, so it is best that he stay away. After all, Bethany is only a few miles from Jerusalem. Jesus is playing it safe, they think.
That changes when Jesus says, “Let’s go to Judea.” Jesus explains that there’s daylight and that’s when it’s safe. [v. 14-15] – Lazarus is dead. And for your sakes, I’m glad I wasn’t there, for now you will really believe.
Do they really believe? Thomas seems to think they are marching off to their deaths.
The Return to Bethany:
Martha hears that Jesus is coming and she meets him outside the village. “If you had been here my brother would not have died!”
Jesus says, “Your brother will rise again! I am the resurrection! He who believes in me will live even though he dies, and whoever believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?“
Martha knows this and affirms her belief in the resurrection at the last day. Martha believes that Jesus is the Christ. Does she believe the connection between the Christ and the Resurrection?
Mary tells Jesus the same thing “”If you had been here my brother would not have died!” She believes it. Doesn’t she?
They believe that Jesus could have saved Lazarus from death. “Could Have.”
They say they believe Jesus is the Christ. They say they believe in the resurrection. Yet, they are clothed in black and have gathered everyone to mourn and wail. They are still weeping. Do they really believe?
Jesus is “deeply moved in the spirit and troubled.” [What does this mean?] It seems like he is angry and upset. Why would he be angry?
- He is irritated with those who say they believe, but their belief hasn’t made any difference.
- Jesus sees a people more consumed with being safe and being on time. “Should we really go back there? They want to kill us?” So ask the disciples. “If you had been here …,” say Mary and Martha.
- He hears the “comforters” talking: “Oh see how he loved him.” “Oh, he opened the eyes of the blind man, surely he could have kept this man from dying.” They are consumed with sentimentality and doubt – but not true belief.
When Jesus instructs them to move the stone, Martha interrupts — she is so concerned about details and decorum, “Lord he’s been in there four days and the stench …”
Martha and Mary delivered their “if” statement to Jesus. Now he delivers his: “Didn’t I tell you that you would see the glory of God, if you believed?”
Jesus said this wouldn’t end in death, so Lazarus’ death is not the end of the story. What happens next is the part where God is glorified. On one level the challenge is between life and death. On another level it is between “If only you had” and “If you believe.”
It begins with Jesus praying. I always heard that we should pray to God and not make commentary to each other when we pray. Jesus must have missed that lesson. He preaches it plain in his prayer and he intends everyone to eavesdrop [v. 41-42] … “Father, thank you for hearing me. You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me.”
There it is – that they will believe. Do they believe? If they did, then why the could have’s, the funeral clothes, and the mourners?
Jesus shouts, “Lazarus, come out here!” And Lazarus is revived. He isn’t carried out and given CPR. He walks out on his own wrapped up in his funeral clothes. Jesus has one more command, “Unwrap him and let him go!” You can imagine that Jesus said this in such a way that Lazarus wasn’t the only one set free from the trappings of death.
Some of those who saw this believed. They really believed. But some didn’t. They couldn’t deny what they saw, but belief didn’t change anything. They reported it to the Pharisees and they discussed it. Rather than believe in life, they plotted and planned death. Now who’s wrapped up in death?
Do We Believe? Do We Really Believe?
Do we believe? Do we believe in life? Do we believe that Jesus gives us life – even now? Do we believe he is the Christ? Do we believe in the resurrection? Do we believe in the connection between the Christ and the resurrection?
If we say we do, then why do we get caught up in the trappings of death? Why do we wrap ourselves and our church up in the colors of death and mourning?
- I’m not asking why we have funerals. That’s normal. Grief is to be expected.
- Rather, I want to know why we too often lack faith in Jesus’ power. Why do we limit the Christ with “could have’s” and choose to be cautious rather than trusting?
The spiritual garb of death comes in colors such as grief, guilt, regret, disbelief. When we wear this garb we fail to see that the daylight of God shines even in the dark evening of death. He is not limited; there is no place beyond his authority – not even the finality of death.
When we come together and worship do we really believe that Jesus can revive us? Do we really believe that he can order us to be unwrapped and let go. I think some people were invested in Lazarus’ funeral that day. They had planned a funeral and Jesus ruined it.
Sometimes we are invested in ways of death and decline. Church literature and church talk right now weeps and wails over the loss of the church in the society. We wonder if Jesus will get here in time to save the church as we know it. We are not like we used to be. We lament and wail and weep.
We get anxious and start worrying. Like Mary and Martha we are concerned about the stench of death and the concerns of the neighbors. Like the disciples, we work hard to protect and preserve our own expectations.
What would Jesus do? What would Jesus do if we walked into our midst and found us worrying and wailing because our expectation and dreams have died? What would Jesus do is he found us nervously worrying because the church seems to be bringing in people who don’t look like us and live like us? What would Jesus do if he found us wailing on each other because we are worried that our congregation is going to die and the great ones of the past have died? What would Jesus do if he found us wailing and lamenting because we are wasting away and we don’t feel like we are as great as we were back in the day?
What would Jesus do? I think he would be “deeply moved in the spirit and troubled.” He would draw us up straight and ask us “Do you believe?” Or do we believe it is too late to matter.
I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels-a plentiful harvest of new lives. Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity.
Posted by Chris on March 15, 2009 under Sermons
bounded set
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centered set
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see morning sermon for discussion of illustrations
Jew-Gentile Dilemma
- How do Jews and Gentiles maintain unity when there is real cultural offense that takes place?
- Dietary laws
- Sabbaths/pagan holidays
Romans 14
- Who are the weak and strong?
- What is the real problem?
- What does Paul instruct [see vs. 13, 19]?
Weak and Strong
| Weak |
Strong |
“Not convinced in
their own minds”
(14:5) |
“Convinced in
their own minds” |
Attitude of
judgment and
condemnation
(14:3) |
Attitude of scorn
and contempt
(14:3) |
The weak in faith have no self-confidence. They depend on the external boundaries and the strict observance of rules. They are not differentiated from others so that the actions of others threatens their own faith. They depend on precedent.
The strong are more flexible and creative.
The Real Problem
- Quarreling and prejudice.
- Disagreement without respect and forbearance.
- Refusal to see how God has accepted others.
- Presuming to judge for God.
Who are you to judge another man’s servant? It is inappropriate. James 4:11-12, Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you-who are you to judge your neighbor?
The Stumbling Block (14:13)
- Causing another to act contrary to his/her conscience is the stumbling block
- The strong limit the practice of their convictions for the sake of weak
There’s a difference.
Meaning for Us
- Do not take advantage of being “the weak.”
- Weak not allowed to judge others
- Scandal is real not imagined – not borrowed trouble
- Not about “what others will think”
Paul would never imagine a situation in which someone actually took advantage of being the weaker party. No one would admit to that. Whenever we can articulate our weakness to a situation we have actually proven ourselves strong enough to be convinced in our own mind. There’s a difference between making my brother stumble and making my brother grumble.
It is not right to assume that those who are further right are okay and those who diverge from a more conservative stance are okay. We can always fellowship to the right is not a sound principle. It is based on the notion that the more exclusionary and limiting that you are, the more righteous you are. That’s Pharisaical game-playing.
We cannot avoid growth and fellowship because of imagined or hypothetical stumbling blocks. There is no end to imaging the problem of appearances and what others think. Jesus encountered the problem of perceptions – Matthew 11
Building Up or Tearing Down
Romans 15:1-13
- The strong should strive to be righteous and not just right
- They should help the weak grow stronger
- Christ is the model of behavior for all
– Did not please himself
– Accepted you
Romans 16:25-27
All of our praise rises to the One who is strong enough to make you strong, exactly as preached in Jesus Christ, precisely as revealed in the mystery kept secret for so long but now an open book through the prophetic Scriptures. All the nations of the world can now know the truth and be brought into obedient belief, carrying out the orders of God, who got all this started, down to the very last letter.
All our praise is focused through Jesus on this incomparably wise God! Amen!
Posted by Chris on under Sermons
Read John 10:1-18.
Maybe its time that Jesus drew some firm lines. One could say that he’s been sort of soft with this talk of coming to save rather than condemn. At first it seems like this is a teaching that defines who’s on the inside and who’s on the outside. Isn’t there some point when we must define “us” against “them”? Isn’t there a point when we say that you are either with us or against us?
1) What’s this talk of other sheep about?
At first it seems that Jesus is talking about leading his sheep out and separating them out. But then he seems to switch his emphasis and say that he’s going to gather up all these other sheep that we don’t even know about and we’ll all be one.
Is Jesus saying that there are many paths to God?
Has Jesus gone all fuzzy and mushy?
It’s sort of alarming to hear about other sheep. Sometimes it would be nice to really be the only sinner that Jesus died for, because then I wouldn’t have to put up with all those other sinners!
Just when we think we’ve sorted out our own flock, Jesus tells us there are more out there. That’s like a really big family reunion: Sometimes, it’s tough enough to go there and deal with the relatives you know you have. But then you have to go and deal with some you’ve never met!
Here’s one of the more challenging aspects of following Jesus: He’s always flocking his people together. There’s this nice idea that we can just follow Jesus in our hearts and have a one-on-one personal relationship. Love Jesus, forget the church. After all, Jesus is fine, but church? Those are the others and that’s where we have the problem.
As long as Jesus is going to be drawing all these other sheep in, someone needs to be around to sort them out and tag them, right. Let’s be sure he hasn’t put some sheep in the wrong pen after all. Let’s be sure a goat hasn’t snuck in. We can do that for Jesus right?
No. We cannot. Because Jesus doesn’t want any hired hands. The hired hand isn’t the same as the shepherd. Hired hands are not committed to sheep. They are committed to their own connection to a flock. And when that connection is a threat, they leave it all behind.
Jesus is perfectly capable of gathering his flock and owning each and every sheep. We are not hired hands. We are just sheep.
But who “manages” this flock? This probably isn’t the right question to ask. But as they say, Jesus is the Answer.
2) Gate and shepherd. Center and circumference. Something very important is being said by Jesus that should determine how we understand ourselves as church. How we should understand the boundaries and limits of our fellowship. It is a teaching that plainly indicates that Jesus is both the center and the circumference of our flock …
In lesson on shepherding Jesus makes two simple, but extremely important statements:
- I am the gate.
- I am the Good Shepherd.
3) Centered Set and Bounded Set
The Bounded Set is a fenced off group. We can draw a boundary and clearly define who’s in and who’s out. This works. But it begs the question: Who draws the line and who determines who is inside the fence and outside the fence?
- We sometimes think of church and membership this way. With congregational membership it’s easy enough. But when we talk about being a member of the body of Christ, then that becomes a much more intimidating task. Are any of us truly qualified to draw that boundary definitively? Probably not if we’re honest. There will always be some cases that test us.
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The Centered Set is another way of understanding how we group and organize. Think of how animals in the wild or in the free range gather around a watering hole. It’s a source of life. Your cattle and sheep might gather there, but so do other little animals. A flock and herd form as sheep move closer to the center. The center is a source of life. All these animals gathering together haven’t been caught and caged, they are coming together for a common purpose – water and life.
- Is it possible to have any limits then? Is there a point at which a sheep or goat just isn’t in the set? Sure. But in Jesus’ language, he says that the same center sets the boundary. Shepherd and Gate
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The Shepherd – Jesus is saying that he is the shepherd. His sheep know his voice. The sheep know Jesus’ voice. Those who recognize the truth and salvation in Jesus’ word are drawn to him. They follow. We follow. [Lynn Anderson once described how sheep follow their shepherd. He described the scene of three shepherds coming over a hill. The three parted company and went in different directions. They each called for their sheep and the sheep went in the direction of the call of their shepherd.]
The Gate – We cannot tell the shepherd how to enter thru the gate, or how to open the gate. He is messiah and the criteria that define messiah. We cannot define the role of messiah and then fit Jesus into it.
Jesus is the entry to life and salvation. Jesus is not saying that we get to draw the boundary. He is the gate, not us! We are sheep, not gatekeepers.
Exclusive and Inclusive – Jesus is the only way, but it is a way that is open to all. Jesus stands at the gate. And if you want to get to sin and death, Jesus is standing in the way.
So how do we know him? The sheep know his voice.
The question is not “Who is with us?” The first question is “Are we with Jesus?”
- Luke 9:49-50 – “Master,” said John, “we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we tried to stop him, because he is not one of us.” – “Do not stop him,” Jesus said, “for whoever is not against you is for you.”
- Luke 11:23 – He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me, scatters.
Jesus knows his sheep. We can spend a lot of time trying to figure out which sheep are Jesus’ sheep. Or, we can just follow Jesus voice and those heading in the same direction to the source of life we can safely assume are his sheep. The Good Shepherd knows his sheep. Do you know the Good Shepherd? Are you following his voice?
The good shepherd knows his sheep. He knows their name. We are not forgotten overlooked or missed.
God came down and dwelled amongst us smelly sheep. He’s not a hired hand who’s paid to take care of us. He’s the Good Shepherd who paid to save us.
The question is, are you in Christ? Are you following the voice of the shepherd? Are we?
1 Corinthians 8:2-3 … The one who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know. But the one who loves God is known by God.
Posted by Chris on March 8, 2009 under Sermons
Romans 12
- Serving God/gifts (12:1-8)
- Practicing love within the church (12:9-13)
- Practicing love toward those who persecute the church (12:14-21)
Romans 13
- Be subject to the authorities
- Pay tribute and honor
- Love your neighbor
- Love is fulfillment of the law
POLITICAL CHANGE
- Rome in the mid-50’s
– A young and ambitious leader
– October 13, 54
– Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus
– Nero
Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (15 December 37 – 9 June 68), born Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus, also called Nero Claudius Caesar Drusus Germanicus, was the fifth and final Roman emperor of the Julio-Claudian dynasty. Nero was adopted by his great uncle Claudius to become heir to the throne. As Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, he succeeded to the throne on 13 October, 54, following Claudius’ death.
Nero ruled from 54 to 68, focusing much of his attention on diplomacy, trade, and increasing the cultural capital of the empire. He ordered the building of theatres and promoted athletic games. His reign included a successful war and negotiated peace with the Parthian Empire (58-63), the suppression of the British revolt (60-61) and improving relations with Greece. The First Roman-Jewish War (66-70) started during his reign. In 68 a military coup drove Nero from the throne. Facing execution, he committed suicide.
There are few surviving sources on Caligula’s reign, and although he is described as a noble and moderate ruler during the first two years of his rule, after this the sources focus upon his cruelty, extravagance, and sexual perversity, presenting him as an insane tyrant. While the reliability of these sources has been difficult to assess, what is known is that during his brief reign, Caligula worked to increase the authority of the Principate, but struggled to maintain his position in the face of several conspiracies to overthrow him. He focused much of his attention on ambitious construction projects, annexed Mauretania, and campaigned against Britain, but was unable to conquer it.
On 24 January 41, Caligula was assassinated as the result of a conspiracy involving members of his own bodyguard and the Roman Senate. The conspirators’ attempt to use the opportunity to restore the Roman Republic was thwarted, as the same day the Praetorian Guard declared Caligula’s uncle Claudius emperor in his place.
Despite his lack of political experience, Claudius proved to be an able administrator and a great builder of public works. His reign saw an expansion of the empire, including the conquest of Britain. He took a personal interest in the law, presided at public trials, and issued up to twenty edicts a day; however, he was seen as vulnerable throughout his rule, particularly by the nobility. Claudius was constantly forced to shore up his position-resulting in the deaths of many senators. Friend of Herod Agrippa …
Why So Hopeful?
- Caligula claimed he was a god and put his statue in the Jerusalem Temple
- Claudius had expelled Jews from Rome (Acts 18)
- Only 16, Nero was tutored and advised by sensible men
Nero became emperor at 16, the youngest emperor up until that time. Ancient historians describe Nero’s early reign as being strongly influenced by his mother Agrippina, his tutor Lucius Annaeus Seneca, and the Praetorian Prefect Sextus Afranius Burrus, especially in the first year. Other tutors were less often mentioned, such as Alexander of Aegae.
Very early in Nero’s rule, problems arose from competition for influence between Agrippina and Nero’s two main advisers, Seneca and Burrus.
In 54, Agrippina tried to sit down next to Nero while he met with an Armenian envoy, but Seneca stopped her and prevented a scandalous scene.
In 49 AD, Claudius’ new wife Agrippina had Seneca recalled to Rome to tutor her son, then 12 years old, who was to become the emperor Nero. On Claudius’ death in 54 AD, Agrippina secured the recognition of Nero as emperor over Claudius’ son, Britannicus.
From 54 – 62 AD, Seneca acted as Nero’s advisor, together with the praetorian prefect Sextus Afranius Burrus. Seneca’s influence was said to be especially strong in the first year. Many historians consider Nero’s early rule with Seneca and Burrus to be quite competent. Over time, Seneca and Burrus lost their influence over Nero. In 59 AD they had to reluctantly agree to Agrippina’s murder, and afterwards Seneca wrote a dishonest exculpation of Nero to the Senate. With the death of Burrus in 62 AD and accusations of embezzlement, Seneca retired and devoted his time to more study and writing.
Jew and Gentile in Rome
- Jewish Christians returning from exile
- Possible tensions
- Jew and Gentile heritage linked (Romans 9-11)
- Love and the mind of Christ (Romans 12:1-2)
Paul’s Worldview
Paul – Ancients
- Social Order is natural
- It does not change
- It is divinely instituted
- Can be good or bad
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Moderns – Us
- Social Order is reasonable
- It is changeable
- It answers to the governed
- Should be good
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Politics Now and Then
Ancients
- Submission and not Rebellion
- Ruler is God’s Servant
- Empire
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Us
- Our nation is founded on civil dissent
- Godly critique of rulers
- Nations
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Principles vs Rules
- Respect and Honor
- Righteousness in Civic Affairs
- Judgment and Future
Paul is giving us a positive principle to guide us. Instead of worrying about what not to do, we can focus on what we should do. Replace the watchdog mentality with an inspirational mentality. We can kill the weeds or we can make the grass grow.