Tipi improbabili

Posted by David on December 31, 1999 under Bulletin Articles

L’incredibile Gesù poteva guardare una persona e vedere un inimmaginabile potenziale, che essa stessa non sapeva d’avere. Lui guardava un taciturno e impetuoso Pietro e vedeva una roccia capace di aprire le porte del regno eterno di Dio. Guardava M. Maddalena impossessata dal demonio e vedeva una donna capace d’incredibile amore e devozione. Guardava un assassino Saulo di Tarso e vedeva un magnifico portavoce il cui messaggio poteva riportare sulla giusta strada, la storia religiosa. Guardava una donna Samaritana adultera e vedeva una persona che avrebbe bevuto l’acqua viva e che avrebbe portato altre persone alla fontana. Gesù vedeva le cose più improbabili, nelle persone più improbabili.

In dodici uomini ha visto il (mezzo) per informare il mondo circa la crocifissione e la resurrezione del figlio di Dio. E pensate che tipi “improbabili” c’erano tra loro: un disprezzato collettore di tasse, un fanatico politico/religioso e gli altri o facevano i pescatori o i contadini, erano uomini semplici. La visione di Gesù per le persone non nasceva dunque dalle loro eccezionali doti, dai loro unici talenti o dalla loro innata saggezza. Raramente erano persone con un’eccellente educazione, esperienza o che avevano viaggiato molto. In ogni caso Gesù ha tratto la Sua potenziale visione da un solo fattore la loro capacità di confidare in Dio. Nessuna di queste persone doveva necessariamente diventare ciò che Gesù aveva visto. Erano liberi di continuare ad essere pescatori, indemoniati, adulteri, collettori di tasse, persecutori, e fanatici, invece sono stati capaci di trasformarsi in attrezzi potenti nelle mani di Dio. Rispondendo all’amore e alla grazia, accettando il perdono e volendo vivere per uno scopo eterno, sono diventati esattamente quello che Gesù aveva intravisto in loro. Probabilmente nessuno di loro aveva compreso in che modo efficace e potente Dio li stava usando.

Quando i capi della chiesa di Gerusalemme si rivolsero a Pietro per la predicazione ai gentili, quando Paolo in prigione spingeva Timoteo a continuare il suo ministero, quando gli apostoli subivano persecuzioni che rallentavano il loro lavoro e assottigliavano le loro fila, non avevano capito che Dio avrebbe usato il loro esempio ed il loro messaggio duemila anni dopo. Gesù vede il nostro potenziale esattamente e chiaramente come vedeva il loro. Questo potenziale non poggia sulle nostre incredibili qualità, talenti o saggezza, poggia sulla nostra buona volontà di credere in Dio e di vivere per qualcosa che va oltre del qui e adesso. Se tu credi nella visione di Gesù, se tu confidi nel suo potere di donarti la vita eterna, Gesù userà la tua vita in modi che vanno oltre l’immaginabile, ma il potere poggerà su Gesù non su di te.

Where Is The Joy?

Posted by David on December 26, 1999 under Sermons

There are a thousand stories and jokes that end with the punch line, “Are we having fun yet?” You probably know at least one. Each of those stories, each of those jokes have an unsaid, obvious answer: “No, we are not having fun!” The story or the joke is funny because no one could have fun in the situation. The story or joke is funny because the people got into the situation trying to have fun.

Suppose this morning each of us made a list of things that a person should experience because he or she was a Christian. What would you put on your list? Forgiveness? Salvation? Mercy? Grace? Prayer? Worship? Communion? Fellowship? Peace? Would you put anything else on your list?

How many of you would put joy or happiness on your list?

If God made that list, would He put joy on it? If God listed those experiences in their order of occurrence, where would joy appear? At the top? In the middle? On the bottom?

Why do people marry?
1. “Excuse me, David. You sound like a two-year-old asking questions. Where in the world does that question come from? Don’t you know anything about sermons?”
  1. “You start out with a punch line, ‘Are we having fun yet?'”
  2. “Then you ask if us to think about the things a person experiences by being a Christian.”
  3. “And now you ask us why do people marry.”
  4. “Don’t you understand that a sermon is at least supposed to fit together?”
2. I promise you that I will fit it all together if you will follow me for a few minutes.
3. I ask you again, “Why do people marry?”
  1. “Some don’t.”
    1. Very, very true.
    2. In our culture, an increasing number of adults choose not to marry.
    3. The fact that a lot of adults choose not to marry makes the answer to that question even more important.
  2. “Well, the people who marry decide to marry because they are in love.”
    1. That does not tell me enough.
    2. In fact, the way our culture uses the word love, it does not tell me anything.
  3. When you say that people marry for love, what do you mean?
    1. “If they marry for love, they marry with love’s expectations.”
    2. “Love expects to be happy, to be appreciated, to be accepted, to receive kindness, to receive thoughtfulness, to be encouraged, to be forgiven, and to be understood.”
    3. “People marry for love, and love has those expectations.”
  4. If you have good friends getting married, what do you say to them?
    1. Do you say, “You are making a dangerous commitment!”
    2. Do you say, “I hope it works out, but it probably will not.”
    3. Do you ask, “Have you thought about all the things that can go wrong?”
    4. Do you say, “I know what you expect, but you need to realize it will not happen.”
    5. Do you tell them, “Love is great! Marriage is wonderful! You will be so glad that you married!”
  5. What do you tell those friends that they can experience? What should they expect?
    1. Should they understand from the beginning that marriage basically is a wonderful joy or a heavy burden?
    2. If your friends honestly examined your marriage, would they conclude that marriage is a wonderful joy or a great burden?
    3. If people carefully examined your marriage before they married, would they marry?
    4. If people honestly examined our marriages instead of listening to our words, what would they conclude about marriage?
  6. If people can examine the marriages of Christians and see more marriages without joy than marriages with joy, something is basically wrong. Healthy marriage produces joy.
Does Christianity naturally produce joy? Should joy be a basic reality in a Christian’s life?
1. Instead of speculating about this, let’s listen to scripture.
  1. When Jesus entered this world as a human infant, this is heaven’s testimony:
    Luke 2:8-14 In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”
  2. The last night of Jesus’ life on earth, he tried to comfort his disciples with this statement:
    John 16:20 Truly, truly, I say to you, that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will grieve, but your grief will be turned into joy.
  3. Acts 2 tells us about the behavior of those first believers who were baptized because they understood that the resurrected Jesus was Christ and Lord.
    Acts 2:43-47 Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.
  4. Acts 5 tells us the reaction of the apostles when they were whipped because they preached about Jesus in the city of Jerusalem.
    Acts 5:41 So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name.
  5. Acts 8 tells how the city of Samaria reacted to hearing about Jesus Christ.
    Acts 8:8 So there was much rejoicing in that city.
  6. Acts 8 also tells us about the Ethiopian’s reaction to his conversion.
    Acts 8:38,39 And he ordered the chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; and the eunuch no longer saw him, but went on his way rejoicing.
  7. Paul began the conclusion of his letter to Christians in Rome with these words:
    Romans 15:13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
  8. When Paul wrote the Galatians, he declared the fruit of the Spirit:
    Galatians 5:22,23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
  9. Paul gave the Christians at Philippi this encouragement:
    Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!
  10. And he gave the Christians in Thessalonica this encouragement:
    1 Thessalonians 5:16 Rejoice always.
2. How much joy exists in your everyday life because of your faith in the resurrected Jesus?
  1. Do you experience joy because you are a Christian?
  2. If you honestly describe Christian existence as you know and experience it, would you have to share the joy or discuss the burden?
  3. This is true of any Christian: if we experience no joy, no gladness, no desire to rejoice because of our faith in Christ, something is basically wrong.
  4. When people who are not Christians look at your faith, at your heart, and at your spirit, do they see the joy?
  5. When people who are not Christians look at this congregation, see our faith, see our heart, and see our spirit in our worship, in our service, and in our relationships, do they see the joy?

[Prayer: God, our faith and our lives cannot bear testimony to You, or give glory to You, or declare Your greatness without joy. Help us not to be afraid of joy. Help us as individuals and as a congregation to allow the joy to be natural. Help us let our joy be obvious in our temptations. Help us let our joy be obvious in our struggles. Help us let our joy be obvious in our blessings.]

If there is little joy in your marriage, can your marriage produce all the blessings of a healthy marriage in you, in your spouse, and in your children? No. Does the absence of joy contribute to marital failure? Yes. Can a marriage with little joy bring joy to life? It not only can; it must.

If there is little joy in your faith, can your Christianity produce all the blessings of a healthy faith in your life and the lives of the people you love? No. Does the absence of joy contribute to spiritual failure? Yes. Can a faith with little joy bring joy to life in your relationship with God? It not only can; it must.

If there is little joy in the family of God, can our Christian community produce all the blessings of a healthy congregation? No. Does the absence of joy contribute to the death of a congregation? Yes. Can a congregation with little joy bring joy to life? It not only can; it must.

Windows 1 A.D. for Windows 2000

Posted by David on December 19, 1999 under Sermons

If I asked the question, “What version of Windows do you use?” many of you immediately would understand my question–probably better than I do. The computer program referred to as “Windows” makes it easier for a person to access and use all his or her computer programming. I am certain that it was no accident that the term “windows” was chosen.

The window powerfully blesses our lives. The basic functions of a window are to allow light and air to come into a building. The basic purpose of the window is to make life easier.

The window is associated with seeing. It allows me to see outside. It allows me to see inside. It is obvious why the window was associated with seeing and understanding. As a result, we associate the word “window” with insights. Therefore we can talk about the windows of a person’s heart, or a person’s mind, or a person’s behavior. If I “provide a window” for you, I create an opportunity for you to gain insight into my life and my person. Windows provide insight. Insight provides understanding. Understanding provides guidance.

We are constantly looking for windows that provide insights into life. The Christian understands that Christianity is about life. He or she understands that the Bible provides insights into life. However, we need some “windows” into the Christians’ lives in the 1^st century A.D. if the New Testament is to yield insights into life today.

I was asked to complete the lessons I started from 1 Timothy. This evening I want us to allow 1 Timothy to provide us some “windows” into Christian life in the 1^st century A.D. in the area of Asia Minor. In turn, I want us to allow those “windows” to give us some insight into life today.

Paul’s work in the city of Ephesus began in the early 50’s AD.
1. The church in Ephesus had been in existence since at least Acts 19.
  1. Paul taught in the synagogue of the Jews for three months until some became hard and disobedient (19:9).
  2. Then he taught in the school of Tyrannus for two years (19:9,10).
  3. During this time Paul performed some extraordinary miracles (19:11).
2. The result: Christianity had a significant impact on this major city in Asia Minor.
  1. Ephesus was an important center of the magical arts practiced for spiritual purposes (we would refer to it as an important center of the occult).
    1. The sons of Sceva attempted to cast out a demon by using the names of Christ and Paul (19:13-20).
    2. As a result they suffered tragedy and many who practiced the magical arts publicly burned their books (the books were worth 50,000 pieces of silver–a fortune in that day!).
    3. That is definite evidence of the influence of Christianity.
  2. The riot sparked by the complaint of Demetrius, the silversmith, verifies the influence of Christianity in Ephesus.
    1. The great temple honoring Artemis was located in Ephesus.
    2. It was the center of a world religion and was a powerful banking institution.
    3. If Christianity had an impact on the temple of Artemis, this is a major evidence of its influence.
Ephesus had elders before 1 Timothy was written. (It was probably written in the early 60’s AD [See Acts 20:17]).
1. When Paul wrote 1 Timothy to Timothy, the church in Ephesus was an established congregation.
  1. The concerns that Paul addressed in this letter gives us “windows” that allow us to see some of the realities facing the church in Asia Minor.
  2. Paul’s concerns are “peep holes” into their world.
  3. If Paul addressed a concern, that matter dealt with an existing need, problem, or situation.
2. Chapter three discussed the kind of persons who should be elders and deacons.
  1. Ephesus needed to add more men to work as elders with their existing eldership.
  2. Paul’s comments about the kind of man who should be an elder provides us some “windows.” [See related sermon.]
    1. Window # 1: being an elder was a work, not a position, and that work should be done by a man who wanted to do it.
      1. If a man did not want to do that work, he should not be coerced to do it.
      2. Today, to me, this is the window: qualified men who want to do that work should do it; when a man wants to resign, let him.
      3. A man who does not want to do the work should not be given the work.
    2. Window # 2: a view of the kind of man who should be given the work:
      1. He had developed the positive traits of Christian character and behavior.
      2. He was not enslaved to the common activities of the people who do not care about God and Christ: he was not a drunkard or a materialist.
      3. The way he worked with his family demonstrated that he knew how to work with people.
      4. He was an experienced, respected Christian.
  3. Paul’s comments about those capable of being deacons also provides us some windows.
    1. Window # 1: they should be genuinely converted.
    2. Window # 2: the genuineness of their conversion was evident in their behavior.
    3. Window # 3: they were involved Christians prior to serving as deacons.
In chapter four I see two primary windows.
1. Window # 1: tough times are coming; realize that Christianity in Asia Minor will not always enjoy the status of being a powerful influence for Christ.
  1. The events in the incident created by Sceva’s sons were good times from a Christian perspective.
  2. The fact that Demetrius could promote a riot in protest of Christian influence were good times from a Christian perspective.
  3. Because Christianity was so successful and influential during its early years, Christians easily assumed that those times would continue.
  4. Paul said that was not the case; do not be deceived.
  5. Revelation was written to the church in this area which included, by name, the church at Ephesus. The bad times came, and they were really bad.
2. Window # 2 emphasized some of Timothy’s responsibilities, responsibilities that he must remember.
  1. Responsibility # 1: do not let Christians forget.
  2. Responsibility # 2: preserve your credibility.
  3. Responsibility # 3: use your gifts.
  4. Responsibility # 4: pay attention to yourself. (It is so easy to become so focused on other people that you do not look at yourself.)
In chapters five and six it is obvious that they had relationship problems.
1. Relationship problems in the church at Ephesus were a serious problem that created serious struggles.
  1. They had difficulty learning how to relate to various groups in the Christian community.
    1. Older men (the “gray hairs”?)
    2. Younger men
    3. Older women
    4. Younger women
    5. Older widows
    6. Younger widows
    7. Elders
    8. Slaves
  2. Respect was a significant problem in learning how to treat each other.
2. The benevolent care practiced by the Christian community created problems.
  1. Older widows who had lived their lives as godly women should be provided for by the Christian community. Who are these women?
  2. Younger widows should remarry. Why?
  3. Widows who had families should be cared for by their own families.
  4. Those who could take the burden off the Christian community should do so.
  5. Clearly, they had benevolent questions, benevolent issues, and benevolent problems.
Chapter six closes the letter by challenging Timothy to keep his focus.
1. As a Christian preacher, keep your priorities straight.
  1. As a preacher, I confess that is a complicated thing to do.
  2. It becomes more complicated when others want to impose their priorities on you.
2. Remember that the objective of godliness is not making a lot of money.
3. Know what to run from, and know what to stand for.
4. Understand that spiritual success is not measured by the yardstick of wealth.

To me, one of the huge picture windows that 1 Timothy provides us is this: being a Christian takes any man or woman out of the common flow of an unbelieving culture. Christianity makes the lives of believers different from the lives of unbelievers. It always has; it always will.

Can You Explain Why?

Posted by David on under Sermons

Why do we believe what we believe? Are our beliefs based on a reason? How did that reason become “the reason”?

In 1961, three months after Joyce and I married, we moved to Nashville, Tennessee, so that I could be a senior at David Lipscomb College. We rented an upstairs apartment from a kind, friendly, retired, Christian couple.

Our landlord had some specific beliefs. One of his specific beliefs was that the earth was square. He held his belief for a reason. His reason was Isaiah 11:12.

Isaiah 11:12 And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth. (The King James Version, Cambridge: Cambridge, 1769.)

He said, “The Bible clearly states that the earth has four corners. If the Bible says the earth is square, the earth is square.”

In 1961 the United States and the Soviet Union were in the great space race. Rocket launches received prime time television coverage. Television reports plotted the orbit of rockets as they circled the earth, and my landlord would get upset.

He had an explanation. The United States had a huge movie studio hidden in the dessert. They filmed these so-called rocket launches in that studio, gave the film to the television stations, and, in a great conspiracy, they deceived the American people.

Did he know what he believed? Yes. Did he have a reason for his belief? Yes. Did he find his reason in the Bible? Yes. What do you think of his reason? What do you think of the way he used the Bible?

He never discussed another verse found in Isaiah.

Isaiah 40:22 It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in (The King James Version, Cambridge: Cambridge, 1769.)

If you are tempted to laugh at his reasoning, don’t.
1. Many of us, if not all of us, have beliefs that use his reasoning.
  1. “David, I see it coming–you are going to ask us to think.”
  2. “Can’t you understand that I did not come to think?”
2. “I don’t want to think, I don’t want to understand, and I don’t want to grow!”
  1. “I just want to come, hear what I heard in the past, and hear things I already agree with so that I don’t have to think.”
  2. “I already know and understand what I want to know and understand.”
  3. “What do you expect?”
  4. “I’m here, aren’t I? I come to the building at least once a week, don’t I? Just as long as I do what I am supposed to do, that is all that matters.”
  5. “All this stuff about my concepts and my understanding just does not matter.”
So concepts just don’t matter? So understanding is just not important?
1. Some people in this congregation ask you a question.
  1. “Could you tell me what we will do in heaven?”
  2. “I have never understood that. Could you help me understand?”
2. What if a teenager asks you that question?
  1. Your answer is, “Well, as I understand it, we will sing and praise God for eternity.”
  2. The teenager responds.
    1. “We are talking eternity here, right?”
    2. “I am not sure what praise is, we have not heard much of that.”
    3. “If you are talking about worshipping like we do on Sundays, about an hour is all I can take of that–I don’t think I could handle it for eternity.
    4. “So we will sit around and sing songs that the old folks enjoy for eternity?”
    5. “I think I will pass. That does not appeal to me.”
3. What if an older Christian asks you that question?
  1. Again, your answer is, “Well, as I understand it, we are going to sing and praise God for eternity.”
  2. The older person responds.
    1. “How loud will the praising will be? I can’t stand a whole lot of noise!”
    2. “When we praise, will we get on our knees? I can’t get up and down very well anymore.”
    3. “Will I know the songs? If I don’t know the songs, I don’t enjoy the singing.”
    4. “If there will be a lot of noise, a lot of getting up and down, and songs I don’t know, I may not want to go.”
4. What if the person who asked you was unchurched?
  1. This person has never studied the Bible.
    1. He does not know or understand Bible concepts.
    2. He came from a truly nonreligious, nonchristian background.
  2. Again, you give the same answer: “Well, as I understand it, we are going to sing and to praise God for eternity.”
    1. First, he is clueless about the meaning of “eternity.”
    2. Second, he is not sure what the word “praise” means.
    3. Third, he never tried to sing a religious song.
  3. So, you read to him about heaven in Revelation 21 and 22.
    1. He responds, “Let me get this straight: we are going to live in a walled city that has streets made out of gold with nothing to drink but water from a river that runs through the middle of the city and nothing to eat but fruit.”
    2. He immediately concludes that heaven is not an interesting place to go.
5. Their faces tell you that your idea of life in heaven has a negative impact on them, so you make this appeal.
  1. “Wait! Wait! Wait! You must go heaven. You must want to go to heaven. ”
  2. “If you don’t, you will go to hell. And you don’t want to go to hell!”
  3. All three ask, “You mean that is our choice–heaven or hell?”
    1. “The choice is between eternal boredom or eternal suffering?”
    2. “That is not a choice! That is two kinds of pain!”
  4. Is your best argument for going to heaven escaping hell?
Scripture says little about life in heaven; it does talk about the experience of heaven.
Revelation 21:3,4 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”
1. Heaven’s environment is beyond our comprehension.
  1. There will not be any evil of any kind. Can you imagine nothing evil happening in our whole world for just twenty-four hours?
  2. Permanent peace beyond anything we have experienced will exist.
    1. I will be at peace with myself.
    2. There will not be one person I have to avoid.
  3. The acceptance and joy of love will be permanent.
  4. Grief cannot exist.
  5. No one will experience any form of need.
2. What does that mean?
  1. There can be no conflict of any kind.
  2. Anger cannot exist.
  3. Rejection, abuse, and insecurity are impossible.
  4. No one can hurt you, but no one wants to hurt you.
  5. There will never be anything to fear, and never be a need to escape.
  6. Enemies do no exist.
  7. And there is no grief, no sorrow, no pain. I will never preach another funeral, never visit another hospital, never see another tear caused by sorrow.
  8. I will never see another person in need; there will be no needs of any kind.
In each December, attention is focused on the fact that God allowed His son to be born as a human infant.
1. Why did God do that?
  1. “Bottom line” answer?
  2. God did that to make it possible for us to come live with Him.
2. For just a moment, I want you to think about who you are and what is happening in your life.
  1. Is it true that God patiently worked for thousands of years to send Jesus? Yes.
  2. Is it true that God endured constant frustration and rejection, but He refused to give up? Yes.
  3. Is it true that He not only allowed His son to be born as a human, but He also allowed His son to have the complete human experience? Yes.
  4. Is it true that God let His son be murdered by unjust execution, and that God raised him from the dead? Yes.
  5. Is it true that God did absolutely everything necessary for you and me to be able to escape the wickedness of this world and come live with Him? Yes.
May I ask you something?
1. Do you think God did all of this so that you would have the opportunity to make a mere religion out of His efforts?
  1. Do you think God did all this to create spiritual salt and pepper shakers for you to add religion to your life according to your personal taste?
  2. God did all that for you to be who you are right now living like you live?
2. Assume with me: assume you will live the next twelve months in reasonable health.
  1. In twelve months from this week, will you be the same person that you are right now, or better, or worse?
  2. In twelve months from this week, will you live just like you live right now, or better, or worse?
3. “Oh, in twelve months I will be a better person who lives a better life.”
  1. If you do not know any more about God in twelve months, what will make you and your life better?
  2. If you do not understand God any better in twelve months, what will make you and your life any better?
  3. If you do not develop a better relationship with God in twelve months than you have right now, what will make you and your life any better?

Prayer: God, help us stop assuming that we will be better. Help us not be content with good intentions. You paid an enormous price to make it possible for us to be your sons and daughters. Help us pay the price to be a part of your family.

I want to make a request. If you are not attending a Sunday morning Bible class, I want you to commit yourself to be part of a class by January 2. Our adult classes begin a new study that morning.

“Why do you want us to do that?”
So that you will know more about God in twelve months. So that you will understand God better in twelve months. So that you will have a better relationship with God in twelve months.

My Challenge To Myself

Posted by David on under Bulletin Articles

As another year begins, we cannot see what it will bring. Good! We would not like all that we saw. Like every year, next year will be a mixture of good and bad, wonderful and awful, joy and tears.

Is the question, “Will I experience some of the bad?” or, “How will I endure when the bad occurs?” Is it, “Will I encounter some of the awful?” or, “How will I survive the awful?” Is it, “Will I have some grief?” or, “When grief occurs, will it consume me?”

What is the probability of a close family member facing a life-threatening illness? Of a crisis occurring in your marriage? Of your child breaking your heart? Of your job ceasing to exist? Of your needing to move or change careers? Of someone that you love dying?

What is the probability if (when?) one of these happens that God can guide, strengthen, comfort, and support you powerfully? That He can work in you more powerfully than in any past year? He can! But, if He does, God does not need to change. We do … in the ways that permit Him to work powerfully within us. We must advance our knowledge and mature our concepts.

Suggestion: advance your knowledge and mature your concepts by attending a Sunday morning class in the series: “Year 2000: Spiritual Success Or Spiritual Distress?”

“What is the probability that God will work powerfully in my life?” Significantly increase that probability by doing this. (1) Increase your knowledge of God’s accomplishments in Christ. (2) Understand how you come closer to God through Christ. (3) Mature your concepts of God and Christ. (4) Strengthen your bond with those who are in Christ.

What is the probability that you faithfully will attend a class?

Have You Met My Father?

Posted by David on December 12, 1999 under Sermons

Watching what happens when a congregation assembles on Sunday morning for worship is fascinating. I am talking about the things that happen during the actual time dedicated to worship. I am not talking about what happens before or after worship.

The worship period has begun. Everyone who came to the building knows that the worship period is in progress. The majority of the people in the building came to worship. They want to worship and are personally motivated to worship.

Their motives for worshipping are good. Some, with a distinct awareness of their blessings, come to thank and praise God. Some feel weak from their struggles, and they want the comfort and strength of worship. Some want to improve their focus and sense of direction in their lives. They know God is the origin of focus and direction in life. Some seek to confirm their forgiveness as they struggle with guilt. Some are filled with a sense of joy and gratitude in their forgiveness.

While the majority came to worship, others have neither the intention nor the desire to worship. Some came to visit, and they visit while the majority worship. They use the time to laugh and talk and catch up on the news. Some came because they felt they had to come. They have no interest in worshipping, but they feel that it is necessary to be in the building. Some would not dream of being anywhere but the church building, but they regard the worship period to be a loss of time in our stressed schedules. They feel the need to use the time “productively”–maybe make out the grocery list or organize next week. Some feel that their physical presence is essential, but they want to make the time to pass as quickly as possible. They would rather be somewhere else doing something else, but they find it necessary to be in the building.

What causes one person to see great value in actually worshipping God and another person to see no value in actually worshipping God?
1. What key factor produces that very visible difference?
  1. Some suggest that the key factor is family background.
    1. I do not think that is the key factor.
    2. For years I have witnessed Christians who come from generations of family worshippers who personally have no interest in worship.
  2. Some suggest that the key factor is education.
    1. I do not think that is the key factor.
    2. Some individuals who had the benefits of years of Christian education have no personal interest in worship.
  3. Some think that the key factor is peer influence: if your friends truly worship, you worship.
    1. I do not think that is the key factor.
    2. Some Individuals whose close friends genuinely worship have no personal interest in worship.
2. Are all three of these factors important?
  1. Absolutely! Family, education, and peers have enormous spiritual influence in our lives.
  2. As important as they are, I do not conclude that they are the key factor.
“David, what do you regard to be the key factor?”
1. I conclude that the key factor is the person’s primary view of God.
  1. The most critical factor in our individual spirituality is our personal view of God.
  2. This is fact: if you want to genuinely change a person, you must change his or her view of God.
    1. If you do not change his or her view of God, any change will be superficial.
    2. To change a person’s heart and conscience, you must change his or her view of God.
    3. That is the true beginning point; that is ground zero.
2. What is your basic view of God?
  1. “My basic view of God is that God is filled with rage and wrath.”
    1. “He is angry with all of us.”
    2. “He is impossible to please.”
  2. “My basic view of God is that He is a God of vengeance.”
    1. “We messed up His world.”
    2. “We killed His Son.”
    3. “We keep on making a mess of things.”
    4. “He is just waiting to get even.”
  3. “My basic view of God is that He is a God of mercy.”
    1. “He loves us so much that it really does not matter what we do.”
    2. “His love is unconditional; that means nothing we do can destroy His love; and that means I can live anyway that I want and He still will love me.”
    3. “Whatever I do, God will just say, ‘Everything is all right!'”
  4. “My basic view of God is that He is a God who wants me to be happy.”
    1. “I decide what will make me happy.”
    2. “God always says, ‘If that makes you happy, go for it!'”
    3. “As long as I am trying to be happy, it is okay with God.”
  5. “My basic view of God is that God is a great big hoax.”
    1. “You cannot depend on Him.”
    2. “He cannot protect you.”
    3. “At best this is a rotten world, and He just sits around and lets it get worse.”
If any of those are your primary view of God, you have not met my Father.
1. Again, I call your attention to the prodigal son in Luke 15.
2. The prodigal son left home, took his inheritance, and left all his father’s influence to create his own life.
  1. But it did not work out–his world and his life fell apart.
  2. He was reduced to a starvation existence in a place where no one cared if he lived or died.
  3. He came to himself, realized what he had done, and accepted responsibility.
  4. Then he found true courage, the courage to go home.
  5. He started on a painful course of action.
3. He could not stop thinking about the last time that he saw Dad.
  1. He could not forget what a bad scene that was.
  2. His attitude was horrible–arrogant, prideful, disrespectful, stubborn, rude.
    1. He took all he could get and acted as if his Dad owed it to him.
    2. He did not even say “thank you” for the inheritance.
  3. He just wanted to get out of that house and forget that his family existed.
  4. So in a huff he walked out and walked off–his Dad’s tears just made him mad.
  5. The last time he saw Dad he unquestionably, obviously rejected Dad.
4. But the man returning home was not the same man who left.
  1. How could he make his father see that he was not the same man?
  2. It had to happen quickly.
  3. He had to show his father the truth; he was a changed person.
  4. But what if Dad was so angry, so disappointed that he would not listen?
  5. What could he do to show him the truth, and show him quickly?
  6. He would do the only thing that he could do: he would confess that he had sinned in God’s sight and his father’s sight; he would admit he was not worthy to be a son; he would ask to be a slave.
Let me tell you about my Father.
1. Never a day passed but that the father walked to the road and looked in the distance.
  1. Day after day, month after month, he looked down that road and day after day, month after month he did not see his son.
  2. He did not know if his son was dead or alive.
  3. If his son were dead, he would never see his son again.
  4. If his son were alive, he might never come home.
2. One day he looked yet again, and in the distance he saw his son.
  1. The figure he saw was ragged and dirty and thin, but he knew it was his son.
  2. And when he saw him, there was no anger, no wrath, no desire for vengeance; there was only the joy that is born of compassion.
  3. He knew his son had suffered; he knew his son had learned; he knew how hard it was for his son to come home.
  4. He knew the humiliation his son felt, and he had no desire to make the moment more painful.
3. He did not want his son’s fears to turn him back, and he did not want his son’s failure to cause him to walk on by.
  1. So he ran to met him.
  2. He grabbed him in his arms, and could not stop kissing him on the neck, and held him close.
  3. As his father grabbed him, the son said, “Father I have sinned…I have sinned against God and against you…I am not worthy to be your son.”
4. As the servants saw their master running to this dirty, ragged man, they ran after him.
  1. He said, “Get these rags off my boy and put the best robe him.”
  2. “He is my son–put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.”
  3. “Prepare a banquet; it is time to celebrate!”
  4. “My son was dead; now he is alive.”
  5. “He was lost; but now he is found.”
5. That’s my father.
If you think that the point of this parable is that you can live your life as wastefully and evil as you wish and God does not care, you are very, very mistaken.
1. The father did not compassionately run to the son and welcome him home because he approved of what the young man had done.
  1. He did not embrace him because what he had done did not matter.
  2. The attitude of the father was not, “Every young man has to run away and do his thing. It is okay as long as he comes back home.”
2. The changes in the son kindled the joy and compassion of the father.
  1. “He had not even talked to his son yet; there was no way that he could have known that the son changed.”
  2. Wrong, wrong, wrong!
  3. All you fathers of grown sons should know just how wrong that thought is.
  4. He knew what it took to come home, and he knew only a changed son could do that.
  5. He had a son who rejected love, care, home, and relationship.
    1. Nothing mattered.
    2. Nothing had value.
  6. Now he had a son who desperately wanted and needed what he rejected.
3. “Well, what is the point of the parable?”
  1. If you will come to yourself, if you will find the courage to redirect your life, if you will accept responsibility for your mistakes, if you will bring your heart to the Father, he will be all over you with his love and strength.
  2. Some think they must impress God with deeds before he will accept them. What can you do to impress the God who created heaven and earth?
  3. Some think they must do the extraordinary to impress God before He will accept them. How can you impress the God who is the origin of life?
  4. There is only one thing you can do to impress the Father.
    1. Come to yourself.
    2. Redirect your life.
    3. Bring God your heart; that is the only thing you have to give God.
    4. Then you will meet the father of the prodigal son.

[Prayer: God, we are so unjust to you. We not only have wronged you. We have also misrepresented you. Open our eyes to see you as you are. Give us the courage to accept Your love. Give us the understanding that will not abuse your grace.]

The prodigal son wants to ask you a question. “Have you met my father?” Is he still looking down the road for you? Or can he see you coming?

The Basis of Good Decisions

Posted by David on under Bulletin Articles

What makes a good decision “good”? Or, what makes a bad decision “bad”? Is it just a matter of blessings and consequences? Is a decision “good” because it produces opportunity or benefits? Is a decision “bad” because it produces undesirable consequences?

You look back and declare, “The decision I made five years ago was a good decision!” Did you see it as a “good” decision when you examined your options? Was it obviously “my best option” when you selected it? Did it feel like a “good” decision when you made it? Immediately after you made it, did you “know” it was a “good” decision? Was it a “good” decision only because, in time, it produced beneficial results? If no benefits occurred, did it become a “bad” decision? Is it only results that make your decisions “good” or “bad”?

God decided to send His son to this world, and people rejected and killed him. “Good” or “bad” decision? Jesus decided to yield to God’s will and died a horrible death. “Good” or “bad” decision? Several early Christians placed their faith and trust in Jesus Christ knowing their decision would produce physical suffering or death. “Good” or “bad” decision?

All decisions cannot be grouped together in a single classification. “Good” and “bad” business decisions are distinctly different from “good” and “bad” family decisions. Many areas of decision distinguish “good” from “bad” decisions on different bases: medical decisions, parenting decisions, moral decisions, retirement decisions, decisions in purchasing a home, etc. In each of these areas, the primary focus differs. The primary focus of a “good” medical decision is not on finances. The primary focus of a “good” business decision is on finances.

Some types of decision are based primarily on facts. Some are based primarily on money. Some are based primarily on needs. Some are based primarily on concepts.

This is my opinion. The area of decision that most frequently produces “bad” decisions is the area of spiritual decisions. Often people who make “good” factual decisions, or “good” money decisions, or “good” decisions concerning physical needs may make “bad” spiritual decisions. Why? They understand their facts, or their figures, or physical needs, but they do not understand essential spiritual concepts. Many “bad” spiritual decisions are the product of flawed concepts.

Spiritually, we want to advance and mature your concepts in the year 2000. If you advance and mature spiritual concepts, you must grow in knowledge and understanding. The adult classes beginning in January are designed to advance and mature your spiritual concepts.

I challenge you to make good spiritual decisions that can produce a beneficial spiritual life. Decide to be a part of Sunday morning’s year 2000 adult classes. Decide to advance and mature your concepts. That is a “good” decision!

Christian Living: The Bottom Line

Posted by David on December 5, 1999 under Sermons

The term, “the bottom line,” is a popular way to refer to an accounting concept in business. The “bottom line” reveals if a business is succeeding or failing.

Take the value of all the business’ assets. Add all the outstanding accounts payable (determine how much money is owed to the business). Add the actual income that the business generated. Then, from that total, subtract all the business’ losses. Subtract all the business’ expenses. Subtract all the debts the business cannot collect.

When all expenses and losses are subtracted from all assets and income, you have the “bottom line.” It answers the key question: “Did the business show a profit?” If it did, the business succeeded.

The “bottom line” figure is an extremely important number. Let’s illustrate it in this way. Two small business owners have been in business for three years. They are discussing their businesses. One says, “This was my third year in business, and I did $1,500,000 of business.” The other replies, “That is amazing! I did the same thing! This was my third year in business, and I also did $1,500,000 of business this year!”

Was each business successful? I don’t know. I need more information to answer that question. I need to ask each man, “What was your total expenses?” One says, “My total expenses were $1,250,000.” So he had a profit of $250,000. The “bottom line” says the business was successful. The other says, “My expenses were $1,750,000.” He did $1,500,000 of business, but in the process he lost $250,000. The “bottom line” says the business did not succeed that year.

The “bottom line” declares the strength and success of the business. In business the final analysis is fairly simple: success is determined by profit.

We use the concept of the “bottom line” to figure the success of things other than business.

The “bottom line” in Christian living is not measured by material profit.
1. If we use the “bottom line” concept to evaluate success in Christian living, what is the “bottom line?”
  1. Some declare the “bottom line” in Christian living is “rightness.”
    1. “Rightness” is knowing, accepting, and occupying the “right positions.”
    2. Religiously, if I can prove that I am right, my Christian life is successful.
    3. “Rightness” is proven by giving the right answers to the question, “Where do you stand on…”
  2. Some declare the bottom line in Christian living is correct conformity.
    1. I know the correct religious standards.
    2. I know the correct religious traditions.
    3. I know the correct religious procedures.
    4. I correctly conform to those standards, traditions, and procedures.
    5. I do the church things that I am supposed to do.
    6. I refuse to do incorrect church things.
    7. Because I correctly conform, my Christian life is successful.
    8. Correct conformity is proven by completing the correct check list.
  3. Some declare the “bottom line” in Christian living is proper religious habits.
    1. I have the attendance habit; I come to the church building when I am supposed to be there.
    2. I have the giving habit; I always contribute.
    3. I have the Lord’s Supper habit; I take the Lord’s Supper even if I stay for nothing else.
    4. I have the a cappella singing habit; I worship only where there is a cappella music, even if I never sing.
    5. I have the correct church building habit; I worship only in a building that uses the correct name.
    6. Because I have all the proper religious habits, my Christian life is successful.
    7. Proper religious habits are verified by attending where worship is conducted in the proper manner.
It is extremely important to understand and to ask the right question in locating the “bottom line” in Christian living.
1. In regard to “rightness:”
  1. Is “rightness” a proper spiritual concern? Yes!
  2. Is “rightness” the “bottom line” of success in Christian living? No.
2. In regard to correct conformity:
  1. Is correct conformity a proper spiritual concern? Yes!
  2. Is correct conformity the “bottom line” of success in Christian living? No.
3. In regard to proper religious habits:
  1. Is developing the proper spiritual habits a proper spiritual concern? Yes!
  2. Is developing the proper spiritual habits the “bottom line” of success in Christian living? No.
Then what is the “bottom line” when we determine success in Christian living?
1. The answer to that question is much too important.
  1. It must not be determined by human speculation offered by well-meaning Christians.
  2. That answer must come from the Lord.
  3. That answer must be confirmed by the writers of the New Testament.
2. Let’s permit them to speak for themselves.
  1. First, let’s allow Jesus to speak:
    1. Matthew 7:12 In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets. (The New American Standard Bible, 1995 Update, La Habra, California: The Lockman Foundation, 1996.)
    2. Matthew 22:37-40 ” ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.” (The New American Standard Bible, 1995 Update, La Habra, California: The Lockman Foundation, 1996.)
    3. John 13:34,35 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (The New American Standard Bible, 1995 Update, La Habra, California: The Lockman Foundation, 1996.)
  2. Second, let’s allow the writers in the New Testament to speak:
    1. Paul: 1 Corinthians 13, an entire chapter declares that love is greater than faith and love is greater than hope.
    2. Paul: Romans 13:8 Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. (The New American Standard Bible, 1995 Update, La Habra, California: The Lockman Foundation, 1996.)
    3. Peter: 1 Peter 1:22 Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart, (The New American Standard Bible, 1995 Update, La Habra, California: The Lockman Foundation, 1996.)
    4. John: 1 John 3:11 For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another; 14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death. 18 Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth. 23 This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us. (The New American Standard Bible, 1995 Update, La Habra, California: The Lockman Foundation, 1996.)
3. “Aw, David, this love business is way overblown; love is too easy; there are many, many things that are much harder to do than love.”
  1. Really?
    1. That is the reason there is so much neglect, pain, depression, and anger in marriages–there is just too much love, and love is much too easy.
    2. That is the reason that abuse in our homes has reached the level of an epidemic–there is just too much love, and love is much too easy.
    3. That is the reason that so many of our children have so many struggles and problems–they are surrounded by too much love, and love is much too easy.
    4. That is the reason so many marriages end in alienation or divorce–they suffer from too much love, and love was much too easy.
    5. That is the reason there is so much sexual unfaithfulness–there is just too much love, and love is too easy.
    6. That is the reason that so many people had rather live together in fragile relationships than commit to each other in marriage–love is just too easy, and there is too much of it.
    7. That is the reason that people are exploited and suffer from injustices every day–there is too much love and it is much too easy.
    8. That is why is has been so easy for the church to argue, fuss, fight, and treat brothers and sisters in the most ungodly ways you can imagine–there is just too much love, and love is much to easy.
Consider with me the popular concept of judgment day.
1. It is your turn to have your personal conversation with God.
  1. God: “Why do you consider yourself to be a godly Christian?”
  2. You: “Oh, yes, I am without doubt a godly Christian.”
    1. “I never worshipped in a church building without the right name on it.”
    2. “I always came for communion, even if I could not stay.”
    3. “Worship attendance was always important to me.”
    4. “I strongly objected to the use of instrumental music in worship.”
    5. “I always insisted that the congregation follow correct procedures.”
    6. “I always took a strong stand for doing things the traditional way.”
    7. “Bottom line, I always stood for the things that were important to You.”
2. God asks you some questions:
  1. “Was your marriage nurtured and sustained by love?”
    1. “Well, my marriage wasn’t very good. But I knew how You felt about divorce. We did not work to build love in our marriage, but we didn’t divorce.”
    2. “But remember that I did all the ‘bottom line’ things.”
  2. “Did you show your children love and teach them how to love?”
    1. “Well, I am not sure that I understand what You mean. We tried to give them the things they wanted. We did not want them to be embarrassed among their peers. We gave them all the advantages. I don’t understand why, but they became angry, rebellious, and turned against the church.”
    2. “But remember that I did all the ‘bottom line’ things.
  3. “Did you promote and develop love in the congregation?”
    1. “Well, to tell You the truth, I was never in a loving congregation. I was so busy defending the ‘bottom line’ things that matter to you that I did not have much time to devote to love.”
    2. “But remember, I was strong and unbending for the ‘bottom line’ things.”
  4. “Where did you read in my word that those things were My ‘bottom line’ concerns?”
    1. There is a long silence.
    2. “God, do You mean that love really was the ‘bottom line?'”

I close with a statement made by Jesus. I think that you will understand.

Matthew 23:23,24 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others. You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel! (The New American Standard Bible, 1995 Update, La Habra, California: The Lockman Foundation, 1996.)

This congregation has the opportunity to grow and work as never before in its history. The opportunities before us are incredible. But we can grab those opportunities only if we learn how to love as never before. That love that is God’s “bottom line.” That love is the “bottom line” of successful Christian living.

The Courage To Go Home

Posted by David on under Sermons

I want your minds and your hearts for a few minutes. Begin by focusing and concentrating. Question one: what is the hardest thing you ever did? Teens, what is the hardest thing you ever did? Singles, what is the hardest thing that you ever did? Young marrieds, what is the hardest thing that you ever did? Parents, what is the hardest thing that you ever did? Empty nesters, what is the hardest thing you ever did?

Question two: what is the bravest thing that you ever did? Teens, singles, young marrieds, what is the bravest thing that you ever did? Parents, empty nesters, what is the bravest thing you ever did?

Question three: is there any connection between the hardest thing you ever did and the bravest thing that you ever did?

Again, I call your attention to the parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15.

There he was starving to death, feeding pigs.
1. Consider his situation and conditions.
  1. He was homeless and belonged nowhere.
    1. He had no family where he lived–by his own choices and decisions he was in a foreign country.
    2. He deliberately separated himself from his family and his home.
    3. His family had no idea where he was–they could not find him if they tried.
    4. He did not even have enough money to buy food.
  2. He looked like a man who fed pigs; he was dressed like a man who fed pigs; and he smelled like a man who fed pigs.
    1. He was a starving man.
    2. He was so thin you probably could count his ribs.
    3. A person who saw him as he left home would not would not recognize him as the same man.
2. Then came that horrible moment when “he came to himself.”
  1. He saw himself for what he was.
  2. He saw what he did for what it was.
At the moment that he came to himself, he stood at a fork in life’s highway.
1. One fork was the road to death.
  1. He could stay where he was, and die.
  2. He could continue to do what he was doing, and die.
  3. He could fill himself with the shame, the guilt, and the embarrassment of self-pity, and die.
  4. He could get angry at the world for all his misfortune, and die.
  5. He could punish himself for all his wrong doing, and die.
  6. He could just do nothing, and die.
2. The other fork was the road of courage.
  1. When he left home he thought that he was being very courageous.
  2. But as he fed the pigs, he learned some hard lessons about courage.
    1. It takes no courage to be:
      1. Selfish.
      2. Greedy.
      3. Controlled by pleasure.
      4. Rebellious.
      5. Angry.
      6. Defiant.
      7. An “impossible person.”
      8. Those require no courage because they do not require that you deal honestly with yourself.
    2. Feeding pigs in a foreign country during an economic depression led to the discovery of true courage.
      1. It takes courage to look your personal failures “in the face” and admit them–not to have a person force you to confess them, but to admit them to yourself when there is no one to talk to but you.
      2. It takes courage to accept responsibility for the mess you made.
      3. It takes courage to take the necessary action to deal with the mess you made.
      4. It takes courage to make a positive, constructive decision and follow through.
3. If he took the courage road, he had to do some specific things.
  1. First, he had to leave the pigs and get out of the foreign country.
  2. Second, he had to get on the road that went home and return.
  3. Third, he had to admit his failure to his father.
The hardest thing this man ever did was also the most courageous thing he ever did: he found the courage to go home.
1. Think about all the difficulty involved in walking home.
  1. He wanted to admit his mistakes and failure, but he did not know how his confession would be received.
  2. Can you imagine his thoughts as he made that trip?
    1. In my opinion, the closer he got to home, the more afraid he became.
    2. “I know what Dad is going to say. I can hear him now.”
    3. “I know how upset Dad will be when he learns that I wasted all that money.”
    4. “I know how upset Dad will be because of what I did to his reputation.”
    5. “And then there is older brother; oh, how I dread to face and listen to older brother.”
      1. You know the parable.
      2. He had reason to dread older brother.
2. As he made the trip home, wonder if there were moments when he thought there was no need to complete the trip.
  1. “Dad will reject me.”
  2. “Older brother will run me off.”
  3. “Former friends will shun me.”
  4. “Nobody will be glad to see me back.”
  5. “I will be a constant, living embarrassment to everyone.”
  6. I wonder if there were not moments when he thought, “I had rather die than face my older brother.”
3. Pay special attention to the fact that without the courage to go home, nothing changed.
  1. For the man to come to himself was good, but if he did nothing, nothing changed.
  2. For the man to realize his failure was good, but if he did nothing, nothing changed.
  3. For the man to accept responsibility for his mistakes was good, but if he did nothing, nothing changed.
  4. For the man to confess to himself that it happened because of his choices and his decisions was good, but if he did nothing, nothing changed.
  5. For the man to be sorry for his decisions, sorry for the pain he caused, sorry for his foolishness and wastefulness was good, but if he did nothing, nothing changed.
The hardest thing any of us will ever do is to deal honestly with ourselves, and the most courageous thing any of us will ever do is redirect our lives.
1. “David, you talk a lot. What is the hardest thing you ever did?”
  1. The hardest thing I ever did involved all these things:
    1. It involved seeing, looking at, and examining the negative forces that controlled me as a person.
    2. It involved admitting my weakness.
    3. It involved rejecting the slavery of my fears.
    4. It involved trusting God to love me and accept me in my imperfection.
    5. It involved redirecting my life and learning to function on the right motives in new ways.
  2. “Did all that involve any courage?”
    1. Oh, yes! Courage I did not even know or understand until I dealt with my own life.
    2. It always takes courage to understand why you are the person you are.
    3. It always takes courage to be honest with yourself about your weakness.
    4. It always takes courage to face your fears.
    5. It always takes courage to trust God’s promises.
    6. It always takes courage to redirect your life.
2. When the prodigal son “came to himself,” he knew that he was dying.
  1. When he faced the fact that what he had done and was doing was killing him, he had to make a choice.
  2. When he made the choice to redirect his life, he had to act on his choice.
3. Are you dying?
  1. No, I am not talking about the front, the facade that you wear for everyone to see.
  2. I am not asking if you have your family and friends fooled.
  3. I am not asking if you have the congregation fooled.
  4. I am asking, when you look deep in your heart, when you are truthful and honest with yourself, when it is just you talking to you, are you dying?
  5. Do you have a choice to make?
    1. Are you going to make it?
    2. Are you going to let yourself die?
  6. Will you make your choice and act on it?
    1. What choice? The choice to redirect your life.
    2. What action? Exercise the courage to go home.

[Prayer: Father, help us have the courage to come to ourselves. Help us have the courage to make the godly choice to redirect our lives. Help us have the courage to redirect our lives.]

God wants you in His family. There has never been a time when God did not want you in His family. But it is not enough for God to want you as His son or daughter. You must want to be God’s son or daughter.

Let me be honest with you. There will always be an older brother. Satan will see that the older brother is always there.

But God never stops waiting for you to find the courage to come home, wanting you to find the courage to come home, and watching for you to come home because you found the courage.

Older brother might cause you some stress, but God will heal your soul and give you life.

“I’m Sorry! I Didn’t Know!”

Posted by David on under Bulletin Articles

Years ago in another country my family and I were invited to a meal with several other families. The dining area in the hostess’ home was small. She and her husband were quite gracious to invite so many people. We all knew each other and did not mind crowding around the table. It was a time of joy and good will. It was also a rare, special moment.

The meal was spaghetti. I love spaghetti. I thought spaghetti was eaten “American style” everywhere. The hostess served me first. She presented me with a small bowl of sauce. I assumed a large pot of sauce was simmering on the stove. So I used the sauce generously. After generously serving myself, I learned that was all the sauce.

Was I ever sorry and embarrassed! Even now I still feel the feelings of that moment. Oh, how I wish I had known that was all the sauce! I assumed. I did not know. As I ate my spaghetti with lots of sauce while others ate their spaghetti with hardly any sauce, I was ashamed and embarrassed. I also embarrassed the hostess.

People always have valued the blessings of knowledge. This fact is and always has been true: knowledge powerfully influences behavior. Knowledge does not create the judgment, wisdom, or integrity of a mature, useful, fulfilling life. Knowledge provides the foundation for the judgment, wisdom, and integrity of a mature, useful, fulfilling life.

Knowledge is the foundation of morality, but Christian morality requires more than knowledge. It is the foundation of godly ethics, but becoming a godly person requires more than knowledge. It is the foundation of godly relationships, but building godly relationships requires more than knowledge. However, step one toward godly morality, ethics, and relationships is acquiring reliable knowledge. The person converted to Christ is committed to acquiring knowledge and increasing understanding.

The material in the adult Sunday morning classes for the year 2000 is devoted to changing you as a person. It will provide the type of knowledge that can be the foundation for transforming your life into the image of Jesus. There are two simple goals. Goal one: encourage more adults to attend the classes as serious Bible students. Goal two: help mature converted adults as godly men and women.

The theme: Year 2000: Spiritual Success or Distress? First quarter focus: God’s Son Was a Servant. Adult quarter one begins the first Sunday in January.

In judgment God will look at you as a person and a life. May you not need to say, “I’m sorry! I didn’t know!” Increase the meaning and fulfillment of your life by making the year 2000 a year of spiritual growth!

home top