Posted by David on July 17, 2008 under Bulletin Articles
There are numerous stories that serve as illustrations. You probably have heard all of them in some version: the farmer who put a latch on his barn door after a fire in his barn scattered his animals never to be found; the man who put house locks on his doors after a thief stole everything he owned; the man who never left his keys in his new car after his older car was stolen because he always left the keys in it.
All the stories make the same point: it is too late to prevent a tragedy after the tragedy has occurred. I have wondered (many times) the feelings that Paul the Christian felt when he passed places where Paul the persecutor had harmed others. Remember Acts 8:1-3? Saul (Paul) was in hearty agreement with putting Stephen to death. And on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Some devout men buried Stephen, and made loud lamentation over him. But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house, and dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison.
After he knew Jesus was in fact God’s Christ (Acts 9:1-9), it had every impact on what he did in the future, but it changed nothing he did in the past. In past acts, Christian men and women were still dragged from their homes, wives still saw Christian husbands killed, and orphans still existed because of what happened to Mom and Dad. Nothing Paul did could undo what he had done before his understanding that Jesus was the Christ. Unfortunately, we all have to live with our past. No matter how we use our future (read 2 Corinthians 11:22-33), our past still occurred.
No matter what we do after we learn Jesus is the Christ, we still are what we are because of God’s mercy and grace. Wise is the person who never forgets that truth. The Christian Paul never did!
Yet, the wise, mature Christian who gladly accepts God’s forgiveness of his or her past, uses an understanding of the past to demonstrate the incredible blessing God gives us through Jesus Christ. The same incident which causes us intense shame or grief becomes the incident that communicates God’s love and forgiveness.
Oh, the arrogance of the person who convinces self that acts of obedience obligate God by somehow intimidating Him! With all Paul did, he never forgot that he was least of the apostles and did not deserve to be called an apostle. Never did he forget he was what he was through God’s grace.
We each are what we have become in Christ, not because we are self-made, but because we are God-made in Jesus Christ.
Posted by David on July 10, 2008 under Bulletin Articles
Our society builds financial industries on the uncertainty of life, while the same society convinces people that they will live indefinitely.
Consider the prepaid funeral. The salesperson in numerous ways focuses people on life’s uncertainty. Your attention likely will be focused on the tragedy generated by loved ones having a funeral expense at a horrible, emotional time. In no way would you burden loved ones with a major expense at an emotional time that rejects rational thought.
Thus, the insurers want to insure you against death because they think you will live long — long enough to make the insurance profitable. However, in this instance, you buy the insurance because you do not think you will live long enough to accumulate the funds your burial will require. Thus, your awareness of life’s uncertainty produces an industry.
Take a moment to think in the opposite direction. Think of how much of your life is based on your confidence that it will be long. You spend as if you will live long. You buy as if your income always will be the same or better. You plan as if you have much marketable time before you.
If asked, “When are you going to die?” you look at the person as if he (or she) is crazy. If asked when you are going to be laid off, you think, “Have you lost your mind?” If asked, “When will your business fail?” you ask, “Do you know something I don’t?”
Last weekend I attended the 50th reunion of my high school graduation. (No comments about my age, please-be respectful to the elderly!) Of the 19 who graduated then, 14 were present. Only 3 had died, and only one (me) used a cane.
I spent time with my science teacher to whom I owe a lot. He also preached and was a Christian encourager. Though a science teacher, he taught me (a) the importance of studying scripture in context and (b) there is (was) more to obedience than facts.
In his 80s, he walks with difficulty. Parkinson’s disease makes it impossible for him to write or type. Though he still thinks deeply and clearly, his means of expressing himself are limited. Twenty years ago, I would not have predicted this for him in his later years.
James says, “Assume nothing! The right thing to do is accept the uncertainty of your humanity.”
Posted by David on July 3, 2008 under Bulletin Articles
Since I learned a few years ago that continual exposure to bright sunlight was, in many instances, a contributing factor to developing cataracts, I have worn a set of clip-on sunglasses. It was an easy transition to make-bright sunlight hurt my eyes, and I did not enjoy squinting. (Squinting can make you look angry.)
The other afternoon as usual, I reached into my shirt pocket, pulled out my sunglasses, stretched them to pop them on my regular glasses, and the sunglasses promptly broke! (Not a lens but the “bridge.”) At first I was just plain startled-something I did hundreds of times without thinking did not work! (That is NOT supposed to happen!) After my bewilderment ended, I examined the situation to determine what was wrong. Though I had carried these clip-ons for years, I quickly concluded the sunglasses were broken beyond repair, put them in a cup holder, and drove away. That pair of sunglasses have been in that cup holder many times-they don’t even know they are broken!
I have spent my life working with people. Through those years, I have heard about many situations. A common thread in different circumstances caught my attention years ago. Often, in differing situations, a person was mystified because he or she encountered consequences as a result of a decision. It was as though the situation was 100% something or someone else’s fault, and the person enduring the “problem” was 100% innocent. “Why me? I am responsible for nothing! None of this is my fault!” There was no awareness that “I am broken and need healing!”
The ability of the resurrected Jesus to heal us inwardly is beyond exaggeration! I regard Jesus’ above statement as being his great invitation. Jesus offered rest to those who were burdened under destructive loads. He did not expect the impossible-he was and is not into “crushing” us. However, he is into our developing his servant heart. It is not the promise that we will have all our physical desires-it is the promise that we will find a restful direction for our lives. We would exchange slavery for commitment!
What is the difference between slavery and commitment? If we are looking for freedom from all responsibility, that will not and can not happen. In slavery, a person is used because he or she is property. In commitment, a person knows the values and the price of being free. In the first, there is exploitation inflicted by another; in the second, there is personal direction and purpose. The first inflicts regardless of our personal motive. The second surrenders because of our personal motive.
Shh-my sunglasses do not know they are broken! Do you know you are broken? Have you allowed Jesus to give you rest?
Posted by David on June 26, 2008 under Bulletin Articles
Allow me to begin by paraphrasing Paul’s encouragement to a distressed congregation:
I want to remind you who are now family in Christ of the good news you heard from me. Please remember some essential facts about that good news and you:
- You decided to accept that good news.
- You continued by choice in that good news-it grants your life stability!
- This good news is the source of your confident relationship with God.
Your salvation relationship with God continues as long as you remember and remain in that good news. Remember, three truths lie at the core of that good news:
- Jesus Christ died for all of us-his death makes our sins history!
- He actually died-his dead body was buried!
- He was resurrected-whereas he was for certain dead, he is now alive.
Paul continued his emphasis on the importance of Jesus Christ’s resurrection. Paul said a lot of people saw Jesus alive after he died, including Paul. Jesus’ resurrection was not a Jewish phenomenon affecting only Jewish people-Jesus died for everyone’s sins.
Very young people respond to God because He is the living God who loves them. As adolescents become adults, conversions to God through Christ plummet.
Life often goes through stages for many people. Stage one: you can do anything you desire because you are young and have opportunity. Stage two: you race breathlessly, trying to manage all your responsibilities, get weary doing so, but never admit weariness. Stage three: you have a tinge of fear as you wonder if “this is what life is about” and if “life has passed you by.” Stage four: life is all about your physical future, and your physical future looks less than wonderful (doctors increasingly replace ambitions). Stage five: you are deeply aware that you “cannot go back”; there is neither time, strength, nor energy to “do” your life over; and experience and observation teach you how uncertain anyone’s future is. Sounds increasingly dismal, does it not?
It is-unless… Unless what? Unless you are aware that death does not win! Regardless of what age you are, you have choice. Yes, 20-year-olds and 70-year-olds have the same choice! Is life about physical indulgence with death the unavoidable end, or is life an investment that destroys the fear-hold of death? Amazingly, life often is only about the physical until our death is on our horizon. Then, suddenly, Jesus’ resurrection becomes very relevant, things are just things, and death’s defeat is relevant to the meaning of physical life. Do not waste your collateral! Life is an investment! Invest the only thing that is yours for now-yourself! Good news-God welcomes your investment!
Posted by David on June 19, 2008 under Bulletin Articles
I seemed to be cursed when it comes to growing sunflowers! It happened again! (Yes, it has happened before.) I planted a 16 foot long row of sunflower seeds. They all came up-were about 1? inches high and THICK. The way they came up, I suspected there were too many for all of them to disappear.
I made a plan to protect them by making a small, convenient fence around the flower bed (18 inch chicken wire). Bill and Toka Beall stopped by to see us Thursday night. Bill confirmed that what I planned to do would work. My Friday project was set! I knew where to get what I wanted-by early Friday afternoon my solution against past harm would be in place! I saw the potential problem, in my head I solved that problem, and my reasoned out solution should work!
Friday morning I left for the gym about 6 a.m. (as usual). For some reason, I decided to check my sunflower plants one more time before I bought my supplies. You guessed it-Thursday night a critter ate the whole row (all but one-left to taunt me?).
Oh, well, I could be philosophical and say it happened before I bought the supplies. However, at that moment, I did not feel philosophical. All I felt was this: the critters won-again! I cringe when I think of how many times “dumb” animals made me feel dumb! Good intentions and well-made plans do not produce protection just by thinking!
The lessons in this silly incident are rather profound. It is amazing what we can learn from squirrels, rabbits, or nocturnal critters in general.
- Never take tomorrow for granted. It is so easy to decide whatever is will always be. Do not assume that what should be done now will wait on you to do it later. Simply because you see and understand the potential problem does not mean you have solved the problem.
- When you know enough to think the situation through, act. Surely, there are consequences to taking action before you know what you need to know. Surely, (also) there are consequences to procrastinating. Rarely will there be a “perfect” time to make a difficult decision. However, making a difficult choice is almost always better than making no choice at all, thus allowing “accident” or “random happenstance” to make the choice for you.
- Never ignore the “God factor.” We are not as big as we think we are!
Could we call this the parable of the sunflower plants and lessen my disappointment?
Posted by David on June 12, 2008 under Bulletin Articles
I have no desire to be an alarmist. In fact, I am convinced that a continuing sense of alarm (just of itself) is useless. I certainly am not against sober thinking or recognizing real dangers. However, spending life focusing our physical existence on “what if” as the latest thunderhead appears on our horizon commonly wastes time and misses opportunity. Life is not to be wasted, nor is it to be spent in a continuing state of alarm.
The issue is not, “How can we keep the worst from happening?” The issue is, “Are we devoted to godly existence regardless of what happens?” In the western world, things were deteriorating in the first century. Things did not suddenly get better because Christianity became a part of the physical scene. In fact, many Christians suffered as the western world continued to deteriorate.
Christianity was not a “fix” to cure the consequences of many bad decisions. Christianity was a way to see physical existence through the Creator’s eyes. Because of God’s act, the hopelessness of physical life was not humanity’s only option, and physical death was no longer the ultimate enemy of human existence. The human decisions of the godless could not destroy the eternal options of those in Jesus Christ.
For decades, Christians in this country seemingly had the option (1) in numerous ways to live the lifestyle of the godless and (2) to do so while devoting themselves to traditional expressions of Christian existence. We were prosperous enough to do both. We did so convinced that God protected us from the physically undesirable and prospered those who espoused His values. We did so even though our Savior was crucified, apostles like James and Paul were killed, and numerous early Christians were killed.
What will happen if there is a severe recession in this country? What if businesses fail in unbelievable numbers, and our homes continue to decline in value? What if the job market continues to decline? What if the entire world enters a recession? What if there is massive starvation worldwide?
Believe it or not, Paul understood 2000 years ago that there is an issue more important than any reflected in those questions. He even said that to believe in resurrection if there is none is simply pitiful. He knew godliness was real only if Jesus was resurrected by God.
Resurrection exists for us only if Jesus was resurrected. Life after death exists only if Jesus is the Christ through God raising him from death. Godliness has power only if Jesus is alive. Christianity is worthy of a life investment only if Jesus is enthroned. Eternal mercy, grace, and forgiveness are genuine only if God made Jesus the Christ.
The hard choice: will we invest our lives in Jesus regardless of what happens in our world? Will we be a godly people even if our world enters another period of chaos?
Posted by David on June 5, 2008 under Bulletin Articles
In May I had the joy of visiting again a remote region of northern New Mexico. This area is a National Park built around an ancient volcano called Capulin. A roadway and parking area has been built near the summit of the old volcano (it is 8,182 feet in elevation at its highest point). Then a paved, wide path circles the top of the volcano (about a mile in length), and another paved path goes down to the ancient core.
In the past, I loved to walk the rim! It is lined with fragrant Juniper and Western Cedar trees, the air is crisp, and you can see forever around the 360 degree path. As you look, you hardly see any evidence of human activity, only the footprints of God. The views are incredible! Though I enjoy this place a lot, I did not think I would ever see it again.
To our blessing, Ron and Debbie Belote made this trip with us. The night before we went to the park, they decided I needed to walk the rim path with them. I had been walking a mile and a half in Fort Smith, so I figured I had the strength to do it. They made a human sandwich with Ron in front (so I would have someone to fall on if I fell), Debbie behind me (so she could try to catch me if I fell), me with my “trusty cane” in the middle,” and Joyce with the camera to verify I did it. (By the way, I did not even stumble.)
When I got back, “I” had done the impossible (and much enjoyed it), but only because three people encouraged and helped me do the impossible. Three Christians knew what the opportunity meant to me, and they made the “impossible” quite “possible.”
The thought occurred to me immediately, “That is the core of Christian existence!” There are many of life’s experiences that are “impossible” if faced alone, but which become infinitely “possible” when you are encouraged and aided by those who share and understand your faith and commitment.
The issue is never, “Am I weak and flawed?” We all are weak and flawed–never more so than when we pretend to be “strong” and without defects. The issue is, “Will I as a Christian help someone else with their weakness, and let them help me with my weakness?”
Two observations I regard to be important. (1) I must never expect the truly impossible of others. (2) It is as important for me to accept help as it is to give help. (In fact, our help becomes more powerful when we also accept our weakness.)
If you are Christian, you are not committed to do the impossible, but you are committed to do what you are able to do. One of the most powerful things we all have to give is encouragement. With encouragement, God’s help, and the help of those who place their confidence in Christ, it is amazing what a person can do. The combination of faith and encouragement is powerful in a human being! Each of us always can supply the encouragement!
Posted by David on May 29, 2008 under Bulletin Articles
I never met a person who enjoyed the experience of changing diapers. I met many who gladly changed diapers because they loved. On a cold night, my father-in-law told Joyce he had never seen it cold enough to make dishwater feel good. Yet, I saw my father-in-law wash dishes because he loved his ailing wife. Take your pick-ironing white shirts, canning, unstopping a commode, splitting a rick of gnarled hickory, digging a septic line, cleaning up vomit, dressing bad wounds, etc.-there are many tasks performed because of love that otherwise would be neglected. It is not love of the task! It is love of the person who benefits from the task!
Never think it is easy for God to forgive! Sin is everything God is not. Never think it was easy for God to surrender Jesus to death! Jesus was the only adult who never rebelled. Never decide it is easy for God to sustain fellowship with us when we continue to sin and need forgiveness. Were I to attribute human characteristics to God, I would see God heaving, gushing each time we make a mess. It is amazing God tolerates us!
Consider a fascinating question: Why does God put up with us? The simple answer: He loves us. Because He loves, He forgives. Because He loves, He endures. Because He loves, He tolerates the objectionable to bless the person.
I wonder when we-each of us-will “get it.” When will we understand it is not “correctness” that covers a multitude of sins, or “justification,” or “history.” It is love that covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8). It is a fervent love for each other that responds to the messes we make.
Why? Because such love is characteristic of God-and enduring friendships, and enduring marriages, and quality parenting, and-above all-an enduring fellowship among those who have entered Christ. May I be spiritually mature enough to love the God who forgives you when I have difficulty loving you. Why? Because God in creation and Christ gave you that kind of worth. And-that same God forgives me.
“By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35).
Posted by David on May 28, 2008 under Sermons
First, we want to put ourselves in the frame of mind Paul was in when he wrote our text today. To do that, play a game of "Let’s Pretend" with me. Pretend that you have a close friend you admire and respect. This person is a close friend because he cared about you. In his care for you when he first met you, he went "way out on a limb" to help you. He literally put himself in a situation that he could be hurt because he helped you.
Continue to pretend with me. After he leaves you, your close friend does get into trouble because he helped some people just like you. The trouble is so serious that he winds up in jail. In fact, you are convinced that one of the reasons he is in trouble is because he helped you.
And there is nothing you can do to help him. He is too far from you for you to be of personal encouragement to him. You would have no influence on the people who put him in jail if your were with him.
Then one day you get a letter from him. In the letter he is concerned about you. He is genuinely concerned that you are discouraged because of his problems. He wants you to know as fact it is okay that he is experiencing problems. He knew from the beginning he would have problems because he cared about and helped people like you. He saw his situation as a price he paid for helping people like you. He saw his opposition as a God-given task the Lord gave him to help others understand God’s intentions in Jesus.
His concern: you might be discouraged by his problems. The thing that encourages him most in his situation is knowing you are okay. He does not want his troubles to discourage you!
I ask you to listen to or read with me in Ephesians 3:1-13 and see if you can hear all of this in this passage of scripture.
For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles-if indeed you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace which was given to me for you; that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief. By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit; to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel, of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God’s grace which was given to me according to the working of His power. To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things; so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places. This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him. Therefore I ask you not to lose heart at my tribulations on your behalf, for they are your glory (Ephesians 3:1-13).
- Paul the Christian personally cared deeply about the people he taught.
- When he understood that Jesus was resurrected, was the Christ (the Jewish Messiah), he was amazed that God was so patient with him to the point of forgiving him and letting him participate in God’s mission.
- Listen carefully to what Paul the Christian said about himself and Jesus’ response to him in 1 Timothy 1:12-16:
I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.
- In what way was Paul the sinner ignorantly acting in unbelief? He completely misunderstood Jesus! He did not know who Jesus was!
- Listen to what he said about himself before he became a Christian in Acts 26:9-12:
So then, I thought to myself that I had to do many things hostile to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. And this is just what I did in Jerusalem; not only did I lock up many of the saints in prisons, having received authority from the chief priests, but also when they were being put to death I cast my vote against them. And as I punished them often in all the synagogues, I tried to force them to blaspheme; and being furiously enraged at them, I kept pursuing them even to foreign cities. While so engaged as I was journeying to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests . . .
- The transformation in Paul from violent opponent of Jesus to encourager of those who sought Jesus is astounding!
- In the scriptures we just read, we see how violently Paul opposed Jesus and those who believed Jesus was the Christ when Paul did not understand who Jesus was and regarded the reports of Jesus’ resurrection as lies.
- Listen to the contrast Paul made from the violent man who did not know Jesus was the Christ to the encouraging man who understood the work of God in Jesus. This statement is made to the Christians at Thessalonica concerning Paul’s behavior when he was with them. It is recorded in 1 Thessalonians 2:5-12.
For we never came with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed-God is witness-nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, even though as apostles of Christ we might have asserted our authority. But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children. Having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us. For you recall, brethren, our labor and hardship, how working night and day so as not to be a burden to any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. You are witnesses, and so is God, how devoutly and uprightly and blamelessly we behaved toward you believers; just as you know how we were exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one of you as a father would his own children, so that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.
- The change occurred in Paul because he finally understood God was at work in Jesus.
- The same kind of transformation will occur in you when you understand that God is at work in Jesus.
- You will continue to change, to grow closer to God’s character all your life, as you deepen your understanding of God’s work in Jesus.
- For the reason of spiritual growth and development, Paul never left new Christians alone to struggle to understand their new life in Jesus Christ.
- Do you remember the charge the resurrected Jesus gave to the apostles in Matthew 28:18-20?
And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
- I ask you to note four things.
- The first thing: God through Jesus’ resurrection gave him all spiritual authority, so the resurrected Jesus had the right to give the apostles this charge.
- The second thing: The charge Jesus gave the apostles was a worldwide charge meant for all people, not for a single nation nor a group of nations.
- The third thing: the core of the charge was to go worldwide and make disciples.
- Disciples are the followers of a teacher.
- They were to understand that Jesus was the teacherl; they were to follow him.
- The fourth thing: Their message about Jesus would produce two results.
- The people who wanted to follow Jesus would be baptized (baptism then meant immersion).
- The people who wanted to follow Jesus would observe Jesus’ teachings, his instructions on how to live, his commandments.
- These people would not prove they belonged to Jesus just by being baptized, but they would change the way they lived by following Jesus’ teachings.
- Today, it is essential to teach people to be Jesus’ disciples, to teach people to allow Jesus’ teachings and values to determine how they live.
- Paul cared greatly about the people he converted to Jesus Christ, and he did not leave them to struggle on their own to discover how to be disciples.
- Sometimes persecution or other obstacles prevented Paul personally from remaining and being of assistance to people newly converted to Christ.
- When that occurred, when Paul attracted so much opposition he was forced to leave, he would either leave part of his team to teach the converts, or he would send someone to check on them.
- Often, that person was Timothy.
- Listen to Acts 17:15, 16–
Now those who escorted Paul brought him as far as Athens; and receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they left. Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was being provoked within him as he was observing the city full of idols.
- Paul was by himself in Athens.
- He was by himself because people who strongly opposed Jesus Christ came to Berea because Paul was teaching there.
- The new converts perceived Paul’s life was in jeopardy, so they escorted him–for his own safety–to Athens.
- But Silas and Timothy stayed in Berea.
- Listen to 1 Corinthians 4:17–
For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, and he will remind you of my ways which are in Christ, just as I teach everywhere in every church.
- Listen again to Philippians 2:19, 20–
But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, so that I also may be encouraged when I learn of your condition. For I have no one else of kindred spirit who will genuinely be concerned for your welfare.
- Listen still again to statements Paul made in 1 Thessalonians 3 —
Verses 1-3: Therefore when we could endure it no longer, we thought it best to be left behind at Athens alone, and we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s fellow worker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you as to your faith, so that no one would be disturbed by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we have been destined for this.
Verses 6-8: But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always think kindly of us, longing to see us just as we also long to see you, for this reason, brethren, in all our distress and affliction we were comforted about you through your faith; for now we really live, if you stand firm in the Lord.
- To this same person, Paul wrote these instructions and encouragement in 2 Timothy 2:24-26:
The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.
- It is not enough for a person to be baptized into Jesus Christ.
- As important as that is, Jesus said it is not enough.
- The baptized person must dedicate himself or herself to living as Jesus’ disciple by learning his values and teachings.
- I want to end by directing your attention to today’s text we read at the beginning of this lesson, Ephesians 3:1-13.
- First, I want to note how deeply Paul cared about these people.
- Paul was Jewish by birth, and the people to whom he wrote were not Jewish by birth.
- In Paul’s lifetime, and long before, that mattered a lot.
- It mattered so much that typically devout Jews had only necessary interaction with non-Jews (gentiles).
- Devout Jews worshipped the living God; gentiles generally worshipped idols or believed in nothing.
- The lifestyle of Jews and the lifestyle of idol worshippers were quite different.
- Paul, who had been very Jewish (Galatians 1:13, 14), understood through God’s revelation that God wanted to save gentiles as much as He wanted to save Jews.
- That was not a popular understanding to have!
- People never like their religious beliefs to change, and Paul’s understanding would result in a huge change.
- Paul’s understanding was not accepted by many Jews, and it was not accepted by many idol worshippers.
- Paul said he knew his understanding by God’s revelation meant trouble for him.
- However, that trouble was okay.
- He looked upon his understanding as a stewardship from God–God was in charge of the understanding; Paul was only responsible for handling this understanding responsibly.
- Paul labeled his understanding "the mystery of Christ."
- He said this mystery had not been previously understood by people.
- He said this mystery of Christ meant through the gospel (of God working through Jesus Christ), God could make Christians of gentiles as certainly as He could make Christians of Jews.
- Paul’s responsibility was to tell everyone of God’s grace expressed in the resurrected Jesus.
- Paul wanted everyone to understand what God did in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
- Paul wanted everyone to see how wise God was.
- He wanted everyone to see this was God’s eternal purpose, not some afterthought of God, not some crazy idea of Paul’s.
- Paul’s responsibility was to handle this understanding boldly and confidently.
- Therefore, Paul did not want them to be discouraged because he was being opposed and physically suffering.
- He did not deny what he endured was the result of teaching them.
- However, he wanted them to understand that their continuing in Jesus Christ glorified what God did in Jesus.
The issue is not "is Jesus Christ opposed." That has always been true. The issue is "are you willing to be a disciple of Jesus Christ?" Do you understand what God did in Jesus’ death and resurrection? Are you willing to let Jesus teach you how to live?
Posted by David on May 27, 2008 under Sermons
I hope you have had at least one of those moments when you "see" something you never saw before. What you "see" is not new. It has always been there for you to "see." Yet, for some reason (or a number of reasons), you never noticed it before. Once you "see" it, it is so obvious that you are forced to evaluate yourself. "Why didn’t I see that a long time ago? It is not new! It has always been there! How could I have not noticed it until now?"
Much of the time this "seeing" has to do with learning. Maybe a person’s focus was so given to something else that the "something else" is all he or she saw–he or she was so focused on one thing that he or she failed to see anything else.
Often this "seeing" is inconvenient. Once he or she "sees" the obvious, he or she can no longer ignore it. This "new to me" information demands that the person must do some additional evaluation of a matter that was already "settled" in the person’s thinking or view. Reevaluation is downright inconvenient!
Use today’s text as an illustration.
Before Jesus’ ministry, the Jewish people had God, God’s purposes, God’s objectives, and God’s ways figured out and settled for generations. There was not anything to learn. They just needed to evaluate all that happened by what they knew from past generations. They basically knew what kind of Messiah (Christ) God would send. They knew the basic nature of the kingdom God would establish. They knew the kind of rule God would institute. They knew they were God’s people, and God cared about them more than God cared about other people. The key to doing God’s will was convincing all other people to become a part of them as a proselyte. If everyone became just like them, everything would be okay.
Then Jesus began his ministry among the Jewish people. He was not what they expected as a Messiah. He spoke of a kingdom that was downright strange to them. He spoke of God’s rule in ways they found weird. He indicated that God was interested in people who were not "rules-keeping Jews." He indicated they were not God’s objective, but a God-intended vehicle to God’s objective.
Thus many, especially the prominent ones, did what they were supposed to do. They evaluated Jesus. In their opinion Jesus just did not measure up to their expectations. So many of them rejected Jesus.
Thus began one of the major problems in the first-century congregations. Jewish Christians has a hard time understanding how gentile Christians could be saved without circumcision, following the law God revealed through Moses, and adopting Jewish ways of doing things. The most written about conflict (in scripture) among Christians in first-century congregations was this: how can Jewish Christians and gentile Christians possibly be one in Jesus Christ?
Listen carefully to our reading (or read with me) and see if you hear that problem in Ephesians 2:11-22: Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Uncircumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision,” which is performed in the flesh by human hands-remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near; for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.
- There are several things in this reading you should note.
- First, gentile Christians (which most of us are now) were in a really difficult situation spiritually before they became Christians.
- They were not a part of the Jewish nation.
- God had no covenant (agreement) with them.
- God made no direct promises to them.
- They had nothing to serve as a basis of hope in God.
- They were strictly on their own, and that was a horrible situation to be in.
- Second, the situation radically changed when God sent Jesus to become the Christ through the sacrifice of his blood.
- Through Christ, God brought even the gentiles near to Himself.
- Through Christ, gentiles had as much right to come to God as did Jewish people.
- Through Christ, God made (please take note of the past tense) Jews who would accept Jesus Christ and gentiles who would accept Jesus Christ one.
- Through Christ, God made a peace between both groups.
- Through Christ, God destroyed any advantage Jewish people had through their past relationship with God.
- Through Christ, God made both Jews in Christ and gentiles in Christ one body of Christ’s.
- Through Christ, God reconciled both groups.
- The key for both Jewish Christians and gentile Christians was the same key–Jesus Christ.
- Understanding what God did through Jesus Christ allows Jewish Christians to be at peace in God and allows gentile Christians (no matter who they were or what their background was) to be at peace in God.
- Jesus Christ was the access to God for both groups.
- What does all that mean?
- It means any non-Jew who lived in idolatry in the past was a stranger and alien to God.
- However, with what God did in Jesus Christ, gentiles in Christ can be citizens in God’s kingdom and a part of God’s family.
- It meant that gentile Christians had the Jewish apostles and Jewish prophets as their faith foundation and Jesus Christ as their faith cornerstone in the same way Jewish Christians did.
- It meant God no longer lived in temples constructed by people.
- Not the Jewish temple in Jerusalem.
- Not idolatrous temples.
- Why? Because God now lived in the people who belonged to Him.
- People who belonged to Him–whether Jewish Christians or gentile Christians–were formed by God into His new temple.
- God’s new temple is formed out of people who belong to Him, not out of stones and construction materials.
- In the new kingdom, God lives in people instead of in places.
- God’s people–wherever they are and whatever they are doing–are to be God’s temple, God’s presence (see 1 Peter 1:5-10 as Peter used the same concept).
- There are several indicators that suggest there could be radical transitions in the way "we do church" in the future.
- There already has been far more transition than most of us realize.
- At the end of World War II, the Church of Christ was basically a rural church.
- The majority of its members were poor people living on family farms.
- The church building was usually located on some land someone gave from his farm for the purpose of having a building.
- There was no air conditioning, primitive heating (by today’s standards), graveled parking lots that were small, and few adult class rooms.
- There was no printed material to study, few people with college degrees, few full time preachers, no libraries, no education wings, few classrooms for children, few education programs, and no plans to improve or add to those things.
- A preacher who had been to college was looked upon with suspicion.
- There were all kinds of divisions that had happened, were happening, or would soon happen.
- Should you do anything another church was doing?
- What was your conviction on the millenium?
- What translation of the Bible could a person use?
- Was it scriptural to serve communion at the beginning of service?
- Should congregations cooperate in any enterprise or endeavor?
- Should you use only one cup in communion?
- Was how long you preached and how many scriptures you used a matter of faithfulness?
- Could women wear pants?
- Could women come to church without a hat?
- Could women cut their hair?
- Could men grow beards? Get tattoos? Wear "long hair?"
- Could you buy groceries from a store that sold beer or eat in a restaurant that served alcoholic beverages?
- These were just some of the questions vigorously debated–we always have been a people who sharply defended our positions.
- Today we are mostly an urban church with rural roots–family farms have disappeared, and we continue to struggle as we address urban needs and realities.
- Today most of us prefer well trained preachers, we want better facilities, we want education programs, we want libraries, we have to have paved parking lots, and we plan creature comforts to be a part of any expansion we do.
- Things will change in the future.
- For the past 30 years we have been able to economically afford expansions, programs, and buildings–what happens when we cannot afford such things? How will that change what we do and how we do it?
- (This is not at all the suggestion that we "hoard" what we have in a useless attempt to address the uncertainties of the future!)
- For years we converted people with at least an understanding of Christian basics.
- Not so now or in the future!
- An increasing number of converts will come from either no spiritual background or a background in a non-Christian religion.
- Increasingly, our congregations will be composed of people with needs and challenges that we have not dealt with in the past.
- Increasingly, members will struggle with views that are new to us who have been a part of congregations for three generations.
- Politically, people who were viewed as Christians occupied a position of "favored status" in the past.
- That is changing fast!
- How will we react when we deal with opposition instead of encouragement?
As increased needs and challenges become our new reality, passages such as the one we focused on today will become more relevant to us. We will increasingly understand that unity is a gift God gave us in the death of Jesus which we seek to preserve, not a status we seek to achieve through human accomplishment. Just as God in Christ made gentile Christians and Jewish Christians one, God can and will make us one. Not because we all conform–we never will!! Not because we all agree on one lifestyle–we never will! It will exist because of what God did for us in Jesus’ blood.
First-century Christians needed to understand that when Paul wrote. Christians still need to understand that.
