Memories

Posted by David on March 24, 2002 under Bulletin Articles

My mother called early Sunday morning. Her oldest living brother, Willard Martin, died Saturday night. He was 96 years old. His wife, Freda, died several years ago.

When I was a child, we lived a hundred miles from Uncle Willard. Today that is no trip at all. Then it was a long, tedious trip over curvy, two-lane mountain roads passing though many small towns. While we lived only a hundred miles from most of our Nashville, Tennessee, relatives, we did not spend much time with them.

When I was five, I was sick much of the time. Dad moved our family fifty miles from his job to change climates. Five days a week he rode or drove a hundred miles round trip to work and back. Understandably, on weekends he rarely wanted to drive a hundred miles in the opposite direction to visit. Only occasionally did we take trips to Nashville.

Occasionally Uncle Willard and Aunt Freda would visit us on a weekend. My brother and I joyfully anticipated his visits. He serviced vending machines, and he always brought us a whole box of Heath Bars. He also, almost always, took us fishing. Probably because of those fishing trips, I called him Uncle Wormy. I still can hear him laugh, and still hear him say, “Boys, what you need to do is …”

Memory is a peculiar thing. Often I struggle to recall the details of what happened a month ago. Yet, I easily recall fishing spots we visited fifty years ago. Memories of “then” stick to my mind as if they were made of velcro, but memories of “now” often slide away on skis coated with teflon.

Memory is a powerful force in life. It can refresh us with images that renew our hearts. It can torment us with images that refuse to disappear. It can demand honesty, or it can encourage deception. It can use our yesterdays to bring hope to our todays, or it can use our yesterdays to bring doubt to our todays. It can be all embracing, or it can be highly selective. It can focus only on the good or the bad, or it can accept the good and bad.

How fortunate are people who have memories created by those who loved! How fortunate is everyone who has a past ruled by a loving God! Never forget your present interactions are building someone’s memories. Never forget that if you have a “now” ruled by a loving God, in the future you will have a “past” ruled by a loving God.

Perverting Trust

Posted by David on March 17, 2002 under Sermons

Most people who regard themselves to be Christian, including most if not all of us, agree the foundation of Christianity is trust. Faith is a cornerstone of Christianity. In practical terms that we understand, faith is trust. One of Christianity’s basic objectives in a Christian’s life is developing trust. Increasing our willingness to trust is the constant goal of faith.

I sincerely doubt that the greater majority of Christians (a) discount the importance of faith or (b) disagree that the goal of faith is to increase a believer’s willingness to trust. There is broad agreement on the importance, the necessity of having faith or trust.

The common disagreement comes when people (who regard themselves to be Christians) define what we are to trust. There is broad agreement that believers must trust. There is also broad disagreement about what should be the object or focus of that trust. Consider a few things that are commonly presented as the foundation object or focus of a believer’s trust.

Last Sunday evening I asked you to think about the trust that God values. We noted the incident in Abraham’s life in Genesis 15 when he trusted God’s promise, and God reckoned his trust as righteousness. (Genesis 15:6)

This evening I ask you to focus on another incident in Abraham’s life, his willingness to kill his son Isaac as a burnt offering to God (Genesis 22:1-19).

1. The situation:
   1. Isaac, the son God promised Abraham, is now a “lad.”
      1. Scripture does not say how old Isaac was at this time.
      2. The evidence indicates he was much older than a toddler.
         1. He walked, talked, and was able to have an insightful conversation with his father.
         2. He was physically capable of going on a three day trip with his father.
         3. He knew and understood the basic necessities for a sacrifice of burnt offering to God.
         4. He was able to carry the wood to be used in the sacrifice up a mountain.
      3. Abraham waited twenty-five years for Isaac’s birth.
         1. Abraham is now over one hundred years old.
         2. The impossible became fact for him and Sarah.
         3. It happened because God kept His promise.

   2. The request astounds us; I wonder how it affected Abraham.
      1. The incident began very simply.
         1. Genesis 22:1 simply notes that God “tested” Abraham.
            1. Not “tempted,” but “tested”
            2. Satan uses temptation in the desire to destroy us.
            3. God tests us in the desire to advance our spiritual growth.
         2. It began with a simple call, “Abraham!” and a simple answer, “Here I am!”
         3. God’s request was direct, to the point, and simple: “Take Isaac and offer him as burnt sacrifice on Mount Moriah.”
      2. I long have been astounded with the promptness and preparation of Abraham’s response.
         1. I have no doubt that Abraham loved Isaac dearly.
         2. I have no doubt that Abraham felt a great sense of peace and hope when he looked at his son and thought about God, the blessing, and possibilities that existed because God kept His promise.
         3. Now God asked Abraham to do something that defied Abraham’s past experiences with God and God’s promises to Abraham.
         4. Abraham:
            1. Arose early the next morning.
            2. Prepared his donkey for travel.
            3. Took young men to assist him.
            4. Prepared the wood for the sacrifice.
            5. Abraham did nothing to prolong the life or delay the death of Isaac.
         5. The servants had no idea of what was to happen, and Abraham made certain they did not interfere with his offering.
      3. I have long been impressed at how difficult those three days of travel must have been.
         1. He spent each of those days with his son certain he was taking his son to his death.
         2. He spent each of those days with his son knowing that he would kill him.
      4. I have long been impressed with Abraham’s answer to Isaac’s question.
         1. Isaac: “Where is the lamb for the sacrifice?”
         2. Abraham: “God will provide for Himself the lamb for the sacrifice.”

   3. Abraham would have killed Isaac in sacrifice to God had an angel not stopped him in the act.
      1. Do you want to understand the nature of the trust that God reckons to be righteousness?
      2. “Now I know that you fear (reverence) God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.” (Genesis 22:12)

2. What was this “testing” all about? Why put Abraham and Isaac through all that agony?
   1. I call your attention to the central issue within the incident.
      1. This was the question to be answered.
      2. Does Abraham place his trust in the gift (the son) God gave?
      3. Or, does Abraham place his trust in the God who gave the gift?

   2. God was very specific about the great promises He made to Abraham.
      1. Abraham would have descendants through whom God would bring a blessing to all families of the earth. (Genesis 12:1-4)
      2. Those descendants would be so numerous they could not be counted. (Genesis 15:5)
      3. This would all happen because Abraham and Sarah would have a son. (Genesis 17:15, 16)

   3. Did Abraham believe those promises would happen because Isaac existed, or did Abraham believe those promises would happen because God existed?
      1. Was his confidence in God until Isaac was born, and at Isaac’s birth he transferred his confidence in the fact he had a son?
      2. Or, did he keep is confidence in the God who made the promise even after Isaac was born?
      3. In the willingness to offer Isaac, Abraham emphatically declared, “My trust is in the God who gave me Isaac.”
         1. “Abraham, is Isaac the son God promised you?” “Yes.”
         2. “You clearly understand that Isaac is the son of promise?” “Yes.”
         3. “If you kill Isaac, how will God keep His promise?” “I do not know how God will do it, but if He promised it would happen, it will happen.”
         4. Many hundred years later, Hebrews 11:19 stated Abraham was confident that God was able to resurrect people from the dead.
      4. Abraham made it quite clear that 100% of his confidence was in God, and 0% of his confidence was in himself or anything he did.
         1. What did God owe Abraham? Nothing.
         2. What did Abraham think God owed him? Nothing.
         3. Abraham learned much before this incident that God could do what God promised because He was God.
         4. The God that gave a hundred year old man and his ninety year old wife their first child could do and would do anything necessary to keep His promise.

3. Let me illustrate the total adequacy of God and the total inadequacy of a person.
   1. My point: the production of salvation in my life is all God.
      1. Divine forgiveness is 100% God and 0% David.
      2. Divine mercy is 100% God and 0% David.
      3. Divine grace is 100% God and 0% David.

   2. First, I use the incorrect concept I used years ago.
      
      1. When I first began focusing on God’s grace, I illustrated grace in this way.
      2. The person does all he can do, which is never nearly enough.
      3. Then God makes a person acceptable by adding grace to make the person complete.

   3. Second, I use what I now understand to be the correct concept.
      
      1. The New Testament concept of grace is that God provides 100% because even the best of us can provide nothing.
      2. The person obediently serves God, but the person places zero confidence in anything he or she does.
      3. I can stand before God because of what God does for me in Christ, not because of anything I do for God.

   4. The central question is not about the necessity of obedience but about the purpose of obedience.
      
      1. Is obedience absolutely necessary? Yes!
      2. Does my obedience earn anything or in any way obligate God to me? No!
         1. I obey because I trust.
         2. I obey to express my love and appreciation for all that God does for me in Christ.

One of the serious, destructive crises we face as Christians today is found in this fact: too many trust the gifts God gave instead of the God who gave the gifts.

We need the kind of trust in God that made Abraham willing to offer Isaac.

We need the kind of trust in God that allowed Job to remain with God after he lost everything.

We need the kind of trust in God the led David to face Goliath.

We need the kind of trust in God that motivated Daniel to be loyal to God even in the land of captivity.

We need the kind of trust in God that overwhelms us when we consider God’s mercy and forgiveness, just as Paul was overwhelmed.

We need the kind of trust in God that never forgets God owes us nothing, but we owe God everything.

Terrified or Pumped?

Posted by David on under Sermons

How often do you think about standing before God to discuss the way you used your life? When you think about that occasion, how do you feel? Do feel a sense of fear or a sense of excitement?

It will happen. It is unavoidable. Not many occurrences in our futures are absolute certainties. Our meeting with God is an absolute certainty. Nothing you or I can do will prevent it.

Who would like to prevent that meeting with God? The person who is terrified of God would prevent that meeting. The thought of talking to God about the way he or she used life fills that person with terror.

Some people are excited about that meeting. No, they do not think they have conquered all evil. No, they do not think that they are perfect. No, they do not think they have deceived God about their flaws and mistakes. They place their confidence in God’s forgiveness and Jesus’ blood. They are excited because they understand their meeting with God will be an occasion of incredible peace.

If you want to be certain that your meeting with God is an occasion of incredible peace, not a time of terror, what would you do? Would you do nothing because you are convinced that God is easily irritated? Or, would you take responsible risks for God because you are convinced that God likes for His people to show initiative?

Focus your attention on Matthew 25:14-30. Late in his life, Jesus taught the parable we call the parable of the talents.
For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey. Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents. In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more. But he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. Now after a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed. And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’ But his master answered and said to him, ‘You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed. Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’ For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

1. First, we must do something Jesus did not need to do–we need to understand the facts behind the parable; Jesus’ audience immediately understood the facts behind the parable.
   1. The basic fact we must understand is this: the parable is based on the servants’ use of the money they were given.
      1. The master in the parable is a wealthy man.
         1. He gave three servants a total of eight talents to use in his best interest while he was away on a long trip.
         2. One talent weighed about 75 pounds.
            1. In the parable Jesus did not say if he was talking about a gold talent or a silver talent.
            2. Regardless if he talked silver or of gold talents, the amount of money the master entrusted to his servants was enormous.
               1. If they were gold talents, just one talent was worth over $350,000 if you figure 75 pounds of gold at $293.30 an ounce (the value of an ounce of gold on Wednesday of this week).
               2. If they were silver talents, just one talent was worth over $5,300 if you figure 75 pounds at $4.48 an ounce (the value of an ounce of silver on Wednesday of this week).
         3. Jesus told the parable 2000 years ago, and the point was that the master entrusted a lot of money to each of the three servants.
      2. The master did not have that money because he allowed his money “to sit around and do nothing.”
         1. He put his money to work.
         2. But he was going to be gone for an indefinite period of time.
            1. He would not be there to manage his money.
            2. He would have to trust someone else to manage it for him.
         3. So he called three of his servants he regarded as trustworthy and capable, and he gave them the responsibility of managing his money while he was away.
      3. All he expected of each servant was what that servant had the ability to do.
         1. If gold talents were given to the three servants:
            1. He gave one servant over $1,750,000 to manage in his absence.
            2. He gave one servant over $700,000 to manage in his absence.
            3. He gave one servant over $350,000 to manage in his absence.
         2. The amount the master entrusted to a servant depended on that servant’s personal capability.
         3. His expectations did not exceed the servants’ abilities–he did not expect them to do something they were not capable of doing.
      4. After giving the money to each servant, the master began his long trip.
         1. Trips were dangerous.
            1. It was unwise to travel with a lot of money.
            2. Traveling with all that money also would be irresponsible and unproductive.
         2. Trips were uncertain.
            1. There was no means of staying in contact with anyone at home.
            2. You could not know how things were going in your absence or make suggestions when problems arose.
         3. There was no way to know how long you would be gone or set a date for your return.
            1. When you traveled, very little was under your control.
            2. Each day you simply did what was possible.

   2. What happened:
      1. The servant who was entrusted with over $1,750,000 went right to work.
         1. He acted responsibly, but he also took risk.
         2. In his master’s absence, he doubled the amount to over $3,500,000.
         3. The entire effort profited his master.
            1. The entire $3,500,000 belonged to his master, not to him.
            2. He was just being a responsible servant, doing his job.
      2. The servant who was entrusted with over $700,000 also went right to work.
         1. He, too, acted responsibly but took risks.
         2. He, too, doubled the amount entrusted to him to over $1,400,000.
            1. That entire amount belonged to his master.
            2. He was merely being a responsible servant, doing his job.
      3. However, the responsibility terrified the third servant!
         1. He had only one desire–do the safest thing possible! Take no risk!
         2. So he did the safest thing to be done then–he buried the money.
         3. The master would not make anything, but neither would the master lose anything.
         4. When the master returned, he received his actual money back.
         5. In this servant’s estimation, the safest thing to do was to do nothing.
            1. Forget capability.
            2. Forget risk.
            3. The master’s best interest is served by losing nothing.
            4. That is all the master is concerned about–losing nothing.
            5. Play it safe–don’t do anything!

2. In time the master returned and called the three servants in to give a report.
   1. Two of the servants had wonderful reports.
      1. The servant entrusted with $1,750,000 reported he doubled the amount entrusted to him.
      2. The servant entrusted with $700,000 reported he also doubled the amount entrusted to him.
      3. Both received the same compliment from the master.
         1. “You did well; you were a good servant; you were dependable.”
         2. “I will place you in charge of many things.”
         3. “I invite you to share life’s joy with me.”

   2. The report of the servant who received over $350,000 was horrible.
      1. “I knew what kind of person you are.”
         1. “You are a hard man, just plain unreasonable.”
         2. “I knew there was no way that I could meet your expectations because you always expect something for nothing.”
      2. “When you entrusted this money to me, I was scared!”
         1. “So I did the safe thing.”
         2. “I hid your money in a safe place.”
         3. “Now I give you the same money you gave to me–you lost nothing.”
      3. The master’s reaction is astounding.
         1. “If you knew me so well, why did you not at least place my money where it would draw some interest.”
         2. “You wicked, lazy slave.”
            1. Wicked, lazy slave?
            2. He did nothing! He did not lose anything!
            3. How could the slave be wicked and lazy if the master got back exactly what he gave the slave?
      4. “Take this wicked, lazy slave’s $350,000 away from him and give it to the slave who manages 3 ? million dollars for me.”
         1. He will work! He will be responsible! He uses the money!
         2. “I will give more opportunity to the one who uses opportunity.”
         3. “I will take opportunity away from the one who refuses to use it.”
      5. “Severely punish the wicked, lazy slave who had both ability and opportunity, but no initiative.”
      6. Why was this slave such a miserable failure? He did not know his master!

3. I have worked for and in the church all my life.
   1. This year, I have preached full time for 40 years.
      1. It has been and is my joy to know, work with, and be encouraged by many Christian men and women who are serious in their commitment to godliness.
      2. But in all these years, I have noticed something over and over.
         1. Too often the controlling attitude in a congregation is this: “let’s play it safe.”
         2. What does that mean? What does it mean when we say, “Let’s play it safe.”
         3. Too often it means, “God would rather we be afraid of Him and do nothing than trust Him and take initiative.”
         4. Where did we form the conclusion that the safest way to please God is to do nothing? Why did we decide the safest way to make God happy is to take no risk?

   2. When God built his church on the foundation of Jesus Christ, God did not build a building.
      1. What God built was not centered in a building.
      2. What God built was not dependent on a building.

   3. What God built was a people, a people who sought God’s best interest, a people who responsibly took risk to God’s glory.
      1. Know God!
      2. Know the enormous investment God made in the church He built–He invested the life, death, and blood of His Son.
      3. Take what God entrusted to us and use it to His glory.

We come to this building to honor God with worship, to study His will, and to encourage each other. We leave this building to function as God’s people, to assume the responsibilities of godliness, to make a spiritual difference wherever we are.

Go honor God! Go be spiritually responsible! Go be a positive influence who dares to take the risk of being Jesus’ light in a dark world! We have so much ability! Use it to bless and benefit God’s investment!

If There Were No Clouds

Posted by David on under Bulletin Articles

When do we say, “What a dreary day!” Oh, we said that in the past! And, we will say that again! When? When will we say that? On a day when the temperature is 78 degrees; the sun is shining; the sky is a clear, deep blue; spring’s new leaves cast their first shadow; birds sing; and flowers accent the bright green with color?

Will we say that in the fall when trees put on fall colors; the first crisp 50 degree morning arrives; the sun shines with such brightness one can hardly see; the sky is a clear, deep blue; and the bright, fall sunlight highlights every delicate hue of nature’s kaleidoscope?

In our late summer’s heat when 100 degree days make the air still and heavy, turn green to brown, and transform the ground to concrete or dust, we talk about “oppressiveness.” A blue sky with its sunshine merely adds to the “oppressiveness.”

In our “dead of winter” cold when 30 mile-an-hour northern winds blow air chilled to temperatures under 20 degrees, we talk about the “penetrating” cold. A blue sky with its sunshine is no more than an empty appearance playing tricks on expectations.

So, when do we say, “What a dreary day!” Dreary days come any time of the year when cloudy days follow cloudy days. We associate dreariness with cloudiness. How strange! Clouds raise our water levels in the winter. Clouds make possible the spring’s life. Clouds break summer’s drought. Clouds produce fall’s rest. Clouds bring life. Why? Clouds bring water.

A few days ago I talked by phone to a person whose body is able to do little. With joy and purpose, he shared his dreams and projects. His actual world is quite small. Yet, he discovers ways to share Jesus Christ to other countries. He expressed gratitude for his strength and health as he told of others living with horrible limitations. I wondered, “Were I in his condition, would I see only dreariness? Or would I see clouds offering me life? Would I stop living or live fully?”

May all of us see the clouds. May all of us see the life they bring. May those clouds bring us the water of life. May we drink and live.

John 4:10 “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”

The Trust God Values

Posted by David on March 10, 2002 under Sermons

For hundreds, perhaps thousands of years, “faith” has been (a) one word of a group of words commonly confined to religious vocabularies and (b) a religious concept that should be used only in religious contexts. For example, if you or I use the word “faith” we automatically assume we are in a religious discussion. Today, how often do you use the word “faith” in a discussion that is not religious?

There was a time within my lifetime in this society when the word “faith” served a dual role. When the word “faith” occurred in a conversion, it might be a religious discussion, but it might not be a religious discussion. “That is one person you can place your faith in!” “This is a ‘good faith’ agreement.” “He (she) is faithful to do what he (she) says.”

At that time the word “faith” was both an important religious word and practical word. Yet, even then, commonly the religious concept and the practical concept were disconnected. You were either talking religion or you were talking business. In business, you were talking about trust. In religion you were talking about salvation.

Yet the basic concept in business or religion was the same–genuine trust or absolute confidence. The primary difference did not have to do with the concept. The primary difference concerned those bound by trust. If business was discussed, the bond of trust was between a human and a human. If religion was discussed, the bond of trust was between a human and God.

1. First, I want to clearly narrow the focus of my thoughts tonight.
   1. I am specifically talking about a person who belongs to God, who has a relationship with God, who is accepted by God because he or she is in Christ.
   2. Both two scriptures I use tonight are based on situations in which the person or persons were God’s people.
      1. The first scripture is about Abraham long after Abraham began following God’s instructions.
      2. The second scripture is an illustration Paul used to expand the understanding of the Christians in Rome.

2. I want to begin with an incident in Abraham’s life found in Genesis 15.
   1. Before Genesis 15, Abraham obeyed God in ways that impress us.
      1. He left Ur, a center of civilization, to travel to Haran with his extended family.
      2. He left a world of idolatry to follow the God he recently met.
      3. Then, when his father died, he left Haran and his extended family to be a nomad in a dangerous area.
      4. When his livestock and Lot’s livestock together were too large for the water and food supply, he gave Lot first choice of areas to go, and he (Abraham) went the other direction.
      5. When Lot, his family, and his possessions were captured in a war, Abraham rescued Lot.
      6. All of this happened because Abraham trusted God.
      7. As I focus you on a statement that declared God’s attitude toward Abraham, keep your thinking focused on two facts.
         1. Fact one: Abraham followed God–he was God’s man.
         2. Fact two: as God’s follower, Abraham was very obedient.

   2. God appeared to Abraham after Abraham rescued Lot (Genesis 15:1-6)
      1. I will use my own words to state the conversation–read the text and make certain what I share accurately reflects scripture.
      2. God said, “Abraham, do not be afraid. I will protect you and reward you.”
      3. Abraham said, “How can that happen? How can you reward me?”
         1. “The rewards you promised me depend on me having a son.”
         2. “A slave will have to be my heir because I have no son.”
      4. God said, “That will not happen. A slave will not be your heir.”
         1. “You will have a son, a son truly from you.”
         2. “From that son will come so many descendants that it will be as impossible to count them as it is for you to count the stars.”
      5. Then this statement occurs in verse 6:
         Genesis 15:6 Then he believed in the Lord; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.
         1. God said it, and Abraham trusted what God said.
         2. God promised it, and Abraham trusted God’s promise.
         3. Why did Abraham trust? Because God said it.
         4. Was Sarah pregnant? No.
         5. Was the son to be born within the next year. No.
         6. Was Sarah young enough to have a reasonable hope of getting pregnant? No.
         7. Abraham trusted God’s statement simply because God said it.
      6. Notice something extremely important.
         1. God did not reckon Abraham to be a righteous man because of one or all of Abraham’s remarkable acts of obedience.
         2. God attributed righteousness to Abraham because the obedient Abraham trusted God.
         3. Did Abraham, the man who followed God, obey God? Yes.
         4. Was his obedience necessary? Yes.
         5. Did God attribute righteousness to him because of his acts of obedience? No.
         6. God accepted him as righteous because the obedient Abraham trusted God.

3. Thousands of years later after Jesus was crucified and raised from the dead, Paul used this exact incident to explain a crucial understanding to Christians in Rome.
   1. Paul’s specific statement we will examine is Romans 4:1-8.
   2. Before we focus on that statement, we need to establish some context.
      1. In the first two and a half chapters of this letter to the Christians in Rome, Paul emphasized the fact that everyone needs what God did in Jesus Christ.
         1. God’s power revealed in what God accomplished in Jesus’ death and resurrection is the only hope anyone has for salvation (1:16, 17).
         2. That good news is God’s power to save.
         3. That good news reveals how God uses faith to make people righteous.
      2. Why does everyone need to understand that God uses faith in His accomplishments in Jesus’ death and resurrection to make people righteous?
         1. Guilt–everyone has guilt they cannot escape.
         2. The only way to escape guilt is to trust what God did in the cross and resurrection.
         3. Only that trust allowed people who do not know God to escape their guilt.
         4. Only that trust allowed the people who knew God best (the Jews) to escape their guilt.
      3. What is so special about what God did in Jesus’ death and resurrection? (Romans 3:21-31).
         1. God established a means of making people righteous that was based on trusting God’s accomplishments in Jesus’ death and resurrection.
         2. Everybody needs this means of being righteous because everybody is a sinner.
         3. God gave us all a gift, the gift called grace, by justifying us in the redemption in Christ.
         4. God paid our debt; He paid for our sins; He did it with Jesus.
         5. But the only way we can benefit from the things God accomplished in Jesus’ death and resurrection is to trust what He did.

   3. Jewish Christians in Rome had a real problem with Paul’s declaration.
      1. First, there was no way they were condemned by guilt just as were those people who did not know God.
      2. Second, two things made them different.
         1. They had the right ancestors.
         2. Long ago they received God’s law.
      3. Third, God did not work like Paul said He worked.
         1. Paul misunderstood God.
         2. God would never base salvation on trust.

   4. Now pay close attention to what Paul said in Romans 4:1-8.
      1. Paul said, “I am not telling you that God has a new way of working with people to make them righteous.”
         1. “I am telling you God is doing what He always did.”
         2. “God always made people righteous on the basis of their trust in Him.”
      2. Paul asked these Christians to think and to remember.
         1. First, if Abraham was righteous because of his obedient acts, God owed Abraham.
            1. Abraham had bragging rights because of what he did.
            2. Abraham had himself to thank for his righteousness.
         2. Second, Paul reminded them that God credited Abraham with righteousness because Abraham trusted God.
      3. Paul emphasized trust (faith) is the way God has always made people righteous.
         1. That is the way God made Abraham righteous.
         2. Hundreds of years after Abraham died, King David verified that is the way God works when David wrote:
            1. Blessed is the person whose lawless deeds are forgiven,
            2. Blessed is the person whose sins have been covered (by God),
            3. Blessed is the person whose sin God will not take into account.
         3. When a person places his or her trust in what God did in Jesus’ death and resurrection, God forgives that person’s sins instead of holding him or her accountable for those sins.
         4. That is the way God functions in making people righteous.
         5. That is the way God always functioned in making people righteous.

4. It is essential for us Christians to focus on Paul’s point.
   1. We want to take the focus off of us, and put the focus on the person who has not yet become Christian.
      1. Paul spoke to people who were Christians.
      2. Basically, Paul asked Christians, “What do you trust? Where do you place your confidence?”
      3. The powerful temptation for Christians is to place salvation trust in something besides God’s accomplishments in Jesus’ death and resurrection.
         1. Jewish Christians were tempted to trust their ancestry.
         2. Jewish Christians were tempted to trust their obedience, their works.
         3. Jewish Christians were tempted to trust their past.
      4. We have the same problem.
         1. Do you know who my family is? What my roots are?
         2. Do you know what my family and I have done for the church?
         3. Do you know how many generations my family has been in the church?

   2. There is a powerful temptation to reduce salvation to a system that measures faithfulness by human deeds instead of the depth of a Christian’s trust in God.
      1. We make a check list of what a Christian is supposed to do, and our confidence is placed in our check marks.
      2. We declare ourselves righteous if we have the right number of check marks.
      3. God considers us to be righteous when we trust Him.

Will a person who trusts God obey God? Absolutely! Abraham did. King David did. But as remarkable as the obedience of Abraham and David was, their confidence was in God, not in their obedience.

Place your confidence in God, not in yourself. My salvation exists because of what God did in Jesus’ death and resurrection, not in anything that I have done. The trust God values is centered in trusting what God did in Jesus’ death and resurrection, not in trusting my obedience.

“Lord, I Promise You …”

Posted by David on under Sermons

Help me as together we focus our minds. I want all to establish a mutual focus by reading together Genesis 15:7-17.

And He [God] said to him [Abraham], “I am the Lord who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to possess it.” He said, “O Lord God, how may I know that I will possess it?” So He said to him, “Bring Me a three year old heifer, and a three year old female goat, and a three year old ram, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” Then he brought all these to Him and cut them in two, and laid each half opposite the other; but he did not cut the birds. The birds of prey came down upon the carcasses, and Abram drove them away. Now when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, terror and great darkness fell upon him. God said to Abram, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, where they will be enslaved and oppressed four hundred years. But I will also judge the nation whom they will serve, and afterward they will come out with many possessions. As for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you will be buried at a good old age. Then in the fourth generation they will return here, for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet complete.” It came about when the sun had set, that it was very dark, and behold, there appeared a smoking oven and a flaming torch which passed between these pieces. And on that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram …

1. The context of the situation:
   1. The five kings in the area in which Lot lived rebelled against four kings who controlled the area (Genesis 14).
      1. The five kings lost the war.
      2. Not only was their territory plundered, but Lot, his family, and everything he owned was captured and taken.
      3. Someone who knew Abraham reported what happened.
      4. Abraham took his own private fighting force, surprised and defeated the forces of the four kings, and freed everything and everyone including Lot.

   2. After that occurred, God came to Abraham in a vision to encourage him.
      1. “Do not be afraid, Abraham.”
      2. “I will protect you and reward you.”

   3. Abraham said, “How are you going to do that, Lord?”
      1. “You promised me a son long ago, and I still do not have that son.”
      2. “If I don’t have a son, a slave is going to become my heir.”
      3. In the place Abraham lived, a childless man’s heir was a slave he chose.

   4. God said, “That will not happen.”
      1. “You will have a son to be your heir.”
      2. Verse 5 said God had Abraham go outside and look up at the stars.
         1. He asked Abraham to try to count them.
         2. Then God promised Abraham’s descendants would be as numerous as the stars.
      3. Abraham believed God, and God made Abraham’s trust to be righteousness.
         1. God said, “I brought your out of your homeland to this place.
         2. “I give this land to you.
         3. “One day your descendants will live here.”

2. Abraham asked, “Lord, how do I know you are giving me this land?”
   1. To make the agreement in a way that Abraham clearly understood, God had Abraham to prepare for a blood agreement or covenant.
      1. God gave these instructions to Abraham: “Bring me a three year old heifer, a three year old female goat, a three year old male sheep, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.”
      2. God wanted Abraham to understand the certainty of His promise, so God had Abraham prepare for a blood agreement.
         1. The animals were cut in half, placed so the blood drained downward to form a path way.
         2. When such agreements were made, the two making the promise, agreement, or covenant walked in the blood between the halves of the sacrifices.
         3. Apparently this act said, “If I do not keep my promise, may I be killed just like these animal were.”
      3. This was a terrifying occasion for Abraham.
         1. How can a human swap promises with God?
         2. God will never fail to keep any promise He makes.
         3. A human can never keep a promise as God does.

   Art used by permission of Pat Marvenko Smith, copyright © 2000. Click here to visit her “Revelation Illustrated” site.

   [Song #31 “Be still and know that I am God.“]

   Read with me again. This time I want to read a New Testament scripture about a covenant that involves you and me. I now read to you Hebrews 10:26-29.
   For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries. Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?

3. God said to each of us who are in Christ Jesus, “I promise you that you will live in heaven with me. Your salvation is as certain as My promise.”
   1. “You cannot save yourself, but I can give you salvation–just like I gave Abraham Canaan, I give you salvation.”
      1. “This time I bring the blood sacrifice for our agreement, covenant.”
      2. “Just as it was a blood agreement when I gave Abraham Canaan, the agreement I make with you is a blood agreement.”
         1. “Abraham brought animals for the blood of our agreement.
         2. “I bring the blood for the agreement I make with you.
         3. “It is the blood of my Son.”

   2. The writer of Hebrews had some things to say to Christians because they entered a blood agreement with God.
      
      1. These Christians were very discouraged and were considering ignoring their blood agreement with God.
      2. “You would enter a blood agreement with God and deliberately ignore that agreement by continuing to sin?
      3. “If you deliberately keep living like a sinner, the only thing ahead of you is God’s fury.
      4. “You know what happened when an Israelite removed himself from God’s mercy.
      5. “How much worse punishment do you think you will receive if you walk on God’s sacrifice (the body of His Son) and walk through Jesus’ blood as if it were just mud?
      6. “What do you think will happen if you insult God’s spirit of grace?”

   [Song #176 “Lamb of God” by Twila Paris, 1985]

   Read with me a third scripture. This statement is written by the author of Hebrews to those same Christians. It is very relevant to our blood agreement with God. The scripture is Hebrews 10:19-25.
   Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

4. There are times when I witness a baptism or assist in a baptism that I am very afraid.
   1. God is not the reason for my fear.
      1. I have every confidence in God’s love, God’s mercy, and God’s grace.
      2. No sin is too difficult for God to forgive.
      3. No life is too messed up for God to transform.
      4. No person is too unholy for God to sanctify.
      5. No wicked life is too black for God to purify.
      6. God can do and will do what He promised to do.

   2. The person entering a blood agreement with God is the reason for my fear.
      1. When a person gives me reason to think that he or she does not know what he or she is doing, I am afraid.
      2. When a person places his or her confidence in their act instead of God’s act, I am afraid.
      3. When a person thinks or says, “God is promising everything and I promise nothing,” I am afraid.
      4. When I see men or women who were immersed into Christ, who made a blood agreement with God, live and act like that agreement does not exist, I am afraid.

My terror does not come from being scared of God. God’s mercy and grace are dependable. My terror comes from being scared of us. We are not dependable.

Do you, as a Christian, ever ask yourself, “What am I doing? What am I doing here? What am I doing with these people who care nothing at all for God?”

When Abraham offered the animal sacrifices of Genesis 15, he walked in animal blood. When you were immersed into Christ, God washed you with the blood of His son. In your everyday life, how often do you ignore your blood agreement with God? Do you exist in that agreement as you thank God for His mercy and promises?

The Unexpected

Posted by David on under Bulletin Articles

The winter was mild. February’s final weekend had seventy degree temperatures. Then March’s first weekend slaughtered expectations! Saturday’s predicted “dusting” of snow became significant accumulations that buried roads. Saturday’s early mid-thirty degree temperatures plunged to eleven degrees by Sunday’s sunrise. The coldest air of our winter brought many things to a quick halt.

Friday my yard had early spring flowers. In the back, giant buttercup blooms gaudily demanded attention. In the front, smaller buttercup blooms stood as strong sentinels of an early spring. I almost could hear them defiantly declare, “Cool days may come, but they cannot hurt us! They may bend our stems, but our radiant blooms will shine!”

Then the unexpected rapidly roared through. Tolerable temperatures became intolerable. As mid-thirties quickly fell to mid-twenties, my giant butter cups in the back bowed to the ground. Snow covered them completely–they disappeared! The smaller, front butter cups stood defiantly erect as the snow fell. The snow stopped. The temperature continued to plummet. They, too, bowed. They were visible, but defiance became weakness as they fell on top of the snow. The unexpected humbled them.

When favorable conditions are in control, our faith does “marvelous things.” Defiantly, it says, “Difficult days occasionally may come. But when they do, they will be temporary. I will endure spiritually! I will survive spiritually! I will triumph spiritually regardless!”

Then the unexpected comes in unimaginable forms and ways: a catastrophic illness; the failing health of someone we love; the loss of a “secure” job; radical, necessary changes in lifestyle; a permanently weakened body; the death of someone who was not supposed to die. Maybe we are quickly “on the ground” hidden from view. Maybe we defiantly stand erect until overwhelmed. Regardless, the unexpected humbles us. Doubts, questions, and confusion flood our minds. The line separating humility and despair blurs.

When favorable situations exist, often our faith draws its substance from our strength. When the unexpected happens, strength depending on “self” is never enough to sustain faith. A strong, defiant faith nourished by favorable conditions wilts fast under the control of the unexpected.

Our Lord wants us to accept our weakness. He knows it is there even when we are confident in our strength. Why does He want us to be aware of our weakness? Struggling disciples depend on His strength instead of their strength. “My grace is sufficient for you; for power is perfected in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). The strength Christ wants in us is the strength of dependence. That is faith.

Reactions

Posted by David on March 3, 2002 under Sermons

Sometimes you experience a period when everything depresses you. In this period it seems one reason for depression is followed by another reason for depression. While we see good things in our experiences, we also see bad things in our experiences. The good things seem few and the bad things seem to be many. The good experiences seem small and the bad experiences seem enormous. Our worst feeling: we begin to fear bad experiences actually will destroy good experiences.

This feeling did not begin with us. People in every age felt this way. In every age God’s people are powerfully tempted to feel this way.

1. Often, I am thankful Peter figured prominently in the gospels and Acts.
   1. The beginning day before Jesus’ crucifixion and continuing through the first 40 days after Jesus’ resurrection was a horrible period for Peter.
      1. The night of his betrayal, Jesus told his disciples that they would all desert him (Mark 14:27-31).
         1. Peter said if all the others fell away, he would not.
         2. Jesus told Peter he would deny Jesus three times before the rooster crowed twice the next morning.
         3. Peter continued to insist, “Even if I must die, I will not desert you!”
         4. In spite of all his feeling and all his words, when things did not go as Peter expected, he ran (Matthew 25:56).
      2. Even worse, he denied he knew Jesus (Mark 14:66-72).
         1. The third time he denied Jesus, he cursed and swore that he did not know Jesus.
         2. Then the rooster crowed the second time.
         3. When the rooster crowed, Peter realized what he had done, and he cried.
      3. Evidence suggests to me that even after Jesus’ resurrection, Peter was shaken and confused. At some point in the 40 day period after his resurrection, Jesus spent time with some of his disciples on the shores of the Sea of Galilee.
         John 21:15-17 So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My lambs.” He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Shepherd My sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Tend My sheep.
      4. I personally conclude that Peter felt a growing sense of awkwardness in Jesus’ presence on the shores of the lake where it all started.
         1. There they were eating fish and bread as the day dawned.
         2. Jesus prepared the meal and served them the meal–that had to be awkward and painful.
         3. Peter and the others had been out fishing from their boats with their nets that night just as they did when Jesus asked them to follow him.
         4. They even caught fish by Jesus’ instructions just as when they first followed him (Luke 5:1-11).
         5. Nobody asked, “Who are you?” All of them knew it was Jesus.
      5. After everyone ate, Jesus began a conversation with Peter.
         1. He asked Peter a question that intensified Peter’s awkward feelings: “Do you love me more than these?”
         2. There is a lot happening in this situation that is not obvious in an English translation.
            1. First, we are not sure what the “more than these” refers to, and no explanation was given.
               1. More than the other disciples there?
               2. More than the occupation of fishing?
            2. Second, Jesus began a word play using the word love.
      6. We have and use just one word for love.
         1. They had four different words for love they could use.
         2. The word Jesus used was, “Peter, are you committed to my highest good, my best interests?”
            1. Peter answered by using another word for love, “Lord, I have a brother’s fondness for you.”
            2. The first time Jesus said, “Tend my lambs.”
         3. Jesus asked the same question using the same word for love the second time.
            1. Peter answered (the same answer) using his same word for love.
            2. This time Jesus said, “Shepherd my sheep.”
         4. Jesus asked Peter the same question a third time, but this time Jesus used Peter’s word for love–“do you have a brother’s fondness for me?”
         5. Now Peter really felt the awkwardness of the moment–he was grieved that Jesus asked about his love three times.
            1. In his grief, Peter replied, “Lord, You know everything; You know I have a brother’s fondness for you.”
            2. After his running and denials, he knew the Lord knew everything!
            3. Jesus said, “Tend My sheep.”
         6. I find this conversation of enormous encouragement: in spite of running, in spite of the denials, Jesus had a purpose for Peter.

   2. Shortly after that Jesus asked Peter to take a walk with him.
      John 21:19b-21 And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me!” Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them; the one who also had leaned back on His bosom at the supper and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?” So Peter seeing him said to Jesus, “Lord, and what about this man?”
      1. For Peter, the awkwardness of the situation grew and grew.
      2. Jesus just asked him three times if he loved Jesus.
      3. As if that were not embarrassing enough, Jesus asked Peter to take a walk with him–Peter was going to spend some one-on-one time with Jesus.
      4. As Jesus and Peter began to walk, Peter looked back and saw the disciple who leaned an Jesus’ chest at the last supper and asked about the identity of the betrayer.
         1. Evidently that disciple was trailing along behind them.
         2. Peter really wanted out of Jesus’ spot light, really wanted to shift the focus to someone else.
         3. So Peter tried to shift the focus away from himself by asking, “What about him?”
      5. None of us want to be in the spot light of Jesus’ MRI vision (he knows hearts), and we often think we can get Jesus’ attention on someone else so he has no time to think about “me.”
         1. Jesus answered Peter’s question with a question: “What is it to you?” or “What do the plans I have for him have to do with my plans for you?”
         2. I am confident Jesus would give each of us the same response.

2. Jesus’ relationship with each of us is personal and basically concerns each of us as an individual.
   1. Together we are the church, but the church is composed of individuals.
      1. In the past the manner that we emphasized the importance of the church created a misconception.
      2. It seems that there are some who have formed this expectation for the judgment.
         1. The Lord says, “Everyone here who attended the West-Ark Church of Christ hold up your hand.”
            1. “Good!”
            2. “You people go on in heaven.”
         2. So, as a group, members of the West-Ark Church of Christ walk into heaven.
      3. In my understanding, the New Testament does not suggest that will happen.
         1. One of us says, “Lord, I was a member of the West-Ark Church of Christ.”
         2. The Lord says, “I want to talk to you about you, not about the West-Ark Church of Christ.”
         3. The same person says, “But, Lord, you just extended a welcome to a member of the West-Ark Church of Christ!”
            1. “I saw you!”
            2. “I went to church with that person every Sunday!”
         4. The Lord says, “My relationship with that person was with him (her).”
            1. “My relationship with you is with you.”

3. I surely need your help.
   1. Every time we assemble, every time I share with you, there are several groups of people present. Let me mention four groups.
      1. Group one is composed of Christians who are crushed by their burden of guilt feelings.
         1. They are plagued with “I am not good enough for God to tolerate” feelings.
         2. The primary issue at work in their lives is this: they place little faith in God’s promises.
      2. Group two is composed of Christians who just do not care.
         1. They are convinced if God is merciful to others, He must be merciful to them.
         2. The primary issue at work in their lives is this: they abuse God’s grace.
      3. Group three is composed of Christians who struggle.
         1. They know how they should devote themselves to God, but they are weak.
         2. The primary issue at work in their lives is this: temptation.
      4. Group four is composed of Christians who just do not know.
         1. They are confused because they literally do not understand.
         2. The primary issue at work in their lives is this: they know almost nothing about God, or Jesus, or scripture.
      5. These are not all the groups present; just four of them.

   2. The problem: one lesson cannot possibly meet the spiritual needs of all four of those groups.
      1. In fact, when I address the spiritual understandings needed by those burdened with guilt, those who abuse grace may feel justified.
      2. Or, when I address the spiritual understandings needed by those who abuse grace, those who know little are totally confused.
      3. Or, when I address the spiritual understandings of those who know little, the first three groups are bored.

   3. One of the continuing struggles in my work as a teacher arises from a truth I must always remember.
      1. I must always remember that we are a family.
         1. We have spiritual babies of all stages of infancy.
         2. We have spiritual teenagers.
         3. We have spiritual young adults and spiritual middle ages adults.
         4. We have the spiritually mature and wise.
      2. We all need a different spiritual diet.
         1. If all we eat is spiritual fast food, we all will be spiritually sick. Spiritual french fries are not the key to eternal survival!
         2. If we feed babies adult diets or adults baby food, both will get sick.
         3. We must not restrict spiritual education to Sunday sermons.
         4. We must not restrict spiritual education to close minded conclusions.
            1. We must be open to all scripture teaches.
            2. That is a very difficult openness to seek with honesty and sincerity.

We live in such a complicated time with such complex challenges. We desperately need to increase our faith and dependence on God. God can nourish us all. We must be a people who exist by faith in God, not a people who exist by religious reactions.

The Journey

Posted by David on under Bulletin Articles

Recently a brief commentary by a national television network focused on Christian faith. It asked, “How did September 11, 2001 affect faith in God?” Included was a statement from a member of a Christian rock group. Before September 11, he toured America using songs to urge people to trust our good God by placing full confidence in Him. The events of September 11 resurrected an ancient question in his thinking: “How could a good God allow us to suffer such incredible evil?”

In recent years our American culture’s growing emptiness motivated many to renew their search for God. That is good. Many began that search with seriously distorted views of God. That is bad. Why? Seriously distorted views of God produce flawed expectations. Failed expectations attack faith. Consider some insights.

Insight # 1: In many somewheres on earth, horrible evils of great magnitude occur daily. The AIDS epidemic in some African nations daily results in unbelievable acts. Atrocities in nations torn by warring factions produce acts of horrible violence we never experience. The realities surrounding starvation in some nations exceed our comprehension. Injustices within some South American nations add layers of intolerable misery on top of intolerable misery. Americans may not be accustomed to acts of great evil, but much of the world is. For many people, faith in God must exist as great acts of evil occur.

Insight # 2: Too many American Christians are prey to a spiritual predator. Too many hold a uniquely American definition of salvation. Our definition produces a uniquely American view of God. While we pay verbal tribute to eternal aspects of salvation, our salvation expectations focus on “life now.” Salvation expectations commonly include these: no “untimely” physical death in my family; no catastrophic illness in my family; no poverty; steady lifestyle improvement; constant upgrades in my opportunities; and achieving my basic “this life” goals. We resent public appeals to a “health and wealth” gospel, but often we cling to a “health and wealth” gospel privately.

Insight # 3: Too many American Christians believe they have the divine right to a physically desirable “good life.” Physical life is not a journey through this physical world to a home in God’s world. Physical life is the destination. Since “we only live once” we must make physical life enjoyable. A sobering statement: “Child, remember that during your life you received your good things …” (Luke 16:25).

Perhaps great acts of evil terrify us because we distort God and redefine salvation.

Faith in God Produces Understanding of Others

Posted by David on February 24, 2002 under Sermons

This morning I want you to help me preach. I hereby give each of you an opportunity to express yourself. I am counting on your helping me make some powerful points without opening your mouth or making a sound. I sincerely need your help.

“How can we make points without speaking?” I will ask questions you can answer by raising your hand. By raising your hand, you can talk to me and say something to everyone here. My questions are simple. They are neither designed nor intended to make anyone feel awkward. They are not trick questions. And there is an obvious purpose for them. I promise you there is a Bible point, a New Testament teaching in this that I will emphasize.

I am not attempting to coerce anyone to do anything. If you do not wish to raise your hand you surely do not have to. If you are willing to raise your hand, I appreciate your help. Please look at the audience. I really appreciate the teens and the college students sitting up front. This morning it is not rude for you to look at the audience. In fact, I encourage you to.

Let me explain why I am doing this. I could just tell you these things. If I did, they would just “fly right by you,” or you would say, “He doesn’t know what he is talking about!” or you would say, “Why doesn’t he talk about something important?” This morning you can emphasize facts with a force I cannot.

I ask that when you hold your hand up; you hold it up long enough for others to see.

Questions in set # one:
1. How many of you spent your childhood in this region?
2. How many of you spent your childhood somewhere in Arkansas?
3. How many of you spent your childhood in another state?
4. Is there anyone here who spent your childhood in another country?

Questions set # 2:

1. How many of you adults never attended a year of college in the period of your life from 18 to 25 years of age?
2. How many of you adults did attend a least one year of college in the period of your life from 18 to 25 years of age?
3. How many of you are in college right now?
4. How many of you who have not finished high school plan to go to college?

Questions set # 3:

1. How many of your have spent time in the military?
2. How many of you have never been in the military?
3. How many of you were drafted into the military?

Questions set # 4:

1. How many of you lived on a functioning farm for at least one year of your life?
2. How many of you never spent a year of your life on a functioning farm?
3. How many of you have never lived for any period of time on a functioning farm?
4. How many of you know what these words mean: double shovel, gee-whiz, sod buster?
5. How many of you plowed a mule?
6. How many of you gathered eggs from hens’ nests?
7. How many of you milked a cow?

Questions set # 5:

1. How many of you have a computer at home?
2. How many of you use e-mail?
3. How many of you play video games at home?
4. How many of you have played video games in a video arcade?
5. How many of you know someone under 10 years of age that has computer skills you do not have?

Questions set # 6:

1. How many of you had a car before you finished high school?
2. How many of you have prepared a school report using nothing but the Internet?
3. How many of you had a cell phone before you were 18?
4. How many of you came home or come home to an empty house every day because both your parents work?

Are we ever different from each other! All those different background experiences create different ways of feeling, different values, and different ways to look at the world. And all those differences affect us spiritually.

1. I want to share something about the church of Christ in America that is not exciting but is very important.
   1. In the 1940’s after World War II and during most of the 1950’s, often the strongest and most active congregations of the church of Christ were found in farm areas.
      1. Congregations found in a city setting were mostly found in small towns.
      2. Commonly, those congregations were not the strongest congregations.

   2. In the 1960s and 1970s a major transition began in the churches of Christ.
      1. A lot of things were happening in our country:
         1. The Vietnam war caused all kinds of internal conflict in this nation.
         2. The first major social separation between young people and adults of this nation occurred.
         3. Going to college became a real option for many high school graduates.
      2. Increasingly families could not make a living on small farms, so people began moving to city settings to find work.
      3. In this shift, more and more members of the church of Christ began moving to cities and being a part of or beginning congregations in the city.
      4. Increasingly you had city congregations with a majority of members who came from the farm.

   3. In the 1980s and 1990s the churches of Christ in this country experienced another major transition.
      1. We became primarily a city church.
         1. Many farm community churches that were strong churches began to decline and even die.
         2. When the kids finished high school, they went to college or trade school.
         3. When they finished their studies, they moved where the jobs were.
      2. Many farm community congregations became smaller and smaller and many city congregations became larger and more active.
         1. But the leadership of the church often was composed of men who grew up on the farm.
         2. Increasingly we had leaders of congregations who came from the farm trying to provide guidance for people who never lived on a farm.
         3. Increasingly members who attended a college grew in number.
         4. Increasingly the spiritual challenges members faced in every day life were not even a part of the life experiences of those leading congregations.

   4. By the year 2000 many churches of Christ were in major crisis.
      1. So much change happened in our lives so fast we did not even understand each other–and too many times we did not try to understand each other.
      2. Our personal preferences were elevated to the status of doctrine, and we got very emotional about our doctrines based on preferences.

2. 2000 years ago a man you know as Paul was very inflexible and dogmatic in his convictions.
   1. He knew what God wanted and he know how God wanted things done.
      1. Anyone radically disagreeing with him was arrested.
      2. He tried to physically force people to agree with him.
      3. It was his view or no view–he KNEW the will of God–he had his understanding of the scripture to prove it.

   2. Then he met Jesus and understood Jesus was the Christ.
      1. What a transformation!
      2. Listen to what he said to quarreling, fighting Christians in 1 Corinthians 9:19-23.
         For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more. To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law though not being myself under the Law, so that I might win those who are under the Law; to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some. I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.

   3. All over the world, today Christians will pray to God through Jesus Christ.
      1. Somewhere in West Africa a Christian man has already prayed in a congregation, “Papa God, we do thank you plenty.”
      2. Somewhere in China, prayers rise in Chinese; in Russia, prayers rise in Russian; in Poland prayers rise in Polish, and the same has or will happen in Israel, Palestine, India, Thailand, and Laos.
      3. The only real thing we have in common with any of those Christians is Jesus Christ.

The churches of Christ in America face several enormous crises. One of those enormous crises is our ability to respect and understand each other.

Paul gave this warning to Galatian congregations who were giving each other a lot of grief:
Galatians 5:15 But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.

I may have extreme difficulty relating to and loving you if you do not think like I think and feel like I feel. I may have extreme difficulty, but God has no difficulty at all!

God has invested far too much in your salvation for me to ignore you. How dare I place stumbling blocks in front of someone for whom Christ died?

If all you and I have in common is Jesus Christ, we have everything from creation to eternity in common.