Pursuing God’s Praise

Posted by on January 20, 2002 under Sermons

As a child I grew up in the Cumberland mountains at the edge of east Tennessee. The congregation of my youth was a small, rural, and had less than 100 members. Much of the time it was too small with too little money to have a preacher. The few occasions we had preachers, preaching was a “second job.”

I genuinely appreciate the faith filled men and women who contributed to my spiritual development. Most of them are dead, but they surrounded me with love and encouragement. I do not intend the things I share to deny their faith.

My world as a child and my world as an older adult are totally different. In my childhood, I remember an elder who refused to allow his oldest son to engage in what he classified as “foolish talking.” His son was one of my close friends. He had the ability to talk like Donald Duck, an ability I thought was cool and wanted to imitate, but never could. His father decided that talking in Donald’s voice violated scripture. It was foolish jesting which was clearly forbidden in Ephesians 4:29. He instructed his son never to use that voice again.

I remember the first time a man wanted to pass out candy Easter eggs to the children in the congregation. He bought the candy himself. His request generated a serious discussion among the men. Several women had an opinion, but were not allowed to express it. The men finally decided he could give the candy to the children if he did it outside in the parking lot, not in the building.

In the fall of 1995 Joyce and I received a three month sabbatical. I spent that time at Harding University in a carrel at their library completing a book manuscript and writing another manuscript. For the first time in thirty-five years of marriage, Joyce and I could make decisions other Christians commonly make. We could visit our children on weekends and worship with them, and we could choose where we worshipped when we stayed in Searcy. In that three months we visited with several congregations. We did two things often on Sunday evenings and Wednesday evenings. On Sunday evenings we often were part of peak of the week, and on Wednesday evenings we at times attended a small group meeting.

I, by experience, have been a part of both sides of the same coin.

  1. When Jesus was crucified and three days later raised from the tomb, God restored what Satan destroyed in the garden of Eden.
    1. The two major results of Adam and Eve’s rebellion against God in the garden of Eden were these:
      1. The first major result: evil became a part of human life on earth.
        1. The ultimate expression of pride is for any person to think that he or she is sinless.
        2. We are all evil, and the more spiritually mature we become, the more aware of our evil we become.
      2. The second major result: all people in every age became slaves of death.
        1. Unless God directly intervened, which happened rarely (Enoch–Genesis 5:24; and Elijah–2 Kings 2:11), people died.
        2. Just like us, there was nothing people could do to prevent death permanently.
      3. We have Satan, the master of deceit to thank for evil and for death.

    2. What God did in Jesus’ death and resurrection defies our comprehension.
      1. In Jesus’ death and resurrection, God created a perfect forgiveness, so complete that God made it possible for sinful people to live as though their sins never occur.
        1. A lot of Christians in the New Testament were just like us: they simply did not “get it”–they simply did not comprehend what God did in Jesus Christ.
          1. The Galatian congregations are an excellent example.
          2. Some Jewish Christians from Jerusalem came to these non-Jewish congregations and said their conversion to Christ was invalid.
          3. They told these non-Jewish, baptized Christians that their baptism was meaningless; first they must accept the Jewish way of approaching God.
          4. The result was that a lot of the Galatian Christians were totally confused and began to believe things God never emphasized to non-Jewish people.
          5. Paul wrote them a letter and bluntly told them in certain terms that they simply did not understand what God did for them in Jesus Christ.
          6. Paul said,
            Galatians 3:26-29 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.
        2. I have a deep appreciation for the way that John emphasized God’s perfect forgiveness.
          1 John 1:5-10 This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.
      2. The second thing God did in Jesus’ crucifixion and death was to destroy the slavery of death.
        1. The writer of the Hebrews discussed what God did in Jesus Christ.
        2. He stated God’s accomplishment very plainly.
          Hebrews 2:14,15 Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself [Jesus] likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.

    3. Those who understand what God does for them in Jesus Christ want to tell God, “Thanks!”
      1. And that is what praise is about: saying, “Thank you!” to God for destroying my evil and allowing me to live in perfect forgiveness.
      2. The basic intention of Christian worship is to say “Thank you!” to God.
      3. A Christian who understands what God has done for him or her worships God in two basic ways.
        1. He or she voluntarily, by personal choice, chooses to be part of an assembly that remembers who they are because of Jesus Christ.
        2. He or she chooses to live life every day honoring God as a man or woman who has their evil destroyed and is free from the slavery of death.

  2. I look with amazement at what is happening too commonly among Christians.
    1. We began as an American religious movement 200 years ago calling all people to let the meanings and purposes of the Bible be our guide.
      1. We began having no religious system and defending no religious system.
      2. We began with the simply desire just to be Christians.

    2. Now we often assume a scripture’s meaning and too often feel threatened by an accurate search for the genuine meaning of a scripture.
      1. There are numerous examples.
        1. Most of us are students of the Bible; we clearly understand things were quite different 2000 years ago in the church.
          1. We understand clearly that 2000 years ago the Holy Spirit in miraculous ways was very active in the church among people converted to Jesus Christ.
          2. We understand clearly those Christians spoke in tongues, experienced miracles, and received revelations.
          3. We understand they had no church buildings and commonly met in homes.
          4. They had elders, but these elders’ oversight was not restricted by a street address of a church building.
          5. Since they did not have church buildings, their concept of congregation was quite different to our concept of congregation.
        2. We present ourselves to people who know little or nothing about the Bible as Christians dedicated to being simply Christians as were those Christians 2000 years ago.
          1. If someone who knows little or much about the Bible asks about obvious differences, we explain a person must understand the meaning of scripture and God’s purposes.
          2. If we are not careful, we defend our assumptions and our systems.

    3. As a Christian, I am amazed at how much energy we often spend defending systems by shifting the New Testament’s emphasis.
      1. The emphasis in the New Testament is on how those people converted to Jesus Christ were to live their lives.
        1. That emphasis is clearly emphasized repeatedly in the New Testament.
        2. It is seen in:
          1. Acts 2:43-47 with the very first people converted to Christ.
          2. Romans 12-14 with Christians in Rome.
          3. 1 Corinthians 5-10 with Christians in Corinth.
          4. Galatians 5 and 6 with Christians in the Roman province of Galatia.
          5. Ephesians 4-6 with Christians in the city of Ephesus.
          6. Philippians 3 and 4 with Christians in the city of Philippi.
          7. Colossians 3 with Christians in the city of Colossae.
          8. 1 Thessalonians 4 and 5 with Christians in Thessalonica.
          9. The letters to Timothy frequently.
          10. Titus 2 and 3.
          11. The letter of James.
          12. The letter of 1 Peter.
          13. The letter of 1 John.
          14. The letter of Jude.
          15. And Revelation 2 and 3.
        3. There is a powerful, continuing emphasis from the conversion of the first Christians in Acts 2 throughout the New Testament on the fact that belonging to Jesus Christ changed the way people lived.
      2. We have very little information in the entire New Testament on how Christians worshipped.
        1. “Do you conclude that as Christians we should be devoted to the authority of scripture as God’s own word?” Absolutely!
        2. But devotion to scripture’s authority does not excuse us from two things.
          1. We must never appeal to authority to ignore the meaning of scripture.
          2. We must never appeal to authority to ignore God’s purposes in Jesus Christ.
      3. We struggle with the problem the first Christians struggled with: the problem of substituting our long held assumptions for scripture’s meaning.

  3. May I share some things that fill me with fear about our fellowship?
    1. It fills me with fear when I hear Christians deciding if another baptized, penitent believer devoted to godly living is faithful or unfaithful on the basis of a worship style.
    2. It fills me with fear when I hear Christians declare conclusions as scripture.
    3. It fills me with fear when I hear Christians declare that what a Christian does in worship more powerfully affects eternal salvation than how he or she devotes life to Jesus Christ.
    4. It fills me with fear when I hear Christians express attitudes of spiritual superiority over other Christians because of the way they praise God.
      1. “Our worship practices are more biblical than your worship practices.”
      2. “Our worship practices proved we are more spiritual than you are.”
      3. “Our worship practices prove we are more godly than you are.”
      4. “Our worship practices prove that we appreciate God more than you do.”
      5. When I hear those attitudes and read Romans 14, I feel sheer terror.
      6. Thank God that a Christian’s hope for salvation is based on the grace of a merciful God!

The purpose of Christian worship is to transport us as God’s community into God’s presence through Jesus Christ so we can praise our God. How often do you leave our assembly with this awareness: “I have been in the presence of God.”

The older I become and the more I understand from the Bible, the more aware I am that I must explain to God Himself how I communicated His will to Christians. My admonition is simple: reverence God by understanding the meaning of His will and giving Him your life.

The Joy and Fear of Commitment

Posted by on under Bulletin Articles

In the joy of commitment is found the enduring results of stability. I commend to your attention a stable marriage relationship. The greater majority realize the benefits of growing up in a stable home where father and mother share a love-based commitment.

The fear of commitment generates relationship instability. Building enduring commitments requires time, sacrifice, and unending effort. A person can realize the joys of commitment but allow fear to block any attempt to build an enduring relationship.

Arkansas has this nation’s second highest divorce rate. Marital instability is of such great concern that legislators passed a covenant marriage law. Arkansas is only the third state to pass a covenant marriage law.

For a couple to form a covenant marriage, he and she must fill out documents declaring this is their choice. They first engage in premarital counseling. They agree prior to marriage they will seek counseling if serious problems or struggles occur in their marriage.

In covenant marriages, legal separation (not divorce) may occur if a spouse commits adultery; a spouse commits a felony that results in sentencing; a spouse physically or sexually abuses his or her spouse or child; the couple lives apart continuously for two years; or habitual drunkenness and accompanying cruel treatment occurs for a year.

Divorce can occur only after counseling. Divorce can be granted only for the above abuses and only after a specified time period. Spouses from covenant marriages who divorce are limited in the kinds of suits they can bring against each other.

“Sounds serious!” Marriage is serious! “What possible value can a covenant marriage provide?” Time. When the greater majority of marriages are deeply troubled, negative emotions rule. Too often, divorce suits are filed when negative emotions are in control. Rarely are couples mutually committed to receiving help. The pain of negative emotions is so great that all one or both spouses consider is escaping the relationship. Opportunity for any form of relationship healing cannot occur because there is no time.

Can divorced people receive forgiveness and be a productive part of God’s family? Yes. Jesus himself offered “living water” to a woman who was five times divorced (John 4). Will the instability created by divorce produce consequences? Yes.

An essential ingredient in stable marriages that endure: people who are willing to commit must marry people who are willing to commit.

Openness To God

Posted by on January 13, 2002 under Sermons

[Note to those who read this lesson in text form: I selected a man to be my reader from his seat. I asked everyone to follow the readings from a Bible. After each reading I walked among the audience with a microphone asking volunteers to share a lesson that “caught their attention” from the reading. I shared my comments from the pulpit area after volunteers in the audience shared their thoughts.]

I am genuinely happy for your presence. Thank you for choosing to be part of this assembly. I am delighted to have the opportunity and the privilege of sharing some thoughts with you tonight. Before this lesson, I want you to know beyond doubt that I am delighted that we are together.

  1. I want to ask you a serious question: why are we here this evening?
    1. Many different answers can be given to that question.
      1. Answer one: “we are supposed to be here.”
        1. That perspective likely has three different roots.
          1. One root may be tradition.
            1. Whatever our spiritual origins, those origins strongly tied spiritual faithfulness to church attendance.
            2. If this is one of our reasons for church attendance, we are extremely distressed in our consciences if we do not attend.
          2. One root may be guilt.
            1. In our childhood and young adult life, we heard preachers demand church attendance by quoting Hebrews 10:25,
              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.
            2. We were told by sincere, well meaning people that Hebrews 10:25 was a command that mandated physical presence at all assemblies. Rarely was Hebrews 10:25 understood in its context.
            3. This passage often was used as a means of demanding and controlling attendance.
          3. One root may arise from common concepts of the role of elders in the church.
            1. The church is seen primarily as a religious institution.
            2. The elders are seen primarily as the executives of the institution who hold power and authority over those in the institution.
            3. A common emphasis: “if that is what the elders say we must do as a congregation, we must do whatever they say!”
      2. Answer two: “It provides the preacher the opportunity to do what he is supposed to do–preach.”
        1. Do we assemble on Sunday evening just so I can say something?
        2. If the “proper order” is followed, is it mandatory that I present two sermons on Sundays?
        3. What is the purpose of my preaching?
          1. Does my preaching even need to serve a purpose?
          2. As long as you are present and I have something to say from the Bible, is that enough to fulfill this obligation we have?
      3. Answer three: “To worship.”
        1. I am in total agreement.
        2. In our assembly God must be honored and praised for what He has done and does for us in Jesus Christ.
        3. How does that honor and praise occur? If there are three songs, a prayer, a song, a lesson, an invitation song, and a dismissal prayer, does that automatically mean God is honored and praised?

    2. From my perspective as the one often preaching, may I share a few thoughts?
      1. For years, in fact for longer than I have preached, the primary purpose of Sunday evenings is to take advantage of an opportunity to educate, to expand Bible knowledge.
        1. A few generations ago there were no Sunday evening assemblies.
        2. If your parents or grandparents lived as Christians in the late 1800s, it is likely they lived at a time when congregations did not assemble on a regular basis on Sunday evening (on special occasions, but not regularly).
        3. I have read (but do not have document) that many years ago church buildings were the first buildings to install gas lighting.
          1. Such lights were new and unusual; they attracted curious people.
          2. Congregations decided to use this lighting to attract crowds and teach.
      2. I suggest to you that a significant reason for our being here this evening is to learn and grow spiritually.
        1. We are not here for me to perform as a speaker or for me to fulfill some type of unspoken obligation.
        2. We are here to stimulate us to think, to understand, and to grow in faith.
        3. If that occurs, God is honored and praised.

  2. Since my understood objective of our assembly this evening is to increase our understanding and faith, I want to do something a little different to focus your thinking and understanding on scripture.
    1. I have asked Bill Walker to be my reader.
      1. He will stay where he is seated and read a scripture using a mike.
      2. I want you to read with him silently.
      3. After he reads a scripture, I will walk among you and let you state what stands out to you in that reading.
        1. First, I am not looking for specific answers; you can share anything from the passage you wish.
        2. Second, keep your answers brief.
        3. Third, I will share some thoughts at the end of the readings.

    2. The first reading is Genesis 11:27 through Genesis 12:7. Bill would you please read?
      Now these are the records of the generations of Terah. Terah became the father of Abram, Nahor and Haran; and Haran became the father of Lot. Haran died in the presence of his father Terah in the land of his birth, in Ur of the Chaldeans. Abram and Nahor took wives for themselves. The name of Abram’s wife was Sarai; and the name of Nahor’s wife was Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah and Iscah. Sarai was barren; she had no child. Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran, his grandson, and Sarai his daughter-in-law, his son Abram’s wife; and they went out together from Ur of the Chaldeans in order to enter the land of Canaan; and they went as far as Haran, and settled there. The days of Terah were two hundred and five years; and Terah died in Haran. Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go forth from your country, And from your relatives And from your father’s house, To the land which I will show you; And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great; And so you shall be a blessing; And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.” So Abram went forth as the Lord had spoken to him; and Lot went with him. Now Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. Abram took Sarai his wife and Lot his nephew, and all their possessions which they had accumulated, and the persons which they had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan; thus they came to the land of Canaan. Abram passed through the land as far as the site of Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. Now the Canaanite was then in the land. The Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your descendants I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the Lord who had appeared to him.
      1. There are many, many excellent lessons in this reading.
      2. If you choose to, state just one thought that “jumps out at you” in these verses.

    3. The second reading is Joshua 24:1,2 and then verses 14,15.
      Then Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and called for the elders of Israel and for their heads and their judges and their officers; and they presented themselves before God. Joshua said to all the people, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘From ancient times your fathers lived beyond the River, namely, Terah, the father of Abraham and the father of Nahor, and they served other gods. … Now, therefore, fear the Lord and serve Him in sincerity and truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
      1. Again, there are a number of lessons in this reading.
      2. What lesson “jumps out at you”?

    4. The third reading is Acts 7:2-4.
      And he said, “Hear me, brethren and fathers! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, and said to him, ‘Leave your country and your relatives, and come into the land that I will show you.’ Then he left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. From there, after his father died, God had him move to this country in which you are now living.”
      1. Obviously, all these scriptures have to do with what happened in Genesis 12.
      2. What lesson “jumps out at you”?

  3. Allow me to call your attention to a fact and a lesson that jumps out at me in these three passages collectively.
    1. The fact: before God appeared to Abraham and gave him a command and promises, Abraham’s father (and perhaps Abraham himself) worshipped idols.
      1. The “land beyond the river” is a reference to Ur of Chaldeans.
      2. “The River” was often a reference to the Euphrates River.
      3. Abraham grew up in a home that worshipped idols, a home whose concept of deity was idolatrous.
      4. Joshua’s challenge to Israel offered them three options. Israel needed to make a conscious, deliberate choice.
        1. Option one: follow the God who delivered you from Egypt and has given you this land.
        2. Option two: follow the gods of your ancestors, the gods beyond the river which are the gods of the past.
        3. Option three: follow the gods of your present neighbors, the gods of the Amorites.
        4. Because God was the God of deliverance, Israel had reasons for choosing to follow God.

    2. The question: why did Abraham choose to follow God?
      1. His family followed idolatrous gods.
      2. He did not have children; he did not have a son to be his heir.
      3. Israel did not exist.
      4. He did not own any of Canaan.
      5. The slavery, the exodus, the conquest of Canaan had not occurred.
      6. So why did this man who knew nothing about the living God, this man whose whole life was surrounded by idolatrous worship, this man who lived in perhaps the most advanced civilization he knew, why did he choose to do what this “new,” previously unknown God instructed him to do?
      7. Abraham listened! He was open to God’s voice and direction!
        1. He trusted what no one else trusted.
        2. He saw what no one else saw.
        3. He understood realities that others likely refused to even consider.
        4. God could speak to Abraham because Abraham would hear Him.
        5. Because Abraham listened, he is also our spiritual forefather, our great example of what it means to trust God.

    3. Question: in spite of all the world around you, can you hear God? Do you listen to God when so many people around you do not even hear him?

Worship Concepts

Posted by on under Sermons

Before one Israelite settled in Canaan, God through Moses made two things abundantly clear about their sacrificial worship assemblies. Their sacrificial worship would be distinctly different from the idolatrous worship of the Canaanites. Their worship would be distinctly different because their God was distinctly different.

First, Israelites in Canaan would offer sacrificial worship at only one location, and God Himself would pick the location (Deuteronomy 12:5,11,13-14). They could not assembly just anywhere and offer sacrificial worship. They could not individually do their “own thing” and offer sacrificial worship at a place they individually preferred. Assemblies for sacrificial worship occurred at the place God selected, and only there.

Second, all the men of the nation were to assemble for sacrificial worship at this place three times a year (Deuteronomy 16:16). Those three times were the feast of unleaven bread or Passover; the feast of weeks also known as the feast of harvest or the feast of first fruits and much later Pentecost; and the feast of booths also known as the feast of tabernacles or feast of ingathering.

That says to me Israel was a very small country. Women and families were not excluded, just not commanded to make the pilgrimage. If every man had to make this pilgrimage to a single place on foot or donkey, it had to be a small area.

After Israel became established as a people in Canaan, the pilgrimages began. Thousands upon thousands of people walked to this place for a huge worship assembly. As Israel grew in numbers, the numbers of people who made the pilgrimage grew–tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, and maybe even a few million by the time of the Jesus’ life. Evidence strongly suggests that after Jerusalem became that designated place, singing became a part of the pilgrimage. As people neared Mount Zion and the Jerusalem temple, the hills and the valleys would echo the sound of thousands of people joyfully singing. One of their songs we know as Psalm 122.

Psalm 122:1-9 I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.” Our feet are standing Within your gates, O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, that is built As a city that is compact together; To which the tribes go up, even the tribes of the Lord–An ordinance for Israel–To give thanks to the name of the Lord. For there thrones were set for judgment, The thrones of the house of David. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you. “May peace be within your walls, And prosperity within your palaces.” For the sake of my brothers and my friends, I will now say, “May peace be within you.” For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek your good.

I wish I could hear the sound of thousands upon thousands of joyful voices singing as they approached Mount Zion. I know my reaction to that sound. The hairs on my head would strain to stand on end. Chills would run over my whole body. Tears would fill my eyes and flow down my cheeks. I know that would happen because that is what happens today when I hear Christians full of joy sing praise to God.

  1. When Jesus was crucified as God’s sacrificial Lamb and resurrected to life again by God, an amazing transition occurred.
    1. The complex worship of God that involved a specific place with specific rituals and procedures conducted by specific people in the tiny nation of Israel became the worship of God among the nations with no emphasis on place or rituals or people in charge.
      1. In Israel worship involved joyful hearts filled with gratitude and thanksgiving.
        1. But it also involved a place,
        2. And, when the temple was built, a building,
        3. And, when animals were sacrificed, ritual procedures,
        4. And priests to conduct the rituals and supervise the procedures.
      2. When Jesus Christ was received as Lord by believers who were Jews and who were not Jews, worship still involved joyful hearts filled with gratitude.
        1. But a specific place was no longer essential.
        2. A specific building was no longer essential.
        3. Animal sacrifices were no longer essential.
        4. Rituals no longer played a key role.
        5. Priests no longer had to supervise.
        6. Worshipping God was simple and could occur anywhere among those who belong to Jesus Christ.

    2. The basic objective in worshipping God remained unchanged: worship declares we are God’s people who exist to praise God and encourage each other.
      1. The complete concept of worship is not limited to set acts and procedures, or an assembly, or a group activity.
        1. If I had time, I could explain why the complete concept of worship was never limited.
        2. Even in Israel hundreds of years before Jesus was crucified and resurrected, both Moses and the prophets explained worship was an existence based on a heart and behavioral response to God.
        3. We collectively gather here this morning to honor and thank God for what He did and does for us in Jesus Christ.
          1. Our gathering also affirms our desire and will to be God’s people.
          2. Not only do we seek to honor God, but we seek to encourage each other as we dedicate ourselves to being a community of God’s people.
      2. But worship does not begin and end with an assembly in this building.
        1. We collectively gather to praise our God and honor our Savior.
        2. We collectively gather to reaffirm our commitment to each other as a community of God’s people.
        3. But worship is equally about who we are everyday and how we live.
        4. When Paul made this statement in Romans 12:1,2,
          Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
          he was stating in terms they readily understood that every aspect of every day of life is a worshipful offering of self to God.
        5. It is impossible to worship God at an assembly on Sunday and willingly use your life and body for evil the rest of the week.
        6. While a definite expression of worship occurs in our assemblies, for the Christian all of life is involved in worship.

  2. I want to share two things that distress me spiritually about common concepts of worship styles.
    1. Concern #1: the tendency of some Christians to compartmentalize life.
      1. In this view, worship is strongly associated with a set procedure in an assembly of Christians on Sunday.
        1. Spiritual life is viewed primarily by what occurs in that assembly.
        2. That religious compartment is regarded as so unique that people are declared to be faithful or unfaithful on the basis of attendance and activities in that assembly.
      2. That religious compartment of life is absolutely essential, non-negotiable.
        1. No matter what else you do in your life, you must be in that assembly.
        2. You can do some horribly evil things with your life Monday through Saturday, but do not dare even consider missing that assembly.
      3. Thus worship is viewed primarily as the activity of an assembly on Sunday, and worship occurs in set procedures at a set time.
      4. BUT, family is a different compartment, work is a different compartment, real life is a different compartment, and fun is a different compartment.
      5. And there is a natural, significant separation between the church activity of worship and those other four compartments.
      6. Christianity is never viewed as a whole life existence [which is the common view of the New Testament].

    2. Concern # 2: the tension that exists between two basic worship concepts.
      1. Concept one: worship is a serious occasion to be approached with reverence [and there are specific definitions assigned to “serious” and “reverence”].
        1. Reverence demands that you be solemn, quiet, and reserved.
        2. Reverence is expressed by reserved actions and silence.
        3. The Bible statements that speak to these Christians are:
          1. Habakkuk 2:20 “But the Lord is in His holy temple. Let all the earth be silent before Him.”
          2. Revelation 8:1 When the Lamb broke the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.
        4. Christians who prefer this worship style think the nature of worship should be more like the solemness of a funeral.
        5. I personally have no doubt that if we actually saw God this very moment, there would be silence unlike anything you have ever heard.
      2. Concept two: worship is a joyful occasion to be approached with celebration.
        1. You feel God’s grace, and you rejoice.
        2. You feel God’s forgiveness, and you give thanks.
        3. You feel God’s mercy, and you show your gratitude.
        4. You feel blessed, and you declare it.
        5. This conviction focuses praise on the wonder of God’s glorious work in Jesus’ cross and crucifixion, and Christians declare their gratitude.
        6. The Bible statements that speak to these Christians include:
          1. Psalm 5:11,12 But let all who take refuge in You be glad, Let them ever sing for joy; And may You shelter them, That those who love Your name may exult in You. For it is You who blesses the righteous man, O Lord, You surround him with favor as with a shield.
          2. Acts 2:46,47 Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.
          3. Christians who worship in this manner think of worship as being a celebration of God’s glorious works.
          4. I personally have no doubt that if we in this audience heard God tell us, “Well done, faithful servants. Enter into the joy of your Lord” (Matthew 25:23), there would be rejoicing in this room unlike anything you have ever heard in your life.
      3. “And which worship style is right?”
        1. Neither and both.
        2. No matter which style a person uses, if his or her heart is not honoring God, it is not worship. And it does not matter if it is quiet as a tomb or a gigantic celebration.
        3. But, when hearts honor God, both styles are worship.

    3. Something is happening among Christians that makes Satan laugh and God grieve.
      1. “I believe that Jesus is the resurrected Lord and Christ. Do you?” “Yes, but I reject your worship!”
      2. “I have redirected my life and seek to belong only to Jesus. Do you?” “Yes, but your worship makes me sick!”
      3. “I have been baptized into Christ to let God destroy my sins and to place Jesus on the throne of my heart as my Lord. Have you?” “Yes, but your worship is ridiculous!”
      4. “I am trying to live a godly life and be a godly person. Are you?” “Yes, but your worship is disgusting!”
      5. And every time Christians hold those attitudes toward Christians, Satan laughs and God grieves.

In this room, we are different people who live in very different worlds. Some of you ladies never have been sexually propositioned. Some of you ladies are commonly sexual targets. Some of you men do not work with men who relish a sexual conquest. Some of you men hear men talk about sexual conquests frequently. Some of you would not know marijuana smoke if you smelled it. Some of you are tempted to smoke marijuana every week. Some of you never drank a beer. Some of you commonly must do business on occasions when everyone is drinking. Some of you have never been abused, or rejected, or neglected, or ridiculed. Some of you endure abuse, rejection, neglect, or ridicule every day of your life.

Right here right now there are teens, and men, and women whose lives are a war zone every single day. They struggle to place their trust in a merciful God full of grace. What they need and yearn for is to worship with fellow believers in a way that soothes their bruised hearts, encourages their wounded spirits, and energizes them for another week of war and temptation. They do not need harassment. They need the joy of salvation rekindled every week. They need the encouragement of worship.

A Meaningful Promise To Yourself

Posted by on under Bulletin Articles

Two considerations are essential if you are to understand my spirit in the following statements. First, I truly appreciate this truth: no one’s life is ideal. Everyone, you included, can list factually a number of legitimate frustrations that frequently are a part of your life. You can do that with no intent of being negative. You can do that merely by sharing facts truthfully. The matter I ask you to consider is not in the spirit of griping or complaining. I am merely sharing a fact that too often is hurtful to us all as a congregation.

Second, I have no desire to be self-serving. This is not a call to “please humor me.” I want us as the body of Christ, as a community of believers to encourage our congregation’s growth toward Christ’s dream for us.

The concern: it is extremely difficult to keep Christians in this body informed. That challenge certainly is not unique to this congregation. Most active groups (business, social, non-profit, or religious) struggle with the challenge of keeping its employees, supporters, members, or volunteers informed.

Within congregations, this challenge increases for many reasons. (1) Congregations are primarily volunteer associations. (2) Some within congregations make artificial separations between the “secular” and “spiritual.” Some function on this motivation: “I go to church to be religious, not to be informed or to be involved.” (3) Some have this primary attitude: “When something fails to meet my approval, I will go somewhere else.” (4) The concept of “church” is too often associated with an institution, not a whole life existence. (5) Some stay so busy with “life” they do not have time to “keep up with what is going on at church.” For those reasons (and others) some choose to be uninformed.

We make a lot of effort to inform members. Among those efforts are written announcements on the screen, family meetings, a web site, e-mailings, newsletters, mailouts, and group meetings dedicated to particular works and events. Yet, many remain poorly informed.

In some ways, we have trained and encouraged many to be uninformed. Unless we hear a verbal announcement on Sunday morning, too many do not “hear.” A congregation that is constantly growing closer to God’s ideal and Jesus’ dream is composed of members who want to be informed. They understand that God’s family of believers, from the beginning, functioned as a community who cared about each other.

Make a promise to yourself, and keep your promise to you. Do the things only you can do to be informed, not as a gossip, but a living, caring member of God’s community. The better informed each of us is, the more blessed our congregation is. We are committed to improving the sharing of information. Commit yourself to staying informed. And when you know things we need to know, please, please call us.

Praying: Acts of Dependence

Posted by on January 6, 2002 under Sermons

How many times have you shaken someone’s hand this morning? I seriously doubt many of us adults could count the number of times you without thought, habitually reached out, clasped someone’s hand, and appropriately “shook their hand.” I hope every adult in this room had several people shake your hand. If no one greeted you with a sincere handshake, I apologize.

The probability is high that most of us have shaken hands several times. The probability is high that you will shake hands many times this week. Hand shaking is a meaningful, appropriate gesture in Western cultures. Hand shaking is so accepted, such an appropriate act of greeting, that refusing to accept a handshake is an act of rudeness.

Why do we shake hands? Did someone in a European kingdom several hundred years ago decide that instituting handshakes as a greeting would be a good practice? Was there a conference in Europe several hundred years ago to determine the “correct way” to shake hands and “the true meaning of hand shakes”?

Not that I am aware of. Then how did handshaking become a universal form of appropriate greeting in Western cultures? Hundreds of years ago weapons were commonly carried and used. The handshake began as a practical act. When a person extended his empty hand to shake another person’s empty hand, extending empty hands declared, “You have no reason to fear me. See, I have no weapon in my hand.”

When you shook hands this morning, it was an act of greeting. It had nothing to do with weapons or with danger. It was merely a gesture of friendly greeting.

How do you decide if a handshake is merely a social obligation or a sincere expression of kindness? Look into the person’s eyes as his or her face reflects the heart. A handshake can never say something a face and heart deny.

  1. How did prayer begin? And for what reason did it begin?
    1. If you regularly, deliberately pray as a conscious, chosen practice, prayer is likely the most ancient practice you choose to be a part of your life.
      1. From the earliest known ages, prayer has been an interaction between a person and his or her God (gods).
      2. Very early in human history, prayer was associated with offering animal sacrifices.
      3. Prayer is one of the earliest forms of worship.
      4. From its origin, the person who prayed had two basic objectives in this ancient act of worship.
        1. One objective was his or her deliberate attempt to honor God.
        2. The other objective was to voluntarily declare dependence on God. (That expression of dependence was expressed through humility and surrender.)

    2. In my awareness, this is extremely important: we must realize all teachings and examples of prayer in the Bible were given to people who lived in worlds ruled by kings or emperors.
      1. That is the historical context, the “actual life” context in the Bible regarding everything said or taught about prayer.
      2. When anyone who lived in any Bible period heard God’s spokesman teach something about prayer, that person had the perspective of someone who lived in a society controlled by kings.
      3. Because these people lived in worlds ruled by kings, they heard and understood things you and I do not hear or understand.
        1. Showing respect to a king or his representative by humbling yourself was a common fact of life.
        2. They understood truths about respect, dependence, humility, and surrender that are foreign to us.
        3. The arrogance born from democracy’s ideals too often blinds our hearts.

    3. In the Bible there is no emphasis on prayer posture.
      1. To assume from that fact that there is no relationship between physical posture and prayer may be an incorrect assumption.
        1. It may mean no more than the fact that everyone knew how properly to respect a king, and people did not need that instruction.
        2. They knew what was respectful and what was disrespectful before a king.
        3. Since God is the King of all kings, they understood respectful postures.
      2. The prayer postures mentioned in the Bible as people showed respect for the King of all kings included these:
        1. Sometimes prayer assumed a posture of lying face down on the ground.
        2. Sometimes prayer assumed a posture of kneeling.
          1. Many times the kneeling also included a bowing of the person’s face toward the ground.
          2. But kneeling also included the face looking upward with the hands being extended toward heaven.
        3. Sometimes prayer assumed a posture of standing with uplifted hands and the face turned upward toward heaven.

    4. To assure you that this is not mere speculation by me, consider these statements from the Bible.
      1. In regard to the position of lying face down on the ground:
        1. When David’s first child by Bathsheba was struggling between life and death, David lay before God as he pled for the child’s life.
        2. 2 Samuel 12:16 David therefore inquired of God for the child; and David fasted and went and lay all night on the ground.
      2. In regard to kneeling, there are many references.
        1. Daniel knelt when he prayed daily three times.
          1. [Background of the incident.]
          2. Daniel 6:10 Now when Daniel knew that the document was signed, he entered his house (now in his roof chamber he had windows open toward Jerusalem); and he continued kneeling on his knees three times a day, praying and giving thanks before his God, as he had been doing previously.
        2. In Jesus’ Gethsamane prayers, he knelt.
          1. When Jesus prayed in Gethsamane, Luke 22:41 said he knelt down; Matthew 26:39 said he fell upon his face; and Mark 14:35 said he fell on the ground.
          2. From those three statements, I conclude that Jesus fell to the ground on his knees and, with his face toward the ground, lowered his head to the earth.
        3. On occasions Israel bowed before God with their faces to the ground.
          1. Nehemiah 8:6 Then Ezra blessed the Lord the great God. And all the people answered, “Amen, Amen!” while lifting up their hands; then they bowed low and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground.
        4. But there were also times when the face was lifted to God.
          1. Ezra 9:5,6 But at the evening offering I arose from my humiliation, even with my garment and my robe torn, and I fell on my knees and stretched out my hands to the Lord my God; and I said, “O my God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift up my face to You, my God, for our iniquities have risen above our heads and our guilt has grown even to the heavens.”
        5. And there were also times when people stood and raised their hands to God in prayer.
          1. That is what Solomon did when he dedicated the temple to God.
          2. 1 Kings 8:22 Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the assembly of Israel and spread out his hands toward heaven.
          3. That is also what Moses did in Exodus 9:33 when he ended the plague of hail on Egypt.
        6. It was a common expression of humble dependence to lift one’s hands when the person prayed.
          1. Psalm 141:2 May my prayer be counted as incense before You; The lifting up of my hands as the evening offering.
          2. 1 Timothy 2:8 Therefore I want men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension.

  2. When Jesus, in his ministry, taught his disciples and people in Israel about prayer, he emphasized attitudes, not postures.
    1. The attitude of prayer and the posture of prayer must be consistent.
      1. If the posture says humility but the attitude says pride, the prayer fails to honor God.
      2. If the attitude says humility but the posture says pride, the prayer fails to honor God.
      3. If God is honored, what must the posture and the attitude declare?
        1. Both declare humble vulnerability before God.
        2. Both declare total dependence on God.
        3. Both reflect respect and honor.

    2. In my understanding of Jesus’ teachings concerning prayer, I recommend you consider these basic concepts.
      1. First, the only reason that you and I can approach God in the complete confidence God both hears and understands us is the fact that Jesus is our intercessor and mediator.
        1. Just before Jesus died, he made this statement to his twelve disciples:
          John 14:13,14 Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.
        2. In my understanding, that was a promise Jesus made to the apostles.
        3. Years later Paul wrote this to Timothy:
          1 Timothy 2:5,6 For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time.
      2. Second, our basic objective in prayer is the same basic objective Jesus had.
        1. That objective: harmony with God’s will.
        2. Prayer is always the humble declaration, “God, I trust you. I trust the truth that You know what is in my eternal best interest.”
        3. We tend to be consumed with the “right now” view of life; God is concerned about “the long view” of life.
      3. Third, because God know hearts, God knows when we are trying to manipulate Him and when we are humbly surrendering before Him.
      4. Fourth, if you are in Christ, whatever your posture, if your heart is humble before God, God hears and understands you.
        1. No matter what your posture, if your heart is not humble before God, He will not hear you.
        2. Every sincere prayer touches God.
        3. Sincere prayer always respects and honors God.

Six times the book of Revelation states that the twenty-four elders fell down before God or the Lamb (Revelation 4:10,11; 5:8; 5:14; 7:11; 11:16; 19:4). Twice it specifically states they fell on their faces.

Of Jesus, Paul wrote to the Christians in Philippi:
Philippians 2:9-11 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Of Christians, Paul wrote to the Christians in Rome:
Romans 14:10-12 But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. For it is written,”As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall give praise to God.” So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God.

We who are Christians need to be very careful about judging the hearts and motives of other Christians. We who are Christians need to give great attention to our own hearts and motives. We who are Christians must learn to humble ourselves before God now in the full understanding that whatever we do now, we will without exception bow before God and Christ in judgment. And as we are on our knees, we will personally give God an account of our hearts and our behavior.

Our Challenge Before God In Christ

Posted by on under Bulletin Articles

I personally do not know any believer in the churches of Christ (1) who does not accept the Bible as God’s word; (2) who does not accept the Bible as God’s inspired revelation; and (3) who does not accept the Bible as authority in seeking to do God’s will. I certainly trust the Bible, God’s word, as existing because God through His Spirit revealed His will for all people in the death, resurrection, and Lordship of Jesus Christ.

Do believers in churches of Christ answer some basic questions differently? Yes. Is their basis for their different answers found in a rejection of the Bible as the reliable guide to God’s will? No. Even regarding divisive questions, those disagreeing accept the Bible as an inspired revelation of God’s will. Such disagreements are primarily based on determining and understanding God’s meaning in His message.

Our assumptions create common problems as we struggle to understand God’s meaning and God’s priorities. Our assumptions complicate our surrender to God’s will. Our assumptions make it difficult to distinguish between an old tradition and a biblical principle. Our assumptions make it difficult to base convictions on faith in God instead of emotional attachments. Our assumptions justify judging other believers. Our assumptions encourage confrontation with disagreeing believers rather than understanding, encouragement, and compassion.

Because of assumptions, reactionary consciences assume a divine mandate to control and intimidate. Of course, no believer looks upon his or her assumptions as assumptions. “My” assumptions are always truth. Amazingly, believers frequently allow devotion to the “one on the cross” to produce reactions against disagreeing believers devoted to the same “one on the cross” which oppose the attitudes and behavior of the man who was “the one on the cross.” Does this remind you of the twelve’s arguments about who was the best disciple? Do you remember Jesus rejected both their question and conclusions?

Our assumptions (1) concluded unity was produced through division; (2) made the church a place instead of a people; (3) measured faithfulness by worship practices at that place for a couple of hours a week rather than the believer’s behavior 24 hours a day; and (4) concluded God was more concerned about human devotion to details than He was about believers’ expressing faith in Jesus through devotion to God’s morality.

What is our challenge before God in Christ? To learn to be God’s people 24 hours a day, 7 days a week instead of programmed members of a religious institution. Read Exodus 19:4-6; Deuteronomy 4:20 and 14:2; 1 Peter 2:9,10; and Titus 2:14 and ask yourself this question: “What has God always wanted?”

Can You Change Your Life?

Posted by on December 30, 2001 under Sermons

This week I hope you had quality time with those people who are special in your life. Joyce and I have our holiday the Saturday before Christmas. Saturday our children and grandchildren who could visit gathered in our home. Commonly, by Christmas, everyone is gone. Joyce and I spent Christmas together just as a couple.

This year we did something different for us. We rented some movies. Among them was Castaway, which we had not seen. Near the end of that movie, Tom Hanks’ character explained to a friend what it was like to be marooned alone on an island for more than four years. He said, “I was in control of nothing.” He explained that he could not even control his death.

“I was in control of nothing.” Does that sound strange to you? Or does that sound real to you?

The conviction that we are in control is an illusion.

  1. Once there was a man named Jacob who, it seems to me, was convinced that he controlled his destiny.
    1. His destiny would be what he made it!
      1. Though he was the second born of twins, he would gain for himself the coveted birthright [a larger portion of the inheritance; dominance as leader of the family after his father’s death] (Genesis 25:27-34).
        1. He caught his brother in a moment of need and weakness.
        2. Esau, his twin brother, came in from hunting weak and extremely hungry.
        3. He asked Jacob for a portion of beans he saw Jacob cooking.
        4. Jacob told Esau he would feed him if Esau swore he would give Jacob his birthright.
        5. Foolishly, Esau sold Jacob his birthright for a meal.
      2. Later, with the help of his mother, Jacob stole the family blessing from Esau (Genesis 27).
        1. When his blind father wanted to give Esau the family blessing, Jacob deceived his blind father into blessing him.
        2. Isaac told Esau he would bless him with the family blessing after Esau killed a deer and fixed Isaac his favorite meal.
        3. While Esau was hunting, Jacob [with his mother’s encouragement and help] dressed in Esau’s clothing, brought a meal of goat meat, and deceived his father.
        4. Jacob was so successful in his deceit that his father pronounced the family blessing on Jacob.
        5. Esau was so angered by Jacob’s deceit that he planned to kill Jacob as soon as Isaac died, but Jacob fled to his mother’s people before that happened.

    2. While working for Laban, the man who became his father-in-law, Jacob was deceived (Genesis 29:21-30).
      1. He worked seven years as a herdsman for Laban as a bride price for Rachel.
      2. Laban promised him that after seven years of work Jacob could marry his youngest daughter.
        1. Instead, Laban gave Jacob his oldest daughter, Leah, in Rachel’s place.
        2. Their wedding customs were quite different from ours, and the wedding took place at night.
        3. Jacob did not discover Laban’s deceit until the next morning.
        4. A week later, Laban allowed Jacob to marry Rachel with the promise of seven additional years of work (Genesis 29:25-28).
      3. Marrying sisters, one whom he loved more than the other, began a life of horrible conflict and rivalry filled with intrigue and deception within Jacob’s family.
      4. Many years and many deceptions later, as an old man, Jacob had an audience with the king of Egypt.
        1. That Pharaoh inquired about his age, Jacob gave an insightful answer.
        2. This is what Jacob said:
          Genesis 47:9 “The years of my sojourning are one hundred and thirty; few and unpleasant have been the years of my life, nor have they attained the years that my fathers lived during the days of their sojourning.”

  2. In one more day, another year ends, and traditionally it is the appropriate time to do some reflecting.
    1. The ending of a year has different effects on all of us.
      1. Some of us look with great anticipation at another year ending.
        1. Probably most of those with great anticipation are teens and college students.
        2. What age is it “that you just cannot wait to reach?”
          1. Have you realized that you will be that age only a short period of time? Your “ideal age” is not permanent!
          2. Any year you name that you “would love to be” only lasts twelve months.
        3. Once you pass twenty, you cannot image how fast you will reach thirty–just ask any 30-year-old.
      2. For some, the passing of a year is a matter of relative indifference.
        1. For those who are not phased by the passing of another year, you probably feel like you have a lot of years left in your life.
        2. You are pretty much satisfied with your age and figure you will be there for a while.
        3. When I was in my twenties, thirties, and early forties I could not understand why retired men did not spend their time hunting and fishing.
          1. I never hunted or fished as much I wished.
          2. Retired people had the time and could afford it.
          3. I did not have the time and could not afford it.
          4. I also thought 65-year-olds and 70-year-olds physically feel the way 25-year-olds feel.
          5. I did not have a clue! I do now!
        4. The time will come when you look back and quietly ask yourself, “Was I ever that age?”
      3. For some of us the passing of a year is a matter of sober awareness.
        1. We are aware that “middle age” is history for us.
        2. We are very much aware that we are foolish for assuming anything about the future.
        3. It is disconcerting to look ahead or to look behind.
        4. Using each day well as it comes takes on a whole new meaning to us.

    2. Christians, reflect a little with me just over the past 12 months.
      1. In the past twelve months, what do you think were the best choices you made? the best things you did? the wisest moments you had?
        1. In 2001, what was the best decision you made?
        2. What was the best act of friendship you performed?
        3. What was the greatest kindness you did that no one but you knows about?
        4. What was the finest family thing you did? [Name things you did for specific family members if you wish.]
        5. What was the wisest business decision you made?
        6. What was the wisest choice you made about your personal life?
      2. In the past twelve months, what do you think were the worst choices you made? the worst things you did? your dumbest moments?
        1. Of all the decisions and choices you made in 2001, what was your dumbest, most stupid, most ignorant decision or choice?
        2. What was the most hurtful thing you did to a meaningful friendship?
        3. What opportunity for good did you let pass by that you most regret?
        4. What did you do that brought the greatest hurt to your family?
        5. What is the dumbest business decision you made?
        6. What is the most ignorant, ridiculous decision you made about your personal life?

    3. Would you let me meddle in your life, and mess with your mind?
      1. If I asked you these same questions at the close of 2002, would you give basically the same answers? At the end of 2002, will nothing have changed?
      2. As time rolls on in your life, will very little change about you as a person?

  3. Let me state what I am not trying to do, and then state my challenge to you.
    1. This is not what I am trying to do.
      1. I am not merely trying to get you to abandon some bad habits.
      2. I am not merely trying to get you to exchange some bad behaviors for some good behaviors or some bad habits for some good habits.
      3. I am not merely trying to get you to confess to yourself that some things need to change in your life.
      4. I am certainly not trying to convince you to wear a religious cloak once or twice a week.

    2. I am challenging you to do the same thing Paul challenged Christians at Ephesus to do when he wrote:
      Ephesians 4:22-24 “… in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.”
    3. I am challenging you to do the same thing Paul challenged Christians in Galatia to do when he wrote:
      Galatians 6:7,8 “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.”
    4. I am challenging you to do the same thing Paul challenged the Christians at Colossae to do when he wrote:
      Colossians 3:8-11 “But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him– a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.”
    5. I am asking all of us, including myself, “Change who you are as a person.”
      1. “I am who I am!”
        1. No, you are not!
        2. God knows you can change as a person; He gave Jesus to make that possible.
      2. You do not change yourself as a person by being religious.
        1. You change yourself as a person by being Christian.
        2. You let God teach you how to think and in that way give you a different mind.
        3. You let Jesus teach you how to feel and in that way give you a different heart.

As a person, how would you like to be different in 2002? I am not asking you what physical changes would you like to see in your body. I am not asking you what good habits you would like to form or what bad habits you would like to break. I am asking you something more basic. I am asking you do you have the courage to let God change you as a person? That means changing the way you think. That means changing the way you feel.

You cannot control another person–not a best friend, or parents, or a husband, or a wife, or children, or coworkers, or business partners. The only control you have is over the person you are. And you really do not have control over that. You decide who determines who you are as a person: Satan with evil or God with righteousness. If you decide Satan, he will do all he can to move you toward being your worst person possible. If you decide God, He will do all He can to move you toward being the best person your are capable of being.

The issue is this: what kind of person do you want to be? Do you have the courage to allow God to help you be the best person you are capable of being?

Jesus: God’s Gathering

Posted by on December 23, 2001 under Sermons

Life contains many distressing realities. One distressing reality arises when we try to protect someone we care about from danger. When we see a dangerous situation, warn the person, and he or she reacts by (a) seeing no danger and (b) ignoring our concern, we are genuinely distressed. That situation is a recipe for disaster.

Virgin Falls Years ago we took a good friend to visit our families. My mother wanted to take us on a long wilderness hike to a unique place called Virgin Falls. Virgin Falls is a waterfall where there is no stream, no river. The water flows out of a huge rock cave at the top of a mountain, falls over a rock ledge, and disappears over a hundred feet below at the base of the ledge.

copperhead The only way to get to Virgin Falls was to walk a trail through wilderness woodland for several miles. As we walked the trail, our son Kevin led the way. Suddenly he took a long leap, turned around, and shouted, “Snake!” Stretching across the path was a copperhead, a poisonous snake. Our friend laughed like it was a big joke designed to scare him. Because the snake was the color of the trail, and because our friend was not accustomed to watching for snakes, he could not see it.

It took all our powers of persuasion to convince him not to continue walking and step on the snake. The danger was very real, but, to him, there was no danger.

  1. The frustration we experience when we try to help someone and have our concern rejected is devastating.
    1. Without exception, every adult here knows that frustration.
      1. Sometimes it is a very dear friend who misunderstands and rejects our help.
      2. Sometimes it is a spouse who misunderstands and rejects our help.
      3. Sometimes it is our child who misunderstands and rejects our help.
      4. Sometimes it is our parent who misunderstand and rejects our help.
      5. Sometimes it is our Christian brother or sister who misunderstands and rejects our help.

    2. Most of the teens here know that frustration, and you teens who have not yet experienced this frustration will.
      1. Typically, teens know how to care about a peer’s well being deeply.
      2. Typically, teens are committed to “being there” for a struggling peer.
      3. Typically, teens commonly grasp the concept of unconditional love.
      4. The combination of those awarenesses definitely will produce the experience of seeking to help someone who refuses to be helped.

    3. God knows that frustration of trying to help those who reject His concern; having helpfulness rejected is far more than a mere human experience.
      1. God worked for thousands of years to produce the perfect means for us to deal with our most serious problem, the problem that easily destroys us.
      2. That serious problem that seeks to destroy each of us is the evil within us.
      3. God worked for thousands of years to provide us a means of escaping evil.

    4. God even sent Jesus as flesh and blood into our world to show us how to escape evil’s destruction.
      1. The people Jesus lived among could have and should have understood what he was trying to do, but they did not.
      2. Basically, they considered Jesus the problem instead of the solution.
      3. The understandings Jesus shared came directly from God, but those understandings were “too different”–many people could not even think the way Jesus thought.
      4. Just days before his execution, Jesus voiced his frustration, the frustration of (a) wanting to help people escape destruction, (b) of having the ability to provide that escape, and (c) of the people not seeing the danger.
      5. See if you can hear his frustration:
        Matthew 23:37-39 Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling. Behold, your house is being left to you desolate! For I say to you, from now on you will not see Me until you say, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”

    Reflect on Jesus’ frustration with us when we ignore his help, when he spreads his wings to cover us, and we refuse to take shelter. Reflect on this by singing. As you sing, focus on the words. First, we will sing a song that should touch the hearts of those who “go through motions.” Second, we will sing a song that should touch tender hearts. Then we will sing our gratitude and awareness. The song leader will lead these songs from the pew. The words of each song will be on the screen.

    792 “My Eyes Are Dry”
    794 “Unto Thee O Lord”
    801 “Where No One Stands Alone”

  2. Jesus used a well known image then that many of today have never known.
    1. Baby chicks are hatched with several forms of awareness including these two: awareness of the need for protection, and awareness of the meaning of mama’s warning clucks.
      1. Baby chickens have no awareness of the dangers of a hawk, but hawks love to eat baby chickens.
        1. Were it merely a contest between baby chickens and hawks, the hawks would win 100% of the time.
        2. But mama hen knows about hawks.
        3. Mama hen recognizes a hawk soaring above looking for a meal.
      2. When mama hen is aware that a hawk is near, she begins clucking. mother hen protecting her young
        1. Her short feathers stand on end making her appear bigger than she is.
        2. She moves in a slow strut ruffling her wings and clucking her warning, letting all her chicks run under her for refuge.
        3. She literally places herself between the soaring hawk and her babies.

    2. Jesus wanted to do the same thing for the people of Israel and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
      1. He wanted to shelter them from danger.
      2. He wanted to rescue them, to make their destruction unnecessary.
      3. He wanted to deliver them from the consequences of Israel’s past faithlessness.
      4. But faithlessness won; they would not listen to him.

  3. Do you listen to his warnings? Do you keep yourself under his protection?
    1. Jesus wanted to do the same thing the hen did.
      1. The hen placed herself between the danger and her chicks.
      2. Jesus wanted to place himself between the danger and the residents of Jerusalem.
      3. Jesus wants to place himself between the danger and you.

    2. That is what Jesus did for us when he died on the cross: he placed himself between us and the evil that will destroy us.
      1. He literally died to give us the opportunity to live.
      2. Only his blood can rescue us from the destruction of evil.

    3. To me, most people misunderstand God’s joy at Jesus’ birth.
      1. God knew long before Jesus’ birth the only way evil could be defeated was through Jesus’ death and resurrection.
      2. When the heavenly hosts declared to the shepherds the night of Jesus’ birth,
        (Luke 2:14) “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased,”
        what was that about?
        1. It was about God keeping His promise.
        2. It was about finding peace in the shelter of the one who would die for us.

When we, in our minds and hearts, see Jesus dying on the cross, we see an disturbing, repelling sight. There is nothing appealing about a dying body on a cross.

But when we see in the dying Jesus our rescue, our shelter from evil, the complete meaning of his dying body on the cross changes.

Jesus knows the danger threatening to destroy you and calls you just as the mother hen calls her chicks when there is danger. Do you hear him calling? How do you react?

“So It’s December! What Is the Big Deal?”

Posted by on under Bulletin Articles

Reminders are incredibly important! At times I place a “sticky note” in a strategic place to “remind” me. I often leave things on our table at home to “remind” me. I must confess that when I sit in my recliner, if I need to do something at a specific time, it is foolish (stupid?) not to set a timer to “remind” me (yes, I unintentionally doze-well!).

December is a “reminder” month. Though no way exists to know the date of Jesus’ birth, for centuries December has been a “reminder” of God’s enormous love for us. It is more than a “reminder” of God’s love. It “reminds” us genuine love joyfully, sacrificially commits. It “reminds” us God’s love modeled the love that must live in us. It “reminds” us that we can sacrificially love others because God loves us. Please do not allow greed or self-centeredness to hide the “reminder.” Use your words, tone of voice, attitudes, emotions, body language, and kindness to let all touched by your life know your love. Love others because God loves you! Jesus proves He does!

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