Posted by Chris on March 16, 2008 under Sermons
Focus: Equip the entire church for shepherding in the congregation.
The origin of the phrase: “Every shepherd needs a sheepdog.”
The shepherds described in the bible do not have sheepdogs. Shepherds are leaders and the various leaders of God’s people – kings, judges, elders – are described as shepherds. sheepdogs are not known in any of the biblical literature. It wouldn’t be a good image anyway as herding dogs are not what biblical leadership is all about. But there is a biblical idea of other leaders who are a companion and support to the leaders – like a sheepdog is for a shepherd. Now that’s biblical …
Read Exodus 18
Focus: Biblical teaching affirms that there is a place for those who help the shepherds shepherd.
Isn’t it great that God’s Word recalls a time when Moses, the great hero and leader of God’s people, gets some advice from his father-in-law! That makes sense, too: Since Moses was raised in Egypt, we might safely assume that it was his father-in-law who taught him how to shepherd …
- Jethro’s wisdom to Moses affirms that God’s spirit may be shared with others. Jethro affirms that leadership may be shared. Even though Jethro isn’t an Israelite, he knows a lot about the Most High God. He knows that God is not threatened by others who can administer his grace and wisdom. In fact, when more people are equipped to administer God’s grace and spirit it makes all of God’s people healthier. (verse 23)
- It is also good for God’s leaders. Jethro is giving Moses a little lesson in preventing burnout. Burnout is a bad thing when we ignore its message. The ultimate message of burnout is: You are not God. Let’s encourage all ministry leaders to equip others to do what they do. There will be countless leaders among God’s people – ministers, elders, ministry leaders. We come and go – but only God remains. So it isn’t just a good idea to equip others to do what we do – it is God’s idea, too!
- In the early church, this principle was put into practice by the apostles. (Acts 6.) They entrusted seven men to lead the distribution of food to widows. They shared God’s leadership and equipped others to minister in their stead. They equipped others to “shepherd” in response to church conflict and the church was healthier as a result. But the mission of God was also supplied. After appointing Phillip to this ministry we don’t read about his adventures in the food pantry, rather we see that he is doing an apostle’s work – he’s making disciples! Equipping others to shepherd in God’s name furthers the mission of God.
Concern: But if we permit everyone to “shepherd” then who’s in charge? Who has authority?
- Let’s be clear – When we say that we are the “Church of Christ” that means that all authority among us belongs to Christ Jesus. Who’s in charge? Christ is Lord.
- Christ is so clearly Lord that his authority can be dispensed among those who develop his character and spirit. Now that certainly includes elders. When the “qualifications” of an elder are mentioned it turns out that those are characteristics. All of these characteristics are the sort of behavior that should be standard for all of God’s people. The authority of elders is rooted in their credibility to teach and model how we ought to behave. Their main task is to lead us – or shepherd us – to become more like Christ.
- In the early centuries, what was the focus of shepherding: spiritual care, care of souls, spiritual formation, tending to people and their needs?
- What do we typically associate with shepherding now? (Over the last 100 years) – Board meetings, decisions, building budgets, property projects. This is not classical shepherding.
In Christ’s church, the Holy Spirit of God equips members to minister to one another. (See Ephesians 4:11). Let’s do two things:
- Let’s affirm others gifts for ministry and encourage them to minister to the church. [Several of our Lions for Christ college students are making a trip this week to Texas to do ministry. Shane is their leader, their “shepherd” of sorts, but he has equipped these young adults to minister to others and to minister to one another.]
- Let’s all make a personal commitment to step up with whatever God has given us and find a way to minister to others with the resources and talents that God has given us.
I am thankful that our elders and ministers have the wisdom of Jethro and Moses and they are prepared and ready to encourage each of you to minister to others. They believe in the words that Paul wrote to the Romans …
I myself am convinced, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, complete in knowledge and competent to instruct one another. – Romans 15:14
Posted by David on March 13, 2008 under Bulletin Articles
Years ago we as a society were introduced to the many facets of “blame.” We correctly understood that every person is a composite of his or her experiences. Before that understanding, our response as a society to a person who endured unjust situations was this: “Suck it up!”
There are lots of ways to illustrate this attitude from the past. “So, you married an abusive man and have a horrible marriage. Suck it up and quit crying!” “So, years ago as a child, you had a mother who vented her rage on you. Suck it up and pretend it never happened!” “So, your parents do despicable things to you that make you feel more like a slave or property. Suck it up and stop whining!” “So, you have a boss who exploits his power over you. Suck it up-you have a job!” The prevailing attitude was, “So, you have (had) it tough! Big deal! So do (did) many other people!”
Gradually, we understood there are horrible experiences we endure that are neither ignored, forgotten, nor easily escaped. Gradually, we grasped the powerful impact of unjust relationships in people’s lives. Gradually, we understood that horribly unjust experiences often have a radical impact on a person’s behavior.
As usual, the pendulum tends to swing too far with new insights. Our society went from ignorance (and unjust conclusions) to blamelessness where nothing is “my” fault (and unjust conclusions). In our circuit, we returned to the same situation-from no responsibility due to an absence of insight to no responsibility because of insight. The result: we went from irresponsible conduct produced by ignorance to irresponsible conduct produced by a refusal to accept any fault. Both produce irresponsible conduct.
Facts to be accepted: (1) No one’s past is perfect. (2) No matter how hard we try, we cannot make things perfect for the next generation. (3) We live in an unjust physical world, and the next generation will live in a similar physical world.
Two things I can do: (1) I can be honest with myself concerning the impact of my past on me. (2) I can let Christ make me the best me I can be. If I am honest with myself about the impact of my past on me, I can encourage you in your transition. If I let God’s grace in Jesus’ death free me from my guilt, I can be an example to you as I challenge you to find hope in God.
If I ignore my past, I condemn myself to exist in a feeling of guilt. If I let God teach me freedom in Christ, I exist in forgiveness. In the first, I make others miserable-often including those I love the most. In the second, I bless others’ lives just by being the “me” God makes “me” in Christ. In spite of my past, I choose who I am. I can’t be perfect, but I can be better! Thank You, Lord, for freedom in Jesus Christ!
Posted by David on March 11, 2008 under Sermons
Sacrificing animals, animal blood, the first fruits of a crop, and crop products to God was a way of showing dependence on and appreciation for God. For generations, people who sought God and depended on God sacrificed. Abel sacrificed. Abraham sacrificed. Sacrificial acts were a part of worship for Isaac, Jacob, the nation of Israel, and devout Jews early in New Testament history. The core of Passover involved sacrifice. Deuteronomy 16:16 instructed all the men of Israel to gather in the place God chose three times a year with gifts (sacrifices). Leviticus 1-7 states sacrifice was involved in burnt offerings, in peace offerings, and in sin and guilt offerings.
When God solved our problems produced by alienation through sin, He sacrificed. We have forgiveness available to us because God offered an enduring sacrifice. We can escape the eternal consequences of our sins because God sacrificed. We can become God’s people because He sacrificed. We can enter an eternal agreement or covenant with God because He sacrificed.
Today you can refer to yourself as a Christian because Jesus was the sacrifice. His body assumed our sins.
For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed (1 Peter 2:21-24).
His blood atoned for our failures (Hebrews 9:11, 12). It is Jesus’ blood that makes possible our righteousness, justification, redemption, and propitiation.
But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus (Romans 3:21-26).
Literally, we can come into God’s presence because God sacrificed Jesus for our benefit, and every Sunday we acknowledge that sacrifice in communion. We also acknowledge His sacrifice for us every day in the way we live our lives.
Without God’s willingness to sacrifice Jesus for us and Jesus’ willingness to be God’s sacrifice for us, there would be no Christianity, no church, and each of us would be helplessly ruled by our mistakes.
- At some point, sacrifice and the proper motive for sacrifice were separated in the human thought process.
- I challenge you to give some serious consideration to the way we think about spiritual realities.
- First, many of us think relationship with God is a matter of procedure, not a matter of motives and procedure.
- Second, many of us think if we do the correct things, those correct acts of themselves will produce a wonderful relationship with God.
- Let’s put those two observations in words we use every day.
- We often think relationship with God is just a matter of doing the right acts at the right time.
- What we really feel about God does not actually matter as long as we do the right things.
- Let me give you an example.
- Sunday morning it is essential that I be in a church building at the proper time for worship.
- When the congregation sings songs to praise God, I either need to listen to the singing or sing.
- When the congregation prays, I need to bow my head.
- When the congregation takes communion, I need to take communion.
- When the preacher preaches, I need to at least pretend to be listening.
- I simply cannot be anywhere else doing anything else until I have worshipped.
- However, why I come and what I feel is unimportant.
- I do not have to mean anything that I sing, I just have to sing or to listen.
- I do not have to pray; I just have to bow my head.
- I do not need to gratefully remember Jesus’ sacrifice; I just have to take communion.
- I do not have to think as the preacher preaches; I just have to pretend to listen.
- I do not have to engage my heart in praising God; as long as I do the right things, worship occurs.
- Long ago in 1 Samuel 15 God told King Saul explicitly how to avenge God’s wrath on the Amalekite people for their attack on Israel when Israel left Egypt.
- Contrary to God’s directions, King Saul spared the best of the animals.
- King Saul declared "the people" (his army) spared the best of the livestock for "sacrifice" to the Lord (1 Samuel 15:15).
- Samuel made this statement to King Saul in 1 Samuel 15:22,23:
“Has the Lord as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices As in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams. “For rebellion is as the sin of divination, And insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He has also rejected you from being king.”
- I want you to note one point: sacrifice to God is meaningless if it comes from a rebellious heart.
- Generations did not understand this truth.
- Once, the Pharisees accused Jesus’ disciples of violating the Sabbath because they picked and ate some raw grain.
- Jesus refuted their conclusion in three ways–two were examples they regarded as coming from an authoritative source, and one was a scripture they attributed to the will of God.
- The scripture Jesus’ quoted to them was from Hosea 6:6:
But if you had known what this means, ?I desire compassion, and not a sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent (Matthew 12:7).
- On God’s priority list, concern for people was as significant as sacrifice.
- To give God a sacrifice while having no concern for people is of no significance to God.
- Their problem was not created by not knowing what God said, but from not knowing what God meant by what He said–they saw the words, but they did not see the meaning.
- The problem.
- The problem existed because sacrifice to God was separated from love for God.
- The ancient concept that continues in human thinking today is this: what matters is a person’s acts.
- His or her motives behind the act do not matter.
- So, in worshipping God or living for God, acts matter, but motives do not matter.
- That has never been true!
- That is not true in human to human acts!
- Why should we decide that is true in acts dedicated to God?
- Let’s make an application of this incorrect view to marriage and the home.
- In your relationship with your spouse, are you happy and fulfilled if your spouse does the right things, but has no concern for you as a person?
- Are you happy and fulfilled as a person if your spouse tells you the right words but has no feeling for you behind the words?
- Are you happy and fulfilled as a person if your spouse tells you the right things in order to get you to do what he or she wants done?
- Before we go further, let’s make a clear distinction.
- We are NOT talking about toleration of a bad situation because you decide it is better to get something instead of getting nothing–so if your spouse does something right for the wrong reason, at least your spouse did something.
- We are NOT talking about giving up, saying to yourself nothing is ever going to change, nothing is ever going to get better–so, I best get what I can get.
- We are NOT talking about learning to "play the game"–whatever the form "the game" takes.
- Not the game of "it is my time to win."
- Not the game of "if I approach you right, you have to do what I want."
- Not the game of "you owe me because of what I did for you."
- Not any other game that basically says that you are not important as a person, and I will use you in any way I must to get what I want to get.
- If in your marriage, one or both of you function on the basis of words or actions without regard to motives, honestly tell yourself how you feel.
- Do you feel appreciated as a person?
- Do you feel respected as though you matter?
- Do you feel used?
- Do you feel manipulated?
- Do you feel worthless?
- Do you feel you do not belong to yourself?
- Does your spouse have any idea of how you feel? Do the two of you talk and share or do the two of you fight and argue?
- And both of you are Christians?
- As Christians, do you fight or argue Sunday morning until you get to the church building, then behave like the ideal Christian family while you are at the church building, then fight and argue the rest of the day?
- Does that fit your definition and concept of being a Christian?
- Is that the way you treat everyone else?
- If someone came into your home unexpectedly, could the visitor slice the tension between you and your family as if were a block of cheese?
- Does that fit your definition and concept of being a Christian?
- Is that the way you act in other circumstances?
- Does what happen in your home depend on who gets and can maintain control?
- Does that fit your definition and concept of being a Christian?
- Is that the way you act in other contexts?
- May I make the point I have repeatedly made.
- If knowing God through Christ has increased your understanding of the link between godliness and respect, the first person who should benefit from your understanding of the importance of expressing respect because you are a godly person should be your spouse, and the second people should be your children.
- If knowing God through Christ has increased your understanding of the link between godliness and kindness, the first person who should benefit from your understanding of the importance of expressing kindness because you are a godly person should be your spouse, and the second people should be your children.
- If knowing God through Christ has increased your understanding of the link between godliness and love, the first person who should benefit because of your understanding of the importance of showing love because you are a godly person should be your spouse, and the second people should be your children.
- Think with me for just a moment.
- Is being respectful, being kind, being loving a part of godliness?
- Should a Christian be respectful, kind, and loving to all people–even strangers–because the Christian understands people are made in God’s image?
- Then why should you treat strangers whom you do not know in ways you won’t treat your family?
- Why should a stranger respect your beliefs if your beliefs do not bless your family?
- Is it easy to be respectful, kind, and loving?
- No! Being a godly person is not easy!
- Will being a godly person require that I make sacrifices? Yes!
- Will being a godly person in my family require sacrifices? Yes!
- Then why will I make such sacrifices?
- I do it for God in appreciation of what He has done and continues to do for me!
- I do it because it is an important part of who I am as a person who belongs to God.
If you do not know how to be respectful, kind, and loving to your family, allow someone who knows how to teach you (not judge and condemn you) how to show and express positive qualities in your family relationships.
Learn how to be a respectful, kind, and loving person so your behavior encourages others to show you kindness, respect, and love. Learn how to talk and share. Let people learn from you that they matter.
Please, remember that sacrifice and love are inseparably linked as we devote ourselves to godly living. Please, understand that respect, kindness, and love are a part of being godly. Please, learn that showing these things to your family is truly an important part of being godly. Sacrifice for these things because these things are a part of God’s ways. Never forget that God made great sacrifices to extend you His respect, kindness, and love!
Posted by Chris on March 9, 2008 under Sermons
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- Protestant Reformation
16th century challenges to authority of the Pope in Western Europe
- Lutheran Reformation [Luther, 1517]
- Reformed Reformation [Zwingli & Calvin, 1518]
- Radical Reformation/Anabaptists [Menno Simons, 1520’s]
- English Reformation [Henry VIII & Cromwell, 1530’s]
- Scottish Reformation [John Knox, 1559]
“Unless I am convinced by Scripture and plain reason – I do not accept the authority of the popes and councils … my conscience is captive to the Word of God.” — Martin Luther
“We acknowledge and confess that we now … have two sacraments only, instituted by the Lord Jesus … baptism and the supper, or table of the Lord Jesus.” — Scottish Confession of Faith (1560)
Legacy of the Reformation
- Papal authority rejected
- Biblical authority emphasized
- Worship simplified
- Baptism and Communion essential sacraments
- The Enlightenment
- Philosophical movement during 17th and 18th century.
- Confidence in the power of human reason.
- Knowledge comes through experience and observation.
- All assumptions about life, world and humanity are reconsidered.
Ren? Descartes (1596-1650)
“I think, therefore I am.”
Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626)
- Introduced empirical method
- Promoted Christian unity as reasonable
- Truth is fruit of experience, not authority
John Locke (1632-1704)
- Founder of Empiricism
- Human Reasoning and the Tabula Rasa
- Separation of Church and State
- Power resides with the people
Thomas Reid (1710-1796)
- Scottish “Common Sense” School of Philosophy
- We know things directly
- University of Glasgow professor
Legacy of the Enlightenment
- Emphasis on Human Reason
- Truth is perceived through experience and human senses
- Common Sense – “We know things directly and do not infer them through ideas.”
- Religious Revival
- Religious revivals generated new religious movements.
- Anglican
- Congregationalists (Cotton, 1636)
- Quakers (Fox, 1647)
- Methodists (Wesley, 1729)
- Reformed
- Baptists (Williams, 1639)
- The Great Awakening of 18th century [Johnathan Edwards& George Whitefield] split some mainline churches.
- Presbyterians
- Episcopalians
Legacy of the Revivals
- Church autonomy
- Evangelicalism – personal saving faith rather than routine membership in the national church
- Fractured fellowships – Presbyterians & Anglicans especially
- American Democracy
- The American Colonies are religiously diverse and a refuge from persecution.
- America is regarded as uncorrupted
- American democracy appeared to be God’s government.
- America was destined to be the land of the millennial dawn.
Great Seal of the United States
ANNUIT COEPTIS = He has smiled on our beginnings
NOVUS ORDO SECLORUM = A New Order of the Ages
“There’s an all-seeing eye …”
God’s Promised Land
A battle flag of the Revolution read: “Resistance to Tyrants is Obedience to God”
Freedom from Church Control
- Casting out the Anglican Bishop (1769)
- “No lords spiritual or temporal in New England!”
- Banner: “Liberty and Freedom of Conscience.”
The U.S. Constitution
- If God-ordained nation was possible, why not religion?
- Many churches organize to become independent American churches.
Primitive Religion
“When we shall have unlearned everything which has been taught since [Jesus’] day, and got back to the pure and simple doctrines … if nothing had ever been added … the whole world would at this day have been Christian.” — Thomas Jefferson (1821)
Christians Only
- James O’Kelly (1735-1826)
- Methodist; North Carolina & Virginia
- “I am for Bible government, Christian equality, and the Christian name.”
Religious Freedom
- Abner Jones – Vermont
- Elias Smith – New Hampshire
- Baptists
- New England Christian Connection
Legacy of American Democracy
- Millennial expectations
- Independence from older state churches
- Primitive, simple religion
- Independent churches – religious freedom
Posted by Chris on under Sermons
In February 2003, filmmaker Morgan Spurlock began an experiment that would later become the basis for his documentary, “Supersize Me.” For 30 days, Spurlock vowed to eat nothing but McDonald’s food – all three meals. He exercised very little, only walking around town – but nothing strenuous or regular.
Spurlock began his experiment weighing 185 lbs. At the end of 30 days, he had gained 24.5 lbs. During the experiment, Spurlock’s liver and heart were not as healthy. Family, friends, and physicians urged him to change his diet immediately. Spurlock survived his 30-day experiment, but it took him 14 months to lose the weight he had gained.
Spurlock’s film caused McDonald’s to drop its Super-Sized menu. They also added healthier choices to their menus. Spurlock claimed that he made the movie to highlight the growing epidemic of “obesity” in the United States.
Thanks to Spurlock and many, many others the incontrovertible evidence is before us – diet and exercise matter. If one eats too much or eats poorly and exercises very little or not at all, then we know what happens. It isn’t a mystery. It shouldn’t really shock us. Did we really need a film to convince us that eating McD’s for 30 days probably isn’t the best diet? If you want to get healthy there’s no mystery to that – eat right and exercise more. That’s really all there is to it.
We understand this when it comes to our physical health. But do we realize that it is pretty much the same when it comes to our spiritual health?
If the goal of diet and exercise for our physical bodies is to maintain our health, then there should also be some sort of goal when it comes to diet and exercise for the soul. Paul described that goal in Galatians 4:8-20.
Christ Formed in Us …
- “Straining at Gnats, Swallowing Camels” – (legalism vs. formation) – Paul was very concerned that the Galatians were not getting the right sort of spiritual diet and exercise. They has resorted to legalism which is the spiritual equivalent of quick fix weight loss treatments. Legalism is the mistaken and arrogant attempt to focus in on rules and codes. Very often legalism attracts us by causing us to focus on things that we can do to get it right. Jesus encountered this sort of thinking among the Pharisees. Matthew 23:23-24 – “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices-mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law-justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.”
- Legalism is a neurotic focus on our ability to keep rules
- Spiritual Formation is focusing on becoming more like Jesus
- Being like Jesus means having the ability to recognize what’s important to God rather than what’s important to us. Notice what Jesus’ weight issue – justice, mercy, faithfulness.
- Teaching to the Test rather than Training for Life (information vs. formation) – Spiritual formation involves more than simple information. One of the first groups in Christianity to be labeled heretics were the Gnostics. The Gnostics believed that salvation could be achieved by knowledge. If you knew the right things, if you had access to information, then you were among the saved.
- The Gnostic tendency is still with us. Knowledge is a good thing – much better than ignorance. It is rewarding to learn. In a culture where knowledge is emphasized it is easy to describe our faith in terms of “what we know.”
- But it doesn’t really do us any good to know the names of the 12 apostles if we lie to our mom. Are we more like Christ when we articulate a doctrine of church government or are we more like Christ when we treat our neighbors with love and respect?
- Paul warned Timothy not to be distracted by those who thought of faith in terms of teaching to the test. (1 Timothy 4:6-8, The Message) “Stay clear of silly stories that get dressed up as religion. Exercise daily in God-no spiritual flabbiness, please! Workouts in the gymnasium are useful, but a disciplined life in God is far more so, making you fit both today and forever. You can count on this. Take it to heart. This is why we’ve thrown ourselves into this venture so totally. We’re banking on the living God, Savior of all men and women, especially believers.”
Training for Godliness
- Discipline – Being a disciple means learning to be a discipline. Richard Foster wrote a book about 25 years ago that has become a modern classic. It is titled The Celebration of Discipline. Foster rediscovered the classical spiritual disciplines: prayer, study, meditation, worship, fasting, service, silence. Christian authors had not focused on such things in years. Critics claimed that these spiritual disciplines were in danger of becoming “works righteousness.” But Foster pointed out that was absolutely contrary to the spirit of the disciplines. The disciplines are training for godliness. We cannot expect to godly people “when it counts” if we are not training in godliness every day.
- Trials – Godliness counts when the difficulties arise. Rather than see these as setbacks to faith or misfortune, this is where our training goes to work. 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (James 1.)
- Cord of Three Strands – One of the best bits of advice that’s given to people who are trying to change their health through diet and exercise is: Find a friend. We take encouragement from others and we give encouragement to others. A well worn lesson about spiritual formation builds on the image of Ecclesiastes 4:12 – A cord of three strands is not easily broken. The wise teacher is saying that we don’t do well on our own. We need each other. The lesson built on this cord of three strands suggests that each of us has in our sphere of influence: mentors, peers, and students.
- Who is your influence? Who helps you become more like Christ?
- Who do you influence? Who could you help become more like Christ?
Posted by David on March 6, 2008 under Sermons
How long has it been since you focused on or gave serious attention to the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20) when God spoke those commandments to Israel?
Then God spoke all these words, saying, I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain. Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath of the Lord your God; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter, your male or your female servant or your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and made it holy. Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the Lord your God gives you. You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife or his male servant or his female servant or his ox or his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” All the people perceived the thunder and the lightning flashes and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood at a distance. Then they said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen; but let not God speak to us, or we will die” (Exodus 20:1-19).
There are several things that are obvious to me. (1) They should listen to God because of what He did for them in delivering them from slavery. (2) Israel did not wish to listen to God because they saw God as a terrifying power rather than a helping power. (3) If they correctly understand God, they understand the way they treat people is the way they treat God.
Today, I would like for us to think about the third obvious thing: if we understand the character and nature of God, we understand that correct knowledge of God will affect the way we treat each other.
- Why?
- The reason: people are made in the image and likeness of God.
Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth” (Genesis 1:26-28).
- Because a human being is in the image and likeness of God, that fact/understanding will change the way a person who knows God looks at other people.
- Paul wrote to the Christians in Ephesus:
". . . put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth" (Ephesians 4:24).
- And again to the Christians in Colossae:
". . . 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" (Colossians 3:10,11).
- James wrote to Christians:
"But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way. Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water? Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Nor can salt water produce fresh" (James 3:8-12).
- The point is repeatedly made.
- A person cannot know God and treat people with indifference or rudeness.
- If I belong to God, when I look at you I see much more than the things you have and how you can benefit me.
- No one can see God and not treat people differently.
- This is not something "new" or "different" about God that in some mysterious way came into existence when Jesus died and was resurrected to reign as the Christ.
- This always has been true about the character and nature of God.
- God did not change as a Being in the death and resurrection of Jesus.
- What God could do in His relationship with us changed because of His gift in Jesus’ death and resurrection.
- Consider a illustration:
- When there was rebellion against God in Eden, the rebellion quickly went from eating a fruit to the murder of a brother.
- When people rebel against God, they lose their respect for others.
- If I refuse to appreciate God by surrendering to Him, I lose my respect for you.
- Knowing and appreciating God will change my attitude and behavior toward you.
- To speak practically:
- I cannot love God and hate you.
- I cannot accept God’s forgiveness and refuse to extend you my forgiveness.
- I cannot expect God to hear my every prayer and need while refusing to listen to you.
- I cannot depend on God’s compassion, mercy, and grace while refusing to extend to you compassion, mercy, and grace.
- To me, the ultimate expression of this attitude is found in a statement Jesus made in his Sermon on the Mount: "In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets" (Matthew 7:12).
- Why will another person be better off if I treat him like I want to be treated?
- He or she won’t be better off . . . unless I know God and let that knowledge shape (1) my behavior and (2) the way I look at people.
- If I treat you like I want to be treated, and all I know is wicked behavior, your situation will not likely improve.
- Only if I know God and let my knowledge of God shape the way I look at you will my treating you like I want to be treated (as one who knows God) lead to your benefit.
- The first human relationships to benefit from my knowing God should be my family relationships.
- Knowing God should result in a husband treating his wife with understanding and kindness.
- Knowing God should result in a wife treating her husband with understanding and kindness.
- Knowing God should result in parents treating their children with understanding and kindness.
- "Can you be more specific?"
- Knowing God results in a husband learning how to let his wife act and think like a woman.
- Knowing God results in a wife learning how to let her husband act and think like a man.
- Men and women do not act alike and do not think alike!
- I am not talking about justifying or ignoring evil behavior or wicked thoughts.
- I am talking about learning good behavior in a male and in a female.
- I am talking about not expecting a man to deny his masculine nature or expecting a woman to deny her feminine nature.
- I am talking about informing yourself instead of demanding or ordering.
- I also suggest that knowing God results in parents allowing their children to be children.
- Do not expect a 4-year-old to act like a 15-year-old.
- Do not expect a 15-year-old to act like a 25-year-old.
- Just as children must develop mentally and physically, they also must develop in their ability to exercise good judgment.
- While parents always expect their children to develop to the full extent of their ability, they never demand of their children what they cannot do.
- Children are not little adults, and we do them no favor by forcing them to act as if they were little adults.
- Again, we are not condoning bad behavior, but neither are we encouraging impossible behavior.
- I suggest the church needs to take the lead in encouraging godly behavior in families.
- We need spiritually to develop an entirely different concept of success in family relationships.
- Because we do not divorce does not mean we are successful in godly relationships.
- Because a child continues an excellent attendance record in a congregation and marries someone who has an excellent attendance record in a congregation does not prove they love each other.
- Husbands and wives who come to worship constantly may fight like cats and dogs at home–the only thing they may share is the same address.
- Our children may marry Christians yet form a home of hatred.
- It takes much more than a refusal to divorce or church attendance to be successful in marriage and home.
- What are some of the criteria in a successful marriage/home?
- Do they know how to love unselfishly?
- How do they show love?
- Do they know how to share?
- Are their actions and behavior ruled by kindness?
- Are they sacrificial in their treatment of each other?
- Are they friends who share their friendship with each other?
- Are they thoughtful of each other?
- Do they share things or self with each other?
- Do they depend on each other?
- Do they trust each other?
- Do they do "their own thing" or do they share time with each other?
- Is their feeling for each other dependent on prosperity or lifestyle?
I think it is appropriate to end where we began. (1) We listen to God because of what He does for us. (2) We are not terrified of God, but see God as a source of hope. (3) We understand that the way we treat people is the way we treat God.
Understanding those things, our marriages and homes are blessed because we belong to God. God, in love for us, teaches us how to commit in marriage because we have learned to love from God.
Posted by David on under Bulletin Articles
In the past few weeks, the bulletin articles emphasized two points. (1) Christians are responsible to care for each others’ well being. Thus, we exercise great care in what we say. (2) Christians accept the responsibility involved in personal transformation. Thus, as a Christian, I am responsible to focus on my behavior and attitudes as well as on your example.
Wow! Tough! It is fairly simple for me to focus on your example. If I am honest with myself, it is fairly simple to focus on my example established by my attitudes and behavior. However, all of us encounter a huge problem. God who gave Christ for my sins and forgives my errors is also the God who gave Christ for your sins and forgives your errors. So, when do I treat my mistakes with God’s grace, and when do I treat your mistakes with God’s grace? When do I let God’s grace help you escape your guilt just as I allow God’s grace to help me escape my guilt?
Where is the balance? Who decides where it should be? How do I condemn you without condemning me? If I let my guilt destroy me how am I improved because I destroy you also? Does anything go with repentance? Where is the accountability line drawn? Who draws it? Are you “in” because I say you are “in” or “out” because I say you are “out?” How can we show each other disrespect and not discredit our Savior?
I understand when Elijah ran from Queen Jezebel or Peter denied Jesus when he was “under the gun.” Why? I know and grasp such weakness. I know that kind of weakness happens! However, it is difficult to understand God’s quick forgiveness of David’s adultery, or Bathsheba continuing as David’s queen, or her son by David being Israel’s next king. That puts Isaiah 55:8, 9 in a practical light-truly God’s ways are not our ways! Thankfully, God’s forgiveness does not depend on human understanding.
Congregations-from the beginning-were a delicate balance between mercy and accountability. Jewish Christians did not understand how gentile Christians could be saved without circumcision. Gentile Christians did not understand why Jewish Christians were so hung up on rules. Living congregations ALWAYS are composed of spiritual infants, children, adolescents, and adults of varying degrees of spiritual maturity. If the balance between mercy and accountability is not found and practiced in Jesus Christ, no congregation can thrive as a part of Christ’s earthly body.
In college, an admired teacher stated this in a minor prophets’ study: “You cannot get to Heaven on the mistakes of other people.”
Ouch!!!
Posted by Chris on March 2, 2008 under Sermons
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Discovering Our Roots
- Roots: The Saga of an American Family — Alex Haley’s family story
- 1977 mini-series
- Increased interest in genealogy and history
- Unknown history
Do We Have a History?
“The past should be consigned to the rubbish heap where Christ died!” — Barton W. Stone
Why Study Our History?
- Wisdom of Past Generations
- Understanding the Bible
- Understanding our Culture
- Understanding our Future
- Understanding Tradition
- The Road to the Future Leads through the Past
Tradition: Good or Bad?
- Empty traditions distract from the intent of God.
Matthew 15:1-6; Colossians 2:8
- Enriching traditions draw us to the intent of God.
1 Corinthians 11:2; 2 Thessalonians 2:15; 3:6
time changes things
“Critical History”
- HAGIOGRAPHY – (Non-Critical)
- DECONSTRUCTION – (Over-Critical)
What is Restoration?
- Plan
- Purpose
- On-going
- Unity
“Unity is my polar star.” — Barton W. Stone
“I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one-as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one.”— Jesus Christ (John 17:20-22)
Posted by Chris on under Sermons
A man was being tailgated by a stressed out woman on a busy boulevard. Suddenly, the light turned yellow, just in front of him. He did the right thing, stopping at the crosswalk, even though he could have beaten the red light by accelerating through the intersection. The tailgating woman was furious and honked her horn, screaming in frustration as she missed her chance to get through the intersection, dropping her cell phone and makeup.
As she was still in mid-rant, she heard a tap on her window and looked up into the face of a very serious state trooper. The trooper ordered her to exit her car with her hands up. He took her to the station where she was searched, finger printed, photographed, and placed in a holding cell. After a couple of hours, a trooper approached the cell and opened the door. She was escorted back to the booking desk where the arresting trooper was waiting with her personal effects.
He said, “I’m very sorry for this mistake. You see, I pulled up behind your car while you were blowing your horn, making rude gestures at the guy in front of you, and cussing a blue streak at him. I noticed the ‘What Would Jesus Do’ bumper sticker, the ‘Follow Me to Sunday-School’ bumper sticker, the ‘Choose Life’ license plate holder, and the chrome-plated Jesus fish emblem on the trunk. Naturally … I assumed you had stolen the car.”
What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus? This story reminds us that being a disciple is more than simply signing up for the right causes or taking a particular stance on issues and doctrines; being a disciple of Jesus means living out the teachings of Jesus.
Every Sunday we are sent out beneath a banner that reminds us of our mission: “Making Disciples for Jesus Who Are Eager to Serve Others.” Let’s start talking about some practical efforts that would help us fulfill this mission. A few weeks ago, Charles Siburt started the conversation by describing what congregations similar to ours are doing to fulfill Christ’s mission. I’ve adapted that list and attempted to make these suggestions practical to our situation. I’ve also considered the biblical principles involved in each of these. So over the next few weeks, why don’t we study and converse about our Future Together as Disciples of Jesus.
We’ve got to begin by Raising the Bar. Following Jesus means something. As someone once said, “Christ takes us as we are, but he isn’t content to leave us like that.” If we are going to effectively “make disciples for Jesus,” then it is critical that we should “be disciples” of Jesus.
1. Maturing in Christ (Colossians 1:28) – When I was beginning my ministry as a campus minister at Arkansas Tech University, I searched for a way to describe what that ministry was about. After all, there were so many things that had to be done – preaching, teaching, evangelism, and fellowship. Was one more important than the others? I wondered if they all fit together somehow. Why spend time on fellowship if evangelism is more important. Why not spend every minute teaching? Then I paid attention to something that Paul wrote in Colossians 1:28 “We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.”
There it was all together. The preaching, teaching, and encouraging had a goal: perfection in Christ. Not perfection as a flawless performance, but perfection as maturity. When Paul worked to “make disciples” he raised the bar high. His goal was to present disciples who grew up (matured) to be more like Christ.
The standard we should have then should be no less. Let’s strive with all the energy and resources that Christ gives us to present ourselves and one another as mature, Christ-like disciples. Let’s expect the best from one another. Let’s expect healthy, mature behavior from one another.
The letters of the New Testament were not written to perfect, flawless church communities. The writers did not sit down and write out ideal theories of how the church should work. Rather, the letters of the NT are written often to hurting, conflicted, troubled churches and the writers are inspired to apply the teachings of Christ to the situation at hand. [Think of Philippians which we just finished.] The writers of the NT always expect the best of these troubled churches. They raise the bar! In another letter to a very troubled church, Paul describes this as type of mature, healthy, Christ-like behavior as love …
Read 1 Corinthians 13.
2. Acting Like Jesus. About 20 years ago, Paul Faulkner wrote a book called Making Things Right When Things Go Wrong. One of the ways of doing that is to “Act Better Than You Feel.” It sounds like hypocrisy at first, but Dr. Faulkner makes this distinction: A hypocrite is one who acts like that which he or she never intends to become. Acting better than we feel is growth. We act like that which we do intend to become.
I think the advice to act better than we feel is even more needed today. We should expect more from one another than the upper limit of our feelings. We may not feel like being polite. We may not feel like being kind. We may not feel like sharing. We may not feel like being responsible. We may not feel like being patient. But at best our feelings can only serve as an explanation for our behavior; never an excuse!
When we are stressed, angry, upset or in disagreement with others we especially need to act better than we feel. Being a disciple of Jesus means we might think or feel any number of ways, but we don’t act any way we want. We act like Jesus – which means as his disciples we will be patient, kind, not envious, not arrogant, not proud, not rude, not self-seeking, not easily angered.
3. Expect the Best and Think the Best of Others. You never know which Razorback basketball team is going to show up at the game – the good one or the not so good one. But despite their ups and downs, no one is seriously criticizing Coach John Pelphrey. Maybe that’s because he seems to consistently expect the best and makes no excuses. His high expectations make them a better team.
If we can expect a coach to expect the best of athletes, then we should certainly expect the best from one another as disciples. High expectation will make us better people. But is that really loving to expect so much? Paul described love as a virtue that “keeps no record of wrongs. It does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres.”
Raising the Bar and expecting the best from ourselves and others means practicing loving accountability. Love demands it.
- We are not keeping a list of offenses.
- We are not delighting or feeling vindicated when others sin and fail. Rather we rejoice when they live their lives honestly.
Expecting the best from one another means we must also think the best about one another. Disciples of Jesus can put aside suspicion and mistrust.
- We seek to promote the truth about others (holy gossip).
- We protect the integrity of others and show respect for everyone.
- We hope for the best behavior in others.
- We will endure difficulties together and hope for better days. And we believe we can get there with Christ’s help because we have raised the bar high enough.
Posted by David on February 28, 2008 under Bulletin Articles
Paul knew what it was like to live in the “fish bowl.” When you live in the “fish bowl,” you exist for others to observe. If they want to make it their life’s objective, they can spend a lot of hours discovering your flaws and calling your flaws to others’ attention. There were those who seemingly defined their life’s mission to be discovering Paul’s flaws and announcing those flaws to anyone who would listen.
Paul had a huge problem. Prior to conversion, he was the “poster child” of first century Jews who hated what we call Christianity. (They often called it “the Way.”) He said in Acts 26:9, “So then, I thought to myself that I had to do many things hostile to the name of Jesus of Nazareth,” and in verse 11, “And as I punished them often in all the synagogues, I tried to force them to blaspheme; and being furiously enraged at them, I kept pursuing them even to foreign cities.” He so violently opposed Christianity prior to his conversion that Jerusalem Christians feared him even after his conversion (see Acts 9:26).
Paul, the Jews’ Jew, understood the Christ (the Messiah) came to save gentiles as well as Jews (see Genesis 12:3; note “all families of the earth;” and Galatians 3:16). Paul’s understanding was NOT popular among most first century Jews-Christian and non-Christian! The result: the violent man became the target. One of the first century’s great ironies: the Jews’ Jew became the Christian apostle to gentiles! Even the Christian Peter, after his Acts 10 experience, lacked the courage to admit God’s interest expressed in Paul’s mission to the gentiles (see Galatians 2:11-14).
Paul had a dream! He wanted to eliminate the gap between Jewish Christians and gentile Christians. To him, the best way to bring healing was for gentile Christians to send a gift to Jewish Christians to aid with physical necessities. Though Paul promoted the gift, collected the gift, and delivered the gift, he could not heal the breach!
Paul’s passion to heal an unnecessary problem significantly contributed to the events that resulted in his death. He wanted to end a problem that God ended in Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection (read Galatians 2:11-21). He wanted to “fix” a condition that God “fixed” in Jesus Christ, and he could not! His great efforts to do things honorably in everyone’s sight failed. People continued to be people! Jewish Christians held so tightly to their views that they could not see through God’s eyes! They were so “sure” they saw correctly that they did not comprehend their blindness!
To me, there are several lessons to note. (1) Conflict always will exist among Christians. (2) Some conflicts cannot be “fixed.” (3) The challenge is not always the “fixing,” but being Christians when things need “fixing.” We can act like God’s people even when other Christians do not.
