Children of Light

Posted by Chris on June 24, 2007 under Sermons

Read Ephesians 5:3-14.

Imagine with me the scene of an ancient baptism. The church has gathered at a river and those prepared for baptism are waiting to be immersed. They have been prayerful and maybe they have even fasted for a day or two. Their focus has certainly been on the Lord Jesus – his baptism, his teaching, his death, burial, and resurrection. Believing in Christ, they have renounced sinfulness and selfishness and are now submitting themselves to the Lord.

One of the shepherds of this ancient congregation has just finished reminding these repentant souls of the gospel and the kingdom way of life they are entering into. Then he baptizes them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And as they come up from the water, the gathered congregation welcomes the newborn Christians by singing a little hymn that says, “Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” (Ephesians 5:14)

This speculation about the practice of ancient baptism is based on ancient sources (such as the Didache, Chapter 7) that describe what baptism was like in the late first or early second century. It would certainly embody the belief of Ephesians 2:1-10 and Romans 6 and other NT Scriptures that describe how baptism is a defining moment in which one dies to the worldliness of sin and lives a new life in Christ. Thus, it makes sense that Eph 5:14 is a hymn or statement that was pronounced at baptisms.

If you’ve been baptized into Christ, what was it like at your baptism? What was said? What was done? What does that baptism mean? The message of Ephesians teaches us that our baptism is a transition. Once we were darkness, but now we are light. I hadn’t really noticed this before, but the transition is described as a change of nature (v. 8). Once we were darkness, not in darkness, but we were darkness. And now, being in Christ, we are light. Sometimes we tell children who are afraid of the dark that there’s nothing to be afraid of because everything in the dark is the same as it is in the light. That will work as long as we are talking about being in the darkness or in the light. But there’s one thing in the room that isn’t the same when the lights come on. The darkness is no longer there. Darkness is not the same in the light. Light is not the same in the darkness, in fact light changes darkness. Our transition is just as striking, now that we are in Christ we are no longer darkness. We are light. We are the children of light.

Our baptism then is a change of nature and a change of rule in our lives. And the implications of this are so important that it won’t wait until the day we get to heaven. It makes a difference right now.

Children of light live a certain way. Our lives make a difference. There’s a mix of metaphors in v. 9 – light bears fruit. Goodness, righteousness, and truth are the outgrowth of living as children of light. This is a grand vision for our lives. It means we can live in such a way that we are not just doing good or being good. We can live in such a way that our lives generate good. Likewise with righteousness and truth. Have you ever known someone who inspires you to goodness, righteousness, and truthfulness? Have you ever seen the legacy of goodness, righteousness, and truth that someone has left behind in their journey through life? That’s what it is like when Christ is in us and his light shines on us making us children of light. That really can be you.

The transition of our baptism also means that we have waken up in a new land. When we were darkness, a different power had dominion over us. It may have been our own greed and selfishness, it may have been fear, it may have been an addiction, it may have been anger or lust. But being in Christ means that we are under the dominion of Christ. When one is under dominion it means that one has a lord. That lord could very well be ours own self. That’s always sounds good. It’s very independent and ruggedly individualistic. Most of us, if we are honest, are lousy lords. We wouldn’t treat anyone as harshly and crudely as we treat ourselves. Perhaps we criticize ourselves endlessly, perhaps we do whatever we please with our own bodies and attempt to satisfy our never-ending lusts for sensual pleasure in ways that hurt us and in ways that never satisfy, perhaps we say anything we want and vent our anger and discontent but instead of earning us respect it drives people away. And when we do all of this and more we make a point of reminding ourselves and others that we free people and in charge of our own lives.

One always tries to please one’s Lord. When we are in Christ, we find out what pleases our Lord Jesus Christ. And it is as if the light comes on. We see clearly how the deeds of darkness never satisfy. They are fruitless.

I won’t pretend it is simple to talk about having a Lord and being in his dominion. We are a people who very rightly have a negative association with oppression and slavery. We should. Our history is stained with the legacies of dark dominions. But when we are in the Lord’s Dominion, we are light. Our lives are sources of goodness, righteousness, and truth. We find out what please the Lord, and though it may not always be easy we may just find that it is satisfying.

Holy Manners: Sincerity

Posted by David on June 21, 2007 under Bulletin Articles

Our sincerity is a window that reveals our motives. In this culture, there are few things that irritate any of us more than having a person ?fake’ sincerity. Why are we offended so much by ?fake’ sincerity? One significant reason is this: When a person ?fakes’ his or her sincerity, he or she hides his or her motives.

Successful con-artists are masters at ?faking’ sincerity. Their primary motive is to scam you and thereby bring you harm. However, they are effective in making you feel that they care infinitely about your hurt and dilemma. Their real motive is to gain your money or your valuables. They make you think their real motive is compassion. Their ?fake’ sincerity hides their real motive.

Because we grasp the nature and importance of sincerity, Christians understand the need to be ?transparent.’ Because we are family in Christ, we want each other to know, “I am trustworthy. I neither seek to hurt you nor use you. Because my sincerity is real, you can see my motive. I do not seek to deceive you, but to encourage you.”

Sincerity requires compassion. One of the reasons for Christians being easy to deceive is found in their compassion. Christians are compassionate because they care about people. Their caring is genuine.

Sincerity within the Christian family can be difficult. Are we all the same? No! While we differ in personalities, we are all in Christ. I do not have to be “ditto marks” of you, and you do not have to be “ditto marks” of me for us to care about each other. Our sincerity with each other always declares, “We may differ, but you never have reason to fear me. I have your back, and I will never stab it!”

If people who refuse to turn to God do not learn good spiritual manners from the Christian family, can they learn good spiritual manners elsewhere? If they cannot see in us a sincerity that is trustworthy and caring, where will they observe it? Never forget that the way you treat others speaks more eloquently about your attitudes and motives than just about how you feel about that person.

Just as Jesus Christ is to us in our weaknesses and flaws, we are to others in Christ in what we regard to be their weaknesses and flaws. Physically, I love my family, flaws and all, and my family loves me, flaws and all. I do not love only those in my family who are just like me, and they do not love me because I am just like them. Is that not the way it is in your family? That is the way it needs to be in God’s family!

“We will know by this that we are of the truth, and will assure our heart before Him in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart and knows all things.” (1 John 3:19, 20)

Difficulty Requires the Prayer of Persistent Patience

Posted by David on June 20, 2007 under Sermons

I want to focus our thinking today by using a familiar scripture in Luke 18:1-8. I encourage you to read with me.

Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart, saying, “In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and did not respect man. There was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, ?Give me legal protection from my opponent.’ For a while he was unwilling; but afterward he said to himself, ?Even though I do not fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow bothers me, I will give her legal protection, otherwise by continually coming she will wear me out.’ ” And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge *said; now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them? I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?”

A fairly common conversation these days focuses on how much things have changed. Depending on our age or our background or both, many of the changes really irritate us. There is not longer a sense of community and neighborliness as there use to be. Prices continue to go up. It is not uncommon to go to public places and hear several languages that sound strange. The world is getting smaller and smaller all the time–someone important can "hiccup" in a nation thousands of miles from us and cause an earthquake in our nation. Living in national isolation is no longer possible–the world has just become too dependent on what is occurring in all nations.

As much as we might dislike change in our world, we typically dislike change in the church even more. We have a family member who dropped out of the church for years, and then came back. She asked, "What happened while I was gone? When I left we sang about the old rugged cross, and when I came back we were singing about thirsty deer."

Whether in life or in the church, some find change filled with the invigoration of challenge, and some find change going from bad to worse.

1. The parable we just read involves two characters: the weakest of the weak, and a powerful difference maker.
   
   1. The powerful difference maker was a local Jewish judge.
      
      1. His rulings mattered.
         
      2. As the saying goes, "He could make you or break you."
         
      3. He was an unprincipled man.
         
         1. His primary concern was his own best interest.
            
         2. Though he was a judge in a religious society, his concern for God was at best superficial–the only time he was concerned about God’s interest was when God’s values served his purposes.
            
         3. He was not a compassion man–he did not care about the plight of a person unless his concern served his selfish purposes.
   2. The powerless person was the widow.
      
      1. A first century Jewish widow lived in a man’s world.
         
         1. Ideally, she would have her father, her brother, or some interested male speak for her to a judge.
            
         2. The worst person to plead her case was herself–a woman was typically ignored in that situation.
      2. If ever there was apparently a hopeless situation, that was it.
         
         1. The woman had a real need for protection from someone who was making her life miserable.
            
         2. The judge simply did not care about her need, and she had no power to improve the situation.
            
         3. From every human perspective, the situation looked hopeless.
      3. However, the widow persisted, and the judge decided she would make him miserable because she did not have enough sense to know when to give up.
         
         1. So the judge acted out of self-interest just to get rid of the woman.
            
         2. The result: the powerless woman received her protection.
2. Let’s immediately make one thing quite clear: the message of the parable is NOT "hang in there until you wear God down and get what you want."
   
   1. The parable used a Jewish literary device that used a comparison: "If an disinterested, ungodly, uncompassionate judge would act in the behalf of the powerless, how much more would an interested, compassionate God act in our behalf?"
      
   2. The point is NOT we can wear God down.
      
   3. The point is NOT we can get what we want materially.
      
   4. The point IS a caring God is constantly concerned about our best interest.
      
   5. We can always count on God to act in our best interest.
3. The situation seems to be set by verse one: we ought to pray and not lose heart (give up).
   1. As we stated at the beginning, sometimes we moan about how bad things are getting.
      
      1. That is not a new phenomena –verse one indicates that is the way some felt in the first century.
         
      2. For some, things seemed to be going from bad to worse–they just wanted Jesus to come back and end an awful situation.
         
         1. The government, the idolatrous institutions, and society in general misunderstood Christians and made their lives miserable.
            
         2. The Jewish opposition increased their misery and questioned their faith.
            
         3. Some died, some lost jobs, and some lived as outcasts just because they believed Jesus was the Christ and was raised from the dead.
            
         4. The more time passed, the better organized the opposition against them was.
            
         5. In short, for many Christians the situation was miserable and getting more miserable.
            
         6. It was easy to conclude that God did not care about them and just give up.
      3. The solution: trust in God, pray, and do not give up. (We prefer an immediate fix approach.)
         
         1. God cared, and existing problems did not prove He did not.
            
         2. God had options they did not even consider, and they included working through those who did not care!
   2. We likely have more in common with the Christians in the first century than we care to admit.
      
      1. Many of us do not like the way things are heading–we would change many things if we could!
         
      2. Our lifestyle and favoritism is threatened in ways we would not have believed 25 years ago.
         
      3. To us, the unthinkable happens too frequently.
         
      4. We are beginning to wonder where the silver lining is to our clouds.
4. May I point out some things to you.
   
   1. The issue is not, "Does God care?"
      
   2. The issue is not, "Is God out of options?"
      
   3. The issue is not, "Is the situation too bad for God to do anything about it?"
      
   4. The issue is this, "Do we have confidence in God?"
      
      1. Do we really believe God has our best interest at heart?
         
      2. What if our best interest is not found in our desires? What if having what we want would spiritually destroy us?
         
      3. When things do not go as we want or wish, is that evidence that God does not care?
         
      4. Is the only way things can improve to leave them to our plans and imagination?
   5. Sometimes we are so focused on ourselves, our lifestyle, our desires, and what we want to happen that we do not see the "big picture."
      
      1. God has been fighting the evil that humans invited into His creation since Genesis three.
         
         1. He has been at war with Satan in the physical world since humanity yielded to temptation.
            
         2. He delays the end until people have the maximum opportunity to escape evil (2 Peter 3:9).
      2. We matter as individuals, but the eternal conquest of Satan also matters.
         
         1. There is much more involved than our immediate desires.
            
         2. There must be the awareness, as in any war, that our struggles can be a part of helping achieve God’s objectives.
            
         3. Struggles are not proof that God abandons us, but prove the reality of the conflict.
5. An essential part of trusting God is our conviction that God always acts in our best interest.
   1. Most of us are either in the process of rearing children or have reared children.
      
      1. There are numerous times when a parent must act in the child’s best interest in spite of the child’s ignorant protest.
         
         1. Children want what they want, and they want it now–immediate gratification.
            
         2. Being a parent involves saying no, or giving a child a medical treatment, or refusing a child something he or she really wants.
            
         3. Most of the time the child has no idea the parent is acting in his or her best interest–the child thinks the parent just does not care.
      2. It is often the same in our relationship with God.
         
         1. We want what we want right now, and we do not understand why we cannot have things just as we want them.
            
         2. When God refuses to do things as we want them done in our time frame, we hastily conclude God does not care.
            
         3. Too often, we have little or no confidence that God is functioning in our best interest.
            
         4. Too often, we blame God for acts of Satan.
6. To me, one of the most fascinating statements made in our text is the question, “When Christ returns, will he find faith on the earth?”
   
   1. The question is asked by Jesus before he dies and is resurrected, and is not focused on the church.
      
      1. The church has not been established, and the question is much deeper than a willingness to be part of the called out.
         
      2. May I paraphrase my understanding of Jesus’ question?
         
         1. When things get rough in your life, do you place your confidence in God?
            
         2. Does your confidence in God depend on things going the way you want them to go?
            
         3. Do you limit God to:
            
            1. Your imagination of what can happen?
               
            2. To your time frame (do you realize how many thousand years were required for God to send the Christ in a moment that could achieve His objectives in human salvation?)
   2. Too often we substitute our concerns for trusting God, and trust the wrong things.
      
      1. We trust the church instead of trusting God.
         
      2. We trust our acts of obedience in our confidence "that God owes us."
         
      3. We trust human imagination and solutions rather than divine actions which we do not understand.
         
      4. We think solutions are found in human discoveries.
   3. The truth is that we are just uncomfortable in this society in trusting anything that is not basically human in origin.
      
      1. We are so impressed with what humans can do that we are very skeptical of any good thing happening that is not human.
         
      2. We much prefer "faith in us" to "faith in God."
         
      3. Thus the issue: Will there be any place for faith in God when Jesus returns?

You are not a Christian because you believe in faith in us, or the existence of good, or the church is right, or the Bible is superior to all other writings. You are a Christian because you believe in God. Your faith is vested in Him, not in us.

You and I are quite likely as Christians to take Jesus Christ for granted as one who makes perfect sense in the pursuit of salvation. Jesus Christ did not make sense to the Jewish society in the first century. He did not make sense to the first century world. He would not make sense in our world of today. We would not have provided the world salvation though Jesus Christ if that had been "our call."

Place your confidence in God’s acts in Jesus’ death and resurrection. Do not place your confidence in human achievements. Live your life in trust of God–even when your life is difficult. Pray for strength and be persistent, but never quit!

The Madness of King Nebuchadnezzar

Posted by Chris on June 17, 2007 under Sermons

Daniel 4: Four Moves

1. Praise and Prologue (1-9)
2. Dream: “I See a Tree” (10-18)
3. Daniel’s Interpretation (19-27)
4. Grazing in the Grass (28-37)

A Dream of a Tree

1. The tree is a symbol of life and protection
2. The tree reaches the sky and is highly visible
3. A heavenly messenger orders the tree to be cut down and the stump bound
   1. Note that Nebuchadnezzar trusts Daniel’s interpretation. He even gives him reassurance to speak the truth of the dream
   2. The tree is a symbol of life and protection. It provides fruit and other food. It provides shelter and shade. The birds nest in it. The beast of the field shelter beneath it.
   3. The tree is tall and highly visible. It touches the sky. This is an image of the majestic and mighty.
   4. A heavenly messenger descends from much higher than the tree and orders the tree trimmed and cut down. The stump is bound and kept from re-growing until the cycle of sevens had passed.
   5. The presence of the heavenly messenger is important. Something is being said in a contrast about earthly power and heavenly power (compare to the statue dream).

Who’s In Charge?

1. God elevated Nebuchadnezzar
2. God humbles Nebuchadnezzar
3. God will restore Nebuchadnezzar

Ruins of Hanging Gardens

One Year Later

• David warns Nebuchadnezzar to change his ways (v. 27)
• Nebuchadnezzar is proud of his self-serving kingdom
  ? My residence
  ? My majesty
• He gets a message from heaven

Daniel proves himself the wise man by offering advice: “King Nebuchadnezzar, please accept my advice. Stop sinning and do what is right. Break from your wicked past and be merciful to the poor. Perhaps then you will continue to prosper.”
A year later, Nebuchadnezzar takes in his grand kingdom. He regards the city of Babylon as his personal residence and it is all for his glory.
That’s when he gets the message from heaven – “This message is for you!” You are no longer ruler of this kingdom. until you learn that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of the world and gives them to anyone he chooses.’

The King’s Madness

• Seven seasons = a definite period
• He is reduced to animal existence (diet and appearance)
• He is driven away from human society
• Reversal of status

There is often too much attention to the seven times or seven seasons. Seven is the Hebrew number of completion. What is being said is that Nebuchadnezzar’s sentence of madness is definite. It will end at a time God has already chosen.

The effect of his madness is that he starts to behave like an animal. His hair and nails are unkempt. Worst of all, the shining star of human civilization is driven away to the fields of the earth. Whereas he was once high and mighty, now he is drenched in the dew of heaven.

Nebuchadnezzar’s Testimony

“When my sanity returned to me, so did my honor and glory and kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored as head of my kingdom, with even greater honor than before.
“Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and glorify and honor the King of heaven. All His acts are just and true, and He is able to humble the proud.”

So What?

1. What does God expect of those he has placed in power?
2. What kingdom or nation will endure forever?

2007 VBS Blessing

Posted by Chris on under Sermons

[Blessing for the VBS Workers — have them stand and be recognized]

If you were to ask these hard working servants why they do this they may give you any number of reasons. I imagine that one common theme to all their reasons is that someone made a difference and set an example for them when they were very young.

I am teaching the Junior High Class with Gary Brown this summer. We have dwelled on the theme of people who make a difference. In preparing for the class, Gary and I both reflected on the people who shaped our lives when we were young. We recall them by name and we remember that their attitude of service and their respect for us made a difference. It’s not that we were necessarily deserving of the service. Not at all, but that’s what made the attention and instruction that these Christ-like servants gave us so noteworthy – they served us even though they didn’t have to.

Has it really been six months since we were listening to God’s word and praying about new shepherds for our church family? During that time we dwelled in a Scripture that has been very important for our congregation when it comes to understanding what a shepherd is. It has also helped understand what a disciple of Jesus does … Read John 13

Jesus asks, “Do you understand what I have done for you?” This week I have witnessed people who understand it …

There have been so many good people taking their own time to help out with VBS and even help others. Ed Grist showed up just in time to help me set up the cardboard synagogue. I lamented that I didn’t have time to put up the curtains, but Carlene Payne was so eager to help out with that. That was kind. That was being a servant. I see that they understand what Jesus was doing when he washed the feet of those disciples.

Bard and the youth group have been working on setting up booths, getting supplies, practicing skits. They set up these tents in the auditorium. It’s a great synergy – they have the experience and skill of the senior high and a large labor force in the junior high. Brad told me last week that they worked so hard and so well that they were ahead of schedule all week. I see that these young people understand what Jesus was doing when he washed the feet of those disciples.

This year has been especially significant for our family. For my oldest son, Wyatt, it’s his first year to NOT be one of the kids in VBS and I was wondering how he would handle that because I know he really enjoys VBS. I was delighted last Monday night when I heard him say, “I like working at VBS more than I like just going to it!” I see that my own son understands what Jesus was doing when he washed the feet of those disciples.

I know he’s not the only 7th grader facing that transition from being served to being the servant. It can be difficult, but I see our 7th graders really getting with it. Olivia Kleman approached me when I was setting up the synagogue on Thursday. She wanted to come to the synagogue during VBS and get me to write her name in Greek. “But you’re not in VBS this year,” I said. I could see that the thought kind of stunned both of us. “What are you going to be doing at VBS now that you are a worker?” I asked. She said she was a family leader. “Then you bring your tribe into the synagogue as a leader and I can write your name along with the others.” She seemed to like that idea even better. That’s when I can see that she understands what Jesus was doing when he washed the feet of those disciples.

I don’t know anyone who works as hard as Dena Jenkins putting VBS together. Well, wait a second maybe I do — because everywhere Dena goes she has a wonderful assistant named Abbey. This last week I was asking Dena questions but on many of the questions it was her daughter, Abbey, who knew the answer! I was looking for duct tape. Abbey found the duct tape for me. Not only is she a servant, but she is competent and knows the essentials of VBS. [Duct tape is vital to VBS. One cannot have VBS without duct tape.] Abbey of course follows the example and tradition of her family when it comes to being a servant. She is doing what her mother and aunt did when they shadowed her grandmother who had worked at VBS for 40 years. But I also see that Abbey understands what Jesus did when he washed the feet of those disciples.

I am pleased that our church family is learning to understand what the Master did when he served. It’s not limited to VBS. There is a spirit of Christ-like service that is always growing in this family.

Certainly there are times that we will be served and that we need to be served. That’s as it should be. Jesus has served each of us, there’s not a one of us in the kingdom who’s a “do-it-yourself-er.” But being a servant and finding a way to serve can be intimidating. The good news for all of us is that this way of discipleship isn’t limited at all. Jesus can teach any of us how to follow him and be a servant. So maybe we want to serve, but we’re not sure how; or maybe we’ve convinced ourselves that service just isn’t our thing. Either way, the living Jesus teaches us when he washes the feet of those disciples. Just try and understand it and do what he did.

Holy Manners: Healthy Speech

Posted by David on June 14, 2007 under Bulletin Articles

“Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.” (Colossians 4:6)

The first noticeable change in the man or woman converted to Christ is seen in his or her speech. (Consider James 3:2-12.). The person who belongs to God does not use words, tones, or expressions as people who do not belong to God.

Years ago, I listened to a man explain why for years he never attended nor gave serious consideration to anyone who attended a congregation of the Church of Christ. He said a leader in the local congregation came into a place of business obviously upset. He expressed his displeasure with language and tones a godly person does not use. The man talking to me heard him, knew who he was, knew where he worshipped, and decided immediately he would never attend where a “member” spoke as the upset Christian did.

In the early 70’s in West Africa, I used an old story as I encouraged a group of local preachers. The story: a dying man called his sons to his bedside. He requested that they bring a small board, a nail, and a hammer. He told his oldest son to drive the nail into the board. He asked another son to pull the nail out of the board. He asked another son to pull out the hole. When the hole could not be removed, he gave this simple admonition: “Pay careful attention to your words. You will never remove the holes they leave.” Years later a man who heard the story that day said he never forgot the lesson.

All of us say things that cause us to shake our heads later (sometimes years later). We can (if fortunate) ask for forgiveness, but we know we can never remove the hole.

God uses words carefully. He speaks truth, but thankfully he always speaks with grace. God’s grace seasons the words God’s children use. God seeks our good even when we fail. God’s children seek the good of others. They let God’s patience teach them how to be patient. God’s patience affects what they say to anyone and how they say it. Holy manners demand we watch what we say everywhere. God always listens!

Jesus once said, “You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart. The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil. But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” (Matthew 12:34-37)

Godly hearts speak godly words. Give attention to a godly heart! Speak godly words! We owe that to each other as fellow Christians-and to everyone else as we represent God. May what we say give people a good impression of God and His people!

The Fourth Man

Posted by Chris on June 10, 2007 under Sermons

Daniel 3: Four Moves

1. Babylonian Idol (1-7)
2. Who’ll Save You Now? (8-18)
3. Fourth Man (19-27)
4. Don’t “Dis” Their God! (28-30)

Idol Time
The idol that Nebuchanezzar sets up on the plain of Dura would have been a typical practice of kings in the ancient world. Kings built statues of their gods to represent their rule. Examples:

• Ashurnasirpal (9th cent)
• Temple of Bel in Babylon (6th cent) – Herodotus speaks of a statue to the “Babylonian Zeus” (Marduk?) in Babylon (I, 183)
• Antiochus IV (2nd cent) – “[Antiochus IV] directed them … to build altars and sacred precincts and shrines for idols, to sacrifice swine and unclean animals… Whoever refused to act according to the command of the king was put to death.” – 1 Maccabees 1:44-50

When Antiochus invaded Jerusalem, he looted the Temple. Later a Greek idol was placed in the Temple. Any Jew who refused to bow and sacrifice to the idol was killed. In 168 BC, the temple was dedicated to the worship of the pagan god Zeus Olympius by order of Antiochus, who forbade the practice of Judaism. An altar to Zeus was set up on the high altar. Those who resisted Antiochus’ orders were killed.

Who Will Save You?
Dedication to God despite threat of harm. This theme continues through the New Testament …

From Thief to Philanthropist

Posted by Chris on under Sermons

Overview the text of Ephesians 4:25-5:2 – Show how the negative habits/manners break down community, but the positive ones build it up.

1. Lying erodes trust, it demeans others and judges others unworthy of the truth. Honesty, by contrast respects one another and believes in one another

2. Anger that is unprocessed becomes bitterness, rage and malice. Relationships are shattered and wounded. But when we make amends and forgive, when we reconcile we grow stronger.

3. Harsh and hateful words poisons the hearts and minds of others, but when we use our words to encourage and heal we build one another up.

This section of Scripture is a description of what our life together could be like when we live out our Christian calling. It is a vision for what the church, the people of God, can really be.
          This is a high vision for human life. It is inspiring and encouraging. It is a high standard. The final example shows just how much God envisions for his people: The thief can become a philanthropist.

Stealing is parasitical. It consumes and takes what others have, perhaps for selfish gain or perhaps out of desperation. What sort of community and life together can be formed when we steal from one another?

In his book, Mere Morality: What God Expects from Ordinary People, Lewis Smedes describes what stealing and theft have done to our society: “When people sense that their private lives are vulnerable, they fear every stranger in their midst. And so they shut out strangers. They build walls, bolt doors, and install electronic vigilantes. … Thus, community shrinks to confined quarters where only proven friends are allowed. … Stealing closes us in on ourselves and paralyzes us; love is frozen when people live in fear of thieves.” [p. 190]

We may be even more paranoid and closed in than Smedes described 25 years ago. Stealing is more sophisticated and less tangible than ever before. Once we could trust in physical things like keys, locks, steel vaults, and even “the club.” But now we rely on passwords and PIN codes. The simplest of activities such as shopping, watching movie, playing music are subject to encryption and encoding. Why? Because of stealing. Because of the thief. What’s next in a world where your identity can be stolen?

With the help of God’s word, let’s imagine another way. What if our hope is in sharing rather than security? What if God’s spirit could effect a change in all of us so that we could live with each other in a very different way?
          The “rather” in verse 28, is all important. Instead of life as a thief, instead of taking and consuming without any sort of return, instead of that one might use his or her resources and talents to share. And it isn’t enough to just make a living or even get wealthy, one should earn a profit so that one can help others.
          “Love requires us – and enables us – to move out toward our neighbors in ways that bring them at least what they have coming to them by virtue of their presence among us as human beings.” [p. 207]

Here’s a high vision for what it means to be a follower of Christ. As God’s people we are going to be faced with a lot of challenges and struggles. Being a Christian isn’t a guarantee that nothing bad will ever happen, but our vision of who we are as individuals and as a church family will make all the difference in how we face difficulties and challenges. Our manners and ethics are more than being polite; they are the habits of a people who are devoted to imitating the spirit and mind of God.

If God’s inspired writer believed that a thief could become a philanthropist then I believe you and I can become more than anything we can imagine.
I choose to believe that we can be a noble people who live up to the standard God envisions. I choose to believe that we can live not only for ourselves, but for the good of one another. I choose to believe this, because I believe in Christ. What do you believe?

Jesus: He’s so “NICE”?

Posted by Brad on June 7, 2007 under Articles

A legend in the field of Youth Ministry, Mike Yaconelli, once said something to the effect that our concepts of Jesus are “all messed up.” He talked about how often people referred to Jesus as “such a nice person.”

After examining the scriptures closely, exactly what do we find out about how the religious leaders felt about Jesus? Did they have wonderful things to say about him?

To be honest, many of his actions were just downright confusing to most of the religious people. They are still confusing to many religious people today. Do the following passages of scripture make sense to you? Matthew 11:16-19, Matthew 12:46-50, Matthew 21:31-32, Matthew 23, Mark 2:13-17, Mark 11:15-19, John 4, John 8, John 9:34-41.

Wow! Jesus was referred to by the religious people as a “glutton, a drunkard, and a friend of the worst sort of sinners!” He called the religious leaders “blind guides, hypocrites, whitewashed tombs, etc.” He spent his time with tax collectors, prostitutes and known sinners and had the nerve to even ask some of them to be in his “inner circle of leadership.” And there’s so much more … read the stories!

Does this sound nice to you? Does it make much sense to you? Does it sound like the best way to make friends and influence people? If it doesn’t, then try to wrap your mind around THE CROSS.

Is that the method you would have chosen to redeem the people who had turned their backs on you? Would you choose your child to be the recipient of the punishment for the sins of the entire world?

Isn’t it wonderful that we serve a God who doesn’t make sense? Thank GOD that He lives in the heavens and does whatever He pleases! (Psalm 115:3) Thank GOD He doesn’t ask for our permission or opinions about the way things should be done today!

May we continue to get out of His way and let Him do what He wants to do … when He wants to do it … in whatever way He chooses to do it!

Thank God OUR FATHER KNOWS BEST!

I hope you take the time to personally look up the scriptures that are listed and read the stories in full context. Just turn and read about the Jesus found in Matthew 11:16-19, Matthew 12:46-50, Matthew 21:31-32, Matthew 23, Mark 2:13-17, Mark 11:15-19, John 4, John 8 and John 9:34-41.

Do you find a “kind,” “sweet,” “soft-spoken,” “non-controversial,” and “easily understood” Jesus in these passages? Or did you have to go back and read them again to try and understand exactly what it was He was trying to say and do?

Have you ever questioned the way Jesus chose to approach things? Be honest! Some of His sayings are pretty hard to take. He was rather bold! At times He was plainly confrontational …even down right controversial. Surely, this wasn’t God’s plan!

Just look at what He said, “Don’t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! No, I came to bring a sword. I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. Your enemies will be right in your own household.” (Matthew 10:34-46)

And this wasn’t even the “toughest” or “most confusing” thing He ever said. In John 6:22-66, He completely dumbfounds His listeners with His words. At one point in the story, the scriptures say, “Even His disciples said, ‘This is very hard to understand. How can anyone accept it?’” And after He finished speaking, the scriptures say, “At this point MANY of His disciples turned away and deserted him.” Does Jesus ever cause a problem for you and your theology???

Wouldn’t it be great if we could make Jesus “fit” into a nice, neat little box that makes perfect sense? Wouldn’t it be great if He would do and say all of the things that fit perfectly with our concepts of God, religion, church, the world, etc.?

Be He doesn’t! And that causes us BIG problems! Just like it did the religious people of His day and time! And you know how they decided to handle that problem …

You don’t have to search the Gospels long before you are “knee deep” in the controversy that surrounded Jesus. The controversy followed Him His entire life.

Remember His birth? The virgin birth? Remember the problems that caused for Joseph, Mary, and their relationship? Can you imagine what everyone else must have been saying?

There was His famous “disappearing act” at age 12 that greatly distressed His parents. His selection of 12 “very ordinary” men with no religious education or heritage to speak of. Men who would lay the foundation and be the cornerstones of the church. His choice to heal people on the “Holy Day” which appeared to break the very laws He claimed to establish. His defense of His followers who did numerous things that also seemed against the Law of Moses. His disruption in the temple. Of course, who could forget His numerous public disputes with the religious leaders of His day?

Can you think of anyone like this from your world today? Do you call them a NICE GUY or a TROUBLEMAKER?

Mike Yaconelli, founder of Youth Specialties and minister for more than 40 years, put it like this: “God help us if the whole world looks at the church and says ‘aren’t they nice?'”

Jesus was accused of being a drunkard. His own parents thought He was crazy. The religious leaders thought He was a blasphemer. If you want to follow Jesus, you’re going to be called a lot of things, and NICE isn’t one of them.”

He goes on to say, “This culture loves nice people. They tolerate nice people. But what they don’t tolerate are people who are desperate for Jesus! When you and I get in touch with that desperateness for Jesus, then you better look out, because you never know where it’s going to take you.”

Have you ever been truly desperate for Jesus? What exactly would that mean? What would it look like? How would you be characterized by others if you were truly desperate for Jesus? Take the time to read about one person who was desperate for Jesus and make a list of her characteristics. (Mark 5:24-34)

In Mark 5:24-34, we read about a woman who was truly DESPERATE for Jesus. The Bible tells us she had been suffering from a terrible bleeding disease for 12 years. It was a disgusting and embarrassing problem.

It goes on to say that she had been to many doctors and she had spent everything she had to fix her problem, but she had not gotten any better. In fact, her problem was getting worse. Welcome to the land of desperation!

So she did what any desperate person would do … she broke the rules. Remember, she was a woman. She was a “ceremonially unclean” woman, and she approached Jesus PUBLICLY. She didn’t ask for anyone’s permission. She didn’t follow the proper procedures. She didn’t wait in line. She pushed and shoved her way through the crowd of people (who were headed to the RICH guy’s house to watch a little girl get healed) with no thought for anyone else. She did whatever it took to TOUCH Jesus.

The nerve of some people! How dare she! She has been described by some as rude, irresponsible, reckless, disrespectful, inconsiderate, impulsive, and uncivilized.

Surely Jesus would rebuke her for this. Surely he would remind her how important it is to be kind and considerate of others. Surely he would withhold his healing from her until she learned how to “be patient, follow the rules, and treat others as she would want to be treated.” Right?

Instead, just like he did in Mark 2:1-7 for the people who “destroyed someone’s house” in their desperate attempt to get to Jesus, he does the unthinkable. He turns to the irresponsible, reckless, disrespectful woman and says, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace. You have been healed.” In Mark 2, he not only heals the “law-breaker” but he also “forgives his sins.”

Does this make sense to you? He scolds the religious law-keepers over and over again and then repeatedly heals and forgives the people who “go against the flow” and “break all the rules.”

What can this possibly mean?

Let’s be honest – to the average person, Jesus can be a little bit confusing! Especially when imperfect, sinful people are involved! Do you know how many different CONCEPTS of Jesus there are today?

So how do you make sense of it all? Who is Jesus? Really?

Is He the grace-filled, nice guy we read about in the Gospels who defends the prostitutes, tax collectors and sinners? Or is He the rebel who challenges the religious authorities and traditions of the past and present?

Have you taken the time get to know Him? I mean REALLY know Him?

I’m not asking if you know the Jesus “everyone else” has told you about. You know … the Jesus your friends, teachers, TV, radio, newspapers, media, movies, church members and preachers have told you about. Do you know the Jesus that God wants you to know?

Have you examined the scriptures with open eyes (II Kings 6:17) often enough to see and understand who Jesus really is? Have you spent time in sincere prayer talking to Him and developing an intimate relationship with Him? Have you spent just as much time listening for His reply? Do you walk in this relationship every day?

Do you know where Jesus would spend His time on this earth if He were here this Sunday morning at 9 a.m.? Where would He be Sundays at 6 p.m.? Wednesdays at 7 p.m.? Would He be sitting in a pew in a local church building?

How would He respond to the people that “the church” often avoids today? Would He treat the homosexual dying of AIDS, the meth addict and the porn-addicted, tattooed, body-pierced person the same way He treated the lepers, the adulterers, and the divorced people in His day? (Luke 17:11-19, John 8:1-11, John 4:1-42)

Would He respond to our religious modern-day Pharisees the same way He responded to the Pharisees of His day?

When you think about it, the “Just-So-Nice” Jesus had some very thought-provoking things to say to the religious teachers and leaders of His time. These have been recorded in God’s word for our benefit. As modern-day disciples, let’s pay close attention to what was said.

The religious people in Jesus’ day were eager to “get the word out” about their faith, just like religious people are today. They thought they were very clear about their understanding of the way GOD wanted things to be done and they even went on “mission trips” to share their faith with others.

In several places in the Gospels, we are given a snapshot of what Jesus thought about this. In Matthew 23:15, Jesus looked right at the religious leaders of His day and time, and said the following:
“What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you cross land and sea to make one convert, and then you turn that person into twice the child of hell you yourselves already are.” (Matt. 23:15) Just before that, He told them, “for you won’t let others into the Kingdom of Heaven, and you won’t go in yourselves.”

Why would Jesus say something like this to a religious leader who was out “sharing his faith” with the lost? Does this make sense to you? Perhaps a deeper question is, would He make comments like that to religious leaders today? Would He say something like that to you and to me? If so, why? What was it about their mission and their message that would cause the Savior to respond like that? After all, they knew God’s law better than anyone else. Right? And that should have been a good thing … unless …

They began to rely on “their” knowledge and “their” concepts “of” God, rather than relying on God. Scholars believe Jesus responded this way because their attempts to convert others focused on making others “more like them” rather than on making them “more like Christ.” It seems they were more comfortable with everyone doing things “just the way they did” instead of doing things God’s way.

And Jesus always had something to say about that …

When you get right down to it, all of these discussions about Jesus and who He really was and who He really IS, leave me with one major question.

I don’t know that I’ve ever heard anyone ask it, but I’ve been asking myself this question for quite some time now.

A year ago, I spent 52 weeks studying the Life of Christ with our teenagers. We walked through Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, taking an in-depth look at Christ from the perspective of all four Gospel writers. I realized that I didn’t know Him very well, and I have been a Christian for more than 20 years.

I learned that my concepts of Jesus had come from a combination of many different sources. I found that most of those sources, though they may have seemed “reliable” and “accurate” because they were steeped in religion and years of tradition, weren’t that reliable and accurate at all.

I found that most of my concepts about Jesus had been shaped by the opinions of men. Men often paint a very inaccurate picture of Jesus … you know … blond hair, blue eyes, perfect skin, flowing robes …

I found that NOTHING can replace opening your eyes and ears and listening to the voice of God and what He reveals to you through His Word and through His Spirit (I Corinthians 2:1-16).

This is what I realized: that the RELIGIOUS people who surrounded Jesus HATED Him. They thought He was a fraud and a troublemaker from day one. They attacked Him from every possible angle, and they did not stop until He was totally and completely humiliated, stripped of all human pride and hanging on a cross. They did not stop until He was DEAD! As a matter of fact, even that didn’t stop them.

I also learned that SINNERS absolutely LOVED Him. They were captivated by Him. They couldn’t get enough of Him. They were DESPERATE for Him. They did whatever it took to get closer to Him. They left everything behind, went without food, walked for miles, climbed trees, tore through rooftops, fought through the crowds, left jobs and families behind and risked everything they had … just to be with Him.

This leaves me with one MAJOR question …

… And the question is this, “What has changed?” What “used to be” isn’t the case any more, and I wonder what has caused it.

It’s obvious that in Jesus’ day the religious people truly hated him. They clearly made it their goal and mission in life to destroy him.

It’s also obvious that sinful people loved him. They did everything they could to spend more time with him. So, again I ask, “What has changed?”

One look at today’s world will reveal the EXACT OPPOSITE of this. In today’s world, the religious people claim to LOVE Jesus with all their heart. They promote Jesus in every way possible. Their buildings, banners, and marquees lift the name of Jesus to every person who passes by. Yet, non-religious people in today’s world seemed to be appalled by Jesus. Most of them cringe at the sound of his name. Why?

Has Jesus changed? Did he all of a sudden become NICE to the religious people and MEAN to the sinful people? Isn’t he still the same Jesus who is the only person capable of setting people free from their sins and struggles?

When did he become such a turn off to “sinful people?” What “changed” to make this happen? Have you ever SINCERELY thought about this? Since the Bible tells us that our Lord is the “same yesterday, today, and forever” what could possibly cause such a change in attitudes?

Without much thought, one might say that it’s due to the sinful state of today’s world. Yet one look at the CHURCH in Corinth will reveal Christians who were involved in adultery, divorce, hatred, envy, jealousy, etc. That sounds a lot like the world we live in today, doesn’t it?

Since Jesus hasn’t changed, it might be good for God’s people to think about what HAS caused this change in the “outsider’s” attitude toward Jesus??? Do religious people have anything to do with this change? (May God bless you as you think about this …)

It’s obvious that our world’s thoughts about Jesus have changed. The religious people of His day hated Him, now religious people love Him. The sinful people of His day loved Him, now sinful people hate Him??? What changed?

Could it be that our understanding and presentation of “who Jesus is” has changed?

Is it possible that religious people have introduced a Jesus to people who appears to be out of touch and unable or unwilling to meet people where they are?

When Jesus walked on this earth, people knew how He would respond to them. The religious people knew and the sinful people knew.

The sick, sinful people of the world wanted what He had to offer. They saw the way He responded to the lepers, the tax collectors, the woman caught in adultery, the woman at the well, the woman with the bleeding disease, the woman who wiped his feet with her tears, etc.

Sometimes they came to Him and sometimes HE WENT TO THEM. Either way, the result was always the same: He healed them … physically and spiritually and they were never the same!

Why don’t people in similar situations today run to Jesus the way they used to? Isn’t He the same Jesus? Isn’t He still willing to do what He has done in the past? (Hebrews 13:8)

Do religious people today present this same Jesus to the lost? Does our Jesus still meet people right where they are? Is He still willing to go to them, or do they have to come find Him at the church building and meet a long list of requirements before He can help them? (Titus 3:4-7)

What kind of Jesus do you present to those who need Him the most? (Mark 2:17)

Jesus always has been and always will be debated. In the past, in the present and in the future, people will try to “figure Him out.” They will always ask, “Who was He really?” Scholars will read His words, His stories, and His parables and they will have endless debates over “what He REALLY meant?” They will all think THEY are right.

Was He just a nice, gentle man who never ruffled anyone’s feathers and always sought to “pursue peace with all men” Or was He a renegade, a rebel and someone who was always shaking things up? After all, His actions and His teachings led Him to His own death on a cross at the hands of the religious leaders of His time.

So who is this man from Nazareth … this man who was “born of a virgin” … this man who never sinned, yet was referred to as a glutton, a drunkard and a sinner by all of the religious people?

No matter how long the debates continue and no matter how many different opinions there are about Him, some facts will NEVER change … and you can take it to the bank:

My Jesus is the King of Kings! He’s the Lord of Lords! He’s the Prince of Peace! He’s the Lamb of God! He’s the Great High Priest! He’s the Living Water! He’s the Bread of Life! He’s the Light of the World! He’s the Chief Cornerstone! He’s the Resurrection and the Life! He’s the Good Shepherd! He’s the Head of the Church! He’s the Author and Finisher of our faith! He’s the ROCK! He’s the Alpha and the Omega! He’s the Beginning and the End! He’s the Great I AM! He’s the Great Redeemer! He’s the Lion who is the Lamb!

HE IS THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE!

AMEN!
(Revelation 3:14, 20-22)

Holy Manners: Honesty

Posted by David on under Bulletin Articles

Spiritually, an honest heart is critical to a fruitful life. An honest heart grasps, receives, understands, and lives on the basis of God’s teaching.

One of Jesus’ earliest teachings according to Matthew was Jesus’ sermon on the mount. The people who heard Jesus were quite religious, but they missed the point of belonging to God. Their failure hinged on their confidence that God could be pleased and people be deceived at the same time. Their spiritual problem was dishonesty. Consider Matthew 5:21-48. May we let their problems make us shudder as we consider our lives!

(1) They would not dare take a physical life, but they would destroy with their words. In anger they would speak with contempt. They said things that would make them liable in their courts or liable before God eternally.

(2) They would not dare commit adultery, but they would lust without restraint.

(3) They deliberately deceived through their vows by declaring their vow was not binding. Thus they lied while appearing to tell the truth.

(4) They sought vengeance by excusing themselves from being compassionate.

(5) By tweaking their religious rules, they behaved like people who did not even know God. Jesus said God and God only was their standard.

These people were very religious by being consistent with what they heard. They believed how one did something was more important than what he or she did. They thought doing things the right way was what was important to God. Jesus told them the outcome of what they did was as important as the way they did it.

If we follow Jesus Christ, we need to be trustworthy. I need to know I can depend on you, and you need to know you can depend on me. We cherish each other and our relationship because we both understand something bigger than us is involved-people’s view of Jesus Christ and God.