thanksgiving

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The foundation for Thankfulness
Heb. 12:28-29


Gratitude: doesn’t it usually seem insincere when it’s even offered today? We say, “thank you,” to be polite, but do we really mean it. I’m sure the business manager you just bought from means it, the sales person whose making money means it – but don’t we usually just get in our cars after that and cut people off and honk our horns and yell at each other. Thankfulness runs shallow in our culture.

Wed. night at Taco Bell. Thank you was not my first thought, it was why me, why now? As long as I am at the center of my thinking, gratitude is light because I’m hardly ever satisfied: don’t we all agree with that?

You can choose churches based on preference, yet Paul and Silas worshipped in prison – which is a sign of gratitude?

You can order Girl Scout cookies, and they say “thank you, here are next years options”. That’s not satisfied, that’s hunger.

You can feed the hungry, and they get hungry again.

Where is the thanks?

In this series on gratitude I hope to present some realities that will cause us to respond with thanksgiving. In these 4 weeks leading to Thanksgiving, a time when this country stops and gives thanks and permits gluttony and then splurges the day after in the biggest shopping day of the year to feed our material hunger, I hope that we can embrace contentment and gratitude, so that Thanksgiving this year takes on a fuller meaning of thanks, not demands, thanks, not expectations, but thankfulness that should characterize Christians.

So this won’t be easy, we’re in election time where everything is screaming at us to demand our rights and fight for ourselves. When do we tell our senators and mayor and governor and president “thank you.” We don’t do that in our culture. So how are we changed ourselves and become agents of change that point to Christ, celebrate with joy and gratitude?


Read Heb. 12:28-29.

These 2 short verses give us the reason to fulfill the command contained: Let us be thankful.

That’s kind of an odd command – Be thankful! Yet we’re told throughout the New Testament just that. It can feel like telling someone that they’re going to go out and have fun, whether they like it or not. I remember my dad trying to get me to go along on something I didn’t want any part of and he would say, it’ll be fun. But I knew better, before long, I would feel like I needed to go whether I wanted to or not, and I needed to like it. Just going along doesn’t change the attitude.

Let’s not go into this looking for mandatory thankfulness, but for deep, abiding, authentic gratitude.

Why should we be thankful?

I. The solid shake (a kingdom that cannot be shaken)
a. We are given a kingdom that cannot be shaken. Let’s ponder that for a minute: through all the hard times, the terror of living today, our kingdom cannot be shaken.
b. Just this week I was dutifully at work at the office and the phone rang, it was Amy. Always glad to hear Amy’s voice, I asked how her day was going and she said, well, I have a situation. I thought back to Wed. night at taco bell and thought the kids must be up to something. Turns out it wasn’t the kids at all, but a rather aggressive person at the door trying to get in. They were claiming they needed baby formula, for a 10 month old (normally at 10 months you can eat at least baby food, if not cereal, and some adult food). It sounded fishy, and I was 3 miles and 20 minutes away. My mind was racing, we live in a day when everyone works – none of our neighbors would be home, no one does the work at home anymore (except Amy). So I knew help was not close. We worked out a plan and Amy spoke with the person trying to get a name and address where we could deliver help, or a phone number that we could call. They didn’t have a phone and didn’t want to give her any more info. Amy told them about the Rescue Mission, get help there, They said they called their earlier in the day and help wasn’t available. Hmmm… no phone yet making calls. By now I’m ready to come home and start acting like a wild man. The person leaves, and Amy says it’s over. So we hang up and I thank God nothing happened, and then the phone rings again, apparently a friend of whomever has shown up and is in the street on a bike acting like they’re coming off a bad high. They ended up leaving after we decided to call the crime watch. At that moment, when the friend showed up and Amy hit redial, I couldn’t help but trust God and the unshakeable kingdom. No matter what bad or good would happen, know that right now our God is for us. He is for you believer and he is giving you an eternal kingdom and it cannot be shaken. There is always refuge in the storm and hope in the crisis.
c. This kingdom is the Kingdom of Christ.
i. Jesus, let’s review, was born to a teenage virgin mother over 2000 years ago in a hick town with a terrible reputation (Nazareth, nothing good can come from there). He came into life a miracle, grew up and worked miracles to confirm He is the Son of God and the message He brought. The people liked the miracles and not the message and killed Him, on a cross. In so doing they did God’s pleasure, to sacrifice His son for the sins of everyone. Christ became our righteousness and the mediator between God and man. Until that time people killed animals as sacrifices to remind them of their sin and need for a good bath. Heb. 9:11-15. In Christ there is now freedom for everyone who believes: freedom from sin and the law that leads to death and freedom to live in the Spirit that leads to life. Christ, v. 15, has paid the ransom. When the ransom is paid, the trapped are freed, never to be trapped again. The wrongs we’ve done are gone from God’s site. Christ is our hope and salvation and because we have Christ we can enter God’s presence through the Living One, Jesus, and receive the eternal inheritance that he has for us. We, in other words, can enter into a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. And once we are with God, who is it that can oppose us? No one. What can separate us from His love? Nothing. The cross of Christ is the ground of gratitude.
d. When we live ungratefully we trample on the cross. We declare that Jesus and the cross are not enough and that our sin appetite hasn’t been filled with the ransom, it still wants more, and when we don’t get it, we complain. So the ground of gratitude is Jesus. The place of his execution is also the seed of thanksgiving, and joy. So first and foremost hold to Christ, cherish Him, learn about Him and from Him and grow in gratitude.
II. This kingdom cannot be shaken…
a. But what about the really hard times – you’re diagnosed with cancer, a friend dies, a marriage disintegrates, our sin catches up and we’re distraught, or we lose a job. How can we be thankful for that?
i. The cross was costly, yet we are thankful for Christ on it. Jesus did His Father’s pleasure on it. As horrible and painful, it was also necessary and joyous. The hard times of life can cultivate greater gratitude. How to develop a mindset of gratitude:
ii. Hebrews 12:1-12 (read).
1. Discipline is a sign of love, thank you dad, for the spankings. It never felt that way, but its true. Some of you probably long for a dad who cared enough to discipline you and not just give you a key and credit card and say “don’t screw it up.” Such parenting is illegitimate. A note to parents, let your discipline be love and don’t think that letting something slide doesn’t matter, it shows your lack of love – and possibly selfishness. Discipline has the good of the one being corrected in mind.
2. Fix your eyes on Christ – he endured for you, as an example, and brings promised joy. His example encourages us to go on.
3. V. 10b – God disciplines us for our good that we may share in his holiness. Look at the end of the road, not the potholes: discipline produces a harvest of righteousness and peace. Don’t run from it, the wise man heeds discipline. Embrace it and learn from it. We’re growing into the image of Christ, that will one day be made complete when our bodies are resurrected and made new. In that day, at the end of the road, we have reason to rejoice!
III. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for “our God is a consuming fire.”
a. Our grateful response to God for this loving discipline and unshakeable kingdom is worship, with reverence – consider Christ, and awe – consider the love of God!
b. Our God is a consuming fire, a fire must be fed and he wants all of you, not for an hour on Sunday morning, but 24/7. He wants a generation of Super Walmart Christians that are never closed to Him but always open and available.
c. This quote comes from Deuteronomy, the 2nd reading of the Law in the OT. The last of the books written by Moses, and the law that Christ has fulfilled. Here is the original sentence:
i. “For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.” This statement concludes a section on idolatry: read deut. 4:15-24.
ii. The problem with idols is that they look great, are popular, but are mute, deaf, and statues (usually, but money can be today). They don’t hear our prayers, speak to us, or work for us. They’re powerless. They are of the kingdom of the earth, and usually an image of creation. They attract us but have no power beyond attraction. The cross of Christ, and his teaching to take up your cross and follow, is not attractive, but it is powerful. God is a jealous God – he wants our worship and all of it, no worshipping porcelain thrones or green paper or power or cars or songs or grades or a better life. Worship God alone. He deals decisively and finally with evil and sin. Back to Hebrews, 12:25-27. In Moses’ words we were warned on earth, in Jesus we have been spoken to from Heaven. There is a final shakedown coming, only the unshakeable will remain. The attractions of life, material goods, idols of our day will be shaken out. God is a consuming fire that wants all, not part, and in the end we will, thankfully, gratefully, eternally, be His in Christ. If you’re in Christ. If you’re holding to something that will shake out, why treasure it? God’s wrath isn’t popular, but popularity doesn’t determine validity. It is real. Hold fast to the grace, hope and love of Christ, for our God is a consuming fire. And be all the more grateful.

Pray.

Whose Name?

Spiritual Service: whose name?
John 13

I. Friend from High School – it’s just the right thing to do to serve (a selfish friend who put himself first in most of his relationships, and worked toward his own end). But when it came to serving he got a high: there’s something about serving.
a. Campuses across the country are expected to contribute over 17 million hours of community service this year. Most schools have community service requirements. Some companies mandate that you support a charity with your paycheck, and even give paid time away to perform community service. What’s so good about serving?
i. It feels good
ii. Good things happen
iii. People are made happy.
iv. We get respect: you never spit on the peace corp or Americorp. If someone is doing community service you pay attention.
II. Why Should we serve: Biblically
III. Read John 13:1-17
a. Set the scene: Jesus healed Lazarus, entered Jerusalem, and has been in hiding because the religious types are after Him
b. 2 Attitudes toward Service:
IV. Pharisees’ Attitudes
a. Read John 11:46-48
b. Service From Position
i. Ruling Council: it’s their professional duty to serve the people and lead and instruct in religious matters (Jesus was unschooled and unpaid, provided for by gifts, not pay).
ii. Positions can hold us accountable to serve but cannot control our attitudes in serving. In fact, they can become sources of grumbling: all of a sudden we find ourselves having to serve, or having to do something but not really wanting too. This can happen in ministry, in work (you no longer like your job or the reasons for doing it). Ministry is to be a place of joy and desire, not guilt and constraint.
1. The worst sort of serving is that out of guilt or fear. The Pharisees were afraid they would lose their people, and their positions.
c. Serving your Own Name:
i. The Pharisees were religious leaders: they took their income from Gifts to God in the temple – not much unlike how most churches pay a pastor or staff: You give (We’ll talk about giving soon, but not today) and then from the money the church pays its workers (the Bible says that a worker deserves their wages) as well as supporting the spread of the Gospel through mission, ministry, and church planting. Grace Harbor is blessed to not have much overhead and that frees us to use our resources for the spread of the Gospel. But the Pharisees weren’t trying to spread the Gospel. In fact, they were trying to stop it.
1. They were the ones in charge of religious instruction and missed the point, why? They served to serve themselves.
a. Yesterday’s paper: J&J materials; Providence Public Library – head librarian. People like themselves: you like you, I like me, and that can really mess things up.
ii. Don’t let a position define you. Jesus, the Bible tells us in the letter to the Philippians, did not regard His equality with God as something to be grasped, but humbled himself, taking the very nature of a servant. That’s our example. The position is not what is important. But what is important?
V. Serving His name (13:1-17)
a. The bible gives no mention that anyone washed anybody’s feet that night, so Jesus does it. The master serves. But in serving He paints a picture of the motivation and mentality to serve.
i. Motivation
b. Read v.6-10.
i. Jesus served to save: to call people to Himself. He is painting a picture of salvation: Justification and Salvation. You are justified: completely saved when you come to Christ, but daily we experience what is called sanctification: the process of becoming more like Christ. It is our everyday need for Jesus. Not tomorrow, not yesterday, but today I need Jesus. I am not like Him, I would rather serve myself and make my name great… I need Jesus. This picture of salvation is not the end of motivation: we often do acts of service, whether serving at the rescue mission, serving breakfast at Crossroads, handing out goodies at Kennedy, whatever and we can easily let the desire to see someone saved or come to Christ the motivating issue. But it’s not. Let’s back up and little and look at Jesus’ service over the past several weeks.
c. Just Raised Lazarus Read John 11:41-42. Our serving testifies to the Father that He has sent Jesus
d. John 12: 27: Jesus facing the end, Greeks are coming to him, the seed is planted to go throughout the world.
e. We serve for His Name: His Name is our motivation. Jesus is the one honored: he is honored in our serving, in our attitude, in our testimony. It’s not a desire to see people come to Christ (though that is awesome and we pray for it every time) but it is a desire to Honor, glorify, Jesus.
i. Mentality
f. Jesus also gives the Mentality to serve: 13:13-17
i. By mentality I mean the attitude: the motivation gives us the goal, the mentality keeps us focused. Jesus did not come to be served but to serve: Are you following His example. He did not demand His disciples to wash his feet, but He washed theirs (not too long, incidentally, that he told the disciples that the greatest among them would be servant of all – yet none of them leaped to wash feet). He did not demand His father save Him from the Cross, but served Him: But for this purpose I came to this hour, Father, glorify Your name he said in 12:27. Our master, the Lord of heaven and creator of all humbled himself and became a man that we might have life in Him, beginning now.
1. The mentality requires humility. We must sacrifice and put our name down and His name up. Now if you sacrifice, don’t go around boasting in it but go around boasting about Christ. It totally ruins it when someone tries to show off with all their trophies of service. We’ve won community service awards, big woop. How many did Jesus win? Who cares, what’s important about Jesus is that we serve Him. And with that motivation, and that humble mentality we have an awesome promise in John 11:28:
“If anyone serves Me; he must follow Me; and where I am there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.”

To serve Jesus, His Name, follow Him: that’s a moral, ethical, spiritual, lifestyle statement: do acts of good, live purely, and speak boldly for Him. If you follow Him you will be with Him. If you are asking, what is God’s will for me? The better question is probably: am I following Him? He’s given plenty in His word to guide us and wants you to follow. I’ll point you there, but, as Paul said, only follow me as I follow Christ. And if you serve Him, the Father will honor you.
Worship is something that is regardless of culture and circumstances. Paul and Silas in the book of Acts worshipped in Prison, and we complain that we don’t like the music or the preaching or whatever. Paul and Silas had their motivation and mentality right: they were serving, and the Father honored them. If you seek power, lay it down. If you seek Honor lay it down to Jesus. If you seek life, lay it down to Jesus. In doing that you’ll find a richer reward: The Father’s honor. If you know these things, Jesus said in John 13:17, you are blessed if you do them. Church rise up and do the good things: do these things. You know them, now do them. There’s a world that is waiting on it and wants to see it and will be rocked when it is seen! Let’s go and do!
Pray.

Prayer & Spiritual living

Prayer
Spiritual Life (disciplines)


Scripture and Worship compose the 1st two habits of the spiritual life. The third is prayer.

Prayer is getting your life onto God’s agenda. Unfortunately, prayer usually is us asking God to get onto our agenda. The difference is evident, but the fact that something can be plainly seen is not always enough to call us to join God’s agenda, rather than ask Him to join ours.

I googled “prayer” this week, just to see what would happen. There are places live on the net that you can go to pray for your finances, your marriage, your life. You can go to sites to “learn how to pray.” I didn’t spend much time on it so I don’t want you to think its all legit – because its not. The one site I went to had videos on how best to achieve what you want in prayer. When I was a kid I wouldn’t hesitate to pray for things I wanted. Not that it is all bad to do that – as we’ll see we need to be honest with God and we should be honest about what we want. But not to the point that we start trying to bribe God or make commitments we can’t keep. The classic scenario is that we offer God something:
God, if you just give me a friend, then I’ll follow you with all my life. Or if you land me this job, I’ll honor you in it. That all sounds like huge piestic goals: I’ll honor you, I’ll follow you, but come on. What are we really asking: we’re asking for the thing, not God. We’re trying to use God. How dishonorable. Prayer is not a cheap trick. It is not to be cannibalized and prostituted for our ends. We’re not to claim the promises of the Bible, “Jesus, you said whatever I asked for in your name you would do for me” like credit that gets us anything we want.

Scripturally, Biblically, prayer is evident in the lives of believers: it is prayer that is based in the will of God, not in the will of man.

That’s not to say people don’t ask God for good things, or for their own desires, but consistently the type of prayer that God honors is the prayer that is according to His will.

I. Pray God’s Will: Matt. 26:36-46
Consider Jesus. When he was waiting for a lynch mob to come and carry him to a mock trial resulting in His crucifixion, Jesus knew the weight of the moment. The Gospel of Luke tells us that Jesus was in such agony at that moment in time that his sweat became like drops of blood on the ground. That’s intense.
I’ve never sweat blood. Last week Maria shared about the boy at her camp that told her that his soul was laid out, bleeding because he was trying so hard to get to God. There is a time in life of intense struggle, and Jesus was on the cusp of history and the redemption of everyone who would believe. This was an intense time, and Jesus, fully God and fully man, was struggling.
Read Matthew 26:38-39.
A. Be honest in prayer: Jesus was honest in his prayer to God, he basically said Father, I don’t want this. Jesus was torn up inside. He knew from the time of the fall, when Adam and Eve chose independence over God, that this time, this hour would come. He knows that man will only be saved one way: His perfect sacrifice. But the flesh, the human in him cries out that it is painful.
a. Honestly let God know where you are. The Father was not surprised to hear His son say “take this cup from me.” This cup, by the way, can mean a lot of things, but it is the cup of the new covenant, salvation through the blood of Jesus. Already Jesus is sweating blood, knowing that more will be painfully spilt. Even more, he knows that he will become the sin of the world, taking in Himself all of God’s wrath for all the wrong done.
i. Imagine that right now, everything you’ve ever done wrong in your life is called in and you’re going to have to pay for it: either in prison, through work, or maybe even through having to leave the life and people you love. Most of us, at least in our hearts, have done or thought enough evil that we deserve at least that bad. Actually, in ultimate terms, we deserve death: we have grieved God to the point that we cannot be in fellowship with Him. We’re studying spiritual life but we deserve spiritual death. Now imagine that you are held responsible for Hitler’s evil, and bin Laden’s evil. What do you deserve?
B. Jesus took it all upon him in those coming hours. Yet he cried out for mercy. He was honest with God – take this from me. And He was submissive to God: “yet not as I will, but as You will.”
a. Prayer gets truncated when we aren’t submissive to God and what he wants. I’m not a big fan of hearing voices. Jesus is the living word, and the Bible is the written word that reveals Jesus. You can always trust the Bible. Why am I saying this? I don’t want us to think that prayer is about hearing things or hearing voices. Prayer is about getting onto God’s agenda, which is revealed in the Bible, and being submissive to it. It is a revolution: from me to Him. From what I want to what He wants. The step taken in faith honors Him, but the step taken in doubt is not worship. So, when you sense God’s leading search out the scriptures and follow by faith, biblically informed faith, and in submission to His will. The voices that we hear should be viewed in light of the Written Word, the Bible.
C. Read 26:40-41. All this agony and yet his friends are sleeping. If my friend is sweating blood and crying out in agony and wants me to keep watch, I’m going to try my best; but for some reason these guys were just out of it. Jesus gets on them – the spirit is willing but the flesh is week.
a. The 3 with Him are Peter, James, and John. The same three that just weeks earlier climbed a mountain with Jesus and saw him talking with Moses and Elijah. Not knowing at all what to say, Peter, the brash one, said Jesus, do you want us to build 3 shelters – one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah?” Great going Peter, good reality check. And then a cloud comes on the mountain and says: This is my son whom I love: Listen to Him. A couple of weeks have passed, and already they’re not listening. How quick we are to stop being submissive. Following God is not a series of checklist – I listened, check. I obeyed, check. I gave money, check. I loved my neighbor, check. That’s legalism and an enslaved way to live. You are free to love and listen and give and serve, you don’t have to be bound by restrictions but are free to do. I wonder if these three men felt content that they had listened? Maybe not, they were good friends of Jesus’ and did love him, but they’re flesh was tired, and they felt they had no strength.
D. Prayer stops when we stop listening, listening and submission are keys to prayer. Jesus checked on Peter, James, and John 3 times, and every time, even though he asked them to stay awake and be vigilante for the coming hour, they slept. Flesh can interrupt the spirit pretty quick. 41: “Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
a. These men were coming off a mountaintop experience where they saw Jesus transfigured; Jesus’ glory was evident to them, they saw, in reality the Kingdom of God. And here they are sleeping. Our flesh must be disciplined to be spiritually sensitive. They were there, late at night, in the cool of the garden, having celebrated Passover with a good meal. And they were tired. The flesh was creeping up on them.
b. It’s amazing how tired I get when I want to pray. Sometimes, and you maybe can identify with this, it’s almost like I set the time to pray and all of a sudden my body feels like it hasn’t rested in weeks. My eyes get heavy, and I want to be like Peter and James and John.
c. Jesus had the same meal, was awake at the same hour, and was in terrible agony. If anyone needed a break, a nap, he did. He would need his strength for what would come. Yet he laid His eyes on the walk of faith, and returned to pray.
E. Read 42.
a. Jesus gave himself fully to God. At that moment, the flesh of Christ submitted to the power of Christ. The human submitted to the divine. The flesh would be destroyed, but life flows from the spirit.
b. How terrifying and freeing all at once. That is the nature of prayer. It is standing on the shores of the stream of God and jumping in and saying – take me where you will. We may not envision or like the outcome. But we have prayed, we have given ourselves to the will of God, and like Christ, there is victory. Because of His victory there is peace. Because of His death, there is life.
c. I visited the Naval Academy when I was looking at colleges. At the academy there is an indoor diving pool with a platform 100s of feet high. Every midshipman has to take the plunge from that tower. I hate heights: flying and heights are my fleshly fears. Seeing that towering diving board really helped to make up my mind about what I wanted to do with my life. It was a terrifying prospect.
i. Jesus faced such prospects head on: Your will be done. He put fear in its place and submitted. Christianity is a radical faith. Grace Harbor is a harbor of radical people who submit to Christ. Jesus could have prayed – if you take this death from me I will preach to more people. He could have tried to bargain and deal with God the father. But He didn’t. He worshiped. He gave His life.
d. What about His friends?
II. Praying for my will
a. Read v.43-46. They were still sleeping. They’re prayer probably went something like this: Father, help Jesus, bless the earth, give us sleep… a…me..nnnn.
b. The tide caught them. When they awoke Judas and the mob were there and Jesus would be going away. Our slumber in prayer can lead to stark awakenings. The prayerful person is expectant of God’s working, the slumbering person is surprised. And not always understanding. Peter, waking up would grab his sword and go for a slave, cutting off his ear. Waking up from His slumber he reacted. Certainly he had lots of reasons, the main being His friend Jesus about to be punished. But what did Peter do? He added to the sin that Jesus must bear.
c. Prayer lays a plan.
i. It starts with submission to God
ii. It is informed with the Word
iii. It encourages us to jump into God’s river of life and leave the shores we know to be carried by His current into the places and people and lives He wants for us.

I remember the bike I wanted so bad when I was young. I made all kinds of bargains for it, I saw the stream of God but I wanted to ride my bike on the shore. Thankfully, I got bored on the shore and started wanting more, and discovered God. Your spiritual life may just be beginning or maybe its time to do what you know God wants you to do, or just time to ask God what he wants. Prayer is that communication with God that puts you on His agenda.

Scripture, Worship, Prayer work together to place you in God’s stream of life, His action.

Pray.

Commitment Cards.

Jesus and Scripture

Jesus and Scripture
Spiritual Life Basics: the Word of God


Last week we began the study of basics for the spiritual life and discovered that true spirituality is abiding in Jesus. The “Remaining” two-step, we called it, is the Word and Obedience. Listening and obeying to the word. (Micah and the grill and grilling this week).

We want to unpack this foundation for spiritual living, The Word and Obedience, a little further today. We’re going to look at 3 events from Jesus’ life to see his attitude toward Scripture, and His application of Scripture.

I only picked 3 events, but it is important to note that Scripture is prevalent throughout Jesus’ ministry. He is teaching application of what we know as the Old Testament, giving new commands, quoting Scripture in debate with teachers of the law, and basically unpacking the Bible for the world to see its true meaning: which is Him. Jesus is the living word, and the Bible is the written word. As we look at these events, keep that distinction, remembering that the written word testifies to the living word.
1. Luke 2:41-52 Jesus and Tradition
Passover was an annual celebration for Jesus’ family. They would journey nearly 60 miles one way from Nazareth to Jerusalem every year to celebrate this commemorative milestone. It would take a couple days to make the trip South from Nazareth to Jerusalem, but up to Jerusalem because Jerusalem sat in the hilltops, and Nazareth a much lower elevation. Coming to the city, with relatives and neighbors, they would celebrate the Passover – which is a memory of what God did during the time of Moses to deliver His people, the nation of Israel, from Egypt. He commanded the people to sacrifice a lamb and put its blood on the top and sides of their door. When God’s angel of death passed through, the houses that were not marked by blood experienced the death of the firstborn that very night, while the houses with blood were “passed over.” This is a brief history, the much more compelling drama is in Exodus.
Incidentally, this time of year, Passover – is in the spring, the same time of year that Jesus was crucified on the cross. Here in this passage he is 12. At his death he was about 33. So in our memory this springtime event is Easter. But here in this passage Jesus, 12 years old, has separated from His family – who left town, and taken up residence in the Temple for a couple of days.

A. Tradition to Remind
a. Passover was a reminder of what God had done. Traditions can be powerful reminders of God’s working in History and in our lives. We celebrate Easter and Christmas remembering what God has done in history for our salvation. Jesus’ family was raising Him to know God, the God who though He may seem distant is real and impacts history. The Passover was nearly 1500 years past. Christmas is over 2000. God may seem distant, yet He impacts history and lives today.
B. Scripture for Today
a. Jesus spent these days away from Mom and Joseph in the temple learning from the Scribes – the “teachers” of the law. They were teachers of Scripture. At a young age, 12, Jesus wanted to learn Scripture. What an example for us – no matter the age, take in scripture. Read it, memorize it, live on its principles. Take it in.
b. Make it a priority. Jesus’ didn’t think twice about missing his family. They’ve left town for a 60-mile hike back to Nazareth. I realize that Jesus, thought 12 years old, is the Son of God, the Living Word, the Messiah. I know he didn’t get anxious like I do, and even at 12 that he wasn’t worried that His parents had left him. (Not that they were worried until well into their journey anyway). But Jesus saw a bigger priority in the word. He didn’t let life get in the way. He took the opportunity and spent time in the word and talking about the word.
i. The teachers, also translated scribes, were students of the Bible, the Scriptures. They would start, usually at age 14 (2 years older than Jesus) studying the Bible, copying it into script, learning its principles. They would be ordained at 40. IN other words it was a 26-year process, during which they were not paid but often worked other Jobs. Paul – who came up in the school was a tentmaker. Hillel, the namesake of Jewish clubs on campuses across America, was a laborer. After ordination they would be judges, Rabbi’s, leaders in the religious, civil, and cultural community of Jews.
ii. Jesus was 12, and he took them to town. “After 3 days his parents found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.” Not only did Jesus ask, he gave answers. The boy of 12 is the author of Scripture: Trinity: inspired by Holy Spirit, recorded by Human hands.
iii. The tradition said this boy could not know much. Jesus is above tradition. Don’t get me wrong, tradition serves its place, but only as it points to Jesus. But more on that later: point 3 scripture points to Jesus.
iv. Let’s rest now on the simple fact from this story that the word needs to be such a priority in our lives that it is a main thing. More important than business, than success, than grades: even, dare I say, than most family concerns. Micah will still want to play baseball after we read some bible. Baseball can wait. Do not make God wait.

2. Luke 4:1-13 Jesus and Memorization
a. Jesus didn’t just listen and debate the word. Last week we talked about what is really false spiritual growth when we spend all our time learning but never doing. We talk about God and Jesus and the word but never acknowledge the Truth. Remember – people who do that worm their way into homes…
b. Jesus internalized the Scripture. Not only did He read it – He knew it, He memorized it. And then he used it.
c. Read Luke 4:1-13
d. Fast-forward about 18 years. Jesus is about 30. He’s just been baptized, in obedience to the word, and is ready to begin His public ministry. The Spirit leads him to the wilderness, where He is tempted, and hungry.
i. Just thinking out loud here, but if I’m alone, in the wilderness, hungry, tired… I’m thinking I’m pretty susceptible. I’d probably eat the first thing you offer me, no matter what it is, just get it in me. If you’ve ever watched survivor on TV, I love the scenes were after a couple of weeks they get a reward challenge and the team that wins gets to eat food. They eat like pigs, gluttons shoveling it in their mouths as quick as possible. There’s no hesitation.
e. Jesus is being tempted to deny His purpose and birthright: savior of the World and Son of God. Satan starts off with bread for a hungry man. Remember back 18 years ago, Jesus wasn’t concerned with His family because he so wanted the word. And now, today, he applies it. Jesus answers Satan with Deut. 8:3. “He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.” Jesus is living out the exodus in His life. Humbled, hungry, and living on the Word of the Lord. Deut. 8:3, by the way, is not in an easy passage of Scripture to read. It, Deut., is the 2nd reading of the law. And 8:3 is in the 1st 3rd of, what I consider a very boring and hard to read portion of scripture that details most of life and how it should be lived. Yet Jesus says, you shall live by “every word.”
f. Satan tries trick two: to the Lord of the Universe he says the whole world can be yours. And Jesus again answers with Scripture: Deut. 6:13. Again, Deut. In these instances not only is the tempter meeting a Godward spirit in Jesus, he is meeting the power of the word of God, and has nowhere to go with it. So he tries a 3rd time.
g. Throw yourself down, Jesus, if you are really the Son of God. In other words, if you are who you say you are, commit suicide. Then Satan tries something that can be commonplace today: he twists Scripture and makes what isn’t meant to be seem as though it is. Satan quotes from Psalms 91:11, 12 Psalm 91 is a promise of God’s deliverance. Satan twists and tests the promise: God has said that you will not fall from here, so try. The promise of Psalm 91 is actually: Love me first and I will deliver you. It would be a falsity to assume the promise is what Satan tempts Jesus with: God loves you so do this. Jesus sees right through it.
i. Don’t put the Lord your God to the test. Whoa! Deut. Again and the trump card: don’t test my father or me. Satan left until an opportune time.
h. This is a great event and triumph of Christ and encouragement for us. But know this about Jesus’ view of Scripture: know it and use it. Turn the sword of the Spirit loose. Let it, which is sharper than a new Gillette sensor, than any double-edged sword, turn it loose and let it go. Memorize it, as Jesus did, so that you have it at the ready. Memorize it so that you may know God’s voice and His word. Memorize it that you may know Jesus.
3. Jesus and the Point of Scripture Luke 4:14-30
a. I said a little earlier that we would revisit Jesus and tradition. He is above tradition: it should point to Him. Jesus is also the point of Scripture. He is the central person in the Bible, and the cross is the central action. If you know very little or no Scripture: its message is that Jesus died on the Cross because of God’s great desire to glorify His name in bringing us to worship Him in spirit and truth. God loves you and wants you to be in on His glory. But your sin keeps you back. All those little lies, immoral thoughts, bitter jabs, murderous hate, are not worthy of God. We are slaves. And Jesus has freed us.
b. Read Luke 4:14-21
c. IT was customary that any male could read and offer some instruction/commentary on the Scripture in the synagogue. Jesus goes with the custom. He knows scripture, gets the scroll (no books in those days, it was all on scrolls. The Old Testament would fill a large room, bigger than this. Scrolls were about 30 feet long. I can find, over time and with the help of a concordance or google, pretty much anything in the bible. Jesus had neither concordance nor google, yet found exactly the passage of Scripture he wanted. Do you question if Jesus knew Scripture?
d. He did, and he read and sat. The Prophecy of Isaiah 450 years or so earlier is fulfilled today, right then. Scripture then, points to Jesus. All of it. The bible is about knowing Jesus. When we read the bible he speaks. It is His written word (He is the Living Word). It is not wrong, the Bible never fails – we call it fail safe in our covenant, exactly the word of God. It is valid because of who stands behind it: the living Lord. Jesus.
e. This event, reading a couple verse, sitting down, and saying it is fulfilled, must have been awesome.
i. My parents were here a couple of weeks ago. Being history buffs (them mainly) we toured the Adams national historical park in Boston, home of John and John Quincy = 2nd and 5th presidents. Being a national park geek buff with the passport, I was ready and willing to go and check it out and get my stamp. John Adams left his mark on America. He holds the record for some long speeches, including one that had a single sentence that was 750 words long. At 93, John was asked to give a speech for the 50th anniversary of the independence of America. The crowd was prepped and ready for him – this man who walked with Washington and set the course of a nation. He walked up and yelled: Independence Forever! And sat down. Speech over.
f. This is kind of the scene here: Jesus is famous, they want to hear, and He says: it is fulfilled. The Bible, its whole message is Jesus. Memorize it to know Jesus. Study it to know Jesus. Learn it that you may run to Jesus who gives freedom, good news, and releases the oppressed.

1. Make the word a main thing
2. Memorize it that you may know Jesus and use it
3. Study it and learn it to know Jesus.

There are some helpful questions in the bulletin if you want a place to start studying. As Jesus shows us: the word is more valuable than life; memorize it to live, and point people in the same direction: to Jesus.

Jesus got all over the religious leaders of his day for missing the point: Him! They would quote scripture and haggle with questions and debate viewpoints, all the while missing the Point. Nourish yourself and grow spiritually by learning the point, and seeking God in His word. To all who seek Him He will show Himself.

Pray.

Made Useful

Made Useful
2 Timothy 2:20-21


Let’s say that you and I had a special dinner planned at our house. Amy is cooking (so it will be good) and we’ve been planning for months for the time together. You get ready and arrive at the stated time. You’re on time, not late. You ring the bell, and I come and answer the door, welcome you in and ask you to have a seat at the table.

Amy’s prepared a great meal, but I serve you the trashcan. At your spot, I bring the trash and dump it, then put your dinner in the can and say – eat up. Wouldn’t you feel welcomed?

Not at all! You’d probably hate me, or at least question my sanity. That’s no way to treat a guest or to honor someone, but sadly, isn’t that how we often honor God?

We’ve talked about leadership the past several weeks, and David shared for 2 weeks on the life of Jeremiah. There is a thread of connection between Jeremiah and leaders and that is this: they made themselves useful to God.

There is a difference between being useful to God, and used by God.

Read 2 Timothy 2:20-21.

Leaders clean house. We value, as a church, God, His word, worship, and desire to be leaders. We desire to be people who are sensitive to God and His leading so that we can be thermostats, people who make change around us.

God can use anyone to do His will, but calls us to be made useful to Him – there is a difference.

I. God can use anyone
a. The Bible is full of people who God used, but weren’t exactly models of the faith. If you want a lot of examples in one place, read through the book of Judges. Samson, one of the heroes of Judges, was a womanizer, adulterer, and full of passionate lust (and the inability to recognize an obvious trap laid for him). Yet God used him. We’re left wondering, though, when he died a martyr in captivity, what his life could have been – not so much what it was.
b. In the time of the exodus, God used Pharaoh, and the Bible tells us that God “hardened Pharaoh’s heart” (Exodus 10:1). God can use anybody at anytime to accomplish His will. He can use believers and non-believers alike.
i. I can invite anyone one at anytime to my house, but if I serve them trash what good have I done.
c. Abraham, the father of all who would be justified by faith, started out as a polytheist – he believed in many Gods. A difference is that in his life, as god used him, he made himself more useful to God.
d. Peter in the New Testament provides an example as well. His life is in and out; he has glimpses of greatness, and then shrinks back in doubt and unbelief. Peter told Christ he would walk with Him all the way to prison and the grave; but when the time came he ran. There was still fear in Him, doubt that held Him back. After the resurrection Christ dealt with Peter and Peter made Himself useful to God.
e. But you have been called to a different standard, believer. The Bible makes it clear that God expects you to be useful to Him, and you should expect Him to use you. But how do you make yourself useful?
II. Being made useful (Cleaning house)
a. Read 2 Tim. 2:20-21 again.
b. The trashcan serves a purpose. The kids diaper pail serves a purpose. Our three outdoor trashcans serve a purpose, but I don’t use the lids to serve dinner. Paul is making out an illustration: in your life, as in your home, there are things that are good, and things that are bad. In your life, to be made useful to God, we need to clean house – we need to get rid of the stuff in our lives that keeps us “dirty” that holds us back from being totally useful to God.
c. The Bible calls this stuff sin. It straps us down to this world and holds us back. Sin suppresses freedom.
i. The letter to the Hebrews puts it this way: “let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus” Heb. 12:1-2.
ii. This is just after a long passage of scripture declaring the heroes of faith who cleaned house and were used by God to accomplish His purpose. The encouragement is for us to do the same.
d. Sin that so easily entangles. Thursday morning, having heard that this tropical storm was coming our way, I knew I needed to take care of our gutters. They were plugged up. It’s amazing to look at our yard, all those trees with little leaves. You can think one leaf won’t hurt anything. But a whole bunch of leaves will ruin the whole gutter, causing it to overflow, and then you’ve got leakage by the foundation – and that’s not good.
i. Sin is the same way. We may look around and think, one little sin won’t hurt, and it won’t hurt anyone. So what if I’m callous toward my neighbor. What can one little hit do? What can one movie that I shouldn’t watch, what can that really do to me, and I can close my eyes during all the bad parts anyway?
1. Have you ever examined your thinking after watching a movie – usually it’s half in the real world and half in Hollywood world?
2. One little sin leads to another. Wherever there is one leaf, there is more. No doubt about it. One sin leads to another. It’s like lays potato chips – you can’t eat just one. Before you know it the gutter of your life will be plugged, the storms of life will come and you’ll wake up one day and discover your foundation is destroyed. That’s a hefty price for a momentary thrill.
ii. Throw it off.
e. But how do we cleanse house? Paul gives Timothy some clear instructions. It always seems that way with sin – as much as we want to make a grey area between wrong and right, wrong is wrong and right is right.
f. Read 2 Tim. 2:15-16, 19b, 22-23. Avoid this, pursue that. A friend of mine will be celebrating 50 years of marriage this coming year. I asked him – what are you going to be doing to celebrate. He said nothing. I thought, hmmm…. You can do better than that – he said, “Why should you celebrate a milestone that is expected. We’re just doing what is right. We obeyed, you’re supposed to stay married and that’s what we did.” He’s an older guy, and with spiritual clarity and insight he brought a lot into focus with those words: pursue what is right.
g. In your relationships, work for the best of the other person: what is trustworthy, honorable, noble, excellent, and praiseworthy. A common question daters ask is “How far is too far?” What can we do physically and still be okay? That’s a legalistic question that misses the heart of what God wants for us to be useful to Him. Let’s reset the question to this: “What can I do in my relationships to promote the best, what is true, noble, honorable that will help me and them to love God more?” That’s the question we need to ask, the concern then moves from am I sinning to “am I worshipping.” That’s what it means to cast of sin, and cleans house. You don’t let sin in and you clear it out where it is. If you have a drinking problem, don’t get near alcohol. If you have a commitment problem, begin by keeping your word. If you have a gossip problem, start focusing on the Truth and not rumor. Cast sin aside, clean house.

The Message is a paraphrase of the Bible. I don’t really recommend it for in depth study, but for a devotional read it can grab your attention. I’d like to close by reading Romans 6. In this chapter Paul talks about sin and freedom. Leaders, be free. Christians, live free!

1 -3So what do we do? Keep on sinning so God can keep on forgiving? I should hope not! If we've left the country where sin is sovereign, how can we still live in our old house there? Or didn't you realize we packed up and left there for good? That is what happened in baptism. When we went under the water, we left the old country of sin behind; when we came up out of the water, we entered into the new country of grace—a new life in a new land!
3 -5That's what baptism into the life of Jesus means. When we are lowered into the water, it is like the burial of Jesus; when we are raised up out of the water, it is like the resurrection of Jesus. Each of us is raised into a light-filled world by our Father so that we can see where we're going in our new grace-sovereign country.
6 -11Could it be any clearer? Our old way of life was nailed to the cross with Christ, a decisive end to that sin-miserable life—no longer at sin's every beck and call! What we believe is this: If we get included in Christ's sin-conquering death, we also get included in his life-saving resurrection. We know that when Jesus was raised from the dead it was a signal of the end of death-as-the-end. Never again will death have the last word. When Jesus died, he took sin down with him, but alive he brings God down to us. From now on, think of it this way: Sin speaks a dead language that means nothing to you; God speaks your mother tongue, and you hang on every word. You are dead to sin and alive to God. That's what Jesus did.
12 -14That means you must not give sin a vote in the way you conduct your lives. Don't give it the time of day. Don't even run little errands that are connected with that old way of life. Throw yourselves wholeheartedly and full-time—remember, you've been raised from the dead!—into God's way of doing things. Sin can't tell you how to live. After all, you're not living under that old tyranny any longer. You're living in the freedom of God.
What Is True Freedom?
15 -18So, since we're out from under the old tyranny, does that mean we can live any old way we want? Since we're free in the freedom of God, can we do anything that comes to mind? Hardly. You know well enough from your own experience that there are some acts of so-called freedom that destroy freedom. Offer yourselves to sin, for instance, and it's your last free act. But offer yourselves to the ways of God and the freedom never quits. All your lives you've let sin tell you what to do. But thank God you've started listening to a new master, one whose commands set you free to live openly in his freedom!
19I'm using this freedom language because it's easy to picture. You can readily recall, can't you, how at one time the more you did just what you felt like doing—not caring about others, not caring about God—the worse your life became and the less freedom you had? And how much different is it now as you live in God's freedom, your lives healed and expansive in holiness?
20 -21As long as you did what you felt like doing, ignoring God, you didn't have to bother with right thinking or right living, or right anything for that matter. But do you call that a free life? What did you get out of it? Nothing you're proud of now. Where did it get you? A dead end.
22 -23But now that you've found you don't have to listen to sin tell you what to do, and have discovered the delight of listening to God telling you, what a surprise! A whole, healed, put-together life right now, with more and more of life on the way! Work hard for sin your whole life and your pension is death. But God's gift is real life, eternal life, delivered by Jesus, our Master.
What are you working for? Pray.

we will... lead

We will…
Lead and transform
Father’s Day 2007
2 Timothy 1: 3-18


The last two weeks we’ve looked at a couple of passages that show clearly the church is to primarily participate in and encourage Worship.
An effective church is a body of believers living a 24/7 lifestyle of worship and encouraging others to worship through evangelism and missions. This church encourages worship through making disciples and growing as disciples.
An effective church does not lose this primary focus: to worship God and call others to worship. Keeping focus on God and worshipping Him through making disciples is the sign of an effective church.
*It is not the church who makes disciples but the members of the church. Sometimes when we talk about “church” we can think of an institution or a religion like Christianity. When I talk about church today I want us to think in terms of relationship with God, each other, and the community – the kind of gathering that we talked about last week from Acts 2. In Matthew 28, when Jesus gave the command to make disciples of all nations he gave it to his followers – the church – not as an institution but as individuals.
We have a real, spiritual, faith relationship with Jesus and part of that relationship is to befriend others, tell others about Jesus, and call people to worship Him – the 24/7 lifestyle of worship, not just coming to “Church” on a Sunday morning.

How do we develop that kind of relationship with Jesus? How do we become a church of leaders who lead others to worship?

Leadership today, unfortunately is more often based on skill than character. The need of leaders starts with character, not skill or gifting. Your skills or you spiritual gifting can carry you to places that your character will pull you back from unless your character is ready to sustain you. Some thieves are highly skilled – but aren’t leaders. In High School the most skilled athletes can be captains, but the character isn’t there to sustain them. A church of leaders must be a gathering of believers who worship and live their devotion to God all the time, upholding the Bible, loving God, and living for His name.

Today, Next week, and the week after I return from vacation (we’re going to Rapid City, SD, catching a Cubs game on the way, fireworks at Mt. Rushmore, and hopefully stamp our National Parks Passport at the Badlands – as well as a family wedding), these next several weeks we’ll be digging through some passages in 2 Timothy that can help us answer those questions about how to develop as leaders and what spiritual leaders are.

I’m excited to start with today – because today is Father’s day. There are a few father’s here, and there are a few of you who will one day be father’s so I hope that what is said will help you on the journey of fatherhood. Ultimately, fathers, fathers – to – be you are leaders in your families.

The examples and instruction from 2nd Timothy come from the last letter Paul wrote before His death. He is passing on final instruction and encouragement to Timothy, his friend and “son in the faith.” Their relationship will show us a lot about being spiritual leaders: people who lead others to God, and authentic Christians: believers who put God first despite the consequence.

Read 2 Timothy 1:3-18.

1. A good leader has “deep” relationships. 3-7
a. Why “Deep” relationships? Because most of our relationships today are pretty superficial: it is work to get beyond the weather, food, sports, or the activities of life. It is work to love and share life. Most of us feel like if we can love one other person – a spouse maybe – our needs are met and we’re fine – not really needing more. But that’s not it: we are meant for so much more. Among humans your spouse if married should be your first relationship, but not the last. It should be a special, intimate in a way that no other relationship you have will be; it should be unique in character and quality – it should be a witness of Christ and His church to everyone around you. But if you make it an end in itself, then there will be no one to witness its beauty.
b. So what am I talking about in a deep relationship? It is a relationship that moves beyond the mundane of life to spiritual issues, life issues – parenting, dating, encouragement, celebration and mourning together.
c. It starts with God.
i. Paul thanked God for Timothy. Do you thank God for your relationships? All of Paul’s life flowed from His relationship with God.
1. He served God with a clear conscience – the way his forefathers did.
a. We’ll start with the back of that statement first: we have models in the faith: older Christians, more mature Christians who pass the good news on to us, and we should do the same – as Paul is to Timothy. Leaders lead and follow. Jesus was a leader of 12 and follower of 1: His father. If you’re in a debacle, call on those older in the faith. Now, about the clear conscience (how hard is that to obtain – I can think at night of things I did years ago without even remembering it in the mean time).
2. Prov. 4:23
3. The springs flow clear or dirty. More on that in a couple of weeks, but for now know that your heart relationship with God defines how you relate to other people. You will be a source of refreshment, or a polluted stream pulling others down.
4. Paul was confident in God, faithful in prayer, and committed to Him.
d. 2nd the leader relates to friends.
i. Paul and Timothy had a deep relationship: Timothy cried as he and Paul went their separate ways.
ii. Most of us will build walls to insulate us from such pain before we build such a close relationship that we cry, long to see each other, and hurt over separation.
1. We insulate ourselves with our work, our family commitments, our own kids can be easy to hide behind, our educational commitments, or just making ourselves so busy that we simply can’t spend time hanging out, fellowshipping, growing together.
iii. Spiritual leaders take time for friends – no matter how close or far. My brother and one of His friends live about 8 hours apart – they meet for breakfast about 6 in the morning every 3-4 months to continue their relationship and encourage each other. They make time, make the effort, and are rewarded well. Paul constantly remembers Timothy, and in His pain drew comfort from God, who he thanked – so that he would be filled with joy.
iv. In our pain, we can have joy if we can see past the hurt to thank God for the friendships, the opportunities, and the lives He has given us.
v. Leverage your friendships for God’s glory. Paul, in v. 6 calls Timothy to obedience for the Kingdom. If we build great relationships, but never share Christ or leverage them for spiritual purposes, we’ve missed the point of being a leader: one who leads another to worship.
e. 3rd go deep with family. Timothy’s mother and grandmother poured into Him, so evidently that Paul knew about it, and knew first hand their faith. Fathers, Parents, pour faith into your kids – it starts with your heart, let clean streams of faith flow into their lives. If you’re the only Christian in your family, don’t forsake them, witness to them. If they won’t hear it, win them by your actions so they will see it. I Corin. 7:14 (read). Your faith will sanctify them – your clear stream of life will clean up a polluted stream. But, listen, they are not justified, they just know by your example the behavior they should live, but the faith is not evident in their lives until they confess it. So live that they may see God in you, be sanctified, and pray that they will come to faith and be justified – that is they will be saved by grace through faith – not by works.
2. Leaders are Courageous (v.7-12, 16-18)
a. Attempting great things for God takes courage. Wed. Debra, Mandy, James and I made a trip to Williamstown, MA, 3 hours away near the NY/VT border. We went to the Haystack monument on the campus of Williams College that commemorates the beginning of the American Foreign Mission movement in 1806. Haystack story: 5 men, ministers, missionaries, 80 years later 20,000 students with 80,000 student supporters; Luther Rice…
b. Those 5 men, led by a freshmen, had courage. Courage comes from confidence in God: read 7, 12
c. Suffering for the Gospel is part of being a leader. No leader is immune from suffering from personal attacks, pessimism, doubt, slander. But a confident leader can suffer for the Gospel – by the power of God, live their holy calling, and rejoice in the destruction of death and the light of life and immortality. Take Courage, believer, God is able and willing to meet you, empower you, and lead you to make His name great. The Haystack monument had 5 names on it, erected by a secular campus. Names of men: but their work, the movement, the power, the outcome is all about God. I don’t even know all their names, but I know the One whom they believed and preached.
d. Courage involves action: Onesiphorus: sought Paul out and ministered to Him – in Ephesus and Rome. He was a leader, a servant leader who was not ashamed of the chains. Courage to travel, go to prison, be identified with a prisoner. A spiritual leader's actions speak for them. Friends of ours who live elsewhere recently spent an evening with an acquaintance that was hurting and suffering. They got to know each other – but he was encouraged all the more by their presence. Sometimes our actions, like Onesiphorus speak so much louder than words: Maria & the Silent children.
3. Leaders hold to the truth. (13-14)
a. Get a firm grasp on the gospel – in your head and in your life. And Guard it by the Holy Spirit. There is one truth, one way, one salvation, one baptism, one Lord, one Savior, one God and Father of all. We live in a world of many that refuses to recognize the One.
i. This is gay pride month. Either homosexuality is a sin, therefore morally wrong and destructive in the end to society, or it is not. God is not making up His mind. He is not on the fence. With Him it is one way or the other. The world promotes many paths, many gods, many ways of life. But in the end, Jesus says, “I am the alpha and omega, beginning and end.” And “I am the way and the truth and the life; no one comes to the father but by me.” Hold firmly to Jesus and guard the faith of your life closely.
b. Read 1 Tim. 1:18c-19 rejecting the faith, letting the stream of your life flowing from your heart become muddied, and embracing the ways of the world will shipwreck your faith. Leaders persevere and hold the faith close.

Leaders go deep in relationships, are courageous, and hold the Truth. The power of the Gospel allows this. When Jesus Christ lived, and died on the Cross, he freed everyone who would call to Him and believe from every action that muddies their heart, every belief that ensnares them, and every attitude that enslaves them. When he rose again he defeated death. There is always hope! Pray.

We will...

We will…
Acts 2:41-47


Last week we examined some values from the life of David in Psalm 145. The values that he laid out:
1. God
2. Worship
3. Evangelism and Missions
4. Discipleship

We saw that these values were centered in God and rooted in one action: Worship.

Worship is the main action of the church and everything we do is an act of worship. We believe that God is so grand and awesome and worthy that nothing else is worth living for and if an action in our lives is not worship to Him it’s not worth doing.

So we’ve walked into the 3rd part of the church covenant: the We will… section. These are the actions and behaviors that we will do.

1. We will worship. Everything we talk about today should only be done as worship. We want to be people who are near to God in heart – in our emotions and thoughts and being – not just our words. So we will act in worship.

After the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost in the Book of Acts, the first believers were empowered and the church experienced phenomenal growth. In Acts Chapter 2 Luke records a summary of the actions of the church – the behaviors that characterized them.

Read Acts 2:41-47

Exuberant Joy characterized the early church. They were full of life and joy because of Christ. Before we delve into what they did, we need to ask ourselves: do I have joy in Christ? Am I living victoriously and joyously in Him?

If you are not – what is holding you back? Is it an attitude, a tough relationship, a time commitment, an imbalanced physical life, a longing of your soul that hasn’t been met? Confess this to God and cry out to Him for joy. He opens his hand and satisfies the desire of every living thing – remember last week.

We will…
Out of our Identity as invaluable, Holy Spirit indwelled, Saints, because of our value of God, Jesus, Scripture, and worship

I. Live with Purpose
a. This purpose is to worship God in all that we do.
b. To live with purpose is the opposite of complacency, confusion, and unsatisfied hunger. Purpose gives action, clarity, and goals in life. Do you wake up each day with a purpose in mind?
i. It’s so easy to just roll with the punches – have you ever been given that advice? Sometimes in life you have to take what comes, but what you do with it declares your purpose.
ii. A friend asked me this week if it’s emotionally hard to be diabetic. I said no – not until we had children and I wonder if they had it. But when I was diagnosed Amy and I settled on a purpose– to live a productive life with the disease under control. To roll with the punches would have meant to let the disease control us.
iii. The early church had purpose, and this purpose was seen in 3 ways in their life:
II. Live with purpose in relationship with God (42, 43).
a. 3 actions characterized their relationship with God.
b. 1st, they grew as disciples.
i. Believing in Jesus Christ is not always clearly defined for us. I’ve talked to tons of people on the streets, in coffee houses, wherever and they all claim to believe in Jesus. What does that mean? James 2:19: you believe that God is one (there is one God). You do well; the demons also believe and shudder.
ii. Believing on Jesus for salvation means a life changing belief: Jesus is your Lord. That means He leads your life, you seek Him out and what He wants. You live by His way, His words, His desires. It is not assenting to say I believe in Jesus but it is showing it in your life. The fruit of a purposeful relationship with God is evident in your life.
iii. The early church grew as disciples. They purposely sought to learn from God and obey Him: that is what it means to be a disciples of Jesus: to learn from Him (through His word) and obey.
1. All the head knowledge in the world won’t get you anywhere: it’s acting on it that counts. That’s called wisdom: applying the knowledge you have and are gaining.
2. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.” Proverbs 1:7
3. When Amy and I moved into the city – we got a lot of questions. Are you crazy? Why? House values aren’t all that great, the schools stink, and you could be killed. Well, those sound like good reasons not to bring the gospel to the students of the city and all the people who live in that environment? Right – no, we’re taking the risk. 2 years ago on our normal walking route a man was shot and killed – over drugs. Living in the city isn’t the issue, it’s wisdom. It is foolish to get involved in some things – drugs being one of them – and the outcome of the involvement will cost you. There are many testimonies to this in our gathering today.
4. The early church determined not to be foolish – they sat at the feet of the apostles and learned.
iv. Learn from your bible, grow your relationship with God by faith and learn the Word.
v. 2nd, they devoted themselves to prayer.
1. In January we talked a lot about prayer. Let’s revisit: prayer is communicating with God. It is personal praise, quite before Him, and powerful for His purpose.
2. Inform your prayer with what you learn from the Bible.
a. We pray with Micah and Mia every night after we read a Bible story. And we try to bring out something from the story to pray about. Well, we ask Micah -= would you like to pray, and he usually says no. We ask who should we pray to: Jesus, but on occasion he’ll say – we need to pray for Mia, or mommy, or daddy. He’s starting to learn, but how often do we just stop there: what we need, or someone who needs something. Let your prayer be vibrant and purposeful.
vi. 3rd the church gathered for Praise.
1. Not a big surprise, because worship is their overall theme.
a. Signs and wonders occurred among them – at the hands of the apostles. These miracles gave testimony to the witness of the Apostles. In Scripture miracles give credence to what God is saying or doing, they are never the main things, God is, and His word is next to Him. Read Acts 4:29-30. The church was facing persecution, Peter had been threatened, and the church prayed for the word to go forward, and the name of Jesus to be honored.
2. The essence of praise was wonder and awe: the valued the Awesome God: he was their primary concern.
III. Have purpose in relationship with each other.
a. They supported each other: they loved each other.
i. They met each other’s needs, they cared for each other, and each responded back.
b. The early church was not a commune. They kept the OT model of caring for the poor and believers sold what they had as needs arose to give to the poor.
i. Grace Harbor keeps a “benevolence” fund – we should call it the need fund, that is in the budget – but you can give to if you want – just put your money in an envelope and mark it or write on the memo line – benevolence. That money is for people who need help.
ii. V. 44 – all things in common. They were a united group, they shared together, yes, but they were united in heart and mind. If you read through Acts this wouldn’t always stay the same, differences would arise – but throughout Acts and throughout History the true church maintains unity of purpose: make God known and worship Him.
c. It can get real easy to sit back and receive in a culture like this. But even those with needs would meet what needs they could. And the message of the New Testament and the developing church is this: “we were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s’ food without paying for it. On the contrary we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to nay of you. We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow. For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.”” 2 Thess. 3:7-10.
i. Work while you can, and do what you can. And worship God with what you have: “Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.” Prov. 3:9-10.
ii. We take an offering as worship – worship God with your money and give. He receives the glory. (10%)
IV. 3rd: Have purpose in relationship with your community.
a. V. 41 – we purposefully share the gospel, baptize believers, and make disciples. That is our purpose in community.
b. Part of that purpose is to bless the community. The early church enjoyed, momentarily, the favor of all the people. They were a blessing to the community. We will be a blessing to greater providence. That is the hope of Grace Harbor: when we give out snow cones, provide a backyard Bible club, volunteer at FirstWorks we bless the city – for the purpose of the glory of God and His word going forward.
c. God added daily to the numbers of believers.
d. Share the Gospel, lead others to Christ.
i. We will share the gospel, leading others to Christ, baptize believers and make disciples – all in worship and to the Glory of God.

Values (2)

Two weeks ago we talked about the Bible and how we, as Christians, root our lives in it and seek God according to His word. We believe, at Grace Harbor, that the Bible is the inspired infallible Word of God, gives Light for salvation, and direction for life.

It can be trusted. From the Bible we gather our beliefs and values that guide us as a church in the decisions we make, and as individuals who live for Christ in a world full of hurt, disappointment, and disillusionment.

Without the Bible we have no compass, or knowledge of our Anchor as we navigate life. At Grace Harbor we talk about a compass for your life, which is the word of God and an anchor for your soul, who is Jesus Christ. As a church we recognize the importance of the Savior, the Historical and real Jesus, and His word, the Bible.

Today we’re going to be concluding a study of Christian values and moving to the next and final part of the Church covenant – the “We will…” section.

Values determine much of our lives. If your life is out of balance – you feel pushed and stressed and overworked, it’s probably because your values aren’t clearly defined or are off base.

When I was in college I had a pretty big project, along with finals looming. But there was also a ball game I wanted to watch on TV. My values got challenged: Watch TV, study, sleep – choose two. If my highest value had been grades, then obviously study and sleep would have been the right choice. I won’t tell you what I chose to do, but it’s a choice many have made.

That’s a small example: what about when it comes to doing our job, raising kids, being involved in the ministry God created you for, spending time with friends, running errands, taking time for yourself, dealing with extended family, handling the pressures of your job, making ends meet. Our values help us find balance and direction in life.

In Psalm 145 David, the King of Israel and a man after God’s own heart, lifts a song of praise to His King. In the heart of praise, David reveals a pattern of values that give light and direction and balance.

David went through tough times: he was hunted down, jeered by brothers, cast an outlaw; he jeopardized his peace with God by his deliberate choices to sin; yet through the tough times he stayed true and returned to God.

Read Psalm 145.

4 Values that directed David’s life – who saw a lot more trouble than most of us will ever see – and these values should direct our lives.

1. The Awesome (1-3, 8-9, 14-20)
a. David did not have a life of ease. He grew up in the fields, lived an outcast in caves, fled to foreigners for help, once lived like a mad man, and then became king. Even as king he faced war and battles and distrust in his own family. Listening to the radio this week Charles Stanley said, “A life of comfort and ease will not grow you spiritually. God will not grant it if you ask to grow.” If you want to grow as a person, there will be stress, conflict, disappointment, and failures. But David knew the key to living and growing was the Awesome God.
i. God is awesome and powerful. In premarital counseling I feel like the only truth I keep coming back to is that God can do anything. Remember that truth and no matter how sticky life gets, God can answer you powerfully.
b. We love the Lord. Psalm 145 is full of praise to the living Lord who enamored David. Our God is praiseworthy. He is eternal and infinite, and exists, one God, in three persons: God the Father, God the Son who is Jesus Christ, and God the Holy Spirit who lives in every believer and empowers Christ followers to be like Christ.
c. David never lost his understanding of God. Even when he committed heinous sin by adulterating another man’s wife and having that man killed, he returned to the Awesome God and sought Grace and forgiveness. He could write, “The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made”[8-9] from experience. That understanding leads to the 2nd Value:
2. Worship (7, 10-12, 21)
a. This is a psalm of worship, and worship in 2 ways.
b. 1st Worship is extremely intimate and personal. Read v. 1-3. This is David from his heart to God. Worship starts with a heart warmed toward God, and it overflows the lips into life.
c. Personal worship is past, present, and future.
d. V. 4b – the acts of God through history offer the starting point. Begin your personal worship with recognition of all that God has done. And personally, all he has done in your life.
i. Grace Harbor started in 2002 with no one but the Conti family who moved here from Florida. God opened doors of ministry to students, to the streets, to the neighborhood, and has raised up this body today. And He is still working.
e. In v. 3 David offers up current praise. It is a declaration of God: He is great! God is opening doors today with the Youth Acting in Christ ministry led by DJ and with Debra’s arrival to serve in the month of June. God is doing great things Christian – rejoice! What about in your own life: do you see God’s hand in your own situation?
i. Worship is all of life. Coming to church, going to a Bible study, these are good things. But we are to be worshippers in Spirit and in Truth. There is no stopping the truth – it is always on. In the morning awake to praise, sing His praise High with the sun at noon, and marvel in His splendor and majesty with the moon at night. Walk in worship.
f. And worship is future: v.1-2. David plans on it: as long as I breathe I will praise you, O God. I heard one pastor say that he will retire when they take all the air from His lungs.
i. The sounds of our city never stop. This time of year, we sleep with windows open welcoming the cool nights. Sirens, neighbors coming and going, awaken us Kanye West driving by on somebody’s system. Praise should not stop, ever. Walk in worship.
g. Worship is also public. V.21. Join with a body to worship: that’s what the church is about: worship. It’s what we do. Because we love God, we worship. We encourage people to come and worship – it is the reason you are hear on earth: to worship through faith. Everything else we do flows from our warm hearted and loving worship of God.
3. Evangelism and Missions (4-6) come from our desire to worship.
a. This is the 3rd value: God, Worship, Telling others about God so they can worship: #3.
b. V.4-7. We value the next generation. Grace Harbor is committed to partnering with parents to disciple children. To loving our city and telling the good news to youth – and empowering youth (YAIC) to live their call in life and tell others. And to young adults and students we believe we have a responsibility to commend God’s works to the next generation.
c. v. 6: We tell others about Christ and prepare them to tell even more people. Evangelism is corporate: we as a church minister, serve, and bless our community as we tell the good news. But it is also personal.
d. Get involved in telling His good works to another. As we covenant together we will provide opportunities to be involved in impacting the city, the world, with the Good news, because we love God and we worship.
4. 4th: Worship Discipleship.
a. In the verses we just read something powerful is written: “I will meditate on your wonderful works.” Evangelism that leads people to pray to receive Christ is great, but not the goal. GHCC is about making disciples. But because we love God and worship Him we are about leading others to Worship. In other words, the goal of our lives as Christians is to lead others into life long worship. What does that look like?
i. People who live for God, whose lives are transformed into His life, and who worship.
1. Kingdom living (v.13): believing God’s promises and living by Faith. A transformed life lives for God’s Kingdom, not your own Empire.
2. Read v. 18. Knowing God is worship. Call on Him in truth.
3. Your life may crazy: have you called on God in truth? Not just checking it off your list, but calling on Him?
a. With these long daylights we are blessed with in RI I took some days and got up early to do outside work, and was doing it late as well. Wed. night I was getting tired. I drove some fence posts to build some screening with a very heavy hammer, and my arms were tired. Next I was driving some small tacks through vinyl, with the same hammer – I was racing daylight, and I hit everything: tack, vinyl, and finger mash. I screamed out to God for help.
b. Calling out to God in trouble and pain and necessity is one thing. What about for love’s sake?
c. Read v. 16. God satisfies by faith. Read v.19 – call on the Lord. Love is a tricky word today. It can mean a lot of things. But Loving God, the love Amy and I share for each other; this type of love is fervent, selfless, and committed. Read v. 20. Hear the warning: love God, worship God, read 21.

Pray.

Values: beliefs that guide us (1)

Values (1)
The Bible


We’re 3 weeks into our series on the church covenant. We started with our identity – we’re invaluably possessed Saints; last week we examined the identity of the church and there were 5 realities that stood out:
1. A Church must be born again and worship God through Christ, empowered by the Spirit.
2. A church must be based in and bold and clear about the Gospel.
3. A church must have spiritual leaders.
4. A church must have order and growth (not just physical growth but spiritual).
5. A church must live its purpose: worship, nurture (discipleship and fellowship), mission, ministry, evangelism.

This week we will concentrate on the core of what we believe: our values. Our beliefs define us as a church and will open avenues of cooperation with other Christians and clarify our purpose to the world.

Have you ever met a value driven person? Not a bargain shopper but a person who lives by their principles? Most leadership books written today talk about integrity: being a principled driven leader.

Amy and I after what is almost 8 years together in marriage have had to clarify and adjust our values more than once to keep our relationship on the go. Not the main stuff – like our love for each other – but the stuff like: I have the opportunity to be with my family, go preach at this place, or go out with these friends. Which do I do? The doing doesn’t matter – it’s the why I do it that matters.

One verse, 1 Corinthians 10:31, can sum up our core value:
“Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

The glory of God, Christian, should be our first and final value, the reason we do what we do:

If you spend time with family – do so for the glory of God. If you go to church, go for the Glory of God. If you go to a movie, go for the glory of God (not yourself). If you watch a ball game, watch for the glory of God. If you start a ministry, minister for the glory of God. If you go to work, work for the glory of God. Whatever you do, do it for the glory of God.

What is this glory? How do we know about it?

Ultimately, our core value and the values that flow from loving God and His glory, come from the Bible, which is Scripture.

Where did the Bible come from?

The Da Vinci code came out Friday. As a movie it questions all of our values, but it attacks the heart of the Christian faith: the reliability of the Bible. If you want to know more about the problems and lies in the movie and the book, check out Jesusanddavinci.com or get The Da Vinci Code: a quest for answers podcast from itunes.

The Bible is reliable. Let’s say that first off:
1. Historically it has more evidence of authorship than any other book, especially the New Testament.
2. It came about over time, assembled by the Holy Spirit, and in the case of the NT used by the early church. It spans thousands of years, multiple authors, and has one message.
a. Franklin W. Dixon wrote the Hardy Boys, a ghost name used by a variety of authors – but their books aren’t continuous. In one lifetime how could a group collaborate on a book – much less over thousands of years?
b. This sets the bible apart: most other religious books have one author or one editor. Jesus himself did not pen any scripture, though through the Holy Spirit he inspired it all, and is the very word of God.
3. The New Testament was assembled to fight off heresy – kind of the type that Dan Brown proposes in the Da Vinci code, with some differences. There was a movement in the early centuries to deny Jesus’ physical body and resurrection – in other words he was a totally spiritual being. The movement also rejected creation, incarnation, resurrection.
a. The movement – called Gnosticism and another movement called Marcionism, claimed that Jesus could not control the physical, came from the spiritual world as an adult, and was a spirit messenger.
b. The church reacted, especially to Marcion who was single handedly compiling an anti-Semitic new testament that would support his teaching. In response, the church around the world at that time came to agree on the 27 books of the NT. There was no question that the OT would be included – it was seen as entirely Scripture and authoritative, and eyewitness accounts of Jesus Life, the early church, and Paul and other leaders inspired writings. These letters and books were already in use by the church, but compiled as a whole to form the NT. It was understood and proclaimed in the churches at that time that the scripture formed the basis of belief and faith and the church. The church did not form scripture, but the Scripture formed and informed the church. OT Scripture and the 27 books of the NT were understood to be the Word of God.

So what is the Word of God? Let’s look at the Biblical witness:

1. It is exalted & eternal: Psalm 138:2 (NIV)
a. “I will bow down toward your holy temple and will praise your name for your love and faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word.”
b. God connects His name and His word. Ultimately, your name is built on your word. God is faithful, loving, exalted – because of His word, not despite it.
c. God can be fully trusted; His word can be fully trusted. If someone breaks their word, it takes a while to build trust back in that person. God never breaks His word – and conversely His word has never been broken: God never does wrong or is wrong. His word is connected intimately with His character and glory. We know Him by His word: we enter into relationship with Him by the word of the Gospel. We can know God through His word.
d. And He exalted it. God treasures His word. It is a sure sign of the Holy Spirit when you crave the word, to read and treasure it and know it. To memorize it and live it.
i. A couple of us meet periodically to pray and discuss life. Two of the questions we ask: are you memorizing scripture? How is your life witness?
e. Treasure the word of God and let it seep into your soul and nourish you.
f. Eternal: Isaiah 40:8
i. “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.”
ii. There will never be a day that God’s word is irrelevant. It will always stand.
1. All this rain we just had started out good. A soaking rain is the best thing for a plant – it encourages all kinds of chemical reactions in the soil so that the roots can grab the nutrients; let the word soak into your life like that. When I was a kid I took a class at church called Bible drill: I memorized tons of verses, the books of the Bible, certain passages in the Bible. It was tedious, but some of those verses still ring in me today. I remember my teacher – how great that job must have been, she had tons of Scripture in her.
2. That investment will not diminish. It will stand firm, and prove fruitful in your life. The word of God will outlive all life on earth. All the attacks leveled against it will not succeed. All the tricky interpretations offered of it to try to justify lifestyles in light of its plain statements will not diminish it: The Bible prevails.
iii. When you came to Christ – do you remember Scripture speaking to you? What about now? Does it still?
iv. It is living: Heb. 4:12
2. It is inspired and authoritative: (God Breathed) 2 Tim. 3:16, 2 Peter 1:20-21
a. It is from God: it is certain, penetrating, and truthful. It speaks on a whole different level than any other book we read.
b. Jesus’ view of Scripture
i. Centered on Him: Luke 4:14-21
ii. Prophecy fulfilled: Matt. 13:14, 15:7
1. It is true and God is faithful to His promises.
3. It is universal and specific: Col. 4:16
a. Written to a specific church but applied across the lives of many believers. The depths of Scripture are limitless. You may hear one thing in your study, of that same verse someone else will be challenged differently. It speaks to all people everywhere, specifically.
i. The Bible must be a core value because of its universal and individual relevance. It drives and fuels and empowers missions. It energizes and empowers believers to live Godly lives. It calls to people who are searching saying “come and find.” It calls to the hungry: come and eat, to the thirsty: come and drink. Scripture gives purpose to what we do. It calls us to live for the Glory of God.
4. It is Jesus’ and infinite. John 1:1
a. Jesus is the Hope, Center, and Message of the Scripture. He did not write it while he lived on earth. Eyewitnesses did, and this is what they said about him: Read John 1:1, I John 1:1-3.
b. The heresy’s that energized the formation of the NT stated that spiritual and physical are entirely separate. They claimed Jesus was only a spiritual being and not physical at all: his death was a mirage. The Da Vinci Code claims Jesus was physical and not spiritual at all, if you believe the fiction. Yet Jesus was both: fully God (spirit) and man (physical). The word of God became flesh. In our bible, spirit and physical meet. God uses physical words to relate to us. The rising of the sun tells of His power, the stars of His magnificence, the moon of His splendor, the trees of His creativity, but the word reveals Him fully: His heart, His love, His justice, His mercy, His Son.
c. In the Word there is a physical and spiritual collision. That same reality happens in our lives as we let God speak to us through His word. Spiritual power gets lived out in our physical lives. The two are mixed, not separate. Physically you may feel alive, but spiritually you could be dead. Only you know what you think about on your pillow, if you get sleep at all.

Our core values come from our hope: Jesus Christ; His message: The Word of God; and the two cannot be separated.

Pray.

If you are living a Christian life without the Word, you are missing your anchor.

If you have questions about the Word grab someone around you and set up a time to ask them – it will be a profitable discussion.

Identity (2): The Church

Last week we looked at 3 words that give us a good Biblical overview of who we really are:

Invaluable: created in His image/responsibility
Possessed: The Holy Spirit/by God/of a nation
Saints: in the Savior

If you are in Christ, God sees a saint when he looks at you. You may not feel like; you may be able to point to more things wrong in your life than right. But by grace, God sees His son if you are in Him – by faith. Looking at us with God’s eyes should bring encouragement and joy. This is who we are free to be.

What about all of us together? What is this thing called the church? What if there were a gathering every Sunday at Grace Harbor of people who embraced their Sainthood and purpose in life? What would God do with a handful of people who believe all of His word, understand their identity, and commit to His purpose for their lives?

I believe God would alter the face of Providence and the future would never be brighter – for us, for the city, but most importantly for the glory and Name and renown of Christ. I believe this would be a place full of hope and encouragement, praise and gratitude, purpose and excitement, love and worship. That’s what I hope and believe Grace Harbor should be.

If your understanding of church is shaped by experience, it could be wrong. Many of you grew up in churches that seldom talked about the Bible or a saving relationship through Jesus Christ. Or maybe you grew up in a church that talked more about the Church than Jesus, and people became more concerned about their desires than His desires. Or maybe you never went to church, and every time you talked with a Christian they seemed like a barb in your side because they were always telling you what was wrong with you. Our experience can really change the way we see things.

I didn’t grow up in this area, but I am a Red Sox fan. Why? Because when I lived in DE I went to a Baltimore Orioles/NYY game, and sat next to a group of about 200 Yankee fans. They through drinks on other fans, littered the field, and tried to hit the outfielders with various objects. I decided then, because of my experience, I wanted nothing to do with the Yankees – so when I moved here in 1998 it was no problem to see whose fan I would be. Experience can shape our decisions.

But when it comes to the church, it shouldn’t. Jesus only talked about the church twice – once to say, in Matthew 16 that it will be made of people who believe in Him and proclaim He is the Christ; and once in Matthew 18 to say that discipline will occur in it.
If you proclaim Christ you will face persecution. That won’t feel good. If a church has to discipline, and probably most churches do not discipline enough, that won’t feel good. A church, in other words, will not always make you feel good. It is Jesus’ church and based on Him. Jesus and His desires come first. Sometimes the truth hurts, but it is best for us to hear it.
So feelings do not establish or confirm the church. But they are important. Everything should be done in white-hot worship and love: not cold callousness. I heard the story of two famous churches in seminary: 1. Very welcoming, café, made you feel good, weak message. 2. Cold, dark, no one said “hi” no time to meet other people, but one of the best sermons in modern history. Shouldn’t church be both?

We’ll frame our understanding of church Biblically, and also strive to answer the question: What type of church should Grace Harbor be?

Biblically, the church is the local gathering of the called out ones (believers in Jesus), the universal, timeless collection of saints (remember last week), and ultimately the bride of Christ: undefiled and perfect in Him and for Him. These are Biblical truths: we are co-heirs with Christ and also the Bride of Christ. We are believers and called out. We are saved by grace through faith like believers throughout all history. That’s what the church is.

But not all “churches” are. There was a great reformation in Church history – the Protestant reformation – because people felt that “the church” – the Catholic Church at that time, was not truly a biblical church. – and their practices at the time confirm the suspicion.
Just because we assign the word church to somebody or some gathering does not mean that God sees those people as His bride. There can be churches of the world: gatherings of people who do not know Christ. The protestant reformers recognized this and broke away. Here is their definition of a church – this comes from both Martin Luther and John Calvin:

“Wherever the word of God is truly preached, and the ordinances of the church – Baptism and Lord’s Supper – given by Christ are practiced according to Christ, there is a church.”

So, what should you look for in a church, and what type of church should Grace Harbor be:

Read Colossians 1:

1. A Church must be born again and worship God through Christ, empowered by the Spirit. [Col. 1:1-4, 17-23, 29]
a. 1-4: Saints and faithful brethren. The church consists only of believers: those who have proclaimed: Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior.
i. V.20-22. The members of the church have experienced a true life change. We are no longer aliens toward God but toward the World. We are reconciled to God. We enter into relationship with Him through Christ. This is his working. If you are still unbelieving, alienated from God, hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, pray that Christ would save you. The local church has the responsibility of only accepting into membership those who are born again – those who are saints.
ii. They have, as a sign of that believer, become faithful.
b. Faithful, not listless, saints should characterize the church. Our faithfulness is a sign of our love for Christ. Faithfulness is: devotion to Christ – an unwillingness to compromise your belief in Him. Faithfulness is also seen in the depth and regularity of your love for others: do you keep your word, work for the better of others, willingly jump in to help out; or do you expect, demand, and desire? Faithful saints consider Christ first, others second, and selves last. Read 4b – love for all the saints; this is an act of worship empowered by the Spirit – faithfulness is part of His fruit in your life.
c. Christ is head of the church, Savior of the Church, and the way to the Father. A true church makes this clear. He presents you “holy and blameless and beyond reproach” (v. 22). That is why we say we worship God through Christ – though Christ is God. The Trinity is entirely active in the church: the Father receives praise, through the Son, empowered by the Spirit v.29.
2. A church must be based and bold and clear in the Gospel. [Col. 1:23]
a. The church continues in the Gospel. We don’t build from it, we build in it. We continue in it. The Gospel is a starting point, a foundation, but we never leave it. We remain in it. The church must be clear and compelling with the truth: Jesus Christ died for all the sins, all the wrongs, all the hostility, all the evil deeds that anyone would do and you can come to God through faith in Him and belief in His resurrection. The Gospel is clear: Jesus came to give you life: He gave his for yours; because of His power and righteousness death was defeated, He rose from the grave and now sits at the right-hand of the Father. Waiting to return to marry His bride – the church. His life was real, His death was real, His resurrection is real. Believers stake their entire lives on this truth.
b. Must be bold with baptism and observe the Lord’s Supper. (those who receive each are seen to be saved: baptism admits to the church, Lord’s Supper continues fellowship)
c. The bible is honored and preached and authoritative. [Col. 1:25]: Luther: a church is “congregation of saints in which the gospel is rightly taught.”
i. The Bible is the message of God, His voice, His word to us. Honor it, receive it, believe it.
d. John Calvin, the founder of what we know as Calvinistic theology – google it, I won’t explain it here; as always, he goes a step further (Lutherans closer to Catholicism than the churches Calvin founded): the church is “where the Word of God is purely preached and heard”. Not just the preaching, but the receiving is important. Paul was a faithful minister, and the church at Colossae was formed when people received the message.
i. Be faithful to receive the Bible message, Christian. Let God speak to your life through His word, and make changes in you mind, your lifestyle, your attitudes so that you are in agreement with the Lord.
3. A church must have Spiritual leaders [1:25]
a. Paul was a minister with a job. Spiritual leaders also have a purpose.
b. Elders/pastor and deacons
c. Gifting of the Holy Spirit
4. A church must have order and growth [1:28]
a. Order: teaching/admonishing involves corrective behavior. We all need to change something in our lives; the church is place where we can enjoy seeing God work in each other and ourselves as we make those changes. It is also a gathering that desires to please God through Christ. We are orderly: we do not run our own way but His way.
b. Preaching for Godliness and salvation (purity). Spreading the Good News is purposeful to present people complete, perfect, in Christ. That is a main activity of the church and believers: spread the word about Jesus!
c. Spiritual growth [Col. 1:9-12]
i. Evidenced by: your walk (your daily life)
ii. Good work that bears good fruit – are you regular in doing good works?
iii. A desire to please the Lord
iv. Perseverance, patience, gratitude, and praise!
d. Evangelistic growth (sign of spiritual maturity in faithfully sharing the Gospel). [Col. 1:6]
5. A church must live it’s Purpose: [1:28-29]
a. Worship (#1) proclaim Him
b. Nurture: strengthen believers: teach/admonish
i. Empowered/gifted by Holy Spirit – we need to know how He has gifted us.
c. Missions: every man, Matt. 28
d. Evangelism (every man)
e. Ministry: opening the doors to share the good news. Jesus said: Love your neighbor. The church of the Bible is characterized by love and service.
i. All empowered by Him: his power which mightily works within me.
Read Col. 1 NLT: Worship, Encourage, Serve, Evangelize, Go, work – but rest in His power.