1 John 4:7-21

1 John 4:7-21

July 30, 2006

The Second Great End: Love

As Sally and I are packing and preparing for our move in August, I have been – as I told you last week — praying and thinking a lot about what messages God would have me bring to you these last few weeks we have together – and I have been struck – as I told you last week — with the feeling that God would have us to look at what it means to be a Church – what the Church is to be about – what the Church is to be doing.

Last week we began doing this by looking at the first of one of the first statements in our denomination’s Book Of Order – which has become known as “The Six Great Ends Of The Church”.

Listen to what the Book Of Order says:

The great ends of the church are the proclamation of the gospel for the salvation of humankind; the shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the children of God; the maintenance of divine worship; the preservation of the truth; the promotion of social righteousness; and the exhibition of the Kingdom of Heaven to the world. (G-1.0200)

These are great words! They also give us a vision for what it means to be the Church — what the Church is to be about – what the Church is to be doing.

You see – the Church is not about the building – it’d not about the Minister – it’s about God – it’s about Christ – it’s about people who are trying to fulfill these “Great Ends” the Book Of Order lay out for us. If Wentworth Presbyterian Church is going to be the Church God wills for it to be, then it will have to be a Church that is committed to living out these “Great Ends”.

Listen to them again:

The great ends of the church are the proclamation of the gospel for the salvation of humankind; the shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the children of God; the maintenance of divine worship; the preservation of the truth; the promotion of social righteousness; and the exhibition of the Kingdom of Heaven to the world. (G-1.0200)

6 “Great Ends”.

6 things that help define for us what it means to be the Church — what the Church is to be about – what the Church is to be doing.

1. the proclamation of the gospel for the salvation of humankind

2. the shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the children of God

3. the maintenance of divine worship

4. the preservation of the truth

5. the promotion of social righteousness

6. the exhibition of the Kingdom of Heaven to the world

Last week we looked at the first of these Great Ends — the proclamation of the gospel for the salvation of humankind – and saw that – if Wentworth Presbyterian is going to be the Church God is calling it to be – then you are going to have to be committed to the proclamation of the gospel for the salvation of humankind – or evangelism. Whether or not Wentworth Presbyterian is the Church God intends for Wentworth Presbyterian to be depends – first on foremost – on your commitment to this first Great End of the Church — the proclamation of the gospel for the salvation of humankind.

But there is more. The second Great End of the Church – the second thing necessary for Wentworth Presbyterian to be the Church God intends for Wentworth Presbyterian to be – is

the shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the children of God

the shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the children of God

I believe that this is summed up in one 4 letter word –

LOVE

The love God has for each of us

The love God calls upon us to share with each other

The love God calls us to share with the community and the world

the shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the children of God

LOVE

Listen to how John described this love in 1 John 4:7-21

(READ SCRIPTURE)

the shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the children of God

LOVE

The love God has for each of us

The love God calls upon us to share with each other

The love God calls us to share with the community and the world

That’s what this second Great End of the Church:

the shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the children of God

is all about.

It’s about love.

What do you think is the primary difference between Christianity and other religions?

The primary difference between Christianity and other religions can be described in – I believe — one word: LOVE.

Think about it—what other world religion places the same emphasis on loving others as Christianity?

Jesus — the founder of Christianity – said:

“By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:35

Everything we do in the Christian life is to be motivated by love—love for God, love for others, even love for ourselves. Jesus was asked once what is the greatest commandment in the Law, and he answered:

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:37-40)

The uniqueness of Christianity is seen especially in the teachings of Jesus toward loving our enemies. In his most famous sermon, Jesus said:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:43-45)

Love.

The love God shares with us.

The love God calls upon us to share with each other

The love God calls us to share with the community and the world

That’s what this second Great End of the Church:

the shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the children of God

is all about.

It’s about love.

If Wentworth Presbyterian is going to be the Church God intends for Wentworth Presbyterian to be, it is going to have to be a Church committed to the shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the children of God – a Church committed to love.

Love is what makes Christianity unique—and it’s the one thing that everyone knows we are supposed to do. Take any non-Christian off the street—a person who has never been to church in his entire life—and the one thing he could probably tell you about Christianity is that Christians are supposed to love others.

The world knows we’re supposed to do it, and we know it we’re supposed to do it, but it’s not always easy to do, is it?

In fact – being really committed to the shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the children of God – being really committed to love – is very difficult for us.

I think the fact that it is difficult to love is the reason why we allow ourselves to become side-tracked with secondary issues within the Christian sub-culture. We argue about modes of baptism or the authorship of Isaiah, we nit-pick about styles of worship. I think many times we do this because it is a lot easier to debate than it is to love.

And yet the second Great End of the Church remains

the shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the children of God

It remains love.

I read of a young pastor who asked a more experienced pastor:

“What are the requirements to be a successful pastor?”

The response was: “You have to be an entrepreneur. You have to be organized and efficient, able to manage your time well, and able to see projects through to completion.” The young pastor did not realize this more experienced pastor was on an ego – trip and was basically describing himself.

A few days later this same young pastor asked another pastor—one who was approaching retirement—the same question.

Without hesitation, the older, wiser pastor answered, “You have to love your people.”

The young pastor said, “What about being organized and efficient? What about being a self-starter?”

The older, wiser pastor said, “A person with good organizational skills will have a large congregation—and you should develop those skills as much as you can. But a pastor who loves people will make a difference in their lives for all eternity.”

The Second Great End of the Church is the shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the children of God

It is love.

If Wentworth Presbyterian is going to be the Church God intends for Wentworth Presbyterian to be, it is going to have to be a Church committed to the shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the children of God – a Church committed to love.

The advice the older, wiser pastor to love his congregation does not just apply to pastors. It applies to all Christians everywhere.

Do you want to make a difference in the world? You do it by loving others.

Do you want the Wentworth Presbyterian Church to make a difference in the world? You have to do it by loving others.

Now — some of you may be thinking –

There’s only one problem. I’m not a loving person. I don’t even like most people…how can I love them?

That’s a good question.

How do you become a more loving person?

First of all – you need to remember that love is primarily an action, not a feeling. It’s something you do. The emphasis in our society is on how love makes you feel—when you’re in love you feel good. There’s no question that there is some truth to that. It does feel good to be in a loving relationship with your friends, your family, your spouse, and so on. But there’s more to it than that. Our goal is not just to feel love; our goal is to show love to the people in our lives—our friends, our neighbors, our family members, our spouse, and even our enemies.

If this Church is going to be committed to being the Church God would have it to be – you are going to have to be committed to the Second Great End of the Church:

the shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the children of God

You are going to have to be committed to love.

There are three things for us to focus on as we strive to be more loving people – a Church committed to love.

First of all, in order to love others, we must know what love is.

You’ve got to understand God’s love. In 1 John 4 John talks about what it means to love. He makes it plain that the real proof of love is not in what we do for God, or what we do for others, the real proof of love is in what God has done for us.

These verses help us to understand what love really is.

First, we see that love will sacrifice to make things right.

Look at verse 10…

(v. 10) This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

First and foremost, love involves sacrifice.

This is the heart of the gospel: We were separated from God by our sins, and we were completely unable to save ourselves. So God sent his son into the world to atone for our sins—to DIE for our sins—so that we can be forgiven…so that we can be right with God. That’s how great His love is for us—He was willing to make such a sacrifice in order to restore our relationship with Him.

This is what we must do for others.

If you want this Church to be the Church God intends for it to be, each of you must be committed to love — and that means being willing to sacrifice in order to make things right.

Sometimes husbands must sacrifice in order to make things right in their marriage;

Sometimes wives must do that –

Sometimes fathers must sacrifice in order to make things right with their family

Sometimes mothers must –

Sometimes friends must sacrifice in order to make things right in the friendship.

Now – I feel I need to explain the “to make things right” clause. Love involves sacrifice, but it’s not sacrifice merely for the sake of sacrifice. It’s not sacrifice because the other person is everything and you’re nothing and what they want matters and what you want doesn’t. It’s not about playing the martyr. Love involves sacrifice, but it’s sacrifice for the good of the relationship; it’s sacrifice in order to make things right. Love involves sacrifice.

If you want the Wentworth Presbyterian to be the Church God intends for Wentworth Presbyterian to be, you have to be committed to the shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the children of God. You are going to have to be committed to love.

To be committed to love, you have to be prepared to sacrifice for the benefit of others.

The second thing to know about love is — Love empowers others to do what’s right.

Look at verse 9…

(v. 9) This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.

That we might live through Him.

Did you catch that?

That we might live through Him.

God’s love is demonstrated to us in the fact that He sent his son so that we might have life. His love is for our benefit. It strengthens us. It empowers us.

To the extent that we are able, this is what our love should do for others. We should love people in a way that builds them up, in a way that empowers them, in a way that gives them life. Just like God’s love for us gives us the strength to live, our love for others can — in a different way, of course — inspire and empower others to live holy lives.

So — if you want the Wentworth Presbyterian to be the Church God intends for Wentworth Presbyterian to be, you have to be committed to the shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the children of God. You are going to have to be committed to love.

As we have seen – this involves sacrifice.

It also empowers others to do what’s right.

Thirdly — love replaces fear with security.

Listen to what John wrote…

(v. 17-18) In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

John is saying that our relationship with God is a relationship of love, not a relationship of fear.

Now, you are probably familiar with the verse that says,

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge…(Proverbs 1:7)

In several other places the Bible says that we are to fear God.

Why, then, does John say that our relationship with him is not about fear?

It’s really 2 very different types of fear.

One type of fear is holy respect. That’s what the author of Proverbs was referring to. This is the way in which we should fear God.

The other type of fear is more like terror. The “holy respect” kind of fear is based on an understanding of God’s goodness. The “terror” type of fear is based on a misunderstanding of God’s nature completely.

Someone once shared with me that they once had a boss once who had an explosive temper. You never knew what would set him off—but when something made him mad he would launch into a tirade that seemed to last forever. He might fire you, he might cut your salary, he might demote you—you never knew. As a result, all of his employees were insecure about their jobs — and they were always looking for something better.

Let’s not make the mistake of thinking that God is like that—that he is a “fly-off-the-handle” kind of God. God is loving, He is merciful, He is tender and compassionate. Our relationship to Him is not based on fear, it’s based on love. Because of that, we have security in Him. Our security is not based on our own goodness, but on His goodness.

This is the kind of love we need to show to others—the kind of love that says, “My love isn’t conditional; it’s not temporary; it’s not here today and gone tomorrow. You can count on me.”

If you want the Wentworth Presbyterian to be the Church God intends for Wentworth Presbyterian to be, you have to be committed to the shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the children of God. You are going to have to be committed to love.

In order to be filled with God’s love we have to know what love is—what it looks like. The love that God has given to us—and the love that we are to show the world—is a love that is willing to sacrifice, a love that empowers people to do right, and a love that offers the security of permanence.

In order to be filled with God’s love we must experience God’s love firsthand.

To give God’s love you must first receive God’s love. Listen to what John said…

(v. 7) Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.

Notice the phrase “has been”…

(v. 7) Everyone who loves has been born of God…

It’s a simple fact, if you’ve experienced God’s love first hand, you can share God’s love with others. If you’ve never received God’s love, you simply don’t have it in you to love others. Listen again to what John wrote…

(v. 19) We love because He first loved us.

That’s where our ability to love comes from—His love for us. The only way that we can live in His love is to experience His love firsthand. And there’s only one way to experience His love—through the free gift of His grace. God’s love is something you will never, ever, ever, ever, ever earn or deserve. It is available in one format: as a free gift—never as a payback for your goodness, never as a reward for your hard work, but only as a gift. As Paul said…

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

So you need to understand: God loves you so much that he sacrificed His son in order to make things right, in order to offer you forgiveness of sins. God loves you so much that he sent His son into the world so that you might have the power to live through him. God loves you so much that He has removed all fear of judgment and condemnation, and He has given you the kind of love that casts out all fear.

As Paul said…

Therefore there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus…(Romans 8:1)

So — If you want the Wentworth Presbyterian to be the Church God intends for Wentworth Presbyterian to be, you have to be committed to the shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the children of God. You are going to have to be committed to love.

And — in order to be filled with God’s love, you need to understand it, you need to receive it, and thirdly you must show God’s love to others.

Look at verse 12…

(v. 12) No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

His love is made complete in us when we show His love to others. The more we show His love, the more we grow in His love.

So how do we show His love? We show it the same he showed it to us:

• We sacrifice in order to make things right with others.

• We do what we can to empower others to live right.

• We build relationships with others not based on fear but based on security.

I know a father who told his family—not his wife, but his entire family—that the marriage was on the verge of divorce and he was considering leaving home. He gave them a list of demands and told them if they didn’t shape up, he would ship out. It’s bad enough to say such a thing to your wife; can you imagine saying it to your children? Can you imagine the kind of insecurity they experienced? And yet, this man said to me, “I love my children, but I have to teach them responsibility.” Can you imagine where we would be if this was how God showed God showed his love to us?

God sacrificed His son so that we could be reconciled to Him. In the same way, there will be times when you must sacrifice in order to be reconciled to others.

When God saw that we were lost and alone and dying without him, He sent his Son into the world so that we would have the power to live through Him. In the same way, we need to love others in such a way that we empower them to live—we need to be their source of strength, their source of encouragement, their source of hope.

And God loved us so much that He wiped away our sins, wiped away our fear of judgment, wiped away our fear of abandonment, and he made a promise…

Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you. (Hebrews 13:5)

God has taken away the insecurity of fear and has filled it with the security of His love. And that’s the kind of love we need to show others, a love that says: “My love for you isn’t based on a whim. It’s rock-solid and you can count on it forever.”

Do you want the Wentworth Presbyterian Church to be the Church God intends for the Wentworth Presbyterian Church to be?

Well – you are going to have to be committed to the proclamation of the gospel for the salvation of humankind – and the shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the children of God.

You are going to have to be committed to evangelism – and love.

Do you want to be committed to the shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the children of God?

Do you want to be filled with God’s love?

You’ve got to know God’s love, you’ve got to experience God’s love, and you’ve got to show God’s love.

As John writes:

(v. 16) Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us.

The second Great End of the Church – the second thing necessary for Wentworth Presbyterian to be the Church God intends for Wentworth Presbyterian to be – is

the shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the children of God

I believe that this is summed up in one 4 letter word –

LOVE

The love God has for each of us

The love God calls upon us to share with each other

The love God calls us to share with the community and the world

That is the second Great End.

Amen

Matthew 28:16-22

Matthew 28:16-20

The First Great End: Proclaim The Gospel

July 23 2006

As Sally and I have been preparing for our move in August, I have been praying and thinking a lot about what messages God would have me bring to you these last few weeks we have together – and I have been struck with the feeling that God would have us to look at what it means to be a Church – what the Church is to be about – what the Church is to be doing.

To do this, I want to look at one of the first statements in our denomination’s Book Of Order – which has become known as “The Six Great Ends Of The Church”.  Listen to what the Book Of Order says:

The great ends of the church are the proclamation of the gospel for the salvation of humankind; the shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the children of God; the maintenance of divine worship; the preservation of the truth; the promotion of social righteousness; and the exhibition of the Kingdom of Heaven to the world. (G-1.0200) 

 

These are great words!  They also give us a vision for what it means to be the Church — what the Church is to be about – what the Church is to be doing. 

You see – the Church is not about the building – it’d not about the Minister  – it’s about God – it’s about Christ – it’s about people who are trying to fulfill these “Great Ends” the Book Of Order lay out for us. If Wentworth Presbyterian Church is going to be the Church God wills for it to be, then it will have to be a Church that is committed to living out these “Great Ends”.

Listen to them again:

The great ends of the church are the proclamation of the gospel for the salvation of humankind; the shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the children of God; the maintenance of divine worship; the preservation of the truth; the promotion of social righteousness; and the exhibition of the Kingdom of Heaven to the world. (G-1.0200)

6 “Great Ends”. 

6 things that help define  for us what it means to be the Church — what the Church is to be about – what the Church is to be doing.

Since it just so happens that we have 6 weeks before Sally and I move – we have just the time we need to look at these “Great Ends” – and see what the Presbyterian Church here in Wentworth needs to do to be the Church God calls it to be!  

1.      the proclamation of the gospel for the salvation of humankind

2.      the shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the children of God

3.      the maintenance of divine worship

4.      the preservation of the truth

5.      the promotion of social righteousness

6.      the exhibition of the Kingdom of Heaven to the world

The first of these “Great Ends” is   the proclamation of the gospel for the salvation of humankind.

Listen to how Jesus commands us to do this:

READ  Matthew 28:16-20

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations” Jesus says – “baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.”

This is what it means to proclaim the gospel. 

It means that those who know about Jesus – those who have been saved by God’s great love for us in Jesus Christ – need to commit themselves to telling those who do not know about Jesus – or do not live as God calls us to live – about God’s great live.

Those who know telling those who don’t know.

Some call this Evangelism.

I believe it should be the first task – the first “Great End” of the Church.

I read this week about an abbot of a monastery who called a novice into his office and instructed him to give the homily at the next morning’s chapel.

Well, the novice was struck with fear – but the abbot insisted.

So the next morning at chapel he stood in the pulpit with his hands trembling — his knees knocking – and his voice was quivering. There was a long pause before he first spoke – and then he asked a question:

“Do you know what I’m going to say?” They had no idea, so all of their heads shook “no” almost in unison, as if it were choreographed. The novice said, “Neither do I. Let’s stand for the benediction.”

Well, the abbot did not appreciate this. He called the young novice into his office and said, “You must do this. It’s for your own good. Tomorrow is your day again. Be prepared, and this time do it right.”

The next day was almost an exact repeat of the day before. All the brothers sat there before him. His hands shook — his knees knocked – and his voice trembled. After a long pause he again asked:  “Do you know what I’m going to say?”

Well, after the previous day’s experience, they had a pretty good idea. All of their heads went up and down – “Yes” – they thought they knew what he was going to say.

“Then there’s no need for me to tell you” the novice said. “Let’s stand for the benediction.”

The abbot was now very angry. He brought the young novice into his office and said, “If you do that again, you are going to be in solitary confinement, bread and water for thirty days and any other punishment that I can think of. Tomorrow morning give the homily; do it right.”

Well, the third day, all the monks were there to hear what he would say, and it was, again, almost an exact repeat. He stood, trembled, voice quivered; and after the long silence, he asked, “Do you know what I’m going to say?”

After three days of this, about half of them had a pretty good idea and they nodded their heads up and down. Yes, we know. But the other half noticed the switch from day to day, and they really weren’t sure what was going to happen; and so they shook their heads back and forth. No, we don’t.

The novice observed this, then said, “Let those who know tell those who don’t. Let us stand for the benediction.”

Friends – that is a simple definition of evangelism. It’s a simple definition of this first “Great End” of the Church – the proclamation of the gospel for the salvation of humankind. 

It’s a simple definition of evangelism: Those who know telling those who don’t.

Those who know telling those who don’t.

A simple definition, but an inadequate one.

A more fully Biblical definition of evangelism –- of the proclamation of the gospel for the salvation of humankind — is making more disciples for Jesus Christ.

The word “evangelism” is actually almost a transliteration from Greek. The Greek word was euangelion, but the pronunciation has become blurred when brought into English.

The prefix eu means “good.”

We’ve brought that over into English as well. We go to a funeral and you hear a “eulogy”, which is two Greek words—the words for good and word. It is a good word about the person who has died. Or we speak of a “euphemism” as sort of a good way of saying something about something that maybe isn’t very good.

The rest of the word euangelion – the  angelion part –  we’ve also brought over into English because we speak about “angels” as messengers. The Greek word is the word for “message.” So euangelion — or “evangelism” — is the good message or the Gospel, the good news about Jesus Christ.

Now, interestingly, the word “evangelism” is never used in the New Testament, at least not as people use it today. To many people, evangelism means telling about Jesus and that’s all it means — but that was never all it meant in the Bible. That is only the beginning of evangelism.

Let’s think about it this way – suppose you walk out of Church this morning and there was a stranger standing outside who said to you, “How do I get to Eden?” and you respond: “Well, get in your car.” That might be good advice – but it is inadequate. You also need to tell them which direction to go – where to turn – etc.   

Thus – the beginning of evangelism is the information about Jesus Christ, how to get into Him and to Him; but there is much more. Evangelism also needs to be persuading a person to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.

The beginning of the first “Great End” of the Church – the proclamation of the gospel for the salvation of humankind — is the information about Jesus Christ, how to get into Him and to Him; but there is much more.  The proclamation of the gospel for the salvation of humankind also needs to be persuading a person to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.

Jesus defined it for us in Matthew 24:18-20: 

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations — baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.”

So, a disciple is someone who has been taught to obey all that Christ commands. Now – it’s important to realize that a disciple isn’t someone who does all that Christ commands, because it may take a lifetime to learn all the things that He’s going to command us and no one will ever perfectly do God’s will – but a disciple is someone who has made the commitment: “Whatever Jesus says I promise in advance that I will try to do.”

Evangelism.

The proclamation of the gospel for the salvation of humankind

This means convincing someone to be the kind of a follower of Jesus Christ who will try to do all that Jesus tells us to do.

Being an Evangelist is something like being a salesperson. A salesperson is not only the one who shows the product, but the one who closes the sale – who gets the signature on the contract — the down payment – and makes sure that the delivery is made. An evangelist is a person who talks about Jesus and the Good News of Jesus Christ — but also closes the sale, persuades the person to take delivery of Jesus Christ into their life, who makes a commitment to obey Jesus Christ as Lord.

There are some who have made a distinction between evangelism and discipleship, and it’s helpful to distinguish between them at times. It’s sort of like the difference between obstetrics and pediatrics, or birthing a child and raising a child. But the distinction is really not a biblical one. It’s a human way of thinking. In God’s way of describing it, it’s all connected together.

To truly “proclaim the gospel for the salvation of humankind” we have to be committed to telling the Good News of what God has done for us in Jesus Christ – and committed to helping others become followers of Christ.

What does it mean to be the Church God calls us to be?

First – it means being committed to the proclamation of the gospel for the salvation of humankind

Committed to evangelism.

In other words, the reason that the Wentworth Presbyterian exists should be to persuade more people to be disciples of Jesus Christ — committed to Him, believing in Him, agreeing to try to do whatever He asks.

We don’t do it for ourselves. We don’t do it for the church, and we don’t do it for the people. We do it for Jesus Christ. And so, if Wentworth Presbyterian makes more disciples for Jesus Christ, then you have fulfilled your purpose and reason for being; if you don’t, then you haven’t.

There are many countries around the world where it’s okay to be a Christian, but you can’t be about the work of evangelism – persuading someone else to become a Christian. In fact, in some countries it’s against the law.

I read some time ago about two men from the Republic of the Philippines who were in a Middle Eastern nation, in a private home, and they were persuading people to become Christians. The religious police arrived, raided the house, and arrested them. They were convicted and sentenced to death. So there are countries which say, “Sure, we have religious freedom to be whatever you want to be, but you cannot evangelize. You cannot persuade someone else.”

In the People’s Republic of China, the largest nation in the world – - a billion people strong – there is a church that is sanctioned by the government where Christians are allowed to worship. It is called the T-Self Church. It’s in a beautiful old building, built around the turn of the last century. They have beautiful worship and good fellowship.  This is the only place the government allows Christians to worship and there are over 50 million Christians in China — so you would think that there would be many people worshipping at this Church. But this is not the case. You see — the government does not allow them to evangelize. The government tells them – in effect — “You can do your thing as long as your thing doesn’t include persuading somebody else.” About 50 million Christians in the People’s Republic of China have chosen not to be part of the T-Self Church, and they meet in house churches, against government orders, because they’re convinced you can’t be a Christian unless you evangelize. They say that the two go together; and if you don’t evangelize, you’re not a Christian. They would say that those who are in the T-Self church are really not Christians, as far as the New Testament definition is concerned.

But — evangelism really makes no sense at all to many Christians. Many have the feeling:

“You believe what you believe; I believe what I believe. We’re all okay. Let’s just leave each other alone. It’s a private thing. You don’t mess with somebody else’s religion.” 

But – if we are going to be the people God calls us to be – if we are going to be the Church God wills for us to be – if the Wentworth Presbyterian Church is going to be the Church God wills for the Wentworth Presbyterian Church to be – then you are going to have to value evangelism – telling others about Jesus and making disciples for Jesus – committed to

The proclamation of the gospel for the salvation of humankind. 

You can be like the T-Self Church in China – have good services in a beautiful, old, historic building – but not reaching out into the community to proclaim the gospel for the salvation of humankind – and not really being the Church God calls you to be – and not grow – - or you can be a Church that is committed to evangelism – committed to proclaiming the gospel for the salvation of humankind – committed to what God wills for this Church to be doing.

To truly be a Christian is to truly value evangelism – to truly value the proclamation of the gospel for the salvation of humankind

There are a lot of reasons for this – but let’s look at several of them. 

The first reason we need to truly value evangelism — the first reason we need to truly value the proclamation of the gospel for the salvation of humankind – is because God truly values it.

A Christian is someone who adopts God’s values. As Christian individuals – as a Church – we are to adopt the values of God – and God has set a high value on evangelism. He gave His Son’s life for this good news. He has ordered us to make disciples. So, you can’t read the Bible and come to any other conclusion but that this is a big deal to God, that God counts evangelism to be really important. And what is important to God is important to somebody who’s a Christian. What is important to God is important to the Church.  If for no other reason, we would say we value evangelism – we value the proclamation of the gospel for the salvation of humankind — because God values it.

But there are other reasons.

Another reason we value evangelism – another reason we value the proclamation of the gospel for the salvation of human kind – is because we’ve been evangelized — we have had the gospel proclaimed to us. Somewhere, from someone, we heard about Jesus Christ. We discovered for ourselves that receiving Jesus Christ changes life!  Out of that experience, we want to persuade others.

Marketing — or advertising – are good things, but are ultimately not as powerful in persuading people to try a product as those who are already “sold” on the product telling others about it.

Here is an example:

Some years ago my Dad – at that point a retired lawyer – asked me: “Have you read John Grisham’s new book?” I said, “I’ve never heard of John Grisham.” “Well, you ought to read his book called The Firm.” I had never heard of it. I had never seen it reviewed. So I went out and bought it to keep Dad happy; at least I could tell him I bought it. I started to read it, and I read it straight through.  I then read another of his novels — A Time To Kill.  I then read any book by John Grisham I could get my hands on – and have just finished The Testament. John Grisham has written many books – and at one time the paperback best seller in the United States was by John Grisham, — as well as the hardcover best seller.  That has never happened before in history, and it’s not because of advertising, not because of the publisher’s clever marketing plan, but because somebody liked the book. I guess a lot of people liked the book and told other people, until millions of these books have been sold. I know I fell in love with John Grisham’s books because Dad loved them – and told me about them.

As, Christians, we are to be people who like Jesus. People who have experienced Him, and then tell somebody else about it. It doesn’t take a newspaper ad. It doesn’t take a review in a magazine. Evangelism is people who like Jesus and have experienced him telling other people — until it has spread to thousands and millions and tens of millions and hundreds of million and more.

I suppose we should add a third reason for valuing evangelism – a third reason we value the proclamation of the gospel for the salvation of humankind – and that is that, as Christians, we value other people. We don’t want them to be ignorant of God. We don’t want them to be isolated from God.  We don’t want them to be lost.

Maybe you’ve seen T – Shirt that says: “Friends don’t let friends go to hell.” You may not want to wear that to work tomorrow morning, but you get the idea. When you care about other people, you value evangelism. You value proclaiming the gospel for the salvation of humankind. You value their knowing about Jesus Christ.

So – if this Church is going to be the Church God wants it to be, the first thing you are going to have to commit yourself to is evangelism – proclaiming the gospel for the salvation of humankind

Let me give you a few suggestions on how to do this.  

One is to pray.

Just pick three people whom you think are not Christians and pray for them every day. Pray that they become Christians, but also pray for their families, for their jobs, for finance and health and cars and house and apartment or whatever the issues of their lives may be. Pray for them for a year.

There was a fascinating study based in Los Angeles County during the Olympics, where thousands of people committed to praying for others within Los Angeles County. They never dreamed that one of the correlations made was that, during that period, there was a drop in the crime rate in Los Angeles County—by more than 50 percent! Out of that has come a group in Grand Rapids, Michigan, that is doing this rather sophisticated correlation. They recruit people in counties all over the United States, and those people sign on to pray for three people for a period who live in their county. They ask that it be somebody else in the county, so that they can follow up a statistical correlation between the number of people who are praying and evaluating the crime rate within that particular county.

What if the members of Wentworth Presbyterian were each to decide privately to pray for three other people in our county? That’s something we could all do.

There are lots of other examples. We can find them all over the place if we’re looking for them, and we can plan ahead, think it through and say, Here is a way that I could connect with somebody else in beginning the process of evangelism, of persuading them to become disciples of Jesus Christ.

It’s looking for as many ideas and opportunities as possible for evangelism to be valued and for evangelism to be practiced, each of us in our own lives but all of us connected together as the church of Jesus Christ. So let us be truly Christian in the way we value evangelism, but also in the way we do evangelism.

That is what you will need to do if this Church is going to be the Church God calls you to be.

The great ends of the church are the proclamation of the gospel for the salvation of humankind; the shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the children of God; the maintenance of divine worship; the preservation of the truth; the promotion of social righteousness; and the exhibition of the Kingdom of Heaven to the world. (G-1.0200)

The first Great End is to proclaim the Gospel.

Amen.

 

 

 

 

Mark 6:14-29

Kings And Pawns

Mark 6:14-29

July 16, 2006

If you play the game of chess, you are familiar with the pieces on the board – from the lowly pawn to the all – important king.

If one of your pawns get “captured” – it’s not that big a deal. But if your king gets captured – the game is over. Pawns have little power – are usually used to set up other pieces or sacrificed to help clear the way for the other, more important pieces – like the rook, knight, bishop, or queen. Kings, however, while their movement is somewhat limited when compared to the other pieces – are the one piece you want to protect at all cost.

That’s the way it is in life, also – isn’t it?

People will strive to be a king – but nobody wants to be a pawn. The truth, however, is that even kings can end up being pawns – and we have to be careful that we live our lives following and serving the real King – God – instead of being someone else’s pawn.

Do you serve the real King — God — – or are you someone else’s pawn?

In the sixth chapter of Mark there is a fascinating story about the household of King Herod. Herod was the king of Galilee, and his family life was a text-book example of dysfunctional relationships. Herod married his brother’s wife, who also happened to be his niece. Her name was Herodias. She didn’t bother to divorce Herod’s brother when she married Herod, but she told Herod he must divorce his wife before she would marry him. She did this because she wanted to be the sole recipient of the power and influence of being married to a King. Herod was so smitten with his niece that he agreed to arrangement. The King acted more like a pawn – moved and manipulated by the wiles of Herodias.

John the Baptist, on the other hand, was no person’s pawn – but listened to and proclaimed the word of the real King – that being God – and stood up to the earthly King Herod – telling him he had no business marrying his brother’s wife. This angered Herodias, who was surrounded by people who were her pawns and always got her way – so eventually John the Baptist was put in prison. He’s in prison when this story takes place. Now — even though the King who acted more like a pawn — Herod — had imprisoned John, the Bible says that he feared John because he knew him to be a righteous man. Herod was a pawn of many people – and lived in fear.

Today’s story takes place at Herod’s birthday party. High officials, military commanders, and the leading men of Galilee were present. It was undoubtedly a rather raucous event. During the party, Herod’s step-daughter—the daughter of Herodias—was called in to dance. The Bible is discreet about the nature of this dance; it merely says, “She pleased Herod and his dinner guests.” From what we know about Herod, and what we know about Roman celebratory customs, we can assume the dance was suggestive, if not vulgar. Well — Herod was an impulsive man. He was enraptured with the dance—and probably also inebriated. He offered to Herodias’s daughter anything she wanted, up to half of his kingdom. She must have been surprised by the offer. She asked her mother what she should request. It was then that Herodias decided to get rid of John. She said to her daughter, “Ask for the head of John the Baptist.” Even though Herod didn’t want to do it, he felt bound by the oath he made in front of guests and sent the executioner to John’s cell. The King was nothing but a pawn in the hands of Herodias and her daughter – and probably many others.

There are many tragedies in this story.

One, obviously, is that a man of God was senselessly murdered.

A second tragedy is that the king of an empire was merely a pawn – and could be so driven by greed, pride, lust, and ego that he would take the life of an innocent man.

A third tragedy is that a mother would use her daughter in such a vulgar act of revenge.

Yet another tragedy is that a young girl would allow herself to be the pawn of those who do not have her best interests at heart.

The brutal fact of the world is that if you have anything at all going for you, you will experience what Herodias’ daughter experienced. If you have anything to offer someone will come along who will try to use what you have for their own selfish purposes.

You have to decide – are you going to be a pawn of someone else – or are you going to serve the true King – God – and use your gifts and talents for His kingdom.

Unfortunately for Herodias’ daughter, she didn’t know how to prevent herself from being used. As a result she became a pawn of her stepfather, of her mother, and even of the devil!

Let’s look at how she was used by others — and maybe learn some ways to prevent the same thing from happening to us.

Mark does not give her a name. Other Gospels give her the name Salome. I think it is significant that we do not know this girl’s name in Mark’s story. As far as the principles in this story are concerned, who she didn’t matter. All that mattered was what she could do for them. Because of the social customs of the day, this young girl may have believed that she didn’t have any other choice but to do what she did….I don’t know. But YOU have a choice. You don’t have to allow yourself to be used by those around you. You don’t have to be a pawn in the hands of others – but you can serve the true King – you can serve God.

I see three things we all need to remember to avoid becoming someone else’s pawn.

First – remember that you are not an object.

Herod was having a feast and he invited his step-daughter in to dance. It was a stag party, and Herod’s step-daughter was their entertainment. She was an object—her purpose was to gratify a room full of drunks. More than likely, this is how she gauged her value as a person—by her ability to invoke a certain response from men. The society in which we live today places this kind of pressure on women. It’s ironic that, in spite of all the rhetoric of the feminist movement, women are objectified by Hollywood, Madison Avenue, and music videos more than ever before.

People become pawns when they allow their self-esteem to be wrapped up in someone else’s opinion of them. It doesn’t just happen on a physical level, and it doesn’t just happen to women. Most likely anyone with a job has been treated as a pawn at one time or another. Men and women who have their entire self-worth wrapped up in their career often allow themselves to be taken advantage of.

I read of a college football player who wanted to be drafted by an NFL team. He didn’t make it. Looking back on it, he said that he couldn’t believe the way prospective players were treated. “As far as the representatives from the NFL were concerned, we weren’t humans, we were machines…money making machines.” This is more than a case of “sour grapes.” This athlete’s main problem, he admitted, was that his entire self-worth was wrapped up in his athletic abilities, and he was extremely vulnerable to becoming the pawn of others — even if it meant taking steroids, selling out his school, or compromising his convictions.

I read of someone else who worked for a rather manipulative boss. The boss was extremely hard to get along with, and tended to treat people like his personal stepping stones to success. Those who worked for him didn’t like the way they were treated, but most of them felt trapped, so they put up with it. But this particular worker had a sense of who he was. He established boundaries, and when the boss tried to push him around, he stood his ground. When the boss threatened to fire him if he did not do things that were illegal and immoral, he turned in his resignation. He told one of his co workers on his last day: “I will give 100% for my employer, but I will not be treated like dirt and I will not do what I know is wrong.” When he resigned, the other workers couldn’t help but admire his strength.

He knew how not to be a pawn – but how to serve the real King – God.

If you don’t want to go through life being a pawn, you have to develop an attitude that says, “I am not an object! I am a human and I deserve to be treated with respect.” That’s what Herod’s step-daughter needed to do, and that’s what many of us need to do today.

Secondly, remember… You can’t bargain for love.

This part is especially sad because we see a mother taking advantage of her own daughter. The daughter was offered one-half of Herod’s kingdom. She had an opportunity to receive wealth and power beyond her dreams. Instead, she helped her mother get revenge. Why would she make such a choice?

Maybe because she was an “enabler.” You’ve heard this term before. An enabler is someone who does something to make it possible for someone else to continue self-destructive behavior, such as a person who buys alcohol for the alcoholic, or loans money to a compulsive gambler. They claim to be doing this out of concern, but generally they do it out of their own need for love, acceptance, or control in a relationship. Enablers often consider themselves to be generous and compassionate, but they are missing a crucial distinction: If you give of your resources to help someone do good, you’re being generous. If you give of your resources to help someone do something destructive, you’re being an enabler.

Enablers try to bargain for love. Everyone probably remembers having (or being) the childhood friend who would give away a favorite baseball card, a special doll, or an expensive toy in order to be liked. Like Herod’s step-daughter trading a kingdom for mom’s approval, enablers will trade whatever resources they have for acceptance. And like Herod’s step-daughter, enablers eventually find themselves with absolutely nothing to show for their “compassion.”

There is no reason for anyone to go through life this way. We don’t have to be slaves to the selfishness of others. We must decide once and for all that our purpose is not to please people. Our purpose is to please God. Paul said,

Am I trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ. (Galatians 1:10)

You primary motive in life can not be to do whatever it takes for people to like you.

There’s an old joke about the preacher who tried to keep one eye on the Lord and one eye on the deacon board, and the two got so far apart that the preacher went cock-eyed!

Bill Cosby once said, “I don’t know what the secret to success is, but I know the secret to failure is trying to please everybody.”

God has given you certain resources — talents, gifts, money, looks, personality, intelligence, and on and on. These are not bargaining chips you can use to win friends. He has given you these resources to use for His glory. When we see others in need, we should be generous. But remember, generosity is helping to do right. You can’t bargain for love.

So – you have to serve the true King – God – and not be other peoples’ pawn. You have to remember that you are not an object – and can not bargain for love.

Thirdly – if you want to avoid being treated like a pawn, remember… a sense of direction is your best weapon.

There is something more insidious than just a drunken man and a vindictive woman at work in our scripture passage. The devil is also at work, and Herod’s step-daughter becomes his agent of death.

John the Baptist was, according to Jesus, the greatest man who ever lived. Not only was he a good person, he was not afraid to speak the truth—regardless of the consequences. He was, by virtue of his goodness, an enemy of the devil.

We know that

“the thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy” (John 10:10)

and at Herod’s party the devil seized the opportunity to destroy John the Baptist. It wasn’t only Herod’s daughter that he used; Herod and Herodias were both pawns in his hand. If the daughter of Herodias had a sense of direction in life—if her purpose in life had been to serve God—she never would have listened to such bad advice, and she never would have allowed herself to be used in such a dreadful way.

Someone I read about was flattered to be offered a position on the board of directors for a charitable organization. Being new to this venture, she wasn’t sure how to vote on some issues, or how to administrate her areas of responsibility. Another board member “graciously” offered his assistance. It wasn’t long before she realized that she had unwittingly become his pawn to grant favors for his friends and get revenge on his enemies. She later wrote

“This happened because when I came into this organization I was completely ignorant. I had no real vision for what I could accomplish.”

Lack of vision and direction caused her to become a pawn for others.

When we live with no sense of direction, when we drift through life from one day to the next with no specific idea of where we are going, we make ourselves easy targets for bad advice, and we find ourselves being used by anyone who can get to us.

In football there is saying:

The best defense is a good offense.

In life it works the same way. The best way to prevent yourself from being used by others is to make sure you are being used by God. Your most powerful weapon is to pursue life with God-given direction. If you don’t have direction in life—if you don’t have a strong sense of who you are and where you’re going—you will become the pawn of anyone who can benefit from you.

A person cannot be truly independent unless he knows God’s purpose for his life. People who just want to be liked (or comfortable, or happy, or rich) are easy prey for others – and for the devil. However, if a person is consumed with the idea of pleasing God, no one can stand in his way.

Bill Bright can be said to be such a man. In 1960, when Campus Crusade for Christ had the opportunity to buy the Arrowhead Springs property in California for their rapidly growing international ministry, he was told by his largest contributor: “If you buy this property I will never give you another penny.” The contributor thought the property – which was once a glamorous hotel — to be too run down to be sued for Campus Crusade for Christ. Well — Bill Bright wasn’t trying to please his investors and he knew that he wasn’t in the ministry for their benefit. If he had no vision, the idea of losing money would have frightened him. But Bill Bright had a God-given vision of what he could accomplish. He didn’t listen to the voices of others; he listened to God. He bought the property. His God-given vision gave him the strength to be truly independent – and the property was purchased and used by Campus Crusade For Christ for years as it’s ministry expanded.

It comes down to this: People become pawns when they see themselves as a second-class human. “I’m just an object for other’s to use…maybe if I do this people will like me…this seems like good advice.” On the other hand, when you have a God-given vision about who you are and God-given direction about what you can accomplish, no one can touch you. You will not be a pawn; you will be an independent servant of God.

Don’t let others tell you who you are. Let God tell you.

Don’t be a pawn in others hands – but serve the real King – God.

As this Church moves into the new chapter of it’s history, you have a choice. You can follow what others might say and what others might tell you – or you can pray to God for leadership and follow where you feel God is leading you.

You can let this Church be a pawn in someone else’s plan – or you can stand up and work for what you feel is God’s plan.

Knowing God’s plan for your life or for this Church will not be easy.

It will take faith and courage – but first it will take prayer.

Listen to God – and let God lead you – as an individual and a Church.

Don’t be a pawn for someone else – listening to their advice – without praying for God’s advice.

Don’t think that you – as an individual and a Church — are not an object – Don’t think that you have to bargain for love – because as an individual and a Church you are beautiful and full of worth –

Remember that – for the Church and for you as an individual — the best way to avoid being used by others is to be used by God.

In your life – serve the real King — God – and don’t be a pawn of others.

Make sure that – at this time and in this place – this Church serves God – and does not become a pawn of others.

Amen.

Mark 6:1-13

Mark 6:1-13

Taking Control

July 9, 2006

I read an inspirational story this week about Rudy Ruettiger.

Rudy grew up in a devout Catholic family in a small town in Illinois. Like many devout Catholic boys, his dream growing up was to attend the University of Notre Dame and play football for the Fighting Irish. Well – all the while he was told he didn’t have a chance –he was too small and too dumb. In fact, Rudy was only 5′6″ and he graduated third in his class — third from the bottom, that is!

After high school Rudy went into the Navy — then spent four years working a union job at a power plant after his discharge. It was a good job — secure, good benefits, decent pay. But something within him told him this secure job was not for him. There was something else he wanted to do with his life. He wanted to play football for the Fighting Irish!

Of course, it was a ridiculous dream.

Everybody told him so.

Still, he refused to let it go. Finally, Rudy made the most important decision of his life: he decided to take control of his life — or better yet to let God take control of it. He came to the realization that it was his life, he was responsible for it, and no one else can live it for him. He decided to take control of his life away from others, and give it to God. He quit his job and moved to South Bend.

Of course, nothing had changed for him academically. He still had a poor high school transcript, and he was denied admission to Notre Dame. The admissions counselor at Notre Dame told him that if he really wanted to attend Notre Dame he would have to attend Holy Cross Junior College first. If he made straight A’s four semesters in a row at Holy Cross, he would be admitted to Notre Dame. At this point in his academic career, Rudy had never made anything better than a C! However, he threw himself into his studies, and made the necessary grades – and was accepted at Notre Dame. In the process he discovered he is dyslexic, and he learned how to deal with this condition.

After getting accepted at Notre Dame, he faced his next challenge – playing football! He tried out for the Fighting Irish football team. Being 5′6″ and 190 pounds, he knew he didn’t have a chance of making varsity—all he wanted was to make the squad. You see, even though a college football team dresses out about 60 players each game, there are an additional 40 or so who are on the team, and who practice everyday with the team, but never get to wear a uniform. Basically, they serve as “punching bags” for the varsity players in practice. This is the squad Rudy hoped to make. Due to his effort, he made it ahead of players who were bigger, faster, and stronger, simply because he had more heart.

For two years, Monday through Friday Rudy worked out with one of the greatest teams in college football history. On Saturday, the best 60 players suited up and Rudy watched the game from the stands, like any other fan.

In the last home game of his senior year, Rudy was given the opportunity to suit up. What had seemed impossible years before had become reality. Rudy’s hard work and intense enthusiasm had caused him to become something of a local hero among the other players, the students, and the fans in South Bend. Toward the end of the game, with Notre Dame leading by more than a touchdown, the players and fans began chanting, “Rudy! Rudy! Rudy!” The coach sent Rudy in to play with 27 seconds left in the game. On the last play of the game, Rudy broke through the line and sacked the Georgia Tech quarterback. The Fighting Irish players spontaneously lifted Rudy to their shoulders and carried him off the field.

Rudy’s success didn’t end with a 27-second college football career. He sold Hollywood on the idea of producing his life story, and he now makes his living now writing and speaking to sales organizations and youth groups. He is an example of what can happen when an individual decides not to listen to others but to themselves – to God – and take control of their lives.

Friends — we don’t have to live our lives enslaved to the thoughts, opinions and expectations of others. This is not the way God wants us to live – God wants us to take the control of our lives away from others and give it to God.

Of course, this is not to say we live our lives in total disregard for others — we must always be sensitive to the needs others – even serve others. But we cannot give to others that which belongs only to God. The decision to give the control of our lives to God frees us from the expectations of others, and empowers us to live a life committed to God – God’s will for us – and God’s expectations for us.

Jesus gives us a perfect image of this type of independence – this life of giving control of His life to God. He has been called “The Man For Others,” yet, when you read the Gospels, you get the impression that he was “His own man” — or more aptly put – God’s man.

Our Gospel lesson for today is an example in the life of Jesus that can show us how to live our lives under God’s control and by God’s expectations instead of the control or expectation of others. In this passage from Mark 6 it is still in the early stages of Jesus’ ministry. He had performed some miracles throughout the country and had begun to establish a name for himself. Then he visited his hometown. As an itinerant Rabbi, Jewish custom dictated that he be invited to speak at the synagogue. When he did, the people were shocked by his words. They said among themselves: “Who does he think he is? Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this the son of Mary? Don’t we know his brothers and sisters?” The people who heard his message become outraged – this was not who they thought Jesus was – or what they thought Jesus should be saying or doing.

Jesus merely replied, “Only in his hometown is a prophet without honor.” Then the Bible says that he was unable to perform many miracles there because of their unbelief.

I think we see here three keys to giving God control of your life and living under His control and His expectations for our lives instead of the control and expectations of others.

1. Don’t let anyone else define you.

The people in his hometown had a specific opinion of who they thought Jesus was and who they thought He should be. They saw him a certain way: as a carpenter, the son of Mary, a member of his family. That was all they saw. Those were the only roles they saw Jesus in – and they were not willing to see Him as anything else.

Jesus, however, saw Himself differently. He saw himself as God’s Son…as the Messiah…as the one who would die for the sins of the world. Jesus refused to let anyone else define who He was or what He should do. He let God define who He was and what He was to do with His life.

You probably know this to be true in your life. Just like Jesus…just like Rudy Ruettiger…there may be people in your life who have an idea of who they think you are and what they think you should do – which may be the opposite of who God knows you are and what God wants you to do. Many times others’ ideas of who you are and what you should be doing only serve to limit you.

I heard a story of a busboy at a restaurant in Nashville. The “house band” at the restaurant was pretty good – but never did more than be the “house band” at that restaurant. The busboy knew he was a good musician – and asked this band if he could “sit in”. The band members didn’t laugh at him behind his back—they laughed at him to his face. They saw him as just a busboy—and a big hick. The busboy, however, saw himself differently. He saw himself as a musician…as a potential country superstar. He refused to let the band members and others define him; he knew he would make a name for himself. Finally he did make a name for himself: Randy Travis.

How about you? How do others define you? Maybe they see you as “only” a busboy…or a housewife…or a teacher…or a salesman…or a retired person… and on and on. But God sees you in a different way. He doesn’t see you in terms of who you are right now and where you’ve been, he sees you in terms of who you can be.

Don’t let others tell you who you are! Let God tell you who you really are – and live by how God sees you.

So – first of all –

Don’t let anyone define you.

Second — Don’t let others judge you.

In verse 3 of our passage it says the people “took offense” at Jesus.

Why were they offended at Jesus?

Because He didn’t fit into their preconceived idea of who they thought he should be. He refused to fit into their preconceived notions of what they thought Jesus should do – so they judged him—they took offense at him. How did Jesus respond? He said, in effect, “You don’t get it. A prophet has honor everywhere but in his own hometown…and you don’t get what I’m trying to do.”

I read not long ago about “people who don’t get it.” You know – people who don’t understand even simple things. The people for whom instructions from small-appliance instruction manuals have warnings they shouldn’t have to have … like the hair dryers that warn “Do not use submerge this appliance in water” — or the knife-set that says: “Warning! Blade is sharp. Keep away from children” – or the warnings fast food restaurants put on their coffee cups: “Caution – Contents hot”!

The article I was reading was pointing out the fact that some folks just don’t get it. The author of the article pointed out that many folks use poor judgment when using appliances or when judging other people. He wrote from experience. Many underestimated his abilities in his early years. He had epilepsy, dyslexia, and other disabilities that caused doctors, counselors, and teachers to warn that him that he would never be able to function or graduate from high school. Yet, through the help of his faith in Christ, he overcame his obstacles and graduated with honors…and went to college on a full academic scholarship. You see – he refused to let the poor judgment of others prevent him from being all that God called him to be.

Be prepared. When it comes to doing God’s will in your life, some people won’t get it. They may accuse you of impure motives, or selfish ambition, or trying to get ahead of God, or any other number of things— but you cannot afford to allow yourself to listen to their judgmental comments.

A Little League coach once told me that he coached a 9-10 year old team who won the league championship, so he was asked to coach the League All-Star team. As he began preparing the team for it’s first tournament, the coach from the team the year before him some solemn advice:

“If you are out here to make friends, QUIT NOW! You’ve got 14 great players who are used to playing all the time, and 14 sets of devoted parents who have sacrificed to help their child make it to this level and only nine positions to fill. None of them will understand why they have to be one of the ones who sit on the bench part of the time. Plus, every other coach in this league will second guess every decision you make. If you lose, it’s your fault. If you win, it’s because you had a good team. So don’t be expect to be the hero. And whatever you do, whatever coaching decision you make, you’re the one that has to live with it…so do what you feel is best.”

Though this is just Little League, and hardly a matter of life and death, these sobering words prepared the coach for the challenge before him. They also served to remind him of the fact that we cannot let the opinions of others keep us from doing what we know we should be doing with our lives. The team won a few games – then lost in the tournament. The coach shared with me that he will no longer coach Little League Baseball All Star teams – but might start dong something less dangerous — like wrestling lions!

Walt Kallestad, pastor of Community Church of Joy in Phoenix, Arizona, said he thought when he began to succeed that others would be happy for him. They weren’t. People in his denomination accused him of compromising the message, other churches in town accused him of stealing members, and even some of the members of the congregation accused him of trying to build his own kingdom. Walt refused to let others judge him. Instead, he considers it his task to judge himself in light of the calling God has placed on his life.

Taking control of your own life – letting God take control of your life and following God’s plan instead of the plans others may have – means:

You don’t let others define you

You don’t let others judge you,

and thirdly…

You don’t let others hold you back.

Verses v. 5-6 of Mark 6 say about Jesus:

He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. And he was amazed at their lack of faith.

If Jesus had stayed in Nazareth (his hometown), he may have never accomplished what God called him to do. People who follow God’s will for their lives instead of the plans of others for them recognize when something isn’t working, and they move on. This happens in all kinds of situations. Workers who seem like underachievers in one job often excel in a new one. They haven’t changed, the situation has.

Sometimes when what we are doing is not working out, we have a tendency to say, “I’m sorry. It’s not you…it’s me.” We think that is being “humble.” Sometimes that may be true. But there are times, though, when we might have to realize that God’s plan is for us to move on and do something else – and let someone else do what we are doing.

This is what Jesus did in Nazareth. He was unable to perform miracles there because of their lack of faith. So what did he do? Stay in Nazareth and flounder? No. He moved on. He also taught his disciples to do the same thing.

In verse 11 of Matthew 6 He told His disciples:

If anyplace will not welcome you or listen to you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave…

He was saying, in effect, that we have to find our place and our ministry – and not flounder under other’s expectations of us. Follow God and God’s will for your life – and don’t let others hold you back.

So — Taking control of your own life – letting God take control of your life and following God’s plan instead of the plans others may have – means:

You don’t let others define you

You don’t let others judge you,

and

You don’t let others hold you back.

God wants us to be like Jesus.

Many times we make the mistake of thinking this means being “meek” and “mild” and being someone’s doormat. While Jesus did serve others — Jesus was no one’s doormat. As you examine the life of Christ, you see the profile of an independent, Godly, strong man. He was not proud, or arrogant, or egotistical; but He was strong and self-assured. He knew who he was – who God called Him to be — and where he was going – what God called Him to be doing. He knew the work that God had called Him to do, and He didn’t put his self-worth up for vote others to vote on – He was willing to follow God’s see Himself as God saw Him –- and do what God wanted Him to do – whether it was how others saw Him or what others wanted Him to do or not.

To be like Christ is to let God control our lives instead of the opinions of others.

This means we don’t let others define who we are; we let God tell us who we are.

This means that we don’t let others judge us; we have God as our judge.

This means that we don’t let others hold us back; we let God move us forward.

If we are going to follow God, we have to let God take control of our lives.

If this Church is going to follow God, God has to take control of this Church.

As the Wentworth Presbyterian Church prepares to move into a new chapter in it’s rich history as Sally and I move to South Carolina next month, there may be a lot of people with a lot of opinions about what the Church can do and should do.

Some may give the opinion that this Church can not expect to do much. It’s a small Church with not much growth potential – and you might as well accept that

You know what – God just might have another opinion.

God might have great things in store for this Church.

I pray that God does have great things in store for you and you shock everybody.

I pray that this Church excels – like Rudy Ruettiger – accomplishing things others may say are impossible – doing God’s work in a strong way in this community.

For this to happen, you are going to have to let God take control.

This means that you can’t let others define who you are as a Church – you have to let God tell you who you are.

This means that you can’t let others judge what this Church can and can’t do – you have to let God be the judge of that.

This means that you can’t let others hold you back; you have to let God move you forward.

As individuals and as a Church –

Don’t let others be in control of your life – don’t live by how others define you – don’t let others judge what you can and can not do – but let God be in control – let God define you – let God be the judge of who you are and what you can do.

If others are in control of you – if others are in control of this Church — you may not accomplish much – as individuals or as a Church. If God is in control of you – as a Church and as individuals – you and the “others” just might be surprised as what you can do.

Amen.

2 Chronicles 7:12-22; Galatians 5:1, 13-25; Mark 12:13-37

II CHRONICLES 7: 12-22

GALATIANS 5:1, 13-25

MARK 12:13-17

“PRAYING FOR AMERICA”

JULY 2, 2006

COMMUNION

READ SCRIPTURE

GOD BLESS AMERICA

LAND THAT I LOVE

STAND BESIDE HER AND GUIDE HER

THROUGH THE NIGHT WITH A LIGHT FROM ABOVE.

FROM THE MOUNTAINS — TO THE PRAIRIE

TO THE OCEAN WHITE WITH FOAM —

GOD BLESS AMERICA — MY HOME SWEET HOME

GOD BLESS AMERICA — MY HOME SWEET HOME.

So are the words of this familiar patriotic song.

The sentiment of this popular song — written so many years ago — is shared by most of us today. I am sure that all of us here today — especially as we begin this glorious week when we will celebrate the 230th birthday of our great nation — are proud to be citizens of America — and we pray for God to bless America. I know I am glad to live in this great country of ours — and I am sure all of you are, too!

But — today is not only July 2 — it is Sunday, July 2.

Sunday — the day we gather together to worship and give praise to God.

Sunday — and on this particular Sunday we gather around the Lord’s Table to partake of the sacrament of Communion.

How do we combine our love for God and our love for our country?

GOD, BLESS AMERICA

What does our relationship and loyalty to God ask of us?

What does our relationship and loyalty to our country ask of us?

How can we ask God to bless America?

What will we have to do for God to bless America?

GOD, BLESS AMERICA

Our Gospel, Epistle, and Old Testament Lessons for today give us no direct answers — but they give us some guidance to the question of what we must do –what must be done – for God to bless America.

GOD, BLESS AMERICA

“Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?

Should we pay them — or should we not?”

When asked a “trick” question — a question intended to force Him to make a statement that would either make the Roman government or the Jews mad — what does Jesus do?

Jesus does a very wise thing.

He asks for a denarius — the money used to pay the tax.

On it was a picture of Tiberius — the emperor — and an inscription bearing Tiberius’ name. Clearly — the coin — with the picture and inscription of Tiberius — belonged to Tiberius. So Jesus replies:

“Give to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s,”

but — then He adds —

“give to God the things that are God’s.”

GOD, BLESS AMERICA

But – what do we owe God – and what do we owe the country?

Sometimes we get a bit confused on this.

GOD, BLESS AMERICA

At times we might be so supportive of America – of our country – that we feel everything we do is perfect in every way – and that God will indeed bless us just because of who we are – regardless of what we do.

GOD, BLESS AMERICA

What will it take for God to bless America?

What must happen for God to bless America?

Our Old Testament Lesson for today can help us understand the true relationship between God and country – and what must happen for God to bless America.

Here is King Solomon — King of Israel — a great king in his own right and son of King David – completing the magnificent Temple in Jerusalem. This was the Temple that King David had wanted to build — but it had been left up to Solomon to build this magnificent Temple for the Hebrew people to assemble in and worship God.

God speaks to Solomon after the Temple is completed — and tells Solomon that He approves of what Solomon has done — and will bless Solomon and his country – if they will follow in God’s ways.

But — if they fail to follow in the way of the Lord — He will not bless them — but will curse them.

GOD, BLESS AMERICA

God promises to bless Solomon and the people of Israel if they will follow Him.

“if My people who are called by My name

humble themselves, pray, seek My face,

and turn from their wicked ways,

then I will hear from heaven,

and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

GOD, BLESS AMERICA

However, God also promises a curse upon Solomon and the people of Israel if they fail to follow His way.

“But if you turn aside and forsake my statutes and my commandments that I have set before you,

and go and serve other gods and worship them,

then I will pluck you up from the land that I have given you;”

GOD, BLESS AMERICA

The promises that God gave to Solomon centuries ago still hold true today.

GOD, BLESS AMERICA

These are indeed great words — and the thought behind them extremely commendable — but — we have to ask ourselves –

What must happen for God to bless America?

Well, for God to bless America – Americans are going to have to follow God.

Listen again to what God says to Solomon:

“if My people who are called by My name

humble themselves, pray, seek My face,

and turn from their wicked ways,

then I will hear from heaven,

and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

GOD, BLESS AMERICA

If we want God to bless America – then we as Americans are going to have to humble ourselves – pray – and seek God’s face.

If we seek for God to bless America — if we truly want America to receive God’s blessings — then we need to – as Jesus says — give to God the things that are God’s.

We need to give our lives to God.

We need to follow God’s teachings and God’s ways.

GOD, BLESS AMERICA

GOD, BLESS AMERICA

The great words of the Declaration of Independence give us a description of the freedoms we enjoy as Americans:

We hold these truths to be self-evident,
that all men are created equal,
that they are endowed by their Creator
with certain unalienable rights
that among these are life and liberty,
and the pursuit of happiness.

Great words.

But – the Apostle Paul reminds us in Galatians 5:13:

For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another.

Freedom is a gift from God – freedom means that we are free to live in the ways God has called us to live.

It means being free to live in God’s ways – or as Paul says by “the fruits of the Spirit” —

the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23)

So – we have and we celebrate great freedoms,

But – for God to bless America – we have to celebrate God’s freedoms – and live by the fruits of the Spirit – the gifts of

love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control

GOD, BLESS AMERICA

GOD, BLESS AMERICA

For that to happen – we as Americans must live in God’s ways.

As God told Solomon:

“if My people who are called by My name

humble themselves, pray, seek My face,

and turn from their wicked ways,

then I will hear from heaven,

and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

But – as God also told Solomon:

“But if you turn aside and forsake my statutes and my commandments that I have set before you,

and go and serve other gods and worship them,

then I will pluck you up from the land that I have given you;”

GOD, BLESS AMERICA

GOD, BLESS AMERICA

Many times we do not live in God’s ways – and we suffer – and America suffers.

For God to bless America – we as Americans are going to have to repent – and begin following God.

Humble ourselves – as God says – and pray.

Pray for God to forgive us of the times we follow our ways instead of God’s ways.

Pray for God to forgive us of our hard headed, sinful ways – as individuals and as a country — and commit ourselves to living in God’s ways instead of our own – in God’s will instead of our wills.

This takes repentance.

This means confessing that we are wrong and that we need God in our lives and in our country.

Repentance is never easy.

Confessing sins is never easy.

But – it is necessary.

But — repentance does not just mean saying we are sorry – it – also means living in new ways.

Repentance is not basically a religious word. It comes from a culture where people were essentially nomadic and lived in a world with no maps or street signs. It’s easy to get lost walking through the desert. You become aware that the countryside is strange. You finally say to yourself, I’m going in the wrong direction. That’s the first act of repentance.

The second act of repentance is to go in an alternate direction.

Repentance on our part.

Finding new ways to live.

That’s what’s needed for God to bless us – and for God to bless America.

GOD, BLESS AMERICA

GOD, BLESS AMERICA

Friends — America has been called a great nation.

This is very true — America is a very great nation.

However, America is only truly great if Americans have a truly great faith in God — truly give to God the things due God and to our country the things due our county — and live in God’s ways – sharing God’s love with all people – and working for God’s kingdom of love, justice and peace on earth.

America is only as great as our faith in God.

America has been called a Christian nation.

Indeed, our country was founded upon Christian principles — but we must return to those principles — truly give to God the things due to God — and deepen our faith in God.

But — America is only a Christian nation as long as we — Americans — are a Christian people. Once we stop following God and Christ, we can no longer be considered a Christian nation. As a nation, America is only as Christian as we — it’s people — live out our faith and let our faith determine what we do as individuals — and as a country.

America has been called a strong nation.

Once again, this statement is only true if we — as Americans — have a strong faith in God – a strong commitment to giving to God the things due to God and to our country the things due our country

Only if we let our strong faith in God and our strong commitment to God determine what we do as individuals — as a community — as a Church — and as a nation can we be considered a strong nation.

Only if we commit ourselves to acting on our faith – and working for God’s love and God’s will a world filled with God’s love, justice, and peace – can we be considered a great nation.

America’s greatness, America’s virtue as a Christian nation, and America’s strength depends upon the depth of the faith of its people — the depth of its people’s commitment to give to God the things due to God.

America’s greatness, America’s virtue as a Christian nation, and America’s strength depends upon our ability to confess our sins – humble ourselves – and pray for God to forgive us – and find new ways to live.

GOD, BLESS AMERICA

Bless America with true blessings that come with working for God’s will for justice and peace for all people.

Bless America with true blessings that come from being humble before God – confessing our wrongs — and doing God’s will.

GOD, BLESS AMERICA

This will only happen when we as Americans confess our sins and begin again living in God’s ways.

GOD, BLESS AMERICA

This will take prayer.

As God told Solomon:

“if My people who are called by My name

humble themselves, pray, seek My face,

and turn from their wicked ways,

then I will hear from heaven,

and will forgive their sin and heal their land”

Friends – for God to bless America – we have to pray. We have to pray that we can turn back to God — and do what we can to bring our country back to God.

GOD, BLESS AMERICA

Come to the table — and commit yourself again to giving to God the things that are God’s — your love, your life, your thoughts, your words, your actions.

Commit yourself to doing what you can to ensure these liberties we talk so much about are experienced by all.

Commit yourself again to repenting of your sins – and living in new ways.

This is what it will take for God to bless America.

Indeed —

GOD BLESS AMERICA — MY HOME SWEET HOME

GOD BLESS AMERICA — MY HOME SWEET HOME.

AMEN