Mark 8:27-29, John 3:1-21

Mark 8:27-29

John 3:1-21

Jesus Is The Way To Salvation

3/1/09

Part 1 of 2009 Lent series on “Who do you say Jesus is?”

Read scripture

Today is the first Sunday in Lent – the six week period before Easter when we think about the sacrifice of Christ on the cross – and what Christ means to us.

I want us to use Lent this year as a time to think about who Jesus is – and what Jesus means to us.

I want us to focus on one basic question:

Who do you say that Jesus is?

Who do you say that Jesus is?

Who is Jesus – for you?

In Mark 8:27-29 Jesus questions the disciples about who “people” said that He was. They came up with a list of things people said about Jesus – that He was Elijah, that He was John the Baptist, or that He was another of the Old Testament prophets who had risen from the dead. Jesus then made the question more personal by asking who they said that He was. That’s when Peter made His confession that Jesus was the Christ.

You know – it didn’t really matter what others said about Jesus – did it?

What mattered who Jesus was to the disciples.

What mattered was who they said Jesus was.

What mattered that Jesus was the Christ. – the Savior – the only way to salvation – for them.

What mattered was that they said Jesus was their Lord and Savior.

The same is true for us.

You can listen to me talk about who Jesus is – or listen to others tell who they think Jesus is – but what really matters is who you say that Jesus is – who is Jesus for you.

Who do you say that Jesus is?

Who is Jesus – for you?

We’re going to look at several answers to that question for the next 6 weeks – and we’ll see that Jesus is:

1. Jesus is the one who gives me salvation

2. Jesus is the one who helps me resist temptation

3. Jesus is the one who gave of Himself for me

4. Jesus is the one who keeps me holy

5. Jesus is the one I want to tell others about

6. Jesus is the one I follow

Today we’re going to look at the first – and most important – answer you can give to the question – who do you say Jesus is – or who is Jesus for you. The most important answer you can give is that Jesus is the one who gives me salvation.

Jesus is the only way for you to find salvation.

Some of you know that I am a “budding golfer”. I bought some clubs last summer and hope to take up the game. I read not long ago about Paul Azinger – a professional golfer who at the age of 33 was diagnosed with cancer. He had just won a PGA championship and had ten tournament victories to his credit – then he got the word – he had cancer. He wrote:

“A genuine feeling of fear came over me. I could die from cancer. Then another reality hit me even harder. I’m going to die eventually anyway, whether from cancer or something else. It’s just a question of when. Everything I had accomplished in golf became meaningless to me. All I wanted to do was live.”

Then he remembered something that Larry Moody, who teaches a Bible study on the tour, had said to him:

“Zinger, we’re not in the land of the living going to the land of the dying.

We’re in the land of the dying going to the land of the living.”

Azinger said that realization changed his attitude about life – death – and what life was all about.

We’re not in the land of the living going to the land of the dying.

We’re in the land of the dying going to the land of the living
Azinger recovered from chemotherapy and returned to the PGA tour. He’s done pretty well — but that bout with cancer deepened his perspective. He wrote:

“I’ve made a lot of money since I’ve been on the tour, and I’ve won a lot of tournaments, but that happiness is always temporary. The only way you will ever have true contentment is in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I’m not saying that nothing ever bothers me and I don’t have problems, but I feel like I’ve found the answer to the six-foot hole.”
There’s a basic question you must answer:

Who is Jesus – to me?

And – unless you can say:

“Jesus is the one who gives me salvation” – you won’t find salvation.

Unless you can say that Jesus has saved your life – changed your life – and given you salvation – anything else you can say about Jesus does not matter. In fact, unless you can say “Jesus is the one who gives me salvation” – nothing else in your life matters.

So – who is Jesus – to you?

Who do you say that Jesus is?
It doesn’t matter how you live your life.

It doesn’t matter where you go to Church – or even if you go to Church .

If you can’t say that Jesus is the one who has given you salvation – nothing else matters.

If you can’t say that Jesus is the one who has given you salvation – then you won’t find salvation.

Here’s the thing: there are people today who will attend church services all across the world today that can’t really say the Jesus is the one who gives them salvation.

They can’t really say that Jesus has changed their lives – and that they have discovered salvation through a relationship with Him.

Maybe they can say that they have heard others talk about how Jesus has changed their lives – or can talk about how people have talked to them about how they need to have their lives changed by Christ – but can’t say they have actually let Jesus change their lives.

Maybe they can tell you all about the Bible – but can’t say that Jesus has changed their lives.

Who is Jesus – to you?

Who do you say that Jesus is?

Talking about what others have told you about Jesus – or knowing a lot of facts about the Bible – won’t get you salvation.

Only being able to say: “Jesus is the one who gives me salvation” will give you salvation.

You can’t say that you know about Jesus – or say “yes’ to Jesus with your head – and find salvation.

You have to let Jesus change your life – and say “yes” to Jesus with your heart.

What’s the difference between a “head yes” to Jesus and a “heart yes” to Jesus?

Nicodemus – the man who came to Jesus in John 3 – can help us understand the difference here. Nicodemus was a Pharisee, a member of the Jewish ruling counsel. He was wise with the knowledge of Jewish law. He understood that God would send a Messiah and he came to Jesus by night ask Jesus some questions.
Nicodemus had “head knowledge” about God — but he didn’t have “heart knowledge”.

Jesus tells Nicodemus that he – and all people — must be born again to enter into the kingdom of Heaven.

That’s where Nicodemus’ “head knowledge” quits helping him.

Jesus realizes that Nicodemus only has “head knowledge” – a “head yes” to God — and is amazed that Nicodemus is not willing to grow into having “heart knowledge” — a “heart yes”.

Who do you say that Jesus is?

Do you have a “heart knowledge” of Jesus – or just a “head knowledge”?

Have you made a “heart yes” to Jesus – or just a “head yes”?

Can you really say that Jesus is your savior – the one who gives you salvation?

Unless you can, you will never find salvation.
There are a lot of folks like Nicodemus today who try to “get by” with a “head yes” to Jesus but not a “heart yes”.

They may have just enough religion to vaccinate them from the real thing.

A vaccination from salvation, so to speak.

They might say: I’ve always tried to be good.
Some people believe that their good deeds will outweigh their evil actions and God will accept them in the end. They compare themselves to the most evil people and feel that they are doing pretty well.
They don’t understand.

They need to understand that they cannot be good enough for God.
If you feel that you try to be good – and that trying to be good will give you salvation – there is something you need to understand – it won’t give you salvation.

Only faith in Christ will give you salvation .

Only being able to say:

Jesus is the one who gives me salvation

Will give you salvation.

Who is Jesus – for you?

Other people who try to “get by” with a “head yes” to Jesus but not a “heart yes” might say: “I go to Church! ”
Many people have become involved with churches but never met Christ.

They don’t understand that they need a relationship with Jesus Christ, which changes them on the inside, not religion that only makes them “look good” on the outside.
Going to Church won’t save you.

Only having a life – changing relationship with Christ – only being able to say: “Jesus is the one who gives me salvation” – will give you salvation.

You can’t have a “head knowledge” – or a “head yes” to Christ – you have to have a “heart knowledge” – a “heart yes”.

So – who is Jesus – for you?

You have to have a “heart yes” to Christ.

What does it mean to have a “heart” knowledge of Jesus?
Well — to have a “heart” knowledge is to have a relationship rather than a religion.
A relationship rather than a religion.
Some people feel that they could never be saved – or have a relationship with God – because they have done so many things wrong or done something so evil that God can never forgive them – or want to have a relationship with them.

What does Jesus say in John 3:16?

Does He say that God so loved the good folks that He gave His one and only Son – so that if a good person believes in Him they shall not perish – but have everlasting life?

No – He says that God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son – so that whoever believes in Him they shall not perish – but have everlasting life.

“Whoever” comes to the Lord will be saved

Salvation is available to all.

It doesn’t matter how bad you’ve been.

It doesn’t matter how good you’ve been.

It doesn’t matter what you’ve heard about Jesus.

It doesn’t matter how active you’ve been in the Church.

All that matters for your salvation is having a “heart yes” to Jesus.

All that matters for your salvation is saying: “Jesus is my Lord and Savior”.

All that matters is saying: “Jesus is the one who gives me salvation.”

Who do you say that Jesus is?

Once you can say that Jesus is the one who gives you salvation you can be good – you can be active in the Church and make a difference – you can be forgiven from whatever you have done in the past – but you can’t do these things until you can say that Jesus is the one who gives you salvation.

That’s your starting point.

Once you can say that Jesus is the one who gives you salvation you can say other things about Jesus things we’re going to look at in the coming weeks – like He’s the one who helps me resist temptation – or helps me give of myself for others – or keeps me holy – or helps me bring others to salvation – or is the one I follow. But – you saying all these things won’t matte unless you can say that Jesus is the one who gives you salvation.
That’s your starting point.

So – who is Jesus – for you?

Is He the one who gives you salvation?

Before we go any further here, I want you to examine your life>

Do you have a “head knowledge” of Christ – with a “head yes” to Christ – or a “heart knowledge” – with a “heart yes” to Christ?
If you stood before God and He asked you, “Why should I let you into My heaven,” what would you say?
Saying “I’ve tried to be good” or “I’ve gone to Church” won’t be the answer God is looking for.

Saying “I took Jesus as my Lord and Savior” will.
If you can’t say that, this is your opportunity to make things right with God.
Don’t say: “I’ll let Jesus become my savior some day.”

Say: “I want Jesus to become my savior now!”

Jesus is asking you: “Who do you say that I am?”

Can you say:

“Jesus is my Lord and savior”?

Can you say:

“Jesus has changed my life”?

Who is Jesus – to you?

Who do you say that Jesus is?
It doesn’t matter how you live your life.

It doesn’t matter where you go to Church – or even if you go to Church .

If you can’t say that Jesus is the one who has given you salvation – nothing else matters.

If you can’t say that Jesus is the one who has given you salvation – then you won’t find salvation.

If you can’t say “Jesus is my Lord and Savior” – pray that you can honestly say that.

Indeed – who is Jesus – to you?

Who do you say Jesus is?

Amen

Mark 9:2-9

Mark 9:2-9

WOW!

February 22, 2009

Presbyterian Communities Vesper service

Transfiguration

It starts off ordinary enough.

Jesus and his three closest friends – Peter, James, and John – go up on a high mountain. Nothing unusual. Jesus often went off from the crowds to pray and rest – and at times He would take some of the disciples with Him.

All very ordinary.

But from here on, ordinary ends.

No sooner do they arrive than Jesus is suddenly “transfigured.”

He “glowed.”

As the text has it, “His clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them.”

Not only out of the ordinary, but absolutely out of this world – which, of course, is precisely what the story wants to convey.

And if that is not out-of-the ordinary enough, two men who were so important in the faith tradition of Peter – James – and John – two of faith’s most honored heroes — suddenly appear by Jesus’ side. Moses, the great law-giver, and Elijah, the prophet par excellence – as if to suggest that the entire tradition of the Law and the Prophets was paying respect to Jesus — in whom both were brought together.

This is both literally and figuratively a “mountain-top experience.”

No wonder Peter, James, and John are terrified.

But, of course, a little terror never stopped Peter from running his mouth – so — for lack of any other ideas, he suggests erecting three shrines to commemorate the event!

Wow!

A big enough deal so far.

But that is not all – for after this vision a cloud overshadows the mountain.

It must have looked like a deep fog suddenly came over the mountain.

Thinking about a foggy day or a time you have been to the mountains and a cloud has enveloped the mountain or a time when you were flying and the plane flew into a cloud can help you envision what this must have been like for Peter – James – and John.

The damp air closes in and all the world slips away into a grayness.

Then the voice of God echoes around them saying:

“This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!”

Glowing face and clothes

Visits from famous figures of the past

Hovering clouds and heavenly voices …

Wow!

It was so extraordinary – so extra ordinary that when it was all over, and Jesus and Peter and James and John were headed back down the mountain, Jesus told them to “tell no one about what they had seen.”

That made sense.

Who would have believed it anyway?

But the three of them believed it. They had been there, and those moments on that mountain would forever mark their lives and change the way they looked at everything.

Wow

Certain “WOW” moments in our lives have a way of doing that.

They have a way of marking our lives and changing the way we look at everything.

I came across a story of a 33-year-old truck driver by the name of Larry Walters who was sitting in his lawn chair in his backyard one day wishing he could fly – and figured out a way to do so!

Wow!

For as long as he could remember he had wanted to fly but he had never had the time nor money nor opportunity to be a pilot. Hang gliding was out because there was no good place for gliding near his home. So he spent a lot of summer afternoons sitting in his backyard in his ordinary old lawn chair – hoping – wishing – and dreaming.

Then—one day – he devised a scheme. He was going to fly!

He somehow came up with 45 helium-filled surplus weather balloons – and attached them to his chair.

He put a CB radio in his lap, tied a paper bag full of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to his leg, and slung a BB-gun over his shoulder to pop the balloons when he wanted to come down. He lifted off in his lawn chair expecting to climb a couple of hundred feet over his neighborhood. But instead he shot up 11,000 feet right through the approach corridor to the Los Angeles International Airport. When he finally decided to come down, he was somewhat of a celebrity.

When asked by the press why he did it, Larry answered: “Well, you can’t just sit there.”

When asked if he was scared, he answered, “Yes…wonderfully so.”

Wow!

Larry Walters will never be the same again after his trip to the mountain in his lawn chair. He has seen things and felt things that will shape the way he lives the rest of his life.

I am sure it was the same with Peter, James and John.

Up on that mountain they had been given nothing less than a glimpse into the future. They saw past the suffering and death of Jesus which Jesus had predicted a few days before — past their doubts — past their fears. For one brief shining moment God had cracked the door to the end of time and they had seen how history would be worked out — their own history and the history of the whole world. And they would never be the same again, having taken that ride.

Wow!

Now — if you had a chance to see how everything was going to turn out in the end, would it affect how you viewed the present?

Of course it would.

I read an article by a hospice chaplain that testified to this.

The chaplain had been at the bedside of many persons who had Near Death Experiences – and reported that most of those who have had Near Death Experiences are not afraid when their death actually occurs.

He relates one particular time a patient’s heart stopped – but aggressive intervention brought his heartbeat back. The chaplain was not there when this happened – but when the chaplain went to see the patient the next day the patient broke into a big grin.

“I’ve seen the light” the patient told the chaplain – then gave a story that coincided with most of the Near Death Experiences the chaplain had heard from others – a bright light – overwhelming sense of peace — and other details that were similar to the Near Death Experiences of others.

This patient had – at one time – directed his doctors to try all means to resuscitate him if his heart stopped. He was terrified of dieing. But after this experience the patient insisted the doctor issue a “Do Not Resuscitate” Order – and make sure it was followed. The patient had to twist the doctor’s arm to get this No Code – but was at peace with the decision. The patient was convinced by the Near Death Experience that death was not something to be avoided.

Wow!

But – you know — not everyone has the kind of WOW experience that can change your perspective and change your life.

You probably remember the TV show “Murphy Brown” that used to come on Monday nights. I don’t remember the real reason for the question – but in one episode the characters were discussing their thoughts or feelings about God. There were different responses from different characters – one was an agnostic — one was a Baptist, and so on. But for me the response of the character Jim stands out. He said he went to church every Sunday with his wife – then commented something on the order of:

“I haven’t had any experience of God. I go to Church because it is obvious to me that the people who attend are experiencing God, and I am hoping that one day I will too.”

Does that sound familiar?

I wonder how many real-life “Jims” there are here today waiting…waiting.

Probably a majority of us!

In fact, I would dare say that most people fit into Jim’s category!

Why?

Why do most people have to wait for their WOW experience?

Well the WOW experience for Peter – James – and John occurred on the mountaintop.

Most of us spend most of our lives in the valley – not on the mountaintop.

Things are different between the two.

If you read ahead a bit in Mark’s gospel, the contrasts are stark.

(Read Mark 9:14-24)

On the mountain, there is an encounter almighty God – in the valley, there are times we – like the disciples — encounter with the demonic.

On the mountain, there is an encounter with faith’s heritage – in the valley, there are times we – like the disciples — encounter those who consider questions of faith as occasions for battle.

On the mountain, God’s calming voice is heard – in the valley, there are times we – like the disciples – hear human argument.

On the mountain, there is a mood for worship — in the valley, there are many times we – like the disciples — are spoiling for a fight.

On the mountain, the glory of God is revealed; in the valley, there are many times we – like the disciples – deal with the power of sin and unbelief .

Maybe your prayer is:

“O Lord, carry me away to the mountain,”

YES, Lord!

But then we remember the place of our ministry is with those who need our help down in the valley.

That being the case, how can we arrange for having those WOW moments — those energizing, even life-changing, mountaintop experiences during the course of our journey – that will strengthen us – – give us a glimpse of the holy – and even let us know that all our work is blessed by God ?

The easy answer is that we cannot!

Sorry.

We have to wait…just like Jim in the “Murphy Brown” episode.

But — if you remember, Peter, James, and John were there with Jesus because they had been invited – there were nine others who were not. I suspect the reason that they were invited while the others were not has something to with the fact that they were ready – while the others were not.

A friend of mine has noted that, when his children were small, he and his wife discovered that there were some words that they could not say at the dinner table. Not that these words were inappropriate or not nice or did not make for good conversation – but the truth was they could not be said because as soon as words like “cookies, candy, or cake,” were said – their children did not want to eat supper any more. My friend observed that the kids knew what “cookies, candy and cake” meant — but did not seem to understand the word “later.” They wanted the dessert right then! Forget the main course! If they were allowed to eat the sweet stuff—my friend observed that they would have no interest in the nutritious stuff – and may have never had a healthy diet.

A mountaintop experience – a WOW experience — is like dessert.

If that is the extent of our spiritual diet, we will be poorly fed.

Our faith will be unhealthy.

We need some preparation before we can truly appreciate the WOW of the mountaintop.

Do you want to be ready for an invitation to the mountaintop?

Let me make a few suggestions.

First, make yourself available.

Peter, James, and John were invited up the slope because they were already in the company of Jesus.

This means that – if we are to have a WOW experience – a mountaintop experience of Jesus – we have to be active in the company of those who follow Jesus – which means being active in the Church. Those who, for whatever reason, choose to absent themselves from the fellowship of the Church will not be ready to respond to the invitation to the top of the mountain where the WOW experience awaits.

So – make yourself available.

Second, learn all you can about your faith tradition.

Sunday School, Bible Studies, personal devotions.

All the surveys indicate that biblical literacy is at a low ebb these days, and going down!

Sad.

The Gospel passage does not tell us how Peter, James, and John recognized Moses and Elijah, but they did, and they knew how incredibly important these men were. Had they never heard of them, the moment on the mountain would not have been nearly so special.

So – learn all you can about your faith tradition.

Third, listen to Jesus.

There are only a few times in the gospels that God – or the Voice — speaks – Jesus’ baptism is one such time – another is here at the Transfiguration. When God speaks – He does not mince words.

“This is my son, the Beloved; Listen to Him.”

Listen to Him.

We hear Him as we worship.

Listen to Him.

We hear Him as we study scripture.

Listen to Him. We hear him in the voice of other Christians.

Listen to Him.

It is so easy to listen to other voices to the point of drowning Jesus out.

Listen to Him.

So — listen to Jesus.

Fourth, remember where your work is.

It is in the valley.

The church is the only institution I know of that exists primarily for the sake of those outside it. If we listen to Jesus, we hear him say again, “GO…make disciples.”

So – remember where your work is.

One final suggestion.

If you want to be truly prepared for Christ’s invitation to the mountaintop – to a WOW experience — you need an attitude of joyous expectancy.

When you come to this holy place from week to week, prayerfully begin your trip through the doors ready to have an experience with God.

Don’t come ready to not run into someone you would rather not see –

Don’t come ready to not sing a hymn you don’t know and would rather not learn –

Don’t come ready to mumble through a prayer or a creed without giving it much thought –

Don’t come ready to “suffer through a sermon” that you will not understand or be able to relate to.

No.

Instead – come ready for an experience with God – an experience with Jesus.. an experience that may come in a person – or in a song – or in a prayer – or in a creed – or – maybe – just maybe – even in a sermon.

The older I get the more I realize that attitude is everything!

If the attitude is right, then the invitation for a WOW experience – a mountaintop experience — can come and be received with the joy it deserves.

Five suggestions in preparation for a trip to the mountaintop – five suggestions for preparation for a WOW experience –

make yourself available –

learn all you can about your faith tradition –

listen to Jesus –

remember where your work is –

and finally, attitude.

These might help us be ready when the mountaintop experience – the WOW experience – presents itself!

Amen

1 Peter 2:1-10

1 Peter 2:1-10

The Fifth and Sixth Great Ends: Working For Righteousness, Showing God to the World

Part 5 of The Great Ends of the Church series

August 20, 2006

As Sally and I are packing and preparing for our move to South Carolina, I have been – as I have told you the last several weeks — praying and thinking a lot about what messages God would have me bring to you these last few weeks we have together. As I continue to pray about this, I continue to be 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.

The past 4 weeks we have been doing this by looking 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’s 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”.

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

4 weeks ago 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 people who are committed to the proclamation of the gospel for the salvation of humankind – or evangelism.

3 weeks ago we looked at 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. That is:

the shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the children of God – or LOVE.

If the Wentworth Presbyterian Church is going to be the Church God intends for the Wentworth Presbyterian Church to be, you are going to have to be committed to be loving people – people who experience God’s love for yourself – share it with each other – and share it with the world.

2 weeks ago we looked at the third Great End of the Church –

The maintenance of Divine Worship –

and discovered that – if Wentworth Presbyterian is going to be the Church God intends for Wentworth Presbyterian to be, you are going to have to have a heart for worship – and focus on God – not just when you are gathered here – but all the time!

Then – last week – we looked at the fourth Great End of the Church –

the preservation of the truth –

and discovered that – if Wentworth Presbyterian is going to be the Church God intends for Wentworth Presbyterian to be, you are going to have to be committed to shining the light of Christ into a world that would be very dark with Christ’s light.

So – 4 things that are needed if the Wentworth Presbyterian Church is going to be the Church God intends for Wentworth Presbyterian to be – 4 things for you to be committed to:

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

But – there is more!

Not only do you need evangelism — love – and a heart for worship – and a commitment to shining God’s light into the world – but the 5^th and 6^th Great Ends are also needed:

the promotion of social righteousness

the exhibition of the Kingdom of Heaven to the world

Listen to how Peter calls on us to be a holy people – people who work for God’s will in the world and show God to the world:

READ 1 PETER 2:1-10

Some of the most popular shows on TV are the “reality TV” shows – and some of the most popular of these are what I call the “makeover shows”, in which a team of experts are brought in to transform somebody’s wardrobe, car, backyard, house, family, or physical appearance.

A few of the titles of the shows are “Extreme Makeover”, “Ambush Makeover”, “Head to Toe”, “Star Makeover”, “Renovate My Family”, “Makeover Mamas”, “Style Court”, and “How Do I Look?”.

The one considered the most bold and brash of them all – and one of the most popular — is a show called “The Swan” — which promises to turn “ugly ducklings” into “beauty queens”. Each contestant is assigned to a team of makeover experts, including a therapist, a personal trainer, a life coach, a dentist, and a cosmetic surgeon. They undergo a three-month treatment program that is supposed to result in a mental, emotional, and physical transformation. Upon completion of their treatments, some are selected to participate in a beauty pageant, with the chance to become “The Ultimate Swan”.

The website for the show gives information on former contestants.

One is a 33-year-old mother of 5 children. She has never felt beautiful and was the ugly kid at every age, in every class.

Another is a 28-year-old flight attendant in a serious rut. She has incredibly loving parents who want nothing but happiness for her. Unfortunately, she can’t see the beautiful person they see. She wants a total life change.

Still another is 27, an office worker, and has been married for one year. She grew up feeling that no one expected much from her, and so she didn’t expect much from herself. She’s tired of feeling average and is ready to dedicate herself to getting in shape and becoming a better person.

Then there is another who is 36 and recently divorced. She has worked most of her life managing volunteer services. She works so hard helping others in order to avoid doing any work on herself. She needs this life transformation to stop running and start being the person she wants to be.

These women, and the men who appear on similar shows, don’t just want to be a little bit thinner or a little bit healthier. They want to be transformed; they want to become new, better, different people.

These shows are so popular because there are many people who want to be transformed – to be changed. There are many people who want to be what they consider to be “better people” – who are not just curious about what they would look like, but want to know what they could be like if they had 3 months with a team of “makeover experts”. Maybe they not only want to look better – but want to be more disciplined, more patient, more kind, more organized. Maybe they want to be better parents, or have happier marriages, or want to be more successful in their work.

These “Makeover Reality TV” shows speak to those longings. They tell us that, with the right help and some hard work, we could really be somebody.

Time magazine analyzed the shows’ success this way:

“What people want is a new identity. They want to believe that this new, glorious self was inside them all along. These shows cater to the fantasy that if someone with a gifted eye took the time, that person would see your beauty and uniqueness, and would probe past the lie of your drab existence and bring the shimmering, true you to the surface.”

In a sense we all probably want to be better, healthier, more beautiful people.

Well, there is good news.

The good news is you can be.

The good news is we can be.

Transformation is possible.

In fact – I’ll tell you a secret — with God’s help, you can become one of the most beautiful people on Earth.

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (1 Peter 2:9-10)

The 5^th and 6^th great ends of the Church are:

the promotion of social righteousness

the exhibition of the Kingdom of Heaven to the world

If Wentworth Presbyterian Church is going to be the Church God intends for Wentworth Presbyterian to be, you are going to have to be holy people – transformed by God into the people who promote social righteousness and exhibit the Kingdom of Heaven to the world.

In other words, you are going to have to become the most beautiful people on earth.

The last 4 weeks – as we have been focusing on the 6 Great Ends Of The Church and what it means to be the people of God – we’ve seen several times that in many cases it means going against what the world says and does and going towards what God says and calls us to do. As followers of Christ, we might sometimes feel like strangers in a culture that wants less and less to do with God and His truth. Peter uses the word “stranger” several times in his epistle to describe Christians in a pagan world. We are to be strangers in the sense that we’re on a mission as we make our way through this world. We don’t just drift along with the cultural current; we don’t just mark time here until we get to our heavenly home. We are people of purpose, pointing others toward God as we travel through this world.

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (1 Peter 2:9-10)

The 5^th and 6^th great ends of the Church are:

the promotion of social righteousness

the exhibition of the Kingdom of Heaven to the world

If Wentworth Presbyterian Church is going to be the Church God intends for Wentworth Presbyterian to be, you are going to have to be holy people – transformed by God into the people who promote social righteousness and exhibit the Kingdom of Heaven to the world.

I believe that followers of Christ are to be people of distinction who, by the beauty of our lives, show people a better way to live.

Christians are to be the most beautiful people on earth.

How so?

First of all — Christians are distinguished by their moral excellence.

The first thing that distinguishes followers of Christ is moral excellence.

Peter says in 1 Peter 1:13-16

“Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’”

Now that you are free from your past, that your future in heaven is secure, and that the blessings of God’s Kingdom are already yours to enjoy, live like it.

Live differently.

Live distinctively.

That expression, “prepare your minds for action,” could be paraphrased by saying: “Roll up your sleeves,” or, “Get on with it.”

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (1 Peter 2:9-10)

In thinking of some of the contestants in The Swan—women who always thought of themselves as ugly ducklings, who never expected much of themselves, they were –- in a sense — living in ignorance; they weren’t aware of their uniqueness and potential and inherent beauty. That ignorance shaped their life and behavior. They thought they were unattractive so they dressed like it and acted like it. They thought they had no potential so they didn’t strive or dream or take risks. They were living in ignorance.

Peter doesn’t want that to happen to his readers, or to us. He tells us:

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (1 Peter 2:9-10)

For decades now, some people have been telling us that our existence on this planet is an accident, a cosmic coincidence, and that human beings are nothing more than highly evolved animals. They try to tell us that when we die we simply cease to exist; we return to the Earth from which we came. So why are we surprised when people act like animals, satisfying every physical appetite with no sense of self-control or propriety? Why are we surprised when life is so cheap that a person will kill another human being for $20, or because someone got cut off on the highway? Why are we surprised when so many people live aimlessly, drifting from one relationship to another, one party to another, with no sense of purpose? If this life is all there is, if there are no eternal consequences, if there is no God to whom we must give an account, why shouldn’t people just live for today and do what they please?

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (1 Peter 2:9-10)

Followers of Christ know better than that.

We understand where we came from, why we’re here, and what we were created for. So, we should live like it. We should value life. We should control our appetites. We should take care of our bodies. We should respect other people’s rights and property.

Peter says in 1 Peter 2:2: “Rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.”

These are behaviors that demean us and demean other people, so we take them off like a pair of dirty old clothes.

So, negatively speaking, moral excellence means not conforming to the standards of a culture that is ignorant of God’s truth and love. Positively speaking, moral excellence means being holy.

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (1 Peter 2:9-10)

Now, at first reading, this doesn’t sound especially appealing.

“Holy” isn’t one of the top 10 wannabe’s in our culture. People wannabe popular, they wannabe famous, they wannabe good-looking, they wanna have some fun. But you don’t see many magazines at the newsstands offering “10 secrets to a more holy you.” To most people, holiness sounds like a stuffed shirt; it sounds boring and stifling and joyless.

But the root idea of holiness is “otherness.”

To be holy is to be set apart from the rest, to be different or distinctive.

And since God is the ultimate “other,” holiness also means being like God.

There are some ways in which we can never be like God. We can never be all-powerful, all-knowing, or everywhere-present. But God is also good and kind and merciful and just and faithful and pure and generous and true. And we can be these things! We can’t be perfect, but we can be excellent. And when we are, we will stand out in a culture of moral confusion.

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (1 Peter 2:9-10)

The 5^th and 6^th great ends of the Church are:

the promotion of social righteousness

the exhibition of the Kingdom of Heaven to the world

If Wentworth Presbyterian Church is going to be the Church God intends for Wentworth Presbyterian to be, you are going to have to be holy people – transformed by God into the people who promote social righteousness and exhibit the Kingdom of Heaven to the world.

In other words, you are going to have to become the most beautiful people on earth.

Unfortunately, many Christians are not doing a very good job of being that these days.

The pollster George Barna has done an extensive survey of people who claim to have a personal, life-changing relationship with Christ, and he finds an appalling lack of distinction from the rest of the population when it comes to lifestyle and behavior. Christian couples are almost as likely to get a divorce as the rest of the population. Christian singles are just about as likely to be active sexually as single people who are not Christians. Nearly 50 percent of people who claim to be born-again followers of Christ believe that it is morally acceptable to live with someone without being married. That’s only 10 percent less than the general population. No wonder so many people have a hard time taking Christianity seriously—they see no discernible difference in the quality of our lives.

Suppose someone were to follow you around for a week or so.

Would they see a discernible difference in the quality of your life, or would it look pretty much like everybody else’s?

Suppose they were to listen in on your conversations in the hallway or the lunchroom or the locker room.

Would they hear gossip or backstabbing or foul language or sexual innuendo?

What if they sat beside you as you surfed TV channels or the Internet, would they find you lingering over shows or sites that were excessively violent or exploitive or pornographic?

Suppose they were to follow you around as you did your daily work, whatever that happens to be.

Would they find you wasting company time or money, losing your temper when things go wrong, humiliating people, or cutting corners on jobs when no one is looking?

If they were to sit at the dinner table in your home, would they be surprised at the lack of meaningful conversation between you and your spouse, or at how harsh or inattentive you were to your children?

Suppose they were to go shopping with you, would they see you spending money as freely as everybody else on things that really don’t matter and don’t last?

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (1 Peter 2:9-10)

The 5^th and 6^th great ends of the Church are:

the promotion of social righteousness

the exhibition of the Kingdom of Heaven to the world

If Wentworth Presbyterian Church is going to be the Church God intends for Wentworth Presbyterian to be, you are going to have to be holy people – transformed by God into the people who promote social righteousness and exhibit the Kingdom of Heaven to the world.

In other words, you are going to have to become the most beautiful people on earth.

Our behavior ought to be so distinctive that it causes people to stop and take notice. Not because it’s so weird, but because it is so attractive, so excellent. That’s what it means to be a person of distinction: showing people a better way to live.

` But, you know, moral excellence alone won’t give us influence with the people around us. Holiness, while it is admirable, can also be intimidating and distancing. How do you get close to a person who seems to be morally superior? And how do you pursue moral excellence without appearing self-righteous or judgmental?

If we are holy as God is holy, people may notice that we’re different, they may even admire certain aspects of our lives, but they won’t be influenced by our lives unless something else is present. That something else is love.

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (1 Peter 2:9-10)

The 5^th and 6^th great ends of the Church are:

the promotion of social righteousness

the exhibition of the Kingdom of Heaven to the world

If Wentworth Presbyterian Church is going to be the Church God intends for Wentworth Presbyterian to be, you are going to have to be holy people – transformed by God into the people who promote social righteousness and exhibit the Kingdom of Heaven to the world.

In other words, you are going to have to become the most beautiful people on earth.

You have to be distinguished by a moral excellence.

You also have to be distinguished by a remarkable love.

That’s the second transformation God wants to work in your life. He wants to turn you into people of remarkable love.

Peter writes in 1 Peter 1:22:

“Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.”

Peter uses two different words for love here. The first is the Greek word philos, which we know describes brotherly love. It’s the love that people commonly feel toward their friends and family. And certainly, as God’s people, we ought to have positive, loving relationships with the important people in our lives.

But then Peter uses a second word that is not quite as familiar as the first, but one we use from time to time because there is no English word that quite captures the richness of it. It’s the word agape.

agape is the word the Bible uses to describe God’s kind of love.

It’s a unique love, unlike anything you find in human relationships.

It’s unconditional love, sacrificial love. This kind of love doesn’t just respond to people, it reaches out to people. It seeks people—even when they don’t want to be loved, even when they are hard to love. This is the kind of love that sets followers of Christ apart from the rest of the population.

Anyone can love their friends and family, but Christians are called to love everyone.

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (1 Peter 2:9-10)

Now, Peter is mainly speaking here about the way Christians love one another. He’s saying that the quality of relationships we enjoy in the church ought to be so honest, so sincere, so transparent, and so authentic that the world can’t help but notice a difference.

Is that true of us?

Suppose someone were to be visiting the church this morning, sitting right here in the service for the very first time.

Would they be surprised at how friendly we were toward one another, and toward them?

Would they be amazed at how many people said hello to them and introduced themselves?

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (1 Peter 2:9-10)

But even though Peter is speaking primarily about love for the family of God, certainly this agape love ought to spill over into other relationships as well—to the people in our neighborhood, to our clients and co-workers and competitors, to strangers we meet on the street, extended family, even to people who might be described as our enemies.

We all have people in our lives who are difficult to love, who have snubbed us or hurt us or taken advantage of us.

Are we willing to forgive past offenses, to overlook shortcomings, to give people a second chance?

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (1 Peter 2:9-10)

The 5^th and 6^th great ends of the Church are:

the promotion of social righteousness

the exhibition of the Kingdom of Heaven to the world

If Wentworth Presbyterian Church is going to be the Church God intends for Wentworth Presbyterian to be, you are going to have to be holy people – transformed by God into the people who promote social righteousness and exhibit the Kingdom of Heaven to the world.

In other words, you are going to have to become the most beautiful people on earth.

You have to be distinguished by a moral excellence.

You have to be distinguished by a remarkable love.

One without the other isn’t good enough.

Moral excellence without love is cold; people admire holiness, but they keep their distance.

Love without moral excellence is flimsy; people feel comfortable around us, but walk away unchanged.

But combine moral excellence with remarkable love, and you produce people of irresistible influence.

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (1 Peter 2:9-10)

God can transform you into the most beautiful people on earth – people of moral excellence and remarkable love.

Have you experienced this kind of transformation, this total makeover?

It’s not a three-month project. It’s a lifelong process, but it begins when you let God work in your life and make a difference in your life – then work through you to make a difference in the world.

God has already begun that work in many of our lives, but Peter reminds us here that we are still a work in progress.

“Like newborn babies, grow up in your salvation.” (1 Peter 2:2)

If you were to ask God to do some work in your life these days, where would it be?

In the area of moral excellence?

Changing some behavior?

Or would it be in the area of remarkable love?

Enabling you to reach out to someone you might have overlooked or stuggled with?

Invite the Lord to begin that transforming work in your life today.

At the beginning of the message, we talked about the fantasy that, if someone with a gifted eye took the time, they might see our inherent beauty and uniqueness. They might probe past our drab exterior and bring our shimmering, true self to the surface.

It turns out that is no fantasy at all — it’s the gospel.

It’s the good news that you have been created in the image of God, that your failures and flaws can be redeemed, and that by God’s grace you can become a person of distinction who, by the beauty of your life, shows the people around you a better way to live.

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (1 Peter 2:9-10)

The 5^th and 6^th great ends of the Church are:

the promotion of social righteousness

the exhibition of the Kingdom of Heaven to the world

If Wentworth Presbyterian Church is going to be the Church God intends for Wentworth Presbyterian to be, you are going to have to be holy people – transformed by God into the people who promote social righteousness and exhibit the Kingdom of Heaven to the world.

In other words, you are going to have to become the most beautiful people on earth.

The good news is that each of you have been created in the image of God, that your failures and flaws can be redeemed, and that by God’s grace each of you can become a person of distinction who, by the beauty of your life, shows the people around you a better way to live.

In other words, God through you can fulfill the 5^th and 6^th Great Ends of the Church:

the promotion of social righteousness

the exhibition of the Kingdom of Heaven to the world

In other words, God can transform you – so that by your moral excellence and remarkable love you can become the most beautiful people on earth. Amen.

Exodus 20:1-17, John 2:13-22

Exodus 20:1-17

John 2:13-22

“Get Right With God”

Lent 3  March 20, 2006

 

We are now 3 weeks into the Lenten season —

            3 weeks into our journey with Christ and His disciples as they journey to Jerusalem — where Jesus will die on the cross for our sins.

            As we journey with Jesus and the disciples during this Lenten season, we see the commitment Jesus made to His mission to die for our sins.

            It is our prayer that we will also get a new vision for being the people God calls us to be — people who are more committed to Him and to His work in our lives and in the world.

            The passages we have before us today are – from the Old Testament – the 10 Commandments as we have them in Exodus 20 – and – from the Gospel of John – the story of how Jesus cleansed the temple in Jerusalem.

            These passages may not seem to be similar, but as we look at them we might find some similarities – and a call to journey with Jesus and find that the road to commitment leads us to becoming people whose hearts and minds are right with God.  

            Listen to God’s word.

           

READ BOTH PASSAGES

 

Simeon had been a livestock dealer in the temple all his life, and his father before him, and his before him, and his before him — his family had been livestock dealers in the temple for hundreds of years.  He always got to the temple early to claim his spot.  People looked for him there.  They knew him and trusted him.  His cattle and sheep always met the requirements specified in the law for sacrifice. 

            Now he could only watch in dismay as his livestock scattered into the city. 

            He was ruined. 

            Why?

            How had it happened?

            Who was this crazy Galilean, anyway?

            It was then that Simeon saw one of the followers of that crazy Galilean — the one they called Thomas — sitting alone, and shaking his head dejectedly.  Simeon ran over to him and said:

            “Hey — you — don’t  you realize what you people have cost me?”

            “I know.  I know.” said Thomas.  

            “I’ll send Judas over tomorrow to see if we can cover your losses.”

            “What was this all about?” demanded Simeon.

            “I don’t know” replied Thomas.

            “Something set Him off — I’m not sure what.  It’s just that He feels so deeply…”

            “Yea, right.  That’s obvious,” said Simeon.

            “He seemed to think we were committing a crime or something.  Doesn’t He know how the temple operates?  We provide a service for the people — we sell the animals they need to sacrifice.  Without us, no one could sacrifice.  And if they couldn’t sacrifice, they couldn’t obey God.  It’s as simple as that.  So, don’t we deserve to be paid for our services?  Isn’t the workman worthy of his wages?”

            “Sure you are.” replied Thomas. 

            “Don’t take it personally.  I don’t think it was directed at you.”

            “Then what was it all about?  Is He an atheist or something?  Doesn’t He understand the law — that sacrifice is what God commands?”

            “Yes, yes, He knows that.  And no, He’s not an atheist.  Far from it.  If anything, He believes too much.”

            “Then what’s the problem?”

            Thomas pondered this a moment —

            “I don’t know.  It’s strange.  It’s as if He wants people to have a right relationship with God — to live in a right relationship with God — to let the commandments change their lives.  Maybe He’s telling us to get right with God.”

            “Well — I don’t know — all I know is that He sure turned my life upside down.”  Simeon mumbles as he walks off.

 

GET RIGHT WITH GOD!

GET RIGHT WITH GOD!

 

            We are 3 weeks into our season of Lent — that time in the Church year that is meant for thinking about the death of Christ — what it means for us — and what response we make.  It is a time for reflection upon our relationship with Christ — our relationship with God.  It is a time for us to recommit our lives to God and to Christ — to go in His ways.

 

            It is a time for us to

 

GET RIGHT WITH GOD!

GET RIGHT WITH GOD!

 

            Both our Old Testament and Gospel texts for today have that as their theme.  They are both calling us to have a right relationship with God and others.  They are both calling on us to

 

GET RIGHT WITH GOD!

GET RIGHT WITH GOD!

 

            So — what about our Old Testament text?

            How should we view and consider the 10 Commandments?

            As laws written in stone by God — who will strike us down if we attempt to break them?

As 10 laws meant to do away with any fun we might have — or think about having — handed down to us by a God who is a killjoy – - continually spouting forth a litany of “Thou shalts” and “Thou shalt nots”? 

            As 10 laws that restrict what we do — handed down to us by a God who is only interested in limiting our actions?

            Or — as 10 rules to closely follow – - to keep track of our obedience to – - and to take great pride in our ability to follow – - while at the same time looking down on those we do not feel keep the Commandments as well as we think we do?

            Both ways of interpreting the 10 Commandments are fairly prevalent – - as rules that restrict us or rules that cause us great pride when we feel we follow them better than others.

            But – - wait a minute.

            Are there other options for interpreting the 10 Commandments – - and other options for visualizing God?

            Surely there must be.

            Let’s take another look at God giving the 10 Commandments to the Israelites and see if we can come up with another way to interpret them — and another way to visualize God.

            God had just freed the people of Israel from slavery.  Through Moses God had worked miracles and mighty deeds that made clear God’s will for freedom for God’s people. 

            I remember several years ago we took the young people to see the movie “Prince of Egypt” – and they were all in awe of the scene of salvation for the Israelites as God parted the Red Sea and the Israelites crossed into freedom

One of them was so impressed he looked up and announced:

            “Now that’s something you don’t see every day!”

            Indeed, salvation is not something you see every day.

            It is not commonplace.

So — what do the Israelites do in response to their freedom?

            They had been freed by God – but now what?

            Should their freedom by the very special occurrence of God’s salvation change how they live?

            Are they to live any differently because they have been freed from slavery by God?

            Certainly.

            The glorious fact that they had been freed from slavery by the power of God acting in a way that is so marvelous and out – of – the – ordinary was to be the deciding factor in how they lived. They were to live differently from others — because God had blessed them with their freedom. 

            But – - how were they to live differently?

            At Mt. Sinai they found out.

             In the fire and the smoke and the quaking of that holy mountain they found out how God wanted them to live.

            They had been freed from slavery by their freeing – -  life-giving God — and now they were to have undivided loyalty to God – - a loyalty that would not allow them to try to manipulate God by carving idols — or to take God’s Holy name lightly – - and that would require them to take a Sabbath day of rest out of every 7 days to remember and worship God. 

            But — because God had freed them – - they were also to live in a special relationship with others — honoring their parents — refraining from murder, adultery, stealing, lying and coveting — or doing anything else that might keep them from living in this special relationship with God and others. 

            The 10 Commandments were indeed commandments – - but they were not Commandments that restricted what the people could and could not do as much as it freed them to live in a right relationship with God  — to honor and respect and worship God and to treat others with love and honor and respect. 

 

            The 10 Commandments are commandments to live in a right relationship with God and others. 

                        They are commandments to

GET RIGHT WITH GOD!

GET RIGHT WITH GOD!

           They are commandments to live in a right relationship with God and others — and that even show us how to do that.  They are commandments that show us how to put God first in our lives — and because God is first in our lives, we live in ways that respect and honor God — ways that do not try to manipulate God or take His Holy Name lightly — ways that take time for God and that take time to worship and remember Him.

            They are also commandments for a special relationship with others — a relationship that honors all people and shows honor and respect by not killing, committing adultery — stealing — lying — or coveting.

            They are commandments for special and right relationships with God and others. 

            They are commandments to:

GET RIGHT WITH GOD!

GET RIGHT WITH GOD!

 

It is as if they are saying:  

GET RIGHT RIGHT WITH GOD!

                                                                             DO IT NOW!

                                                                             GOD WILL SHOW YOU HOW!

 

            GET RIGHT WITH GOD!

            GET RIGHT WITH GOD!

 

            Jesus said the same things — and as He walked through the temple that day He seemed to be incensed at the fact that the people were putting more emphasis on the law and the sacrifice than they were on their own personal relationship with God. 

            As He turned the tables over and drove the money changers out — it is as if He were saying that this was not right — that living in God’s ways — letting God make a difference in your life — letting the ways of God make a difference in how you lived your life — was the only right way to live. 

            It’s as if He were saying:

 

                                                                             GET RIGHT WITH GOD!

                                                                             DO IT NOW!

                                                                             GOD WILL SHOW YOU HOW!

 

            GET RIGHT WITH GOD!

            GET RIGHT WITH GOD!

 

            That’s still the message.

            That was God’s message to the people of Israel in the 10 Commandments and so many other times in the Old Testament — as well as Jesus’ message throughout His ministry.

 

                                                                       

            GET RIGHT WITH GOD!

            GET RIGHT WITH GOD!

                                                 

                                                    GET RIGHT WITH GOD!

                                                                     DO IT NOW!

                                                  GOD WILL SHOW YOU HOW!

 

            That’s still God’s message to us today.

            That’s still God’s message to you today.

            That’s still Jesus’ message to us.

            That’s still Jesus’ message to you.

                                                                       

                                                                        GET RIGHT WITH GOD!

                                                                      GET RIGHT WITH GOD!

                                                                       

                                                GET RIGHT WITH GOD!

                                                          DO IT NOW!

                                   GOD WILL SHOW YOU HOW!

 

            The season of Lent compels us to look at our own relationship with Christ — how we are living our lives — and how Christ has called us to live our lives. 

            So — how about it?

            Are you “right with God?” 

            Are you living your life in a right relationship with God?

            Are the things of God — the things the 10 Commandments speak of — vital and important for your life?

            Like the Israelites freed from slavery in Egypt in a powerful action by God — an action you indeed don’t see every day — you have been freed from slavery to sin through the death of Christ on the cross -  – another gloriously powerful action — another action you certainly don’t see and experience every day — but this gloriously powerful action must change your life. 

 

            You must live in new ways. 

            You must live in a new and right relationship with God and others. 

            Do you?

            Do you?

            Do you live a life that shows an undivided loyalty to God – - a loyalty that will not allow you to try to manipulate God’s will to your will  — or to take God’s Holy name lightly – - a loyalty that requires you to take a day out of every 7 days to remember and worship God?

 

GET RIGHT WITH GOD!

                  GET RIGHT WITH GOD!               

 

            Not only must you live in a right relationship with God — but also it is also necessary to live in a right relationship with others.

                        Do you?

                        Do you?

            Do you live in a right relationship with others — a relationship that honors all people and shows honor and respect by not killing, committing adultery — stealing — lying — or coveting — or doing anything else that keeps you from truly living in a right relationship with others?

            Think about it.

            Think about your relationship with God and others.

            If they are not the “right” relationships God would have them be — let God make them “right.”

           

            Will Willimon  — former Chaplain at Duke University and Dean of Duke Chapel – now a Bishop in the Methodist Church – tells of a dream he once had that he was walking up to the beautiful Duke Chapel and heard quite a commotion.  When he got closer he observed that the beautiful $200 each hymn books – the $2,000 Pulpit Bible  — the hand embroidered paraments and the immense Communion Table was all laying outside the chapel – all broken and crumpled.

As he rushed to see what was going on, he saw Jesus leave the chapel in a fit of anger – proclaiming that people were more important than things – and the chapel had needed to be cleaned out to make more room for Him.

 

            How would Jesus judge us as a Church?

            Would He say that we had our priorities in the right places – or that we needed to do some “cleaning” to make more room for Him?

            How would Jesus judge you as a Christian?

            Would He say you had your priorities in the right places – or that you needed some “cleaning” to make room for Him?

 

            Would Jesus’ message to us be that we were “right” with Him – that our relationships with Him and others were what they should be?

            Would Jesus’ message to you be that you are  “right” with Him – that your relationships with Him and others were what they should be?

           

Do you live in a right relationship with God – a relationship based on an undivided loyalty to God – - a loyalty that will not allow you to try to manipulate God’s will to your will  — or to take God’s Holy name lightly – - a loyalty that requires you to take a day out of every 7 days to remember and worship God?

            Do you live in a right relationship with others — a relationship that puts honors all people and shows honor and respect by not killing, committing adultery — stealing — lying — or coveting — or doing anything else that keeps you from truly living in a right relationship with others?

            Think about it.

            Think about your relationship with God and others.

            If they are not the “right” relationships God would have them be — let God make them “right.”

            As we go through this season of Lent – and journey with Jesus towards greater commitment to Him – one thing we must remember is:

 

                                                      GET RIGHT WITH GOD!

                                                                      DO IT NOW!

                                                 GOD WILL SHOW YOU HOW!

           

                           GET RIGHT WITH GOD!

                        GET RIGHT WITH GOD!

 

AMEN