“Jesus’ Small Group” Mark 6:6-13, 30-32
Some of you may have stayed up late on Saturday night watching a sporting event.
Maybe you heard …
A mother told her son, “We need to be quiet in church”
The boy replied, “Why? Is it because so many people are sleeping?”
The story is told …
A pastor was frustrated because a man in the congregation fell asleep every Sunday during the sermon. So he made a plan.
Near the end of his sermon the pastor said in a quiet voice, “anyone who doesn’t want to go to heaven …” And then in a loud voice, he shouted, “PLEASE STAND UP.”
The man woke suddenly and stood up.
After looking around he said, “Pastor, I’m not sure what the issue is, but it looks like the only ones in favor of it are me and you.”
Sometimes we need the rest more than we need to hear a sermon.
Jesus and disciples took time away. They went on retreats and had times of rest.
The disciples were a diverse group, an unlikely group to find together. There were liberals, conservatives, revolutionaries and establishment types. The one thing they had in common … they hoped for a savior (a messiah) and they found that in Jesus.
They spent time together, studied scripture with Jesus, learned from Him, ate together, traveled together.
They were formed into a group.
After a while, Jesus sent them out for a short mission trip.
A HEALTHY CHURCH
Today we continue our look at becoming a healthy church
Even though we’re not sick, it doesn’t mean we’re healthy.
We’re looking at the eight characteristics of a healthy church from the Natural Church Development study.
Today: continue on #6 – A healthy church has holistic small groups.
THE SOURCE OF OUR SPIRITUAL LIFE
We live in difficult times – for many reasons.
Where do you get your strength and encouragement to keep the Christian faith?
1. From God. The Psalmists taught us to find that in God.
The Lord is my strength and my shield” (Ps 28:7)
“The Lord is the strength of his people (Ps 28:8)
“Look to the Lord and his strength” (Ps 105:4)
“The Lord is my strength and my song” (Ps 118:14)
One Sunday after church a mother asked her young daughter what the lesson was about. Her daughter answered "Don't be scared, you'll get your quilts. " Needless to say, Mom was perplexed. Later in the day she called the Sunday School teacher and asked what the lesson was about. The teacher said "Be not afraid, thy comforter is coming."
We need a close relationship with God – our comforter.
Jesus said “Come unto me all who are weary carry heavy burdens” (Mt 11:28)
To maintain our spiritual life – we need to go to Jesus. Jesus is the way to God.
2. With others.
Paul wrote “Bear one another’s burdens” (Gal 6:2)
“Pray for one another”
“Be devoted to one another” (Rom 12:10)
“Love one another”
To maintain our spiritual life – we need to go to each other.
JESUS’ SMALL GROUP
Jesus used a small group to form disciples … the 12 together worked out how to live the Christian life during difficult times.
They discussed scripture passages, and they went beyond just discussing scripture passages to applying the message to daily life.
This group was the natural place for Christians to learn to serve others (with their spiritual gifts).
THEY WERE A HOLISTIC SMALL GROUP
The small group went out to apply some of what they were learning together.
They could do these things because they experienced them in their small group.
According to today’s scripture, (Mark 6:12) they went out in twos.
1. They shared the gospel (repentance) (This showed they were concerned with the mind)
2. They drove out demons (things in their lives that took control of them) (This showed they were concerned with the Spirit, Psychic)
3. They healed (This showed they were concerned with the physical)
It was holistic! It had to do with all aspects of the person’s life.
The gospel is holistic – God cares about all aspects of our lives (mind, spirit, physical, material)
We should care about each other in the same way.
If someone’s suv was stuck in the mud would we say, “I’ll pray for you”?
The disciples (6 groups of 2) - served Christ with their lives.
Then (Mark 6:30) they got back together and talked about it.
A small group shares the joys and struggles of living the Christian life.
WHAT DO SMALL GROUPS DO
In Acts 2:41-47 we find what these 12 (and others) did to build the early church.
Acts 2:41 tells us there were more than 3100 believers in the church. What does that have to do with small groups?
Let’s go back to first century Jerusalem.
There were some halls to rent (Acts 2:1 tells us that 120 were together in one place)
A large wealthy home could entertain maybe 40 people.
A regular house could squeeze in maybe 20.
Where were these 3100 people?
We realize they met in small groups in homes (2:46)
- They met together at the temple
- They fellowshipped in homes (a small group ministry)
The Natural Church Development study found that small groups are more important that corporate worship for a healthy church.
We tend to think that what goes on from 10:30 to 12:00 on Sunday morning is the most important time for the church. It’s difficult (especially for a pastor) to admit that’s wrong.
Participating in a small group is more important than attending church (worship).
Sunday AM is important, but … apparently, small groups are more important.
WHAT DID THE SMALL GROUPS DO?
Acts 2:42 – four things
1. Learning about God (Scriptures)
Holistic small groups go beyond studying the scriptures, to applying them to their lives.
2. Fellowship (enjoying each other) Koinonia
3. Food (Lord’s Supper? Agape Feast? Potluck?)
4. Prayer
HOLISTIC SMALL GROUPS
(To be holistic, a group must care about all aspects of the person’s life)
We have small groups: Sunday School Classes, Worship Teams, committees, commissions, prayer groups, etc.
Issues to consider:
Clique vs. small group
Inviting vs. Exclusive
Gossip?
Is the group caring and Christ centered?
Why do they meet? Each small group can become a holistic small group if they have learning, prayer, and concern for each other’s joys and struggles.
Paul wanted the early church to continue the practice of Acts 2
1 Corinthians 11:17-18 (read 2 weeks ago for communion) “your meetings do more harm than good … I hear that when you come together … there are divisions among you.”
At the ACC Fall Assembly we talked about the difficulties in “being connected” as Christians. It has to be intentional.
What do you do during difficult times in your life?
Go to God!
Share with others.
Do you feel alone in your walk with Christ?
God wants you to connect to other Christians.
I asked the children what would happen if we took a coal out of a camp fire. Most agreed that it would go out. God wants to keep the spiritual fire alive in our lives. It’s much easier to do that when we are together.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Monday, October 13, 2008
Sermon Synopsis for October 12, 2008
“A Small Group Activity” Matthew 26:20-30
We live in days of tumultuous days
We can be concerned about making a living, the economy, family problems, and the elections, among other things.
In the midst of a changing world something doesn’t change ...
the church gathering to celebrate the Lord’s Supper and wash each other’s feet (Communion)
In good times / in bad times – people gathered around a table to remember what Jesus did for them.
Communion does two things (hopefully):
Reinforces our relationship with God
Reinforces our relationship with each other
NOT A RITUAL
Maybe you heard ...
A new missionary recruit went to Venezuela for the first time. He was struggling with the language and didn't understand much of what was going on. He went to visit a local church, but got lost and arrived late. The church was already packed. The only pew left was the one on the front row.
To fit in, he decided to imitate the man sitting next to him. As they sang, the man clapped his hands, so the missionary recruit clapped too. When the man stood up to pray, the missionary recruit stood up too. When the man sat down, he sat down. When the man held the cup and bread for the Lord's Supper, he held the cup and bread. During the preaching, the recruit didn't understand a thing. He just sat there and tried to look just like that man in the front pew. Then he perceived that the preacher was giving announcements. People clapped, so he looked to see if the man was clapping. He was, and so the recruit clapped too.
Then the man next to him stood up; so he stood up too. Suddenly a hush fell over the entire congregation. A few people gasped. He looked around and saw that nobody else was standing. So he sat down.
After the service ended, the preacher stood at the door shaking the hands of those who were leaving. When the missionary recruit stretched out his hand to greet the preacher, the preacher said, in English: "I take it you don't speak Spanish."
The missionary recruit replied: "No I don't. It's that obvious?"
"Well yes," said the preacher, "I announced that the Acosta family had a newborn baby boy and would the proud father please stand up."
Communion is much more than a ritual; it’s much more than going through the motions.
NOT JUST ANOTHER MEAL
In the Gospels, Jesus has many meals –
Wedding at Cana
Eating grain picked on the Sabbath
Feeding 4 and 5 thousand at a time
Most notable are meals with despicable people (like Levi or Zacchaeus)
This meal is unlike any other meal.
SMALL GROUPS
Characteristic of a healthy church #6: A healthy church has holistic small groups.
Jesus dealt with crowds, but he knew that much of the most important ministry was done in a small group. At the end there were 13 in the group (Jesus and 12 disciples)
They enjoyed 3 years of ministry
The last week was a big week: triumphal entry, clearing temple, confrontations with many, lots of teaching
JESUS SMALL GROUP ACTIVITY
Passover: celebration of God’s deliverance from Egypt and the forming of a people, based on God’s love and forgiveness. [God passed over the houses of the Israelites, because he loved them, he did not pass judgment on t hem]
Some of the disciples were in charge of making the arrangements.
Find a meeting room – Jerusalem was crowded for the holidays “Next year in Jerusalem” The city swelled to half a million or more during the Passover of Jesus’ time. Jesus and the disciples gathered in an upper room of a large house.
Go to the Temple: purchase lamb (perfect, one per household) / sacrifice at temple court (for sins) / blood poured at foot of the altar (Josephus describes blood flowing from the temple mount because of the tens of thousands of lambs that were offered for Passover / fat burnt on alter (there were many altars due to number of sacrifices)
Back home: Passover ritual (sweet and bitter / remembrance of God’s deliverance from slavery (and sin).
Two weeks ago I spoke about: “But we never did it that way” / Jesus changed the Passover ritual.
That bothered some of the group.
COMMUNION
The word “Communion” implies being together.
How can you have communion alone?
Communion just with God?
We call it communion because we recognize two things:
1. We have communion with God (the reason for the practice)
2. We have communion with each other
A DIVERSE GROUP (OF BACKGROUNDS)
As we look at Jesus’ small group we see a diverse group. (Not typical for the time, or maybe anytime)
Peter & Andrew (brothers) and Philip (all probably legalistic Pharisees)
James & John (“sons of thunder”) – trouble makers
Simon the Zealot – revolutionary or “terrorist”
Levi (Matthew) – establishment, tax collector, Sadducee?
Judas Iscariot – treasurer, betrayal
How in the world did Jesus get this group to unite?
Jesus seeks to bring people together, not divide people.
Elections: dividing Christians (Maybe it’s why Mennonites historically stayed out of politics)
Point: Communion brings us together.
A DIVERSE GROUP (OF CONCERNS)
Each of the disciples came together on that evening with different concerns weighing on their hearts.
Much centered on the coming of the Kingdom of God.
It meant different things to those of different backgrounds (Compare Pharisees and Zealots for example)
COMMUNION ON THE BORDER
At Friendship Park, on the border south of San Diego, Methodist Pastor John Fanestil has offered communion to believers on both sides of the border (through the border fence).
A double fence is being built – part of anti terrorist act. “Passing Communion bread through the border fence is now a customs violation.” Pastor John is considered a “terrorist” by Homeland Security.
Jesus came to bring people together (under the cross and forgiveness), not to build fences.
Communion is bringing diverse people together at the cross of Christ.
(Christian Century, Oct 7, 2008, p.22 & ff.)
KJV 1 Cor 10:16 “The cup of blessing we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?” (NIV says “participation”)
THIS SIDE OF THE CROSS
Jesus asks the disciples to remember (commemorate) his death (broken body, shed blood).
He doesn’t ask them to remember his birth, life, miracles, etc. – he wants them to remember his death.
It is the ultimate act of sacrifice – for our sins, for our salvation.
We celebrate Communion on this side of the cross
We have an advantage over Jesus’ small group
As we come together:
We remember what Jesus did for us – because He loves us.
“God so loved the world, he sent Jesus”
Jesus wants to bring us together – like the disciples of old, we’re a diverse group.
What brings us together?
Forgiveness of our sins, Jesus body and blood.
WHAT’S NEXT
Jesus used a small group to form disciples.
Communion is the last activity of the group before Jesus’ death and resurrection.
It was the impulse to move the group to go and form more disciples.
When we have communion with God and with each other, it will result in others coming to Christ.
I showed the children some things that can help us remember important things: my agenda book, post it notes, a string on the finger.
We looked at the words carved on the front of the Communion Table: “In Remembrance of me” (i.e. “Don’t Forget Jesus”)
We mustn’t forget Jesus’ sacrifice for us.
Broken Body – Shed Blood
We need to remember why.
God loves us (all of us); God sent Jesus for us; God wants to live in our lives; God is sending Jesus back for us; God wants us to be together forever.
Consider the following when you come to the Communion table …
How is your relationship with God? Are you in communion with God?
How is your relationship with others? Are you in communion with the people with whom we share this bread and cup?
We live in days of tumultuous days
We can be concerned about making a living, the economy, family problems, and the elections, among other things.
In the midst of a changing world something doesn’t change ...
the church gathering to celebrate the Lord’s Supper and wash each other’s feet (Communion)
In good times / in bad times – people gathered around a table to remember what Jesus did for them.
Communion does two things (hopefully):
Reinforces our relationship with God
Reinforces our relationship with each other
NOT A RITUAL
Maybe you heard ...
A new missionary recruit went to Venezuela for the first time. He was struggling with the language and didn't understand much of what was going on. He went to visit a local church, but got lost and arrived late. The church was already packed. The only pew left was the one on the front row.
To fit in, he decided to imitate the man sitting next to him. As they sang, the man clapped his hands, so the missionary recruit clapped too. When the man stood up to pray, the missionary recruit stood up too. When the man sat down, he sat down. When the man held the cup and bread for the Lord's Supper, he held the cup and bread. During the preaching, the recruit didn't understand a thing. He just sat there and tried to look just like that man in the front pew. Then he perceived that the preacher was giving announcements. People clapped, so he looked to see if the man was clapping. He was, and so the recruit clapped too.
Then the man next to him stood up; so he stood up too. Suddenly a hush fell over the entire congregation. A few people gasped. He looked around and saw that nobody else was standing. So he sat down.
After the service ended, the preacher stood at the door shaking the hands of those who were leaving. When the missionary recruit stretched out his hand to greet the preacher, the preacher said, in English: "I take it you don't speak Spanish."
The missionary recruit replied: "No I don't. It's that obvious?"
"Well yes," said the preacher, "I announced that the Acosta family had a newborn baby boy and would the proud father please stand up."
Communion is much more than a ritual; it’s much more than going through the motions.
NOT JUST ANOTHER MEAL
In the Gospels, Jesus has many meals –
Wedding at Cana
Eating grain picked on the Sabbath
Feeding 4 and 5 thousand at a time
Most notable are meals with despicable people (like Levi or Zacchaeus)
This meal is unlike any other meal.
SMALL GROUPS
Characteristic of a healthy church #6: A healthy church has holistic small groups.
Jesus dealt with crowds, but he knew that much of the most important ministry was done in a small group. At the end there were 13 in the group (Jesus and 12 disciples)
They enjoyed 3 years of ministry
The last week was a big week: triumphal entry, clearing temple, confrontations with many, lots of teaching
JESUS SMALL GROUP ACTIVITY
Passover: celebration of God’s deliverance from Egypt and the forming of a people, based on God’s love and forgiveness. [God passed over the houses of the Israelites, because he loved them, he did not pass judgment on t hem]
Some of the disciples were in charge of making the arrangements.
Find a meeting room – Jerusalem was crowded for the holidays “Next year in Jerusalem” The city swelled to half a million or more during the Passover of Jesus’ time. Jesus and the disciples gathered in an upper room of a large house.
Go to the Temple: purchase lamb (perfect, one per household) / sacrifice at temple court (for sins) / blood poured at foot of the altar (Josephus describes blood flowing from the temple mount because of the tens of thousands of lambs that were offered for Passover / fat burnt on alter (there were many altars due to number of sacrifices)
Back home: Passover ritual (sweet and bitter / remembrance of God’s deliverance from slavery (and sin).
Two weeks ago I spoke about: “But we never did it that way” / Jesus changed the Passover ritual.
That bothered some of the group.
COMMUNION
The word “Communion” implies being together.
How can you have communion alone?
Communion just with God?
We call it communion because we recognize two things:
1. We have communion with God (the reason for the practice)
2. We have communion with each other
A DIVERSE GROUP (OF BACKGROUNDS)
As we look at Jesus’ small group we see a diverse group. (Not typical for the time, or maybe anytime)
Peter & Andrew (brothers) and Philip (all probably legalistic Pharisees)
James & John (“sons of thunder”) – trouble makers
Simon the Zealot – revolutionary or “terrorist”
Levi (Matthew) – establishment, tax collector, Sadducee?
Judas Iscariot – treasurer, betrayal
How in the world did Jesus get this group to unite?
Jesus seeks to bring people together, not divide people.
Elections: dividing Christians (Maybe it’s why Mennonites historically stayed out of politics)
Point: Communion brings us together.
A DIVERSE GROUP (OF CONCERNS)
Each of the disciples came together on that evening with different concerns weighing on their hearts.
Much centered on the coming of the Kingdom of God.
It meant different things to those of different backgrounds (Compare Pharisees and Zealots for example)
COMMUNION ON THE BORDER
At Friendship Park, on the border south of San Diego, Methodist Pastor John Fanestil has offered communion to believers on both sides of the border (through the border fence).
A double fence is being built – part of anti terrorist act. “Passing Communion bread through the border fence is now a customs violation.” Pastor John is considered a “terrorist” by Homeland Security.
Jesus came to bring people together (under the cross and forgiveness), not to build fences.
Communion is bringing diverse people together at the cross of Christ.
(Christian Century, Oct 7, 2008, p.22 & ff.)
KJV 1 Cor 10:16 “The cup of blessing we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?” (NIV says “participation”)
THIS SIDE OF THE CROSS
Jesus asks the disciples to remember (commemorate) his death (broken body, shed blood).
He doesn’t ask them to remember his birth, life, miracles, etc. – he wants them to remember his death.
It is the ultimate act of sacrifice – for our sins, for our salvation.
We celebrate Communion on this side of the cross
We have an advantage over Jesus’ small group
As we come together:
We remember what Jesus did for us – because He loves us.
“God so loved the world, he sent Jesus”
Jesus wants to bring us together – like the disciples of old, we’re a diverse group.
What brings us together?
Forgiveness of our sins, Jesus body and blood.
WHAT’S NEXT
Jesus used a small group to form disciples.
Communion is the last activity of the group before Jesus’ death and resurrection.
It was the impulse to move the group to go and form more disciples.
When we have communion with God and with each other, it will result in others coming to Christ.
I showed the children some things that can help us remember important things: my agenda book, post it notes, a string on the finger.
We looked at the words carved on the front of the Communion Table: “In Remembrance of me” (i.e. “Don’t Forget Jesus”)
We mustn’t forget Jesus’ sacrifice for us.
Broken Body – Shed Blood
We need to remember why.
God loves us (all of us); God sent Jesus for us; God wants to live in our lives; God is sending Jesus back for us; God wants us to be together forever.
Consider the following when you come to the Communion table …
How is your relationship with God? Are you in communion with God?
How is your relationship with others? Are you in communion with the people with whom we share this bread and cup?
Friday, October 10, 2008
Sermon Synopsis for October 5, 2008
“Connecting With God” John 4:19-26
I'm think I’m giving up going to sporting events. Here are my 11 excuses:
1. Every time I went, they asked for money.
2. The people I sat next to didn't seem friendly.
3. The seats were too hard and not comfortable at all.
4. I went to many games but the coach never came to call on me.
5. The referees made decisions that I couldn't agree with.
6. The game went into overtime and I was late getting home.
7. The band played numbers I'd never heard before and it wasn't my style of music.
8. It seems the games are always scheduled when I want to do other things.
9. I suspect that I was sitting next to some hypocrites. They came to see their friends and they talked during the whole game.
10. I was taken to too many games by my parents when I was growing up.
11. I hate to wait in the traffic jam in the parking lot after the game. – Source Unknown
True worship is a transforming experience, and is certainly a mark of a revived church or believer. The real tragedy is that any church can be in revival all the time. The opportunity for true worship at any service is there, we just need to enter into worship in the right way.
Last week I spoke about change and doing things different in the church.
7 last words of the church: “But we never did it that way.”
Characteristic of a healthy church #5: A healthy church has inspiring worship services.
According to the Natural Church Development study, the different forms & styles of worship didn’t affect the level of inspiration. Something internal made it meaningful.
I asked the worship team to make sure today’s worship was inspiring?
How do you do that? It depends on so many things? You can’t force people to worship.
The pressure is on!
People are passionate about worship
Churches have divided over worship:
- Raising hands / clapping
- Quiet and reverent / loud and jubilant
- Instruments / which instruments
- Men on one side / women on other
- Time to worship?
Our Confession of Faith has casual mentions of worship, worship services are assumed. (remember I’m going to Mennonite School)
p.39 – The church should “become ever more like Jesus Christ … in its worship.”
Our “identity as God’s people of faith is sustained and renewed as members gather regularly for worship.”
P. 79 lists “corporate worship” as a spiritual discipline.
Worship isn’t something we include in a confession of faith – it’s a matter of the heart.
How do you know when you are worshiping?
GETTING TOGETHER WITH DIFFERENT FOLKS
In today’s scripture passage, Jesus and disciples are on their way to Galilee from Judea.
“He had to go through Samaria” (v.4)(Jesus was in a hurry. Why?)
The normal route took them on the other side of the Jordan River – out of their way to avoid contact with the Samaritans.
Were the Pharisees in Judah after him? Was the Jordan flooding? Political strife?
Did you ever cross the street to avoid coming into contact with someone?
Samaritans were despised. For a Jew, you had to be in a hurry to come into contact with a Samaritan.
There was a long standing prejudice between the Jews and the Samaritans.
920 BC Israel and Judah split.
722 BC Israel (Northern Kingdom) fell to Assyria.
Assyria’s used a resettlement program to control the population. New habitants worshiped Jehovah and other God’s like Baal. They only used the Pentateuch (other books were from the southern kingdom or not written yet). Waiting for a messiah to lead them.
586 BC Judah (Southern Kingdom) fell to Babylonia.
Babylonia’s policy was to take the best (scholars, wealthy, etc.) to Babylon and leave the poor and criminals behind.
539 BC Jews returned to Judah (Ezra, Nehemiah)
There were unmanageable differences with the Samaritans.
Jesus met a Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well, at the foot of Mt. Gerazim, where the Samaritans worshiped.
There are many unusual parts to this story:
Jesus (a man) interacts with a woman.
Jesus (a Jew) interacts with a Samaritan.
The woman gets uncomfortable with Jesus personal questions and she turns the conversation to religious issues.
John 4 talks about Two Mountains: Mt. Gerizim and Mt. Zion
The Samaritan woman changes the subject after Jesus convicts her about her relationship issues. Where should we worship? Religious rivalries (Samaritans were a sect of Jewish beliefs). The emphasis is on the differences. Neither is fully correct.
Both are looking for a Messiah!
WE DON’T ALWAYS FEEL LIKE WORSHIPPING
Many problems in the world – economy, jobs, inflation, poverty, hunger, etc.
Sometimes we get discouraged (Yesterday – fixing a leak, 3 trips to the hardware store – I wasn’t in any kind of mood for worshiping.)
We get detached from God
How do we get in the mood? Step back & breathe deeply, Prayer, reflection, scripture.
“Always be … joyful, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances … do not put out the Spirit’s fire.” (1 Thess 516-19)
To be able to worship we must be connected to God.
I was Remodeling – replaced an electric line, checked the connections, reconnected the wires. Nothing. Talk about not feeling like worshiping.
Finally, I turned on the breaker – I needed to be connected to the power.
Once my vehicle broke down in Bolivia. We were close to nowhere. Electric problems (from constant shaking on bad roads). I was tired, hungry, frustrated.
Trifon Ibarra said, While we’re here, why don’t we have a worship service?
(my response: Grrrr!)
WHAT IF I DON’T PRAISE GOD / CAN WE STOP PRAISE?
Pharisees tried to keep Jesus disciples from praising him (Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem)
Jesus, “If they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” (Luke 19:40)
Spiritual song: “If I don’t praise him, the rocks are going to cry out”
God is to be praised no matter if I do it or not. All of creation crys out …
WHAT ARE THE ISSUES HERE?
LOCATION
The issue isn’t location (Where do we worship – which mountain?)
God can’t be confined to a specific place – God is everywhere (Psalmist – if I go to the heights – you are there / if I go to the depths – you are there)
STYLE
The issue isn’t style – how we worship.
RITUALS
Going through the motions doesn’t always help.
So … What does matter?
v.23 – the time has arrived for true worship (for both Jews and Samaritans)
True Worshipers will worship God in Spirit and Truth
“inspiring” comes from Latin “inspirato” which means literally “in the spirit.”
In Spirit
Think about scripture references that inform us about the “spirit.”
- Gen 1:2 – the spirit moved over the waters (at creation)
- OT promises of coming of the spirit.
- Is 61:1 (and Jesus in Luke 4:18)
- Mark 14:38 – the spirit is willing but the body is weak
- Jn 1:32 – spirit descended like a dove (at Jesus baptism)
- Jn 4:24 – God is spirit.
- Ps 51:10 – Create in me a pure heart, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Opposite: physical? / unspiritual
How can we worship in Spirit? How can we guide God’s people to worship in Spirit?
God centered worship: God is spirit. Worship that is connected to God.
In Truth
Think about scripture references that inform us about “truth.”
- Ps 86:11 – Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth.
- Jesus often prefaced his sayings with, “I tell you the truth …” (Mt. 5:18, 26; 6:2,5,16; etc.)
- John 8:32 – Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
- John 14:6 – I am the way and the truth and the light, no one comes to the Father except through me.
- John 16:13 – When, he, the spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth.
- John 18:38 – Pilate, “What is truth?”
- 1 Cor 13:6 – Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth.
- 1 John 3:18 – dear children, let us not love with words or tongue, but with actions and in truth.
Opposite: untrue, lies, false gods
How can we worship in truth? How can we guide God’s people to worship in truth?
Christ centered worship: “I am the truth.” Worship must be connected to Jesus.
v.23 – These are the kind of worshipers God seeks.
CONCLUSION
Worship is our expression to God of our faith.
True worship happens when the messiah is around. Jesus is here!
To worship, you need to be connected to God.
How can you get connected?
I showed the children a model ship. I told them it was a worship.
Ships come in different sizes and shapes and types – just like people.
Different ships do different things (fishing boat, cruise ship, etc.)
The ship needs a skipper (captain). What does a captain do? What if there was no one in charge?
(tossed around in waves, no direction, maybe sink)
Jesus wants to be the “skipper” of our lives.
When we come to church, “We Offer ouR SHIPs” to God. Pray, sing, listen to God’s word.
Accept Jesus – make him the “skipper” of your life (ship).
Don’t worry about the circumstantial things –
Don’t let things get in the way of your worship.
In Spirit – filled with God in your life.
In Truth – the one true God.
I'm think I’m giving up going to sporting events. Here are my 11 excuses:
1. Every time I went, they asked for money.
2. The people I sat next to didn't seem friendly.
3. The seats were too hard and not comfortable at all.
4. I went to many games but the coach never came to call on me.
5. The referees made decisions that I couldn't agree with.
6. The game went into overtime and I was late getting home.
7. The band played numbers I'd never heard before and it wasn't my style of music.
8. It seems the games are always scheduled when I want to do other things.
9. I suspect that I was sitting next to some hypocrites. They came to see their friends and they talked during the whole game.
10. I was taken to too many games by my parents when I was growing up.
11. I hate to wait in the traffic jam in the parking lot after the game. – Source Unknown
True worship is a transforming experience, and is certainly a mark of a revived church or believer. The real tragedy is that any church can be in revival all the time. The opportunity for true worship at any service is there, we just need to enter into worship in the right way.
Last week I spoke about change and doing things different in the church.
7 last words of the church: “But we never did it that way.”
Characteristic of a healthy church #5: A healthy church has inspiring worship services.
According to the Natural Church Development study, the different forms & styles of worship didn’t affect the level of inspiration. Something internal made it meaningful.
I asked the worship team to make sure today’s worship was inspiring?
How do you do that? It depends on so many things? You can’t force people to worship.
The pressure is on!
People are passionate about worship
Churches have divided over worship:
- Raising hands / clapping
- Quiet and reverent / loud and jubilant
- Instruments / which instruments
- Men on one side / women on other
- Time to worship?
Our Confession of Faith has casual mentions of worship, worship services are assumed. (remember I’m going to Mennonite School)
p.39 – The church should “become ever more like Jesus Christ … in its worship.”
Our “identity as God’s people of faith is sustained and renewed as members gather regularly for worship.”
P. 79 lists “corporate worship” as a spiritual discipline.
Worship isn’t something we include in a confession of faith – it’s a matter of the heart.
How do you know when you are worshiping?
GETTING TOGETHER WITH DIFFERENT FOLKS
In today’s scripture passage, Jesus and disciples are on their way to Galilee from Judea.
“He had to go through Samaria” (v.4)(Jesus was in a hurry. Why?)
The normal route took them on the other side of the Jordan River – out of their way to avoid contact with the Samaritans.
Were the Pharisees in Judah after him? Was the Jordan flooding? Political strife?
Did you ever cross the street to avoid coming into contact with someone?
Samaritans were despised. For a Jew, you had to be in a hurry to come into contact with a Samaritan.
There was a long standing prejudice between the Jews and the Samaritans.
920 BC Israel and Judah split.
722 BC Israel (Northern Kingdom) fell to Assyria.
Assyria’s used a resettlement program to control the population. New habitants worshiped Jehovah and other God’s like Baal. They only used the Pentateuch (other books were from the southern kingdom or not written yet). Waiting for a messiah to lead them.
586 BC Judah (Southern Kingdom) fell to Babylonia.
Babylonia’s policy was to take the best (scholars, wealthy, etc.) to Babylon and leave the poor and criminals behind.
539 BC Jews returned to Judah (Ezra, Nehemiah)
There were unmanageable differences with the Samaritans.
Jesus met a Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well, at the foot of Mt. Gerazim, where the Samaritans worshiped.
There are many unusual parts to this story:
Jesus (a man) interacts with a woman.
Jesus (a Jew) interacts with a Samaritan.
The woman gets uncomfortable with Jesus personal questions and she turns the conversation to religious issues.
John 4 talks about Two Mountains: Mt. Gerizim and Mt. Zion
The Samaritan woman changes the subject after Jesus convicts her about her relationship issues. Where should we worship? Religious rivalries (Samaritans were a sect of Jewish beliefs). The emphasis is on the differences. Neither is fully correct.
Both are looking for a Messiah!
WE DON’T ALWAYS FEEL LIKE WORSHIPPING
Many problems in the world – economy, jobs, inflation, poverty, hunger, etc.
Sometimes we get discouraged (Yesterday – fixing a leak, 3 trips to the hardware store – I wasn’t in any kind of mood for worshiping.)
We get detached from God
How do we get in the mood? Step back & breathe deeply, Prayer, reflection, scripture.
“Always be … joyful, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances … do not put out the Spirit’s fire.” (1 Thess 516-19)
To be able to worship we must be connected to God.
I was Remodeling – replaced an electric line, checked the connections, reconnected the wires. Nothing. Talk about not feeling like worshiping.
Finally, I turned on the breaker – I needed to be connected to the power.
Once my vehicle broke down in Bolivia. We were close to nowhere. Electric problems (from constant shaking on bad roads). I was tired, hungry, frustrated.
Trifon Ibarra said, While we’re here, why don’t we have a worship service?
(my response: Grrrr!)
WHAT IF I DON’T PRAISE GOD / CAN WE STOP PRAISE?
Pharisees tried to keep Jesus disciples from praising him (Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem)
Jesus, “If they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” (Luke 19:40)
Spiritual song: “If I don’t praise him, the rocks are going to cry out”
God is to be praised no matter if I do it or not. All of creation crys out …
WHAT ARE THE ISSUES HERE?
LOCATION
The issue isn’t location (Where do we worship – which mountain?)
God can’t be confined to a specific place – God is everywhere (Psalmist – if I go to the heights – you are there / if I go to the depths – you are there)
STYLE
The issue isn’t style – how we worship.
RITUALS
Going through the motions doesn’t always help.
So … What does matter?
v.23 – the time has arrived for true worship (for both Jews and Samaritans)
True Worshipers will worship God in Spirit and Truth
“inspiring” comes from Latin “inspirato” which means literally “in the spirit.”
In Spirit
Think about scripture references that inform us about the “spirit.”
- Gen 1:2 – the spirit moved over the waters (at creation)
- OT promises of coming of the spirit.
- Is 61:1 (and Jesus in Luke 4:18)
- Mark 14:38 – the spirit is willing but the body is weak
- Jn 1:32 – spirit descended like a dove (at Jesus baptism)
- Jn 4:24 – God is spirit.
- Ps 51:10 – Create in me a pure heart, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Opposite: physical? / unspiritual
How can we worship in Spirit? How can we guide God’s people to worship in Spirit?
God centered worship: God is spirit. Worship that is connected to God.
In Truth
Think about scripture references that inform us about “truth.”
- Ps 86:11 – Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth.
- Jesus often prefaced his sayings with, “I tell you the truth …” (Mt. 5:18, 26; 6:2,5,16; etc.)
- John 8:32 – Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
- John 14:6 – I am the way and the truth and the light, no one comes to the Father except through me.
- John 16:13 – When, he, the spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth.
- John 18:38 – Pilate, “What is truth?”
- 1 Cor 13:6 – Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth.
- 1 John 3:18 – dear children, let us not love with words or tongue, but with actions and in truth.
Opposite: untrue, lies, false gods
How can we worship in truth? How can we guide God’s people to worship in truth?
Christ centered worship: “I am the truth.” Worship must be connected to Jesus.
v.23 – These are the kind of worshipers God seeks.
CONCLUSION
Worship is our expression to God of our faith.
True worship happens when the messiah is around. Jesus is here!
To worship, you need to be connected to God.
How can you get connected?
I showed the children a model ship. I told them it was a worship.
Ships come in different sizes and shapes and types – just like people.
Different ships do different things (fishing boat, cruise ship, etc.)
The ship needs a skipper (captain). What does a captain do? What if there was no one in charge?
(tossed around in waves, no direction, maybe sink)
Jesus wants to be the “skipper” of our lives.
When we come to church, “We Offer ouR SHIPs” to God. Pray, sing, listen to God’s word.
Accept Jesus – make him the “skipper” of your life (ship).
Don’t worry about the circumstantial things –
Don’t let things get in the way of your worship.
In Spirit – filled with God in your life.
In Truth – the one true God.
Sermon Synopsis for September 28, 2008
“But, We Never Did It That Way!” Mark 2:21-28
Are you an organized person?
Everyone has different ways of organizing their lives.
(You’re organized in your own way - keep away from my desk)
The church is organized – by-laws, commissions, committees, etc.
[Leadership deals with the best way to organize, so we can truly do the work of the church]
DO YOU LIKE CHANGE?
"If you want to make enemies, try to change something" --Woodrow Wilson
I went to Mennonite School this week (EMU Course)
How many Mennonites does it take to change a light bulb?
- Nine - 7 men on the committee, 1 woman to prepare the casserole, 1 to change the bulb.
- Five – one to change the light bulb, and a quartet to sing a lament over the old bulb.
- Six - One to change the bulb and 5 to stand around talking about how good the old bulb was and what fine service it offered to the congregation.
- Six - One to change the bulb and 5 to stand in the parking lot complaining about how it was done.
- Six - One to change the bulb, while 5 review the church lighting policy
- Six – one to change the bulb and 5 to complain that they liked the old bulb better.
- Change? We can’t change. My grandpa put in that lightbulb!
- Change? The darkness will teach us humility.
Seven last (and fatal) words of the church: But we always did it that way
We can get comfortable in our ways when the world around us is changing.
The Same Old Baloney
Two construction workers had taken a lunch break and opened up their lunch boxes. One of them looked inside his box and said, "Not baloney again! I can't believe it. I hate baloney. This is the third time this week I've had baloney. I can't stand baloney!"
The other one said, "Why don't you just ask your wife to make you something different?"
He replied, "I don't have a wife. I made these myself."
The fact is, most of the baloney in our lives we put there ourselves. If we ever want life to be any different from the same old baloney we keep serving ourselves, then we must break out of doing the routine. (Kent Crockett, The 911 Handbook, Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 2003, 65)
Last week we considered our spiritual passion, Characteristic #3 of a healthy church. (Personal spiritual passion leads to a spiritually passionate church
Characteristic #4 – A healthy church has functional structures. We’re not talking about the building.
Some “Spiritual” people tend to be skeptical of structures; they believe that they restrain us, binding the spirit of the Lord.
Traditional people tend to be wary of the word functional – it means change.
The Natural Church Development study showed:
A negative relationship between traditionalism and both growth and quality in the church
Traditionalism – We always did it that way (implying that it is the best way and we should always do it that way)
The organizational structure and rules are made for our benefit.
Jesus challenged some of the rules.
Context of Scripture Passage: Jesus was beginning his ministry and calling his disciples.
Mark 1:14-15 – Kingdom of God is near
Just before our passage today, Jesus calls Levi – a tax collector (the kind of person that good religious men don’t associate with), and he goes to eat at his house (Jesus gets a lot of criticism for that).
Something new is happening … It’s Jesus.
Jesus is in the middle of controversy; how does he respond?
ORDINARY STUFF – EXTRAORDINARY MEANING
Jesus had a way of using ordinary aspects of life to make extraordinary points.
Jesus saw evidence of God in everything.
Insights from common knowledge of the day:
1. Clothing industry – people had to be careful that they didn’t buy new clothing that was made of old (recycled) and new cloth together. Seamstresses knew that you couldn’t put the two together.
2. Winemaking – Before refrigeration, wine was a drink of preference (no coke in Palestine). Winemaking was wisdom passed on from generation to generation. [John 2 – Jesus was a winemaker]
Jesus gives two examples of bringing something new into the world.
New patch of cloth on old clothing
New (freshly squeezed) wine in old containers (wineskins)
SOME OBSERVATIONS
Observation #1 – The difficulty of bringing together new and old is not a new problem.
Cloth – “tearing” / skins – “bursting” – violent and destructive events
In the church – bringing together old and new – can be a violent and destructive thing
Results – cloth – the tear is worse / wine and wineskin is ruined
Many new things brought opposition and conflict
- Maple Grove 1906 – 1st Sunday School in a Mennonite church in Lancaster County (Sadsbury Meeting House) [In some Mennonite Churches it was heard, “Sunday School is of the Devil”]
- 1907 / 08 – the discussion of the idea to build a building
- 1940s – the idea to meet every Sunday
- Mission outreach – starting churches, starting Tel Hai Camp / retirement community,
Q: What does God want us to do that tradition is holding us back?
Our struggle: We have an ancient faith in a modern world = question for us – How do you live it?
Observation #2 - Every new cloth / new skin eventually becomes old. (Is this a message for every generation?)
I’ve heard it said, “It’s unfortunate that the only option to death is getting old”
Every generation needs to live out the Gospel in its own way.
Music – unison moved to 4 part harmony, but with no instruments led to instruments led to hymns led to contemporary songs. Where will it all end? When Jesus comes!
Observation #3 – Each item needs to fulfill its purpose!
"The job won't get done by going back in time." --Francis Anfuso (Pastor, Rock of Roseville)
"Don't take the fence down until you know the reason it was put up." --G. K. Chesterton
I might add – don’t build a fence just because you want one – it needs to serve a purpose.
The Consequences for Refusing to Change
From 1900 to 1967, the Swiss were the leading watchmakers in the world. In 1967, when digital technology was patented, the Swiss rejected it in favor of the traditional ball bearings, gears, and mainsprings they had been using to make watches for decades. Unfortunately, however, the world was ready for this advance, and Seiko, a Japanese company, picked up the digital patent and became the leading watch manufacturer in the world almost overnight.
Fifty thousand of the 67,000 Swiss watchmakers went out of business because they refused to embrace this new technology. It was not until years later that the Swiss caught up and regained their position in the marketplace with the creation of Swatch watches. --from ACTS Daily Encounter
Traditional watch making lost sight of the purpose: The purpose of a watch is to tell the time.
We must not lose sight of our purpose.
Jesus doesn’t compare the church to good, aged wine that’s ready to drink.
The church is “new wine” that needs to go through the process necessary to be what it should be.
Before it can be useful, it needs to be transformed by aging.
Time will tell if it turns out good – Acts 5:34 Gamaliel, teacher of the law, member of Sanhedrin, “If their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” (vv. 38b-39)
What is the origin of our purpose? Human or Divine?
OUR PLANS – GOD’S PLANS
Proverbs 16:3 “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.”
Our plans cannot go against God’s will, but must be found within God’s will:
Did you hear about the “Christian Brothel” in Nevada?
The owner said he committed it to the Lord and that is why it succeeded. Sure.
Anything committed to God needs to be subject to God’s changing powers:
Our lives (as we are) – are given to God, but God will change them.
In effect – our plans will succeed, only if they can be committed to God … and allow God to form them.
Psalm 37:4 “delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.”
[this is not a way to get what you want, it’s a way to know what you desire]
THE QUESTION OF THE SABBATH
Begins in Genesis – God rested, so should we.
Laws were made - Defining work / Defining rest
A very regulated rule in the OT – many sub-rules (harvesting grain was one of the 39 things you cannot do on the Sabbath)
The Sabbath became a burden. It was not so enjoyable.
Jesus wants to teach that - Sabbath observation is much more than a ritual
It is something special that God gave us.
We can relate that to the organization of the church.
The Sabbath was made for man – the church is an entity created for us.
Cultural Practices:
Take, for instance, the question of who eats with whom. The polite people of Jesus’ day were scandalized by the fact that he broke bread and drank wine with some very unpopular people.
The bible calls them “sinners.” We might call them criminals. You kids probably have some terms you use to describe people at your school who are just scary, weird, odd.
Jesus not only sits down at the lunch table with people like that, he singles out one of them to be part of his inner circle. Levi, the son of Alphaeus, is known by everyone in town as a sleaze ball.
Yet – when Jesus comes by and suggests that he might want to drop everything, including his criminal activity – and “follow me,” Levi not only follows, no questions asked, he invites the whole group over to his house for dinner.
The cool people, the “in crowd” never offered Jesus that kind of hospitality. Instead they question him, call him out: Why doesn’t he support their causes? Shop at their stores? Play by their rules? His answer is kind of sarcastic. Because they are such good “healthy” people, they don’t need a doctor. Right?
NEW WINE
Then he reaches into his bag of illustrations and pulls one out that everybody will understand.
Old patches don’t work on new cloth.
New wine has trouble in old wine skins.
In Jesus hand, a cup of wine became much more than something to drink. It was a symbol of his love, his sacrificial love. [in two weeks we will celebrate communion]
This week I spent some days in “Mennonite School.” Learning about Mennonite theology and history.
Mennonites challenged the status quo (politely and humbly, of course) – by living as Jesus would have in a world that was very different.
Many died for their faith (Martyr’s Mirror)
They challenged slavery, materialism, and individualism.
Let’s think of why people don’t accept Jesus –
They are afraid of the change.
Jesus changes lives
Jesus changes churches
We need to allow Jesus to work the changes necessary in our lives.
A healthy church has functional structures – organized for ministry – organized to help change lives.
A guiding question for our lives: What do we want to do and be for the Lord?
When we say “We always did it that way” (emphasis on “we”), we are limiting God.
God has great things in store for us.
I showed the children an old LP record album. Some of them knew what it was – from seeing one on TV or at their grandparent’s house.
We listen to music very differently today.
How do you think you will listen to music in the future?
The music changes, the way we listen to it changes, but the message is the same.
There are many ways to learn about Jesus, but Jesus will never change.
We need to trust in Jesus: The only thing that won’t change in an ever changing world.
Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
Maybe we’re still playing LPs in an MP3 world.
The bottom line – commit it to the Lord (Proverbs 16:3)
And God will work out our plans, so they will function in an ever changing world.
Are you an organized person?
Everyone has different ways of organizing their lives.
(You’re organized in your own way - keep away from my desk)
The church is organized – by-laws, commissions, committees, etc.
[Leadership deals with the best way to organize, so we can truly do the work of the church]
DO YOU LIKE CHANGE?
"If you want to make enemies, try to change something" --Woodrow Wilson
I went to Mennonite School this week (EMU Course)
How many Mennonites does it take to change a light bulb?
- Nine - 7 men on the committee, 1 woman to prepare the casserole, 1 to change the bulb.
- Five – one to change the light bulb, and a quartet to sing a lament over the old bulb.
- Six - One to change the bulb and 5 to stand around talking about how good the old bulb was and what fine service it offered to the congregation.
- Six - One to change the bulb and 5 to stand in the parking lot complaining about how it was done.
- Six - One to change the bulb, while 5 review the church lighting policy
- Six – one to change the bulb and 5 to complain that they liked the old bulb better.
- Change? We can’t change. My grandpa put in that lightbulb!
- Change? The darkness will teach us humility.
Seven last (and fatal) words of the church: But we always did it that way
We can get comfortable in our ways when the world around us is changing.
The Same Old Baloney
Two construction workers had taken a lunch break and opened up their lunch boxes. One of them looked inside his box and said, "Not baloney again! I can't believe it. I hate baloney. This is the third time this week I've had baloney. I can't stand baloney!"
The other one said, "Why don't you just ask your wife to make you something different?"
He replied, "I don't have a wife. I made these myself."
The fact is, most of the baloney in our lives we put there ourselves. If we ever want life to be any different from the same old baloney we keep serving ourselves, then we must break out of doing the routine. (Kent Crockett, The 911 Handbook, Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 2003, 65)
Last week we considered our spiritual passion, Characteristic #3 of a healthy church. (Personal spiritual passion leads to a spiritually passionate church
Characteristic #4 – A healthy church has functional structures. We’re not talking about the building.
Some “Spiritual” people tend to be skeptical of structures; they believe that they restrain us, binding the spirit of the Lord.
Traditional people tend to be wary of the word functional – it means change.
The Natural Church Development study showed:
A negative relationship between traditionalism and both growth and quality in the church
Traditionalism – We always did it that way (implying that it is the best way and we should always do it that way)
The organizational structure and rules are made for our benefit.
Jesus challenged some of the rules.
Context of Scripture Passage: Jesus was beginning his ministry and calling his disciples.
Mark 1:14-15 – Kingdom of God is near
Just before our passage today, Jesus calls Levi – a tax collector (the kind of person that good religious men don’t associate with), and he goes to eat at his house (Jesus gets a lot of criticism for that).
Something new is happening … It’s Jesus.
Jesus is in the middle of controversy; how does he respond?
ORDINARY STUFF – EXTRAORDINARY MEANING
Jesus had a way of using ordinary aspects of life to make extraordinary points.
Jesus saw evidence of God in everything.
Insights from common knowledge of the day:
1. Clothing industry – people had to be careful that they didn’t buy new clothing that was made of old (recycled) and new cloth together. Seamstresses knew that you couldn’t put the two together.
2. Winemaking – Before refrigeration, wine was a drink of preference (no coke in Palestine). Winemaking was wisdom passed on from generation to generation. [John 2 – Jesus was a winemaker]
Jesus gives two examples of bringing something new into the world.
New patch of cloth on old clothing
New (freshly squeezed) wine in old containers (wineskins)
SOME OBSERVATIONS
Observation #1 – The difficulty of bringing together new and old is not a new problem.
Cloth – “tearing” / skins – “bursting” – violent and destructive events
In the church – bringing together old and new – can be a violent and destructive thing
Results – cloth – the tear is worse / wine and wineskin is ruined
Many new things brought opposition and conflict
- Maple Grove 1906 – 1st Sunday School in a Mennonite church in Lancaster County (Sadsbury Meeting House) [In some Mennonite Churches it was heard, “Sunday School is of the Devil”]
- 1907 / 08 – the discussion of the idea to build a building
- 1940s – the idea to meet every Sunday
- Mission outreach – starting churches, starting Tel Hai Camp / retirement community,
Q: What does God want us to do that tradition is holding us back?
Our struggle: We have an ancient faith in a modern world = question for us – How do you live it?
Observation #2 - Every new cloth / new skin eventually becomes old. (Is this a message for every generation?)
I’ve heard it said, “It’s unfortunate that the only option to death is getting old”
Every generation needs to live out the Gospel in its own way.
Music – unison moved to 4 part harmony, but with no instruments led to instruments led to hymns led to contemporary songs. Where will it all end? When Jesus comes!
Observation #3 – Each item needs to fulfill its purpose!
"The job won't get done by going back in time." --Francis Anfuso (Pastor, Rock of Roseville)
"Don't take the fence down until you know the reason it was put up." --G. K. Chesterton
I might add – don’t build a fence just because you want one – it needs to serve a purpose.
The Consequences for Refusing to Change
From 1900 to 1967, the Swiss were the leading watchmakers in the world. In 1967, when digital technology was patented, the Swiss rejected it in favor of the traditional ball bearings, gears, and mainsprings they had been using to make watches for decades. Unfortunately, however, the world was ready for this advance, and Seiko, a Japanese company, picked up the digital patent and became the leading watch manufacturer in the world almost overnight.
Fifty thousand of the 67,000 Swiss watchmakers went out of business because they refused to embrace this new technology. It was not until years later that the Swiss caught up and regained their position in the marketplace with the creation of Swatch watches. --from ACTS Daily Encounter
Traditional watch making lost sight of the purpose: The purpose of a watch is to tell the time.
We must not lose sight of our purpose.
Jesus doesn’t compare the church to good, aged wine that’s ready to drink.
The church is “new wine” that needs to go through the process necessary to be what it should be.
Before it can be useful, it needs to be transformed by aging.
Time will tell if it turns out good – Acts 5:34 Gamaliel, teacher of the law, member of Sanhedrin, “If their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” (vv. 38b-39)
What is the origin of our purpose? Human or Divine?
OUR PLANS – GOD’S PLANS
Proverbs 16:3 “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.”
Our plans cannot go against God’s will, but must be found within God’s will:
Did you hear about the “Christian Brothel” in Nevada?
The owner said he committed it to the Lord and that is why it succeeded. Sure.
Anything committed to God needs to be subject to God’s changing powers:
Our lives (as we are) – are given to God, but God will change them.
In effect – our plans will succeed, only if they can be committed to God … and allow God to form them.
Psalm 37:4 “delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.”
[this is not a way to get what you want, it’s a way to know what you desire]
THE QUESTION OF THE SABBATH
Begins in Genesis – God rested, so should we.
Laws were made - Defining work / Defining rest
A very regulated rule in the OT – many sub-rules (harvesting grain was one of the 39 things you cannot do on the Sabbath)
The Sabbath became a burden. It was not so enjoyable.
Jesus wants to teach that - Sabbath observation is much more than a ritual
It is something special that God gave us.
We can relate that to the organization of the church.
The Sabbath was made for man – the church is an entity created for us.
Cultural Practices:
Take, for instance, the question of who eats with whom. The polite people of Jesus’ day were scandalized by the fact that he broke bread and drank wine with some very unpopular people.
The bible calls them “sinners.” We might call them criminals. You kids probably have some terms you use to describe people at your school who are just scary, weird, odd.
Jesus not only sits down at the lunch table with people like that, he singles out one of them to be part of his inner circle. Levi, the son of Alphaeus, is known by everyone in town as a sleaze ball.
Yet – when Jesus comes by and suggests that he might want to drop everything, including his criminal activity – and “follow me,” Levi not only follows, no questions asked, he invites the whole group over to his house for dinner.
The cool people, the “in crowd” never offered Jesus that kind of hospitality. Instead they question him, call him out: Why doesn’t he support their causes? Shop at their stores? Play by their rules? His answer is kind of sarcastic. Because they are such good “healthy” people, they don’t need a doctor. Right?
NEW WINE
Then he reaches into his bag of illustrations and pulls one out that everybody will understand.
Old patches don’t work on new cloth.
New wine has trouble in old wine skins.
In Jesus hand, a cup of wine became much more than something to drink. It was a symbol of his love, his sacrificial love. [in two weeks we will celebrate communion]
This week I spent some days in “Mennonite School.” Learning about Mennonite theology and history.
Mennonites challenged the status quo (politely and humbly, of course) – by living as Jesus would have in a world that was very different.
Many died for their faith (Martyr’s Mirror)
They challenged slavery, materialism, and individualism.
Let’s think of why people don’t accept Jesus –
They are afraid of the change.
Jesus changes lives
Jesus changes churches
We need to allow Jesus to work the changes necessary in our lives.
A healthy church has functional structures – organized for ministry – organized to help change lives.
A guiding question for our lives: What do we want to do and be for the Lord?
When we say “We always did it that way” (emphasis on “we”), we are limiting God.
God has great things in store for us.
I showed the children an old LP record album. Some of them knew what it was – from seeing one on TV or at their grandparent’s house.
We listen to music very differently today.
How do you think you will listen to music in the future?
The music changes, the way we listen to it changes, but the message is the same.
There are many ways to learn about Jesus, but Jesus will never change.
We need to trust in Jesus: The only thing that won’t change in an ever changing world.
Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
Maybe we’re still playing LPs in an MP3 world.
The bottom line – commit it to the Lord (Proverbs 16:3)
And God will work out our plans, so they will function in an ever changing world.
Sermon Synopsis for September 21, 2008
“Keep Your Lamps Burning” Matthew 25:1-13
Today we look at Characteristic of a Healthy Church #3 – A healthy church has passionate spirituality. Are we “on fire” for the Lord? We need to keep our level of spiritual passion high as we wait for the Lord’s return. We’ll consider suggestions for not being foolish and ways to be wise.
Are you a fanatic?
Fanatic = “Marked by excessive enthusiasm and often intense uncritical devotion” (Merriam-Webster)
I asked the children which team I should root for, Eagles or Steelers?
It depends on which team I support.
What do you do if you’re a fan of a team? Wear their shirts, Cheer for them, hope they will win, watch the games, read about them.
God wants us to be fans of Jesus. How can we do that? Rah, Rah, Go Jesus! We love God and love others.
Romans 12:11, “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.”
Maybe you heard the old story …
A new Pastor in a small town spent the first four days making personal visits to each of the members, inviting them to come to his first services.
The following Sunday the church was all but empty. Accordingly, the Pastor placed a notice in the local newspapers, stating that, because the church was dead, it was everyone's duty to give it a decent Christian burial. The funeral would be held the following Sunday afternoon, the notice said.
Morbidly curious, a large crowd turned out for the "funeral." In front of the pulpit, they saw a closed coffin, smothered in flowers. After the Pastor delivered the eulogy, he opened the coffin and invited his congregation to come forward and pay their final respects to their dead church.
Each member passed by and looked into the coffin. Inside was a mirror.
Nobody wants a dead church.
John Wesley saw the absence of Passionate Spirituality in the church of England (Episcopal). At Oxford University he joined a movement called “The Holy Club” and later led it. It spurred him to start a revival.
There is a danger that people can fall into fanaticism (that’s why our spiritual passion must be kept in check with other things). But one observer wrote, “It’s easier to calm a fanatic than resurrect a corpse” (Rev. Walter Edwards)
What keeps our spiritual fervor, our spiritual passion alive?
HOW ARE YOUR OIL RESERVES
Today’s scripture passage talks about having enough oil.
It’s something we’ve been aware of these past few months …
What’s the price of oil these days?
$104.55 a barrel of light crude as of Sept 20
Presidential candidates respond to our dependence on oil.
How are the U.S. oil reserves?
Is there enough?
US Dept of Energy web page:
About 700 million barrels
706.8 million Barrels as of Sept 12 (Strategic Petroleum Reserve Inventory)
A PARABLE
Gospel of Matthew: Matthew is dealing with the discouragement of early Christians that Christ had not come again. They needed to prepare for delay. How they would wait would be crucial. The word for patience comes from the word "patior" which means to suffer. God's time is not our time. Experience the agony of his absence as well as the power of his presence. Prepare, anticipate what his coming, his presence will mean. Absence can make the heart grow fonder , only if we wait and watch in expectation.
Today’s scripture passage is in Matthew 25: 1-13. Jesus had a long day of teaching in the Temple court (beginning in the middle of chapter 21, v.23)
He was heading home to Bethany (leaving Jerusalem, crossing the Kidron Valley, climbing up the Mount of Olives, arriving at a garden (called Gethsemane) he stopped to rest among the olive trees – this was a production orchard. Olive trees were grown, tended and revered, because they produced oil – the hottest commodity on the ancient market. The disciples asked him some questions about the end of times. Jesus responded in Chapter 24 with many signs of the end of times – earthquakes, natural disasters, signs in the sky, etc. He led them know that the time and the hour of Christ’s return is unknown. “He’ll come when you least expect it.” It will be good for some people, not very good for others.
Then he tells them the parable of the wise and foolish virgins.
Question from today’s Bible passage: How is your spiritual oil reserve?
Oil is a common item in the Bible: Anointing, Lamps, Cooking, Medicinal purposes, Offerings
It was a hot commodity
It’s also symbolic:
1. The presence of oil marked the Lord’s blessing of prosperity
Jeremiah 31:12 – “They come with shouts of joy … they rejoice in the bounty of the Lord …for the … oil … and they will sorrow no more.”
2. The lack of oil was a sign of God’s judgment
Joel 1:10-12 – “The Oil fails … surely the joy of mankind is withered away.”
3. Symbolic of Grace
4. Symbolic of the Holy Spirit
Zechariah 4:4-6,12 Oil comes from two olive trees … What does the oil mean? The word of the Lord for Zerubabel “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord Almighty.”
According to the Wedding customs of the day, groom & closest friends would go to the brides house after dark to get the bride and the bridesmaids. Waiting was part of the suspense. When would the groom come? Would he catch us off guard?
The groom & friends would take the bride to his house for the conclusion of the ceremony. The party would go on for days.
We see this in operation in Jesus' parable.
There’s a lot about this passage I don’t like:
- “Don’t store up things” (treasures in heaven)
- The wise and the foolish are all mixed together (internal tension)
- Everyone falls asleep
- Selfishness – they don’t care about the others.
These things aren’t the point. But what is?
WISE AND FOOLISH
It does make a distinction between being wise and being foolish (we’ve seen this before – building a house on sand or rock – for example)
How to be foolish
- Don’t prepare for the long haul. Don’t do things to keep up your spiritual fervor when the going gets long and tough.
How to be wise
- Cover yourself. Take along an extra jar. More than just the scouting “Be Prepared”. It’s a spiritual preparation.
Wise and foolish in Proverbs:
Wise – prepares, works, is diligent
Foolish – is lazy, self seeking, easily distracted
What’s Obvious is, it’s better to be wise.
In the New Testament: Wise person follows Jesus … has a personal faith in Jesus.
True wisdom = In it for the long haul
SYMBOLISM
Lamp / oil / light = God’s presence in your life
Oil = symbolic for grace or the Spirit
How is your spiritual life?
How long can you maintain a positive attitude for Christ? Alone you can’t. You need God’s presence (spirit) dwelling in you.
Why did they have lamps and oil? They were waiting for the bridegroom. That was the reason to be there with lamps and oil.
Half of them didn’t have oil when it was needed most.
Are you following Christ for the Long Haul?
BURNOUT CAN BE A PROBLEM
Psychologists: Unresolved Stress leads to Burnout
Stress (continual over engagement, beyond our normal capabilities = too much of something we’re uncomfortable with for too long)
Burnout signs: (from Smoldering Wick Ministries)
Disengagement / withdrawal / loss of interest, disillusionment / loss of hope / helpless, exhausted / can’t continue, paranoia (feeling that you can’t please everyone or anyone and that they are holding that against you)
Can you identify with these?
Spiritual burnout à loss of hope and ideals
Parable: symbolism - running out of oil
Parable – literal burn out – not having enough oil to keep things burning.
Not being able to “keep the fire burning” until Jesus comes.
Unresolved burnout can lead to depression, self abuse, illness and even death.
Maybe you can go overboard with spiritual passion … but spiritual burnout is even worse!
Pastor Walter Edwards “It’s easier to calm a fanatic than resurrect a corpse”
Most people don’t have too much spiritual passion.
HOW TO DEAL WITH SPIRITUAL BURNOUT
1. Spiritual rest – “Jesus withdrew to a lonely place” / a timeout to recharge his spiritual batteries (even the Son of God needed this, don’t think we don’t). Church sponsored “retreats”
2. Pacing life. Jesus didn’t run to every emergency. Jesus was told, “Lazarus is sick” and he waited a few days to head off to see him.
3. Trust God. When Jesus was told that Lazarus is sick, he waited a few days because, “it is for God’s glory.” God is in control, whether I am or not.
4. Confide in someone you trust.
- “What a friend we have in Jesus”
- Galatians 6:2 “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ” (which is Love God, Love one another)
5. Develop regular habits of spiritual maintenance
- Daily prayer and devotions (daily bread, etc.)
Story: Billy Graham had made it clear to his secretary that under no circumstances was he to be interpreted during his personal devotional time with God in the morning.
On this particular occasion, the phone rang. It was the President of the United States. His secretary softly knocked on the door as she opened the door, Dr. Graham looked up, the secretary said: “I’m very sorry to interrupt, but President Eisenhower is on the phone and he wants to speak to you now.”
Dr. Graham looked at her and said, “You know that you’re not supposed to interrupt me while I’m having my devotions. Tell him, I’ll call him back when I’m done speaking with the Lord.”
She walked back to her desk, picked up the phone and with a trembling voice said: “Mr. President, I’m sorry Dr. Graham is in a conference now, he will have to call you back later.” President Eisenhower responded: “I’m not use to having to wait for anyone for anything.” And he slammed down the receiver.
Sometime later Dr. Graham called back; President Eisenhower rather out of sorts said: “Mr. Graham I’m not use to having to wait for anyone for anything. I wanted to talk to you then..” Dr. Graham responded by saying: “If I had talked to you then, I would have had nothing for you now.”
- Attend church activities: Sunday school, worship, bible study, etc. (force yourself to avoid withdrawal.
Donald Soper answers that question in these word: “Christianity must mean everything to us before it can mean anything to others.”
- Be involved in a small group (accountability). Jesus had his small group and always sent the disciples off in at lease pairs.
CONCLUSION
Oil comes from God (it is God). The lamp is useless without the oil. Our lives without God …
Jesus tells us in Matthew 5 – “You are the Light of the World.”
When we run out of oil, we cannot do what we are called to do and be.
Today we look at Characteristic of a Healthy Church #3 – A healthy church has passionate spirituality. Are we “on fire” for the Lord? We need to keep our level of spiritual passion high as we wait for the Lord’s return. We’ll consider suggestions for not being foolish and ways to be wise.
Are you a fanatic?
Fanatic = “Marked by excessive enthusiasm and often intense uncritical devotion” (Merriam-Webster)
I asked the children which team I should root for, Eagles or Steelers?
It depends on which team I support.
What do you do if you’re a fan of a team? Wear their shirts, Cheer for them, hope they will win, watch the games, read about them.
God wants us to be fans of Jesus. How can we do that? Rah, Rah, Go Jesus! We love God and love others.
Romans 12:11, “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.”
Maybe you heard the old story …
A new Pastor in a small town spent the first four days making personal visits to each of the members, inviting them to come to his first services.
The following Sunday the church was all but empty. Accordingly, the Pastor placed a notice in the local newspapers, stating that, because the church was dead, it was everyone's duty to give it a decent Christian burial. The funeral would be held the following Sunday afternoon, the notice said.
Morbidly curious, a large crowd turned out for the "funeral." In front of the pulpit, they saw a closed coffin, smothered in flowers. After the Pastor delivered the eulogy, he opened the coffin and invited his congregation to come forward and pay their final respects to their dead church.
Each member passed by and looked into the coffin. Inside was a mirror.
Nobody wants a dead church.
John Wesley saw the absence of Passionate Spirituality in the church of England (Episcopal). At Oxford University he joined a movement called “The Holy Club” and later led it. It spurred him to start a revival.
There is a danger that people can fall into fanaticism (that’s why our spiritual passion must be kept in check with other things). But one observer wrote, “It’s easier to calm a fanatic than resurrect a corpse” (Rev. Walter Edwards)
What keeps our spiritual fervor, our spiritual passion alive?
HOW ARE YOUR OIL RESERVES
Today’s scripture passage talks about having enough oil.
It’s something we’ve been aware of these past few months …
What’s the price of oil these days?
$104.55 a barrel of light crude as of Sept 20
Presidential candidates respond to our dependence on oil.
How are the U.S. oil reserves?
Is there enough?
US Dept of Energy web page:
About 700 million barrels
706.8 million Barrels as of Sept 12 (Strategic Petroleum Reserve Inventory)
A PARABLE
Gospel of Matthew: Matthew is dealing with the discouragement of early Christians that Christ had not come again. They needed to prepare for delay. How they would wait would be crucial. The word for patience comes from the word "patior" which means to suffer. God's time is not our time. Experience the agony of his absence as well as the power of his presence. Prepare, anticipate what his coming, his presence will mean. Absence can make the heart grow fonder , only if we wait and watch in expectation.
Today’s scripture passage is in Matthew 25: 1-13. Jesus had a long day of teaching in the Temple court (beginning in the middle of chapter 21, v.23)
He was heading home to Bethany (leaving Jerusalem, crossing the Kidron Valley, climbing up the Mount of Olives, arriving at a garden (called Gethsemane) he stopped to rest among the olive trees – this was a production orchard. Olive trees were grown, tended and revered, because they produced oil – the hottest commodity on the ancient market. The disciples asked him some questions about the end of times. Jesus responded in Chapter 24 with many signs of the end of times – earthquakes, natural disasters, signs in the sky, etc. He led them know that the time and the hour of Christ’s return is unknown. “He’ll come when you least expect it.” It will be good for some people, not very good for others.
Then he tells them the parable of the wise and foolish virgins.
Question from today’s Bible passage: How is your spiritual oil reserve?
Oil is a common item in the Bible: Anointing, Lamps, Cooking, Medicinal purposes, Offerings
It was a hot commodity
It’s also symbolic:
1. The presence of oil marked the Lord’s blessing of prosperity
Jeremiah 31:12 – “They come with shouts of joy … they rejoice in the bounty of the Lord …for the … oil … and they will sorrow no more.”
2. The lack of oil was a sign of God’s judgment
Joel 1:10-12 – “The Oil fails … surely the joy of mankind is withered away.”
3. Symbolic of Grace
4. Symbolic of the Holy Spirit
Zechariah 4:4-6,12 Oil comes from two olive trees … What does the oil mean? The word of the Lord for Zerubabel “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord Almighty.”
According to the Wedding customs of the day, groom & closest friends would go to the brides house after dark to get the bride and the bridesmaids. Waiting was part of the suspense. When would the groom come? Would he catch us off guard?
The groom & friends would take the bride to his house for the conclusion of the ceremony. The party would go on for days.
We see this in operation in Jesus' parable.
There’s a lot about this passage I don’t like:
- “Don’t store up things” (treasures in heaven)
- The wise and the foolish are all mixed together (internal tension)
- Everyone falls asleep
- Selfishness – they don’t care about the others.
These things aren’t the point. But what is?
WISE AND FOOLISH
It does make a distinction between being wise and being foolish (we’ve seen this before – building a house on sand or rock – for example)
How to be foolish
- Don’t prepare for the long haul. Don’t do things to keep up your spiritual fervor when the going gets long and tough.
How to be wise
- Cover yourself. Take along an extra jar. More than just the scouting “Be Prepared”. It’s a spiritual preparation.
Wise and foolish in Proverbs:
Wise – prepares, works, is diligent
Foolish – is lazy, self seeking, easily distracted
What’s Obvious is, it’s better to be wise.
In the New Testament: Wise person follows Jesus … has a personal faith in Jesus.
True wisdom = In it for the long haul
SYMBOLISM
Lamp / oil / light = God’s presence in your life
Oil = symbolic for grace or the Spirit
How is your spiritual life?
How long can you maintain a positive attitude for Christ? Alone you can’t. You need God’s presence (spirit) dwelling in you.
Why did they have lamps and oil? They were waiting for the bridegroom. That was the reason to be there with lamps and oil.
Half of them didn’t have oil when it was needed most.
Are you following Christ for the Long Haul?
BURNOUT CAN BE A PROBLEM
Psychologists: Unresolved Stress leads to Burnout
Stress (continual over engagement, beyond our normal capabilities = too much of something we’re uncomfortable with for too long)
Burnout signs: (from Smoldering Wick Ministries)
Disengagement / withdrawal / loss of interest, disillusionment / loss of hope / helpless, exhausted / can’t continue, paranoia (feeling that you can’t please everyone or anyone and that they are holding that against you)
Can you identify with these?
Spiritual burnout à loss of hope and ideals
Parable: symbolism - running out of oil
Parable – literal burn out – not having enough oil to keep things burning.
Not being able to “keep the fire burning” until Jesus comes.
Unresolved burnout can lead to depression, self abuse, illness and even death.
Maybe you can go overboard with spiritual passion … but spiritual burnout is even worse!
Pastor Walter Edwards “It’s easier to calm a fanatic than resurrect a corpse”
Most people don’t have too much spiritual passion.
HOW TO DEAL WITH SPIRITUAL BURNOUT
1. Spiritual rest – “Jesus withdrew to a lonely place” / a timeout to recharge his spiritual batteries (even the Son of God needed this, don’t think we don’t). Church sponsored “retreats”
2. Pacing life. Jesus didn’t run to every emergency. Jesus was told, “Lazarus is sick” and he waited a few days to head off to see him.
3. Trust God. When Jesus was told that Lazarus is sick, he waited a few days because, “it is for God’s glory.” God is in control, whether I am or not.
4. Confide in someone you trust.
- “What a friend we have in Jesus”
- Galatians 6:2 “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ” (which is Love God, Love one another)
5. Develop regular habits of spiritual maintenance
- Daily prayer and devotions (daily bread, etc.)
Story: Billy Graham had made it clear to his secretary that under no circumstances was he to be interpreted during his personal devotional time with God in the morning.
On this particular occasion, the phone rang. It was the President of the United States. His secretary softly knocked on the door as she opened the door, Dr. Graham looked up, the secretary said: “I’m very sorry to interrupt, but President Eisenhower is on the phone and he wants to speak to you now.”
Dr. Graham looked at her and said, “You know that you’re not supposed to interrupt me while I’m having my devotions. Tell him, I’ll call him back when I’m done speaking with the Lord.”
She walked back to her desk, picked up the phone and with a trembling voice said: “Mr. President, I’m sorry Dr. Graham is in a conference now, he will have to call you back later.” President Eisenhower responded: “I’m not use to having to wait for anyone for anything.” And he slammed down the receiver.
Sometime later Dr. Graham called back; President Eisenhower rather out of sorts said: “Mr. Graham I’m not use to having to wait for anyone for anything. I wanted to talk to you then..” Dr. Graham responded by saying: “If I had talked to you then, I would have had nothing for you now.”
- Attend church activities: Sunday school, worship, bible study, etc. (force yourself to avoid withdrawal.
Donald Soper answers that question in these word: “Christianity must mean everything to us before it can mean anything to others.”
- Be involved in a small group (accountability). Jesus had his small group and always sent the disciples off in at lease pairs.
CONCLUSION
Oil comes from God (it is God). The lamp is useless without the oil. Our lives without God …
Jesus tells us in Matthew 5 – “You are the Light of the World.”
When we run out of oil, we cannot do what we are called to do and be.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
