Special Voter’s Meeting

A special meeting of the Voter’s Assembly has been called for Sunday, May 23, 2010 after the late service. The Building Committee will present a recommendation as to how they think we should proceed with the proposed building. Please plan to be there for this important meeting so that your voice can be heard.

Love

February 14, 2010

We all know today is Valentine’s Day. But if you look on the church year calendar, you find that today is also the day of Transfiguration, when Jesus revealed His glory as God to three of His disciples. In Mark’s Gospel it is described this way:

Mark 9:7 Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” (NIV)

That love the Father expresses toward His Son is the same love that He has for us, His church, the body of Christ. We are totally dependent on that Love of God. It was out of love that He sent Jesus to pay the price for the sins of all men, something we could not live without. On this day the world sets aside to think about love, it is good for us to be together in worship. We witnessed God’s love being poured out again today was we watch Katy being baptized. We have experienced it in the Sacrament of His Body and Blood. And now I want you to consider with me how that love is expressed in the Word. Look at what the Father said about Jesus after He said he loved Him: Listen to Him. Jesus, of course, told us to do many different things, but one word keeps coming up over and over again in what He said.

“You have heard that it was said, `Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. Matt 5:43-44

[When questioned about the commandments] Jesus replied: “`Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  … And the second is like it: `Love your neighbor as yourself.’  Matt. 22:37,39

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. John 15:12

Before we go any further, I want to be sure that you understand what is meant by LOVE. There were three main terms in the language of the New Testament that meant love. One word was used to speak of sexual love, another for brotherly love, and the third to describes an unselfish love, a giving love, one that is more concerned with the well-being of others. That word, AGAPE, is the one used to speak of the love that God has for us and the kind of love we should show each other. At the beginning of our service today, we spoke responsively the words of the so called “love chapter” of the Bible, I Corinthians 13. I want to go over those words again, offering a little commentary.

1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 

Flowery words about love are fine, but they mean nothing on their own. Sweet talk that isn’t backed up by sweet actions isn’t going to get you very far at all. Those who speak of love but don’t actually show it will prove themselves to be insincere. But those who love in word and deed, what they say and what they do, will show their love to be genuine.

2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 

Even if a person has an unlimited amount of understanding and the capacity to trust God for all his/her needs, God tells us such a person is nothing without love. You can be the smartest person in the world, you can have all the right answers, but you will be impossible to live with if you are not loving.

3 If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Supreme sacrifices are nothing if Christian love does not inspire them. Paul tells us that even martyrdom, surrendering your body to the flames for a noble cause, is worthless if it is not motivated by love for God and love for others. What does this say about you? What does this say about your grudging acts of charity? What does it say about your day to day living?

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 

How often do we all fall short of these ideals? Yet we can see how true they are. When you deal lovingly with your children, you will be patient and kind with them. If love motivates your actions, you will resist blowing your top and losing your cool. You won’t dredge up old sins by saying, “ I still remember the time that you….”

6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 

Our human nature would have us put the worst construction on everything. When we hear something bad about someone, rather than showing kindness and attempting offer a loving explanation, we tend to pounce on gossip like buzzards on road kill. But that is not the way it should be for one who is controlled by the love of God. Rather, we should faithfully speak up for others. As I said before, we may not always live up to these ideals, but few would disagree that this is the way we should live, what we should all strive to do. This love is for the ordinary circumstances of day to day living. It is not something to be reserved for special occasions.

8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.  9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.

Paul mentions prophecies, tongues, and knowledge, saying each of these is only temporary, that they will pass away. But he wrote Love never fails. It endures, it is lasting. Prophecies, whether miraculous foretelling of future events or everyday preaching and teaching, will cease. Speaking in tongues will no longer exist. The use of Spiritual knowledge will come to an end. But love will go on.

11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12 Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 

Christians are to grow in their maturity. We find that in becoming more like Christ. The prophecy and knowledge we have today is not complete. We know in part and prophecy in part. But that will change when Christ returns. Then we shall see face to face. Paul admits that our love will not be perfect this side of heaven. We will be a poor reflections of Jesus and His love, but we should continue our efforts to show love.

13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Love will endure. So will faith and hope. Yet Paul tells us love is the greatest. Why is that? Some would argue that the most important thing is faith that accepts Jesus. After all, that is the only way to be saved. Why then does Paul here say that love is greatest?

The answer is uncertain. Paul does not explain to us why he writes that love is the greatest. Perhaps he is saying that to have love is to be like God. It may also be that love brings us into the closest communion with God. But perhaps the best answer is the simplest. God is not described as “faith” or “hope” in the Scriptures, but I John 4:16 tells us GOD IS LOVE.

The love of God was shown on the cross. He does not love us because there is anything lovable about us, but simply because He is Love. And we are also told that Love covers a multitude of sins. That is what Jesus did by dying in our place and rising again to assure us of forgiveness.  

God has shown us Himself. He has shown us His love. We need to show that to others.

Building Plans

On Sunday, February 14, after the Voter’s assembly finishes its business, there is going to be an opportunity for everyone to see the plans and renderings for our new building. The architect has been busy working with the city of Denison making the necessary tweaks and adjustments, and we should soon be able to proceed with the bidding process. If you want to know where we are and what’s happening, this will be your chance to find out.

I’d Rather Be Fishing

November 22, 2009    

JOHN 12:27-28   “Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say?  ‘Father, save me from this hour’?  No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour.  Father, glorify your name!”

You’ve have seen bumper stickers that say “I’d rather be flying, sailing, jogging, swimming, fishing, playing golf or tennis,” and the like. For a while there were so many of those bumper stickers it made you wonder if anyone was actually doing what they want to do!  Everyone seems to wish they were somewhere else. And we all understand this attitude. Life has duties and responsibilities. Some things are more fun than others. Some things are more satisfying than others. There are times I am sitting in my office and I get a phone call from someone who just came in off the lake and had a fantastic catch, and I find myself thinking, “I’d rather be fishing.”

The message of those bumper stickers seems to be ‘I want to have fun all the time!’ We all do. But life is not like that. We are called upon to be responsible individuals in our families and in our communities. There may be some things that we do not like, but we still have to do them. And as the followers of Christ, we need to recognize that God has called us to duties and responsibilities, not just privileges.

The Christian faith is a marvelous thing. We know beyond all doubt that our God has given us the richest treasure imaginable: complete forgiveness for all sin. Our sin had separated us from God and doomed us to punishment in hell. But our loving God intervened to provide the forgiveness we need. He did that by offering His Son to die in our place, making payment for sin, and raising Him again as the victor over death. Faith in Him gives forgiveness. This forgiveness entitles us to live in the certainty that we will live and reign with Christ for all eternity. It is a message that should make you feel warm inside, secure and happy.

However, the Christian faith is not a feel-good do-nothing faith. It is not centered in self. Rather, it continually leads its followers to ask, “Where can I serve?  How can I help you?  What can I do to make things easier for you?  What are your needs today?” That is what your faith in Jesus Christ should lead you to ask. But what I so often find is people doing everything they can to make life easier and more enjoyable only for themselves.  They stop at nothing in their efforts to feather their own nests. Some act as though they think God has called them to serve themselves, not others. Who is my neighbor? I am my neighbor! I will meet my own needs!

This philosophy is espoused by many in our society. And this attitude was most evident when a lady offered to take care of a six-year-old daughter of a friend, who was leaving town for a few days. On the first morning, the lady prepared breakfast, and brought a big plate of ham and eggs to the table. The little girl said, “My mother always fixes biscuits.” Wanting to be cooperative, the lady returned to the kitchen and made some biscuits. When she brought them to the table, the little girl said, “No, thank you.” “Didn’t you say your mother always had biscuits for breakfast,” the lady exclaimed. “Yes, she does,” replied the six-year-old, “but I don’t eat them.” Do you get it? I do what I want to do, and I don’t do anything I don’t want to do. If you don’t like it, too bad. 

Some adults are behaving like six-year-olds. It is easy to let this attitude creep into your lives. 

• I don’t want to go to Bible Class; I don’t want to take my kids to Sunday School–I’d rather sleep in on Sunday morning.
• I don’t want to be an officer–I’d rather not have any responsibilities in the church. I’ve served my time already. Let someone else do it.
• I don’t want to tithe–I’d rather spend my time and my money on myself and my family.

Actually, I’d rather go through my whole life and do only that which I want to do, and what I want to do is be happy, secure and comfortable. This attitude of society has spilled over into the church, and it can be summed up easily: ME, ME, ME, ME.

The attitude of the Christian should be just the opposite of this attitude of selfishness. Our faith in Jesus tells us that God is first, other are second, and we are third. Instead of ME, ME, ME, it should be GOD, GOD, GOD and OTHERS, OTHERS, OTHERS.  It is only after we have seen to the needs of others that we should attend to our own needs. This is quite a contrast to the way most people live. Our sinful flesh would have us consider only our own needs.

It is a good thing that Jesus didn’t take that attitude. In the text for today, we do not find Jesus taking the ME, ME, AND ONLY ME attitude. He is struggling with it, but it does not prevail. He had just come into Jerusalem, with all the people hailing Him as their Messiah on Palm Sunday. It was only a matter of days before His cruel execution for the sake of others. He knew what was coming. Just a few verses before this, He had said “unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds (12:24). He knew of the impending death, not for His own wrongdoing, but for yours. So He was struggling with the issue of what to do: Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say?  ‘Father, save me from this hour’?  No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour…  Jesus was a man. He had human emotions like you and me. He experienced the feelings we undergo. And when it came time for Him to serve others, what did Jesus say? “I’d rather be fishing? I’d rather be golfing? I’d rather be sailing?”

Even though Jesus was wrestling with what to do, Jesus knew the will of His Father and He wanted to do that. He knew there were difficult days ahead. But did He ask to be excused, saying He would rather be somewhere else? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name! He could have looked ahead at the arrest, the trial, the mockings, the whipping, the humiliation, the pain and crucifixion and said, “No thanks! I’d rather be fishing.” But He did not. He did not because His purpose was bigger than fishing. There is nothing wrong with fishing, but there is a time and a place for everything. His bigger calling was to glorify His Father, and at the same time bring salvation to all who would believe in Him.

You have come to this hour for a purpose as well: to glorify our God and bring honor to his name. Do you find yourself going through life always wishing you were somewhere else or doing something different? How much time do we waste wanting to be somewhere other than where we are? There is so much that you can and should be doing in response to the love of our gracious God. For one thing, the church is always in need of full-time workers: Pastors, teachers, missionaries, DCEs, deaconesses, even administrators and bookkeepers. I believe that God is calling some of you sitting here today to be full-time workers in His Kingdom. Will you listen?

Of course, you don’t have to be a full-time church worker to see all the things that need to be done. There are plenty of things that need doing right here at Grace: prospective members to visit, people to invite to church, sick and shut-ins, jobs at the church ranging from helping in the office to serving as an usher or greeter to teaching Sunday School and Midweek. In fact, there may seem to be too much to do at times. If you take seriously your calling to serve God and others, you might find yourself overwhelmed.

There was a doctor who lived through the terrible bombing of Hiroshima. He was waiting for a streetcar only a mile away from the blast, but was sheltered by the corner of a concrete building.  Within seconds after the explosion, his ears were filled with the screams of victims all around him. Not knowing what had happened, he stood there for a moment bewildered. One doctor, wondering how he could help this mountain of patients. Then, still somewhat stunned, he knelt down, opened his black bag, and began treating the person lying at his feet. He may not be able to help them all, but he did something, which was better than doing nothing at all. You, too, must do something. Don’t despair that there is so much to be done. Bloom where you are planted, and do something. Do good to those around you. Share your faith. Pray, and give sacrificially to the work of the church. All God asks is that you do what you can with what He has given to you.

Ask yourself what you are giving to your church. And I don’t mean just money. You’ve already made your financial pledge. I want you to think about all that God has given to you: Time, possessions, abilities, income. What are you giving back to him of yourself? If you were gone, would your contributions of yourself be missed? Or would anyone even notice? Wouldn’t it be great if more were giving so much of themselves, their talents, their time, that their absence would be immediately noticed?

God has called each of you to be His own. Not only did He bring you to faith, but He called you to live for Him. The victory that Christ has won for you through His death and resurrection gives you the assurance of forgiveness. But it also gives you the power to overcome your sinful desires of the flesh, the power to live as God’s child. For this purpose you have come to this hour, that you might glorify your Father in heaven. Will you live for Him as you move forward from this point?

Pledge Sunday November 22

All the members of Grace will have the opportunity to place their pledge of financial support for our shared ministry on the Altar during our worship services on November 22. A mailing has been sent to all members with a cover letter, pledge form and suggested prayers for use as you consider your personal committment. May God continue to bless our use of the resources He has given to us all!

Midweek Advent Opportunities

To help us prepare for this year’s celebration of our Lord’s birth, you will have a chance to join us for fellowship, food and worship the first three Wednesdays of December. The food and fellowship time begins at 6 p.m. The LWML will provide a soup each week, asking others to bring breads and desserts to share. Worship will begin at 7 p.m. Our theme for these services will be “One Night In Bethlehem.”  Everyone is welcome to join us as we get ready to rejoice together!

December 2     At the Inn

December 9    In the Fields

December 16  At the Stable

Freedom in Christ

August 16, 2009    Colossians 2:16-23 

We have been working our way through the book of Colossians using the theme: “Living as Disciples…Facing Opposition.” This letter is all about standing firm in the faith you have in Jesus as your Savior. Paul’s letters typically included words of encouragement and instructions in the Christian faith, and Colossians is no different. So far we have considered:

• Thankfulness and Prayer
• A Picture of Jesus
• A Picture of Christ’s Servants
• Rooted in Christ
• And today we come to Freedom in Christ

Colossians 2:16-17 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. ¹⁷ These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.

In last week’s message we talked about the false teachers adding extra requirements on salvation, telling people that to be saved you must believe in Jesus AND do good works or believe in Jesus AND be circumcised. Paul continues his arguments against those false teachings by saying that you don’t have to worry about religious food laws or celebrations or even how and when you worship – none of these things determine whether or not you are saved.

The reason Paul needs to address this is that everyone has in them the idea that we must contribute something to our salvation. Sinful human nature has a hard time believing we can be saved totally by what God has done for us in Christ, so we convince ourselves that what we do helps us be saved, whether it is the money we put in the offering plate or how often we attend worship services or even what we wear to worship! It is a pride thing. We want to take part of the credit for being saved. We tell ourselves that because we are trying hard to live a good life, that makes us better people and earns us something from God.

This gets taken to the next step when we take our cherished Christian traditions and customs and elevate them to the status of law. We try to impose them upon others, dictating what is the “proper” way to worship and what constitutes a real worship service. We start to believe that the traditions we have are the only true and correct ones.

Through Isaiah, the Lord lamented

Isaiah 29:13 “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.

Jesus quoted that passage in His ministry. Part of the opposition we face in living as disciples of Jesus is getting over ourselves. When we say we believe that Jesus is our Savior, but then we try to rely on ourselves to be saved. We get caught up in all the rules taught by men. We need to remember what Paul told us last week:

Colossians 2:10 …you have been given fullness in Christ…

Jesus gives us everything we need. God did not intend for His laws about food or festivals or ceremonies or Sabbaths to be the way to salvation. Paul tells us these were only shadows of what was to come, which was the Savior, Jesus Christ. If the sun is behind someone, the shadow will arrive at the destination before that person will. The shadow heightens the anticipation, but once the person arrives, why look at the shadow any longer? It served its purpose. Jesus, the bread of life, the perfect sacrificial lamb, the Savior of all people has come. Every Old Testament law, ceremony and shadow has been fulfilled.

There is nothing wrong with observing customs and following traditions. But if you start making those things requirements for salvation, you’ve gone against the message of Jesus.

Colossians 2:18-19  Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions. ¹⁹ He has lost connection with the Head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.

We don’t really know what “false humility and the worship of angels” Paul refers to here means. No doubt the original audience understood what he was talking about, and it was another example of a human opinion that said Jesus alone was not enough. Anything that tells you that faith in Jesus is not enough for your forgiveness and life and salvation must be rejected. People who teach such things have lost their connection to Jesus, the head of the church.

When you are connected to the Head, you know that you have been set free from the laws and rules and regulations that others try to impose upon believers. We have freedom because Jesus took care of the Law and the judgment that stood against us.

Colossians 2:20-23 Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: ²¹ “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? ²² These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. ²³ Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.

The question Paul asks you to consider is this: “Why would anyone who has been set free in Christ go back to the law as the way to be saved?” Or “Do you really think regulations about food and clothing and religious festivals will get you the victory over sin and death?”

Any self-imposed rituals may have an appearance of wisdom, but that is all they have. The problem is they lead people away from Jesus, not toward him. They have no value in overcoming sin. True Christianity is not something that can be reduced to a set of rules. It is not something that flatters sinful human pride. True Christianity is being rooted in Christ, connected to Him by faith, buried with Him and raised again with Him. True Chrisitianity is rejoicing in the forgiveness and life and salvation that God gives to you for Jesus sake without any merit or worthiness in yourself.

You have been set free from the law by Jesus.

Galatians 5:1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

Don’t be fooled into thinking that laws or customs or traditions save you. They are useful only insofar and as long as they point us to our Savior. And when you are pointed to Jesus, connected to Him as the head of the body, you will understand the freedom that you have in Him. I am free to do whatever I want to do, but in gratitude to Jesus for what He has done, I choose to live as a disciple. His Spirit empowers me to live for Him, knowing that I am not saved by what I do, but by what God has done for me. I live in that freedom.

A Picture of Jesus

July 26, 2009  Colossians 1:15-23

In a preschool classroom, a little girl was working intently on a drawing. Her teacher noticed her concerted effort, so she went over to ask her what she was drawing. The little girl replied, “I’m drawing a picture of God.” The teacher responded, “That’s nice, dear. But you know, we don’t really know what God looks like.” Unfazed, the little girl never even looked up from her drawing as she said, “That’s because I’m not finished with my picture yet.”

What does God look like? We all have images in our head. Yours and mine will not be the same as those of people in other parts of the world, but for all He is that “Beautiful Savior.” Today, as we continue our study of Colossians under the theme “Living as Disciples…Facing Opposition,” we’ll be looking with our mind’s eye at a Picture of Jesus that Paul paints with his words. In this letter, Paul was addressing some false teachings that paid lip service to Jesus but did not really believe He was the Savior, or that He had done everything necessary for people to be saved from sin. So Paul wants to be sure his readers have a clear picture of who Jesus is. It is interesting that Paul does not try to argue with the false teachers. He simply overwhelms them with the truth of the Gospel.

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.   

When we hear “image” we think “picture” or “likeness.” However, this means more than just a representation or even a reproduction. Jesus is the personification of God. The invisible God is visibly seen in the incarnation, Jesus taking on flesh, becoming man. God shows himself to mankind in Jesus. This is how we best know who God is – the Word made flesh, Jesus Christ.

In the creation account, we read that Adam and Eve were created in the image of God as a reflection of Creator. But that is not what is being described here. Jesus was not created in the image of God –He is the Creator, so that image is an essential part of His being, who He is. 

16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.

Normally when we speak of the work of creation, we think of God the Father. However, this is just one of many passages that tell us the Son, Jesus, was involved in the creating process.

John 1:1-3 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was with God in the beginning. ³ Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.

Hebrews 1:1-3a In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, ² but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. ³ The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.

The incomprehensible unity of the Triune God is something we can never fully grasp. Jesus is fully God and one with the Father and the Spirit. Our Triune God is Maker and Savior and Comforter.

17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.   

This is a reference to time, not His rank in Creation. He is eternal, without start or end. He is also the one who gives the world its proper balance. The philosophers of Paul’s days talked about a “living force” that held everything together. Many today use similar terminology. But Paul wants his readers to understand that what holds this world together is not a vague, unidentifiable force. It is Jesus Christ, in whom we live and move and have our being. Jesus is the Lord of the universe. (Peoples Bible Commentary, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon, CPH, p. 128)

18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.   

In addition to being Lord of all, Jesus is also the head of His Church. Paul describes Jesus in these terms repeatedly (2:10; Ephesians 1:22-23; Romans 12:5). Just as a human body cannot live without its head, so the church cannot exist without Christ. The head contains the brain, which we know is the nerve center. Science has also discovered that a gland at the base of the brain controls the growth of the body. Likewise, it is only through Christ that the church can live and grow.

And we are also reminded that He was the first raised to ETERNAL life BODILY, but He will not be the last. All who believe that He died to pay for their sins will receive the forgiveness He earned. They will also rise to eternal life.

1 Corinthians 15:20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

Firstfruits is a little different than firstborn, but both of those words imply that others will follow. Those others are believers, like you and me.

Have you been seeing the picture of Christ that Paul is painting for us here? The phrases of praise he puts one on top of the other are like brush strokes that continue to add to the beauty of the image! Jesus is supreme, eternal, Savior, crucified, risen, … a majestic portrait indeed. But our artist is not yet finished.

19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.   

In painting this word picture of Christ, Paul wants us to understand that Jesus was not just a good guy and a great teacher and a role model. In addition to being a man, He is God, fully and truly. And being God, He was able to do what no one else could do: reconcile us to Himself. No other reconciliation is either possible or needed, by men or by angels or you or me. Jesus did everything necessary to make peace between God and men. He offered the only acceptable sacrifice, making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. He restored harmony. He has provided this reconciliation for all men, but the tragedy is that not all are saved. They have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. The forgiveness and life He eared is there for the taking, but not everyone does. They have not heard or have heard and not believed.. Either way, they need to hear the Good News. We need to share with them the picture we have of Jesus. 

21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior.   22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—  

Everyone starts out as enemies of God, needing reconciliation. By the grace of God, you and I are among those who have been reconciled. But we still struggle with evil behavior, which is the manifestation of evil minds, the natural desire of men to live contrary to God’s will. The is part of the opposition we face in our daily lives. Yet when we remember that we are His disciples, we know we can repent and confess and be forgiven.

BUT NOW indicates that a change has occurred. Those who were enemies and have come to faith are no longer enemies. God has restored the proper relationship with His creation. Jesus took the death we had merited, the death we deserve, and offered Himself as a substitution sacrifice.

23        — if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.   

After you have been brought to faith by the power of the Holy Spirit, you must remain in the faith that God gives. And this is something the Spirit works in your as well. He reminds you of the Gospel that you heard and builds you up in the HOPE, the certainty, that is yours because of Jesus.

We must continue in the faith, living as disciples, because there will be opposition. Jesus said,

John 16:33  “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Because of all the opposition we face in our lives, we need to make sure we have an accurate “picture” of who Jesus really is: God’s Son, our Beautiful Savior.

Something Worth Living and Dying For

May 31, 2009  Pentecost Sunday

Matthew 13:44-52 44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.  45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls.  46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.  47 “Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish.  48 When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. 49 This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous 50 and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.  51 “Have you understood all these things?” Jesus asked. “Yes,” they replied.  52 He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has been instructed about the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.” (NIV)

If being a Christian was you job, would you get fired based on your performance?

Kind of an in-your-face way to start a sermon isn’t it? But it gives you something to think about and consider. How well are you living out your calling to be a disciple of Jesus, one who not only lives a certain way but who also shares the message of Jesus as Savior with others? Keep that in mind as we consider a few things this morning

I. People are not finding what they need in THE CHURCH

Throughout this nation, people are leaving the church. They are not going TO anything in particular. They just drop out. Why? People leave because they are not finding what they need in the church. They leave because they do not find in the church anything worth living for or worth dying for. And that is what people want to find. The tragedy here is that the very thing worth living and dying for is to be found only in the church.

Have you noticed the trend in recent years? We’ve tried to make it easier to be a church member. We’ve said, “Why don’t you be an usher…it won’t take much of your time!”  Or “Why don’t you try to teach Sunday School for a few months. You don’t have to make a long term commitment.” I know I have done this. We have been trying to lower the cost of discipleship to bargain basement prices. In doing so, we have been more intent on following the ways of the world than the ways of the WORD. We have failed to take into account two very important things.

A. Search for something meaningful

First of all, people want to find something that is so wonderful, so fulfilling, so meaningful and satisfying that they can give themselves to it in total commitment. They want to be sold out to something. People are not afraid to suffer and make sacrifices if they can find something worth it.

B. When a person finds the KINGDOM he will make that total COMMITTMENT

Secondly, Jesus says that when a man finds the kingdom of heaven, he will automatically, without any reflection, make that total commitment in order to possess it, like the man in the parable: He went away and sold everything he had…

Look at this quote. “We will not accept into membership anyone with any reservations whatsoever. We will not accept into our membership anyone unless he is an active, disciplined, working member in one of our organizations.” Do you know who said that? VLADIMIR LENIN. People were willing to give themselves totally to communism with its moral bankruptcy. Should not we be all the more willing to give ourselves totally to the one who gave His life for us? They will if they know about it .

II. The Church has been blinded by PRESUMPTION

One of the biggest problems we face in the Church is that we have been blinded by presumption. We presume that children who have been born to Christian parents and raised on a church pew have already, by osmosis, found the kingdom of heaven. I can tell you from my experience with your children in Confirmation Class that it just isn’t so. You presume that you and your children are automatically in full possession of the treasure in the field. What a deadly presumption that can be. I read that a prominent clergyman a few years ago observed that many people expose their children to the faith in such small doses that they succeed only in making them immune; they innoculate them against catching the disease. And that is nothing new. Luther observed that the church is never more than one generation from extinction. So there are two things that are needed to combat this dangerous presumption.

A. Need #1: Life-Changing Discovery

Every person needs to make that LIFE-CHANGING DISCOVERY of the hidden treasure. So many of those who give up on the Church never discovered the Kingdom. Only this discovery will bring about the needed change. And Jesus says that a dramatically changed life is the result of finding the hidden treasure of His kingdom. That is how you know the Spirit has worked faith in a person. A person’s entire life, value system, perspective — everything is changed. In God’s Kingdom a person finds that which everyone seeks: Something worth living for and something worth dying for.

B. Need #2: Holy-Dissatisfaction

It is a pathetic delusion, though, to sit in church Sunday after Sunday imagining that you have found the kingdom and yet your life has not been revolutionized the way Jesus intends. The second thing needed is a HOLY DISSATISFACTION with anything in the Church that is “Ho-hum.” Why? Because it is not Biblical. God never intended His Church to be a place of complacency with a lack of vitality and no spiritual fervor. His people are to be on fire for Him. That was seen on that first Chrsitian Pentecost. You have the best news ever given this world. You have life everlasting because of your faith in Jesus Christ. You should be happy and excited about that. It ought to show in your living!

III. Jesus Describes the Kingdom

Listen to how Jesus describes THE KINGDOM. He uses three different comparisons, each showing a different facet of that mysterious thing called “THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.”

A. Treasure in field: HIDDENNESS

The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. Here Jesus emphasizes the hiddenness of the kingdom. Even though its reality and nearness surround us, it is not discerned by the unspiritual. It is hidden — hidden from the flesh, hidden from the natural man. It is revealed only by God’s Spirit.

B. Pearls: SEEKING

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it. The second comparison is to a pearl of great price. The emphasis here is on seeking something of value. Because it is hidden, Jesus tells us to seek His kingdom. You are to seek it at the expense of everything else. You are to seek it first, seek it with all your heart, and seek it with the confidence that you will find. He promises that His Spirit will lead you to it.

C. Net: THROWING AWAY

Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish.  When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away.

The third is a bit more perplexing. At first glance, it seems simple enough. Sorting the good from the bad. This is certainly a picture of the end times, when Christ returns. The faithful will be taken to Him, those without faith will be thrown away to the place prepared for them.

However, I think there is another way to look at this comparison of the net if you take into account what follows. Jesus says in verse 52: therefore, every teacher of the law who has been instructed about the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.

A teacher of the law was another name for a scribe. A Scribe began his training at age 7. If he showed promise, he was assigned a private tutor at age 14, whom he remained with until the age of 40. At that time, he would become a full-fledged scribe himself, an expert in the oral traditions. He spent his life memorizing sayings that would bring insight into making moral and legal decisions. He became a walking library, trained to remember everything. That is how the Jewish heritage and tradition was passed on. Nothing was ever discarded. He never threw out anything, old or new.

But Jesus says he must throw things out if he becomes a disciple in His kingdom. There has to be a spring cleaning of sorts. When this translation says BRING OUT OF HIS STOREHOUSE, it does not mean bring out to use. The Greek word here means to discard, throw away, or cast off. Get rid of those so-called treasures in your storehouse that are useless. Would a Scribe really do that, throw out some of the things he had spent 33 years to attain? He would if he found the kingdom of heaven! He would have found the thing truly worth living and dying for. When that is found, your life is revolutionized, changed for the better. And that is what has been missing for a long, long time.

IV. Your Life in the Kingdom

Something each of you need to know and need to convince your children of before it is too late is that this kingdom of God not only exists, but that it will be found by all who seek it, that it is worth possessing above anything else, and that it is attainable for all who cast themselves totally on Him who won it for you at the cost of His own life. Jesus died to pay for your sins so that this kingdom might be yours. That is something worth living and dying for.

To find the kingdom is to find God Himself. You will discover that He is intensely personal, unmistakably real, nearer that your own breath. The one who speaks the parable is Himself the object of your search. He is Jesus, showing you the heart of His Father by pouring Himself out in love on the cross. He is the embodiment of God’s mercy reaching out to bring you to Himself freely. His blood cleanses all the sin you have done. The one that you seek is the one who sought you first.

To find this hidden kingdom of God, this treasure, is to find yourself in Him. By water and the Spirit you are dead to the power of sin, victoriously alive in God, seated with Him in the heavenly realms to execise authority over Satan and all darkness. You will discover a radical change in yourself not from your efforts, but because Christ lives in you. It is yours, promised in black and white, sealed with the blood of the Lamb, given freely by God to you in Christ Jesus.

It has been estimated that in the Dark Ages there were 50 million Christian martyrs. There were another million when the communists took over China. And people today still boldly profess their faith in Christ Jesus as the one who rescued them and gives them eternal life. These are people who know that through Jesus they are part of God’s kingdom, and that is something worth living and dying for.

If being a Christian was you job, would you get fired based on your performance?

DD Pappas

DD oversees our Midweek Children’s programs, Vacation Bible School  and Family Events.