The Crew:
Susanna: Fellowship, Stanford, Genetic Biology, Palo Alto, CA; Duke University 2020
Luke: Student, USAF, Analyst, Deployed
Frances Brantley: Student, Baylor School, Chattanooga, TN; Daughter and Sister
Wendy Williams Brantley: Hook Marketing, CEO; Mom and Wife
John Brantley: Clergy,, oikos:itsahouseholdword, CIO of Hook Marketing. King of Kotimme.com [Clergy, Author, Writer, Seeker and Poet]
Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone. When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” [NRSA]
Mattie did a great job last week sharing a call to remember we are gifted with gifts to share. But if she had shared, and my gift is to be the Messiah, we too would have at least mumbled and grumbled, she is so full of herself to say such
But this is the context of our passage today. Jesus is the hometown favorite getting up to read, preach, and teach and he goes off with a Messiah complex. Who is he to say what the completion of scripture and the law is to be.
The idea that Jesus completes us affirms that we are incomplete
Dating card with strengths and weaknesses.
• Anointed to bring good news to the poor,
• release to the captive
• sights to the blind
• freedom to those oppressed
• and proclaim the year of the lord
Jesus fulfills these and call us to share the same…
Begging the question what are the
poor, the captive, the blind, the oppressed, and those waiting for the lord to show finding out through us today?
Straight from the news reports,
• poverty continues,
• banks hold mortgages,
• governments and society hold hearts and minds captive,
• people continue to blindly follow rather than question, and there seems to be no justice for those who are oppressed and this day seems like just another day in ordinary-villa.
Christian Rapper ‘Phanatik’ of The Cross Movement Publicly Renounces Christianity
“I began to have doubts…” I could not trust what I have been telling others, so I’m renouncing my Christian faith.
written songs, book, taught classes, and didn’t believe what he was dishing out…
Many would say, I don’t care about rap in the first place, but when we hear of someone giving up hope, we need to pay attention. It might not be just those in the spot light.
Jesus begins his ministry affirming this IS. His use of the words of the prophet Isaiah become declaration of faith:
• what I trust,
• this IS what I believe,
• this IS what I will be doing, and
• THIS IS what God longs for you to do as well.
What is good news to the poor?
There is something more valuable that wealth. One less that is taught over and again when sharing ministry with those who are rich in Christ, but poor in the things of the world, is the ability to prioritize what matters most.
We speak of someone who is blinded by conditioning, majority, coercion, and assumption:
There are something we see by faith when our eyes tell us otherwise. We are called to be people who believe not because they have seen the signs and placed our hand in the side as Thomas but those who live by trust, faith alone.
We are prisoners of our own allegiance, (Quote the Eagles, our own device) to the what the world tells us right/wrong.
There is what world says its good and true and there is the one who created the world and it’s purpose says are good and true.
What do those who are oppressed by wealthy, the majority, the systems of control, institution of power, what do they want to know?
There is a power greater than the powers of this world.
Jesus declares that in him, we find this power, this wealth, this life
In the Lord’s Day,
• is not earth day,
• it is not independence Day,
• it’s not president’s day,
• Its not Santa’s Day,
• It’s not Election Day,
it is the Day of the Lord
• The Lord’s Choice
• The Lord’s Power
• The Lord’s Purpose
• The Lord’s Revealing
Jesus has made a very strong political statement in his first sermon: God’s Day, God’s Way, depends on no other variable.
What that way of life looks and sounds like is this…
There are no more tear, no more fear
no more death, no more misuse of trust and power.
So what can you and I find in this story, sermon, verse?
Where you have placed your trust in yourself, your government, your fears, your power and power of human construction, are just as they were in the tower of Babel
Just as God confused the language,
Jesus’ reading from Isaiah sounds noble and we would expect him to highlight nothing else, but what he is saying is this
Don’t trust those who hold power, wealth, influence, etc to know right from wrong.
He is not saying to ignore the world’s power, rather see it’s limitation and flaws.
Those in the world could operate from righteousness if each day were devoted to the glory of God, but where they do not, they are not God’s instruments…
For example $$$
Money is a necessary means of transacting commerce in a society, it is neither good nor evil. Misuse of the power that controlling money is evil and despite it’s power and influence, God is greater and Jesus has come to make that right
Again it is not inappropriate for us to talk about money in relationship to the church but to tell God what we cannot do because we do not have the money in hand requires no faith in God. Listening to those who hold the money is what we have come to believe is the only way. Jesus is saying money is not love, is not peace, is not justice, is not hope, is not salvation. Money is money, who’s power do we place our trust.
What are we doing with the power, wealth, opportunities, freedom that we enjoy?
What better place to invest than to invest in reversing poverty, providing freedom, release, seeing through the lies of evil power to see the truth of God’s strength.
The final part of the Lord’s Day being declaired in their hearing, points to the urgency not to wait for another day.
What are you and I doing with the gifts we currently have?
What are we waiting to happen to be bold in witness?
When will we have enough to do what the Lord needs done?
Jesus gives us these answers:
Trust the Lord and you will see the kingdom of God in every part of your life.
WWill our response be to grumble, dismiss, or ignore or take up the Cross of Christ and make this day another Day for the Lord…
And so, brothers and sisters, I could not speak to you as spiritual people, but rather as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for solid food. Even now you are still not ready, for you are still of the flesh. For as long as there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not of the flesh, and behaving according to human inclinations? For when one says, “I belong to Paul,” and another, “I belong to Apollos,” are you not merely human? What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you came to believe, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. The one who plants and the one who waters have a common purpose, and each will receive wages according to the labor of each. For we are God’s servants, working together; you are God’s field, God’s building. [NRSA] • We are servants in God’s field • We are called to work together – some planting, some watering, some fertilizing, some harvesting • We are the instruments of God’s building.
As you know one of my priorities has been to keep our congregation as informed about the denomination status and issues. Sometimes this is helpful and at other times we only commiserate in frustration of what we don’t know and what we can’t control. Your Administrative Council is becoming more informed and studying the issues that we will be facing in the months ahead so that nothing comes as a surprise. So look forward to the fruit of their work, conference and district ‘town hall meetings’ and the ongoing prayerful challenge we share to be the body Christ at Rock Spring. With that reminder, I offer this passage this morning for our encouragement: The Apostle Paul writes to encourage the church at Corinth, Greece that is faced with many divisions with it this lesson that we are blessed to have in our day. Early in his letter, he reminds the church: (1Cor2.14-16) The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, for, “Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ. 1. Spiritual matters are foolish to those who not following the Holy Spirit. Therefore, do not be worn out by those who think our faithfulness is foolish in their opinion and in their understanding. 2. Paul reminds that “We are servants in God’s field” a. This is a two-part reminder. First, in following Christ, we are servants and followers. b. Second, our scope of responsibility is to God and not to the world’s foolishness.
3. Third, we are called to work together with one another, IN the Holy Spirit. a. THIS IS the point of reflection for today for us. When we are not working together, it becomes clear b. That we are not working in the Spirit c. We are not working in God’s field, or scope, or arena d. Recall from (Gen 11:4) Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.” i. The Tower of Babel is the landmark case of God scattering the work when people put themselves head of God’s plan, God’s scope, God’s field of work. e. Paul calls out those who have been baptized by one Leader or the other, and the alliances that follow as one teach being right and the other being wrong. i. Paul says earlier: “I’m glad I baptized none of you so you don’t drag me into this mess.” f. POINT: When we who are in the one Spirit, share the ONE mind of Christ, Working together in the same field for God, Though we may have different gifts, talents, and skills, share the same work that should be united in God and not dividing God’s people, not dividing God’s witness, not dividing God’s work.
The fact that the church is in the process of division and divorces is self-affirmation that we are out of bounds.
4. Notice: Unity is not that we all agree on the same word, it is we are all doing what is in God’s best interest and not our own. a. Said another way, the goal is not a unity of what’s in our Book of Disciplines, rather UNIFIED in serving God.
The Course Correction So what difference is this all to us. Are we not just the victims of the politics of others? No, we are all parts of the same body. Different parts and members but with the same mind of Christ. When we are divided into Christ’s name, it becomes clear that we are NOT operating with the same mind of Christ. Just as with the fig tree (Luke 13: 6-9) Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’ “ ‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’ ” The purpose of a fig tree: to bear leaves or figs? The purpose of the church is to bear fruit for the kingdom: • When we say, well it would be better if this fig tree could bear blackberries AND figs. Foolishness • When we say, let’ just find something else to eat if the figs aren’t in our season. Foolishness • When we say, I don’t like figs anyway, who cares. • We have the task of making disciples of Jesus Christ, not agreeing in politics. • We have the calling of showing the world how to work together as SERVANTS, not as those being served or pleased or approved. We have that covered in the grace of Jesus Christ. Paul writes for us and the church in Corinth: • Serve God not ourselves • God’s field not our own • Our unity of trust in God is our witness to a world who calls us foolish • God is bearing figs not politics, not agendas, not policies, not opinion polls, not ideologies. Our Prayer: Lord, I am your fig, the fruit of your blessing and grace. If am I posing as a fig but am actually something else, have mercy on me a sinner, nurture and fertilized me another season of your grace. May I do the part for your church that You have called and created, that you have died and been raised, that you have loved and infused me with your blessings, become your fig for a world of fools who are hungry for you. Amen.
Since, therefore, the children share flesh and blood, he himself likewise shared the same things, so that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by the fear of death. For it is clear that he did not come to help angels, but the descendants of Abraham. Therefore, he had to become like his brothers and sisters in every respect, so that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make a sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself was tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested. [NRSA]
Jesus Moves Toward Us In the 21st century world things progress more rapidly that we can comprehend. In the field of technology there is the suggested Mohr’s law that progress changes exponentially every two years. But we are quickly approaching a subatomic limitation for our devices and machines to get any faster or any smaller. With switches in microprocessors approaching single digit nanometer we assume that there is a finite limitation that will halt progress. But as with every unimaginable breakthrough comes the new medium and new energy source that turns the old technology on its head and we are seeing a near endless progression in the advancement of things. The new Apple Mac Computer, fully loaded from the factory comes in at $54K if you add the keyboard and mouse that are not included. And on the day of its delivery to customers there are much faster and much cheaper machines being sold. All this chaotic pace of change is to ask an old fashioned question. Is it necessary or even helpful to apply the model of progress, change, advancement and efficiency to the words, concepts and power of our faith? People have been finding their way to the very heart of God through Jesus Christ for over 2000 years. Did it take the followers back then any longer to give their hearts to Christ? Did it require any special technology to have find access to the teaching of Jesus? Did it call for specialized agents, teachers, and tools to feed the sick, give drink to the thirst, befriend the forgotten, care for the widow, orphan, and stranger? Did the words of Jesus hold less power then than they do know for all our advancement in biblical study and theological reflections?
Does Context Matter? I would say in the past 35 years of my theological study, 8 years spent in direct research and study at seminaries, hundreds bible studies, over 3,600 sermons prepared and delivered, I would say a great deal of influence from the academic world has pressed hard for preachers to understand, appreciate and value the fluid contexts in which we serve and work. But I have begun to question part of this teaching. What does it mean for Jesus, the son of God, Jesus the Christ, God who empties himself of his immortality, his omniscience, his omnipotence, his multidimensional comfort in the realms of heaven and be born, go through puberty, deal with family and community, be confronted with institutions, religions, authorities and powers physical and spiritual so that we could see and know God more clearly? It means that God values us, you and me, and everyone out ‘there’ enough to enter our context, so that we could know God’s context in our lives. I believe we have had a great deal backwards. We are not called to soften, entertain, or make God’s call, expectations and invitation any less or any different now than when, he first revealed himself. But we live in a world of Thomas-es who want to touch, see, feel, experience for ourselves. We don’t want to take someone else’s word, especially if it is old, outdated, and not in our own context. That is somewhat like saying if only Jesus were Chocolate-chip-mint Ice cream. That is my favorite flavor and if God would see fit ‘himself’ into my container, context, understanding, limitations, then I would be more likely to believe or trust. So while it is vital for Jesus to come to our Context, God has no need to be as fickle and flexible as our attention deficiencies.
We are comfortable in our Slavery Slavery: There are people who are treated as slaves in this world.. not because of the color of their skin, but for a lack of education, power, influence, and a disbelief that slavery exists in our context. Workers who make pennies a day, make it possible for so many of our products to be inexpensive deals. The next time we purchase something think about the salary, working conditions and benefits you would want to receive for making those items and remember the bulk of the profits are in transportation, stockholders, taxes and tariffs. China workers, Africans working in African for Chinese government funded projects. Labor given to build infrastructure in lands that are not part of China, but are taken advantage. We are being made slaves of political division. Women and girls in human trafficking. We are called to be free from slavery. We are called to set the captive free. We are called to celebrate liberty in every nation. Our question for Context and many forms of Slavery, are no Match for..
The Power of Fear God come to show us his heart and word. He gives us the power of the Spirit and the gift of Salvation through his sacrifice so that none of us live in fear. And yet.. we all know some fear. Fear of death and dying.. Even though we know that God has made a way to him and fear is no longer and end, but rather a doorway closer. Fear of a new place, a new school, a new job or home. Or fear of no place, no job or no home. Fear that what we have known to be safe and dependable is being shaken and changed, Or a fear of having to replace comfort with confirmation of our faith and trust in Christ. I know that my grandmother feared the day they would close her church, Wesley Chapel, the fourth church on a charge of churches in the South Georgia conference of the UMC. She saw the number drop from over a hundred, to the twenties, to 12, to 9, and at the point it was three, despite paying the apportionments and salary portion herself, she felt like it was her responsibility to keep the doors open. But that is just the thing. Jesus didn’t die on the cross for us to keep the doors unlocked, he lives in us so that we will walk through those doors and make disciples of the world who find their home in Christ just as we have done. The Fear we face this year: Are we upholding memories or upholding the folks who don’t know they are sinners like us, who want church to be their convenient favorite flavor and song and style,
So What Are We To Do? The heart of this passage asking us to show by our trust and faithfulness. Are we fans of evil that is comfortable, easy and popular or are we committed to a more difficult path? Are we here to be served, taken care of and made to feel safe from a world that has little respect of hope for us? Are we here to be witness of fear, timid-ness, and doubt or Are we the those whom Christ has called, challenged, empowered and standing strong as we go into the world for the sake of Jesus Christ? I say any other choice is our defeat. Hold up this measuring rod for one another: Am I being tested in my faith? In my witness? In my service? If so, we have to encourage one another and not divide one another If not, we are call to receive Christ anew, to hear his call, to claim and reclaim the challenge, and to be steadfast in God’s work through us. Alone I will fail, Together in Christ we can endure all things. Be strong in prayer, strong in worship, strong in loving and forgiving, strong with encouragement, strong in listening and studying God’s word. Strong in singing and being the presence of Christ right now.
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way, they persecuted the prophets who were before you. [NRSV]
• Jesus calls disciples • Jesus calls followers • Jesus calls for everyone who follows to become a disciple. • Jesus calls everyone who follows a higher standard of actions and attitudes.
The most famous part of the sermon is the “Blessed” section. What is the designation of being blessed? In the context of the teaching, Jesus is making self declarative statements.
That is, the seal of approval is given through the attitude behind the action of goodness. 1. The poor in spirit, receive the kingdom of heaven. 2. Those who mourn will receive comfort. 3. The meek will be given the world. 4. Those who long for what is right will be fulfilled. 5. Those who show mercy will receive mercy. 6. The pure of heart see the heart of God. 7. Those who make peace, are God’s children. 8. Those who are persecuted for the work of Christ find heaven. 9. The summary blessing is for those to remain true to God when the world calls them evil. 10. The summary is that followers and disciples of Jesus need to count on being persecuted for their faithfulness. If we are not confronting evil we are complacent. LORD HAVE MERCY ON OUR WEAKNESS!
If we are keeping quiet about our faith, then we are missing out on the blessing of our faith.
Every Religion • In every world religion, there is some challenge for people to be kind, compassionate, good-hearted, caring people, to at least those who belong to that group. • In every world religion, there are affirmations of caring for the widow, the orphan and the poor. • In every world religion, there are teachings to live with devotion to the god of their worship. • What is different in Jesus’s teaching? If we look at this list as more than general suggestions, but not just a checklist, we hear Jesus teaching a way of thinking, a perspective of living and behaving that draws us TOWARD GOD, THROUGH our RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS.
ATTITUDES as BEHAVIORS as a WAY OF LIFE Every blessing comes when we live out the ideas in our heads and hearts through the lives of other people. • The poor in spirit: Those who know they don’t know it all, might have room to grow, mature and journey more. • Those who mourn: Those who open their eyes to the things that are broken and can weep with those who hurt. • The meek: Those who don’t seek the things of this world as their salvation, know salvation comes through Jesus. • Those who long for righteousness: Those who seek God’s way over their own way. • Those who show mercy: Those who can live their faith AND be kind, compassionate in the process. • The pure of heart: Know their best self by trusting God’s vision of their life and motives. • Those who make peace: We are God’s children when we trust our heavenly father’s justice, judgment & grace. • Those persecuted for Christ: We cannot withstand persecution unless God stands with us, that is heaven/garden • Those who are steadfast: When the world calls our actions and thoughts evil, are a good measure of doing good. • Those being persecuted for their faithfulness to God is living out our heaven citizenship over our earthly one.
The Hard Part Here is the worst part of the list: It’s not a cafeteria, pick-and-choose, list to select from at our pleasure. It is an all-inclusive list. The blessing of the buffet is ours, but we are to work on the whole menu. Blessing as a measure of being on the right track is seen in each lane. Blessing of our work is completed comes when we wear every hat in the officer’s handbook. (Not just church leadership roles)
The Catch The picture Jesus gives is not for us to focus on one area and stay in that lane, rather drive on the interstate on the highway to heaven. The goodness is that the same attitude behind our motives is the same attitude: Philippians 2:2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. One love, one spirit, one mind Deuteronomy 6:5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. • If we can comfort those who mourn, we can all so feed those who know their hunger for more of Christ. • If we can endure showing grace and compassion, we can endure being ridiculed and judged by the world. • If we can long for truth and righteousness, we can also be pure in our motives and grace-filled in our service.
THE BOTTOM LINE • You and I are followers and disciples of Jesus today. • We are blessed with many things in this world, but God has a greater blessing than all the stuff, money and power. • We are blessed with relationships, but these relations are empty if they are lacking the sharing of our faith.
We are blessed with opportunities that only a few have in the world, and to not use what we have for God is to waist our heavenly inheritance, in the present. • TRUE BLESSING comes from God, for bringing to life the ideas and teachings that come from God. • TRUE BLESSING comes not from the world’s list of value, but in the value of being God’s hands and feet. • TRUE BLESSING comes when we move from HEARING the Word and BECOME the Word for the World.
The SO WHAT? We know this, why are telling us what we already know? Because part of our job is to hold the mirror of accountability that reflects God and ask: 1. Are people being spiritually fed through my actions and words? What can I do then? 2. Do people turn to me when there are hurting, sad, disappointed or grieving? What should I do? 3. Do people around me know God’s kingdom is my priority or the world’s priority? 4. Do people see and hear God’s word through my daily life? 5. Do people see that I am kind/compassionate or do present a grumpy, judgmental, too busy advertisement? 6. What do people see about God’s heart through me? 7. Do people trust me to bring people together or do they trust me to take sides and defend? 8. When was the last time I was persecuted, judged or penalized for expressing my faith? Am I overdue? 9. When it is easier to going along with the crowd even though I know it’s not right or not best, I roll with the tide? 10. People know I will put God first, over all else. Except for game day, family, money, career, or something else?
WHEN OUR ALL OUR ACTIONS AND THOUGHTS REFLECT GOD, JESUS, HOLY SPIRIT Our work is done, in the meantime, we have much to work on, and MUCH to work with because in Jesus’s teachings we are promised the world, mercy, heart, family, heaven, goodness, faithfulness, comfort, Jesus, Spirit, and God himself. This familiar list of attitudes is a reminder, a measure and a wake-up call to look at our head, our heart and our actions and ask: Can I see God? Can others see God? If so, I have great news to praise and share. If not, Lord let’s get work today.
Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: “Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.” From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him. Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people. [NRSA]
The call to follow is an invitation to
Listen
Learn
Follow
Transform
Call others
We talking about the need to listen last week We hear the week before what it means to follow The most important part of this challenge is the call to impact the lives of others
Q: What am I doing that others see, hear and know that Jesus is healing, calling, working through me?
Step back to the do no harm rule: What am I doing that is harming my witness and getting in the way of others experiencing Jesus in me?
What can I do? To disciple others.
Discern one person before the end of the month that God is calling you to reach out to disciple. Pray for them every day Find multiple ways to reach out to them and show the love and power of Jesus Christ Persistence and variety. Many gifts and avenues Call theirs friends and co-workers She scriptures that invite learning and following Take them to follow with you in your faith journey Make it easy, no pressures salesmen. Some will follow others will be reached by someone else. Repeat each month.
Goal of your own 12 disciples.. A year of reaching our own dozen for Christ.
Now go and make Disciples of Jesus Christ ( next week food for the journey)
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.” Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.” The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?”They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?” “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.”So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon. Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter ). [NRSA]
The beginning of becoming disciples
From the Text: we see the prophetic promises
• fulfilled from Isaiah through a John the Baptist
• Jesus is baptized and calls us join him in that adoption
He invites followers to listen to him
Jesus calls followers to follow
Followers listen to Jesus
Followers follow
Even as leaders we follow Jesus
… Last week we all heard a good example of what it means to radically listen and radically follow Jesus invitation. Todd reminded us that to follow Jesus might take us away from our family, away from our comforts, away from our plans. We appreciate and admire someone’s journey when they follow so radically. But as passionate was their story.. I ask you today to where and to what is God invite you to go and to do today?
We don’t all have a calling to the Bush of Africa
A. But one thing that Todd shared is that he and his wife we listening to God
B. And they heard go, and then go back, and then stay and keep listening.
The question for us today is
1. Are we listening? Are we asking for God’s leading and direction or are we relying on what God told us two years or two decades ago and have not genuinely stopped to listen, in light of where we current are.
2. Do we not listen because we don’t want to hear something that might lead away from our comforts of what is familiar or easy…
3. John heats and tell Andrew, Andrew listens and follows, Andrew reaches out to his brother with what he had heard.
4. He bring Simon, Simon listens and is transformed. Simon now becomes Peter, the Rock Man, we people of the Rock, Rock Spring….
There are two profound part to give our attention tot his morning:
A. Jesus continue to call us now, through others
B. Jesus continues to call other, through you.
What are we hearing Jesus needs us to be, do or go?
What are others hearing and seeing from Jesus through us?
Both demand our attention if we are follow Jesus
I said two weeks ago and will say again,
Now more than any time in our lifetime, Jesus Long’s for us to
• listen,
• follow, and
• share.
Discipleship
The shift from living in anticipation of faith
theological we shift from anticipation of Jesus to a season of living with Christ, listening, following and sharing with others.
All of us don’t need to go to the Bush, but all of us need to be following Christ’s call.
Where ARE you in this journey?
I think everyone here has heard of Jesus
We come together to sing, study and hear the words of Jesus’s teaching
Where do we see Jesus day? Or do we?
What is Jesus saying to you this week or today?
Are willing to take the day for Jesus or simple a few minutes now and then
How am I responding to Jesus’s call to follow
How am I bringing others
How am I being transformed
How is Jesus using me, you, RS in this day?
This is where we benefit from fellowship… small group, prayer partners, faith friends
Someone or group that is small enough to listen to one another
Strong enough to to provide accountability
Loving enough to challenge us to allow Christ to continue transforming us together?
• If I know what Jesus asks me to do and I’m doing it, you have good news we all need to hear
• If you know but are not doing anything about it then get to it now
• If you don’t know it’s time to pray study ask, seek Jesus from those who have heard
• If you have tried and failed, learn why and try again
• If you are scare to start because you know things will be different in your life hear the stories and witness of those who have heard
• If you don’t know where to begin, here John’S question of Jesus: where are you,that I can come listen and get to know you and learn your call for my life.
Today is the day for doing, acting, responding and not just thinking
Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you. Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn. Lift up your eyes and look around; they all gather together, they come to you; your sons shall come from far away, and your daughters shall be carried on their nurses’ arms. Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and rejoice because the abundance of the sea shall be brought to you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you. A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall proclaim the praise of the Lord. All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered to you, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister to you; they shall be acceptable on my altar, and I will glorify my glorious house. Who are these that fly like a cloud, and like doves to their windows? For the coastlands shall wait for me, the ships of Tarshish first, to bring your children from far away, their silver and gold with them, for the name of the Lord your God, and for the Holy One of Israel, because he has glorified you. [NRSV]
A prophetic word from Isaiah reminding and foretelling of God’s Light and Hope is coming.
The image of nursing mothers
A radiant light in the darkness
Camels, Doves, and Flocks
some come bringing God and Frankincense
they will come from far away lands, from the ends of the earth
all because of the Glory of God’s works, the Holy One of Israel.
This is a prophecy calling that we see fulfilled
in the night sky as shepherds watch their flocks by night,
The Glory of the Lord is shone in the darkness to the least, the last and the lost.
The Nations shall bring gifts of Gold and incense, Frankincense to Glorify my Host, My House
700 Years priory to the Birth of Jesus, Isaiah is preparing the people in darkness to look for a great and glorious light.
You and I are those who know the whole story.
We know what the Light of the World is all about
We look at the darkness of sin, lies, deceptions, divisions, and corruption and we see the power of REVERSAL
Matthew 2: 6-16
“And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.’ ” Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.” When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road. Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, “Out of Egypt I have called my son.” When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned from the wise men. [NRSA]
Where we see DARKNESS, DEATH, SIN, and BROKENESS
We have the Glory of the Heavenly HOST singing and working with us.
Where we see 1 Night/day, 1 child/person, 1 church, our witness is intended for a world of folks struggling in darkness.
We have the GIFTS of the WORLD’s wealth to be used for GOOD
Where the are those working against us, God has another plan, another way
Our paths may differ from our expectations, but God has GOOD, HOPE, Light, LIfe for us
Arise, God’s Light is Shining through US!
We were not in the fields
We didn’t travel from far countries
We didn’t look into the manger that night
BUT
We can see the power the darkness in our world
We can see the ends of the earth on our screens
We can see the fulfilling of God’s continuing Story, shining and giving light in a world filled with politics, corruption, and division.
We have all the pieces and see how God fits them together throughout time for times like the days and nights we living through now.
This the day of Hope!
What the world intends for evil, God brings new life.
This is our mission, this is our calling, this is our charge, this is our responsibility
Where there is darkness, we shine the light of christ
Where there is not enough, we bring the wealth to the feet of Jesus
Where there are reasons to fight among ourselves God way will not be stopped, the question is will we be looking for worship with sheep,
Will we be those who following the political voice, or follow the songs of angels and the prayers of wisemen.
In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!” When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. [NRSV]
The angels pronounce Jesus as: A savior, the Messiah, the Lord
1. Numerous people have saved us and maybe we too have saved others from hunger, fear, grief and loss. 2. Many have been our political Lords and leaders, most all of us have been entrusted with leading others. 3. But none of us is the Messiah.
The angels proclaim that not only has God’s leader come to the world, not only do we find a savior for our sins, we also find God with us, Christ-mas. Emanuel, The power love and joy of God is revealed in Jesus the Christ.
And not only has the Long awaited Messiah come to live amount us, we have in him the greatest Joy!
What is the the great joy?
There are many joys we experience in our lives: Family, Children and grands Home, Vocations, Careers and the fruit of our labors The beauty of each season The treasures of traditions and memories But what is the greatest joy?
I believe we don’t often live as if we have found the greatest joy Recall in Jesus’s parable of the Great Pearl, once found the person traded all they had to purchase the Great Pearl.
So often we continue looking for more than what we have found by faith in Christ.
Just as the disciples of John the Baptizer who had heard and seen the words and deeds of Jesus but when he did not fulfill the idea they held, the questioned and doubted the news concerning Jesus.
We live knowing the joy of Christ, yet with live without the “mas” part of Christmas throughout the years.
“Mas” being the dwelling presence of Christ in our daily life and nightly rest. Christ-mas, Christ-with-us.
Tonight is a family occasion as a church community, but it is also I personal time of affirmation and reaffirmation. I come to the place where my strength ends and Gods joy begins, you and I kneel as those who gathered in the fields around Bethlehem, like those around the manger , we kneel before our Lord and, Worship Rejoice Give Thanks And find ourselves filled with the Love and Power of God.
Come to the Throne of God, come to the heart of God, come to source of life and love and be made new, set your spirit aflame by the presence of the Holy Spirit.
Tonight we have come to our journey’s purposeful end: To find Jesus Christ alive, renewed and coursing in our breath and bodies.
You and I are the witness of God’s savior, Lord and Messiah. You and I are entrusted to live out the work and joy of the Lord If you have never proclaimed Jesus Christ as your savior then claim him now If you have said the words but lost the power and drive of the Holy Spirit give yourself again, our king awaits us If you have that spirit passion then reach out to those who are lost, searching, wandering, squandering and afraid and offer them his great Joy
God wants to move in with us, today and every day and for eternity The world is filled with broken, angry, selfish and hardened hearts Join the angels, shepherd, magi and family of God until the world know the great joy by heart and faith, in song and deed, in day and night
Join me as we come to his table set for us all Join in the bread and cup of forgiveness and eternal joy. Death is no more our fear God is our life, our light, our power and our love.
This is the great joy! And God has blessed us with this gift to have and to share.
Summer time or End times! The world is coming to an end. It’s vacation time to do our own thing. The sky is falling! The sky is beautiful. Maybe or maybe not, but our response is called to be the same lamp post of the light of Jesus Christ in any time of darkness and doubt as well as in occasions of joy and celebration. Where are we right now? Our starting point is in the reality of the present. We may be tempted to be the church we were at some time past; knowing who we were shapes who we can be now. God needs us alert and current. Therefore, take a moment to watch and listen to your heart and the heart of those around you. Encourage one another to be in prayer, study and fellowship with one another in Christ. How do you stay afloat when everyone else is drowning in division, debt, doubt and drama? Here is a starting point prayer. “Jesus, get right here, right now. I need you. Repeat.” Continue in this prayer until it is answered. The starting point is place we begin. It sound obvious but it is actually the most important part. Too often we choose other starting points than the present connection of our faith and spirit. We start with ideas, expectations of concepts; for example, we start from fairness, correctness or legal foundations. The homework is to ‘start’ daily in the Spirit, in the present, living out the faith we know and trust to face the day. Join us this Sunday for more.. God bless you, in the heart
Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: “Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.” From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him. Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people. [NRSA]
The call to follow is an invitation to
Listen
Learn
Follow
Transform
Call others
We talking about the need to listen last week
We hear the week before what it means to follow
The most important part of this challenge is the call to impact the lives of others
Q: What am I doing that others see, hear and know that Jesus is healing, calling, working through me?
Step back to the do no harm rule:
What am I doing that is harming my witness and getting in the way of others experiencing Jesus in me?
What can I do? To disciple others.
Discern one person before the end of the month that God is calling you to reach out to disciple.
Pray for them every day
Find multiple ways to reach out to them and show the love and power of Jesus Christ
Persistence and variety. Many gifts and avenues
Call theirs friends and co-workers
She scriptures that invite learning and following
Take them to follow with you in your faith journey
Make it easy, no pressures salesmen.
Some will follow others will be reached by someone else.
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.” Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.” The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?”They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?” “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.”So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon. Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter ). [NRSA]
The beginning of becoming disciples
From the Text: we see the prophetic promises
fulfilled from Isaiah through a John the Baptist
Jesus is baptized and calls us join him in that adoption
Jesus calls followers to follow
He invites followers to listen to him
Followers follow
Followers listen to Jesus
Even as leaders we follow Jesus
… Last week we all heard a good example of what it means to radically listen and radically follow Jesus invitation. Todd reminded us that to follow Jesus might take us away from our family, away from our comforts, away from our plans. We appreciate and admire someone’s journey when they follow so radically. But as passionate was their story.. I ask you today to where and to what is God invite you to go and to do today?
We don’t all have a calling to the Bush of Africa
A. But one thing that Todd shared is that he and his wife we listening to God
B. And they heard go, and then go back, and then stay and keep listening.
The question for us today is
Are we listening? Are we asking for God’s leading and direction or are we relying on what God told us two years or two decades ago and have not genuinely stopped to listen, in light of where we current are.
Do we not listen because we don’t want to hear something that might lead away from our comforts of what is familiar or easy…
John heats and tell Andrew, Andrew listens and follows, Andrew reaches out to his brother with what he had heard.
He bring Simon, Simon listens and is transformed. Simon now becomes Peter, the Rock Man, we people of the Rock, Rock Spring….
There are two profound part to give our attention tot his morning:
Jesus continue to call us now, through others
Jesus continues to call other, through you.
What are we hearing Jesus needs us to be, do or go?
What are others hearing and seeing from Jesus through us?
Both demand our attention if we are follow Jesus
I said two weeks ago and will say again,
Now more than any time in our lifetime, Jesus Long’s for us to
listen,
follow, and
share.
Discipleship
The shift from living in anticipation of faith
theological we shift from anticipation of Jesus to a season of living with Christ, listening, following and sharing with others.
All of us don’t need to go to the Bush, but all of us need to be following Christ’s call.
Where RE you in this journey?
I think everyone here has heard of Jesus
We come together to sing, study and hear the words of Jesus’s teaching
Where do we see Jesus day? Or do we?
What is Jesus saying to you this week or today?
Are willing to take the day for Jesus or simple a few minutes now and then
How am I responding to Jesus’s call to follow
How am I bringing others
How am I being transformed
How is Jesus using me, you, RS in this day?
This is where we benefit from fellowship… small group, prayer partners, faith friends
Someone or group that is small enough to listen to one another
Strong enough to to provide accountability
Loving enough to challenge us to allow Christ to continue transforming us together?
If I know what Jesus asks me to do and I’m doing it, you have good news we all need to hear
If you know but are not doing anything about it then get to it now
If you don’t know it’s time to pray study ask, seek Jesus from those who have heard
If you have tried and failed, learn why and try again
If you are scare to start because you know things will be different in your life hear the stories and witness of those who have heard
If you don’t know where to begin, here John’S question of Jesus: where are you, that I can come listen and get to know you and learn your call for my life.
Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you. Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn. Lift up your eyes and look around; they all gather together, they come to you; your sons shall come from far away, and your daughters shall be carried on their nurses’ arms. Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and rejoice because the abundance of the sea shall be brought to you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you. A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall proclaim the praise of the Lord. All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered to you, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister to you; they shall be acceptable on my altar, and I will glorify my glorious house. Who are these that fly like a cloud, and like doves to their windows? For the coastlands shall wait for me, the ships of Tarshish first, to bring your children from far away, their silver and gold with them, for the name of the Lord your God, and for the Holy One of Israel, because he has glorified you. [NRSV]
A prophetic word from Isaiah reminding and foretelling of God’s Light and Hope is coming.
The image of nursing mothers
A radiant light in the darkness
Camels, Doves, and Flocks
some come bringing God and Frankincense
they will come from far away lands, from the ends of the earth
all because of the Glory of God’s works, the Holy One of Israel.
This is a prophecy calling that we see fulfilled
in the night sky as shepherds watch their flocks by night,
The Glory of the Lord is shone in the darkness to the least, the last and the lost.
The Nations shall bring gifts of Gold and incense, Frankincense to Glorify my Host, My House
700 Years priory to the Birth of Jesus, Isaiah is preparing the people in darkness to look for a great and glorious light.
You and I are those who know the whole story.
We know what the Light of the World is all about
We look at the darkness of sin, lies, deceptions, divisions, and corruption and we see the power of REVERSAL
Matthew 2: 6-16
“And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.’ ” Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.” When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road. Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, “Out of Egypt I have called my son.” When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned from the wise men. [NRSA]
Where we see DARKNESS, DEATH, SIN, and BROKENESS
We have the Glory of the Heavenly HOST singing and working with us.
Where we see 1 Night/day, 1 child/person, 1 church, our witness is intended for a world of folks struggling in darkness.
We have the GIFTS of the WORLD’s wealth to be used for GOOD
Where the are those working against us, God has another plan, another way
Our paths may differ from our expectations, but God has GOOD, HOPE, Light, LIfe for us
Arise, God’s Light is Shining through US!
We were not in the fields
We didn’t travel from far countries
We didn’t look into the manger that night
BUT
We can see the power the darkness in our world
We can see the ends of the earth on our screens
We can see the fulfilling of God’s continuing Story, shining and giving light in a world filled with politics, corruption, and division.
We have all the pieces and see how God fits them together throughout time for times like the days and nights we living through now.
This the day of Hope!
What the world intends for evil, God brings new life.
This is our mission, this is our calling, this is our charge, this is our responsibility
Where there is darkness, we shine the light of christ
Where there is not enough, we bring the wealth to the feet of Jesus
Where there are reasons to fight among ourselves God way will not be stopped, the question is will we be looking for worship with sheep,
Will we be those who following the political voice, or follow the songs of angels and the prayers of wisemen.
In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!” When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. [NRSV]
The angels pronounce Jesus as: A savior, the Messiah, the Lord
1. Numerous people have saved us and maybe we too have saved others from hunger, fear, grief and loss. 2. Many have been our political Lords and leaders, most all of us have been entrusted with leading others. 3. But none of us is the Messiah.
The angels proclaim that not only has God’s leader come to the world, not only do we find a savior for our sins, we also find God with us, Christ-mas. Emanuel, The power love and joy of God is revealed in Jesus the Christ.
And not only has the Long awaited Messiah come to live amount us, we have in him the greatest Joy!
What is the the great joy?
There are many joys we experience in our lives: Family, Children and grands Home, Vocations, Careers and the fruit of our labors The beauty of each season The treasures of traditions and memories But what is the greatest joy?
I believe we don’t often live as if we have found the greatest joy Recall in Jesus’s parable of the Great Pearl, once found the person traded all they had to purchase the Great Pearl.
So often we continue looking for more than what we have found by faith in Christ.
Just as the disciples of John the Baptizer who had heard and seen the words and deeds of Jesus but when he did not fulfill the idea they held, the questioned and doubted the news concerning Jesus.
We live knowing the joy of Christ, yet with live without the “mas” part of Christmas throughout the years.
“Mas” being the dwelling presence of Christ in our daily life and nightly rest. Christ-mas, Christ-with-us.
Tonight is a family occasion as a church community, but it is also I personal time of affirmation and reaffirmation. I come to the place where my strength ends and Gods joy begins, you and I kneel as those who gathered in the fields around Bethlehem, like those around the manger , we kneel before our Lord and, Worship Rejoice Give Thanks And find ourselves filled with the Love and Power of God.
Come to the Throne of God, come to the heart of God, come to source of life and love and be made new, set your spirit aflame by the presence of the Holy Spirit.
Tonight we have come to our journey’s purposeful end: To find Jesus Christ alive, renewed and coursing in our breath and bodies.
You and I are the witness of God’s savior, Lord and Messiah. You and I are entrusted to live out the work and joy of the Lord If you have never proclaimed Jesus Christ as your savior then claim him now If you have said the words but lost the power and drive of the Holy Spirit give yourself again, our king awaits us If you have that spirit passion then reach out to those who are lost, searching, wandering, squandering and afraid and offer them his great Joy
God wants to move in with us, today and every day and for eternity The world is filled with broken, angry, selfish and hardened hearts Join the angels, shepherd, magi and family of God until the world know the great joy by heart and faith, in song and deed, in day and night
Join me as we come to his table set for us all Join in the bread and cup of forgiveness and eternal joy. Death is no more our fear God is our life, our light, our power and our love.
This is the great joy! And God has blessed us with this gift to have and to share.Advertisements
Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock! You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh. Stir up your might, and come to save us! Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved. O Lord God of hosts, how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers? You have fed them with the bread of tears, and given them tears to drink in full measure. You make us the scorn of our neighbors; our enemies laugh among themselves. Restore us, O God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved [NRSA]
Let the congregation say it again: “O God of heaven, let your face shine, that we may be saved, amen!”
The Psalm is a song of lament and a confession of sin, as well as a prayer for salvation.
how long we have we babe know sorry, fear, separation, defeat, calamity, trouble and loss. We have cried so among tears, they are our drink.
how long have we been seen as less than enough, how long have we been taken advantage, how long have we been the butt of the joke and ‘that’ ring or on our road or street?
how long have our enemies had more than we have had, how long have we been defeated, belittle and bullied? How long have we lived by our enemies standards and expectations?
now is the time to call upon the lord. Now the day for us to remember who’s family we belong. Now is the season for us to turn to Gods power, as we have found ourselves broken and powerless.
These are the word of lament. These are the words of confession. What is left to be done?
The Congregation calls for God to show up. the congregation calls for God to shine upon their darkness and brokenness.
Come Lord with your mighty presences. We need to see you face. We need you to be with us, here and now
The call in this act of worship is for God to shine his presence, his might and his light on our darkness, fear, shame and selfishness…
we could never have done enough, know enough, worshipped enough, we are not enough, without you or God…come Show up and restore us.
This is the congregation crying out for what we already know and find in Jesus Christ.
The worshipers would gather in the temple cry out to God. “ O God of Heaven, Let your face shine, and save us. People were ask for the tangible, physical, powerful presence of God to be present and to restore them from their sin.
Jesus, as Messiah, was not a surprise nor and afterthought of God, even way back then people knew from life’s of emptiness and brokenness that only God could show up to save us…
this is the good news of Christmas!
God is showing us Gods glory, power and life for us to be saved, restored, redeemed and made wholle.
“I don’t need anything for Christmas” not true! I need Jesus to shadiness his face upon us and make us new and that becomes our peace, joy, love and faith.
another way to say, Lord of Heaven, give me your mighty power that I might be renewed, save, rekindled, for you and your glory, not mine but your.
This is the Christmas gift we seek, and share.. Merry Christmas and may Christ save and restore you today!
Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God, 6 who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who keeps faith forever; 7 who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets the prisoners free; 8 the Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous. 9 The Lord watches over the strangers; he upholds the orphan and the widow, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin. 10 The Lord will reign forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations. Praise the Lord! [NRSA]
At the core of celebrating Christmas is the telling God’s story
It is not a New Story
It is a Story of Good News for a Broken World
It is Your Story to Live
It may be somewhat strange to turn to the Psalms to hear the Good News of Christmas. Be reminded that God who has been calling all people to trust him, has the same heart of love shown in creation, revealed through out shared history, made plane in the manger in Bethlehem, is the same love and message of hope for the world.
Question 1: Do you know God’s Good News in your life?
The Good News that Jesus makes plain is fortold in the worship songs, the Psalms. Here in Psalm 146 the song retells that our HAPPINESS comes from God and not our things, not our money, not our success, not our accomplishment, RATHER – Our Joy and Hope come from God..
If you and I are looking for Joy and Hope in others things and other relationships they will all disappoint us if God is not in them.
Look around, in the world, in our community, in our church, in our homes, in our own hearts: We do not always place God first in our hearts, minds and soul.
Question 2: Are you persuaded and guided by God’s Hope?
If you believe God is at work in the world today and in your life, you have the very message that God has been trying to share with the world. It only takes a moment to see the brokenness and fear that leads people’s hearts, minds and spirits to know — Faith, Hope and Love are precious gifts that need to be shared and unwrapped.
I have to believe that most everyone of us would want to answer, “YES!” I am persuaded! I believe God loves the world and God desires the world around me to see, hear and experience God’s love through my life. (your life). But in how many short minutes or seconds before our pride, our greed, our selfishness, our demons, our dependancies, our fears tempt, test and tear us away?
Question 3. Do you remember that it is God’s Story in us and not the reverse.
Psalm 146 calls the people of God, while in worship, to remember the eternal power God has for us, who believe and serve. The words are comfort to those held captive, those blind, and those oppressed. The Lord lifts up the stranger, the orphan and the widow. The Good News to which Jesus preaches in his first home-town sermon.
The part of the sermon that gets him run out of town is that God is not saving the lost and empowering the powerless to do their own thing, God is blessing us to be God’s servants, witnesses and messengers.
The Psalm is clear that God is not about supporting wickedness, pride, greed, fear, brokenness and sin. God has come to free us from these things, but not to return to them as our master.
The 4 Question is this: Who is entrusted to tell and live the story?
Is it those who test the Lord loving-kindness or those who follow God’s ways? The Psalms sings: Praise the Lord! (Not look what I want, what You want, what I need, what you need… The seperation we experience and witness in the world is that we turn our hearts away from our hope and salvation.
As a culture-of-church we have become more of an institution, an organization and a entity of operations. We talk about OUR ministry, OUR building, OUR mission, and OUR church. We hear the Psalmist remind us, that we about God’s ministry, God’s heart, God’s temple, God’s work and God’s witness.
As a culture-of-church we have grown to expect someone else to do the work and us to receive the ‘Cliff-notes’ gift-pack that makes it easy to receive. When we expect to be served, we are not serving. When we anticipate the transaction of getting because we have given. Whew think of ourselves as entitled to the benefits of membership, we need to revisit the words of the Psalms: Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God.
In our journey toward Christmas and rekindling the presence of Christ in ourlives, know this:
God is calling us to worship him
God is calling us to repent of our sins, fears and selfishness
God is calling us to trust him
God is calling me (state your name) to be the witness to the world
IF THIS IS OUR TO DO LIST: We need Christ to be our
Our Strength
Our Good News
Our Word
and OUR HOPE
Prayer: Lord make us yours, be our strength, draw us to your word and call, and open the hearts and minds of everyone we meet to receive you through our words and witness of your power, love and grace. Amen.
I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. Its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. People will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. But nothing unclean will enter it, nor anyone who practices abomination or falsehood, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life. Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city. On either side of the river is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. Nothing accursed will be found there any more. But the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him; they will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And there will be no more night; they need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever. [NRSV]
Physical images in Heaven:
A city with no temple
Gates that are never shut
River of the water of life
Tree of life
Bearing twelve kinds f fruit
Leaves of healing for the nations
Throne for the lamb
Light of the Lord
Features of Heaven
Open Gates:
The gates are never shut
Heaven s not a gated community
This flies in the face of
Radiant Glory
People will bring in the glory of the nations
Kings will bring their glory into it
Heaven has no place for sin
The proof that we are not in heaven is that sin is plentiful, abundant and rampant.
This is where we pull away from the glorious mystery of thinking about the new heaven that awaits us, knowing it will be far more and far better than out imagining can ever dream.
To be in heaven is to be in God’s presence, fulfilled and yet as fully ourselves.
The brokenness that we live in is the reality of sin
John is shown these glimpses of heaven to wet our appetite for more
When we loose something and find it,
we tell others, “it was in the last place I looked!”
Which begs the question do you keep searching once you have found what was lost?
The power of sin
We live in a state where we cannot stay “found”,
We live in the reality of our own sin
We live in the reality of the effect of the sins of others
We live in the reality of evil working tempt, test and make sin easier than doing good
So wait until the end?
Paul’s suggestion to sin all we like, because we have grace? No! By no means.
This does not bring glory to God, to others, nor ourselves.
We are witnesses of trusting in a sinful broken world
Practice trusting a Christ
Encourage others to trust Grace in Christ, and
Glorify God for the nations of the world.
Dealing with Sin
Certainly we can blame the devil, the wealthy, the poor, our neighbor and previous generations, anyone one or thing we can blame, but that is not the solution.
Being in God (now and in heaven)
Getting into heaven means necessitates us addressing or sins
The “How To” section
We pretty much expect Jesus to already have taken care of that..and we just need the occasional buster shot, but what if we continue to be
selfish,
envy,
prideful,
lustful,
greedy,
apathy,
impatience or
wrath.
Focus on God’s help doing the opposite to reflect God’s glory by showing
humility,
kindness,
moderation/temperance,
charity,
chastity,
fidelity and diligence, and
patience.
Both lists call for
Practice
Progress, and
Persistence
Both lists, avoiding the evil and committing to the glorious, require Christ be in the throne, in heaven and in our hearts, minds and soul.
But the truth is that we can only live by these with the help of the holy Spirit and we we only find release from the power of the sin through Christ
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.” And the one who was seated on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.” Then he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life. [NRSV]
Reoccurring themes
Living water
Wipe away every tear
Death will be no more
No more mourning crying nor pain
Record and Remember what is trustworthy:
God is Making all things new.
“Making” is a physical and spiritual work
Not rekindling
Not rebranding
Not refurbishing
Illustration of the cracked vessel:
Tried painting sealer
Tried adding putty
Only solution is to return to sand and incorporate new clay.
Sometime starting fresh
The focus is on Jesus Christ as the means of making all things new.
Is God’s way of RE-establishing
Reality
Justice
Order
Relationship
We are made for God, through Jesus
The living water
Jesus is the fountain of our new being
Baptism makes us new
“It is done,”
So be it
I am
As in the first creation.
The New Heaven has been accomplished through Jesus Christ
We don’t make ourselves
But we serve because it is how we show love to God
After this, I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. They cried out in a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!” And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, singing, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.” Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?” I said to him, “Sir, you are the one that knows.” Then he said to me, “These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. For this reason, they are before the throne of God and worship him day and night within his temple, and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them. They will hunger no more, and thirst no more; the sun will not strike them, nor any scorching heat; for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” [NRSV]
Intro
We are listening to John’s Revelation again this Sunday
Today we look and listen in to worship of God around the throne and look at those who have already gone before us.
Mothers, daughters,
Husbands, son, grandparents,
friends and strangers.
Those who have gone to heaven are their because of Christ
Not because of what they have done, earned or left undone..
We look into a window of heaven and get a glimpse and see
Who’s that yonder dressed in White
Are you in a going through the great ordeal ?
Are you cleansed in blood of the lamb ?
Are your robes white ?
Are we known by our Heavenly Citizenship
Are you known by your victory over sin or by the shortfall for now
Are you known by the works of Christ in your living
Are you known as the clean in Christ
Those in Heaven: (know about those there and what to anticipate)
They will hunger no more, and
thirst no more;
the sun will not strike them, nor any scorching heat;
for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and
he will guide them to springs of the water of life, and
Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels surrounding the throne and the living creatures and the elders; they numbered myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, singing with full voice, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, singing, “To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the elders fell down and worshiped. [NRSV]
Reminder: Revelation of John is about three things. Being alert, repentance, and worship. Today we listen to Revelation to learn about worship
1. A. Worship is all about what we do for God that is about praising, celebrating, thanking, appreciating, honoring and expressing our love, devotion and trust of God.
2. B. Is not about us in any way. When it is, our worship is about ourselves.
3. Worship is what United us not our ideas, theologies and practices or behaviors.
4. Worship is about God drawing us together for God.
John Wesley had many things to say about worship and singing in particular:
“The opening pages of the United Methodist Hymnal bear a preface that has bemused and bewildered distracted worshippers for ages. These seven rules, titled Directions for Singing, were first included in the 1761 publication Select Hymns, a hymnbook for early Methodists.
A few things to keep in mind when you read these directions. First, the hymns we take for granted as “traditional worship” were almost all new in John Wesley’s day (I mean, Charles was writing them), and most of them would never be sung in church building walls in Wesley’s lifetime. Newton’s Amazing Grace wasn’t even written yet.
The Methodist movement was happening outside of church walls, where all the artful music could be made, and usually only the preacher had a copy of the hymnbook with all these cool new songs. They would sing one line out at a time, and then the gathered crowd would repeat what they heard.
Apparently George Whitfield (the white-haired guy in the comic above) was a master at lining out hymns after he finished preaching. In this context, Wesley’s directions are really rooted in his belief that worship is the work of all the people, meant to unite us as a priesthood of all believers in service to God.
Truth be told, the church historically has a tendency of elevating musicians and preachers as somehow separate from the larger crowd, a crowd which tends to become spectators instead of participants. Wesley’s directions for singing are meant to offer practical ways we worship together. Here they are:”
Directions for Singing. That this part of Divine Worship may be the more acceptable to God, as well as the more profitable to yourself and others, be careful to observe the following directions.
• I. Learn these tunes (Methodist Hymnal) before you learn any others; afterwards learn as many as you please.
• II. Sing them exactly as they are printed here, without altering or mending them at all; and if you have learned to sing them otherwise, unlearn it as soon as you can.
• III. Sing All. See that you join with the congregation as frequently as you can. Let not a slight degree of weakness or weariness hinder you. If it is a cross to you, take it up and you will find a blessing.
• IV. Sing lustily and with good courage. Beware of singing as if you were half dead, or half asleep; but lift up your voice with strength. Be no more afraid of your voice now, nor more ashamed of its being heard, than when you sung the songs of Satan.
• V. Sing modestly. Do not bawl, so as to be heard above or distinct from the rest of the congregation, that you may not destroy the harmony; but strive to unite your voices together, so as to make one clear melodious sound.
• VI. Sing in Time: whatever time is sung, be sure to keep with it. Do not run before nor stay behind it; but attend closely to the leading voices, and move therewith as exactly as you can. And take care you sing not too slow. This drawling way naturally steals on all who are lazy; and it is high time to drive it out from among us, and sing all our tunes just as quick as we did at first.
• VII. Above all sing spiritually. Have an eye to God in every word you sing. Aim at pleasing him more than yourself, or any other creature. In order to this attend strictly to the sense of what you sing, and see that your Heart is not carried away with the sound, but offered to God continually; so shall your singing be such as the Lord will approve of here, and reward when he cometh in the clouds of heaven.
Back to the text:
Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels surrounding the throne and the living creatures and the elders; they numbered myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, singing with full voice,
The snapshot John gives us in this Revelation is a glimpse of worship In heaven. “Singing with full voice:”
“Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”
🎶 A tune from Rev to sing with practice using ones full voice.
G. G. G. F. E.
Worthy is the lamb
Worthy is the lamb
F. F. F. E. D.
Seated on the throne
Seated on the throne
G. G. G. F. E.
Worthy is the lamb
Worthy is the lamb
F. F. F. E. D.
High and lifted up
High and lifted up
G. G. G. F. E.
Worthy is the lamb
Worthy is the lamb
F. F. F. E. D. C. B. C.
Worthy is the lamb, that was slain
In the state d Heaven EVERYONE can be heard singing.
Let the congregation say together “amen”
🎵 A-a-men, A-a-a-m, a-amen, amen, amen
Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, singing, “To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the elders fell down and worshiped.
Amen has come to mean “let it be so, let it be true, let it be, let it happen.
With full voice we come to worship God
Is it about me or you, no
It is about Jesus has lived, did a s rose again for you and me
Worship is about giving in to God, we might struggle most of the time but in worship we practice living in heaven, practice living for God.
Sing like we are standing before the throne.
It’s ok to tell you neighbor to sing louder or to tone it down as long as everyone is praising … so sing!
Wesley’s Directions for Singing UMBoH
1. Learn these tunes before you learn any others; afterwards learn as many as you please.
2. Sing them exactly as they are printed here, without altering or mending them at all; and if you have learned to sing them otherwise, unlearn it as soon as you can.
3. Sing all. See that you join with the congregation as frequently as you can. Let not a slight degree of weakness or weariness hinder you. If it is a cross to you, take it up, and you will find it a blessing.
4. Sing lustily and with a good courage. Beware of singing as if you were half dead, or half asleep; but lift up your voice with strength. Be no more afraid of your voice now, nor more ashamed of its being heard, than when you sung the songs of Satan.
5. Sing modestly. Do not bawl, so as to be heard above or distinct from the rest of the congregation, that you may not destroy the harmony; but strive to unite your voices together, so as to make one clear melodious sound.
6. Sing in time. Whatever time is sung be sure to keep with it. Do not run before nor stay behind it; but attend close to the leading voices, and move therewith as exactly as you can; and take care not to sing too slow. This drawling way naturally steals on all who are lazy; and it is high time to drive it out from us, and sing all our tunes just as quick as we did at first.
7. Above all sing spiritually. Have an eye to God in every word you sing. Aim at pleasing him more than yourself, or any other creature. In order to do this attend strictly to the sense of what you sing, and see that your heart is not carried away with the sound, but offered to God continually; so shall your singing be such as the Lord will approve here, and reward you when he cometh in the clouds of heaven.
The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. In days to come the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills; all the nations shall stream to it. Many peoples shall come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth instruction and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord! [NRSA]
Walking in the Light
Just last night I stubbed my little toe for the third time this week. OOOh. OWwww. UMph! I was not looking where I was stepping. I was thinking of my destination and didn’t pay attention to the path. I suppose I am as stubborn and my toe pays the price.
This first Sunday of Advent is a call to walk the path of light. We will see the path in the words of prophets from long ago, in the brilliance of angel songs, in the order of distant stars and throughout the witness of God’s word for us and for the world.
If the world is to be transformed by the AWESOME work and news we find at Christmas it will not be through packages, decorations and jolly traditions of giving. We find Christ when we follow the path Christ’s light leads us, and then, only then, other traditions may follow.
The Advent Tradition Reveals our Journey
We will light candles of Hope Peace Joy and Love
These are our milestone markers along the way
Week One
Start Walking – Walking in the Light
Start disciplines of singing, reading, preparing for Christ.
The Characters
With Luke’s Gospel, start reading and studying the core story in Chapter 1 and the start of 2. You will surely know the stories but read them with an intention to retell them, teach them, and find your presence in the stories.
Are you the parent?
A child?
a messenger?
an unbeliever?
a doubter?
a late-night employee?
The aunt or uncle?
a bystander?
one blessed ready to serve?
one who was scared?
We can find ourselves in many if not most of these throughout our lives.. These are the perspectives
The prophet Amos had a son, Isaiah, one of the most prolific prophets of God’s people, has a word for all of God’s people, those of the North and the South; those of the Left and the Right; a word for those Then and for us Now!
Listen Up!
Advent is our Journey toward Christmas
It is an upward climb up the highest mountain, with a the greatest view
The path is a process with purpose and faithfulness.
Instructions are for the world and not the reverse
The Word of the Lord is from Jerusalem for the world to hear, see, believe and trust
We have a judge among the nations
The judgment will be working toward peace and not war
The work will be transformational
Everyone in the house, listen up and be ready for the journey
It is time to walk in the light.
I have enjoyed many hikes in my life. The memorable ones were not easily accomplished. The same will be true for our spiritual journey this month. We are tempted to take the ride up to the top or look at someone else’s photos taken at the summit but we are cheating ourselves from the hike.
Isaiah’s call is to follow the path.
There are times that the adventure is off the beaten path, but the spiritual path toward finding Christ born afresh and anew in outlives is found following God’s path.
God’s path follows
the wisdom of prophets
the messages of angels
the call of faithfulness, and
the steadiness of trusting God to be revealed in the process.
There is not a shortcut in spiritual growth.
Our Task is to make Peace
We know Jesus is the Prince of Peace and if we are following Christ’s path, it will be a journey of peacemaking.
It is worth great note that Isaiah is addressing a divided kingdom.
The answer is not for the northern or southern kingdom to yield to one or the other, RATHER
BOTH are to yield toward God’s heart
The witness of doing God’s Work revealed in Christ is to TRANSFORM the elements of the
battle into implements of building, feeding, clothing and healing the nations.
We have witnessed a great day of rivalries in the college football world this weekend.
It is easy to take sides
maintain traditions
cheer for our team
and boo the enemies
It’s a fun legacy of honoring alma mater and celebrating traditions
But it is just the opposite of the work we have ahead of us as those looking for Christ.
We begin in the HOPE of peace.
Before HOPE is fulfilled for us in CHRIST, begin our work of TRANSFORMING the things that divide us so that we are less apt to resume a battle if we are not preparing for battle.
We have friends whose child just got accepted to UT, the mother is an alumnus of Vanderbilt, she was lamenting the wearing of Orange. We reminded her that she could wear White and Smokey Grey and still show her support as a loving mother.
In the weightier matters of our lives, we see the division of politics and the best place to transform the weapons might be social media. Avoid the public responses that brand and shame, and find ways to communicate one-to-one in ways bridge rather than promote the fight.
There are times that we are scared, threatened, challenged, inconvenienced, tested and even attacked and out self-preservation is to return the attack or withdraw. Nations become divided when people stop treating one another with respect and trust. Instead of working toward the same goal, selfishness wins.
The church is divided over selfishness in the name of God. That is actually blasphemy
The nation is divided over power in the name of Good. That is delusion
When families or friends are divided over agendas. That is polarization
Blasphemy – Delusions – Polarizations have NOTHING to do with the path of God’s Kingdom.
The Road to Christ
is shedding the tools of fear and brokenness
Transforming these talents for those that build
Trust in God, A quest for God’s Heart and the unity that ONLY God can provide.
We celebrate these being made clearest and nearest through Jesus Christ.
What’s Next
First, Start climbing, spend the time, words, relationships, and tools we have on God’s path and not our own.
Confess our sins, fear, brokenness, selfishness, shame, and journey together
May the first week of December/ Advent be transforming ourselves to become God’s implements, God’s people
God’s prophets,
healers,
teachers,
builders, and
all those who know to stay on God’s path of Light.
This is our HOPE to start the climb.Advertisements
May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers–all things have been created through him and for him. He himself is before all things, and in him, all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead so that he might come to have first place in everything. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him, God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross. [NRSA]
We are thankful for many things. Our litany of appreciations includes the usual, family, health, home and nation and for those who helped us preserve our great opportunities. But one thing is missing from this list that differs between Thanksgiving and Paul’s words to the church at Colosse: Giving God Thanks, Joyfully.
Paul reminds us of why we encourage one another to not only be thankful but to GIVE thanks. Because of God’s work and love of us through CHRIST.
And we say to ourselves,
that’s semantics,
Just say what you were going to say and remember to give God some ‘love’n’
Give God some credit
make sure you name God and Jesus in your lists of thanksgiving appreciations.
Check that off the list and get to the turkey and fixing, ball games and naps.
Paul’s words to the Church have little to do with our tradition of natives and settlers sharing a meal of fellowship.
Paul is reminding us to order life in God’s Purpose.
(he is reminding us that the Home Run life is living in the fruit of God’s grace and purpose:
Say to your neighbor: I am Thankful God. I am thankful for God.
It is because of God, that we HAVE a share in Christ’s inheritance.
It is because Christ has rescued us from sin and death,
It is through Christ that we are children of light and
It is through Christ that we are co-heirs of God’s kingdom.
It is Jesus that we give thanks.
Remind Your Neighbor of Paul’s words to the church: I am thankful for Jesus
Jesus who makes God visible and approachable to God,
It is because of God’s Power who has
authority and power above all other things.
It is because God has created all things for God’s purpose,
The cause to give thanks is that even though God who is the author of all things, has created us for God’s purposes, for God’s order. God’s order is through the church.
Tell another neighbor: I am thankful God purpose include us in the church
God is the head of the body
God is the beginning of the purpose
God is the author of life.
God who is all this, places God’s own self into Jesus who then sacrifices himself for us.
As Christians, we are to take every day to GIVE GOD THANKS, but on this holiday of THANKSGIVING, we witness to the world about what God has done and is doing in the world.
Snoopy, Charlie Brown and the gang recall our national heritage of breaking bread and giving thanks because of the fruitful work of cooperation and teamwork. And we can “KEEP” the tradition going for another generation and NEVER mention the PRIMARY reasons we have to be THANKFUL AND GIVE THANKS.
Tell your neighbor there is a difference between BEING Thankful and GIVING Thanks.
“There is a difference between BEING Thankful and GIVING Thanks.
When acknowledging all the things, people and opportunities we have we are tempted to highlight only what we have done or to
highlight what others have done, but
BUT, as PEOPLE of JESUS CHRIST
Paul is reminding us to ALWAY be GIVING Thanks to God.
What does that mean in every day life and
how Does this make our Holiday different from a national tradition.
IT IS A THIRD BASES activity. To use our Home Run Life model.
We are taking the context of a National Holiday and to REMIND one another and to
WITNESS to the WORLD, that God is the FIRST recipient of our THANKS and PRAISE
GIVE our Praise to God
GIVE credit to God
GIVE Christ the appreciation
Actively connect the skills, relationships, opportunities we have as gifts from GOD.
And then has God is at work in the others in our lives
And then as God is work in our blessings and labors
Therefore for us, as the church and the people of Jesus Christ
May we use this occasion to teach the nation, the world and one another
that would not be the people we are without God
we would not have to peace and love without Christ
we would not have purpose, power, and plan without God’s Holy Spirit.
This is the difference in REMEMBERING history, tradition, and values, and LIVING, modeling and thriving in the authority of God, the love of Christ and power of the Spirit.
Tonight we gather to give thanksas a church family
This week we gather with others to give thanks
my invitation to you, through Paul’s words,
it to make it about all about God, make all about Jesus, make it all about the church
and we will not only show our love and praise to God
We will teach the world the Good News and WHY we are Thankful.
Give it all to God
Tell you neighbor : “I am all in for God.” I AM ALL IN,
Thank you Jesus, Thank you Jesus; Thank you Jesus, my Savior, My God
You have Bought me, You have brought me, YOU have brought me a mighty long way
So, brothers and sisters, because of God’s mercies, I encourage you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice that is holy and pleasing to God. This is your appropriate priestly service. Don’t be conformed to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds so that you can figure out what God’s will is—what is good and pleasing and mature. [CEB]
Getting Past Third Base Pressures and Temptations
What’s On Third?
1. Have you ever worried about money?
2. Have you ever struggled with people at work?
3. Have you had others measuring your performance/success?
Third is the place our Talents, Skills, and Opportunities
Intersect with the Expectations of the World.
Life is more than 3rd Base
Q: Is my purpose in life to meet the world’s or God’s expectation?
My PURPOSE is in my CREATOR,
not my CAREER, WEALTH, nor MY MIND
Therefore I live AND work for my CREATOR first!
A Home Run Life is actually putting God ahead of everything
What does that look like in our lives?
God is my provider, I TRUST in God. – Begin day focused in GOD
God is provider, I WORK for God. – Colossians 3:22-25
God is my provider, I WAIT for God’s FAVOR. – Joshua 23 (1:1000)
When we are living in God’s Character, building relationships with others in God, God will provide a way for us to be successful in God’s Work in our 3rd base opportunities and responsibilities.
Which of these gives me more trouble today?
Don’t WALK when we should be RUNNING – a life of working for Jesus Christ, God doesn’t bless crap.20191110_HOMERUN4Download
There is no way to be 100 in every area of our lives unless we follow God’s pattern. Giving our BEST
(Story of the House cleaner who got a second chance — a $1.61 — the only one who found all the gifts.
Before we turn the corner on third, take the standing double perspective to see through the relationships, as people of God’s Character, what matters are the people and God’s word, and when we love as God loves we are prepared to produce God’s fruit.Advertisements
1 I appeal to you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. [NRSA]
Recap of the Home Run Life
Connect, Character, Community, Competence
The pattern God uses to grow us.
Know you know what God is doing
The world starts backward
How do you get on base to get the Home Run life?
Get to God’s purpose with God’s power
First God wants to change you, Character, personal base, win within
Second base, Community, where you win with others
Third Base, competence, performance, results, success in life, true success
The pattern
Rom 12:1-2, offer yourself as living sacrifices, no longer conform to the pattern of this world
God’s pattern is clockwise, God wise
The World’s pattern is counter, backwards,
We run toward performance
That is CHEATING
relationship
character
God
and self
YOU GET THROWN OUT before we get to first.
“Too busy to be in bible, worship, sun, small group, prayer, etc..
Home plate to First base?
a third of batters Strikeout
The next third, get thrown out before getting first base
The Earlier we get this the better we are off in life.
Things to know
IN the Vine, is the power to win within, When I drift from the vine, I drift into vice.
There is a flow of power, that moves from the main vine, which powers the branch for the fruit
You have a power not available anywhere else
If you live disconnected from God’s power your only power is vice.
You can have to power to connect how you can nowhere else
STAY connected
When we get a spiritual high, we get comfortable, we begin to believe its OUR power
We return to the old self, It was always God’s Power
IF I DRIFT from the VINE I return to the old VICES.
Lamp. I am the socket, you are the cord, and you will light the world through me.
(NEED A LAMP AND POWER CORD)
Things to do
Three major swings
Live for the Truth
IF someone says, there is no absolute truth, its all contextual. That statement is an absolute assumption and thus a contradiction
Consequences of not seeking the Truth
Father in heaven longs for us to know GOD’s Truth
STORY: Father/Son Home Run dad, finally lesson to learn about outs, rules, when the father reminds rules, warns and then tags out between 2 and 3rd, son keeps running home and slides… “home Run Dad. No, you’re out. No, it’s my ball, my bat, may bases, and I say it’s a homer.” (not the truth)
If we continue living by our rules and the world’s rules then were already out before we go to bat.
PLUG INTO THE VINE
We can make things too complicated
Agricultural example We see grapes they are connected to a vine through the branch.
Electrical Example. PLUG in, Light up, you have light for your life
if you disconnect you are in the dark.
1st Base is connecting to God through Character-building activities
Worship,
Study
Prayer
Fellowship
Small-Group
<example of being stuck in the car shut down… Drive-thru at McDonald’s, WHAT IF SOMETHING IS DISCONNECTED>
Look at all the places that frustrate and
it couldn’t be as simple as being plugged into God or unplugged from God
CHAPTER 5 in the book, (if you don’t have it get it, if you have it read it and share it.)
What does it mean for you to be in GOD’s WORD
Work at it
and reset your expectation
How do you get into God’s word
Have a time in God’s work or in prayer
if you don’t break through you are not connected
SO GO get to work, wrestle it down
REMAIN IN the VINE
STAY CONNECTED
God wants to take us, that only God can take us.
We need to reconnect.
God wants to go to FIRST BASE CHARACTER
DRAW THE LINK
When you are living for truth and stay connected to the vine
God will reveal where sin is.. God will draw a line, to free you up to get on base.
This is how much God loves you
Acknowledge the lines and trust God, stay connected, yield
Romans 6 WHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR US
6 We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the sinful body might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For he who has died is freed from sin. 8 But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him. 9 For we know that Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. 10 The death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. 11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal bodies, to make you obey their passions. 13 Do not yield your members to sin as instruments of wickedness, but yield yourselves to God as men who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments of righteousness. 14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. 15 What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! 16 Do you not know that if you yield yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. [NRSA]
We are dead to sin and alive to Christ
Vs. 6 Old self is dead to sin, so we are no longer dead to sin, since Jesus has conquered to live in Christ Jesus
Do not let sin reign
vs 14 sin will no longer be your sin
vs 17 Thanks be to God you used to be slaves you now have allegiance to God, slaves to righteousness
Easy sins may go quickly but there are likely one or two, in your neighbor.. .haha
confession time
FEAR – Fear of rejection, failure, disappointment, approval, financial fear
LUST – want for food, material things, physical desires, success wealth,
WORRY – what I have given up before even trying for the power of worry.
a longing to indulge without moderation
Romans 6 is true
\a consistent connection is essential to get to first base, to not be lost to sin, to be out, to be disconnected
GOD conquers sin, but we have to remain in the vine, connected.
None of us is perfect, RIGHT?
we can all be tempted
I can make errors
PRO’s still make errors, look at the bloopers TAPE
<Blooper videos>
Frustrating, WE DROP the ball spiritually
We don’t have to be owned by sin
FEAR, LUST, WORRY are mine,
What are you three?
What is the one that Keeps getting you thrown out?
A Sacred moment,
surrender to break the cycle of sin in your life
Card: NO NAMES, No copying? No peeking?
What is the thing that is costing you from getting close to God?
12Stone Church Kevin Myers Series: Home Run Life Home Run Life – Week 1 Genesis 37-50; Romans 12 Original Sermon link Edited to be used by Rock Spring UMC Study Series
Welcome to Home Run Life – Week 1. I am so excited to share in this series with you. Let’s just dive in. Let’s play ball.
On the back of your bulletin, you will find teaching notes and four questions that can transform your life. The first question is…
1. What makes for a home run life? In other words, everybody wants a home run life.
Everybody wants that kind of experience in the whole of their life. The question is what are the elements that make up for a great life? I’m glad you asked. Here’s what I think is the first one, obvious to all of us. I think the first element is a success. See, when we’re young and we dream about our lives, we dream about a job, financial, business, sports, career success. That’s why I love the Super Bowl XXXIII commercial by monster.com. It captures the essence of this. You’ll enjoy it. It’s one of my favorites. Check it out.
[Video]
Boy: When I grow up, I want to file all day.
Boy: I want to claw my way up to middle management.
Girl: …be replaced on a whim.
Boy: I want to be a yes-man.
Girl: …yes-woman.
Girl: “Yes, sir.” “Coming, sir.”
Boy: “Anything for a raise, sir.”
Girl: When I grow up…
Boy: When I grow up…
Boy: I want to be underappreciated.
Girl: …be paid less for doing the same job.
Boy: I want to be forced into early retirement. [End of video]
That’s just funny. That is backhanded sarcasm, isn’t it? I mean, nobody really aspires when they’re young, “Oh, I hope I grow up and accomplish small things. I hope I grow up and a strikeout.” No! No, when you imagine the life you long for, you imagine success. But hear me.
Success is too small to make up the whole of a life dream.
In fact, you may start with success, but that’s not the end. Whether you’ve ever thought about it or not, when you dreamed of the life you had longed for, you imagined it would have someone. You imagined it would have…what? Someone. It’s “someones.” Someone was involved in that dream, that hope for a dream life.
Whether it was coworkers or teammates, close friends… Maybe it was that soulmate. You longed someday to get married, hoped for kids, the beauty of family. See, there was always this someone because success without someone is hollow.
Let me illustrate with a golf joke. Are there any golfers here across the campuses? Are there any golfers? Let yourself be known. All right. Then you’ll appreciate this. There was this pastor who
loved to golf. It was driving him nuts because every Sunday was sunny and gorgeous and every day off was rainy. See, he had been brought up in that tradition where you can’t golf on Sunday. That would be wrong. That would be a sin. He could never golf on Sunday, and it was ticking him off. I mean, this was happening every week. Finally, he just said, “God, I can’t take it anymore! I want to do the wrong thing.” He made the phone call, and he said, “I’m not going to be in this weekend.” He told the assistant pastor to preach for him. He left on that Sunday morning and drove two or three counties away so nobody would know him. He got on the golf course. Just like every other Sunday, it was sunny. It was gorgeous. It was beautiful. He got on the first tee and said, “I know this is going to be miserable, God. I know you’re not going to help me, but I’m doing it anyway. I’m playing golf.” He hit the first drive: 275-300 yards (it blew his mind) down the center. I mean, he parred the first hole. He was out of his mind. He had the best game of his life. He got to the last hole. He hit the ball, and it was a hole-in-one…every golfer’s dream! He was out of his mind. He was dancing on the green. He was like, “God, I thought you would make this miserable for me.” God said, “I did!” “What do you mean?” “Who are you going to tell?”
Success all alone is empty. Success without the “someones” is diminished joy. See, when you dreamed of your life, you not only imagined you would have success; you dreamed there would be the people you love and the people who love you. That’s not all you ever dreamed. If you’ve never thought about it, you also dreamed of self-respect. See, you imagined you would be able to look into the mirror and respect the person you see in the mirror without dropping your eyes in disgrace. You imagined a person who could rise up with self-leadership who would not be owned by pleasures and passions and addictions, a person with integrity. See, wherever you go, there you are. If you can’t respect the person you are, it’s a pretty miserable life. Maybe you never thought about it before, but you not only imagined life of success and someone and self-respect. It’s not over. You imagined significance. What did you imagine? You dreamed your life dream would lead to significance, that your life would make a difference.
You imagined it would count for what matters, not just that you would have empty success, not just to make a dollar but to make a difference. Now that’s a great life. That’s a great dream. That’s a success in someone, self-respect, and significance. That’s a home run life. Everybody longs for that. Those are the elements in it, but very few people actually get that life. In fact, most of us get one or two of those things and crash on the rest.
That was the experience for Luis Ramos who, over a decade ago, was sitting in a place just like you here and I was delivering the first kind of testing seasons of Home Run Life. Here’s a slice of his story. [Video]
Luis Ramos: My name is Luis Ramos, and I’m 44 years old. I’ve been married to my high-school sweetheart for almost 25 years. You know, I find myself in one place in business and family and relationships that, thank God, today is really great and very fulfilling. It wasn’t always that way, however.
I had made my life about having more, getting more, making more, and achieving more. Everything else was falling apart around me. My marriage was falling apart. I barely knew my children. I told myself it was for everybody else, so I said, “I’m doing this for my family. I’m going to make sure I set us up for a great life.” That’s nonsense. It’s not true. I really loved the feeling I got from success. It was addictive. I just needed a clean break and to start all over.
I told my wife I had made a mistake, and we were really not meant to be together. On a Sunday in early October, my wife was going to church with the kids. I decided to join them really to keep up appearances. It just so happened it was the first day of a multi-week series on the Home Run Life. I sat there, and I was intrigued by the production, but what really caught me was Kevin starting to tell the Home Run Life story, the parable. [End of video]
Like Luis, most of us get one or two elements in our life dream, and then we crash in the rest. Maybe that’s because nobody has ever taught us how God grows us up. In fact, that brings us to
the second question of four questions that can transform your life.
2. What can we learn from Joseph’s journey?
For our limited time, let me highlight from Genesis 37-50 in the Old Testament the story of Joseph. I’ll pick highlights. I’ll pick out kind of breakthrough moments in his life to put this together. Joseph was 17 years old when he had a dream. It was a dream about his future. It was literally a vision from God.
Now Joseph was the son of Jacob, the grandson of Isaac, the great-grandson of Abraham. He was in the line of God’s great promises. His father, Jacob, was highly influential, very affluent. Joseph was a favored son. He had many older brothers. In fact, by the end of the story, you discover his older brothers and he together made up eventually what’s called the 12 tribes of the nation of Israel. The name of his father Jacob was changed to Israel. That’s where Israel gets the name.
Back at this time, he is 17 years old. He is a favored son, and he has what Scripture calls a “coat of many colors,” which means he is important. Dad gave it to him. He is kind of bragging. See,
this is ticking his brothers off. They’re full of jealousy, and Joseph is walking around in his coat, strutting like he is somebody.
Then he not only acts like he is important to his earthly father, but also he is like, “I don’t know what to say, guys. I’m obviously important to Dad, and I’m obviously more important to God
because I had a vision. Did anybody get a vision? No? Nobody else? I had one. Guess what? In the vision, I’m standing, and you’re bowing. Isn’t that an awesome vision, guys?” Nobody was excited. By the way, nobody gets excited when your vision is you’re standing and they’re bowing. Joseph had every reason to believe this was going to come about, this would happen. Why? Because God was in it. In fact, we often quote promises of God. We’ll jump into the New Testament like John 10:10 where Jesus said, “I have come that you might have life and have it to the full.”
Then we expect the very next thing when we come to a relationship with God through Jesus is life is now going to be easy and awesome. Joseph was probably expecting the next thing to be a success. The next thing was a pit. He got thrown into a pit. His brothers got tired of this, so they literally threw him down into a pit. They took his coat of many colors. They cut it up so it looked like an animal tore it up. They put ram’s blood on it, took it back to Dad, and said, “Dad, it looks like Joseph went bye-bye.”
Of course, those were pre-DNA days. You could figure that out today, but not back in the day. Now they take him from the pit, and they sell him into slavery. Off he goes to Egypt. His father assumes he is dead, and nobody comes to rescue him. Joseph has to be asking himself, “God, what on earth are you doing?”
Have you ever asked that of God? Have you ever just said, “God, I’m trying to follow you. What on earth are you allowing in my life?”
[Kevin Myers] was 30 years old, 9 years into [his] marriage. It was one of the most undoing years in [his] life when [he] had to sit down with [his] wife and ask her to go back to work. Now understand [they had] married for nine years. For the first five years, there was some good ministry stuff. For the last four years, [they] were planting 12Stone. [They] said, “Once we have a couple of kids, you get to be a full-time mom.” We had a couple of kids, but [he] had to ask her to go back to work because [he] was failing in [his] work. [They] had lost [their] house money. Some of you have heard these stories. [They] had lost cars and savings and a little IRA stuff and everything [they] had. [They] were going bankrupt. [They were] doing odd jobs and everything [they] knew to do. It was like, “Honey, if you don’t go back to work, we’re done.” I’m in this pit, and I’m like, “Hello, God! What are you doing when you let this happen?” [He] didn’t know then, but [now he] can tell you now what [he] thinks God was doing. God was helping [them] win dependence.
In fact, many of you may find yourself in pits you didn’t create, and God has allowed them to come your way. You’re like, “God, what are you doing? [We] expect it to be easy and awesome.”
Maybe God is doing the same thing. That’s God was doing with Joseph. Watch this. He was helping Joseph win dependence.
God was stripping Joseph of everything he would have used to make this dream possible so he could move Joseph from self-reliance to God-reliance. Oh, that’s a major move! See, many of us never grow up spiritually because nobody ever told us how you grow up spiritually. We know how you grow up humanly. We don’t know how you grow up spiritually. Let me just give you a quick understanding of it.
Here’s how you grow up humanly. You move from dependence to independence. Let me talk for a moment. How many of you here have children under 5 years of age? Hands up. You have children under 5 years of age. There you go. You see the hands. They’re adorable, right? You’re just drawn to them. You’re endeared. Through their elementary years, you cannot imagine them ever leaving. Then God makes them teenagers. Now you cannot imagine them staying. See, that’s a process.
You start out. They’re wholly dependent on you. Then they’re progressively moving from dependence to…what? Independence. Spiritual growth is the opposite. This is how you grow up spiritually.
You are born in sin, separated from God, distant from God. You think you’re your own god. You’re independent and independent from God you begin to grow and be drawn to God.
You discover God loves you and, through Jesus, he made a way for you to be restored to him.
You come to faith through Jesus, and your entire journey is to move you from independence to what, church? Dependence. Oh, this is a deep and wide reality. Jesus said in John 15, “I am the vine. You are the branch. If a man or woman remains in me, you will bear much fruit. But apart from me, you can do nothing.” Learn to depend. It takes a lifetime.
The second breakthrough in Joseph’s life was to win within. See, his second major breakthrough, the next one, was to win within.
He had a major temptation. See, now he was bought by Potiphar. At the age of 17, he was taken to Egypt and bought by Potiphar who was highly influential in the military arena of Egypt. He had been there, for now, five to seven years. He was probably 22 to 25 years old. He had risen up as a slave (how exciting is that?), overseeing the household affairs of his master, Potiphar, and his wife.
Potiphar’s wife made an indecent proposal, a sexual advance, engaged an affair. At that moment, he had to decide, “What kind of person am I going to be?” We all have to make that decision.
“What’s the moral code? Do I follow God or create my own?” See, Joseph couldn’t help that he was a slave on the outside, but he didn’t have to be a slave on the inside to his passions, his appetites, or his desires. He could be a man of integrity, and he made the right decision.
Oh, by the way, for making the right decision, do you know what happened? He got thrown in prison. Isn’t that awesome? “Yay, God! I did the right thing, and I lost.” See, Potiphar’s wife said he actually did initiate and rape her, and Potiphar threw him into prison. Have you ever done the right thing and took a loss instead of a win? Oh, but God is not done.
The next major breakthrough is a win with others. Get in the story with me for a moment. Just everybody here, campuses, go with me on this. Now Joseph is the servant. He is a slave. He is the guy on his hands and knees. He is cleaning the floor. While he is doing that in Egypt, very important people are walking by, and they don’t even notice him. They just dismiss him.
Maybe that’s when Joseph discovered, “You know, I used to be important. I used to walk around my Dad’s place in my coat of many colors. I was somebody. Equally, there used to be people doing just what I’m doing…servants I never noticed.” Maybe God had him in that place to teach him how to value others. Because hear me. There are few things more redefining than when God puts you in the place of people you once dismissed. Maybe then Joseph realized, “I kind of helped put myself in this place. I dismissed my brothers and their issues, their needs.”
Between the ages of 21 and 25, [in his] first ministry experience was [Kevin Myers] was the associate pastor of a church that had tremendous growth. It was the fastest-growing in our little denomination and in that territory. [He] began to feel self-important. During that time, [he] subtly began to think differently toward pastors who led smaller churches. [he] started to think, “Do you know what? If those guys would just put a little effort in, it would work.” [he] subtly dismissed.
When [he] planted [his church new church,] “12Stone,” [they] had 104 people on the opening weekend. Four years later, [they] had
82 ([He was] just that good…yeah, yeah) during which season God whispers in [his] ear, “Now, Kevin, let’s talk again about pastors who lead smaller churches.” See, that’s how we learned that if you don’t value others, you use others.
Maybe God has you in some places just like this where you’re down on your knees, and you don’t want to be. You’re in some places in work or in life and relationship, and you’re begging for God to lift you up when God is trying to teach you how to win with others and value others.
By the way, we know Joseph broke through. Do you know how we know? Because fast-forward. When he was 39 years old, which is 22 years after they sold him into slavery… His brothers sold him into slavery at 17. Quick story. At 39 years old, he was already second in command in all of Egypt. There was a famine going on, and during the famine, guess what? A group of guys who were starving came there. They were his brothers. Guess who they had to kneel before in order to get food? This is such a good story!
They had to kneel in front of Joseph. The dream! Here his brothers are kneeling. He is standing. How well did that moment have to be for him? All he had to do was just wave his hand, and they would be executed. Instead, he executed mercy and forgiveness. That’s a changed, transformed man.
The next major breakthrough was to win results. Oh, this is huge! God helped him win results. Fast-forward. He was from 17 to 30… At 30 years of age, he had been in pits and prisons for 13 years. Pharaoh has a dream. The dream is from God. It’s a vision. He can’t interpret it himself, and neither can anybody else. Then they say, “Oh, there’s this guy Joseph who can interpret dreams.” They bring Joseph up. He faces Pharaoh. I mean, this is the most powerful guy in all the earth in his time and day. Pharaoh says, “I’ve had a dream. Can you interpret it?” Joseph says, “No.”
If I were coaching him, I would say, “Joseph, the answer is yes. Yes, Joseph. If you get a shot at a new job, the answer is, ‘Yes, I can do this.’ What are you going to lose? I mean, if you lose, if you fail, you just go back to prison. Come on. That’s where you are! If you lose your head, it’s better. You die. You just don’t have to go to prison. This is a shot for a promotion. Take it!”
Joseph was a changed man. I want you to see this. Do you know what he said? “No, I cannot, but if God wants to give it to me, he can.” This is somebody who figured out even in business God is a part of the process, and he was dependent on God. That’s good.
God did give him the interpretation, and he explained it to Pharaoh. There would be seven years of feast and seven years of famine. Then more than giving the problem, he delivered the solution. “Pharaoh, you should have someone manage the seven years of feast and put food away so, during the seven years of famine, Egypt survives.” Pharaoh looks around and says, “I don’t see anybody smarter than you, Joseph.
You get the job.” He elevated him to second in command in all of Egypt, second only to Pharaoh. In one day, he went from prison to the palace. That’s a very good promotion day, wouldn’t you say? I mean, that’s the kind of day everybody is looking for in business.
It’s like, “Whew! How did you…? Tremendous.” You would think, “Oh, my gracious. That’s such success. That’s the pinnacle of his life.” It was not.
Pinnacle is when he moved from success to significance. He figured out with the coming of his brothers that his family was starving, and he said, “What you meant for bad, God meant for good, for the saving of many lives.” He brought the whole family (his father Jacob, all the families) and saved them. This is the nation of Israel through whom eventually comes the Messiah, our Lord and Savior, Jesus.
How significant is that? It begs the next question, number three of the four questions that can transform your life.
3. What is the pattern? With all of that, how does God really grow us up?
What is God’s game plan for life and leadership? When Joshua, [Kevin’s] eldest son, was 11 years old, [dad] had an awakening. Honestly, a confession. [He gives it to us.] [He] realized, “Even though he is a pastor, He didn’t know how to disciple his son.”
[Kevin] came to Christ at age 9. [He had] been in church ever since. [He went] to Bible school. [He had] a ministry degree at a university. [He’d] been to seminary. [He’d] been pastoring full-time. He realized, “I don’t even know how to disciple my son.”
Now it’s not that he doesn’t have the information. All the information in his head is all complex, but he didn’t know how to get it out and get it into something.
How would he transfer it so his 11-year-old son can know how God is going to grow him up. How to do it in an easy, transferrable, significant, meaningful way that will connect when you’re young and travel with you into your adult life. [he] was stumped. See, this whole Home Run Life thing was actually birthed from the heart of a father who wanted to help his son win.
That’s where the whole baseball thing came from, something that was accessible to a kid but could travel into adult life and even challenge pro athletes in a multi-billion dollar industry..
..There was this pattern. That word pattern became hugely important. Take your Bibles here. We’re in the book of Romans, chapter 12. This is the core Scripture God was soaking into [his] soul in this season. We don’t have time to detail everything, but I can tell you this. When it says, “Therefore…” what he is talking about is after all the theology, after all the teaching, after all, God has done to restore you to him through Jesus, now here’s the point, practically speaking.
Chapter 12, verse 1: “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.”
Verse 2: “Do not conform…” Do not…what? Conform. Don’t do this. You can’t do this. “Do not conform to the…” There’s the word.
Say it with me, church. “…pattern…”
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world…” So there’s a pattern to the world. He goes on. “…but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” You have to see things differently. “Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Oh my! There is a pattern God uses. This pattern God uses grows us up, but there’s a pattern of the world.
[Kevin] started to think, “Well, baseball has a pattern. What if what is true in life dreams is true in God’s design?” There are four bases everybody has to cover. It’s true in baseball when you’re young, and it’s true when you’re in the major league. It’s not like there are seven bases in the major league.
There are four bases. The only way you can score is when you cross… Humor me. What’s the answer? You always have to cross…what? Home plate.
In fact, when you leave home plate, you have to cover…what? First, second, and third base. This is what we know about baseball.
It’s really simple. If you miss a base, you’re called…what? Out.
Baseball is full of fresh starts. Many strikeouts but fresh starts. What do they call it when you run to the wrong base? Little league.
That’s the only time it’s funny. When a 4-year-old hits the ball and runs to third base, everybody is like laughing. “That’s awesome!” It’s not so funny when a major league player does it, because then he is called out.
By the way, that’s true in life. There is a pattern, and it’s as simple as baseball in how God grows you up. If you look at your teaching notes, here’s your fill-in-the-blank. Home plate. Home plate is where you connect. That is to say you connect to your Creator. I mean, we’re not just talking anybody.
We’re talking about the Creator of the universe, where you connect to God’s purpose for putting you here and God’s power to pull it off. Oh my goodness, this is huge! See, everything begins and ends at home plate. Everything begins and ends with God. It doesn’t start with you. It starts with God.
Just like when you come to the plate, you have to know your purpose, what you’re there to accomplish, and you need power at the plate, so it’s true in life. By the way, many of you listening are spiritually unresolved. You’re not even sure you believe in God.
You’re not sure you’re buying any of this. It’s okay. This is still your issue. Listen. It’s still your issue. You have to settle in life, “Where did I come from? Why am I here? Where am I going?” You’re living out that answer, whether you answered it or not…if not by design, by default.
The God who created you, who loves you deeply, who created a way for you to be restored to him through Jesus, is inviting you to connect. When you become the god of your life and make it start and end with you, of course it doesn’t work. You are not. When God comes into your life and you connect with him, the very first thing the power of God wants to do is take you to first base and change you.
It is called character. Home plate is ‘connect,’ and first base is ‘character.’ That’s the personal base. It’s how you win within. What often happens is when we come to faith in God through Jesus
Christ and we become followers of Christ… Do you know what happens in our souls? Oh, we get so excited. We know we can pray and God answers our prayer. Oh, this is so cool.
Do you know what we start praying? “Oh God, change everything else.” Right? “Now I got God. Change everything around me. Oh God, change my relationship with my job. Change my income, it is yours. It needs to go up for you. I need less. Change my boss’s heart. Change my spouse’s heart. I had no idea how much baggage we both had when we married. Oh God, change my kids. They have so much of my spouse in them. [haha] Who knew? God, change my house and change my stuff.”
Do you know what? We think the moment you get in a relationship with God, the whole point is to get God to change everything around you when the first thing God wants to do is change everything…where? Within you.
See, God wants to help you rise up with the character that keeps you from crashing and costing you his best in the rest of your life. Most of us get thrown out on the way to first.
Home plate is connect. First base is ‘character.’ Second base is ‘community.’ It is the people base where you win with others. Watch how simply powerful and profound this really is.
What is the first and greatest command Jesus taught us? To love God (home plate). Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. The second commandment is like unto the first. To love your neighbor (second base) as yourself (first base). Get it? Love God. Love yourself. Love others.
Third base is the competence base. Competence. So you go from ‘connect’ to ‘character’ to ‘community’ to ‘competence.’ This is the performance base. This is where you win results. By the way, when a baseball player gets to third base, is it a score? No! No, if you get left stranded on third base, it comes to nothing. Success is not an end in itself, not until you surrender that success to your significance, to the significance of why God put you here…
In other words, you have to live larger than yourself, and you live for God’s glory. This is how God grows us up, and the order of the bases actually matters. If that’s how God grows us up, if that’s the pattern that renews our minds so we can be transformed, then my question is…How does the world run the bases? We live in a world that runs the bases backward. You know this is true.
We live in a performance-driven society where what you do and success is how you’re measured. We are under such huge pressure in performing in life that we end up cheating the other bases.
We end up cheating what it takes to really build a marriage and a family. We end up cheating our integrity in order to get ahead over here. We end up cheating time with God. “Oh, we don’t have time to honor God one every seven days. I don’t have time for that. I have a busy life. Bible? Prayer? Are you kidding me? For what? That’s for weak people. I don’t do that. I don’t need that.” We end up cheating the very things that would give us the quality of life to
make sense of success and surrender it to significance. What if in a backwards base-running world we are losing a home run life God had imagined for us? That’s what Luis Ramos discovered. Here’s the rest of his story. [Video]
Luis Ramos: So I started talking about the tradeoffs we make, the fact that in a performance-driven culture, we are driven to run to third base. Very often what that results in is sacrificing relationships on second base and integrity on first base. It just hit me. It hit me like a ton of bricks. I thought to myself, “This is my life. I’m destroying my relationships with my wife and my children, and it’s costing me, and it’s costing my kids. This is going to have repercussions on the rest of our lives.” I thought, “You know, I’ve been looking for this reboot. I’ve been looking for this fresh start. The reality is God is offering me a fresh start to do something with the life he gave me with the family he gave me and with the wife he gave me from my youth. I’m a fool if I think starting over with somebody else is going to turn into anything better, because the person breaking this is me.” I rededicated my life to the Lord, and I talked to my wife. I let her know. She was very skeptical, to say the least. By God’s mercy, she prayed hard about it. What she heard from the Lord was, “You don’t have permission to get out.” So she took me back. Pastor Kevin remarried us in the spring of 2001 with all of our children and our closest friends.
That running of the bases in a different pattern started a domino effect that didn’t just transformmy marriage and my children and our family, it transformed everything. It transformed my career. It transformed my business. You know, it transformed everything about me. [End of video]
See, that’s powerful. Oh yeah. When you let God renew your mind and how you run the bases of life, it will transform your life! Think about the whole of life in our society. We do our whole life backward. We spend our twenties to thirties (maybe into our forties and fifties) chasing success. Because of that, we will often burn one, two, or three marriages and estrange our kids. In our forties and fifties (or sixties) when we have enough success to realize it’s not as fulfilling… It’s a bit empty.
People enter into a marriage they start caring about and investing in and curiously want to go back and restore with their estranged kids. In their fifties and sixties, you start hearing them say to their grandchildren, “By the way, character counts. Who you are on the inside matters.” Why?
Because it’s borne out to be true. In their sixties and seventies, up to eighties, they start facing their mortality. They think, “Do you know what? Maybe there is a God. Maybe all along I got this wrong.”
It’s interesting. This November, Ted Turner, our local Atlanta CNN-Braves-Rancher-Philanthropist-mogul-Billionaire, is turning 81. In an article a few years ago were these thoughts. “Ted…the outspoken agnostic who had formerly described Christianity as ‘a religion for losers’ recently reaffirmed his openness to the religion. […] He no longer considers himself an atheist and prays for sick friends.” He closes, “Well, I sure don’t want to go to hell.” You see, we live in a world that runs the bases backward and ends up forfeiting the best God has for us. We could have a renewed mind and change the way we run.
4. How do you run the bases? More importantly, how will you run the bases of life?
Bow your heads with me. I want to take a moment to lead us in prayer. Our gracious God, many of us would have to confess like Luis that we get caught up in the ways of our world. Maybe it’s never occurred to us that we conform to the world’s pattern. Maybe it never occurred to us that under pressure, we’re costing ourselves the very things we long for. Would you grant us awakening as you did Luis? Would you do in us and for us and through us what you did for Luis? That will mean some of us right now… Even those of us who, maybe like a Ted Turner, are not even sure what we believe, but we’re starting to enter prayer because we know we’re not in control. Even us, Lord. We would ask you to renew our minds, transform our thinking to transform our lives. Maybe even some of us like Luis would have to say, “Lord, I rededicate my
life to you. Lord, I’ve gone adrift. I’ve gotten sloppy. I’ve joined the world. I wasn’t even aware of it. I’m not running the path that allows you to grow me up.” Lord, whatever would be our prayer unique to each individual, I ask you would give us the courage to confess and own what is ours, humility to ask for your help, and surrender to you that allows you to teach us not only this day but in this series. As a result, God, you would so bless our lives and our families, our character and our careers, that we would experience life to the full. Grant this blessing I pray, in Christ’s name. Everyone agreeing, say, “Amen.”
Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God, 6 who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who keeps faith forever; 7 who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets the prisoners free; 8 the Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous. 9 The Lord watches over the strangers; he upholds the orphan and the widow, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin. 10 The Lord will reign forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations. Praise the Lord! [NRSA]
