Number 434,484 - December 18, 2016 sermon

By Pastor Greg

            Hello, I'm child number 434,484 … if my math is correct.  Just an ordinary guy born on an ordinary day in an ordinary way in an average town in Pennsylvania.  Ordinarily, we don't get excited about ordinary births; it's the extraordinary that captures our attention.  3,977,745 births in America last year[1].  That's approximately 1 baby every 12.5 seconds in the USA if my math is correct.  And how many of those made the news?  Apart from the births that impacted your life, can you remember the birth of a child you've never met? 

          Ordinarily, that fact wouldn't make a bit of difference to me, but this Christmas season I have been struck by the ordinariness of Jesus Birth.  “She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the village inn.”  Luke 2:7

          Apart from what we know went on behind the scene, it was a rather uneventful birth … compared to the standards back then of course.  In today's standards, though, it would have caught the attention of the News Media and some News Anchor would declare “Give me a break!”  Then He'd point out how some poor young couple was turned out to the streets to have their baby because a hotel couldn't find them any room!!  And the chances are that he'd be more concerned why the hotels overbook than with anything concerning the baby.  After all, it was just an ordinary baby, one of many born that year.  Apart from the intervention and announcements from the Divine, the birth of Christ was, well, ordinary.

          A seemingly ordinary Child is born of ordinary parents in an ordinary way in some back-street barn in the ordinary town of Bethlehem.  Remarkable, isn't it?  God, instead of choosing royalty, wanted a common, everyday, ordinary couple to bring His Child into this world.  The Jewish Nation expected an extraordinary Messiah but instead received an ordinary Child.  The Wise Men expected someone of prominence, prestige, and power when they arrived at Herod's palace, but instead found an ordinary Child.  “Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, ‘Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We have seen his star as it arose, and we have come to worship him." Matthew 2:1-2.  Why did they go to Jerusalem?  Because that’s where kings lived, so why not this “New King” as well.  Also, if you’ll notice, it was too ordinary shepherds that the Heavenly Choir sang.   “That night some shepherds were in the fields outside the village, guarding their flocks of sheep.  Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord's glory surrounded them. They were terribly frightened, but the angel reassured them. "Don't be afraid!" he said. "I bring you good news of great joy for everyone!  The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born tonight in Bethlehem, the city of David!  And this is how you will recognize him: You will find a baby lying in a manger, wrapped snugly in strips of cloth!" Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God: "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to all whom God favors."  Luke 2:8-14.

          According to Luke's gospel, it was a group of ordinary shepherds who received an extraordinary announcement.  Not Kings.  Not Chief Priests or Scribes.  Not the Pharisee with his degree in Old Testament prophesies.  Not the Prophet preaching at the big tent just outside of town.  The Angel of the Lord didn't appear in the Temple that night and say, “Hey guys, He's over there in Bethlehem.”  God chose to make His extraordinary announcement to some ordinary shepherds doing what ordinary shepherds do … watching over their sheep that night.  Shepherds.  Ordinary shepherds.  And yet these shepherds do an extraordinary thing.  When the Heavenly Choir goes home, how do they react? 

“Yo, Levi. You see that?” 

“I didn't see nothin.” 

No. Of course not.  These ordinary shepherds take this extraordinary news straight into Bethlehem, and they tell everyone they meet.  All who heard this news from them must have been wondering the same thing too.  “Why shepherds?”

“When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, "Come on, let’s go to Bethlehem! Let's see this wonderful thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."  They ran to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger.  Then the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child.  All who heard the shepherds' story were astonished.”  Luke 2:15-18.

          If you learn anything this Christmas season, please know that the birth of Christ was not the show-stopping production we have been led to believe.  Here you have the Word becoming flesh; the Logos coming to earth.  And God almost snuck Him in unnoticed.  If it hadn't been for a couple of Wiseguys from the east and some ordinary shepherds, would the world have known about the birth of Jesus? 

If you notice, these common, ordinary shepherds become the first evangelist.  “Then the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child.”  Luke 2:17.  A revelation of the Messiah was given them, and they told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said.  Afterward, “All who heard the shepherds' story were astonished” (Luke 2:18), and even Mary “quietly treasured these things in her heart and thought about them often” (Luke 2:19).

          Perhaps like me, you feel a bit ordinary.  I was one of 486 other children born that hour in 1960.  Approximately child number 434,484 that year … if my math is correct.  A meaningless number to the US Census Bureau.   I’m not the sharpest person you’ll ever meet.  I’m not some great theologian or Bible Scholar.  But I do know what I have seen and what I have been told.  I know what has been entrusted to my care; me, an ordinary person just like you.  And like me, you were probably just an ordinary child born in an ordinary way to rather normal parents as well.  But you too know what you have heard and what you have seen.  Like the ordinary shepherds back then, ordinary people like you and me have been given the responsibility of announcing the birth of Christ.  Instead of flashes of lightning and peals of thunder announcing the birth to the whole world, the fate of Christ's birth rests in the hands of a small group of ordinary people, just like you and me.

So … will we give our token church appearance during the Christmas Season and then go home?  Or will we join with these shepherds in proclaiming what we have seen and what we have been told?

          As you drift through yet another Christmas season that seems to be just like all the others, there is within this season an extraordinary message that needs to be told; “For today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”  What will you do with this extraordinary message?

---

[1] https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr65/NVSR65_03.pdf

The Helper - December 11, 2016 sermon

By Pastor Greg

          A man was in his usual place in the room, sitting at the table and reading the paper after breakfast.  He came across an article about a beautiful actress who was about to marry a football player.  The player was known primarily for his lack of IQ, common sense, and good looks.  He turned to his wife: "You know, I'll never understand why the biggest, ugliest jerks always get the most attractive wives."  His wife replied, "Why thank you, dear!"

Ouch.  The truth really hurts sometimes.  But hey, someone needs to say it.

In this whole dialog with His Apostles, Jesus says lives must be changed in this wicked, hostile world, and it is up to the Church to make that happen.  Sure, people are not going to like what they hear, but someone needs to speak up on behalf of Jesus.  Jesus even warned His apostles that the world will hate them simply because they represent Jesus … which will make sharing the message of Jesus even harder (That message, by the way, involves conviction and repentance; two words the world does not like to hear).  However, rather than expect us to do this on our own, Jesus promised to send some help.

(John 16:5-15) ⁵ “But now I am going to Him who sent Me; and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’  ⁶ But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart.  ⁷But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.  ⁸And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; ⁹concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; ¹⁰and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me; ¹¹and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.  ¹²I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.  ¹³But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.  ¹⁴He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you.  ¹⁵All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you”.

To accomplish this seemingly impossible task of speaking His Truth to the word, Jesus says He will send the Helper.  He is talking about God’s Holy Spirit.  And isn’t it a bit odd that Jesus would use the word Helper?  Helper implies that the Church is responsible for telling the truth while the Spirit gives guidance and direction.  Shouldn’t it be the other way around?  It just seems natural that the Spirit would do the work, and the Church would assist.  Yet Jesus seems to imply that the Spirit would move and work in the hearts of the apostles, guiding and helping them.  Apparently, many Christians misunderstand how the Holy Spirit operates in this world.

Often, someone will pray “Lord, send Your Spirit to bring a revival.”  Or perhaps a Christian will ask the Spirit to touch the heart of a neighbor.  We want the Spirit to speak to the lost.  I’ve heard many pastors pray for revival in their community – as if the Spirit will move throughout the town leading people to the Lord.  Don’t we do this?  Don’t we want the Spirit to go through the pews in a church, seeking out the unsaved, and win them for Christ?

Just as Jesus came in bodily form to minister on earth, the Holy Spirt needs a body to accomplish His ministry; His body is the Church.  We are the tools through which the Spirit works.  The Holy Spirit empowers us to do the work of God.  For example, He, the Spirit, guided and empowered Peter to preach at Pentecost (Acts 2:14-36), which, by the way, was a very confrontational message (see Acts 2:37-38).  The Spirit does the same today.  So, if we, the Church, want revival, we are the ones who must get to work.  If we want a neighbor to come to Christ, we must be the ones to talk with them.  The Spirit works through us.  Revival will not happen unless we do something to make it happen.

However, in today’s text, did you notice what the Spirit will help us do?  Working through the Church, the Spirit will convict the world, reveal God’s righteousness to the world (and consequently show the world how sinful it is), and warn the world of God’s coming judgment against sin.  Oh yeah, that will make the Church popular.  People are going to flock to the Church.

Why is this part of God’s plan?  I mean, I’ve always heard that you catch more flies with sugar than with vinegar.  Why not preach a message of love and tolerance?  Why doesn’t the Spirit comfort the world and make the world happy?  It’s because God’s plan is redemption, not happiness.  God is not looking to make the people of this world happy; He is looking to make them holy.  And holiness does not happen when we are told just what we want to hear. 

Yes, the Spirit does comfort those who already believe.  A Christian does find love and acceptance from God through the working of the Spirit.  But in matters of sin and salvation, the Spirit’s primary role is to reveal the truth.  Sure, the truth hurts, but it does help.  The truth refines and transforms.

Yes, it’s true; the Spirit will help a Christian become more loving and patient and kind.  This is the “Fruit” the Spirit produces in us.  But when it comes to the people of this world, the Spirit, working through Christians, convicts a person’s sin, reveals a person’s sin, and warns that God will one day judge that sin. 

          Just as He did through Peter and Paul, the Spirit is looking for submitted and surrendered Christians today who will allow Him to guide and direct them.  He is looking for believers who are willing to speak the truth – speak God’s truth, not some modern-day, watered-down, feel-good message of tolerance. 

          It irks me when some Christians want the Church to become more like the world.  It irks me when misinformed Christians claim the Spirit is speaking new things to the Church today.  That’s a lie.  The Spirit will not speak on His own initiative (16:13).  He will not contradict what God has already said.  So, if we want to bear fruit, as Jesus has commanded, then we must be focused on helping people become holy, and not focused on popularity.

The bottom line is this: The Church needs to stop telling the world just what it wants to hear, and instead tell the truth.

It’s what the Holy Spirit will help us do.

The Vine - December 4, 2016 sermon

By Pastor Greg

Little Johnny wasn't getting good marks in school. One day he confided in his teacher: “Look,” he said.  "I don't want to scare you, but my daddy says if I don't get better grades, somebody is going to get a spanking."

Little Johnny didn’t realize who was responsible for his grades – who was responsible for his results. And sometimes Christians struggle with the same thing.  They don’t realize who is responsible for bearing fruit in this world.

Seven times in John’s Gospel, Jesus described Himself by saying, “I AM.”  I am the Bread of Life, the Living Water, the Good Shepherd, the Light of the World, the Gate, and The Resurrection and the Life.  In these examples, Jesus says He is the source of life, He watches over believers; He protects them, and provides for them.  However, in the last instance, His role surrounds a believer’s ability to bear fruit.

 (John 15:1-8)  ¹ “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.  ² “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.  ³ “You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.  ⁴ “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.  ⁵ “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.  ⁶ “If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned.  ⁷ “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.  ⁸ “My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.^[1]

This discussion about Jesus being the vine and Christians being the branches is all part of the Lord’s answer to Judas.  Remember how Judas asked who was going to reveal Jesus to the rest of the world (John 14:22)?  Well, the Lord says those who bear fruit in the world are those who abide in Him.  Jesus tells the apostles that to complete the task they have been given, they must work to keep the relationship open.  Even though Jesus is going away, they cannot simply forge ahead on their own.  Their lives must remain rooted in Him and in what He taught.  They must worship, pray, and meditate on God’s Word (compare Acts 6:2).

Okay, great.  I think I’ve got this.  If a Christian is to bear fruit in this world, then they will need to abide in Jesus.  Does that sound about right?  Yes?  Then if “abiding” and “fruit” are so important, how can I tell if I am bearing fruit or “abiding in Christ?”  I mean, wouldn’t it be nice if there was some sort of test we could take that lets us know where we stand?  Alright then, let’s take a moment and talk about abiding and bearing fruit.

First, to be an authentic believer, we must make a choice in where we abide.  Yes, it is true.  Abiding is not a salvation term.  You see, abide is a relational term.  Before we met Christ, we were attached to (or Abiding in) the “vine of the earth” (see Revelation 14:18).  We depended on the things of this world for sustenance and satisfaction.  However, once we accept Jesus as our Lord, we must learn to rely on (or Abide in) Him.  And what many don’t realize is that it takes effort on our part to attach ourselves to the “Vine of Heaven.”  We must work to keep it alive.

Former Back to the Bible General Director Warren Wiersbe says certain things happen in our life when we abide in Christ.  “For one thing, when you are abiding in Christ, you produce fruit (John 15:2). Also, you experience the Father’s “pruning” so that you will bear more fruit (John 15:2). The believer who is abiding in Christ has his prayers answered (John 15:7) and experiences a deepening love for Christ and for other believers (John 15:9, 12–13). He also experiences joy (John 15:11)”.^[2]

By abiding in Christ, we bear fruit.  And by fruit the Lord means we lead others to a saving relationship with Jesus (Romans 1:13), we grow in holiness and obedience (Romans 6:22 - this is what it means to be pruned by the Father).  We give financially to the ministry of the Church (Romans 15:28), our character is changed (Galatians 5:22-23), and we are willing to serve (Colossians 1:10).  Even the praise from our lips is fruit from a life that abides in Christ (Hebrews 13:15).

So, a true believer (a branch that bears fruit) is someone who maintains an active relationship with Jesus throughout their life.  They help spread the gospel of Jesus and remove any habits and attitudes within them that hinder their Christian witness.  These Christians surrender their lives to the work of God’s Kingdom.  Their attitude and personality are transformed.  These are the believers who truly represent Jesus in this world because they draw their life from the Lord.  And the Lord works through these Christians to transform the world.  The believer who abides in Christ is the one who makes this world a better place.

But … don’t some non-Christians work to make this world a better place?  Yes, they do.  Even people who are not attached to the Vine give to others and make sacrifices in their lives to help the oppressed and the outcast.  It seems their results are similar to those who abide in Christ.  However, please remember that there is a big difference between results and fruit.  Man-made results are dead and cannot reproduce themselves.  Their works do not have within them the seeds to bear more fruit.  But Spirit produced fruit will go on reproducing from one life to another.  A person might earnestly labor to change their community or even change a nation.  And their work and sacrifice might result in better living conditions for those who suffered a tragedy.  But this is not the same as bearing fruit.  A church might organize and plan to get more people to attend.  And their labor and efforts might result in more members.  But this is not the same as bearing fruit.

Jesus says that bearing fruit ultimately leads another individual to the “Vine of Heaven.”  You see, the fruit of a branch benefits others, not the branch itself.  Which means, to successfully bear fruit, we help others to do the same … meaning, they too have attached their lives to Jesus.

Bearing fruit means that our labors for Jesus reproduce.  We bear fruit when we help someone else learn to abide in Christ.  This is the task Jesus has given us.  “I am the Vine, you are the branches,” says Jesus.  It is the branch’s responsibility to bear fruit.  I suspect most of us realize this, but unless our work as a Christian leads other to the Vine, our labors are fruitless.

---

^[1] New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. 1995 (Jn 15:1–8). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

^[2] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Jn 15:1–11). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

Out of This World - November 27th 2016 sermon

By Pastor Greg

Dr. Seuss tells us that the Grinch hated Christmas because all the noise.  But here in our world, have you ever wondered why some people seem to hate Christians, and not just at Christmas time?  Oh, I know not everyone hates Christians, but every now and then you will meet a person or an organization that seems bent on silencing the message of the Church.  And maybe their reaction doesn’t make sense because I know Christians are motivated by love and concern for those living around us.  But still, Christians are persecuted and hated all over the world, and no one can give a good reason why.

Think about what Christianity does to the average person.  If they truly surrender their life to Jesus, the Spirit will transform that individual into someone who is loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and self-controlled.  Christian men and women become more dependable at work.  They genuinely care about others, and don’t merely look out for their own interests.  They are better neighbors, better citizens, and tend to be considerate and polite in the check-out line.  They don’t return hate when hated.  Instead, they love.  They share things with others.  Why would anyone hate a person like that?

Okay.  Okay.  I know what you’re thinking.  You want to point out that not every Christian acts like this.  Well, yes, that’s true.  But many of us are a work in progress.  The Spirit is at work within us to transform us into this kind of Christian.  And yet, despite our failures and weaknesses, we followers of Jesus seem to be hated and criticized

So, why the hatred?  Listen to what Jesus said.

(John 15:18-25)  ¹⁸ “If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. ¹⁹ The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you. ²⁰ Do you remember what I told you? ‘A slave is not greater than the master.’ Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you. And if they had listened to me, they would listen to you. ²¹ They will do all this to you because of me, for they have rejected the one who sent me. ²² They would not be guilty if I had not come and spoken to them. But now they have no excuse for their sin. ²³ Anyone who hates me also hates my Father. ²⁴ If I hadn’t done such miraculous signs among them that no one else could do, they would not be guilty. But as it is, they have seen everything I did, yet they still hate me and my Father. ²⁵ This fulfills what is written in their Scriptures*: ‘They hated me without cause.” ^[1]

Why did the people hate Jesus?  Because they loved the darkness more than the light (John 3:19).  And why do they reject Christians today?  Because they first rejected Jesus (verse 18).  Some people in this world will reject us and our message for no other reason than they hate Jesus.  They hate the light.  As you and I are taking the message of God’s Grace out into the world, we will meet people who hate us and do everything in their power to silence the message of the Church.

Personally, I glad Jesus didn’t start off with this lesson.  How many of us would race off gung ho to tell the world about the Lord if we knew the world would hate us.  And yet, it seems, Jesus wanted us to know what we are up against.  He warns us that hatred, by some, is a given.  But He also encourages us that the Holy Spirit will help us as we witness to others about Jesus.  The Spirit, working through us, will testify about Jesus.  It reminds me of the time Barnabas and Paul we trying to tell the governor of Paphos about Jesus.  But a sorcerer kept interrupting and told him to ignore what these Christians were saying.  That’s when Paul, filled with the Spirit, called the sorcerer the “Son of the Devil” (see Acts 13:6-12).

See, that’s what I want to do.  Sometimes I just want to let loose a string of rebukes toward those who mock and ridicule my Lord.  However, I think Jesus knew our tendency to fight fire with fire.  Therefore, He throws in a subtle reminder that His followers are to respond differently.  He reminds us that we have been plucked out of the world – meaning, we should respond to hatred differently.

Let me close by spending a few moments talking about how Christians should respond to the world’s hatred.  As Christians, we are to respond to trouble, hatred, and criticism with Magnanimity.  I know, you’re thinking Magna-what?  It’s an old English word that means “loftiness of spirit enabling one to bear trouble calmly, to disdain meanness and pettiness, and to display a noble generosity.”  Today we might say this person is a true gentleman, or that she is very tactful.  Although we would rather respond to the world with hatred, we are called to bear trouble calmly, which is not so easily accomplished.

In a recent blog post, Kevin DeYoung wrote, “The magnanimous person is the one who does not bear petty grudges, does not wallow in self-pity, does not demand penance, does not advertise his suffering, and does not stoop to settle every score. In an age where everyone is scrambling to be more aggrieved than everyone else, where we think nothing of retweeting praise and retweeting insults (to prove our aggrieved status), where apologies are routinely demanded and offendedness is next to godliness, surely we have much to learn about magnanimity.

It’s not only the right thing to do. It’s the smart thing to do. While we certainly want to stand up to real physical violence and insist on all the rights accorded us by God and by the laws of the land, when it comes to insults, rudeness, and social media scrappiness, killing them with kindness is usually the way to go.” [2]

The main reason Christians should respond with magnanimity is because Jesus has called us out of this world (verse 19).  This, I believe, is the main point He is trying to teach.  Yes, there will be people who hate us for no good reason.  They will say things, post nasty statements on Facebook, try to pass laws that restrict our ability to tell others about Jesus, and they will write nasty blog posts about our Faith.  However, we are not to react as a person of the world.  At present, we may still be in this world, but our actions must demonstrate that we are no longer part of this world.  Solomon wrote, A man’s discretion makes him slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook a transgression^[3] (Proverbs 19:11).  And when you or I can take an insult and bear it calmly, we give glory to God – the One who has called us out of this world.

---

^[1] Tyndale House Publishers. (2007). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (3rd ed.) (Jn 15:18–25). Carol Stream, IL.

[2] https://blogs.thegospelcoalition.org/kevindeyoung/2016/11/22/a-case-for-christian-magnanimity/

^[3] New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. 1995 (Pr 19:11). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

The Task - November 20, 2016 sermon

By Pastor Greg

There was a man who wanted to build a bar in town. A church that was next door firmly opposed it, but the construction of the bar went on. Just before it was finished, lightning struck the bar, and it burned to the ground.  The church gloated and credited the Lord. The bar owner then sued the church, claiming that the congregation’s prayers had cost him his building.  The church leaders denied any responsibility. The case went to court, and the local judge had no idea how to rule on the matter.  He said he had a bar owner who believed in the power of prayer and a church that did not!

My guess is that the church didn’t really pray all that much anyway.  Sure, they grumbled, but that’s not praying.  It’s the same with loving Jesus.  A lot of people say they do, but their actions sure don’t demonstrate that fact.  I think a lot of people like Jesus, but they don’t seem to love Him.  If they did, they would obey His commandments.

Hey, before you start throwing rotten tomatoes, those are not my words.  Jesus said this Himself.

²¹ Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.  ²² Judas (not Judas Iscariot, but the other disciple with that name) said to him, “Lord, why are you going to reveal yourself only to us and not to the world at large?”

²³ Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them. ²⁴ Anyone who doesn’t love me will not obey me. And remember, my words are not my own. What I am telling you is from the Father who sent me. ²⁵ I am telling you these things now while I am still with you. ²⁶ But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.

²⁷ “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. ²⁸ Remember what I told you: I am going away, but I will come back to you again. If you really loved me, you would be happy that I am going to the Father, who is greater than I am. ²⁹ I have told you these things before they happen so that when they do happen, you will believe. ^[1]

Judas raises a fascinating question here.  Why would Jesus only reveal Himself to those who love Him (Verse 21)?  Why didn’t He walk back into the Temple Sunday morning and show Himself to those who had Him crucified?  The question Judas asked surrounded the issue of reaching the lost (“why not the world” in verse 22).  “What has happened that you will only reveal Yourself to us,” Judas asks.  A legitimate question since Jesus had previously been revealing Himself to those in Israel.  Something had changed, and if Jesus wasn’t going to show Himself to the world, then who was?

Look closely at how Jesus responds to this question.  He says those who love Him obey His commandments (verse 21).  They do what He says (verse 23).  However, those who don’t love Him do not obey Him (verse 24).  In other words, Jesus revealed Himself to those who were willing to obey His commands.  

And what are those commands?

Before you answer that question, let me remind you that it is not obedience to the Lords commands that leads us to the cross.  That is accomplished through conviction of sin.  Obedience to His commands, on the other hand, causes us to focus inward, transforming our lives into one that mirrors Jesus.  We live differently than the world; we love our neighbors and pray for those who persecute us.  We become honest, patient, peaceful.  However, obedience to the Lords commands is also focused outward, and this is where Judas’ question fits in.  If Jesus only reveals Himself to those who love Him, how then will the other people in this world come to know Him?  That’s the question Jesus answers here.

A Christian’s life is to be marked with responsibility and duty.  We should be telling and helping and loving and comforting those still living in darkness – which is exactly what Jesus told the apostles to do; go and tell and teach into the ends of the earth (Matthew 28:19-20).  You and I are to do the same.

Would it have been easier if Jesus had revealed Himself to the world?  Probably.  But that is not part of His plan.  According to His plan, He is in Heaven preparing a place for us and praying for us.  We are left with the task of teaching and telling.  It’s what the Master has commanded us to be doing.  Our job, as the New Testament Church, is to continue the work Jesus began while He was on earth.  And, we are given the Spirit to teach us and instruct us in this task.

Now, I know I preach about this quite often, but I simply cannot emphasize this enough.  The Church in America is suffering from an epidemic.  Countless congregations are filled with consumers, not disciples.  Far too many people are spectators, not laborers.  Based on the level of commitment displayed by many Christians, it seems they merely like Jesus.  Just too many Christians act like they don’t care if someone will spend eternity in Hell.  And with that kind of attitude, it sure doesn’t seem like they love Jesus.

I don’t know if any of this applies to you.  That’s between you and Jesus.  But if you and I were really serious about loving Jesus, we would be inviting anyone to come and meet Jesus.  That’s the point here.  Jesus expects something from us.  He expects us to continue the work He first began.  But it sure seems many Christians don’t.  Did you know that in successful, growing Churches it takes 20 people one year to reach a person for the Lord?[2]  And that’s the “good” statistic.

I don’t know if it’s harder today to reach the lost or if the Church just doesn’t really care.  I don’t know that answer.  But I do know that Jesus revealed Himself to you and me for an important reason, and that is so we might tell others about His death and resurrection, and about His offer of eternal life.  And if we truly love our Lord, we will obey His commands.

---

^[1] Tyndale House Publishers. (2007). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (3rd ed.) (Jn 14:22–29). Carol Stream, IL

[2] Breakout Churches by Thom Rainer © 2005, Zondervan

Running Our Race - November 13, 2016 sermon

By Pastor Greg

I spent lots of time during high school and college running track and cross country.  I know it does not look like I am in shape today, but a kindergarten teacher once told me that “round” is a shape, so …

Something I learned in college is that it takes discipline to push yourself and do your best, not simply win a race.  I had to find out how to run my race, not someone else’s.  That may sound easy, but it is harder than you might imagine.  It takes much discipline not to turn your head and look how close the other runners are.  You do not run your race by simply running faster than everyone else, but this is how I had been running in high school; I was content to simply finish first.  My college coach taught me that if I would stop doing certain things, I could run an even faster race, not just finish first.  However, I would need to let go of some bad habits – like turning my head to look behind me.

I know some Christians who do the same thing.  Some churches do this as well.  They feel successful as Christians because they are not nearly as bad as the corrupt people in this world.  They turn their heads this way and that, looking at the world, and figure they are okay because they are not as bad as most people.

This is the way most of us live.  We look at the world and measure our success as Christians against the sinfulness of this world.  We do not murder.  We do not worship sticks and stones and call them gods.  We have a decent work ethic, we do not cheat, we are not nearly as greedy as most people, and most of all, we don’t hate God.  But …

We are filled with envy.  We can be deceitful at times.  We certainly gossip about others.  Maybe we are not as “good” as we thought (See Romans 1:20-32).  I guess it just depends on who or what we use as our standard.

Too many of us succumb to Self-justification – the tendency to measure our morality against the wicked people in this world.  Since we do not commit their kind of sins, we feel we are okay because our morality is one or two steps better than the rest of the world (compare Luke 18:11).  However, that is not running our race.  That is merely being a little better than the world.

Here's the problem with that.

50 years ago, our society was a lot different.  As I look back at life 50 years ago, I am shocked how much things have changed.  Many sins are now accepted, even tolerated.  Some are celebrated!  And as the holiness of our world continues to decline, Christian morality is declining as well, just a step or two behind.  We look at the world’s standard of morality and feel that since we are not “that” bad, we are okay.  However, by running their race, our Christian morality has spiraled down as well.

Let me put it another way.

If a young runner were to enter a race with me today, would you say they ran a successful race just because they finished two or three steps ahead of me?  Of course not.  It is the same with a Church.  If a church is only slightly better than the world, is that Church living up to its potential?  Again, the answer is no.  However, if that is how a Christian or a Church measures success, then bit by bit, and sin by sin, they will slowly decline from the point they first began until they reach a crawl.

This is what happens when we pursue a holiness that is just a little bit better than the world’s – when we look around to justify ourselves rather than looking up.  Remember, Jesus did not command us to be better than the world; He told us to be perfect o(Matthew 5:48), and that will not happen by fixing our eyes on the world.

The author of Hebrews encourages us to lay aside the things which keep us from running our race – notably, the sin that creeps into our lives (Hebrews 12:1). To overcome this, we must stop drifting away with the world.  We need to fix our eyes on something, or someone, else.

 The Church must not lose sight of who we are and "whose" we are.  If we are to survive for another 50 years, we must fix our eyes on Jesus.  Only then will we be running the race set before us.

The Advocate - November 6, 2016 sermon

By Pastor Greg

When I travel, occasionally I will meet someone who asks what I do for a living.  If I tell them I am a Pastor, people usually find an excuse to walk away.  Oh, every now and then, a person will ask a question about God, but for the most part, people are uncomfortable when they learn of my calling.  Maybe they’re worried about getting struck by lightning or something.  I don’t know. 

Maybe I should try this guy’s suggestion.  Watch this …

When I watch that video, I am reminded of just how much the Church influences the world today.  And it’s sometimes hard to believe the whole thing started through a rag-tag group of Jewish apostles.  But then again, these apostles walked with Jesus.  They had met the Man.

Sometimes I think the task Jesus gave us if far too hard.  He wants us to make disciples over all the earth (Matthew 28:19), but He’s not here to help.  He is in Heaven preparing a place for us (John 14:2).  I think evangelism would be a whole lot easier if He was here. “Guys, let me introduce you to Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  Go ahead Jesus, show them a miracle so they will believe.”

I can’t quite fathom this; Jesus wants me, little old imperfect me, to reach the world with His message of salvation.  Does He know what He is asking?  I’m supposed to convince the world that they are sinners in need of a Savior, and that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah?  Why would they believe someone like me?

Have you ever felt this way?

I’m not sure if these thoughts occurred to the apostles, but I’m sure they would, eventually … especially once Jesus ascends to Heaven.  However, to prepare them for that moment, Jesus makes them a promise.  In John 14:12 He says the number of people they reach will be even greater than what they have seen up to this point (just consider the description of the Church mentioned in that video).  A day is coming, says Jesus, when these apostles will be leading people to eternal life even though He is not around. And this will happen all because of the Advocate.

¹⁶ And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. ¹⁷ He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. ¹⁸ No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you. ¹⁹ Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Since I live, you also will live ^[1] (John 14:16-18).

Once He ascends to Heaven, Jesus says He would send the Holy Spirit, suggesting that He, the Spirit, would work on their behalf … which He did.  Just as Jesus promised in verse 17 (He is among you now, later He will be in you), the Holy Spirit filled the apostles 10 days after Jesus ascended to Heaven.  And what this group of men and women accomplished has turned the world upside down (or right side up).  This is what the Spirit can do.  Dwelling inside the heart of a Christian, the Spirit works in that person and through that person … changing them and changing the world.

The word advocate reminds us of someone who pleads a case ... which the Spirit does.  He is our advocate before God.  The Spirit identifies us as those ransomed by Christ (Ephesians 1:14).  But the Greek word parakletos also means counselor, which is the role Jesus give the Spirit in John 14:26.  Here, the Holy Spirit teaches and instructs.  In 1 Corinthians 2:12 Paul suggests that it is the Holy Spirit who helps us understand spiritual things.  He (the Spirit) helps us understand God’s work and God’s will.  The Spirit is who helps us understand God’s Word (the Bible).  These are just a few of the things the Spirit does in us.  Yet that is only part of what the Spirit does.  He also works through us.

The Church described in that video is quite accurate.  The Church has a far deeper influence in this world than most people realize.  This world has been changed because the Spirit worked through men and women and children who became the hands, feet, arms, and mouth of God.  The world is changed when Christians become the instrument through which the Spirit works.

It is the Holy Spirit that enables us do to the work of the Church.  He gives each believer a special gift, and it is these gifts that help the Church reach the people of this world with the message of salvation.  In Ephesians 4:11 Paul says that leaders gifted by the Spirit have a responsibility to, “equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.”  In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul compares the many different gifts of the Spirit as a body.  A human body has many different parts, and each part has a unique function.  It is the same with the Church.  Not everyone has the same gift, but they were given by the same Spirit.  This is what it means to be instructed by the Spirit.  He brings different people together – people with different gifts and abilities – to work together as a church.

I’ll be honest, there are a lot of days I don’t feel adequate to do the work God has placed before me.  I suspect many of you feel the same.  How are we supposed to do Kingdom work when we are less than perfect ourselves?  I mean, it’s not like we are making donuts here.  We are dealing with matters of eternity!  What we are dealing with is the eternal soul of those living around us.  What if we mess up?  What if we say the wrong thing?  What if we make the wrong decision?  How are we supposed to change the world when it seems everything is working against us?

John the Apostle says we are like little children living in a dangerous world.  Fragile.  Innocent.  Unaware of all the dangers.  Yet … he suggests that despite this, we “have overcome [those dangers]; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).  And just who is in us?  The Holy Spirit, of course.  We, who are believers in Jesus, have been given an incredible gift.  God has poured Himself into us.  He, the Spirit, enables us to live a life that is holy and set apart (that’s what “sanctification” means).  The spirit enables us to honor God with our life.  The Spirit enables us to love as we should.  The Spirit helps us understand spiritual things.  The Spirit leads us into all truth.  The Spirit works in us and through us.  So don’t be discouraged.  Don’t lose heart, “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him” (Philippians 2:13).

I keep thinking that it takes dynamic people with magnetic personalities to make a difference for Jesus in this world.  I keep thinking that I don’t measure up.  But then I remember that what we see of the church in the world today happened all because people who don’t measure up allowed the Spirit to do great things through them.  You and I cannot change the world.  But the Spirit of God can.  We just need to let Him work in us and through us.  That’s what will change our world.

---

^[1] Tyndale House Publishers. (2007). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (3rd ed.) (Jn 14:16–19). Carol Stream, IL.

The Way - October 30, 2016 sermon

By Pastor Greg

Before we begin, watch this video, and then we will talk.
You and I are the man in the hole.  We are trapped by sin.  Death holds us captive.  Most of humanity understands this (except the fool who says “there is no God” – Psalm 14:1).  Therefore, most people seek a religion that will help them make it through life and assist them in discovering the way to heaven.  I mean, think about most of the religions in this world.  Don’t they all offer a way to heaven (or Nirvana, as some call it)?  Well, we could add Christianity to the list as well.  Open your Bible to John chapter 14 and look at what Jesus claims.

At the end of the Last Supper, Jesus pulls back the curtain of death and reveals a momentary glimpse of life beyond the grave.  He talks about Heaven, the place where He would soon be going.  He even insists that the Apostles know how to get there.  ⁴ “And you know the way where I am going,” He says.  Thankfully, our beloved Thomas asks the question on all our hearts.  ⁵ Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?”  In other words, Thomas asks, “How do we get to Heaven?  How do we end up in the Father’s House, especially if we do not know the way?”

You know, Thomas asks a very odd question here, especially since he was Jewish.  From his childhood, Thomas would have been instructed that all Jews go to Heaven.  The Teachers of the Law would have taught him to follow God’s commands so God would not reject him.  That is why the Pharisee’s were so strict with the Law.  They did not want to give God an excuse for excluding them from Heaven.  So something must have happened during his time with Jesus that dismantled this understanding – this way to heaven – causing Thomas to question his beliefs.  “At one point, I thought I knew the way to heaven,” he says, “but now I am not so sure.”

As Thomas (and perhaps you and I) wrestled with the question about the way to heaven, Jesus gives an answer that has rankled people for nearly 2,000 years.  Jesus answers the question by saying, “⁶ I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.  ⁷ “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.”

Wow.  Jesus says that He is the way.  If a person wants to get to Heaven, they must go through Him.  If a person wants to know God, they must know Him. The way to salvation is through Him.  There is no other way. [Later, Peter will insist that “There is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)]

People have called this statement snobbish, bigoted, and narrow-minded.  In our world, there is no room for a single choice.  People want options.  People see snippets of truth in other religions and conclude they are just as valid.  However, when someone claims there are many paths to Heaven, they claim Jesus is a liar.  Either what He said here is the truth, or it is a lie.  There is no gray area.

Either Jesus lied, or He was a lunatic.  Or He told the truth.  And as we are processing our answer on this, He suggests we evaluate His claim based on what He said and what He did (verse 11).   ⁸ Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.”  ⁹ Jesus said to him, “Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip?  He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?  ¹⁰ “Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me?  The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works.  ¹¹ “Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves” (John 14:4-11).

So, what makes the claims of Jesus different than all the other religions in this world?  Why can Christians confidently claim that Jesus is The Way?  Consider what Jesus did to prove the truth of His words.  Think about the signs and wonders.  No other person who walked the face of this earth gave the kind of proof Jesus did.  The blind could see.  The lame could walk.  Demons were driven out of people.  A huge crowd was fed.  And all of this was done in front of many people, not in secret.  Jesus taught among the people.  His “enlightenment” did not happen in a secret cave.  He did not come to the people and say “An angel gave me these clay tablets.”  Jesus spoke to the crowds and said: “I say to you” (compare Matthew 5:28).  Among all the religious leaders in this world (Confucius, Mohammad, Buddha, Abraham, Joseph Smith, Krishna, etc.), only Jesus died in our place.  He alone rose from the grave (seen by many witnesses).  He is the only religious figure to ascend to Heaven (again, in front of many witnesses).  If you think there are many ways to heaven, then consider this: Every other religion in the world will tell you how to work your way to Heaven.  They merely point the way “out of the hole.”  However, Jesus is the only One to say “I am the way.”  Among all the religious leaders in this world, only Jesus offered His life as a ransom.  And that is what makes His claim so unique.

The point Jesus makes here is that rather than sitting in Heaven waiting for us to work our way there, God sends Jesus to rescue those who want to get out of the hole.  Instead of just pointing out our problem, Jesus offers to solve our problem – our problem of sin and death.  Jesus did not pull back the curtain and tell us to work our way to the Father’s House.  He said, “I will come and get you” (John 14:3).

The way to get where Jesus is going (verse 4) is to trust in Him.  We place all our hope in Jesus.  We place our life in His hands.  We do not get to the Father’s House by being good or by doing more good things than bad things.  We do not end up in the Father’s House because we kill enough unbelievers.  We are not rewarded Heaven because we convert a sufficient number of people.  Entrance to Heaven is not gained by meditation or holy thoughts.  The way is through faith in the promises of Jesus.

“Believe in God, believe also in Me,” says the Lord (John 14:1).  “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).  Yes, “God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver. ¹⁹ It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God” (1 Peter 1:18-19).

And I can’t think of any other religious figure who can make that claim.  That is why Jesus is The Way.