04.10.2011 Extreme Makeover Hope Edition, P2

04.10.2011 Grace Summit Sermon - Extreme Makeover- Hope Edition, p2 from Grace Summit on Vimeo.

04.10.2011 Grace Summit Worship from Grace Summit on Vimeo.

FYI: The Sermon audio is unplugged, ambient sound until after the opening prayer - so be a little patient!

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I thank You that You are present with us – You are the one we look to in life – we need You. We know that we have a tremendous HOPE waiting for us – that is secure because of what Jesus did on the cross – and we can know for certain that we will enter a new world with You and be with You for all eternity. Someday this world will be gone – and we look forward to that day – help us, in light of that, to live this day in a way that brings honor to You. This is our attempt – and we need Your grace to accomplish that.
We are offering this series – Help and Hope in uncertain times. If you’ve watched the news – these are some uncertain times. There is political uncertainty – and all that is going on in the Middle East – there is economic uncertainty – unemployment… Japan – nuclear meltdown. And if you are watching this stuff – it can create anxiety, fear, and uncertainty.
Matt. 5: 14 "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 "Nor do [men] light a lamp, and put it under the peck-measure, but on the lampstand; and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
We are a town built on a hill! We, as Christians – as a church, as a Christian community – we are looked at, seen, scrutinized, observed by the world – always. Not to put pressure on you –
I don’t know if I have ever mentioned this here before… I am an Ohio State fan (raucous laughter). I saw a video of a couple of Christian ex-Buckeye football players who are now in the NFL (Laurinitis and Jenkins) - speaking to an FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) group or Campus Crusade group - When you proclaim to be a Christian in the NFL, everyone is watching you to see if you will make a mistake. Once it gets out at your job that you are a Christian – people will look at you to see if it is real.
A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.
Our approach and response is going to be scrutinized – and we need to be careful not to jump in with it all. There is a new way to approach life – that is what Jesus is talking about. Over and over, Jesus said, Here is how the world does it – here is how you are to do it. Will you live that way, step up, and follow me? He gives a positive solution at the very end:
5:16 "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
The Solution – good deeds – good works – to do good – that is what we want people to see! When people look at our lives, we want them to see good being done.
Eph. 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, [it is] the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, that no one should boast.
How does someone come to Christ? By grace, through faith. Christ has done all the work for us – we get that – it is clear in the Bible. But what He says next – we want to get our tickets punched to another world – but that is not what he says - 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
The purpose of your salvation – yes, to be with God for all eternity – that is our hope – but then he turns the corner – with that as your hope – in this world, do good! You are a creation created in Christ to do good works – God’s handiwork – like an architect – architects are artistic type people – they like to design buildings that are fancy and look nice – God has designed you – He has done this amazing artwork in us – You are God’s MASTERPIECE – created to do good works – prepared in advance. Think about that – When God created you – shaped you – molded you – it is God’s creation in you for the work that He has prepared you to do from this point on.
He has had a work for you to do – and He HAS a work for you – and everything He does is to accomplish that work in you. You have important things to accomplish yet.
It is easy sometimes to say that our better days our behind us – but that is never true when it comes to God’s work in our lives.
Last week, we looked at the general aspect of doing good – but I’d like to get a little more specific – to get a better handle on this.
I am going to point out some people in our church – if I embarrass you – I’ll never do it again. Just lying.
Joe and Gigi’s back yard is a garden – and they don’t have as much time – and if you would like a section of that garden – you can do that – and we may give some of its produce to those in need. That is a work of generosity. That is one way we do this work – Works of generosity – we should always be involved in works of generosity – it is not based on your bank account, but on your heart. Works of generosity spring from a heart that longs to give to others. I tis not based on what you have or don’t have – but your willingness – no matter how small it will be. Hebrews says that He will remember when you gave a cup of water to someone. And for us to be a light – to be different – are you doing any kind of works of generosity. He gave everything – He gave His son – He gave His life. And God calls us in this world – as economic times get crunched, people tend to become less and less generous. As a church – we rarely say these things – we are a small church – and our offerings are smaller – but proportionately – we are very generous – we give 550 per month to missions. $3500 a year in assistance to those in need. You are all very generous. This church is involved in many works of generosity. As individuals it is true also.
Second – Bob Bizub – Got upholstery cleaner – you probably didn’t even notice – and cleaned all these chairs. He hates cleaning these chairs – but he does this work of service – and when we do that- it gives hope to the world around us. We are blessed because we have so many people doing works of service.
I challenge you – are your best ministry days ahead of you or behind you? I challenge you – they are ahead of you! You might think you have done your part, but He wants our parts to grow in service to Him.
Works of community – hospitality – making people feel welcome – drawing people in to the church and our lives – through friendship – or someone walking into the church for the first time – welcoming. There are no strangers in the church of God, in the community of faith. It is something we must step up to – you have been prepared to do that - 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Works of care – how important it is to listen to someone who is struggling – to take the time to care. To listen. When James says – good and undefiled religion – visit widows and orphans – that is what faith looks like – taking the time to get involved and care for people who need care – to grieve with someone who is grieving – to rejoice with someone who is rejoicing. To look at life – to be here for others. Now – one thing that is interesting – we often think them as individualistic – but when the Bible talks about things- it is often about a community – written to groups of people – Paul, James – etc – expecting that they will take action as a community. You are the light of the world – yes, individually, but also as a community. Your testimony and witness is directly tied to the greater community of faith – and sometimes that is scary. It is a reality – people connect. Remember back in the 80s when all those televangelists were having problems – I remember being on an airplane – what do you do? I am an evangelical pastor – do you know what that means – and the guy replied – those are the guys who sleep with other people’s wives. I am not saying it is fair – but we have to live this life together.
Col. 3: 12 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Clothe yourselves – have you watched What Not to Wear – my wife gets me watching this – and now I really like it. These fashion consultants come in and get rid of all their bad clothes – and I think it is all a setup. But the consultants are almost like psychologists – these peoples’ self-esteem is so low – and then they get the royal treatment – and it transforms them as a person –
Putting on those clothes, and getting the makeup and hair done – it transforms them – and Paul is telling us to clothe ourselves in such a way as to be transformed. Compassion is empathy, pity – the understanding of what someone is going through.
Jesus felt compassion – because they were like sheep without a shepherd – Compassion comes from looking at a person and knowing what they are going through! DO we allow them to come into our hearts to understand their pain? We have enough pain! But that is compassion. You don’t have compassion until that pain begins to hurt inside of you.
Kindness – gracious sensitivity to others triggered by a genuine care for their feelings and concerns.
Humility – setting aside ambition and selfish desires to serve others without the need of approval or recognition – too often, we need recognition.
Gentleness – making allowance for others’ weaknesses
Patience – a willingness to endure wrong without exacting revenge.
As we are lights in this world – offering help and hope in uncertain times – looking at those characteristics – how much do you think people in the world are experiencing these things – I don’t think it is happening – it is not their experience – it is not how they are treated by others – but it is how we are to do it. It is standard – every relationship – every avenue of life – the public – the private – the family – the church. People enter and find a community that is this way – and it is light and darkness! It is like walking into a bright light after spending the week in a dark world – that is why we need to be this way. Twin passage – in Ephesians:
Eph. 4: 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Those words – bitterness – internal resentment – wounds – injuries that they retain and fester and it boils over to rage and anger – and that is what we see all around us. Rage and anger spilling out on the airwaves – How much is compassion and kindness? Very little!
He closes off both passages –with these words
Eph 4:32b, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Col. 3:12 forgive as the lord forgave you.
In this life – in the community of faith – and I’ve made this promise before – if you come to this church long enough – you will be offended – it is just a reality – it will happen because we live in a fallen world – and there is only one solution to that – FORGIVENESS – nothing else works. There are two words for forgiveness – forgive us our debts… and this one in Colossians and Ephesians – it speaks of a ruler and a king graciously offering favor to those who have debts that couldn’t be paid. The forgiveness comes from the person in power releasing the person under this control – from what they owe – whatever it is that they owe.
When Jesus spoke to Simon – and the woman came into the party and was anointing his feet with oil – Jesus told the story about two people who owe a king money – one 50 and another 50000 dollars – and he forgave both of them. That is what this is like.
When we are offended – do you know what bitterness and resentment do? It is us trying to control the other person – we use these to exercise power or control over another person – but the reality is – when you hold to it – it controls YOU! That exercises authority and power over YOU – but this is saying – when you have been offended – you have the authority – the power – and it tells you to look down with pity on this person and to release them of the debt. Forgive as Christ forgave you! How did Christ forgive you? You could never pay your debt – do you expect the person who offended you to pay the debt? To forgive as Christ forgave you is to forgive that wrong. Let’s pray.