SERMON: CHRIST WAS LOVE

6 December 2015

I --  Introduction

            -- turn in Bibles to 1 John 3:16-24

1 John 3:16-24 (NIV)

16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.

17 If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?

18 Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.

19 This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence

20 whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.

21 Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God

22 and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him.

23 And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.

24 Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.

            -- as we join together this morning to celebrate this second Sunday of Advent, I wanted to share with you a story by Carol Chand that has been very popular over the past several years and that I think really illustrates the text before us this morning

            -- "Each December, I vowed to make Christmas a calm and peaceful experience -- I had cut back on nonessential obligations - extensive card writing, endless baking, decorating, and even overspending -- Yet still, I found myself exhausted, unable to appreciate the precious family moments, and of course, the true meaning of Christmas

            -- My son, Nicholas, was in kindergarten that year -- It was an exciting season for a six year old -- For weeks, he'd been memorizing songs for his school's "Winter Pageant --" I didn't have the heart to tell him I'd be working the night of the production -- Unwilling to miss his shining moment, I spoke with his teacher -- She assured me there [would] be a dress rehearsal the morning of the presentation -- All parents unable to attend that evening were welcome to come then -- Fortunately, Nicholas seemed happy with the compromise

            -- So, the morning of the dress rehearsal, I filed in ten minutes early, found a spot on the cafeteria floor and sat down -- Around the room, I saw several other parents quietly scampering to their seats -- As I waited, the students were led into the room -- Each class, accompanied by their teacher, sat cross-legged on the floor -- Then, each group, one by one, rose to perform their song

            -- Because the public school system had long stopped referring to the holiday as "Christmas," I didn't expect anything other than fun, commercial entertainment - songs of reindeer, Santa Claus, snowflakes and good cheer -- So, when my son's class rose to sing, "Christmas Love," I was slightly taken aback by its bold title -- Nicholas was aglow, as were all of his classmates, adorned in fuzzy mittens, red sweaters, and bright snowcaps upon their heads

            -- Those in the front row- center stage - held up large letters, one by one, to spell out the title of the song -- As the class would sing "C is for Christmas," a child would hold up the letter C -- Then, "H is for Happy," and on and on, until each child holding up his portion had presented the complete message, "Christmas Love"

            -- The performance was going smoothly, until suddenly, we noticed her; a small, quiet, girl in the front row holding the letter "M" upside down - totally unaware her letter "M" appeared as a "W"

            -- The audience of 1st through 6th graders snickered at this little one's mistake -- But she had no idea they were laughing at her, so she stood tall, proudly holding her "W" -- Although many teachers tried to shush the children, the laughter continued until the last letter was raised, and we all saw it together -- A hush came over the audience and eyes began to widen 

            -- In that instant, we understood the reason we were there, why we celebrated the holiday in the first place, why even in the chaos, there was a purpose for our festivities -- For when the last letter was held high, the message read loud and clear: "CHRISTWAS LOVE" -- And, I believe, He still is."¹

            -- more than anything else, this was the message of John in this epistle to his followers -- Christ was love -- He was the physical representation of the Father and in Him and through Him we saw God's love lived out in this world for us

            -- in fact, in two occasions in this letter, John boldly states that not only was Christ the epitomy of the Father's love when He was here, but "God is Love" -- in other words, God 's love is like all of

His attributes -- it is never-ending -- it was and is and will be -- His love has no end and is the same yesterday, today, and forever -- God is the originator and the perfecter of love

            -- when we say that God is love, we are describing His whole being, for it is only because of His love that we know and experience all of His other attributes -- His goodness -- His mercy -- His grace -- His majesty -- His glory -- His omnipotence -- His omnipresence -- His all

            -- love is the reason God created us -- love is the reason God sent Jesus to us -- and it is only because of love that we share in His eternal glory and salvation -- as John makes so clear in this epistle, it is only when we are living in Christ do we truly recognize and experience and share in this love that comes from God

            -- let's look back at this passage again and see what we can learn from John's letter to his followers

II.  Scripture Lesson (1 John 3:16-24)

            -- look back at verse 16

1 John 3:16 (NIV)

16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.

            -- as I said, the overall message of 1 John is love -- before we begin, it's important to understand what kind of love John is talking about here -- the word for love he is using here is "agape" love -- unconditional love -- he's talking about the perfect love of God that was expressed through Jesus and, as we'll see as we go on in this passage, the perfect love that we should be expressing towards others

            -- so, how do we know what love is? -- our culture is obsessed with the concept of "love" -- it's in our songs -- it's in our movies -- it's on our lips daily -- but do we truly know what love is? -- are we truly experiencing the agape love of Christ or are we settling for a cheap, worldly imitation? -- how do we know?

            -- the word "know" that John uses here is the Greek word "ginosko" -- it literally means "knowledge by experience" -- and John chose that word deliberately -- he didn't use the more common word "eido" here, which means "knowledge by understanding"

            -- in other words, John is saying that to know what love is -- to know agape love -- you have to experience it -- you have to feel it

            -- John knew the agape love of Christ -- he had seen that love expressed in the eyes of Jesus as He looked with compassion on the leper that He was reaching out to heal -- John had felt that love pouring from Jesus as the water poured from the basin in the upper room and Jesus started washing his feet -- and John had experienced the perfect and unconditional love of Christ as Jesus looked down on him from the cross and expressed with His eyes, "I'm doing this for you"

            -- John knew what love was -- and so he's trying to express that to his readers so that they, too, might truly know the extent of God's love and share that love with others -- to know love, you have to experience it -- to know love, you have to live it -- you can't just read about it in a book -- it has to be something real in your life -- to know agape love in this way, you have to show it yourself

            -- when John says "this is how we know what love is" he is saying, "This is love with feet -- this is love with skin on -- this isn't just loving with your head -- this is real love -- and to know this love you must first have experienced God's agape love through Christ"

            -- so, in other words, the love that we proclaim and are obsessed with in our culture only reflects the love of Christ in as far as we have experienced that love in our own hearts -- to truly love you must have been loved -- to truly love you must know Jesus

            -- John says, "this is how we know what love is -- Jesus Christ laid down His life for us -- and we should lay down our lives for others"

            -- what does it mean to lay down your life for another? -- what does John mean when he says that Jesus laid down His life for us?

            -- when we read these words, we are immediately drawn to the cross -- but that's not all that John means here -- when we read these words, we should also be drawn to the manger

            -- for, you see, Jesus did not just lay down His life for us on the cross -- He laid down His life by willingly giving up His glory in Heaven and humbling Himself and becoming a man so that we might receive eternal life through Him

            -- at this time of the year, we tend to forget who the baby in the manger was -- this was not just another baby -- this was not just the promised Messiah -- this was the Lord God Almighty -- the maker of heaven and earth -- El Shaddai -- the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords

            -- one of my most favorite Christmas songs is "Mary, Did You Know," because it reminds us of just who Jesus was -- of what He gave up to be born in a manger -- of what He gave up to walk on this world for 33 years all so that we might have eternal life

            -- let me share with you a few of the lyrics:

            -- "Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy would one day walk on water? -- Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy would save our sons and daughters? -- Did you know that your Baby Boy has come to make you new? -- That this Child that you delivered will soon deliver you?

            -- "Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy will give sight to a blind man? -- Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy will calm the storm with His hand? -- Did you know that your Baby Boy has walked where angels trod and that when you kiss your little Baby you kissed the face of God?

            -- Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy is Lord of all creation? -- Mary, did you know

that your Baby Boy would one day rule the nations? -- Did you know that your Baby Boy is heaven's perfect Lamb and that the sleeping Child you're holding is the Great, I Am."

            -- when John says here that Jesus laid down His life for us, he certainly is referring to the cross -- but we can never forget what else Christ gave up for us -- we can never forget that He laid down His glory and His honor and His power and His majesty for us -- to be born at Christmas -- not in a temple or in a palace -- but in the humblest of circumstances -- in a manger in a stable -- surrounded by animals -- but celebrated by the universe

            -- does that help you understand what John means when he then goes on to tell us that we are to lay down our lives for our brothers? -- John isn't calling us all to martyrdom -- he isn't saying that we should all die for those around us -- that's not what he means here

            -- to lay down our lives for our brothers means that we give ourselves up just as Jesus gave Himself up for the world -- as John the Baptist put it, we decrease so that Christ might increase -- we willingly put aside our wants and our wishes and our desires -- we sacrifice ourselves, so that others might experience agape love through us

            -- verse 17

1 John 3:17-18 (NIV)

17 If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?

18 Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.

            -- how wonderful is it that at this time of the year, more than other, we see Christ's agape love expressed in this way -- we see people laying down their lives and sacrificing for their brothers

            -- what other time of the year do you know that people are willing to give up their hard-earned cash to buy presents for people they don't even know -- for families in need? -- what other time of the year do you know that people are willing to give up their time and their comfort to share the love of Jesus with those who are less fortunate, whether it's volunteering in the local food bank or ringing a bell for the Salvation Army or just giving out food and water and gifts to those in need?

            -- John says this is how we should love -- this is how we should live -- not with words or tongue but with actions and in truth

            -- what good is it for us to be biblically correct? -- to know in our heads the truth of God -- to know in our hearts the love of God -- and to do nothing with it

            -- if Christianity is just about coming to church on Sunday and learning about God, it is an utter and total failure -- that is not what Christianity should be about -- that is not the message of the cross -- and that is not the message of the manger

            -- before Nike ever came up with the slogan, "Just do it," -- John was using it here -- when it comes to love -- to God's perfect, unconditional, agape love, John says, "Just do it" -- love not with word and tongue -- but love with your hands and your feet -- love with your life -- love by laying down your life for another

            -- Christmas is about love -- Christ is about love -- and more than anything else, that is what we are supposed to be doing

            -- skip down to verse 23 and let's end there

1 John 3:23-24 (NIV)

23 And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.

24 Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.

            -- when Jesus was here, He fulfilled the law of Moses -- He fulfilled every aspect of it through His life and through His death on the cross -- the law of Moses is gone -- it is no more --the old covenant that was experienced through the Old Testament law and the sacrificial system has been replaced by a new and better covenant through the blood of Christ

            -- and, as we are so fond of saying in our modern, New Testament churches, we don't live by law -- we live by grace

            -- and that is true, for we are not bound by the law of Moses any longer -- but that does not mean that we are not bound by another law

            -- Christ gave us two laws -- two commands -- that we must follow if we are to be part of His kingdom

            -- first, we are to believe in Him -- not just head knowledge belief -- but heart belief -- we must know that we know -- we must put our faith and our trust in the fact that Jesus was and is God and that He died on the cross to pay the penalty for all our sins -- and that if we trust and believe in Him we are forgiven -- that if we trust and believe in Him we have eternal life with the Father -- that if we trust and believe in Him we are new creations -- made pure and holy and spotless through His death on the cross

            -- the second command is just as important -- Jesus told us to love one another -- to lay down our lives for our brothers -- to show them His agape love with our hands and our feet and our mouth and our heart

            -- Jesus said that the world would know us -- not because of the name on our church sign -- not because our name was written on a church roll -- not because we had a little Jesus fish on the back of our car -- Jesus said that the world would know us because of our love

III.  Closing

            -- let me close by asking you -- how's your love life? -- are you loving your neighbor as yourself? -- are you loving one another as Christ commanded? -- are you laying down your life for another?

            -- you know, we tend to do pretty well with this at certain times during the year -- we do really well at Christmas -- we do the Angel Tree and give presents to needy children -- or we give gifts to the girls at the Methodist Home -- or we make donations to organizations that reach out to the homeless and the abused and the hurting

            -- we even do pretty good at Thanksgiving -- and we see people volunteering and serving at food banks and soup kitchens and giving out turkeys and baskets of food to others

            -- but are you really loving one another -- are you really laying down your life for another -- if this is the extent of your service -- of your sacrifice?

            -- I read one time about this woman who was surprised at church one day when this other lady, who often ignored her and snubbed her at church, came up to her before the service and gave her a warm and welcoming hug

            -- she sat there throughout the whole service wondering what had the change in this woman -- what had touched her heart and made her come up and hug her in such a loving way this Sunday

            -- well, she got her answer when the pastor closed his message by saying, "Don't forget the challenge that I issued you last week -- I want you to go out there and love somebody that you can't stand"²

            -- loving in this way is not loving as Christ -- loving out of duty or responsibility is not loving as Christ because it is not done in truth -- and loving just because it's Christmas is not loving as Christ because Christ's love never ends

            -- as you continue to prepare for Christmas this week, I want to encourage you to keep in mind the message of John in this passage and the command of Christ to us in the gospels

            -- remember to love one another -- remember to show love to one another -- not just in words and in tongue -- but with actions and truth -- and not just at Christmas -- but every moment of every day

            -- this is the message of Christmas -- this is the message of Christ -- this is the message for you

            -- let us pray

References:

1 Copyright © 2002 Candy Chand [http://www --motivateus --com/stories/win --htm]

2 Adapted from Reader's Digest, [4/02], pg. 48 -- as cited in a sermon by Steven J. Cole -- http://www.fcfonline.org/content/1/sermons/040206M.pdf

Saturday Selections

20 December 2015

Okay, so it’s not Saturday.  It’s Sunday.  But it’s been a busy week, with a funeral occupying most of my Saturday.  So today I am offering some random thoughts about life and love and the things that make life worth living.

I recently read a post by Brant Hansen about how he was changing his Facebook viewing habits.  In the past he would skim through the news about babies and engagements and family gatherings and focus on the more important items in his news feed and the funny pictures and videos that others would share.  But he had come to realize that what was truly important in life were those posts that he had been skimming across -- that life is found in the small moments, the new journeys, the sad farewells.

This was brought home to me in a very real way as we prepared for the funeral of an elderly lady yesterday.  As the family gathered to share with me stories of their mother, sister, aunt, and wife, I didn’t hear of the accomplishments of their loved one.  No one talked about her career or about the awards she had won or the achievements she had realized.  There was no mention of resumes or accolades.  Their memories, the important memories, were those of their loved one preparing Thanksgiving dinner with the family, opening presents around the tree, sharing a laugh during a vacation trip to Biloxi, just enjoying the presence of those around her.

Lives are not measured by certificates on the wall or trophies in the hall.  Lives are measured in the small things that most don’t notice.  Times when you gather with family and friends and just enjoy being together.  This weekend reinforced my belief that at the heart of Christianity stands relationship.  It’s not about what you know, but who you know, and how you live your life with God and with others.  As some have quipped, what is important is not the dates on the headstone, but the dash in the middle.  May your dash be filled with precious moments and may you leave memories of good times with your family and friends.

SERMON: DEALING WITH DISAGREEMENTS

29 November 2015

I.  Introduction

            -- turn in Bibles to 1 Peter 3:8-9

1 Peter 3:8-9 (NIV)

8 Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.

9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

           

            -- this picture is an example of a Krummholz -- Krummholz is a German word used to describe the stunted, deformed growth that occurs in areas where trees and other vegetation are constantly buffeted by strong winds

            -- you see it in the high arctic and subalpine regions of the world and you see it somewhat along the coasts where you have steady winds that blow 

            -- the constant wind shapes the trees -- they don’t grow like normal -- instead, their growth is corrupted -- they grow away from the wind -- and what you see is a tree that is deformed and stunted and less than it could be 

            -- this is a perfect example of what happens when disagreement in the church 

is handled in unbiblical and ungodly ways  -- it leads to stunted, deformed Christians and a stunted, deformed church

            -- last week we talked about the problem that we have in this country with dissatisfaction, negativity, whining, and complaining -- I pointed out that this was a symptom of selfishness expressed in a lack of gratitude for what we have -- and I encouraged you to practice mindful moments of praise and thanksgiving to God as a remedy for this dysfunction

            -- but ungratefulness is only one of the symptoms of selfishness we see in our world today -- this morning, I wanted to discuss another of the symptoms of selfishness -- dysfunctional disagreement

            -- without a doubt, our country is as divided and as polarized as I have ever seen it -- Republicans against Democrats -- liberals against conservatives -- issues concerning race relation -- gay rights -- same-sex marriage -- everyone is arguing and disagreeing with everyone else -- and this division and polarization has crept into the church

            -- I saw it on my Facebook feed a couple of weeks ago as the topic of what to do with the Syrian refugees came up -- and I was dismayed as I watched the vitriol and the attacks by Christians on each other because of differences of opinion regarding what to do about the refugees

            -- it even reached the point where an older, mature Christian friend of mine -- a guy I have worked with on Chrysalis and Kairos and the Walk to Emmaus -- a leader in his church -- verbally attacked a younger Christian to the point of saying he could not really be a Christian and wasn’t saved simply because he did not agree with my friend’s stance on the issue of the refugees  

            -- now the topic at hand is not what to do about the refugees -- I just bring this up because it was the latest example of selfishness in the church expressed as dysfunctional disagreement -- the question I wanted us to consider this morning is how to deal with disagreements in a Godly manner

            -- what I saw on Facebook was not Godly -- it was not the way Christians should respond to each other, even if we have disagreements -- and I’m not the only one who is seeing this

            -- a pastor I follow on Twitter pointed out this week that he just realized that he stops following just as many people on Twitter that he agrees with on topics as he does those he disagrees with -- he wrote, “I can tolerate disagreement -- [but] Ugliness looks bad from both sides.”

            -- as someone once quipped, “Sheep bite,” meaning that people in the church wound other Christians -- and that’s certainly true -- I’ve had my share of sheep bites, especially on some of the sermons and blog posts that I’ve put on the internet -- I’ve had some people who disagree with me respond in truly hateful and ungodly ways -- this is not the way it should be

            -- so how should we, as Christians, respond when others disagree with us? -- how can we handle criticism from others in the church?

II.  Scripture Lesson (1 Peter 3:8-9)

            -- in my devotionals this week, I ran across this passage from 1 Peter where the apostle seemed to address this very issue

            -- just to give you the context and setting of this passage, the Apostle Peter has been giving his readers instructions on how to live with each other in relationship -- he has discussed how we are to relate to our rulers and masters -- you can think bosses here -- he has talked about the marriage relationship -- about how men and women should respond to their mates and respect them, even when they disagree -- and now, in these verses, Peter sums up his thoughts with these general statements that apply to all relationships

            -- let’s look at this in the context of disagreements and see what application we might make from the Apostle’s instructions

            -- verse 8 -- “finally, all of you” -- now me let pause right there -- in the original Greek, what Peter means by “all of you” is “all of you” -- this applies to you and to me and to all of us -- I just want you to get that -- this isn’t just rules for super-Christians -- this isn’t just a passage that was applicable only to the first century church -- it is for you to heed and follow in your life

            -- 1 Peter 3:8a “Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another”  

            -- when Jews greet each other, they use the Hebrew term Shalom -- that word in the original Hebrew is interesting -- typically, we define and translate Shalom as peace -- but it means much more than that -- Shalom implies completeness, connectedness, wholeness, unity -- it means to be perfectly in relationship, one with the other -- to be at peace with them -- body, mind, and spirit -- it means you are in complete harmony and accord with the other person

            -- this is what Jesus prayed for us on the night He was betrayed -- He asked God that we might be made one as He and the Father were one -- that we might be in complete unity -- one in heart, mind, soul, and spirit -- in complete harmony in our relationships

            -- that’s what Peter is saying here -- our goal is Shalom -- our goal is to live in harmony with one another

            -- let’s go on -- look at the second part of verse 8

1 Peter 3:8b (NIV)

“be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.”

            -- love as brothers -- be compassionate -- tenderhearted -- be courteous -- be humble -- Shalom

            -- now does that mean that we will all be in lock-step like the Stepford Wives? -- in other words, for the youngsters out there, does that mean we will all look alike and think alike and have the same ideas and thoughts on everything? -- no, of course not -- which brings me to my first point 

            1.  Christians may disagree on various matters, even on matters of faith¹

            -- God made us different -- we have different beliefs -- different customs -- different traditions -- different ways of looking at this world -- I have a friend who is a strong supporter of Obama -- I am not -- we disagree, but we are still friends -- we are still Christians

            -- to be a Christian doesn’t mean you have to agree with everything another Christian says or does -- just read your Bible -- it is full of cases where Christian leaders disagreed with each other on various issues -- we can disagree on matters that are not considered orthodoxy -- and I want to make sure you understand what I mean by that

            -- “orthodoxy literally means “correct opinion” -- as Chuck Swindoll said, when we use the term orthodoxy, we are talking about those tenets of our faith that are foundational -- the central, essential doctrines of the Christian faith that distinguish it from all other religions and from cults. -- these are things that are not up for debate, but that you have to agree with to be a Christian -- Jesus’ death and resurrection -- the atonement of our sin through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross -- the Trinity: one God existing as three persons -- Father, Son, and Holy Ghost -- the Holy Spirit indwelling Christians to empower us and guide us into maturity in Christ -- these are all essential tenets of our faith that all other Christian churches agree on -- these are foundational -- we can’t argue them²

            -- but not all issues debated by Christians are matters of orthodoxy [Charles R. Swindoll, “Great Lives: Job Workbook”]

            -- what president you support is not a matter of orthodoxy -- what color the carpet is in the sanctuary -- what America should do with the Syrian refugees -- was Jesus really born on December 25th? -- these are not matters of orthodoxy, and we can disagree on them, but how we disagree is important

            -- second point -- Disagreements must be acknowledged and respected within the contexts of unity and grace -- to put it another way -- strive for Shalom -- don’t let disagreements derail your relationship with one another or with God’s church

            -- even if we disagree, we can still remain brothers and be supportive of one another’s labors for the kingdom¹

            -- as Jeff Schreve says, “Godly people can disagree without getting bitter and disagreeable.” -- think about Paul and Barnabas -- over in the Book of Acts, we read that Paul and Barnabas had a sharp disagreement about John Mark as they were getting ready for their second missionary journey -- Barnabas wanted to bring John Mark with them, but Paul said no -- John Mark had abandoned them before, and he didn’t trust him on this trip -- so Paul and Barnabas argued and eventually they split up -- Paul and Silas went one direction and Barnabas and John Mark went the other

            -- but the thing to see here is that even though “Paul and Barnabas couldn’t work together anymore, they could still love and support one another -- They were not bitter enemies” -- they still had the same goal -- to bring people to Christ -- they were still in relationship with each other -- they still loved each other -- they just disagreed on this one issue³

            -- remember Shalom -- remember the relationship -- we can disagree without being disagreeable -- which brings me to my third point

            3.  When you disagree with someone else, you don’t have to win the argument

            -- look at verse 9

1 Peter 3:9 (NIV)

9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

            -- first, you might not even want to get involved in the issue to start with -- we don’t have to take sides on every issue or be in every argument -- I didn’t get involved in the back and forth on the refugee issue -- I have my own thoughts -- but I saw the argument developing and I saw how it was becoming more and more emotional and I decided to stay out of it -- I didn’t take sides, but I did speak privately with one of the dissenters about his ungodly attack on the other Christian

            -- there are many issues I just don’t care a lot about, and I don’t allow myself to be dragged into an argument about it -- just remember this, you don’t have to be in every argument -- and sometimes, the best you thing you can do is just stay out of the fight

            -- second, even if you are in the midst of the disagreement, you don’t have to win -- one central concept of Christianity is submission -- humility -- surrender -- that doesn’t mean that you just give up and admit the other person is right -- but it means you choose to step back and not force your way just to win an argument -- you remain more concerned about the relationship and the damage an argument might cause than winning a fight over an inconsequential matter

            -- in his new book, Unoffendable, Brant Hansen makes this point -- he wrote, “Forfeiting our right to anger makes us deny ourselves, and makes us others-centered.  When we start living this way, it changes everything.”⁴

            -- along those lines, Katherine Miracle recommended, “When you have a disagreement with a loved one, I challenge you to say, ‘I love you more than this argument’” -- you don’t have to win every fight

            -- as Peter says here in verse 9, don’t repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but respond in love -- when things get heated, don’t react in ungodly ways -- sometimes the best thing you can do is surrender your self, step back, and let the Holy Spirit come into the conversation rather than demand your own way

            -- so what can we do if we find ourselves in a disagreement? -- let me close by leaving you with these suggestions:

            -- remember the end game -- the goal is Shalom -- the goal is unity and harmony -- the goal is to grow in Christ as He intended -- to not let yourself be molded by the winds of hatred and disunity and to not negatively affect others through your responses in the argument

             -- listen to others -- really listen to their arguments -- listen to their heart -- in Kairos we have a saying that applies here -- listen-listen-love-love

            -- enter into honest discussion about the ways of Christ and how to live out His Kingdom here on earth -- once again, you don’t have to win -- the other guy doesn’t have to win -- the goal is to maintain the relationship and imitate Christ and be His hands and feet in this world

            -- consider the other person’s point of view -- really consider it -- Rose Sims recommended that you write down three reasons why the other person might be right -- this might be an area where you need to grow as a Christian, and God might be using this disagreement to make you aware of a weakness or failing on your part

            -- consider whether compromise is possible -- Can you come up with a win-win rather than a winner-take-all position? -- Paul and Barnabas split up, and the kingdom grew exponentially -- if one had taken their ball and gone home, the kingdom would have been harmed

            -- and, finally, pray for the other person -- empathize with them -- put yourself in their shoes -- consider why they think the way they do -- and walk with them for a while to see if there is validity in their argument

III.  Closing

            -- In his book, “The Grace Awakening,” Chuck Swindoll tells about a missionary family who left their work because of a disagreement with other missionaries in the area -- what great matter could cause these missionaries to leave their post? -- what matter of faith would lead someone to condemn others for their actions to the point of hostility? -- let me tell you -- it was about peanut butter -- yep, peanut butter

            -- you see, the mission field where these missionaries were stationed did not have access to peanut butter - but this family arranged for a friend to send them a care package from time to time with peanut butter in it

            -- but the problem was that the other missionaries in the area didn’t have peanut butter -- and even when it was offered, they refused to take it -- they considered it a mark of true spirituality and sacrifice to be in the mission field in an area that did not have peanut butter -- and so they condemned the other family because they were giving in to their wanton desires

            -- eventually, the disagreement became so heated and so hostile that the family left the mission field and never returned

            -- what’s more important: peanut butter or saving souls for the Kingdom? -- what’s more important: being right or choosing to disagree so Shalom and harmony reign?

            -- we need to consider how we often we disagree with other Christians and, more importantly, how we respond when we do disagree -- “There can be disagreement without disrespect” -- Dean Jackson -- and “Even if we disagree about everything, we can still be kind to each other” -- Matthew L. Jacobson

            -- I’m going to leave you with this last image that I think sums up the whole point Peter is making in this passage as we close in prayer  

            -- let us pray

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¹Bob Gonzales, “When Godly Brothers Disagree: the Division of Paul and Barnabas” http://drbobgonzales.com/2011/11/14/when-godly-brothers-disagree-the-division-of-paul-and-barnabas/

2 Charles R. Swindoll, “Great Lives: Job Workbook”

3 Pastor Jeff Schreve, From His Heart Ministries, http://www.christianity.com/devotionals/from-his-heart-jeff-schreve/when-good-and-godly-people-disagree-from-his-heart-week-of-february-27.html

4 Brant Hansen, Unoffendable: How Just One Change Can Make All of Life Better

SERMON: MINDFUL MOMENTS OF PRAISE

22 November 2015

I.  Introduction

            -- turn in Bibles to Psalm 111

            -- G.K. Chesterton wrote, "When it comes to life, the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude."

            -- as someone I love and respect pointed out in a lengthy rant on Facebook this week, “I don't know why there has to be so much negativity!!! Nobody is every happy with anything, constant complaining” -- and she has a point

            -- we are a nation of whiners and grumblers -- we’re not happy unless we’re getting our way, and even if we get our way, we’re still not thankful -- we consider getting our way nothing more than our God-given right -- an entitlement -- simply because of who we are or where we live

            -- but such thinking is not scriptural and flies in the face of what God’s word teaches -- the Bible says that God is patient and long-suffering, but God’s patience is tried when His people murmur and complain over the littlest slight or perceived injustice or discomfort in their lives -- just read the Old Testament and see how God responded to the nation of Israel’s constant whining and complaining

            -- He doesn’t like it and He doesn’t like it for a reason -- He is our God and our Creator -- He has blessed us with so many things that our hearts and souls should be responding every moment of every day with praise and thanksgiving, but yet, while we find time to complain on Facebook, we rarely find time to truly thank God for who He is and what He has done

            -- so with Thanksgiving coming this week, I thought it was fitting to take a moment and talk about this holiday and how, as God’s people, we are supposed to be thanking and praising God every day

            -- I really like the thought that was in a devotional I read about Thanksgiving -- the author wrote, “It could be argued that one way we know we are growing spiritually is when we look forward to Thanksgiving as much as most children look forward to Christmas” -- and let me pause in the midst of this quote to commentate -- the author doesn’t mean we are looking forward to Thanksgiving because it is a time to over-indulge in eating turkey and dressing and other goodies and to watch football with family and friends -- no, they meant to look forward to Thanksgiving as a time to actually give thanks to God -- revolutionary thinking, huh?

            -- to continue with their quote:  “It could be argued that one way we know we are growing spiritually is when we look forward to Thanksgiving as much as most children look forward to Christmas -- It isn't hard to get enthusiastic about all the good things you expect to receive [at Christmas] -- It takes more spiritual maturity to look at the good things you have already received and say "thank you" with the same enthusiasm.”

            -- this morning, I wanted us to start this week’s theme of praise and gratitude by looking at Psalm 111, which encourages us to be people of praise

            -- so, if you would, join me now in Psalm 111, starting at verse 1, and we’re going to go through this verse by verse

II.  Scripture Lesson (Psalm 111:1-10)

            -- verse 1

Psalm 111:1 (NIV)

1 Praise the LORD. I will extol the LORD with all my heart in the council of the upright and in the assembly.

            -- this Psalm from an unknown writer begins with a command to the people of God -- “Praise the Lord” -- the Psalmist urges us to praise the Lord -- to remember Him -- to lift Him on high -- to give Him honor and glory and thanksgiving for what He has done and for who He is -- to praise God is the foundation of our Christian life -- to praise God is to live in the presence of God at every moment of every day -- so the writer begins this Psalm with this command

            -- the Hebrew word that is translated here as “Praise the Lord” is a word we all know -- “Hallelujah” -- Hallelu -- Praise -- Yah -- God -- Hallelujah

            -- to demonstrate that God demands praise from all His creation can easily be seen by the writer’s use of this word to start this Psalm -- Hallelujah is the only word in world that is pronounced the same and means the same thing in every language -- reminder that we are all God’s creation and we are all to thank Him and praise Him with our whole being         

            -- and keep in mind we are told to praise God as a command -- this is a reminder to us that we should praise God even when we don’t feel like it -- praise Him in our trials and sufferings just as we praise Him when we feel blessed -- praise Him at all times -- as Deut 6:13 commands, “Honor the LORD your God, worship only him, and make your promises in his name alone.”

            -- the Psalmist goes on to write, “I will extol the Lord” -- in other words, “I will praise the Lord” -- even if others don’t, I will still praise God -- I will not hesitate to do what is right -- I will lift God on high -- I don’t care what the rest of you do -- I don’t care what the rest of you think -- I am going to praise my God

            -- “in the council of the upright and in the assembly” -- the Psalmist says he is going to praise God, whether in the company of a few or in a corporate worship setting like this -- the example that he is giving us here is that praise should always be on our lips and in our hearts whether we are alone, with a few friends, or in the company of the church

            -- verse 2

Psalm 111:2-4 (NIV)

2 Great are the works of the LORD; they are pondered by all who delight in them.

3 Glorious and majestic are his deeds, and his righteousness endures forever.

4 He has caused his wonders to be remembered; the LORD is gracious and compassionate.

            -- in these verses the Psalmist lists the reasons why we should praise the Lord -- and there are three words that stand out to us in these verses -- works, deeds, and wonders

            -- verse 2 talks about works -- works are what God has done for His people -- the way He has worked in our lives -- the blessings He has given us in the past

            -- in verse 3, the writer expounds on God’s deeds and righteousness -- the focus of the word “deeds” in this verse in the original Hebrew is on salvation and redemption -- when it links deeds with the righteousness of God, it is literally talking about God’s faithfulness in fulfilling His promises of deliverance, redemption, and salvation

            -- in verse 4, the writer talks about God’s wonders -- His saving acts -- the miracles and signs He performs on our behalf -- the writer is calling to mind the deliverance of Israel from Egypt -- of God’s mighty wonders through the plagues He sent against Pharaoh -- the parting of the Red Sea -- the miracle of the manna and the quail and the water from the rock during their wilderness sojourn -- the crossing of the Jordan River into the Promised Land -- the wonders of God are the miracles He brings about in our lives

            -- the Psalmist tells us we need to ponder God’s works and deeds and wonders -- we need to consider them -- to seek them out -- to learn to open our eyes to see the blessings and the presence of God -- to recognize what He has done for us

            -- to do that, the Psalmist says, leads your heart to sing out in praise as we delight in the blessings of God

            -- something I’ve been reading a lot about lately is this concept called mindfulness or mindful meditation -- it is the current buzzword in popular literature -- I’m seeing it pop up on health and wellness blogs and even in the medical literature as they extol the virtues of this type of meditation

            -- the idea is to live in the moment -- to live in the present -- at every moment of the day to recognize where you are, what is going on around you, and to reflect and enjoy the moment -- this certainly has spiritual application in our life, because mindful meditation should lead to mindful moments of praise -- as we stop in the moment and consider just how special and blessed we are, we can’t help but thank God for His grace

            -- in his book, “Love Does,” Bob Goff pointed out something that I had never considered before -- while not using the term mindful meditation, Bob encouraged his readers to slow down and look around for God’s blessings -- he pointed out that the flowers growing by the road may have been ordained by God before the creation of this world to be in that spot as you go by just to bring color and life into your life -- that sunrise or sunset is a singular moment in time, given solely by your Creator for you -- no one else can experience that moment as you can -- it is a gift from God -- and we need to pause and reflect on God’s goodness and grace in that moment and praise Him for His presence in our lives

            -- remembering and seeing God’s presence is a big part of what we do in the church -- spiritual markers abound in our lives -- as the Psalmist says here, God reminds us of His presence through wonders and signs -- He causes us to remember Him even in the midst of our busy lives

            -- the sacraments and the means of grace are reminders to us of God’s presence and of His wonders and mighty acts in our lives -- as we share in Holy Communion -- as we participate in baptism -- we are reminded of God’s faithfulness and redeeming work and we lift Him up in praise, giving Him all the honor and glory for what He has done

            -- in this next section, the Psalmist gives us examples of God’s faithfulness that are worthy of our praise

           

            -- verse 5

Psalm 111:5 (NIV)

5 He provides food for those who fear him; he remembers his covenant forever.

            -- the word translated as “food” can also be translated as “spoil” -- it isn’t intended to just mean what God has given for us to eat, but encompasses all His blessings in our lives -- the tangible blessings of providence that keep us alive daily -- the material blessings of food and clothes and shelter -- all of this comes from the hand of God and we need to thank Him for these

                        -- these are signs of the covenant, of God’s promises to us -- the Psalmist is primarily emphasizing the covenantal promise of salvation -- of the forgiveness of sins -- of eternal life with Him -- our daily blessings remind us of the new covenant we have through Jesus

                        -- this verse is all-encompassing -- we receive encouragement in the present as we consider the blessings He has already given in the past, which leads to confidence for the future as we reflect on God’s promise through His covenant

            -- vs. 6

Psalm 111:6 (NIV)

6 He has shown his people the power of his works, giving them the lands of other nations.

            -- example from the nation of Israel -- God’s faithfulness in bringing them into the Promised Land

                        -- reminder that God has already shown His power and greatness in His works and deeds and wonders -- we can trust God with our future because He has proven His greatness in our past -- to remember and praise God for what He has done is to show trust and faith in God’s future acts on our behalf

            -- the nation of Israel could trust God with their future because He had delivered them many times before as He led them into the promised land -- we can trust God with our future because He has delivered us many times in the past, as well

            -- vs. 7

Psalm 111:7 (NIV)

7 The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy.

            -- God’s works are faithful and just -- in other words, God treats us fairly -- God does not exalt one above another

            -- in William P. Young’s book, “The Shack” -- my favorite part of this book is when the main character mentions someone by name to God and He responds, “I know him -- he’s my favorite” and then when he mentions someone else, God says “Yes, he’s my favorite” -- we’re all God’s favorite -- we are all loved by Him -- as someone once quipped, “Our pictures are all on God’s refrigerator”

            -- God is impartial -- he is faithful and just -- He causes the rain to fall on the just and the unjust -- and He died on the cross for all -- even for that person you don’t like -- even for that person you don’t think can be saved -- even for you

            -- His blessings and His promises are faithful and just and for all

           

            -- His precepts are trustworthy -- the term precept is referring to God’s word -- God’s commands -- God’s instructions and principles for living as found in His word

            -- they are “trustworthy” -- we can trust them because they are faithful and just -- they are not given to harm us, but to help us and keep us on the right path -- Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” -- God is on our side and his precepts are given for us

            -- vs. 8

Psalm 111:8 (NIV)

8 They are steadfast for ever and ever, done in faithfulness and uprightness.

            -- God’s works and His blessings are steadfast for ever and ever -- we can trust in them -- they have been there in our past -- they are with us now -- and they will be there in our future

            -- our God is the same yesterday, today, and forever -- He will never change and His grace and providence in our lives will be constant -- God is faithful to us

           

            -- vs. 9

Psalm 111:9 (NIV)

9 He provided redemption for his people; he ordained his covenant forever-- holy and awesome is his name.

            -- the greatest work, deed, and wonder God has done is His redemption carried out through His Son Jesus Christ -- as Job said in Job 13:15, “though he slay me, yet will I hope in Him” -- if God does nothing more for us than save us through Jesus, He has blessed us beyond eternity -- what more do we need, really, than the promise of eternity with Him -- what can man do to us in the face of the certainty of eternal life?

            -- our trust is in His redemption -- our hope is in Him -- and we should lift Him in high in praise for our salvation and redemption

                        -- notice one thing here -- God “provided” redemption -- to provide something doesn’t mean it is used or received -- God’s redemption has been given, but it’s still up to us to pick it up -- to receive it from God’s hand -- to trust in it for our eternity

                        -- holy and awesome -- transcendent -- omnipotent -- omnipresent -- worthy of our awe -- worthy of our worship and praise -- when we recognize God as holy and awesome and lift Him up in praise, our praises join with the heavenly chorus around the throne, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty” 

            -- vs. 10

Psalm 111:10 (NIV)

10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.

            -- the fear of the Lord -- in his book, “Mere Christianity,” C.S. Lewis wrote about the numinous -- the recognition by all people everywhere that there is something or someone greater just outside the door -- a wholly other -- “it is used to describe the power or presence of realization of a divinity” [wikipedia]

            -- Lewis went on to say the numinous -- this awareness of divinity -- awakened a special kind of fear that leads to awe -- that’s what the Psalmist is getting at here

                        -- the fear of the Lord -- the awareness of His power and greatness and presence in our lives -- is the beginning of wisdom because this is the beginning of a righteous relationship with Him

            -- as we know God -- as we see God and recognize Him in our lives -- we live in awe of who He is and what He has done and our hearts and souls immediately respond with praise

            -- we follow His precepts -- not as a means of salvation -- but because we seek to honor and please our God and Creator

            -- why do kids obey their parents? -- because they don’t want to get punished? -- no, because of love -- because of the relationship

            -- that is the same thing the Psalmist is saying here -- we obey, not to avoid pain and punishment, but out of love and honor and praise

            -- eternal praise -- all praise, at all times and forever, belongs to God and God alone -- He is our God, our Creator, our Redeemer, our Sustainer, our Provider, Our Lord, and our Savior -- and He is worthy of all our praise and thanksgiving

            -- so with those thoughts we close and begin this week of thanksgiving -- so let me encourage you this week, as the Psalmist did in this passage, to praise God -- to thank Him with a grateful heart -- to not take His blessings for granted -- but to see them as blessings from God and to lift Him up in praise as we celebrate this holiday with our family and friends

            -- let us pray

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1 TODAY IN THE WORD DEVOTIONAL, http://www.todayintheword.org

COFFEE AT THE MALL -- A CHRISTMAS STORY

I ran across this story several years ago written by a gentleman named Mr. Durango.  This story struck a chord when I read it and I usually return to it at least once during the Advent period to recenter myself and to remind myself what is truly important this time of the year, especially when I get caught up in all the shopping and preparations for Christmas.  Enjoy!

"Mrs. Durango and I took a trip to the mall on Saturday, seems she had a couple of last minute items she needed to get. While Mrs. Durango ran into the card store I grabbed a cup of coffee at Starbucks and sat down at a table outside of the coffee shop.

-- I watched as people rushed by running from store to store in a frenzy doing their Christmas shopping -- seemed the people were being very abrupt and pushy toward one another -- Christmas hustle and bustle at it's worst -- People arguing over who was first in line to pay for the overpriced items they held in their arms -- arguing over who was the first one to grab that last green sweater -- arguing over trivial things all in the name of "Christmas" -- All these people acting so anxious and obnoxious all because "Christmas" was coming . . .

-- And I sat back sipping my coffee wondering if they'd all be as anxious and obnoxious if they were truly anticipating the Lord's return . . . Would they all be acting the same way -- pushing and shoving -- Arguing and fighting -- over such meaningless things.

-- Then I noticed a little boy standing there in the middle of the mall -- he couldn't have been anymore than four years old -- He was standing there in the middle of this hustle and bustle crying his little eyes out . . . And no one seemed to notice . . . people simply walked by the poor little guy ignoring his cries for help.

-- I walked over and asked the little guy why he was crying and he told me he was lost -- He didn't know where his Mommy was! -- There in the midst of the Christmas madness somehow he got separated from his mother and no one seemed to care . . . or even notice!

-- I was able to attract the attention of the policeman who was patrolling the mall and explained the situation to him -- he took the little guy and was able to reunite him with his mother a short time later -- I returned to my coffee and waited for Mrs. Durango.

-- As I sat there sipping my coffee I thought about the madness going on around me . . . I thought about how that little boy got lost and forgotten in the shuffle, ignored by everyone around him because everyone was too busy getting ready for "Christmas" . . .

-- And then I thought about that little baby Jesus, lying there in the manger . . . And how HE seems to have been lost and forgotten in all the Christmas madness as well. May we all remember that "Jesus is the reason for the season!"

[Source:  The Sermon Illustrator, "Coffee at the Mall," http://www.sermonillustrator.org/illustrator/sermon3/coffee_at_the_mall.htm]