Imagine

Saturday, July 09, 2022

SERMON: WALKING WITH JESUS IN UNITY

I. Introduction

-- turn in Bibles to Ephesians 4 -- we’re going to be looking at verses 1-16 this morning, but I want to open up by just reading the first six verses -- Ephesians 4:1-6

Ephesians 4:1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

-- in his book, A Gentle Thunder, (Word, 1995, pp. 139-140) Max Lucado wrote about this man who was going on a trip and saw someone carrying a Bible:

-- “Are you a believer?” the first man asked the second -- “Yes,” he said excitedly

-- the first man knew you couldn't be too careful -- just because you carry a Bible and say you're a believer doesn't mean it's true -- so he continued to ask probing questions

-- “Virgin birth?” he asked.’ -- “I accept it.”

-- "Deity of Jesus?” -- “No doubt.”

-- “Death of Christ on the cross?” --“Absolutely.”

-- Could it be that he was actually face to face with a Christian? -- Perhaps. -- but, nonetheless, he continued his checklist.

-- “Status of man?” -- “Sinner in need of grace.” -- “Definition of grace?” -- “God doing for man what man cannot do.

-- “Return of Christ?” -- “Imminent.”

-- “Bible?” -- “Inspired.” -- “The Church?” -- “The body of Christ.”

-- the first man started getting excited. -- “Conservative or liberal?” -- his fellow traveler was getting interested, too. -- “Conservative.” -- his heart began to beat faster.

-- “Heritage?” -- “Southern Congregationalist Holy Son of God Dispensationalist Triune Convention.” -- the first man was amazed -- that was his own heritage

-- “Branch?” -- “Pre-millennial, post-trib, noncharismatic, King James, one-cup communion.” -- the first man's eyes misted as he began to think he had met another true Christian

-- he had only one other question. -- “Is your pulpit wooden or fiberglass?" -- “Fiberglass,” the other man responded.

-- the first man withdrew his hand, stiffened his neck, and hissed back -- “Heretic.”

-- isn't it amazing how much attention we give to the little things that don't even matter? -- in this illustration from Max Lucado, these two men couldn't accept each other as believers just because of the type of pulpit they had in their church -- and while we all know that this illustration is a little far-fetched, it does make a point that hits home for a lot of us in the church today

-- in John 17:20-23, on the last night He was with His disciples before His arrest and crucifixion, Jesus prayed to the Father in a heart-felt prayer of intercession:

-- “My prayer is not for them alone -- I pray also for those who will believe in Me through their message -- [Us] -- that all of them may be one, Father, just as You are in Me and I am in You.

-- “May they also be in us so that the world may believe that You have sent Me -- I have given them the glory that You gave Me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and You in Me -- May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that You sent Me and have loved them even as You have loved Me.”

-- the overall plea of Jesus in His last prayer on earth for His followers was that we would walk with Him in unity -- that we would be one in each other and one in Him and the Father

-- this prayer of Jesus is unrealized in America this morning -- this prayer of Jesus is unrealized in His church this morning -- for we are as divided and polarized as we have ever been -- both within and outside the church

-- for that reason, the first message in this sermon series on Walking with Jesus is going to address the issue of unity -- we’re going to be looking at Paul’s plea for unity in the church from Ephesians 4:1-16

-- let’s look back at this passage and see what we can learn about finding and living out Jesus’ call for unity in our lives with Him

II. Finding Unity

A. Unity Comes Through Obedience and Faithfulness

-- so, how do we find unity with others and with God? -- first, unity comes through obedience and faithfulness

-- look back at verse 1-3

-- unity begins when we are obedient and faithful to our calling -- when we live our lives worthy of the calling we have received

-- what is that calling? -- it is the call of the redeemed -- it is the call of those who have received forgiveness and healing in their lives to share that same gift of forgiveness and healing with those around them in the name of Jesus

--we live a life worthy of our calling when our lives are imitations of Jesus -- when our behavior and our character and our attitudes mirror that of our Savior

-- Paul lists four characteristics of a Christian who is living a life worthy of their calling -- they are humble -- gentle -- patient -- and forbearing -- these are the graces in our lives that balance our call and our character -- that are necessary for good relations and unity with others in the Christian community and beyond

-- to be humble is a state of being -- it means that we do not exalt ourselves above others -- but that we consider others before us -- as some have said, to be humble is not to think of yourself as less, but not to think of yourself at all -- the picture of humility in the Bible is of a strong person who loves others in word and in deed and put their needs above his own

-- to be gentle means you are not harsh or dictatorial -- you don’t demand your way or that your voice be heard -- you consider the feelings of others -- you deal with them gently, in love, as Christ did -- I’ll be honest -- this is not how the world sees Christians today -- if you look at our social media or our interactions with unbelievers or with people who differ with us, we are not relating to them in gentleness or humbleness

-- in verse 2, Paul urges us to strive for patience in our lives -- for enduring hardship -- for bearing with others in love -- one thing about this phrase, “bearing with one another in love” -- when you are bearing with another person, that implies that it is a struggle -- it’s not easy -- it’s something that you are having to work at -- it’s something you are having to bear like a burden

-- how we do that demonstrates a lot about where we are in our relationship with Christ -- how we interact with unbelievers or those we differ with shows the real difference between a disciple in name and in truth

-- true disciples -- true followers of Christ -- get their hands dirty -- they get involved in other people’s lives -- they get their feelings hurt -- they give everything in order to show the love of Christ to someone else -- whether that’s a family member that’s difficult to live with or a homeless stranger on the street or someone they disagree with on political issues

-- it’s easy to love someone who loves you back -- it’s easy to love someone you like or that you agree with -- but it’s not easy to love the unlovable

-- it’s not easy to live life with someone that you don’t like or that doesn’t like you -- with someone with whom you have strong disagreements or who speaks or acts harshly or with hatred towards you

-- it is a cross that you have to bear as a Christian -- it is a way worthy of the calling we have received -- and we can only do this if we have the Spirit within us, empowering us to love others in the truth regardless of who they are or how we feel about them

-- that’s why Paul tells us here that the path to unity is through the bond of peace that comes through the Spirit -- this peace flows from the Spirit through us as we reach out to others in humility and gentleness of speech and actions -- this peace comes as the Spirit empowers us to reach out to others in patience and forbearance -- and this peace is realized when we love others in spite of our differences -- when we love from the heart in action and word and deed, seeking the unity that Christ has called us to

B. Unity Comes by Focusing on Common Beliefs

-- the next way we find unity with others and with God is when we focus on our common beliefs

-- look at verse 4-6

4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

-- when it comes to unity, we need to remember that unity is found in the message and the calling of Christ -- what that means is that we are unified in the foundational truths of the gospel, but we do not seek unity in those things that are contrary to God’s word

-- as we read in 2 Corinthians 6:14, we are not to be yoked with unbelievers -- for what do right and wrong have in common?

-- to be yoked with another person means you are in unity with them -- you are walking their way -- you are following their path -- but Christians are supposed to be walking with Christ and yoked with other believers

-- that means Christians are not to follow the path of the world or to affirm or applaud those actions or those beliefs which are counter to our faith and the Word of God

-- the unity that Jesus prayed for and that Paul is encouraging us to seek in this passage is based on the foundational truths of God’s word, especially the truth of Jesus and the gospel message -- we cannot join or be yoked with those who do not hold to these foundational truths

-- that doesn’t mean we can’t be friends with unbelievers or that we can’t be in relationship with them -- I have a coworker that is an active member of the LGBTQ community -- I consider her a friend -- if she needed something, I would be there to help her -- but I cannot join her in following the path she is on -- I cannot affirm the choices that she has made because I am called by Christ to walk a different path

-- our calling is to share the truth and the gospel with those who are not believers or who have drifted from the path of Christ -- but we cannot follow them in the direction they are going

-- there are foundational truths that we must hold fast -- things such as Paul lists for us here -- one body -- one Spirit -- one hope -- one Lord -- one faith -- one baptism -- one God and Father of all

-- the truth that Jesus Christ was fully God and fully Man -- that He lived a sinless life and died on the cross as an atonement for our sins -- rising from the dead on the third day in victory over sin and death

-- the truth that we serve One God comprised of three persons -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit -- the Holy Trinity

-- and the hope and the promise we have in eternal life with God through the redemption of Jesus

-- these are the foundational truths that we unify around -- it doesn’t matter what label Christians use to distinguish themselves -- Baptist -- Methodist -- Church of Christ -- Pentecostal -- Church of God -- nondenominational -- none of these labels or the minor differences we have separate us from each other in Christ -- we can come together in unity because we accept these foundational truths

-- I remember Billy Graham once said that he could easily worship in churches from any denomination -- and the reason why is because he focused on the foundational truths and didn’t worry about the minor differences that really don’t matter

-- a lot of the differences and disagreements in the church are like those in the opening illustration from Max Lucado -- they’re not foundational -- they’re not absolute truths that we are arguing about

-- things like whether you baptize by sprinkling or immersion -- whether you allow musical instruments in your worship -- whether you speak in tongues or not -- whether you have a wooden or a fiberglass pulpit -- these are differences in how we experience and understand and relate to God -- but they’re not foundational -- they are preferential choices -- and we should not be letting things like this divide us and affect our fellowship with other Christians

-- because of the foundational truths that we share, we can join together with other believers throughout the world as one -- one body -- and one church -- joined together in Christ

C. Unity Comes through Maturity in Christ

-- finally, we find unity with other and with God when we grow in grace and become mature in Christ

-- verse 7-16

7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8 This is why it says:

“When he ascended on high,

he took many captives

and gave gifts to his people.”

9 (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) 11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

-- when I counsel couples seeking marriage, I like to use the image of a triangle as a picture of what their goal as a couple should be -- I write the name of the groom on one of the bottom corners of the triangle and the bride on the other -- and then I put God at the top

-- and I explain to them that as they mature in their love and in their relationship with each other -- as they walk their individual paths, using their gifts and talents and love to follow the path towards God, that they will grow closer to each other -- do you see that?

-- that’s the picture that the Apostle Paul is giving us in this passage -- God has graced all of us with different spiritual gifts and talents -- we have different responsibilities in the church -- we have different graces that we use to relate to those around us -- everyone in here is different from everyone else -- but we are all walking the same path

-- and as we mature in our faith -- as we use our gifts and our talents as part of the church of Christ -- as we move further and further down that path towards God -- we become closer with those around us

-- to be mature in the faith means that we are no longer infants -- tossed back and forth by the waves and blown by every wind of teaching -- but that we are firm in following our faith and the foundational truths and that we are joining with others on that same path

-- and as we grow in grace and grow closer to Christ, we become one with those around us -- united with each other and one in Christ

-- we rise above our petty differences and disagreements and join together in the bond of peace through the Spirit to become the Church -- as Paul says in verse 16, we come together with Christ to become the whole body joined and held together by every supporting ligament -- by every member of the body who is becoming mature in their faith -- and we grow and build ourselves up in love as each part does its work -- as we live lives worthy of the individual calling that we have received

-- that is the picture of unity in the church -- people from all walks of life -- from all nations and races and tribes and tongues -- with different gifts and talents -- with different callings and different experiences with God -- coming together as one to be the church -- one body -- one Spirit -- one Lord -- and one God and Father of all

-- this is what Jesus prayed for in John 17, and this is what Paul urges us to seek here in this passage

III. Closing

-- let’s bring this to a close

-- our goal in Christ is to become one with each other and one in Him -- we find our unity as we focus on the absolutes -- as we practice supportive speech and actions towards others -- as we strive to become mature in our faith, living lives worthy of the calling we have received

-- to be brought to complete unity in Christ does not mean we all have to believe or agree on everything -- whether we’re talking about things in the church or things outside the church -- for instance, there are some people in here who support Alabama football, which I find detestable -- everyone here knows that God favors the Georgia Bulldogs -- you find that in the Book of Herschel, Chapter 1 -- I’m joking...

-- but the point is, we can disagree with each other about issues like this in a way that does not bring dishonor to God, because these things are not foundational and absolute truths -- but when we disagree, we need to disagree in a way that serves as an example to the world around us of how we still relate to each other in humbleness, gentleness, patience, and forbearance -- we can disagree on the minor things even as we agree on the foundational truths and are one in Christ together

-- Paul reminds us here that there is a unity that transcends human institutions -- there is a unity that transcends the things of this earth -- as Christians, we can disagree about nonfoundational issues, but still be one in Christ

-- Paul differed with Peter about how to relate to Gentiles in the church -- we read in the Book of Acts about the controversy in the early church concerning the Gentiles -- first, whether Gentiles could even be saved in the first place -- and, second, whether their salvation was dependent on them becoming Jewish converts through circumcision and following the law of Moses -- this was important, because Jews considered Gentiles to be unclean and would not associate with them -- a lot of the Jewish believers did not want Gentiles to be allowed in the church at all

-- when Peter visited Paul and the Gentile converts, he saw first-hand how the Spirit was moving among the Gentiles and came to believe that the Gentiles were truly saved through Christ -- he saw them as his brothers and sisters in Christ -- so Peter would eat with them and worship with them and associate with them, even though they were of a different race -- he saw them as one in Christ -- that is, until some of the Jews who believed Gentiles had to be converted to Judaism showed up, and then Peter quit associating with the Gentiles and wouldn’t have anything to do with them because he worried what the Jews would think of him

-- Paul called Peter out for this and they got into a disagreement -- but despite their differences, Paul and Peter remained united in the Spirit -- they were bound as one because of the unity of the Spirit within -- their ultimate goal was not to get their own way, but to do the will of God in the matter of the Gentiles -- in other words, they humbled themselves and were gentle and patient with each other -- bearing with one another in love -- as they sought to exalt the path of Christ among the Gentiles and to discern the truth of the matter concerning the salvation of the Gentiles

-- eventually, Peter agreed with Paul, and even stood up and supported the Gentiles in the church council in Jerusalem -- but that’s not the main point I want you to see -- I bring this disagreement between Paul and Peter up to make the point that the way Paul and Peter handled their differences and their disagreement stand as an example to us as we seek unity with each other and with Christ

-- just as Paul and Peter disagreed but remained brothers in the faith, so we too can disagree in the minors while standing on the foundational truths of the gospel as brothers and sisters in Christ -- united through the Spirit under Christ as one church and one body of believers on earth

-- let me close by sharing with you a story I read in a sermon by Ken Ritz

-- Ritz began by telling his audience about the giant redwood trees in California -- they are considered the largest living things on earth and are the tallest trees in the world

-- Some of them are 300 feet high and more than 2,500 years old, which means they were around before Jesus came.

-- You would think that trees that large would have a tremendous root system, reaching down hundreds of feet into the earth -- but they don’t -- Redwoods actually have a very shallow root system.

-- which makes us wonder how they can survive -- how they can stand up against the storms and the winds and the floods -- why don’t they just topple over when strong winds come?

-- it’s because the roots of all the redwood trees in a grove are intertwined -- they’re tied in together -- they’re interlocked

-- in order for a storm to blow down a redwood tree, it would have to blow down the entire forest -- because they are united as one -- in essence, they share a common root system -- they share a firm and fixed foundation

-- that’s why the redwoods can still stand for thousands of years despite all the storms and winds that have come against them -- it’s because they are united -- it’s because they support and sustain each other -- they need one another to survive -- and together they are stronger

-- what a great picture of the church! -- what a great goal for us to strive for -- Jesus is calling us to walk with Him in unity -- He knew that we would have to be one together and one in Him to survive the storms of this world -- to stand against all that would come against us

-- we need each other -- we need to be united with each other -- we need to walk with each other as we grow in grace and in maturity together -- and as we do so, we will find ourselves growing closer together and closer with God

-- unity is our goal -- unity is what Christ prayed we would find -- Jesus said in His prayer in John 17 that the world would come to know Him through our unity and through our love -- when the world sees us joined as one and living in love, they see The One living in us

-- so, as you leave here and go forth in the world this week, seek the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace and live a life worthy of the calling you have received

-- let us pray

SERMON: NEW BEGINNINGS

I. Introduction

-- turn in Bibles to Luke 24:13-32

Luke 24:13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him.

17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”

They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”

19 “What things?” he asked.

“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”

25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.

30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

-- one of the most enduring memories from the classic movie “Forrest Gump” is Forrest running across the country -- I know that all of you are familiar with this part, even if you never saw the movie

-- if you remember, it all starts with a scene of Forrest sitting on the steps of his home early in the morning -- Jenny, the love of his life, had refused his marriage proposal and had left in the middle of the night without explanation -- Forrest woke up and found her gone, and then went out to sit on the steps and think

-- after a few moments, Forrest gets up and starts running -- as he explains in the film, "That day, for no particular reason, I decided to go for a little run. So, I ran to the end of the road. And when I got there, I thought maybe I'd run to the end of town. And when I got there, I thought maybe I'd just run across Greenbow county. And I figured, since I run this far, maybe I'd just run across the great state of Alabama. And that's what I did. I ran clear across Alabama. For no particular reason I just kept on going."

-- and going he did -- he ran all the way across the country till he hit the Pacific Ocean, and then he turned around and started running east, all the way to the Atlantic Ocean -- three times, Forrest ran coast to coast, for no particular reason

-- I bring this up to make a point -- journeys should have a reason -- journeys should have a purpose -- even if that purpose is just to forget the lost love of your life, no one should take a journey without knowing why they’re traveling and where they are ultimately headed

-- this morning, we are beginning a new journey together -- today is the first day of our new community of faith -- and since today marks the beginning of our journey together as a newly formed community, I thought it would be helpful to think about where we have come from, where we are going, and why we are traveling together in the first place

-- so, where are we coming from? -- well, as we all know, for the last 50 years, we were known as Naylor United Methodist Church -- part of the United Methodist Church that was created in 1968 -- before that, this congregation was known as Naylor Methodist Episcopal Church, from its founding in 1879 until the creation of the United Methodist Church in 1968

-- but while we held firm to our Wesleyan roots -- believing in an orthodox and conservative form of Christianity with an emphasis on personal holiness and discipleship -- the denomination we belonged to began to drift from its foundational roots and absorb progressive liberal leanings and to put more emphasis on political power and financial success than in spiritual measures of success

-- and for the last few decades, we watched as the denomination continued to change and as efforts from others to reform the denomination from within failed time and time again -- until we reached the point where we felt we needed to disaffiliate from the United Methodist Church in order to follow God in the direction we felt He was leading -- which has culminated in today’s gathering and the first step in our new journey of faith with God

-- I firmly believe that God has put this desire to follow Him and journey with Him in our hearts -- a desire to lead more meaningful spiritual lives and to have a greater spiritual impact on our community than we have been having where we were

-- today is the start of a new adventure -- the day when we begin to step out of our humdrum, everyday lives and become part of a grand journey with Christ, filled with excitement and danger and with the promise of a great reward at the end

-- we are standing in a pivotal moment in each of our lives -- for years, we have been sitting passively like Forrest Gump, but now we have been called to get up and take that first step and move -- but unlike Forrest, we are not beginning our journey for no particular reason -- we have a reason -- we have a purpose -- we are being called to move out into the great unknown with God -- to go where He leads and to become the people that He wants us to be as we reach out and minister to those around us as the very hands and feet of Jesus -- His people, called by His name, joined together to share the good news of Jesus with the world

-- no longer “going to church” -- but “being the church”

-- the question before you this morning is “are you going to join?” -- are you going to step out with us and start this journey with Christ? -- are you going to walk with Him in a new way in your personal lives and with everyone here in this community of faith, allowing Him to mold us and make us into the people and community He wants us to be?

II. Scripture Lesson (Luke 24:13-32)

-- these same questions are really what this passage in Luke is all about -- this passage is about choosing to start a journey -- it is about stepping out in faith into a new and grand adventure with God

-- real quick, before we look at this passage again, let me give you the context so you know where we are -- this passage occurs after the crucifixion of Jesus -- Jesus has already been betrayed and has died on the cross at Calvary -- He was buried in a borrowed tomb by Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus -- His disciples have either scattered or gone into hiding

-- as this passage opens, it is Sunday morning -- the third day after the crucifixion -- the women have already gone to the tomb and found it empty, but no one really know what has happened -- everything is confused -- chaotic -- and no one really understands

-- in the midst of everything that is going on, two of Jesus’ disciples decide it is time to go -- to get out of town -- to leave Jerusalem as soon as they can and head out towards the village of Emmaus, which is apparently their home

-- let’s pick up their story again here in verse 13

17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”

19 “What things?” he asked.

-- here we read about two of Jesus’ disciples -- Cleopas and another disciple -- they have left Jerusalem and have started out on a journey to Emmaus, a village about seven miles outside of Jerusalem

-- just as aside, I recently read an article that proposed the two disciples mentioned in this story were married -- rather than being two male disciples, as we’ve always assumed, the writer of the article proposed that this was a husband and wife, which is why only Cleopas, the husband, is listed by name -- we know that Cleopas was married and that his wife had been with him in Jerusalem because John writes in John 19:25, “...Mary, the wife of Clopas” was at the crucifixion with the other women

-- he also based this proposal on the fact that later on in the passage they ask Christ into their home to share bread at their table, which indicates they live together, more than likely, as husband and wife

-- this argument from the author that Cleopas and the other disciple were actually a married couple may be wrong -- it’s just a proposal from this one author -- but if he’s right, it adds a whole new dimension to the Emmaus Road story -- it emphasizes the sacramental nature of marriage and shows how both men and women are called to serve and share with others in the name of Christ -- both as individuals and as part of their Christian marriage

-- regardless of whether these are two male disciples or a married couple, we do know certain facts about them -- we know they were disciples -- followers of Jesus -- and they had been disciples long enough to be counted in the number of true believers -- when Luke tells us what the disciples did after the crucifixion, he mentions Cleopas and the other disciple are being two of the group of followers of Christ

-- this means these two disciples on the road to Emmaus were not just casual acquaintances -- they were not just pew sitters who listened to the message and then did nothing with the Word -- these were disciples who the Bible clearly says knew Jesus -- disciples who had walked with Jesus and listened to His teachings -- who had probably seen the miracles -- and had come to put their faith in Jesus as their Messiah -- they were part of Jesus’ inner crowd and were there at the crucifixion and in the company of the Eleven afterwards

-- like the others, they may not have understood what the prophecies meant about the Messiah -- they may not have understood why Jesus had to die on the cross or why the tomb was empty -- they were probably still thinking of Jesus the Messiah as an earthly king and spiritual leader -- but the fact remains -- they knew Jesus and they believed in Him as the promised Messiah

-- I think it’s significant that as these two walked the road to Emmaus that day, their conversation wasn’t about the weather or the economy or politics -- it wasn’t about what they were going to have for dinner -- no, they talked about God and what He was doing and how He was affecting their lives even to that very moment -- when we talk with each other, do we talk about Jesus and our faith, or do our conversations just revolve around politics and other trivial things at the end of the day?

-- notice what happens next -- Luke tells us that as they were walking, Jesus came up and joined them -- they didn’t recognize Him -- they took to be a stranger, but they immediately included Him in their spiritual conversation and shared with Him the story of Jesus

-- isn’t that a great picture of the church? -- we tend to think of church as something we do on Sundays -- but one of my hopes for Naylor Community Christian Church is that we put that understanding behind us

-- church is not something we do -- it’s something we are -- the church is a community of faith -- living and walking and talking with each other as we journey together through life

-- it’s a group of people who come together to bear each other’s burdens -- to share each other’s hopes -- and to do life together with God

-- that is the picture that we are given here of Cleopas and the other disciple as they journey together on this road to Emmaus

-- that is the image we need to hold in our minds as we begin our own journey with Christ today

-- verse 25

-- after meeting the disciples on the road and hearing their story, Jesus begins to teach them -- revealing to them the truth of what had just happened in Jerusalem -- as He opens the scriptures to them, He reveals God’s word to them and explains why the Messiah had to die and encourages them to look for the glory that would come when Jesus returns again

-- this is a reminder to us that the understanding and interpretation of God’s word comes solely through the ministry of the Holy Spirit -- I can’t help but believe it is not an accident that today -- the start of our journey as Naylor Community Christian Church -- is the Day of Pentecost -- the day when God poured out His Holy Spirit on the disciples in Jerusalem and gave birth to the church of Christ

-- as Jesus said in John 14:26, “the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”

-- as we step forward in faith and begin this new journey with Christ as a brand new community of faith, we must remember the source of truth -- the foundation of our faith -- and who is the Head of our church

-- we must learn to depend on the Holy Spirit to teach us and guide us and lead us -- and we must ensure that we keep Christ as the Head and follow His direction so that we won’t veer off from the truth and from our mission and calling

-- what makes the church different from any other organization? -- what makes the church different from any other gathering of people who come together at a regular time? -- why are we the church and not just a club?

-- because of the presence of God in our midst -- the very presence of Jesus living within us as the Holy Spirit -- guiding us and leading us and revealing to us the truth of God’s word

-- if you don’t have God, you don’t have a church -- and if you don’t listen to and follow the teachings of the Holy Spirit, you are a church that has lost its way

-- verse 28

-- as we begin our journey as a new community of faith today, we have to keep in mind why we are starting our journey -- Forrest Gump got up and began running “for no particular reason” -- but we need a reason -- we need a purpose

-- in other words, as we stand here at the start of this new journey -- as we begin this new ministry together -- we need to remember why we are here

-- we’re not here to become just another church on the block -- we’re not here to build a bigger building or to raise money or to increase numbers on a membership roll -- that can’t be our reason -- that can’t be our purpose

-- we’re here because we want to see Jesus -- we want to journey together with one another along the road of life -- walking together as Cleopas and the other disciple -- with the goal of seeing Jesus revealed to us along the way and sharing Him with everyone we meet

-- if we make Jesus our goal -- if we never take our eyes off the prize at the end -- God will bless us and change us and make us into the people He has called us to be -- just like He did Cleopas and the other disciple

-- the impact will follow as God wills -- it may be that this little church never gets any bigger that it is today -- but really, that doesn’t matter

-- the only thing that matters is seeing Jesus, recognizing Him when He is before us, knowing Him in our hearts, and following where He leads

-- let’s finish up -- verse 33

33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34 and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” 35 Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.

-- what happened to Cleopas and the other disciple when they finally saw and recognized Jesus?

-- they got up and went back to Jerusalem and spread the news about what they had heard and seen

-- this is our mission as we begin this journey together -- this is our purpose -- this is our reason for running with Jesus as Naylor Community Christian Church

-- I heard a preacher say one time that if you know about Jesus and don’t tell anybody but just keep Him for yourself, you are of no account -- we don’t want to be like that

-- as Christians, we are called to share with those around us the message of Christ -- we are commanded to tell others about Jesus and to share with them what He has done for us and through us and to us so that they may join us on our journey

-- remember how people started following Forrest Gump as he ran across the country? -- he had hundreds -- maybe thousands -- of people following him -- that should be our goal, too -- to have people join us in our journey -- not to follow us, but to follow Jesus

-- when Forrest stopped running all of a sudden, the people were left alone and confused in the middle of the road -- they didn’t know what to do next because all they were doing was following Forrest -- they didn’t know their purpose or their calling or the reason why they were running in the first place

-- we need to make sure that we share the message of Jesus with all those who join us, so that they know why we are running and Who we are following and where we are headed

-- that is what Jesus created the church for -- and that is why I think He has called us together in this place today

III. Closing

-- John Muir, the early conservationist who advocated for the preservation of wilderness in our country and who was instrumental in getting Yosemite established as a national park, had a significant thought about taking a journey, especially those who said they were on a hike

-- Muir wrote: “Hiking – I don’t like either the word or the thing. People ought to saunter in the mountains – not hike!

“Do you know the origin of that word ‘saunter?’ It’s a beautiful word.

“Away back in the Middle Ages people used to go on pilgrimages to the Holy Land, and when people in the villages through which they passed asked where they were going, they would reply, “A la sainte terre,’ [which meant] ‘To the Holy Land.’ And so they became known as sainte-terre-ers or saunterers.

“Now these mountains are our Holy Land, and we ought to saunter through them reverently, not ‘hike’ through them.”

-- I agree with Muir -- while he found spiritual meaning and purpose from sauntering in the mountains of the western U.S., we should find our spiritual meaning and purpose from sauntering with Jesus here in south Georgia -- we need to see ourselves as fellow travelers with Christ on our way to the Holy Land, seeking to gather others with us as we go

-- everyone you meet in life is on a journey -- every person you meet is traveling somewhere -- some are walking away from God while others are walking towards God -- some are sauntering through this world, while others are simply drifting along aimlessly in life

-- what type of traveler are you? -- what type of traveler do you want to be?

-- I seek to saunter through this world, and as we close, I invite you to join with me on this journey -- let us saunter together on the road with Jesus -- let us gather up the lost and the wanderers along the way -- and let us set our sights on Jesus as the Finisher and Perfecter of our faith as we travel together to the Holy Land

-- for the next several weeks, we’re going to be in a sermon series called “Walking with Jesus,” where we are going to examine what it means to walk with Jesus in the world today -- I want to invite you all to make sure and join us in this discussion which will be based on the Epistle to the Ephesians

-- for now, let us close in prayer and reflect on where we are in our journey with Christ and where we want to go -- if you need to make a change in direction -- if you need to recommit your life to Him, then I encourage you to do so as we pray

-- and if you are not sure that you know Jesus the way Cleopas and the other disciple did -- if you are not sure you recognize Him and have received Him as your own personal Lord and Savior -- today is a good day to begin a journey of faith with Him -- if that is the case, then I would invite you to turn to Him this morning in repentance and faith and ask Him to forgive you of your sins and to come into your life as Lord and Savior

-- as always, the altar is open for those who wish to come forward -- and I would be happy to pray with you, if you want

-- so, let’s close in prayer and then we’ll finish our service with the last hymn

-- let’s pray

Monday, July 04, 2022

Independence Day -- The Plight of the Exhausted American

I read an article by David French of The Dispatch this morning that sums up conversations I have had with Kim of late and I wanted to share a few thoughts, even though I know that most will not read. Even if nothing else happens, the act of putting into words the tension I feel is somewhat cathartic.

Here's what's going on:  I find myself lost lately, beset by angry voices from the left and the right.  When I watch the news or view social media, it feels like we are living in two different countries, with both sides convinced the other is the world's greatest evil that must be stopped, regardless of the means.  Just yesterday, I had someone tell me that we must all vote Democratic to stop evil from overcoming America, and I had another person tell me we must all vote Republican to stop evil from overcoming America.  Both sides are convinced the other is evil incarnate.

On this day when we are to stop and celebrate the freedoms we have as the United States of America, it is all too evident that there is nothing united about us.  This country has been polarized into left and right camps that are striving for dominance politically, culturally, and spiritually.  As French wrote:

"It’s time for Americans to wake up to a fundamental reality: the continued unity of the United States of America cannot be guaranteed. At this moment in history, there is not a single important cultural, religious, political, or social force that is pulling Americans together more than it is pushing us apart. We cannot assume that a continent-sized, multi-ethnic, multi-faith democracy can remain united forever, and it will not remain united if our political class will not adapt to an increasingly diverse and divided American public."

French goes on to describe the left and right extremes that are most vocal and most evident in our current discourse, but then introduces another group that he calls "the exhausted majority,"  the "tired Americans" who fit not into either camp but who now live in the middle, even when in the past they would have been considered left of center or right of center.

French writes:  

"Who are these tired Americans? The polling answer from the survey is the two-thirds of our neighbors and citizens (from across the political spectrum) who are fed up with polarization, forgotten in public discourse, flexible in their views, and still believe we can find common ground.

"It’s the son or daughter who stopped talking politics to stay on speaking terms with mom or dad. It’s the mom or dad who can’t understand a radicalized child. 

"The exhausted American is in my email inbox, writing personal, anguished letters about lost relationships. The radicalized American is in my Twitter feed, furious at any deviation from the party line. The radicalized American is capturing institutions, making life miserable for dissenters left or right. The exhausted American doesn’t know where to go. Who speaks for them?

"The exhausted American does not make a religion out of politics, and is thus at a disadvantage when confronting the ferocity and zeal of the true political believer. 

"The exhausted American is hungry for simple decency, and will seek out friendships on the left and the right, so long as respect trumps differences. Even the most extreme disagreements are manageable so long as a friend is willing to listen and learn, and you’re willing to listen and learn in return. 

"The exhausted majority is also the hope for America."

I have found my people.  I am that exhausted American that French speaks of.  The exhausted American who is tired of the partisan politics and the extremes on both sides.  Who is "hungry for simple decency," who "seeks out friendships on the left and the right, so long as respect trumps differences."  Who can look at both extremes and say, "You are wrong."

I fear for the future of our country.  I fear the hatred I see coming from both camps in my social feeds.  I fear what the future holds for America as these two extremes battle for dominance.

But I pray that the exhausted American majority would rise up and speak peace and unity into the rancorous discord that so fills our media and politics.  I pray that the exhausted American majority would speak out against the evils from both sides and that we can once again become one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

And, I am thankful for the truth that, regardless of what might happen in America in the coming years, this world is not my home.  Even if countries and empires fall, the Kingdom of God stands, and my home and future are there.

Saturday, May 21, 2022

WHAT MAKES CHURCHES STRONG?

Chuck Swindoll recently referenced a University of Nebraska study called the Family Strengths Research Project. The study asked, "What makes families strong?"

The researchers found 6 main qualities in strong families:

 Strong families are committed to the family.
 Strong families spend time together.
 Strong families have good family communication.
 Strong families express appreciation for one another.
 Strong families have a spiritual commitment.
 Strong families are able to solve problems in a crisis.

While the study was intended to characterize and inspire personal families, the case could be made that these same characteristics need to be replicated in our church families.

For a church to be strong, mature, and functional (as opposed to dysfunctional), churches also need to:

 Be committed to one another -- everyone should be there to support each other -- discipleship
 Spend time with one another -- fellowship -- doing life together -- Koinonia
 Communicate well -- what is not spoken in the light festers in the dark -- no factions or side discussions -- everything needs to be in the open
 Express appreciation for each other -- every part of the body is important and needs to be seen as such
 Have a spiritual commitment -- we're not called to be social clubs, but ambassadors for Christ as His hands and feet in our communities -- remember our purpose and calling
 Solve problems in a crisis -- conflicts and divisions within a church should be discussed and handled by the church as the Spirit leads -- churches should strive to do what they can to confront larger crises within our communities and nation as God directs

Saturday, April 30, 2022

CHURCH MEMBERSHIP

What does it mean to be a church member? What does that imply?

All too often, we tend to approach membership in our churches in a passive way similar to membership to clubs or other organizations.  This leads us to a consumer concept of membership, whereby we are entitled to certain things or expect certain activities because we have paid our dues.

Perhaps it's time to reconsider the concept of church "membership."  It's not about signing up to enjoy the benefits of a membership.  It's about choosing to join with others and do life together as we seek to mutually grow in grace and in holiness.  To not be passive spectators or consumers, but actively engaged in worship and discipleship and life with those around us who have made the same commitment.

As Bishop William Willimon states:

"The point is not membership. The church does not have clients, members, or consumers of goods and services. The point is discipleship. The church exists to form and sustain individuals and a people who are followers of Jesus Christ, who are his disciples. Rather than buying into a consumer model of the church, where the customer is king and the church simply meets customers' needs, the church does more; the church redefines our true needs. The church transforms people according to the life and pattern revealed by God in Jesus Christ. It unites them with others who are committed to this way of life."