Archive for November, 2009

sermon: 11.22.09

November 22, 2009 · Filed under Sermons

Sermon: Christ the King

Text: John 18:33-37

Introduction

Christ the King Sunday

Today is Christ the King Sunday.  If you notice, the Christian calendar has several holidays that it celebrates.  We celebrate most of these holidays because they are biblical.  We celebrate Easter because of the resurrection story. We celebrate Christmas because of the story of the birth of Christ.  We celebrate Pentecost because of the gift of the Holy Spirit.  That’s not the case for Christ the King Sunday.  It rose out of a desire for the church to make a statement that Christ is the king.  In the year 1925, Pope Pius XI noticed that the church was in trouble.  It was during WW1 and the economy was poor.  During this turbulent time, the pope observed people “bending their knee” to human saviors and political parties to rescue them. At the same time, religion was being forced to be more of a private practice than a public confession. So the pope took charge and called for an annual day to pronounce that “Christ is King”.  He called for a day that the church would bend its knee to Christ and confess to the world that Christ is king.

Our situation

Today, our economic system is suffering.  We have people with no voice, no health insurance, no money, among other things.  Many times, it’s very tempting to turn to someone other than Christ to be our savior.  It’s easy to put our trust and hope in politicians to fix everything.  Now, of course it’s ok for us to believe in someone.  However, our hope is in Christ.  Our devotion is to Christ alone.  He is our savior and rescue. He is who we are to turn to whenever we are in need.

In the text this morning, Christ has a conversation with Pilate.  Christ goes before Pilate to receive his sentence.  However, during this conversation, Christ reveals some things about the nature of his kingdom.

One thing that Christ reveals is that he calls us to devotion as individuals.

Christ calls us to devotion as individuals

Changing my oil

I’m not much of a handy man.  To be honest with you, whenever Jade and I buy something to put together, Jade is usually the one to put it together.  The last thing that I put together was a coffee table.  Eventually, probably as a result of me putting it together, it fell apart. So, when we need something put together, Jade’s the best option.  Whenever I turned sixteen, my dad bought me a truck.  As any teenager, I was thrilled about my truck.  However, once I got the truck I soon realized that vehicles require a lot of maintenance.  So, whenever the oil needed I changing, I asked my dad to change it for me.  After a while, I think he got tired of it and did the unthinkable: He made me change my own oil.  Yes, it was disgusting.  I had to climb under my truck on the dirt. I got dirty. I got oil on my clothes, my hands, and my face. But, in the end, I had changed my oil all by myself.  I was very proud of myself.  Of course, changing my oil is about the only thing that I can do with my truck, but I am proud that I can do it.

Children of Abraham

Whenever John the Baptist was preaching in the desert for repentance, many were tempted to say, “I’m ok.  Abraham is my father.”  However, John makes it clear that that’s not enough. He goes on to say, “from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham.”  In other words, he was saying, It doesn’t matter who your father is, you must repent.”

Jesus and Pilate

“Do you ask this own your own, or did others tell you about me?”

Choosing Christ for ourselves

We are very fortunate to have our parents to raise us in the faith.  They train us and model for us the life of Christ.  However, there comes a day when we have to decide to follow Christ on our own.  We have to make a decision to make Christ our Lord. 

Infant baptism causes confusion

Avoiding individualism

Now, this isn’t to suggest that once we accept Christ it becomes just “me and Jesus”.  I once had a friend in high school who didn’t go to church.  However, he claimed that he was a Christian. So I asked him one day, “Why don’t you go to church?”  He told me that he didn’t need the church and that he could follow Christ without going.  I disagree.  How is it possible to be a part of the body of Christ without being with the body of Christ? When we gather in God house with God’s people, we gather with a shared hope of Christ’s return. We need one another.

We are called to choose Christ for ourselves.  Christ also makes us confront truth. 

Christ makes us confront truth.

“Just tell the truth”

When I was a child and would do something wrong, I would usually make it worse because I would say,”I didn’t do it!”However, my mom would usually say, “Son, if you will just tell me the truth, you won’t get in as much trouble.”  All that she wanted was the truth.

In v. 37 Pilate asked him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth.  Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”  In response, Pilate asks the famous question, “What is truth?”

Why does Pilate ask this question? To stay in control?

Political leaders avoiding truth to stay in power.

When we confront truth

How do we respond when we confront truth?  Do we obey and follow?  Do we avoid it?  Do we crucify it like Pilate?

The hard truth

We live in the tension of being truthful with people. Sometime we want to sugarcoat things so that we don’t hurt people’s feelings.  Especially in the church.  Sometimes we think that our calling as the church is to be the nicest people in the world.  However, Christ didn’t call us to simply be nice. He called us to follow truth and reflect it to the world.

Christ calls us to follow as individuals, he confronts us with truth, and his kingdom isn’t of this world.

Christ’s kingdom isn’t of this world.

His Lordship

Whenever we accept Christ, above all, what we are doing is making him Lord of our lives. We are no longer in control.  Christ is. We are no longer working for our own kingdom but Christ’s.  However, this can sometimes be difficult living in the world. What do we do when Christ’s commands conflict with the world’s?

Prayer in schools?

There has been a lot of uproar in the church over the last several years about prayer in schools.  Churches have protested and marched in support of putting prayer back in school.  But my question is, “Has prayer really been taken out of school?”  “Can we really not pray?”  Simply because there’s no a prayer over the intercom doesn’t mean that students can’t pray.

Maybe Christ’s followers should be more worried about practicing the discipline themselves than trying to force it on our government and public schools.  What’s ironic is that the majority of Christian’s prayer less than one minute per day.  Why are we forcing our practices on schools and the government when we are barely practicing them?

What kingdom are we devoted to?

So, the question becomes, what kingdom are we devoted to?  We must be reminded that Christ’s kingdom isn’t of this world and he calls us to live for another kingdom.  What kind of kingdom are we helping to build?  The kingdom of God, or the kingdom of man?

Conclusion

Lord of the holidays

We are about to enter the holiday season.  This is a season that we have set in the year to be mindful of the birth and the coming of Christ.  However, it’s very easy during this season to become so busy that we miss what it’s all about.  As we submit to the Lordship of Christ, may we not allow the busyness of the season to control our thoughts.  May we plan our calendars to allow Christ to be in our midst.  As the world invites us to participate in endless consumerism, may our focus this season be on communion with Christ and his body.  In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

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Sermon: 11.15.09

November 15, 2009 · Filed under Sermons · Tagged

Sermon

Mark 13:1-13

 

Introduction

Left Behind

I have a friend who came to me once for advice.  He told me that he had been talking to someone about Christ and he felt like he was making some progress.  He came to me asking for advice about a book that he could give him.  My immediate thought was, “Well, how about a bible?”  But my friend wasn’t interested in getting him a bible.  “The bible is a little too confusing for him right now.  I want to get him something a little bit easier for him to read.  Something that he can understand.”  So I began listing off books that might work.  Then he told me, “Well, I already think I know what book I am going to get him. I think I am going to get him Left Behind.”  I think my reaction gave away my feelings.  Now I’m not a huge fan of the series, and I’m certainly not a big fan of giving this to someone exploring the faith.  I think my response to him was something like this: “So, you want to give your friend a book.  You don’t want to give him the bible because it’s too confusing.  So, you want to give him a book about the End times, which is probably the most confusing theological category in the entire bible?”  I believe I convinced him to just get the bible.

The End

I have to be honest, studying about the end times and the apocalypse just doesn’t interest me all that much.  Maybe it’s because I’m young and I don’t think about the afterlife much.  However, surprisingly, Jesus doesn’t spend an extraordinary amount of time talking about it either.  He does mention it some, as in this text, but usually not how we would picture him talking about it.  Jesus usually uses discussions about the end to encourage us in our lives today. I think this morning’s text is more about hope that God offers, even in the midst of trouble.

Hope during troubled times

Jesus knew that difficult times were coming.  He wanted to be honest with the disciples in telling them that the road wouldn’t be easy.  However, Jesus provides them with hope, even in a dark future. In discussing the future, Jesus left them with several challenges. 

One thing that he challenged was their historical identity.

Jesus challenged their historical identity

Radical statement by Jesus

Jesus’ statement about the temple being torn down was a very radical statement.  The temple has been the focal point of the Israelite faith for years.  Now the Messiah was saying that the disciples shouldn’t worry about it and that it would be torn down.  Imagine how people would respond?

Disciples finding their identity in the temple

These disciples were finding their identity in the temple.  However, Jesus said that soon the temple would be destroyed.

Living in the past/buildings

Imagine if during my first Sunday here at Rehoboth, I walked in and you were giving me a tour of the church.  You were talking about all the history of the church and how beautiful it is.  Then, after you are bragging about the beauty of this place I say: “It doesn’t matter.  One day this place will be torn down!”  Imagine how you would feel.  That’s probably the way the disciples felt. 

Honoring the past

I can remember reading a book where a pastor tells a story about when he was wanting to add on to the church building.  The church was in a very confined area and the only way that they could add on to the building was by building on top of the graveyard beside the church.  He was really pushing this with his congregation.  How do you think they responded?  Not very favorably. Well, he wasn’t there much longer. 

I think it’s a terrible idea to build over a graveyard.  However, I do think that this story leads us to ponder a question.  What are we hanging onto that’s holding us back from living out our faith?  For the disciples, they were hanging onto the beautiful temple and all that comes with it.  What are we hanging onto?

Jesus challenged their historical identity.  He also challenged their loyalties.

Jesus challenged their loyalties

v. 1 one of the disciples says to Jesus, “Teacher, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!”

He was basically saying, “Look how great these buildings are!  To which Jesus responded: “Do you see these great buildings?”

I can just see their faces.  “He loves these building too!  Jesus loves what we love!” Jesus was building anticipation.  Then he says, “Not one stone shall be left upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”  Imagine the shock!

Visiting Cameron

In April Jade and I came and visited this lovely church. Then, the next day, we spent some time in Durham.  We visited several places.  But one place that I wanted to take Jade to see more than any other was Cameron Indoor Stadium.  As we walked up, I was in awe.  Then we went inside.  I found a seat and just sat there taking it all in.  As we left, I asked Jade what she thought.  She wasn’t nearly as impressed as I was.  “It’s fine.  Sort of small.” 

In the same way, Jesus wasn’t as impressed with their buildings.  He knew that eventually they would be torn down.  They are only temporal.  However, the buildings also represent something else.  The disciple’s love for these buildings shows their commitment to the state. Jesus challenged this commitment.  “You love these great buildings.  However, they will eventually fall to the ground.  Then what?

Where does your loyalty lie?

In other words, Jesus was asking them: Where does your loyalty lie?  Does it lie with these buildings and the state, or does it lie with me?  When these walls fall, are you going to join the revolt and fight for the walls to come back up, or are you going to be faithful to me?

9/11 and war

9/11 was a devastating day.  I remember the shear terror of watching it over and over on tv.  I remember one of friends being terrified at school because his mom was at the Pentagon on that day.  He would eventually find out that she was ok. Many lives were lost.  Two beautiful buildings feel to the ground. Our sense of security was challenged. Not surprising, after that day, the United States sense of commitment to the state rose.  People even began going to church again…….for a little while.  Then, we decided that we needed to go to war to destroy evil.  We were completely committed to this task.  “You messed with us.  Now you are going to pay!”  Sadly, you even heard this type of language from pulpits all across America.  It was almost like the Crusades over again.  If you didn’t agree with the attack, you were immediately called unAmerican.  On many levels the followers of Christ joined in with America to launch this devastating war.

Where do your loyalties lie?

Now, I don’t expect everyone to agree with me on this issue.  However, I do think that this raises a valuable point?  Where do our loyalties lie?  Do they lie with the state or with Christ?  Do they lie with the American flag or the cross?  Now I’m not suggesting that we not be committed to America.  I’m proud of being apart of this great country.  I’m grateful for all of the brave men and women who serve in the military to protect us and our freedom.  But remember, as the military has fought for our freedom, Christ willingly laid down his life for our freedom.  Our freedom has already been won in Christ.  In the midst of honoring all of those who fought for our nation, don’t forget that Christ died willingly on the cross for our freedom and we are called to follow his example. 

Jesus challenges our historical identity, our loyalties, and our vision.

Jesus challenged their vision/motivations

Focus on the things above

As the disciples were looking around focused on the buildings, Jesus reminded them to focus on eternal things. 

Songs at the nursing home

Several years ago I went with my family to play music at a nursing home.  For some reason, we decided to play a lot of the newer contemporary music.  As we were playing, the people didn’t look like they were getting into it too much.  After the third or fourth song, my granddad came up to me and said, “Josh, play some songs about heaven.” I asked him, why?  He said “because older people like to sing about heaven.”

That was a revelation to me. The majority of the people in the room were in the 90s.  Of course they wanted to sing about heaven.  They had traveled through this long, difficult life.  Many were worried and afraid that they were soon die.  However, as they sang about heaven, they found hope.  They were reminded that eventually all of the suffering would be over.

Focused on heaven

It’s never too early in our lives to focus on heaven.  The early church spent their days thinking that Christ would soon come back.  Many didn’t even want to get jobs or stay involved in society because they were awaiting the Savior.  During their days, they were focused on the things above.  What would our lives be like if we spent them in anticipation of life eternally with Christ? 

In the meantime, don’t neglect the present

However, that eternal life doesn’t begin when we die.  It begins now.  We don’t know much about heaven, but we do know that it’s life with God and that life begins now.

Conclusion

Instead, endure

Jesus knew that the disciples had a tough road ahead.  Because of this tough road, he reoriented the disciple’s focus.  If they focused on buildings, the nation, the past, and earthly things, they wouldn’t make it.  Jesus challenged them to focus on the things above.  Our challenge this morning is to look past our surroundings to Christ.  And as we look to Christ, we find hope for tomorrow and hope for today.  In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

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Video of Kyrie Irving’s commitment to Duke

November 3, 2009 · Filed under Duke Basketball, Recruiting · Tagged

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Sermon:11.1.09

November 1, 2009 · Filed under Sermons · Tagged , ,

All Saints Sunday

Facing Death

John 11:32-44

I. Introduction

Hitting the tree/Leaving my mark

I can remember my first youth outing with my last church.  We were in the process of confirmation and I had planned an outing for them at one of our member’s house.  So we were out there having a good time.  We were playing games, eating, talking, etc.  Well, we were about to go somewhere so we all piled into the church van.  Once we loaded in, I put it in reverse to back out, and then I heard a crash.  Boom!  I had hit a beautiful tree!  As you can imagine with a bunch of sixth graders, they were yelling and screaming like we hit a car on the highway.  So I jumped out of the van and realized that the van was fine.  No scratches at all.  However, I left a huge dent in the tree.  So, the first time I visited at that house, I left my mark.  Everytime they look at that tree, they will remember me.

The imprint of saints

This morning we are celebrating All Saints Day. I’m sure that your minds are filled with people who have gone on to be with the Lord who have had a huge impact on your life.  As you look around this room, there is so much history that has taken place.  We are reminded of them today because they have left their mark on our lives.  Above all, saints are people who have encountered God and have left a mark on our lives.  They are people who have lived their lives, not for themselves, but for others.  So, what are other characteristics about Saints?

One is that saints are people who have witnessed the power of Jesus.

 

II. Saints are people who have witnessed the power of Jesus

What makes one a saint? Holiness?

Whenever we hear the word saint, we usually think of someone who does no wrong.  Every time I hear saint I automatically think of my grand dad. My granddad is someone who I have never seen do anything wrong.  I have never heard him cuss, I have never heard him yell, he have never kicked a dog, he never misses church.  When I think of saint, that’s usually what I think of.  Personal righteousness. Holiness. Therefore, I usually think that a saint is a perfect, super spiritual person.  However, that’s not necessarily the case.  For one, a saint of someone who has witnessed God’s power.  

Jesus’ power

In today’s story, Lazarus is dead.  Everyone is sad and some are wondering why Jesus didn’t get there sooner.  However, he says to the people, “Remove this stone.”  When Martha questions him for doing this, he says, “Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”  Then, after Jesus calls, Lazarus comes out of the tomb.  The people had witnessed the power of God.  Because of this encounter, the people will never be the same.

My first Braves game

When I was about 5 or 6, my dad took me to my first Atlanta Braves baseball game.  This was back during the Dale Murphy days when the Braves were terrible.  We sat right behind the dugout.  I brought my glove to catch foul balls with, even though I never got one.  I loved everything about the experience.  I loved the smell of peanuts.  I loved when we sang “Take me out to the ballgame.”  I discovered for the first time at this game that the Braves were America’s team because when we did the National Anthem we sang that America was “the land of the free and the home of the Braves”.  I loved watching the players.  I loved seeing the action live.  I don’t remember much about my childhood, but I remember a lot about this game.  I went to the game as a normal 6 year old, but I left as a Braves fan.

Saints encounter God

In the same way that I’m a Braves fan, the people of God are Saints because they have witnessed the power of God.  They have encountered God’s goodness and have been eternally affected by it.  Maybe they have never seen anyone raised from the dead, but they have experienced the goodness and forgiveness of God.  They are Saints because their encounter with God has sanctified them.

Saints are people who have witnessed the power of Jesus.  They are also people who have brought life into a death filled world.

III. Saints are people who have brought life into a death filled world

Jesus overcoming death

This story in John 11 puts death in its rightful place.  Jesus, the light of the world, shows darkness and death that he has power over them.  Even death is no match for Jesus!

Mother Teresa

When you think of a saint, Mother Teresa of Calcutta comes to mind.  It’s amazing all of the things that she has done.  In a world full of pain and suffering, she gave her life to bringing the love of God to people. 

Doesn’t have to be on the same scale

However, we can bring life into the world right where we are.  We are not all called to do what Mother Teresa has done.  God has called us to bring life into the world right where we are.  We must simply be opened to what God wants to do through us. Even Mother Teresa said that “I am a little pencil in the hand of God trying to write a love letter to the world”.  We are saints to the world whenever we disappear and people can see the love of God.

When God’s holiness encounters the world

This is what the church is called to be.  We are called to represent the love of God to the world.  We aren’t called to judge them.  That’s God’s job.  We are simply called to be a light in the world of darkness.  Saints aren’t people who are so holy that they are judgmental, but people who have experienced the love of God and share it in a dark world.

Saints are people who have witnessed the power of Jesus,  people who have brought life into a death filled world, and they are also people who have lived a life for us to model.

 

IV. Saints have lived a life for us to model.

Children watching movies

Have you ever noticed how children act after they get out of a movie?  If they watch spiderman, they leave wanting to go by the store to buy them a spiderman costume.  If they watch a Hanna Montana movie, they leave wanting a Hanna Montana toy.  When they encounter these stories, they are affected by it. 

In the same way, a saint is someone who has been affected by the life of Christ and sets a model for us to live by.  They leave God’s presence like a child leaves a movie and wants to put on God’s costume.  They want people to see the love, grace, and mercy of God through them.

My faith has been shaped by models

As I think about my life, it has been shaped by many different people.  I’m sure that you can say the same thing this morning.  We are sitting here this morning because someone had an impact on our lives.  In the same way, we try to follow their example and live the Christian life in they same way they did.  Saints are still with us today because they have left a legacy.  They have left people behind who talk like them, walk like them, pray like them, because they gave us a model.  A saint’s presence never leaves because the holiness that they left behind never dies. 

V. Conclusion

The promises Resurrection

Jesus waited before he came to Lazarus.  One reason is so that everyone there could experience the power of God.  Another reason, probably the main reason, is to forecast his future.  He showed everyone there that not even death had power him.  When Lazarus was raised, it was a snapshot of what was coming in Christ.  In the same way that Lazarus was raised, Jesus will be raised.  So today, as we think about our loved ones who have gone before us, who are with God in heaven, be reminded of Christ’s resurrection.  Be reminded that the story isn’t over.  It continues in the presence of God because of Christ’s resurrection.  Thanks be to God. In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  Amen.

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