Jesus the Prophet

This is typically the Sunday we look at John the Baptist preparing the way for Jesus. What he was doing was the role of prophet: Bringing God’s words to prepare the people for God’s plan. But this week instead of looking at John as a prophet, I want to spend a little time examining Jesus as a prophet. Why do we care that Christ is a prophet? How does it affect us? What does a prophet do? You can see an overwhelming list of what a prophet does at www.learnthebible.org/christ-a-prophet.html.

The best definition I found of prophet was from Abiding Word, Volume 2, page 128: “God spoke to the prophet and the prophet reported to the people.” Without knowing the mind of God, we wouldn’t have scripture, we wouldn’t have God’s chastisement against sin, we wouldn’t have assurance of God’s love and forgiveness.

Let’s back up and look at Jesus’ three roles we’ve been talking about.

King/ David/ Jesus has:/ An everlasting Kingdom/ Which is our hope of a heavenly kingdom.

Priest/ Melchizedek/ Jesus has:/ A Perfect Priesthood with no beginning or end/ Which is our hope of redemption.

Prophet/ Moses/ Jesus has:/ Constant and perfect communication with God/ Which is our hope of a right relationship with God.

Jesus’ Kingdom is connected with His relationship with His Father. We are adopted as sons into the Kingdom of God.

Jesus’ Priesthood is connected with Himself as Ultimate Sacrifice. We are seen by God as clean because of Christ’s perfect sacrifice.

Jesus as a prophet is connected with His relationship with the Holy Spirit. We are connected to God because of Christ’s role as a prophet through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit speaks God’s words to us just as a prophet would.

Now let’s look at how Christ’s kingdom, priestly sacrifice, and communication compares with that of the world.

God’s government versus the world’s government

If Noah had lived in the United States today the story may have gone something like this:

And the Lord spoke to Noah and said, "In one year, I am going to make it rain and cover the whole earth with water until all flesh is destroyed. But I want you to save the righteous people and two of every kind of living thing on earth. Therefore, I am commanding you to build an Ark." In a flash of lightning, God delivered the specifications for an Ark. In fear and trembling, Noah took the plans and agreed to build the ark. "Remember," said the Lord, "you must complete the Ark and bring everything aboard in one year."

Exactly one year later, fierce storm clouds covered the earth and all the seas of the earth went into a tumult. The Lord saw that Noah was sitting in his front yard weeping. "Noah!" He shouted. "Where is the Ark?"

"Lord, please forgive me," cried Noah. "I did my best, but there were big problems.

First, I had to get a permit for construction, and your plans did not meet the building codes. I had to hire an engineering firm and redraw the plans.

Then I got into a fight with OSHA over whether or not the Ark needed a sprinkler system and approved floatation devices.

Then, my neighbor objected, claiming I was violating zoning ordinances by building the Ark in my front yard, so I had to get a variance from the city planning commission.
Then, I had problems getting enough wood for the Ark, because there was a ban on cutting trees to protect the Spotted Owl. I finally convinced the U.S. Forest Service that I really needed the wood to save the owls. However, the Fish and Wildlife Service won't let me take the 2 owls.

The carpenters formed a union and went on strike. I had to negotiate a settlement with the National Labor Relations Board before anyone would pick up a saw or hammer. Now, I have 16 carpenters on the Ark, but still no owls.

When I started rounding up the other animals, an animal rights group sued me. They objected to me taking only two of each kind aboard. This suit is pending.

Meanwhile, the EPA notified me that I could not complete the Ark without filing an environmental impact statement on your proposed flood. They didn't take very kindly to the idea that they had no jurisdiction over the conduct of the Creator of the Universe.

Then, the Army Corps of Engineers demanded a map of the proposed flood plain. I sent them a globe.

Right now, I am trying to resolve a complaint filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission that I am practicing discrimination by not taking atheists aboard.

The IRS has seized my assets, claiming that I'm building the Ark in preparation to flee the country to avoid paying taxes. I just got a notice from the state that I owe them some kind of user tax and failed to register the Ark as a 'recreational water craft'.

And finally, the ACLU got the courts to issue an injunction against further construction of the Ark, saying that since God is flooding the earth, it's a religious event, and, therefore unconstitutional. I really don't think I can finish the Ark for another five or six years." (http://www.basicjokes.com/)

And that’s why we put our hope in a heavenly kingdom and not an earthly kingdom when we worship Jesus the King.

Our idea of sacrifice versus God’s idea of sacrifice

Last week, we looked at Jesus the priest and His perfect sacrifice.

Do you know why God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac when he was twelve years old?

Because if he had been a teenager, it wouldn’t have been a sacrifice.

Speaking of sacrifice, listen to this illustration.

After a few of the usual Sunday evening hymns, the church's pastor slowly stood up, walked over to the pulpit and, before he gave his sermon for the evening, briefly introduced a guest minister who was in the service that evening.

In the introduction, the pastor told the congregation that the minister was one of his dearest childhood friends and that he wanted him to have a few moments to greet the church and share whatever he felt would be appropriate for the service.

With that, an elderly man stepped up to the pulpit and began to speak. "A father, his son, and a friend of his son were sailing off the Pacific coast," he began, "when a fast-approaching storm blocked any attempt to get back to the shore. The waves were so high, that even though the father was an experienced sailor, he could not keep the boat upright and the three were swept into the ocean as the boat capsized."

The old man hesitated for a moment, making eye contact with two teenagers who were, for the first time since the service began, looking somewhat interested in his story. The aged minister continued with his story, "Grabbing a rescue line, the father had to make the most excruciating decision of his life: To which boy would he throw the other end of the life line. He only had seconds to make the decision. The father knew that his son was a Christian and he also knew that his son's friend was not. The agony of his decision could not be matched by the torrent of waves. As the father yelled out, 'I love you, Son!' he threw out the life line to his son's friend. By the time the father had pulled the friend back to the capsized boat, his son had disappeared beneath the raging swells into the black of night. His body was never recovered."

By this time, the two teenagers were sitting up straight in the pew, anxiously waiting for the next words to come out of the old minister's mouth.

"The father," he continued, "knew his son would step into eternity with Jesus and he could not bear the thought of his son's friend stepping into an eternity without Jesus. Therefore, he sacrificed his son to save the son's friend. How great is the love of God that He should do the same for us. Our Heavenly Father sacrificed His only begotten Son that we could be saved. I urge you to accept His offer to rescue you and take a hold of the life line He is throwing out to you in this service."

With that, the old man turned and sat back down in his chair as silence filled the room. The pastor again walked slowly to the pulpit and delivered a brief sermon with an invitation at the end. However, no one responded to the appeal.

Within minutes after the service ended, the two teenagers were at the old man's side. "That was a nice story," politely stated one of them, "But I don't think it was very realistic for a father to give up his only son's life in hopes that the other boy would become a Christian."

"Well, you've got a point there," the old man replied glancing down at his worn bible. A big smile broadened his narrow face. He once again looked up at the boys and said, "It sure isn't very realistic, is it? But I'm standing here today to tell you that story gives me a glimpse of what it must have been like for God to give up His son for me. You see...I was that father and your pastor was my son's friend." (www.maineiac.com/inspirational/sacrifice.html)

And that’s why we put our hope of redemption in the perfect sacrifice when we worship Jesus the Priest.

Communication with people versus Communication with God

Most of us have now learned to live with voice mail as a necessary part of our lives. What if God communicated with us with voice mail? Imagine praying and hearing the following:

Thank you for calling heaven.
For English press 1
For Spanish press 2
For all other languages, press 3

Please select one of the following options:
Press 1 for request
Press 2 for thanksgiving
Press 3 for complaints
Press 4 for all others

I am sorry, all our Angels and Saints are busy helping other sinners right now. However, your prayer is important to us and we will answer it in the order it was received. Please stay on the line.

If you would like to speak to:
God, press 1
Jesus, press 2
Holy Spirit, press 3

To find a loved one that has been assigned to heaven press 5, then enter his social security # followed by the pound sign.
(If you receive a negative response, please hang up and dial area code 666.)

For reservations to heaven, please enter JOHN followed by the numbers, 3 16.

For answers to nagging questions about dinosaurs, life and other planets, please wait until you arrive in heaven for the specifics.

Our computers show that you have already been prayed for today, please hang up and call again tomorrow.

The office is now closed for the weekend to observe a religious holiday.

If you are calling after hours and need emergency assistance, please contact your local pastor.

Thank you and have a heavenly day.

Aren’t you glad that our hope of a right relationship with God doesn’t depend on voice mail?! And the constant communication with God that Jesus opened up for us through the Holy Spirit is why we worship Jesus the Prophet.

King/ David/ Everlasting Kingdom/ Our hope of a heavenly kingdom/ Connected to God

Priest/ Melchizedek/ Perfect Priesthood with no beginning or end/ Our hope of redemption/ Connected to Jesus

Prophet/ Moses/ Constant and perfect communication with God/ Our hope of a right relationship with God/ Connected to the Holy Spirit

So as we say the Apostle’s Creed together, as we affirm our belief in God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, I want us to remember where our hope of a heavenly kingdom comes from, where our hope of redemption comes from, and where our hope of a right relationship with God comes from.

Jesus the Great High Priest

Confessions of A Perfectionist by Maggie McCauley: Once a perfectionist always a perfectionist? It's a hard habit to break away from because it has so many rewards—all that recognition, accomplishment, pride, self esteem, value, kudos, and neatness! Yes, but there are as many negatives as there are positives—all the pressure to perform, expectations, stress, lost time, procrastination, frustration, and sleepless nights!

I lived the life of a perfectionist for many years until I realized that it was actually making me very unhappy. It caused a great deal of anger and frustration with family, friends, and co-workers, not to mention myself. My expectations were far above what anyone could achieve. I couldn't meet them!

Do you ever feel this way in your spiritual life? We’re supposed to praise God everyday (Psalm 145:2), search the Scriptures daily (Acts 17:11), and pray without ceasing (1 Thess. 5:17). We’re also supposed to rejoice always (v.16), give thanks for everything (v.18) and examine everything carefully (v.21). To top this all off, Jesus tells us in Mt. 5:48 to be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect. This is the problem of serving an awesome, mighty and holy God!

You’ve got to be kidding, right God? I mean, you know that we are just made of dust right (Psalm 103::14)? Who are we that we could live up to such high standards?

James 2:10 “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.” We need help!

This is what the solution to the problem of perfection looked like for the ancient Israelites:

1. Once a year the Israelites would send the High Priest in the tabernacle, through the veil and into the Holy of Holies.
2. First he would cleanse himself with pure water.
3. Then he had to make an atonement sacrifice for himself and his household first.
4. Blood was sprinkled everywhere and on everything.
5. Then two goats were brought before the Lord on behalf of all the people. One was sacrificed, with blood sprinkled everywhere again. The other goat was sent out into the wilderness with all the people’s sins upon him. That goat was the scapegoat (or goat of removal).
6. If the High Priest didn’t do it perfectly, he would die- just like Aaron’s two sons died in Lev. 10:1-2. Talk about a high pressure job!
7. Also, not anyone could be High Priest. You had to meet two qualifications according to Hebrews 5:1-2.

I. THE QUALITIES REQUIRED IN HIGH PRIESTS (1-4)

A. DIVINE APPOINTMENT (1,4)- Only God can rightfully select a high priest, even as God called Aaron - e.g., Exo 28,29; Lev 8,9; Num 16-18

B. HUMAN SYMPATHY (1-3)·

• A high priest is selected "from among men"·
• This helps to ensure a spirit of "compassion"...·
• A high priest who knew his own weakness would be more likely to be understanding of his brethren.·
• It also explains why the high priest in the OT offered sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people - cf. Lev 16:11·
• Thus a high priest would need to be well acquainted with the "human condition" (i.e., the struggle against temptation)

Why don’t we see this happening today? It is because Jesus has met the qualifications to be our great High Priest. [The parallel between high priests in the OT and Jesus as our High Priest does not hold true in every minute detail (e.g., He 7:26-27). But certainly in the most fundamental ways Jesus has the qualities to be our High Priest, as we now consider...]

II. CHRIST'S QUALIFICATIONS AS HIGH PRIEST (5-8)

A. DIVINELY APPOINTED (5,6)

1. Christ was Divinely called to serve as High Priest, just as Aaron was
2. As evidence of His calling, two Messianic prophecies are offered...

a. His position as God's Son - cf. Ps 2:7·

• As God's Son, sitting and ruling at the right hand of God·
• (cf. Ps 110:1-3), His calling as a priest is only natural

b. As prophesied in Ps 110:4, the Messiah would be "a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek."

c. Here we begin to learn the distinct nature of Christ's priesthood.

d. Thus His priesthood would be different from the Aaronic or Levitical priesthood.

B. SYMPATHETIC BECAUSE OF HIS OWN SUFFERINGS (7,8)

1. While "in the days of His flesh", Christ...

a. "offered prayers and supplications with vehement cries and tears"

b. He prayed "to Him who was able to save Him from death"

c. He was heard "because of His godly fear"

2. That Jesus would have "godly fear" and offer such prayers provides insight into the extent of His temptations and sufferings in the flesh - cf. also He 2:18; 4:15

3. Even though He was God's Son, by the things which He suffered "He learned obedience" - what does this mean?

a. He knew obedience as the Son of God

b. Perhaps it means He came to know what obedience involved as one "in the flesh" (i.e., the challenge of obedience in the midst of suffering, temptations, etc.)

4. Through His suffering, Jesus certainly understands the "human condition" which qualifies Him to serve as High Priest .

http://www.ccel.org/contrib/exec_outlines/he/he_11.htm

I had to lay this foundation so we could more fully understand what our passage in Hebrews 10 is saying. Notice the all-encompassing work of Christ. He is the perfect sacrifice, the temple veil, and the perfect High Priest.

First, in v.19 we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus. He is the once-for-all perfect sacrifice.

Second, in v.20 the veil that separated us from the holy presence of God was torn away by the tearing of Christ’s flesh. This gives new understanding to John 14:6 where Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” The only way to get to the Holy of Holies (where the Father dwells) is to go through the veil of Christ’s flesh.

Third, v.21 tells us about Jesus as our great priest.

What does all this mean for us? 3 things:

1. We can draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith (v.22). Drawing near to a holy perfect God is not something to be taken lightly. Yet, v.19 says we enter His presence with confidence. And v.22 says we have full assurance of faith. How can this be? As we come up for Jesus’ blood this morning at the Lord’s Supper, and as we swallow it down, I want us to picture that blood being sprinkled over our dirty hearts and making them clean. As we come forward this morning, I want us to remember our baptism, our confession of ultimate trust and belief in the Lord as being washed with pure water- just like the High Priest had to be cleansed before coming before Holy God. And then, draw near to God. Draw near to Him because He is always near to us.

2. And hold fast the confession of our hope (v.23). His holiness can be scary, but not if we claim our confidence in Christ. Don’t come before Holy God with our filthy good deeds and attempts at perfection. They won’t cut it. Cover ourselves with Christ’s blood. Claim His sacrifice on our behalf. The only reason we can have hope is that He who promised is faithful. We can hope for good weather. We can hope for a Packers win. We can hope for good health. But don’t put our hope in passing shadows. Hope in the Faithful Promiser. Hope in the Alpha & Omega. Hope in the perfect sacrifice and the perfect priest.

3. As we take communion this morning, we bind ourselves together as a community trusting in the same One. Not only as a community here in La Grange, but we bind ourselves as a worldwide community with all others who have put their hope and trust in the Great High Priest Jesus. As a local and a global community, we are called to stimulate one another to love and good deeds. One teacher told me that stimulate here means “irritate to action.” Sometimes being pushed and encouraged towards love and good deeds won’t always be pleasant for us. But then, it’s not about us, is it?

The veil is torn through Christ’s flesh. The blood of Christ is sprinkled over our hearts. Come now with confidence. Come to the new and living way. Come draw near with full assurance. Come confess your hope without wavering. Come to the Faithful Promiser. Come together as a community- a community of love, good deeds, a touch of irritation, and encouragement.

Redeemer King Jesus

I have a way of getting myself into predicaments. I was backpacking in northern Wisconsin one weekend before I was married. I can’t remember how this happened (I’m sure I blocked it out of my memory), but somehow I lost the trail, was running out of daylight, and was in the midst of private land that I couldn’t camp on. This car pulled up and two kind strangers, Dan and Evi, offered me a ride. I thanked them profusely and as I got in, I shared that I wasn’t exactly sure where I was going. They then suggested I camp in their back yard for the night and they could take me back to the trail in the morning. I happily took them up on the offer and then to top it all off, they invited me in for dinner! Now, that’s the way to get rescued!

Now maybe you don’t get yourselves into those kind of situations, but there are plenty of ways in life that we find ourselves in predicaments. Sometimes, it feels as if our whole life is a predicament! Ruth and Naomi were certainly in a predicament. They had no one to care for them; relying on the kindness of others to provide for even their basic needs. But what I want us to see today through this story is that even during the trials and hardships, God’s hand is upon our life seeking to redeem us from our hopelessness and reign as King of all.

In the account of Ruth and Naomi, we meet a very important figure with a very important role in the story- Boaz. Boaz’s role as kinsman redeemer gets fleshed out in chapters 3 and 4. Boaz is a “type” of Christ figure. We see these throughout history where someone takes on the role or typifies what Christ does on our behalf. Boaz as kinsman redeemer shows us a picture of how Christ redeems us.

Christ functions as our Kinsman Redeemer. He is our kinsman because He became flesh for our sakes. He took on the form of man, so He could also take on our judgment. He is our redeemer because He laid down His life to rescue us from our hopeless and destitute state (Philippians 2).

“This may encourage us to lay ourselves by faith at the feet of Christ, that he is our near kinsman; having taken our nature upon him” (Matthew Henry's Commentary, p.209).

We are in need of our Redeemer to spread His covering over us to seek His protection and comfort and safety.

Just as we can learn some things through Boaz, we can also learn some things through Ruth.
Matthew Henry points out Ruth’s 4 roles (p.214-5) of:
1. Wife
2. Mother
3. Daughter-in-law
4. Ancestor of David and Christ

If we look at those roles, we can apply certain lessons to our life:

1. Wife- As the Church, we are the bride of Christ. Ruth was grafted into the family of the Israelites through marriage, even though she had no right to be there. We have been likewise grafted into the spiritual family of Israel, as the bride of Christ and believers of God’s promises. The story of Ruth gives us a taste to come that the blessings of the Lord are not limited to Israel. Psalm 113:7-8 says, “God raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes, with the princes of His people.” We, like Ruth, have been raised up from nothing to be counted among God’s people! Hallelujah!

2. Mother- We have been called to be parents to our own children, but then also to be spiritual mothers and fathers to those who come after us. Who am I helping to grow spiritually right now? What am I passing on to the next generation? Or the next class? Or my younger brothers and sisters? Or to new believers in Christ?

3. Daughter-in-law- Ruth as a daughter-in-law showed immense loyalty to someone who had nothing to offer her; someone who she owed nothing to. With the birth of Obed, Naomi was encouraged in her old age, and raised him like he was her own. When Christ acts as our kinsman redeemer, we suddenly become showered with amazing blessing. What do we do with that blessing? Are we passing it on to those around us? Are we sharing that blessing with those who have lost all hope and are despairing of their very life?

4. Ancestor of David and Christ- It is through this ancestry that King David came as Boaz’s great-grandson. And 14 generations after King David came King Jesus. So as Christ acts as our “kinsman redeemer,” He also acts as our King. And that is why today on Christ the King Sunday I wanted to tie together those two titles for Jesus. Because He is Savior, yes. But He is also Lord. We cannot accept one without the other.

So with that in mind, I want to close by focusing on Ruth chapter 3, verse 18, “Wait, my daughter, until you know how the matter falls; for the man will not rest until he has finished the matter today.”

Likewise, we are to wait upon Jesus putting the hope of our future in His hands, because we know He will not rest until the matter is finished completely.

WAIT- The hardest command of all for us, but we are to wait upon the Lord. Christ as our Kinsman Redeemer did not rest until He had settled the matter completely.

He completely prayed it through at Gethsemane.
He completely endured the harsh trials of the high priest and Pontius Pilate.
He completely suffered through the beatings and cruelties of the Romans.
He completely accepted the mockery of the people.
He completely witnessed the abandonment of His own followers.
He completely took death on the cross in our place, as our Redeemer.
He completely died so that all lost hope.
He completely rose to be the first fruits of new life!
He completely conquered Satan and all he had been scheming for so many years!
He completely reigns over the earth and over our lives!
He completely rules over all the other kings and kingdoms!
He completely loves in a way that only Jesus can love!
(Colossians 1:13-18)
He completely rescued us from our domains of darkness!
He completely transferred us to His Kingdom!
We have been redeemed! We have been forgiven!
Hallelujah! Christ reigns over all! He is King!
Since the beginning of creation, He is King!
Over the heavens and the earth, He is King!
Over the visible and the invisible, He is King!
Over thrones and dominions and rulers and authorities, He is King!
He is King of the Church!
He is King of my life! Hallelujah! He is King!

And what are we to do with that kingship?

An elderly gentleman was out walking with his young grandson. "How far are we from Home?" he asked the grandson. The boy answered, "Grandpa, I don't know." The grandfather asked, "Well, where are you?" Again the boy answered, "I don't know." Then the grandfather said good-naturedly, "Sounds to me as if you are lost." The young boy looked up at his grandfather and said, "Nope, I can't be lost. I'm with you." Ultimately, that is the answer to our lostness, too. We can't be lost with our Redeemer and King.

And so it is my prayer that everyone here can claim Jesus as their Redeemer and King, and as a way to confirm that in our lives and to each other, I’d like to read from Revelation 1.

Grace to you and peace, from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood- and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father- To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” Amen.

Be Sold Out

The conductor of the community orchestra was almost out of his mind. At every single rehearsal, there had been at least one member who had been missing. Planning for a well organized concert was almost impossible. At the last rehearsal, he called for attention and said, "I would like to thank the first violinist for being the only member of the orchestra to attend every rehearsal." The violinist smiled shyly and humbly said to the conductor, "Well, it seemed the least I could do since I won't be at the concert tonight."
All Across America there are people, young and old alike who are uncommitted.
They have the appearance of commitment. They say they’ll show up and they don’t. They say they’ll help out, but they can’t.
Their actions speak louder than their words telling of half-hearted, conditional commitment.

Just what is commitment?
"Commitment demands a choice. Jesus wasted no time getting to the heart of commitment: Either the disciples would be committed to Him and deny their own desires. Or they would be determined to go their own ways and deny Him. The choice to commit is the same for all believers - either deny ourselves or deny Him; either we go His way or we pursue our way.

Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.” (Luke 9:23-26)

"A young man who was desperately in love with a young lady, wrote her that he would be willing to endure the cold of the frigid zone, or cross the burning sands of the desert, or climb the highest mountains, or swim the ocean, just to be in her charming presence." Then he closed his letter by saying, "And I will see you Wednesday night- if it does not rain!"
How many people love the Lord devotedly, and will be at prayer meeting and do many things only if perfectly convenient?
Rev. L. B. Williams, in his book on "Holiness Illustrations," related that story in the book “Effective Illustrations” by William Moses Tidwell.

Contrast that half-hearted devotion to the widow’s actions at the temple. What does it mean to give all you have like that widow? We use her as an example, but most of us at best give out of our plenty; we don’t give everything. The Lord has been speaking to me about this a lot recently and it’s not fun! He’s asking me to give more than normal. He’s asking me to trust Him above any source of income. It’s one of those things that sounds all pious and holy until you actually have to do it.
When you play poker, the betting starts low and depending on how good your hand is, you’re willing to raise the stakes, slowly putting in more and more of your money. At some point, you get pushed to the limit, and you must declare “all in.” This means that you’re putting everything you have on that one hand. If you lose, you go home. Jesus is asking us to go “all in.” Commitment demands action. It extends beyond our relationship to the heavenly Father to every area of life. Listen now to the first part of the book of Ruth to hear an example of “sold out”, “all in” commitment.

Ruth 1
Naomi Widowed
1Now it came about in the days when the judges governed, that there was a famine in the land And a certain man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the land of Moab with his wife and his two sons.
This account takes place in the time of the judges. “In those days, Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit.” Judges 21:25

In the midst of the selfishness and the chaos, the narrative of Ruth is an oasis of hope and redemption.
2The name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife, Naomi; and the names of his two sons were Mahlon (“sick”) and Chilion (“weakening”), Ephrathites of Bethlehem in Judah. Now they entered the land of Moab and remained there.
3Then Elimelech, Naomi's husband, died; and she was left with her two sons.
4They took for themselves Moabite women as wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. And they lived there about ten years.
These people of the promise left the land that was the signature mark of their promise. Why? Because there was a famine in the land. And why was there a famine in the land? It was a sign of judgment against the Israelites because “everyone did as he saw fit.” So this family leaves the promise, then they start to get comfortable away from where God wants them. They remain there. And before you know it a decade goes by.
5Then both Mahlon and Chilion also died, and the woman was bereft of her two children and her husband.
6Then she arose with her daughters-in-law that she might return from the land of Moab, for she had heard in the land of Moab that the LORD had visited His people in giving them food.
The Lord is His mercy remembered His people, and Naomi remembered her God and His promises.
7So she departed from the place where she was, and her two daughters-in-law with her; and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah.
8And Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, "Go, return each of you to her mother's house. May the LORD deal kindly with you as you have dealt with the dead and with me.
9"May the LORD grant that you may find rest, each in the house of her husband." Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept.
10And they said to her, "No, but we will surely return with you to your people."
11But Naomi said, "Return, my daughters. Why should you go with me? Have I yet sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?
12"Return, my daughters! Go, for I am too old to have a husband. If I said I have hope, if I should even have a husband tonight and also bear sons,
13would you therefore wait until they were grown? Would you therefore refrain from marrying? No, my daughters; for it is harder for me than for you, for the hand of the LORD has gone forth against me."
Ruth's Loyalty
14And they lifted up their voices and wept again; and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.
15Then she said, "Behold, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and her gods; return after your sister-in-law."

16But Ruth said, "Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God.
17"Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. Thus may the LORD do to me, and worse, if anything but death parts you and me."
18When she saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more to her.
What did Ruth see in Naomi or in Naomi’s God that she was so determined to follow her and stay with her with no hope or promise of a better future?
What caused Ruth to have such a great allegiance to Naomi when Orpah did not?
Orpah clearly cared for Naomi and was sad to go, but ultimately, she went. Why?
Did she have a better family life to go back to in Moab than did Ruth?
Maybe she trusted the gods of Moab more than Shaddai?

Have I ever been that determined to do something- no matter what?
Have I ever claimed such a strong allegiance to someone or something to claim I would devote my life to that person or thing- no matter what?
19So they both went until they came to Bethlehem. And when they had come to Bethlehem, all the city was stirred because of them, and the women said, "Is this Naomi?"
20She said to them, "Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.
21"I went out full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the LORD has witnessed against me and the Almighty has afflicted me?"
22So Naomi returned, and with her Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, who returned from the land of Moab. And they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest (March or April).


We’ll conclude the book next time, but today I want to focus on two verses: 16But Ruth said, "Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God.
17"Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried.
From Matthew Henry’s Commentary (p.201-2), listen to what Ruth was committing to Naomi.
Travel- Ruth is going to a country she never saw and to a country that she was raised to look down upon as a child.
Lodging- Ruth didn’t know if she’d be living in a house, cottage, shack, tent or under a bridge, but she had to know it wouldn’t be anything great.
Companions- “Your people will be my people.” Ruth was saying to Naomi, “If your people are like you, then I want to be around them.”
§ As God’s people, do people see the love and joy of Christ in us?
§ Do they want to be around us because of Who we are around?
Her God- Ruth was saying, “I will adore the God of Israel, the only living and true God, trust in Him alone, serve Him, and in every thing be ruled by Him.”
Death- Ruth was committing to die with the same integrity and faithfulness that Naomi lived in throughout her entire life.
Burial- Ruth was “not desiring to have so much as her dead body carried back to the country of Moab.”

This is a pattern, for the “sold out,” “all in” convert to God.
We must take the Lord for our God.
We must take his people for our people in all conditions, though they be a poor despised people and not always fun to be around.
We must be willing to submit to God’s yoke and to go where God will have us to go.
We must continue and persevere. Not even death can end our commitment to Christ. It is an everlasting covenant because the Apostle Paul tells us that to join in Christ’s death means we also get to join in with His life and resurrection.
We must bind our souls with a bond never to break these resolutions. There is no turning back.

That sort of “resolve puts temptation to silence. Those who are unresolved stand like a door half open, which invites a thief; but [a] resolution [to be “sold out” and “all in”] shuts and bolts the door.”

A wife who is 85% faithful to her husband is not faithful at all. There is no such thing as part-time loyalty to Jesus Christ.

Ruth's words of commitment to Naomi did not speak as loudly as did her actions. She left her family and homeland to return with Naomi to Bethlehem.
Is it really possible to have that kind of commitment?

When the apostle Peter was sentenced to execution, he requested to be crucified upside down as a way to honor His Lord Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross.
The apostle Paul during His ministry was so committed to Christ that he was
Jailed
Beaten
Starved
Stoned
Ridiculed
Run out of town
And eventually killed.
But what about today?
On Oct. 20, Chen Le, a high school student, was expelled from Xinjiang High school for refusing to denounce his faith.
On Oct.27, nearly 1,000 Arastamar Bible school students faced eviction from a West Jarkata Mayors office building where they were living temporarily, in Indonesia.
Recently, two Baptist pastors in Russia's Baltic Sea exclave of Kaliningrad were fined 2,200 rubles (US $75) after their community "sang psalms and spoke about Christ" on the street.
Tell me, how can we possibly compare our commitment to these faithful brothers and sisters of ours?
God is not asking us to compare with these mighty examples, but He is asking for ALL of us. So:
What areas of our life are we holding back from the Lord?
What in our lives do we need to throw on the table to be “all in” for God?
Where in our lives are we hesitating to follow Him because the way seems unclear?

Let’s pray:
Take my life Lord. I give it to You. Take every hour, every minute, every second of every day you give me on earth. I want to be “all in” for You. I don’t want to hold anything back. I give you my actions, my words, my money, my intelligence, my strength and my heart. Lord, when You see me holding something back, prod me. When You see me hesitating, encourage me. To You be the glory for everything good that comes out of my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The Church: Orthopraxy

LaGrange United Methodist Church is an:
I. Intergenerational
II. Christian
III. Spiritual Home
a. We build faith for all ages together through:
i. Worship
ii. Study and
iii. Fellowship
IV. For Our Community
a. We provide:
i. Hands on
ii. Personal
iii. Care
1. Within our community
2. To the larger community
3. To the state
4. To the world
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I. Part 2- Orthopraxis Right Action

Last week, we talked about the Church and her beliefs. We saw how all of the Church’s beliefs throughout history (including the Apostle’s & Nicene Creeds) come from Scripture and from Jesus’ work and teachings.

We concluded our time describing the Church universal and how that fit into the Church in La Grange. If you remember, we ended with 4 ways the Church is described in the Bible:

• The Body of Christ
• The Bride of Christ
• The Family of God
• God’s Temple

Now what happens if we stop there? What if we fully understand the beliefs of the Church and can explain who she is perfectly? Where does that leave us? Well, that would be like NASA believing we can get to space, being able to explain how it could be done, drawing out the plans for and building a space ship but never sending it in space.

As we learned last week, some beliefs are at the very core of Christianity and define Christianity, but the Church is more than just believing the right things. God’s design for His Church is for her to be on mission. To be a part of God’s Church means much more than just holding the right beliefs. That leads us to the question:

A. What is the mission of the Church?

Before we answer this, it’s important to distinguish between Christ’s idea of mission and our idea of mission. Look at our reading from Mark this morning. Our mission usually has to do with conquering, growing, dominating, taking over. Christ’s mission is about serving, becoming least, giving up rights, and waiting on God’s timing. Reaching all of La Grange is not bad, but it is not the Church’s mission. Growth is not bad, but that is not the Church’s mission. Growth is often a result of being faithful to the mission, but if it is the goal, we’re focused on the wrong thing. Dominating the community for Christ is not the right idea for mission. Our perspective must be this:

• How can we serve our community?
• How can we make those around us greater- even when it means we become less?
• How can we be in tune with what God is doing- when He’s doing it and not when we want Him to do it?
• If we don’t get this right, every thing else we talk about is in vain.

With that in mind, what is the mission of the Church? This has been answered in so many ways throughout history that it gets a little mind boggling. Almost every local church (including ours) has written a mission statement at some point in her history. And overall, I think it’s a good exercise to go through. But the truth of the matter is that every local church’s mission statement should look pretty much the same. If they are trying to be too unique or too different, they’ve probably strayed from God’s purpose for the Church. I’m enough of a realist to know that what we write down on paper and how it really is don’t always line up, so today I want to look at 3 important elements that should be a part of every local church’s mission statement and then compare those elements to our own reality and our own mission statement to see how it looks. I can look at the mission statement and answer that part, but I’m going to need your help to answer what it looks like in reality. We’ll get to that in just a bit.

1. To love God and love man (The Two Great Commandments)- Matthew 22:37-40

The first element comes from Deuteronomy 6:4-9.

Hear O Israel: The Lord your God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”

This passage of scripture is called the “Shema.” Every Jewish family has a part of this posted on the doorpost of their house. Every Jewish child memorizes this passage. (Intergenerational) Jesus reaffirmed its centrality and built upon its importance in Matthew 22:37-40:

And Jesus said to him, “’You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”

Now if you remember what we read from in Deuteronomy, it just mentioned the loving God part; it didn’t include loving your neighbor.

Let me set the scene for Jesus’ statement in Matthew. The Pharisees and Sadducees are taking turns trying to trap Jesus into saying something they can convict Him for. So they are asking Him all these trick questions. The Pharisees start by asking Him if it is lawful to pay taxes or not? Now, what if I went up to one of you, “Hey Dick, I’ve got this tax bill coming up that I need to pay, but I was thinking, you know, I should really give that money to God. I mean it’s His money after all, isn’t it? What do you think?” And the whole time, I’m wire tapped, because I’m trying to get Dick to say something that I can use against him and send to the feds. So Jesus gives a great answer, “Give the government what is theirs and give God what is His.”

Now the Sadducees take a turn. They don’t believe in resurrection, so they ask him about this woman who ended up marrying 7 brothers who all kept dying, so who would she be married to in heaven? And Jesus says, “You don’t get it do you? It doesn’t work that way in heaven. God isn’t the God of the dead, but of the living.” In other words, “Don’t bring me your hypothetical situations about life, but bring me your own lives instead!”

Finally the Pharisees come back, still trying to trick Jesus, and they ask Him, “What is the greatest commandment?” Jesus responds with the “Shema” from Deuteronomy which was the “right” answer they were looking for, but then He adds the second, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” This was a little jab because the Pharisees were so caught up in serving the Lord and following all the rules and making sure everybody else followed the rules, that they had very little time for anybody else, and certainly not for loving or serving anyone else! But Jesus’ point should not be lost: You can’t do one without the other. You can not love God without loving your neighbor, and you can not really show love to your neighbor without a love for God.

I hate to give away the ending here, but look inside your bulletin for a page with the La Grange Mission Statement and 3 questions on it. During my talk, I’d like you to be thinking about these questions and as we go along, if you think of a response to one of them, please jot it down, and then I’ll collect those at the end of worship at the back.

(a) How do the 2 Great Commandments align with the La Grange mission statement?

(1) Elements of loving God

• Christian
• Spiritual Home
• We build faith for all ages together through:
• Worship
• Study and
• Fellowship
  

(2) Elements of loving neighbor

• We provide:
• Hands on
• Personal
• Care
• Within our community
• To the larger community
• To the state
• To the world
  

2. The Great Commission- Jesus, Matthew 28:19-20

The second element of mission for the Church is often called the Great Commission from Matthew 28:19-20:

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

As always, there a number of ways to look at this, but I want to break it down to 4 parts:

a) Go

This is one word, 2 letters, but a very important distinction in philosophy. Go. Not, come. Go out to the world. Not wait for them to come to us. An action word, not a passive word. Where is the Lord calling us to go? What does that look like in reality and according to our mission statement?

• Within our community
• To the larger community
• To the state
• To the world
  

b) Make Disciples (of all nations)

Make disciples. This really gets to the heart of the matter. What the Church is to be about. Jesus started with 12 disciples. From those 12, the effort of making disciples for Jesus has never ceased. It’s important to note that these are not “my disciples” but Jesus’ disciples. I’m not building my own little kingdom, but I’m contributing to the Master’s Kingdom. A disciple then, is a learner AND a follower, a follower AND a friend of Jesus. For the Church to make disciples then, is to help others learn more about Jesus, help others follow Jesus more, and help others draw closer to Jesus. And the caveat here is that this should be happening with “all nations.” What does this look like at La Grange in reality and according to our mission statement?

• We build faith for all ages together through:
• Worship
• Study and
• Fellowship
  

c) Baptizing in the name of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

These last 2 parts of the great commission are really describing the discipleship process. There is the act of faith in baptism along with the confirming of belief that we talked about last week.

• Christian

d) Teaching to observe Christ’s commandments

Last is the process of teaching others to observe Christ’s commandments. The apostle Paul probably said it best when he said, “Follow me as I follow Christ.” In other words:

• Teach others by learning from Jesus first.
• Lead others by following Jesus first.
• And be a good friend to others by being a friend with Jesus first.

How are we learning from Jesus? (Study)

How are we following Jesus? (First of all, we’re doing it together. And we’re doing it in obedience to His commands- to the best of our ability anyway.)

How are we being a friend to Jesus? (Worship, by personal care)

What does this look like in reality and according to our mission statement?

3. “Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever.”- Westminster Shorter Catechism

The last element of mission for today comes from the Westminster Shorter Catechism. The first question of the shorter catechism is probably known by all of you whether you realize it or not.

What is man’s chief end? “Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever.”

How do we glorify God? How do we enjoy Him forever? (Worship. Fellowship- I believe enjoying one another is one way we can enjoy the Lord.)

Another way you could look at the issue of Mission is to ask:

B. Why does the Church exist?

1. To live out the Great Commandments
2. To fulfill the Great Commission
3. To glorify God and to enjoy Him forever
4. As the body of Christ, it could be said the Church exists to be Christ’s representative, literally to be His hands and feet on earth.
5. As the bride of Christ, it could be said the Church exists to love, honor, cherish, worship, adore, and be obedient to Christ’s commands.
6. As the family of God, it could be said the Church exists to be a community of redeemed souls living in unity with each other and with love for one another.
7. As God’s temple, it could be said the Church exists to be a dwelling place for the Lord.

We’ve looked at the great commandments and the great commission. How do we see these other descriptions of the Church’s mission at La Grange?

Body of Christ
i. We provide:
1. Hands on
2. Personal
3. Care

Bride of Christ
i. Worship
Family of God
i. Spiritual Home

God’s Temple
i. Christian
ii. Spiritual Home

C. What is unique about the mission of the Church?

D. What makes the mission of the Church different from any business, or social club, or community organization?

1. A business’ primary mission is making money. The Church’s primary mission is making disciples of Jesus.
2. A social club’s primary mission is gathering people around a common activity. The Church also gathers people around a common activity, but those activities are specific to the Church, i.e.- loving and serving each other, the community, and the world.
3. A community organization’s primary mission is maintaining a social good or eradicating a social evil. Its motivation is to make the world a better place for themselves, their neighbors, and their children. The Church is also concerned about the good and evils of society, but is motivated by advancing God’s Kingdom here on earth; knowing that Jesus is often the only lasting solution to social problems.
   

E. What could orthopraxy look like in La Grange?

I believe there are some amazing things that happen at this church. I believe this church serves as a great representative of Christ, and I am proud to be a part of what God is doing here. Yet, I believe the last thing any of us want to do is sit around and pat ourselves on the back for what we do.

The question shouldn’t be:
What are we already doing?
Nor should it be: What else can we add to our plate?

Instead the question should be:

• What is the Lord calling us to?
• What are we really good at that we could get even better at?
• What unique gifts, talents, and abilities has the Lord given us that we could use for Him?
  
  Take a few seconds to jot down some thoughts if you haven’t already. I’ll collect these at the back as you leave and then I’ll compile them and share our collective thoughts next week as part of our conclusion to this Church series.
  
  As we think about our gifts and abilities, I’d like to sing our closing hymn which reminds us that our greatest ability is being able to follow Jesus above all else.

Hymn Are Ye Able.

The Church: Orthodoxy

A simple quiz:
2 + 2 = ?
Red + Blue = ?
If I let go of this pencil, will it go up or down?
How many sides does a triangle have?

Great Job! You all passed! These are all things that we know to be true. We can go in depth and study these things through mathematics and geometry, physics and art. But we figure these things out long before we can explain them. Furthermore, if I told you that I believed 2 + 2 = 3, or that Red + Blue = Yellow, it still wouldn’t be true.

Likewise, we can say the same thing about the Church. There are basic fundamental truths about the Church that no matter what people in local churches believe or how they behave, those truths never cease to be true. So I want to do something a little different these next 3 weeks. I want to look at the Church from 3 different perspectives:
I. The Church and her beliefs
II. The Church and her mission
III. The Church and her character

This might sound a little familiar if you remember our conclusion from James last week that RIGHT BELIEFS lead to RIGHT ACTIONS which lead to RIGHT CHARACTER. Now, we’re going to apply those to the Church.

What inspired me to do this? A couple of things:
I. First, I get these messages from the conference asking each church to have a 5 or 7 year plan. So that led me wondering, “Does La Grange have anything like that?”
II. My inquisitiveness from that question led me to find a Vision Statement and a Mission Statement that was written here 2 years ago. I liked the vision statement. In case you haven’t seen it lately, it says:
LaGrange United Methodist Church is an:
Intergenerational
Christian
Spiritual Home
We build faith for all ages together through:
Worship
Study and
Fellowship
For Our Community
We provide:
Hands on
Personal
Care
Within our community
To the larger community
To the state
To the world
After reading this, it occurred to me that it can be helpful to look at the big picture Church and then apply that to the local church. And my prayer is that by looking at the nature of the Church, God will use this process to inspire us to new ideas and confirm within us what we are already doing.
We’ll touch on different aspects of this vision statement in the next couple weeks, but this week I want to focus on one word: Christian.
What does it mean to be a Christian church? Why is that important?
I think it is important not to lose the history of Christianity- of where we came from.

I. Part 1- “The Church: Orthodoxy” Orthodoxy simply means “Right Belief” or to believer correctly. The beliefs that 2 + 2 = 4 or that Red + Blue = Purple are orthodox beliefs because they are true.
A. What are the beliefs of the Church? Where did these beliefs come from? How did they come about?
1. Let’s start with Scripture. All of the Church’s beliefs originate from Scripture. Scripture is seen as trustworthy, reliable, and God’s Word.
a) Our Scripture reading this morning from Hebrews describes it well. “The word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
2. There is no question that the beliefs of the church come from the Jewish history as described and prophesied about in the Old Testament. Here are just a few examples of Christ fulfilling prophesies.
a) BE BORN AS A HUMAN MALE- Isaiah 9:6-7
b) BORN OF A VIRGIN- Isaiah 7:14 700 B.C.
c) FROM THE HOUSE OF JUDAH Isaiah 37:31 700 B.C.
d) FROM THE ROOT AND STUMP OF JESSE Isaiah 11:10 700 B.C. Isaiah 11:1-5 700 B.C.
e) FROM THE HOUSE OF DAVID- Isaiah 16:5 700 B.C.
f) BORN IN BETHLEHEM EPHRATHAH- Micah 5:2 700 B.C.
g) BE FROM NAZARETH OF GALILEE- Isaiah 9:1-2 700 B.C.
h) HIS BIRTH WOULD TRIGGER A MASSACRE OF INFANT BOYS- Jeremiah 31:15 625 B.C.
i) COME OUT OF EGYPT- Hosea 11:1 725 B.C.
j) MISSION WOULD INCLUDE THE GENTILES-Isaiah 49:6 700 B.C. Isaiah 42:1-4, 6 700 B.C.
k) MINISTRY WOULD INCLUDE MIRACULOUS HEALINGS- Isaiah 29:18 700 B.C. Isaiah 35:5-6a 700 B.C.
l) MINISTRY WOULD DELIVER SPIRITUAL CAPTIVES- Isaiah 61:1-2 700 B.C.
m) DESPISED AND REJECTED BY MEN- Isaiah 53:3 700 B.C.
n) HATED WITHOUT CAUSE- Psalm 69:4 1000 B.C. Isaiah 49:7 700 B.C.
o) REJECTED BY RULERS- Psalm 118:22 before 400 B.C.
p) REJECTED BY HIS OWN BROTHERS- Psalms 69:8 1000 B.C.
q) BETRAYED FOR 30 PIECES OF SILVER-Zechariah 11:12 500 B.C.
r) SILVER RETURNED AND USED TO BUY POTTER'S FIELD- Zechariah 11:12-13 500 B.C.
s) DISCIPLES WOULD SCATTER- Zechariah 13:7 500 B.C.
3. The beliefs of the church also come from the life (and consequently, also the death and resurrection) of Jesus and His teachings.

a) Why is Scripture so highly esteemed? Jesus quoted Old Testament Scripture. The gospel writers and the Apostle Paul told how Jesus fulfilled Old Testament prophesy. 2 Peter 3:15-16- Paul’s letters are identified with “the rest of the Scriptures.”
4. Apostles’ Creed (p.881 in the Hymnal) Read together.
a) Why the Apostle’s Creed? As the Christian church spread throughout the Roman world in the first century, and as the first leaders died out, there was a practical need for local churches to have a basic statement of beliefs. As false teachers began to bring in strange ideas, Christians needed to know "Just what is it that we believe?"
Some of these churches had a few books of the New Testament, perhaps some of Paul's letters or one of the four Gospels. But none of the churches had all the New Testament. They needed a standard to judge whether a teaching was truth, or heresy.
The early Christians also realized that new people didn't have to know everything before they could be baptized and accepted as believers. How much should they know and accept before being admitted into the church? This was another reason that early churches wanted a brief statement of what they believed to be most essential.
Churches in different cities and regions made their own lists, which had many points in common, since all the churches had traditions tracing back to the apostles in one way or another. The small differences were eventually eliminated as church leaders discussed these things with one another. They shared not only the scriptures they had, but also their statements of faith.
When Christianity became a legal religion in the fourth century, this process became easier. Churches throughout the empire agreed on which books should form the New Testament, and they agreed on several basic statements of faith.
5. THE NICENE CREED (381 A.D.) (p.880) Read together.
a) Why the Nicene Creed? The Nicene Creed came about as a result of the Arian heresy- which stated that Jesus was begotten, in other words there was a point in time before He existed. The Nicene Creed affirms the teaching of the Trinity.
B. What is unique about the beliefs of the Church?
1. Certainly the most unique aspect about the beliefs of the Church is that every belief (and as we’ll see, everything else) revolves around Jesus.
2. Again, this comes out in Hebrews: Jesus, as our great, sympathetic high priest. He is the reason that we can approach God’s throne with boldness.
C. What makes the beliefs of the Church different from any business, social club, or community organization?
1. The Church functions as a business only because Jesus told us to be good stewards of what He has given us.
2. The Church functions as a social club only because Jesus commanded us to be unified and to look after one another as brothers and sisters.
3. The Church functions as a community organization because of God the Father’s concern for justice and His concern for those who need help. In our reading from Mark today, Jesus told the rich man to sell all his possessions and give them to the poor. Throughout Scripture we see God’s heart for the poor, the widows, the orphans, and the foreigners among us.

D. What is the Church?
1. “Not institution, but a supernatural entity in process of growth toward the world to come. It is the sphere of the action of the risen and ascended Lord. All of its members are in Christ and are knit together by a supernatural kinship. All of our gifts and activities continue Christ’s work by the power of the Holy Spirit, originate from Christ, and are coordinated by him to the final goal.” Robert G. Clouse
2. The body of Christ
3. The Bride of Christ
4. The family of God
5. God’s Temple

In conclusion, I would like to leave us with some questions to ponder and some thoughts to think about:

E. What could orthodoxy look like in La Grange?
1. Affirm the authority of Scripture. Center of the Sanctuary. Read from it every Sunday. Preach from it. What else could we do?
2. Affirm the Apostle’s & Nicene Creed. Maybe we build into our worship the occasional reading of one of those Creeds. Perhaps a sermon series going through the Creeds belief by belief. What else could we do?
3. See ourselves as the Body of Christ- that is, be Christ’s agent. What does it mean to represent Christ in La Grange? What does that look like now? What could it look like?
4. See ourselves as the Bride of Christ- that is, be passionately in love with Jesus. How do we express our love to Jesus in La Grange now? What else could we do to show Jesus that we love him?
5. See ourselves as the family of God- that is, take care of one another as brothers and sisters. How do we take care of one another now? What else could we do to take care of one another?
6. See ourselves as God’s Temple- that is, maintain a reverence and awe of God’s holiness. How do respect God’s name and His holiness? What else could we do? For example, I’ve thought of possibly doing a sermon series on some of the names of God. I think the more we know of God’s character, the more we are led into worship of Him.

We’ll explore more of the practical side of some of these things next week, but for this week, I just want us to celebrate Christ and His Church with a better understanding of what makes the Church “Christian.” And as we learned, it all centers around Jesus, trusting in Him, and enjoying the sweetness of that relationship. So let’s stand now and sing together our closing hymn, “’Tis So Sweet To Trust in Jesus.”

The Tongue

The tongue is a fascinating part of our body.

Did you know:
The strongest muscle in the body is the tongue.
It is the strongest muscle and holds the power of death and life according to Proverbs 18:21.
In humans, the tongue functions principally in chewing, swallowing, and speaking.
It is necessary for life- chewing and swallowing and has ended some people’s lives early by speaking rashly and extended the lives of others by soothing away a dangerous situation.
The appearance of the tongue is often an indication of body health; a pinkish-red color is normal.
The appearance of the tongue indicates body health. The use of the tongue indicates spiritual health.
Close to fifty percent of the bacteria in the mouth lives on the surface of our tongue.
The tongue holds much bacteria in our mouths and it can easily pass the bacteria of evil onto others.
Every person has a unique tongue print.
Every person’s tongue is unique and how they choose to use it also creates a unique print in the lives of others.

Our tongue is neither good nor evil. It is simply a tool to be used for speech. Psalm 45:1 describes the tongue as a pen of a ready writer. How we use our tongue determines if it is good or evil.

Why does it matter what we say? It’s just words after all, isn’t it? You know, “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.”

If you are of this opinion, hear the Word of the Lord on the negative power that the tongue holds:
Ps. 50:19 tongue frames deceit
Ps. 52:4 deceitful tongue loves devouring words
Ps. 78:36 tongue lied to God
Ps. 109:2 lying tongue
Pr. 6:17 one of 6 things God hates- lying tongue. Just in case putting “Thou shalt not lie” as one of the 10 Commandments wasn’t enough, God emphasizes again and again how much He despises a lying tongue. Why? For one reason, it leads to other things like:
Job 5:21 Lying tongue as a scourge- a curse, a plague, a blight, a thorn in our side
Job 20:12 Lying tongue can be used to hide evil. Every time a mass murderer is apprehended, the neighbors say, “He seemed like such a nice guy.”
Or have you ever meet a smooth talker and wondered what he was up to?
“What’s your angle?” Bing Crosby asked in White Christmas. “Everyone’s got an angle.”
Ps. 5:9; Pr. 28:23 Lying tongue used for flattery. Do you know the difference between flattery and a compliment? Sincerity. Compliments are from the heart. Flattery is from the tongue.
Ps. 10:7; Is. 59:3 Lying tongue used for mischief and to mutter wickedness.
Ps. 12:3 A lying tongue creates boastfulness- overconfidence in words. We’ve all met people who talk a good game, but when it comes to doing something, they’re really not that useful.
Ps. 52:2 Tongue devises destruction. Lies in all of its forms lead to destruction. They are the building block for ruin. Which is why Pr. 12:19 says a lying tongue doesn’t last long.
Jer. 9:3-8 tongue as a weapon (bow, arrow, lies)
Ps. 57:4, 64:3 Tongue as a sharp sword using bitter speech
Ps. 64:8 tongue can work against you
Pr. 6:24 smooth tongue of adulteress
At this point, I’ve probably motivated us all to never say another word again! While that may be a good place to start, I believe we would be falling short of God’s calling and robbing both Him and ourselves of countless blessings if we simply stopped speaking.
Although I believe we can never completely tame our tongue this side of heaven, Scripture does give us some images to motivate us in this endeavor.

The first image for taming our tongue is that of a:

Horses Bit
After doing a little research, I learned something about horse bits. All bits act with some combination of pressure and leverage. Bits are designed to work by pressure, not pain. Depending on the style of bit, pressure can be brought to bear on different parts of the mouth. Bits offer varying degrees of control and communication between rider and horse depending upon their design and on the skill of the rider. It is important that the style of bit is appropriate to the horse's needs and is fitted properly for it to function properly and be as comfortable as possible for the horse.[9]
In the wrong hands even the mildest bit can hurt the horse. Conversely, a very severe bit, in the right hands, can transmit extremely subtle, nuanced signals that cause no pain to the horse. Wikipedia
If the tongue is the bit, then we’re the horse. Who’s our rider? We can choose between Satan or God. Sorry; as much as we like our independence, we will have a rider.

In Satan’s wrong hands, even the mild things we say will result in our own tongue causing us much pain, damage, and hardship.

In the Lord’s hands however, even the least eloquent of us will be able to receive subtle and nuanced signals from our rider that, if heeded, will keep us from much stupidity and suffering.

The next image for taming our tongues is a:
Ships Rudder
On simple watercraft, a tiller -- essentially, a stick or pole acting as a lever arm -- may be attached to the top of the rudder to allow it to be turned by a helmsman. Wikipedia
If our tongue is the rudder, then that makes us the ship. So who is our helmsman? Who’s steering and guiding our speech and our path in life?

The bit and the rudder give us 2 images of steering or directing. What does it take then to keep our tongues and course and not get us into trouble?

One thing we can always do is ask God for help. Ps. 39:1 says, “Guard my ways that I may not sin with my tongue.”

Another perspective is to say, refrain from all the things I just mentioned. And there is scripture to support this:

Refrain from:

Job 27:4 Righteousness is defined as the tongue not muttering deceit.
Ps. 15:1-3 A man of integrity speaks truth, does not slander with his tongue, nor does evil to his neighbor.
Ps. 34:13 Keep tongue from evil
Pr. 21:23 He who guards mouth and tongue guards soul from trouble.
James describes the tongue as a fire. With so many firefighters here, fire prevention and protection might be helpful images to explore when thinking about keeping our tongue from evil.
Fire
Wildfire prevention refers to the preemptive methods of reducing the risk of fires as well as lessening its severity and spread.[111]
What can we do to lessen the severity and spread of evil speech?
Effective prevention techniques allow supervising agencies to manage air quality, maintain ecological balances, protect resources,[72] and to limit the effects of future uncontrolled fires.[112]
How can we improve the conversational quality of the environment we are in?
How are we protecting our most valuable resources of our hearts and souls?
What are we doing to limit the effects of future fire outbreaks from our tongue?

Fire protection is the study and practice of mitigating the unwanted effects of fires[1].
How are we protecting ourselves from our fiery tongues and all of its unwanted effects?
It involves the study of the behaviour, compartmentalisation, suppression and investigation of fire and its related emergencies, as well as the research and development, production, testing and application of mitigating systems. Wikipedia
Have you ever wanted to say something but held yourself back?
Did you ever say something and then ask yourself, “Why on earth did I just say that?” Did you learn from your own personal research of those experiences?

According to James, we need to keep our tongues from burning with the flames of hell.

These are hopefully some helpful thoughts for us to analyze our personal fire prevention and protection plans for our tongues, but the most important step for us is to:
Seek out the Master Fireman! Remember, only the power of Christ in you can prevent fires of the tongue!

While prevention and protection are good, it is not always helpful to our human nature to tell us what not to do. For example:

A baseball pitcher is struggling, so the coach comes to the mound. “Look kid, this is a big spot for you. This guy can’t hit the high fast ball. Just whatever you do, don’t through it low and inside. That’s his power house.” The coach walks off the mound. First pitch: Low and inside, hammered out of the park. What happened? He was told what not to do and that’s what stuck in his brain.

So what are the positive aspects of speech that we can focus on? Again, scripture gives us the answer.

Positive Tongue
Ps. 37:30 Tongue speaks justice
Pr. 12:18; 15:2 wise tongue brings healing and knowledge
Pr. 31:26 teaching of kindness

2 Sam. 23:2 The Lord’s word was on David’s tongue
Ps. 35:28; 71:24 Tongue declare righteousness and praise of the Lord
Ps. 66:17 extol God with tongue
Ps. 51:14; 119:172 tongue sings joyfully of God’s righteousness and His Word
Rom. 14:11 every tongue praise God
Phil. 2:11 every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord

To focus on these things makes for a righteous tongue which is as choice silver according to Proverbs 10:20. This righteous tongue is soothing and gentle and is declared a powerful tree of life (Pr. 15:4;25:23).

Finally, there is one more image that could prove helpful for us from this passage.

Water

Clean water storage is important because clean, fresh water is essential to human life. Brackish water, on the other hand, is hostile to the growth, and without appropriate management, it is damaging to the environment. Wikipedia

Our speech can be speech that is hostile to our growth and the growth of others and damaging to our environment. OR our speech can be speech that gives life if we speak words of justice, words of healing, words of knowledge, words of kindness, and words of praise to our Lord and King.

But we won’t always get it right.

There is a small island in Indonesia called Sumba. On the Eastern Coast of this island there is an area called the Tanjung Undu, which in English means, "The Land of the Undo People."
After extensive research on this area, I have decided that this is where I would like to live.
Due to an atmospheric anomaly, and the way the rotation of the earth affects that part of the world, the people of this region have been gifted with a genetic Undo function that allows them to quickly and easily take back the last thing they have said without anyone knowing that it was ever said:
A husband speaks harshly to his wife; no harm done, just use the Undo function.
Two neighbors gossip about what the pastor's wife was wearing on Sunday; no sin committed, just use the Undo function.
A word is spoken in anger between two lifelong friends; no relationship broken, just use the Undo function.
James 3:8 says, "But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil, and full of deadly poison."
The gift of communication is perhaps one of God's dearest gifts to us.
Using simple words, we can express love, gratitude, honor and many other positive emotions that we feel for others.
But words can also express pride, fear, distrust and other negative emotions that we struggle with each day. There have been many times I have laid awake at night regretting the things I said that day. Things that have hurt or embarrassed others, or alienated those that I love and respect.
"And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you." Ephesians 4:32
While God did not create an Undo function for the words we say, He did create the repentance and forgiveness function. And perhaps more than any other function, it is this ability to ask for and receive forgiveness from others, that holds the Body of Christ together. It is one of the central functions that separates us from the world around us.
And, unfortunately, it is a function we do not use enough.
Perhaps it is fear that our repentance will not be received by our brother, that keeps us from asking.
Perhaps a hardened life keeps us from forgiving someone.
Perhaps it is weariness that keeps us from opening up our lives one more time to those that have hurt us, or whom we have hurt, and beginning the long, sometimes difficult process of restoring relationships.
"I... entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance to one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." Ephesians 4:1-3
While there is a place called Tanjung Undu on the East Coast of Sumba, in reality, the people who live there struggle with the problems their words create, just as we do. And as nice as it might be to have an Undo function to correct the things we have said and done, odds are unlikely scientists will develop this in our lifetime.
Fortunately, God has shown us how to repent and restore. So as you use the Undo function on your computer this week, let it serve as a reminder to repent of the harmful words you have spoken and to forgive the words that have been spoken against you.

And together, with the help of God All-Powerful, let’s strive to use our tongue for good and to refrain from evil speech.

Main Objective: To choose to use our tongue for good and to refrain from evil speech.