Chicago Fire: Jesus and a Devoted Church - Pt. 2

A Disciple's Devotion

To keep a car operating at peak performance, there are basic things that must be done as a part of its ongoing maintenance - a regular oil and filter change, balancing and rotation of the tires, and, finally, putting gas in the car.

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. (Acts 2:42-47 NIV)

In summary, the believer's life is to be marked by devotion. This is a discipleship moment.  As Jesus commissioned His followers to go into all the world and make disciples, these are the practical things that you are to live and teach so that others might learn how to effectively follow Jesus.

What does devotion to the apostles' teaching look like?  To fellowship (shared life through a devotion to His church)?  To the breaking of bread?  To prayer?

The fellowship (this is the rotation of the tires)

The biblical word for fellowship (Greek word: koinonia) literally meant a shared life.  It meant that the people were not just occasionally or sporadically hanging out with one another, but there was a unified story that was being built through their lives together as they each participated in and contributed to the plans of God within their local community.

This generation is terrible to a new level at relationships.  It is so easy to think that you have what you need by watching your favorite sitcom or talking to someone via cyberspace, but never have the transparency that comes through devoted relationship.

The Innovation of Loneliness: http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=c6Bkr_udado

Do not forsake your friend or a friend of your family, and do not go to your relative’s house when disaster strikes you— better a neighbor nearby than a relative far away. (Proverbs 27:10 NIV)

You must have ongoing, sincere, and devoted local church community if you are going to truly thrive and fulfill the purposes of God where He has you in each season of life.

“Indifference and neglect often do much more damage than outright dislike.” ― J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

1) Community Counts - Not just anyone will do.  You need to find your identity with Jesus and His family, not just those you happen to be associated with.

You need real Christian friends to have the true biblical fellowship that God is speaking about here.  They are those that love you, know you, provoke you to a greater love for, pursuit of, and obedience to Jesus.  Speaking by the Holy Spirit, Paul said it this way:

Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.” Therefore, “Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” And, “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” (2 Corinthians 6:14-18 NIV) Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God. (2 Corinthians 7:1 NIV)

Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. (2 Timothy 2:22 NIV)

Have you been truly added to His church?  Are you sharing life with other Christians and playing a vital role in the local community of faith?

As a result of the entire church being on mission with Jesus, more and more men, women, and children were continually saved and added to the church.

What you need to develop in God will not rest in you alone.  He often deposits it in someone else, another part of the body, so that you might not be allowed to live in self-sufficiency and isolation.  What local believers have you connected with and ventured to share life with?  This is true biblical fellowship in every season of your life.

2) Consistency Creates Character

Consistency is the essence of devotion.  Much of the instability that people feel today in their relationships and souls comes from a lack of consistency that was demonstrated toward them in the most formative relationships in their lives.  The good news is that God in His character is faithful, and expects nothing less from us.  If you only do things when it seems convenient to you or easy for you, you will never become or achieve much.  The way of the cross is one of extreme sacrifice but exceeding joy.  It is the way of Jesus.  Don't show up only when it is easy.  Put God first, and He'll take care of what is best for and important to you.

The Breaking of Bread (this is the balancing of the tires)

The breaking of bread has been cited by many scholars to imply the sacrament of communion. Communion is a continual re-centering on the atoning work of Jesus on the cross to bring us reconciliation with Almighty God.  In addition to this, the believers ate with one another and enjoyed one another's company, encouraging and being encouraged in the purposes of Jesus.

Corporate Prayer (this is the gas for your car)

It is the reliance on an individualized faith that eventually sucks the life and zeal of God out of any follower of Jesus, because it was never meant to be a solo sport.  A devotion to corporate prayer allowed the disciples to move from a place of solely being concerned about their personal needs to having a lifted vision for the Kingdom of God in their city.  It does the same for you and I today.  Every Friday night, we have an opportunity to cry out to God together for His gospel-centered, renewing work in our lives, the city, and the nations.  We invite you to join us.

The result of the church expressing that type of devotion to Jesus is that they saw God add to their number daily those who are being saved.  This is what we believe to be a part of through the God-fearing, Bible preaching churches in the city.  Those who came to Jesus were discipled (taught how to obey the commands of Jesus and live as a Christian in their everyday world), baptized, and trained to be multiplying leaders (II Timothy 2:2).  This is the content of our "Next Steps."  We encourage you to find your place in the process to serve in the church and through it.  This week, we will finish our first round of the Roots class, followed by the Making Disciples Class starting next week for anyone interested in becoming a future community group leader.

“The church exists primarily for two closely correlated purposes: to worship God and to work for his kingdom in the world ... The church also exists for a third purpose, which serves the other two: to encourage one another, to build one another up in faith, to pray with and for one another, to learn from one another and teach one another, and to set one another examples to follow, challenges to take up, and urgent tasks to perform. This is all part of what is known loosely as fellowship.” ― N. T. Wright, Simply Christian: Why Christianity Makes Sense

Second City Church- Chicago Fire: The Spirit-Led Church in the City Sermon Series 2014

Chicago Fire: Jesus and a Devoted Church- Pt. 1

(Pastor Rollan remembered Mothers' Day.)

If there's anything that characterizes mothers, it's devotion. We need mothers in the faith, both of your own children and of others. What is the greatest example of devotion that you have ever seen? What did it produce?

The four gospels were the recorded biographies of Jesus, giving us a glimpse of what God in the flesh chose to do and say during His ministry on the earth. They clarified for us not only who God is, but through the cross, why trust in Jesus is all important to our salvation. The book of Acts is the sequel to Luke's Gospel, largely answering the question for the followers of Jesus: "What's next after I believe?" Today, we will answer this question by examining the dynamics of Pentecost and the early disciples' devotion to Jesus so that we can discover what it looks like to be a vital part of Jesus' church.

The Dynamics of Pentecost

"When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken."

"Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?” Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.” (Acts 2:1-13 NIV)

Pentecost (the Greek term for the Hebrew Feast of Weeks - Leviticus 23:15-21; Deuteronomy 16:9-12) was an annual celebration of the harvest, fifty days after the Passover, where God was honored for His provision in the lives of His people. This day, the harvest was turned from mere agricultural fruitfulness to the harvest of souls that Jesus purchased by spilling His blood on Calvary. Men and women from every nation under Heaven were gathered together for Pentecost, and this is what birthed the church. What this means is that Jesus has a harvest amongst all people in all nations. His glory is seen not in homogenous crowds, but in the wealth of the nations.

What we learn from Pentecost is that:

1) You will have to make an effort to truly meet with Jesus. The Feast of Weeks was an annual pilgrimage to Jerusalem commemorating a renewed commitment to God. Living as a disciple of Jesus does not just fall into your lap. It takes devotion. Those who attempt to be followers of Jesus without making an effort end up anemic and nominal in their faith, at best, and fall away from the faith, at worst. These participants traveled great distances and went to great expense to worship God during the festival. Your daily commitment to God's purposes will cost you nothing less (i.e. - reading the Word, being committed to prayer, coming to church, having fellowship in a community group, volunteering to serve the community in and outside of the church, etc.).

2) We want clones of ourselves (Peter ministering to the Jews), but those who are most necessary for your development in Jesus will often not be like you (ethnically, socially-economically, life experience)(i.e. - the Jewish Pharisee, Paul, ministering to the Gentiles, marriage).

3) You will have to get out of your comfort zone to truly follow Jesus.

“Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. (Acts 2:36-41 NIV)

The whole world is commanded to repent of its sin (Acts 17:29-31). Jesus' desire is always to offer forgiveness to the repentant. This is the heart of the gospel.

Your first response to Jesus' Lordship in your life should be engaging in the sacrament of baptism. Baptism is your literal pledge of a good conscience towards God, where, like a marriage vow, you are committing to live solely and devotedly for Jesus (I Peter 3:21).

As we finish our first round of the Roots class, we will have our next baptisms next week at Lake Michigan. After someone gets baptized, they must establish certain habits that will allow them to continually grow and become increasingly fruitful in Christ. These are the things that make a disciple's devotion.

A Disciple's Devotion

“We are our choices.” ― Jean-Paul Sartre

To keep a car operating at peak performance, there are basic things that must be done as a part of its ongoing maintenance - a regular oil and filter change, balancing and rotation of the tires, and, finally, putting gas in the car.

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. (Acts 2:42-47 NIV)

In summary, the believer's life is to be marked by devotion.

This is a discipleship moment. As Jesus commissioned His followers to go into all the world and make disciples, these are the practical things that you are to live and teach so that others might learn how to effectively follow Jesus.

What does devotion to the apostles' teaching look like? To fellowship (shared life through a devotion to His church)? To the breaking of bread? To prayer?

The apostles' teaching (this is the oil and filter change)

The apostles' teaching is the Word of God found in the Bible. Psalm 138:2 lets us know that God has made more important than anything else His name and His word. It was Jesus' example to use the Old Testament to live a holy life and resist temptation (Luke 4). It is your endless source of spiritual sustenance, as Job said that he desired it more than his daily bread (Job 23:12). It is the agent that the Holy Spirit uses to cleanse your heart. And as the Psalmist wrote, it is the primary way that God gives you direction (Psalm 119:105), the Word of God being a light to your feet and a lamp to your path. It enables you to hear and recognize the voice of God. It is what tells you how to operate as a Christ-centered spouse, parent, sibling, child, employer, employee, student, leader, and shaper of the world in which we live.

The four questions that you need to ask each day as you read your Bible:

1) What does the Bible say (directly, pointedly, and in its context)? This allows you to develop proper interpretation of Scripture.

2) What does it tell you about God? This allows you to develop proper theology (study and knowledge of God).

3) What does it tell you about yourself? This allows you to develop a proper identity.

4) What does it tell you about the world around you? This allows you to develop a proper Christ-centered worldview.

“He who is prudent and lies in wait for an enemy who is not, will be victorious.” ― Sun Tzu, The Art of War

Our relationship with the Word of God moves from a discipline to a desire to a delight (Psalm 119). Are you full of it?

If clouds are full of water, they pour rain on the earth. Whether a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where it falls, there it will lie. (Ecclesiastes 11:3 NIV)

We don't have the ability to speak on behalf of the kingdom, because we are not full. There is a vast difference in your daily worldview, experience, and pursuits when you have spent quality time with God and when you have not. Are you full of it?

“Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win.” ― Sun Tzu, The Art of War

Second City Church- Chicago Fire: The Spirit-Led Church in the City Sermon Series 2014

Chicago Fire: How Great Is Our Salvation?

 By Guest Pastor David Houston with Every Nation Churches

For both believers and those exploring faith, this statement is true: The doctrine of eternal judgment is important, because it is the only way to know how much Jesus loved us and how much He did for us.

The fact that God is angry every day with the unrepentant sinner should make us appreciate, all the more, that every day God withholds judgment, is a day of unspeakable mercy and patience. Every day He allows the sinner to live is a day he does not deserve.

"The earth, O Lord is full of Your mercy." (Psalm 119:64)

The Bible clearly teaches that believers who repent of their sin and trust in Jesus for salvation will not be judged for their sin. We will only be judged for the good deeds we have done and what rewards we are to receive.

“...Why do you think you can avoid God’s judgment...Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that His kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?

But because you are stubborn and refuse to turn from your sin, you are storing up terrible punishment for yourself. For a day of anger is coming, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.” (Romans 2:3b-5)

1. Paul is obviously driven by urgency. He declares that there is a window of opportunity for every person to change, but that window will close; and it will be too late.

2. Paul declares that God has been kind, tolerant, and patient, and that should lead you to repentance.

3. Stubbornness and refusal to turn from sin and receive God's forgiveness and mercy will result in terrifying, righteous justice.

4. God's judgment is being stored. God's righteous anger is not like ours; it is not an emotional outburst. It is precise, just, and fair.

“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that will he also reap.” (Galatians 6:7)

“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.” (Ecclesiastes 12:14)

God will judge sinners, because He hates sin. It is offensive to His holy nature. It is abhorrent to a Holy God. He hates sin, because it is a cancer that destroys people He created in His image.

In Romans chapter one, Paul declares three times that “God gave them up,” or “God gave them over.” In other words, God will not strive with a person forever, but will eventually give them their desire, however self-destructive that may be.

“So we declare therefore, that sinners are determining their own fate. They have said ‘No’ to God’s love and forgiveness, and He has given them their own stubborn will.” -C.S. Lewis

Concerning the Doctrine of Hell:

"the worst and fairest punishment God can give a person is to allow their sinful heart's deepest desire. What is that? The desire of the sinful human heart is for independence. We want to choose and go our own way.” (Isaiah 53:6) -Tim Keller

"Scripture sees Hell as self-chosen. Hell appears as God's gesture of respect for human choice." -J.I. Packer

This is why God warns:

“Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.” (Romans 3:7)

“God is a just judge, and God is angry with the wicked every day.” (Psalm 7:11) This should build a holy fear in unrepentant sinners. God sees every act and every motive.

God is patiently delaying justice and judgment, but do not mistake this patience for a lack of determination. “All things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.” (Hebrews 4:13)

“Think how we feel when we see someone we love ravaged by unwise actions or relationships. Do we respond with benign tolerance as we might toward strangers? Far from it...Anger isn’t the opposite of love...God’s [anger] is not a cranky explosion, but His settled opposition to the cancer....which is eating out the insides of the human race He loves with His whole being.” -Becky Pippert, Hope Has Its Reasons

If God did not judge sin, He would not be just. If God is not just, He would not be worthy of worship. If God did not judge mankind, there would be no ultimate justice on our planet.

“God made us to love, honor, and obey him in thought, word, and deed. Every time we fail to do that perfectly, we accrue a debt to God.

Every person has sinned against God, and hell is the eternal prison for spiritual debtors who have stolen from God by living sinful lives.” -Mark Driscoll, Doctrine: What Christians Should Believe

“For God made Him, who knew no sin, to be made sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God, in Christ Jesus.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)

“To whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.” (Luke 7:47)

“Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the Day of Judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.” (1 John 4:17)

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but shall have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

Second City Church- Chicago Fire Sermon Series 2014

Chicago Fire: Jesus and a Missional Church

 

As we crest over the hill of the celebration of Jesus' victory over Satan, sin, and death through the cross, we find ourselves in the book of Acts. Written in approximately 61 AD by the gospel writer, Luke, Acts is an account that introduces us to a pair of significant characters in the history of the world, the Holy Spirit and the church that Jesus is building. Though Jesus ascended into Heaven, He fully intended to continue His work through the church by creating Holy Spirit-led movements in the cities of the world. Having studied the life of Jesus, we will look today at two of the key foundations for Jesus creating a Holy Spirit-empowered movement in a city: a clear mission and committed leadership.

The Mission of the Church

"In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

"Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:1-11 NIV)

After the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth, God's redemption plan to restore creation was fully initiated, and He left the church to enact that plan. Jesus had said during His ministry that He would build His church.

"And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it." (Matthew 16:18 NIV)

This was very clear in the minds of the writers of the New Testament as Paul instructed the Ephesians:

"His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Ephesians 3:10, 11 NIV)

Don't be mistaken. The key purpose of the church is to facilitate the love, fear, and worship of God Almighty, through Jesus His Son, by the power of the Holy Spirit. Since the time of Adam and Eve, we've lived in a world dominated by sin, selfishness, and the death of relationships with God and one another. Because of this, Jesus came to live perfectly, die as a substitute on the cross, and be raised from the dead to initiate a new world order through reconciliation with the Father. John Piper said it this way:

“Missions exists because worship doesn’t. Worship is ultimate, not missions, because God is ultimate, not man. When this age is over, and the countless millions of the redeemed fall on their faces before the throne of God, missions will be no more” (p. 15).

"Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is. Missions exists because worship doesn't. Worship is ultimate." —John Piper, Let the Nations Be Glad!

Congruent with the Holy Spirit's expanding influence in your heart, your witness of Jesus and God's Kingdom should be continually expanding. How are you being a witness for Jesus and His resurrection life?

God continued to show His love for cities and their people by starting His missional movement in the epicenter of Jewish religious life - Jerusalem. From this place, He would send His church to impact the region (Judea and Samaria) and the nations (ends of the earth) with the gospel. His pattern is clear and should not be overlooked. Jesus wants you to begin by being a witness where you live today. It is an encouragement to you to cultivate the same love for this city, having a long-term vision of your involvement in Chicago, that we might establish a base through which we will fulfill the Acts 1:8 mandate to reach this city, the region, the nation, and the ends of the earth with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

What does it look like when people are willing to be witnesses of Jesus' love and resurrection life in a city? (Pastor Rollan shared Easter event recaps and pictures from the outreach at the shelter, the fundraiser, the service, and the Easter egg hunt and outreach. You can sign up on Facebook and Twitter to learn more.)

After a fantastic weekend like that, we can truly understand that there is no fulfilling the reformational mission that God intends for the church in a city without the development of Holy Spirit appointed and empowered leaders.

Leadership is Key in being a Missional Church

"The local church is the hope of the world, and its future rests primarily in the hands of its leaders." -Bill Hybels

What is the church? It is not a building or program, but it is the people who have put their hope in Jesus. It is you and anyone who belongs to Jesus, who is committed to following Him and fulfilling His Great Commission. In the church there must be leadership.

"Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city. When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) and said, “Brothers and sisters, the Scripture had to be fulfilled in which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus. He was one of our number and shared in our ministry.”

"(With the payment he received for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out. Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) “For,” said Peter, “it is written in the Book of Psalms: “ ‘May his place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in it,’ and, “ ‘May another take his place of leadership.’ Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us, beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.” So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.” Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles. (Acts 1:12-26 NIV)

Do you know your God-appointed role in the church? Are you an artist, skilled with children, a writer, or a teacher? Do you have technological skill or administrative acumen; are you a servant at heart, or do you love showing hospitality to groups? Whatever way that God has gifted you, your contribution is vital to God's mission.

The Book of Acts was written by the physician and historian Luke, who happened to also be the only Gentile writer of the New Testament books. He was a traveling companion of the apostle Paul during His church-planting missionary journeys throughout the first century Roman Empire. For anyone who thinks that you have to be in occupational ministry to turn the world upside down with the gospel, here is your clear example as to why not. We need leaders in the marketplace as well as in occupational ministry who will be witnesses for Jesus and His resurrection.

Is my role ultimately important? In the Old Testament, only one of the eleven tribes were appointed by God to be occupational ministers (the Levites). The rest of the eleven tribes were meant to be a part of the army of the Lord to take ground as their inheritance as they worked in agriculture, government, law, homemaking, business, etc. The same will be true today as the majority of the church will be disciple-makers of people, communities, and nations as they work in the marketplace.

Paul made the importance of this mentality imperative when he said:

"So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work." (Ephesians 4:11-16 NIV)

This means that your goal is to:

1) Know and grow in your love for Jesus.

2) Be committed to and grow within the family of God, the church.

3) Be equipped for service within and through the church.

4) Make disciples per Jesus' Great Commission.

What is your role in helping to build up the body of Christ? Following Jesus should be a continual process of development and faithfulness. You should never think that you have arrived or checked off all of the boxes on a list, but instead ask: What's next for me?

Be a part of our volunteer team and meeting next Sunday after church to find ways to deepen your involvement. (Pastor Rollan encouraged the believers to keep pressing ahead.)

“The resurrection completes the inauguration of God's kingdom...It is the decisive event demonstrating that God's kingdom really has been launched on earth as it is in heaven...

The message of Easter is that God's new world has been unveiled in Jesus Christ and that you're now invited to belong to it.”― N.T. Wright

To fulfill the Great Commission and see a city transformed, you first need to understand Christ's mission for the church and a mechanism for developing leaders. Next week with David Houston, we will speak about the message that must be understood if Jesus is to be worshiped and a city transformed by His love.

Second City Church- Chicago Fire: The Spirit-Led Church in the City Sermon Series 2014

The Empty Tomb

CSI: Jerusalem: The Empty Tomb

[powerpress] (Pastor Rollan remembered the Malaysian Airlines Flight 370 missing plane search.)

People are murdered every day. It is a great loss to family and friends, but very rarely does an individual's death impact the whole world. In Jesus, there is a different response, because it is the murder of the man who claimed to be God.

Did Jesus ever say or think that He was God? Last week we answered that question by looking at Jesus' response to His prosecution and the charges at the crucifixion that were placed above Him. These claims were supposedly all validated by His resurrection from the dead after His death on the cross. The apostle Paul, writer of approximately three-fourths of the New Testament letters, said it this way:

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God— the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 1:1-4 NIV)

Today, we will look at what happened at the crime scene after the murder of Jesus to answer two questions: "Based on Matthew's account, is there substantial evidence for the historic resurrection of Jesus?", and "What does that mean for us today?"

Did Jesus really rise from the dead?

The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.” “Take a guard,” Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard. (Matthew 27:62-66 NIV)

As a part of Jewish burial practices, after a family placed the body of a family member in a tomb, a stone was placed over the entrance and sealed with clay. Here, however, the seal that was described was one of increased security, more than likely having an apparatus of a chord attached to both the stone that blocks the entrance and the rock face of the tomb. Soldiers were appointed to guard the tomb. At the anchoring of both ends wax imprints would have been placed with a Roman seal to expose any tampering.

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.” So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.” (Matthew 28:1-10 NIV)

What actually happened that day, and is there any way to know?

How you answer determines not only whether you believe Jesus lives, but how you will live in response with your life.

“If Jesus rose from the dead, then you have to accept all that he said; if he didn't rise from the dead, then why worry about any of what he said? The issue on which everything hangs is not whether or not you like his teaching but whether or not he rose from the dead.” ―Timothy Keller, The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism

Early this year, as we studied the first letter to the Corinthian church written by the apostle Paul, we looked at reasons that we can have confidence in the biblical account of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. These can be found on our website under the series entitled, Built to Last.

The apostle Matthew continued to provide solid reasoning for this conclusion because of the following variables:

Top 10 Reasons to believe in the Resurrection (David Letterman, who will be retiring in 2015, is being replaced by Stephen Colbert.)

1) The birthplace of the gospel - The gospel began in Jerusalem- the very place, which if their claims were false, the religious leaders could stamp it out. The apostles were continually making reference to the life and miracles of Jesus that they had seen with their own eyes (Acts 4:18-21; 5:27-32). The honesty of the eleven worshiping Jesus, but some doubting (Matthew 28:17) before the Great Commission, speaks of the historicity of the account.

2) The recuperation of the disciples - If it were not true, the apostles would not have had the strength to pull off the farce. The first leaders of the Christian movement were despondent after Jesus' crucifixion and would hardly be those you expected to lead a revolutionary movement based on the claim that they saw their executed hero raised to life (John 21). Jesus' closest disciples were the ones who were too scared to attend His trial, deserting Jesus at His arrest (Matthew 26:55, 56). Peter, the sole straggler, even denied Him when questioned about their affiliation (Matthew 26:69-75). These would not be the people you would expect to plot an abduction of Jesus' body from trained, armed Roman guard.

Who would die for a lie? Let us remember the martyrdom of the apostles.

“I would never die for my beliefs because I might be wrong.” ― Bertrand Russell

3) The danger to the guards - The guards at the tomb would be risking their lives losing the body of Christ. It is unlikely that they all would have fallen asleep while on duty guarding the tomb since the penalty for such negligence under Roman rule could be execution.

4) You can check the tomb. - The empty tomb was in a well known and documented place, in the family tomb of the wealthy councilman, Joseph of Arimathea (Mark 15:42-47), but the body of Jesus is still missing. After enduring the beatings and torture that Jesus did prior to the crucifixion, without intense medical attention, He would not be alive (at the very least because of blood loss), nor have the strength to move the boulder and make an escape.

5) The women's report - The report of the first witnesses of the empty tomb and the resurrection of Jesus are women. The honesty of this account written to a Jewish audience of the time would have testified to its veracity since the debated status of women in that culture was considered less valuable than men and their testimony was considered by some rabbis as inadmissable in court (Matthew 28:1-10). The truthfulness of this claim is even more clearly seen as it has the women as the ones who courageously go to the tomb to fulfill their responsibilities for Jesus' burial juxtaposed to the men cowering in hiding in Jerusalem. This painted picture would have been an offense and not fabricated for any advantage, knowing the Jewish audience to whom Matthew was writing.

6) The names of the witnesses - The specific names of the women and apostles who were involved in the post-resurrection appearances would have been easily verified or discounted since these figures were well known in the early Christian community.

“It is not more surprising to be born twice than once; everything in nature is resurrection.” ― Voltaire

7) The report of the bodies being raised - It was not an apparition or a hallucination. (Jesus had the disciples touch His wrists and side, ate with them, and had the women grasping His heels.) It was a bodily resurrection.

Matthew records the bodies coming back from the grave. It is unlikely that such easily rejected details would be included if it were a myth. There was no need for such an inclusion.

8) Jesus was beat down. - Could Jesus Himself have escaped from the tomb? The type of torture that Jesus went through would have medically necessitated His death based solely on the amount of blood lost, punctured heart, and exposed organs through the scourging. He would not have had the strength to then get up, move the stone from the tomb, overcome the soldiers, and make His escape.

9) The monotheistic Jews worshiped Jesus. - Blasphemy was condemnable by death in that culture (John 8). Though the apostles and Paul the Pharisee knew that to ascribe worship to anyone but the one true God was punishable, they promoted the worship of Jesus, because they had evidentiary proof. You and I are to worship Him in kind today.

10) Jesus changes lives as He receives worship. - Jesus, upholding (Matthew 5:17-20) all of the law of the Jews as a rabbi, knew that in receiving worship (Matthew 28:17-19), He was, in fact, fulfilling the law because of His unique identity as the promised incarnate Messiah (Matthew 4:8-10; Daniel 7).

The way that the resurrected Jesus has continued to change lives, work miracles, and heal people throughout history all over the world is proof of this.

“I know the resurrection is a fact, and Watergate proved it to me. How? Because 12 men testified they had seen Jesus raised from the dead, then they proclaimed that truth for 40 years, never once denying it. Every one was beaten, tortured, stoned and put in prison. They would not have endured that if it weren't true. Watergate embroiled 12 of the most powerful men in the world-and they couldn't keep a lie for three weeks. You're telling me 12 apostles could keep a lie for 40 years? Absolutely impossible.” ― Charles Colson

What does the resurrection mean for us today?

One-Minute Sermon: http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WGnEuGwvXqU&feature=share

Make no mistake, as a church plant, we are here to build a community of true worshipers of God through winning people to Jesus and making disciples. Our message, like the resurrection of Jesus Christ, must be both intellectually credible and metaphysically satisfying to avoid the placebo effect (Timothy Keller in Who Is Jesus podcast).

Because Jesus was resurrected from the dead, according to the Bible, anyone who puts their trust in Him is, among other things:

1) Forgiven - Forgiven rebellion against a holy God (Romans 5:1-11)

Of what do you need to be forgiven?

2) Reconciled - Someone brought back into friendship with a loving Heavenly Father (II Corinthians 5:14-6:2)

How do you need to be reconciled to God?

3) Freed - Free from sin - its punishment and power (Colossians 1:21-23)

What destructive habits or attitudes do you need freedom from today?

4) An Heir - Is an heir with Jesus to a literal Kingdom God is bestowing upon His servants (Romans 8:17)

5) The forthcoming recipient of everlasting life - with an imperishable body that will never spoil (I Corinthians 15)

6) A person with hope - access to resurrected relationships, life purpose, and dreams (Luke 19:1-10)

What needs to be resurrected in your life today?

7) Restored - Someone who has the ability to see marriages, life trajectories, and emotions restored (Acts 3)

What needs to be restored?

8) Adopted - An adopted child with a loving family, called the church, to whom they can be intimately known, encouraged, and loved (Ephesians 1)

Do you know the love of the Father?

9) Called - A person who has a significant life call within and through the church (Ephesians 2)

How are you answering the call of God?

10) A witness - One who will be a witness to Jesus' resurrection life and power to the world (Matthew 28:18-20)

The answer to all of these things began at the cross of Jesus and are today made possible because of His empty tomb!

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. (John 3:16-18 NIV)

What side of the Cross do you stand on today?

Second City Church: CSI: Jerusalem Sermon Series 2014

The Trial of the Centuries

CSI: Jerusalem: The Trial of the Centuries

[powerpress] Without a doubt, the execution of Jesus of Nazareth was one of the greatest crimes in human history. It was primarily so, not only because He was an innocent man, but because it is reported that He professed to be God incarnate who came to save the world. According to gospel accounts, this was the accusation against Jesus, the reason for which He was tried, crucified, and died, that He might bring life to the world.

In this message, we will dissect the court case to which Jesus found himself subject after His arrest, attempting to answer the questions, "Did Jesus really claim to be God?" and, if it is found that one has erroneously rejected Jesus, "Can a person change their mind?"

Did Jesus Really Claim to be God?

Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the teachers of the law and the elders had assembled. But Peter followed him at a distance, right up to the courtyard of the high priest. He entered and sat down with the guards to see the outcome. The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death. But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward and declared, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’ ” Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.” “You have said so,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?” “He is worthy of death,” they answered. Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him and said, “Prophesy to us, Messiah. Who hit you?” (Matthew 26:57-68 NIV)

The Bible tells us that Jesus was the only sinless, faultless, guiltless, and perfect human being who ever existed. He is our flawless example of life as it is meant to be lived, full of relationship with the Heavenly Father, purpose, love, forgiveness, and graciousness. Yet He was more than just a man. He, simultaneously, without any subtraction to His humanity, was fully divine. Jesus did, in fact, claim to be God.

We must understand what Jesus was saying during His questioning within the historic context of His trial. The Sanhedrin jurors would have been intimately aquainted with and built their hope upon the prophetic writings of Daniel, the Jewish official in Babylon (modern-day Iraq) during the Diaspora's exile there.

“In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed. (Daniel 7:13, 14 NIV)

In the Gospel of Matthew, the name "Son of Man" was Jesus' most often utilized self-reference, placing an emphasis on Jesus' self-aware connection to this "one like a son of man" spoken of by Daniel. What the Sanhedrin heard was that Jesus was claiming that He would:

1) come on the clouds of heaven,

2) be given authority, glory and sovereign power,

3) be worshiped by all nations and peoples of every language, and

4) have an everlasting, unending rule that would neither pass away, nor be destroyed. It would be eternal.

All of these things are coming to pass in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. Within the Jewish context, these were qualities only applicable to the divine - to God Himself. As a rabbi (teacher), Jesus knew what He was doing and was clearly saying to His hearers that He is the eternal God. This is why His responses were decried as blasphemy worthy of death.

Did the historic church believe that Jesus was God?

Yes. One of the well-known early hymns of the church was included in the Apostle Paul's letter to the Philippian church, which stated, within a generation of Jesus' crucifixion, the doctrine of His divinity.

Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:6-11 NIV)

This teaching was ratified, not discovered or created, by the church fathers with the Nicene Creed in its original form in 325 AD with the first Council of Nicea:

I believe in one God,

the Father almighty,

maker of heaven and earth,

of all things visible and invisible.

I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,

the Only Begotten Son of God,

born of the Father before all ages.

God from God, Light from Light,

true God from true God,

begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father;

through him all things were made.

For us men and for our salvation

he came down from heaven,

and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary,

and became man.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,

he suffered death and was buried,

and rose again on the third day

in accordance with the Scriptures.

He ascended into heaven

and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory

to judge the living and the dead

and his kingdom will have no end.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,

who proceeds from the Father and the Son,

who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified,

who has spoken through the prophets.

I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.

I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins

and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead

and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Again, what was Jesus' crime?

Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him. As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross. They came to a place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots. And sitting down, they kept watch over him there. Above his head they placed the written charge against him: this is jesus, the king of the jews. Two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!” In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ” In the same way the rebels who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him. (Matthew 27:27-44 NIV)

When the people of that context spoke of the King of the Jews, this was a Messianic claim referring to the fulfillment of the prophecies regarding King David's line. God was Israel's original king, and the people rejected Him to have an earthly ruler like the other nations (I Samuel 8). What followed was a string of many generations of flawed and imperfect rulers attempting to lead God's people. The Messiah was the promise of the return of the perfect, divine King who would rule not only Israel, but all of humanity, perfectly in His love and justice (Isaiah 9:1-7).

Transforming Truth: Why this matters is because, if Jesus is the God who He said that He is, we are obligated to turn from what He calls sin, to obey His commands today.

“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.” ― C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

Can a Man Change His Mind?

There will always be those who respond wisely and foolishly to God. Because of God's mercy, there are moments like these for a change of heart:

One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. ” Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:39-43 NIV)

After initially starting with skepticism, pride, and insults, the man on the cross changed His mind about Jesus. Because Jesus is good, He allowed the man to come to repentance, have a change of mind, and welcomed the sinner into His forgiveness and Kingdom. He extends the same to you, your family, co-workers, and friends today.

If we do not submit in humble recognition of who Jesus said He is, the other option is to have things shake up our lives, to break us of our pride.

From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” ). When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.” Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.” And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people. When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!” Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons. (Matthew 27:45-56 NIV)

What present life-shaking circumstances, whether the birth of a child, being in a new city or school, the pain of a failed relationship, lost job, or traumatic experience, is Jesus using to bring you back to the cross today? You have to see it all as His mercy to bring you back to dependency upon Him.

Isn't it better for people to just believe in something?

“A lie that is half-truth is the darkest of all lies.” ― Alfred Tennyson

Once more Jesus said to them, “I am going away, and you will look for me, and you will die in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come.” This made the Jews ask, “Will he kill himself? Is that why he says, ‘Where I go, you cannot come’ ?” But he continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins.” “Who are you?” they asked. “Just what I have been telling you from the beginning,” Jesus replied. (John 8:21-25 NIV)

Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but he sent me. Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don't you believe me? He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.” (John 8:42-47 NIV)

There is no other place in this world where people think that they can define reality for themselves. Yet, people have the audacity to attempt this when it comes to metaphysics or the supernatural. You can do this in no other place in life, but one has to submit to the harsh realities of a fallen world. It is our last ditch effort to maintain some measure of control in our lives when it seems that everything else is spinning out of control. We've been violated, oppressed, abused, exploited, taken advantage of on the job and in our relationships. It is because of the wickedness of man; yet, we still want autonomy. The good news is, as we submit to the reality of Jesus' identity and resurrection, we also are privy to the benefits of the reality of His life.

The essence of other religions is advice; Christianity is essentially news. Other religions say, “This is what you have to do in order to connect to God forever; this is how you have to live in order to earn your way to God.” But the gospel says, “This is what has been done in history. This is how Jesus lived and died to earn the way to God for you.” Christianity is completely different. It’s joyful news. -Tim Keller in King's Cross: The Story of the World in the Life of Jesus

Because it is good news, let's meet Jesus through repentance and faith at the cross today.

Second City Church- CSI Jerusalem Sermon Series 2014

Setting the Crime Scene

CSI : Jerusalem - Setting the Crime Scene

[powerpress] Crime scenes capture the world's attention every day. Our media and even entertainment are filled with the reports of men and women who have suffered at the hands of injustices. There has never been such a tragedy more egregious than the execution of Jesus of Nazareth. For the next several weeks continuing through Easter, we will look at what actually happened at this particular crime scene, what precipitated the events, whether there was justification in Jesus' sentencing, and make an attempt to discover what really happened after the murder in question. We will be giving an apologetic (whose root means a defense of the faith) as to why Jesus' life, death, and resurrection are events substantial enough to give the world pause. It will be an excellent time to invite friends, family members, and skeptics to discover the real Jesus in His historic context. Today, we will look at the story of Jesus' journey to the cross, and how it sets up the crime scene. We will attempt to answer the questions, "Why would anyone kill a good man?", and "Why should you trust Jesus?"

Why Would You Kill a Good Man?

When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples, “As you know, the Passover is two days away—and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.” Then the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, and they schemed to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him. “But not during the festival,” they said, “or there may be a riot among the people.” (Matthew 26:1-5 NIV)

Transforming Truth: People were willing to kill Jesus when His presence in their lives threatened what they loved more than God (the way of life to which they had become accustomed).

Passover is Monday, April 14th, to Tuesday, April 22nd, and this begins the first month of the religious calendar year for the Jewish community, of which Jesus was a part. It is an annual celebration of the deliverance of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, by the power of God, under the leadership of Moses. The Passover Lamb was slaughtered for the atonement of the people's sins against God and one another. Jesus was proclaimed the fulfillment of that sacrifice (John 1:29-31), but also the greater Moses to lead the people out of their sin (Matthew 17:1-5).

(Pastor Rollan showed Leonardo Da Vinci's, The Last Supper.)

Why would the religious leaders have resisted this? The chief priests and elders of the people were what comprised the Sanhedrin, the ruling body of Jerusalem.

Since the Hasmonean period, the office of the high priest had become more of a political office than one of spiritual leadership. The high priest was chosen by the Roman governor and worked closely with the government to direct affairs of the Jewish state. Caiphas, who was the high priest at the time of Jesus, was particularly savvy in this regard, as he was able to maintain his office for around 18 years, as opposed to the fast turnover of other high priest appointees during his era.

Why were the chief priests and elders of the people, the religious leaders, willing to arrest and kill Jesus? They loved their places of control and power more than they loved God. This was clearly seen based on the report after Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead and many more became believers:

Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin. “What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.” (John 11:47, 48 NIV)

What element of control in your life do you enjoy for which you'd be willing to drop Jesus to maintain? What defines your identity more than Him? Whatever this is, whether it be your ethnicity, economic status, reputation, your sexuality, your ambition, your family, or some other relationship, it is idolatry if you are putting it above, before, or alongside your devotion to Jesus (Exodus 20:3-6).

What motivated the murder of the world's greatest man, teacher, prophet and leader? What would motivate you? You can become a murderer when something that you love is threatened. What do you love more than Jesus? For what would you be willing to sacrifice Jesus?

“The things that we love tell us what we are.” ― St. Thomas Aquinas

Why this matters is because God is calling for complete devotion in your life, and you will have to decide whether you will submit to or kill His ruling influence in your daily existence.

Why was Judas, one of Jesus' most trusted confidantes, willing to betray Jesus? He loved money and personal advancement more than Jesus.

While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table. When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. “Why this waste?” they asked. “This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.” Aware of this, Jesus said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.” Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over. (Matthew 26:6-16 NIV)

For what are you willing to sell out your allegiance to Jesus?

When his selfish and romanticized picture of the Messiah was thwarted, the driving motives of Judas' heart were revealed. He did not have the eternal matters of God in mind, merely socialistic initiatives that could simultaneously benefit his own pocket.

But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, “'Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages.'” He did not say this because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it. (John 12:4-6)

The things that you complain about not having are often the things that you love. You need to be sure that the things that you are spending your life pursuing are precipitated by the voice of God and not the prompting of Satan.

“Complaining proves nothing but that you can hear the voice of the devil.” ― Bill Johnson

How can we be like the woman with the alabaster jar? We can turn away from a bare minimum mentality to one of extravagant giving and living.

The reason that we do what we do as a church is in the hope of revival, when large quantities of people are strengthened in their love for God, and masses of people come into relationship with Jesus resulting in the transformation of families and societies for the good. Whenever there was a hope of God's visitation and intervention in the Old Testament, the people built altars and offered sacrifices. What we do through pure-hearted prayer, fasting, and giving is the altar that God is building within our lives to bring His reformational fire upon our communities.

As Jesus has been crucified and raised, we now have our own alabaster jars through which we can bring Him honor and demonstrate love for Him. (Pastor Rollan denoted the Rickshaw Republic Fundraiser coming up before Easter.) Is this gospel and the Jesus that preaches it worthy of spreading?

Why Should I Trust Jesus?

“Generally speaking, the errors in religion are dangerous; those in philosophy only ridiculous.” ― David Hume, A Treatise Of Human Nature

Crusades or Crucifixion? When you look at why some people distrust Christianity, they site things like the Crusades to say that the enforcement of a particular worldview can be harmful and detrimental. What we see with Jesus, however, is that in preaching His gospel truth unapologetically, His trustworthiness was seen in the way that He voluntarily laid down His life that you and I might go free.

While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.” Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him. Jesus replied, “Do what you came for, friend.” Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear. “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?” In that hour Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me. But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted him and fled. (Matthew 26:47-56 NIV)

Jesus shows you why His self-sacrifice gives you all of the reason that you need to trust Him when He tells you to obey His commands. The cross is the proof of His love and that He truly does have your best interest in mind in everything.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kO6qu5fQLHo

“Remember!--It is Christianity to do good always--even to those who do evil to us. It is Christianity to love our neighbours as ourself, and to do to all men as we would have them do to us. It is Christianity to be gentle, merciful and forgiving, and to keep those qualities quiet in our own hearts, and never make a boast of them or of our prayers or of our love of God, but always to show that we love Him by humbly trying to do right in everything. If we do this, and remember the life and lessons of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and try to act up to them, we may confidently hope that God will forgive us our sins and mistakes, and enable us to live and die in peace.” ― Charles Dickens

If you walk with God, there will inevitably be a point where He crosses your will and calls you to trust His goodness when it looks like everything that you expected as a reward of your devotion to Him is out of present reach. This is what the disciples were confronted with during Jesus' arrest, when they were anticipating a triumphant savior. In the meantime, as we spoke about last week, do business until He comes through on His promises. As in the case of the cross, God always has a grander picture in mind.

God loves you and has good plans for you. He demonstrated that by sending His only Son, Jesus, to the cross to reconcile us to Himself and set us on a new trajectory in life. If He did not spare His own life, you can trust that He has your relationships, provision, future, and calling all in mind.

What do you need to begin to trust Jesus with today? Is it your relationships? Is it your identity? Is it your finances or your time? What is happening in the dark of which you need to repent? Is it your attitudes? Is it gossip and slander? Is it something more? Jesus sees it all, yet still voluntarily laid down His life for you and me at the cross. Let's meet Him there now.

 Second City Church- CSI: Jerusalem Sermon Series 2014

A Life Well Lived

Before I Leave... A Life Well Lived

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Before He left, Jesus wanted to make sure that we understood that the expectation of Jesus' coming should determine how we live today.

The question is: How do I live ready in light of having to meet Jesus?

The answer is: I do business for the kingdom until He comes.

Doing Business Until Jesus Comes

“Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’ “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’ “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’ “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. “ ‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ (Matthew 25:14-30 NIV)

The expectation of the day of Jesus' coming changes the way that you live today.

What was clear was that Jesus was communicating that He would be a long time in coming, and that while He was gone, He was entrusting His wealth to us to do business for His kingdom. He said that He is going to make a return, expecting to receive an increase on the investment that He has made in your life.

In today's economy, the amount that the wealthy man doled out would have been worth about $247,200 per talent, meaning that:

5 bags: $1,236,000 turned into $6,180,000 2 bags: $494,400 turned into $988,800 1 bag: $247,200 was buried and remained $247,200

As an investor in the stock market, you expect a return on your investment. Jesus is an investor and thinks the same way in regard to individuals and churches.

At the very foundational level, Jesus has made an investment in your life through the knowledge of God given to you through the Scripture, the Holy Spirit to regenerate and empower you as a Christian, and the church community through which you can grow and be on mission with others. He has also given you time, talent, and treasure that you are to put to work as a steward of His wealth. This includes your intelligence, your opportunities, your family, your relationships, your connections, your skills, your aptitudes, and your career. Jesus wants a return on all of them with each day being one wise, obedient effort built on top of another.

There were different amounts of gold distributed. Jesus is highlighting here that it is about being faithful with what you, not someone else, is given.

From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. (Luke 12:48 NIV)

To those who have more, more is required, because it is a stewardship. It is about reaching your God-ordained potential for service and leadership in and through the church to serve Jesus.

"With great power comes great responsibility." -Uncle Ben, Spider-Man

Does it matter what I do with my life today?

You are saved because of what Jesus has done for you on the cross, but you are rewarded by what you do for Him. Simple knowledge of God is not enough.

You should desire to have your life make great impact for the Lord Jesus Christ, through your family, through your ministry, through your giving, through your profession. With deep humility and a heart of service, God wants your life to leave an eternal mark on the world for the kingdom of Heaven.

What will eternity be like?

People who have been faithful to Jesus will be ruling over cities in His restored creation (Luke 19).

Is it works or faith?

It is your faith in Jesus, your high priest, who has made atonement for your sin, which leads to obedience to Jesus, the prophet, who points you to His word and expects, as a king, a return on His investment in your life by the works that you do as a son or daughter for your Father's kingdom. This is where your time, talent, and treasure come into play. How will you invest it to see people reconciled to Jesus and see His kingdom come on earth as it is in Heaven?

The stone masons give us a clear picture of the mentality of stewardship when we see even work as worship: http://m.youtube.com/watch?list=PLAD34E4565D1C69A5&v=a0PEkkGh2u8&feature=plpp

Downton Abbey is a a fantastic example of attention to detail in only eight episodes per season. It has become an international phenomenon, and should we not put the same effort into helping to make ready the wedding banquet of the lamb?

When you are introduced to the love of God and the truth of Jesus' return, it should provoke you to ask questions. Have you been hoarding that which Jesus wants returned to Him with interest? What have you done with your gifts, talents, and the knowledge of Jesus? Have you invested them in the church and others so that Jesus might see more people come to know Him? What have you been doing with the finances (gold) that God has entrusted to you? Have you been investing it for kingdom advance, or have you been wasting it? How have you utilized your time? Has it been invested or wasted?

Oscar and Kartika are a great example of this with their restaurant. (Pastor Rollan shared about an upcoming Easter fundraiser and soup kitchen outreach.)

You always start with faithfulness in small things to be given much.

Today marks the one year public anniversary of Second City Church! This establishment of this church and where Jesus wants it to go - it is no mystery about how it has or will continue to happen. It has been the story of God building a family through people who are faithful in church attendance, faithful in giving, faithful in inviting friends, faithful in meeting new friends, and sharing the gospel with both old and new, faithful in discipling and being discipled in places like community groups. (Several photos of the church's first potlucks, outreaches, baptisms, services and more were shown by Pastor Rollan.)

We praise God as the story continues with several more baptisms taking place today!

Verse 24 of Matthew 25 is a classic case of God's sovereignty message misconstrued and the understanding of God's work gone wrong.

How do I hide my talent in the ground? I live as a taker not a giver. My walk with Jesus is all about me and not what I can do to serve the church, the world, or the people in it. I am inconsistent with the things that I do, and Jesus ultimately will call me a wicked, lazy servant.

The unfortunate thing is that because these people have squandered the gifts, talents, time, finances, and resources that were entrusted to them, they get the same fate as the rebellious, thrown into Hell where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. The waste of what God has entrusted to you is sin. There are sins of commission, what we do, and omission, what we do not do, though God says that we should. Both are judged, and God calls us to repentance in both.

If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them. (James 4:17 NIV)

Your fear of failure, not knowing enough, or simply believing God will do everything Himself will not be an excuse. He meets those who step out in faith, provides resources to those who need it, and has told you to do business with what He's entrusted to you.

The question is: What has He entrusted to you?

Where have you been committing sins of commission? Where have you been content and deceived to think that you can commit sins of omission? Both can be rectified by going to the cross of Jesus in repentance today, but Jesus is saying it must be done.

Jesus does not dole out His property blindly. If you are faithful with what He has given you, He will give you more. If you are wasteful or bury it, He will take it from you and give it to others who are faithful. Which one will you be?

You should always be looking to advance, always looking to give Jesus a greater return on His investment in you. You have to know what matters to Him to make that happen.

The truth is that when you read this, it can become a tremendous weight if you don't first understand the sacrificial love of God revealed in Jesus. This is the theme of all of the Bible. God is passionate about you, pursues you, and has demonstrated His most ardent desire to be a good Father to you. He invites you into a living, dynamic relationship with Jesus, through which all of this becomes a delight. Because of the love of our Heavenly Father, it is a pleasure to bring Him glory as we bask in His kindnesses expressed through the cross, His constant provision for our lives, and His intimate care of our souls. It is through our daily time of being ministered to by Jesus that we see that He is gentle and humble of heart, drawing us into an easy and light yoke by His grace. We are through this able to flip the two-sided coin of devotion to God through adoration of Jesus on the one side, and the healthy fear of the Lord on the other.

It has been said that, "It's not a matter of the years in the life but the life in the years." This is a very true statement of my dear friend, Jordan Lewis, who recently went to be with Jesus. He knew the love of Jesus and was delighted to spend His life on Him.

I was always impressed with Jordan. He was one of the godliest young men I've ever known. The way he lived his life is the goal of every parent, minister, teacher, spouse, and friend.

Jordan began as shy kid. As he grew, there arose a mixture of boldness, kindness, and wisdom. Like Jesus, he grew in wisdom and stature and favor with God and men (Luke 2:52). (Pastor Rollan shared pictures of Jordan throughout the years ministering and with his newlywed.)

Some highlights I remember from his life include him: - saying, "We're going to reach my school." He began a McDonald's Broughton High School outreach. - serving as Youth Band Leader. - acting as conscience and "Jiminy Cricket" of the group.

Everyone loved him - that infectious smile. He would always be so gracious to make you think you were the funniest thing alive.

I remember taking note about how clearly everyone saw what a special young man Jordan was, especially at his manhood ceremony. It seemed only appropriate that on his mission trips that followed, he was part of a swat team called the "Man Team," plus helped share the gospel with unreached people groups in Tanzania. (Pastor Rollan showed a picture of him leading the first villager from that tribe to Jesus.)

Jordan was always dropping a line, even as he graduated from college and began his career at a bank in Oklahoma. Because of his life and witness, many co-workers came to know Jesus there.

As he began his battle with cancer, he was the consummate host in his home, showing continual hospitality to those who only wished to care for him.

Jordan will undoubtedly be a part of the welcoming committee for all of us who proclaim Christ as Lord! Jordan lived in a way that he was ready to meet Jesus and set an example for us all.

May we all aspire to do as much to glorify Jesus in our lives as Jordan did in the time that he was with us. May we all live in such a way that we, too, will hear from King Jesus, "Well done good and faithful servant. Come and share in your master's happiness."

Second City Church- Before I Leave Sermon Series 2014

How the Story Ends

Before I Leave... How the Story Ends

[powerpress] Running simultaneously to the season of Lent is the NCAA's March Madness, which seems to go hand in hand with Armageddon for some people! Year after year we await a new crowned champion and suffer heartache as our team is eliminated from the brackets. Jesus will ultimately be that crowned King that will make all other matters pale in comparison. Before Jesus left, He wanted to make it clear that He is also making a return. Based on this fact, He wanted to let us know what that return would look like and how to prepare for it. To do so, He unveiled for us an introduction to eschatological events, gave a warning of how most will fall away in these times, and showed us a preview of what to expect while we are waiting and a picture of what it looks like to live ready for His return.

Eschatological Events

Eschatology is the study of the final events in the history of the world, including the final destiny of humankind. It involves the end of the world as we know it, the Second Coming of Jesus, the resurrection of the dead, and the final judgment. Jesus gave us a clear picture of what is to come.

Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. “Do you see all these things?” he asked. “Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.” As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains. (Matthew 24:1-8 NIV)

The Jewish temple represented the place of religious worship at the time of Jesus and was destroyed according to Jesus' prediction in 70 AD. Jesus was saying that the end of human history as we know it will come and that you are to be aware of the signs of the times (i.e. - North Korea, Iran, Ukraine and what is brewing there), but not be led astray by them. Many people have followed rabbit trails trying to predict the end of the world and have fallen into ditches because of it. Either they live as if they have all the time in the world to live as they want to without thought of repercussion, or they throw off the responsibilities of today because they anticipate an imminent end. Since the resurrection and ascension of Jesus, the apostles' spoke of the times in which we live as the last days (Acts 2:14-24; Hebrews 1:2; James 5:3; II Peter 3).

This matters because what is to come puts everything that you think, participate in, plan for, and do today, in context. Like an NCAA athlete preparing for March Madness, it affects their diet (spiritual food), exercise routine (service), sleep habits, practice schedule (church), and the company that they keep to sharpen their skills (community groups and fellowship). How are you living in the light of His return?

How Most Will Fall in These Times

“Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. (Matthew 24:9-14 NIV)

Jesus is letting you know clearly that the love, for Him and others, of not some, but most, will grow cold because of the increase of wickedness in our times. This is clearly seen even today as people find themselves increasingly biblically illiterate not knowing what Jesus has said or what God expects. It is easy to get caught up in cultural mores, standards, and causes when you are not anchored in the truth and life of Jesus. Your values become those of that which surrounds you rather than the truth found in God's Word. We need to remain in God's grace through ongoing relationship with Jesus and His people to escape falling into this category.

“Grace is not simply leniency when we have sinned. Grace is the enabling gift of God not to sin. Grace is power, not just pardon.” ― John Piper, The Pleasures of God: Meditations on God's Delight in Being God

What to Expect While You're Expecting

“So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand— then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let no one on the housetop go down to take anything out of the house. Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak. How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath. For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again. “If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you ahead of time. “So if anyone tells you, ‘There he is, out in the wilderness,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here he is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather. “Immediately after the distress of those days “ ‘the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’ “Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other. “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. (Matthew 24:15-35 NIV)

Be aware, be ready, but in Jesus you do not have to be afraid. It is good news for you and those who have loved the Lord.

Many people have an aversion to God because they don't like the fact that He describes Himself as a judge. Yet, we would not want to serve a god who allowed behaviors, largely self-serving and harmful toward others when inacted by sinful humanity, to go unchecked. That would mean anyone could do anything to you that they wanted and escape without penalty or restitution. Yet God, in His justice, requires both. He desires for the penalty to be satisfied in Jesus and the restitution to be enacted by us as proof of our repentance. There is no context for the grandeur of God's love without understanding the penalty that He took upon Himself to give us life.

Why this matters is, because over 600 times, with the use of more than 20 words, the Bible speaks about God's wrath which is described as burning against sinners.

"My thesis is that the practice of non-violence requires a belief in divine vengeance…My thesis will be unpopular with man in the West…But imagine speaking to people (as I have) whose cities and villages have been first plundered, then burned, and leveled to the ground, whose daughters and sisters have been raped, whose fathers and brothers have had their throats slit…Your point to them–we should not retaliate? Why not? I say–the only means of prohibiting violence by us is to insist that violence is only legitimate when it comes from God…Violence thrives today, secretly nourished by the belief that God refuses to take the sword…It takes the quiet of a suburb for the birth of the thesis that human nonviolence is a result of a God who refuses to judge. In a scorched land–soaked in the blood of the innocent, the idea will invariably die, like other pleasant captivities of the liberal mind…if God were NOT angry at injustice and deception and did NOT make a final end of violence, that God would not be worthy of our worship." - Miroslav Volf, Exclusion and Embrace

Jesus Christ showed Himself as the benevolent judge when on the cross, though innocent, He took the judgment on Himself that we all deserve so that we might go free. This is grace, and this is how we find rest for our souls as we turn from sin and turn to Him.

God is by nature a father who longs for the good of His people and His creation. Wrath is a natural result when you see those that you love harming themselves and others that you love. It is our great encouragement that He says He does not overlook the evil in the world, but instead reveals His care in saying:

I will tell of the kindnesses of the Lord, the deeds for which he is to be praised, according to all the Lord has done for us— yes, the many good things he has done for Israel, according to his compassion and many kindnesses. He said, “Surely they are my people, children who will be true to me”; and so he became their Savior. In all their distress he too was distressed, and the angel of his presence saved them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old. Yet they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit. So he turned and became their enemy and he himself fought against them. (Isaiah 63:7-10 NIV)

God's judgments are the other side of the coin that contextualize the magnitude of His love. When you live wholeheartedly for Jesus, you must have the following true perspective:

“Son,'he said,' ye cannot in your present state understand eternity...That is what mortals misunderstand. They say of some temporal suffering, "No future bliss can make up for it," not knowing that Heaven, once attained, will work backwards and turn even that agony into a glory. And of some sinful pleasure they say "Let me have but this and I'll take the consequences": little dreaming how damnation will spread back and back into their past and contaminate the pleasure of the sin. Both processes begin even before death. The good man's past begins to change so that his forgiven sins and remembered sorrows take on the quality of Heaven: the bad man's past already conforms to his badness and is filled only with dreariness. And that is why...the Blessed will say "We have never lived anywhere except in Heaven, : and the Lost, "We were always in Hell." And both will speak truly. ― C.S. Lewis, The Great Divorce

Live Ready

“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 24:36-51 NIV)

People often ask, "Why doesn't God just end all of the suffering now? Why not just take me now?"

The answer is that He would have to destroy the unsaved. God is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but He wants everyone to come to repentance. In many cases, He would have had to destroy you before you repented of your things like your sexual immorality, drunkenness, idolatry, lust, pride, self-righteousness, gossip, or slander before you came to Jesus, or would have to now because some of you have not yet come.

Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign Lord. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live? (Ezekiel 18:23 NIV)

Because no one knows the day or the hour of His coming, we need to live ready. If you had to meet Him today, would you be the unfaithful servant who was thrown out because of your selfish and maybe even wild living, or have you repented of your sin to have the Master reward you with His coming?

What does it look like to live ready?

We'll speak about this more next week, but in summary, the time in which you are awaiting Christ's return, you are to move forward in a divine tension. You are to live as if this were your last day and you are about to meet Jesus face to face. You are to balance this with preparing for the future in such a manner that Jesus may take 1000 years to return. It means being in right relationship through your devotion today and tomorrow. It means living with reckless abandon for Jesus today while allowing Him to heal and break off the weight of hurts, old wounds, and generational curses. In doing so, you will be able to make it for the long haul, bringing glory to His name through your life. It means having an urgency about winning souls, while preparing for your child's education. This means building a career that will be useful for impacting the world with the kingdom of God through your platform, giving, and influence, while seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.

Jesus' life was a fulfillment of hundreds of years of hundreds of prophecies given by the Spirit of God through His people. Jesus predicted His own death on the cross to make atonement for the sin of the world, offering forgiveness to those who would repent of their sin and believe the good news. He rose from death and left instruction as to how we are to live until His return. Let's repent of sin and purpose to join Him on mission now.

 Second City Church- Before I Leave Sermon Series 2014

Set Free from the Pharisee in Me

Before I Leave... Set Free from the Pharisee in Me

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The traditional purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer for the commemoration of the sacrificial death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus through repentance, restitution, almsgiving, and self-denial. (How ironic that Chicago just had its own Mardi Gras with the celebration of St. Patrick's Day?) In honor of the season of Lent, we are taking the next several weeks to finish the Gospel of Matthew as it records some of Jesus' final instruction before going to the cross to conquer Satan, sin, and death.  We are highlighting themes that Jesus said must be of utmost importance to His church and the world.  This week, we see that before He left, Jesus wanted to make it clear that being merely outwardly religious is not enough.  He would utilize the Pharisees and religious leaders as examples to show us the mixed bag of myopia that can be in our hearts and the importance of inside-out questioning to have sincere devotion to Christ.

Mixed Bag of Myopia

“Nothing is more common than the wish to be remarkable” ― Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

This is seen in some of the opening verses from Aloe Blacc's The Man lyrics (currently #5 on the iTunes chart):

Somewhere I heard that life is a test I been through the worst but I still give my best God made my mold different from the rest Then he broke that mold so I know I'm blessed (this is my world)

Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them. “Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by others. “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah. The greatest among you will be your servant. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. (Matthew 23:1-12 NIV)

Heavy loads can be theological concepts or disciplines not necessary in someone's childlike pursuit of the Father (Matthew 19:13-15; Acts 15).  In the case of the Pharisees, it was the oral tradition that they utilized as an interpretation of the law of God to make the commandments practical.  It ended up adding expectations to the Scripture that God Himself did not require.  What have you added to the Word of God in an attempt to be pious?

Regarding the Scripture above: -"Phylacteries" were small boxes tied to the arm and forehead containing Scripture. -"Tassels on their garments" were a reminder to obey the commandments. The Pharisees made theirs extra long for the people to admire. How do you try to draw attention to your piety?  What does it do to your heart before God?

The teachers of the Law and the Pharisees had the right content and material, but somehow made their service to God all about them.  This is myopia. One of the great sins of our generation is the myopia with which we live.  It is irritating when we see it in others and is very easily overlooked in our own hearts.  How much of the good that you do is for other people to see, for their commendation?  We are selfish by nature and live like the world revolves around us.  It is unpleasant when you see it in the world at large, but even more confusing when you see it in those professing to have lost their lives for Christ.

“When dealing with people, remember you are not dealing with creatures of logic, but with creatures bristling with prejudice and motivated by pride and vanity.” ―  Dale Carnegie,  How to Win Friends & Influence People

You must be free of self-obsession if you are to genuinely serve Jesus.  Your love for God will never be sincere, nor your service to Him faithful, if they are merely a means to make you feel good about yourself.  Once you are self-satisfied, your devotion will end.  How often is your service more about you rather than Jesus or those whom you're serving?

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2esfW4gBNao

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WuJK1YqSqxE

You can tell that you are myopic by the following reflections: Think of the conversations that you have. How much of your conversation focuses on you and your concerns?  How often do you even venture to ask a question about the other person's life showing concern for their affairs?  What are the topics of most of your blogging?  Are you more centered in your thoughts on the good that you can do for others or the fun that you want to make sure you experience yourself, thinking that this is the ultimate goal and value in life?  Jesus is saying very clearly that your world is to be Christ-centric: The Kingdom is all about Him, and your life should revolve around His affairs, His passionate desire to reconcile a world to Himself through the cross.

More from Aloe Blacc's The Man lyrics:

I got all the answers to your questions I'll be the teacher you could be the lesson I'll be the preacher you be the confession I'll be the quick relief to all your stressin' (this is my world) It's a thin line between love and hate Is you really real or is you really fake I'm a soldier standing on my feet No surrender and I won't retreat (this is my world)

[Bridge:] Stand up now and face the sun Won't hide my tail or turn and run It's time to do what must be done Be a king when kingdom comes

[Hook:] Well you can tell everybody Yeah you can tell everybody Go ahead and tell everybody I'm the man, I'm the man, I'm the man

These seem more like words that should have been spoken about Jesus than the aspiration of any individual.

Your attitude should be that of a servant to those to whom you are ministering and even leading.  Even in the workplace, that means that you don't think yourself better, or try to prove yourself superior, but instead look for what will benefit them (Acts 20:19-30).  In addition, it means that you are willing to inconvenience yourself with diligence to serve them, and do not wait for them to come to you on your terms.  It means that you have a tireless work ethic to make sure that their needs are met.  This is the love that Jesus exemplified and that we are to imitate.

“Those that hate goodness are sometimes nearer than those that know nothing at all about it and think they have it.”  ― C.S. Lewis, The Great Divorce

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to. “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are. “Woe to you, blind guides! You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gold of the temple is bound by that oath.’ You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred? You also say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gift on the altar is bound by that oath.’ You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred? Therefore, anyone who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. And anyone who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwells in it. And anyone who swears by heaven swears by God’s throne and by the one who sits on it. “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel. (Matthew 23:13, 15-24 NIV)

In cities like Chicago, people try to appease their consciences in many ways.  They give money to the church and charities, observe holy days, participate in community service, or are faithful in church attendance as an attempt to make peace with God.  Reconciliation with God is forever and only made possible through what Jesus Christ has done for you on the cross, which does not compete with these efforts, but is the motivation for them.  With pure devotion to Jesus, we practice the latter without leaving the former as our foundation.  This leads to inside-out living.

Inside Out Living

“America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.” -Abraham Lincoln

God always works from the inside out.  What you think, do, and say in the secret place will eventually come out.

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean. “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness. “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous. And you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets. Go ahead, then, and complete what your ancestors started! (Matthew 23:25-32 NIV)

Having a critical spirit is one of the greatest pitfalls of having "done the religious thing for a while." It becomes easy to think that you're standing for a righteous cause, and actually find yourself fighting against God (v. 29-32).  In the name of the "love of God," people often find themselves championing what God hates and disdaining what He loves.  The Bible is the only thing that makes this clear distinction.  The cross of Jesus is a classic example of this.  It is the place of religious zeal gone wrong, but is also the place where reconciliation with God takes place and where God begins to work from the inside out.

Religious pride can be some of the most dangerous of all, because it masks itself with good intentions, a right subject (being Jesus), and a lack of love, all exercised in His name.

We think that we know more than we do, and are often unwilling to be taught.  We build theologies to justify our lack of fruitfulness in God and in ministry, not realizing that it is that pride that is blinding us from learning how to be effective like Jesus.  The question is, "Has your increase in knowledge made you more critical or humble in your service to Jesus and others?"

"I have found out ludicrous and terrible things about my own character. Sitting by, watching the rising thoughts to break their necks as they pop up, one learns to know the sort of thoughts that do come. And, will you believe it, one out of every three is a thought of self-admiration: when everything else fails, having had its neck broken, up comes the thought "What an admirable fellow I am to have broken their necks!" I catch myself posturing before the mirror, so to speak, all day long. I pretend I am carefully thinking out what to say to the next pupil (for his good, of course) and then suddenly realize I am really thinking how frightfully clever I'm going to be and how he will admire me. When you force yourself to stop it, you admire yourself for doing that. It's like fighting the hydra.There seems to be no end to it. Depth under depth of self-love and self-admiration. Pride is the mother of all sins, and the original sin of Lucifer."  -C.S. Lewis in C.S. Lewis: A Biography, Green and Hooper, p. 105

Take these things to the cross of Jesus, and you will be a man and woman of integrity who you really hope to be in Christ.  God has real freedom for you when you come into the light in community.

“You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell? Therefore I am sending you prophets and sages and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town. And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. Truly I tell you, all this will come on this generation. “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. Look, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’ ” (Matthew 23:33-39 NIV)

We live in the Information Age, which means that knowledge can be cheap. You can go on any podcast or website and find the greatest teacher, pastor, etc. (I Corinthians 8:1-3). Real discipleship is worked out in the relationships found in church community where love has to be demonstrated and commitment expressed. Otherwise, you can easily become a religious pundit, a Pharisee merely commenting on the affairs of the world rather than doing anything to help it.

Do not kill, berate, run off, or avoid those who are sent to serve you and help you become like Jesus, in your escape from hell.  You should run to this counsel, not from it, realizing that we all need it.  Don't just pursue relationships by which you'll remain merely religious.  Pursue relationships through which you'll grow in your relationship with Jesus and His purposes for your life through the church.  The final question is, "How will I now seek out godly counsel in my growing devotion to Jesus, being freed of the Pharisee in me?"

Second City Church- Before I Leave Sermon Series 2014

The Wedding Banquet of the Son

Before I Leave... The Wedding Banquet of the Son

[powerpress]

Lent began this past week with Ash Wednesday. The traditional purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer for the commemoration of the sacrificial death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus through repentance, restitution, almsgiving, and self-denial.

Before He made His exit from His earthly ministry, there were certain big ideas that Jesus wanted to emphasize that were to be of utmost importance to His followers and to the world. Over the next several weeks, we will finish the Gospel of Matthew by looking at a number of these things. To begin, we will study why eternal, lasting success is about embracing two concepts: that everything is really all about Jesus, and, because of that, we must always look to first give God what is God's in our lives.

It's All About the Son

Throughout the Bible, God's relationship with His people is described utilizing the metaphor of a marriage. In betrothal language, one of the strongest promises that Jesus ever made was that He is going to prepare an eternal home for those that would love Him (John 14). The entry into this home would begin with the wedding banquet of the Son of God, who will be united forever with His church.

Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come. “Then he sent some more servants and said, ‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’ “But they paid no attention and went off—one to his field, another to his business. The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them. The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. “Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. So go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.’ So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, the bad as well as the good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests. “But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. He asked, ‘How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend?’ The man was speechless. “Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ “For many are invited, but few are chosen.” (Matthew 22:1-14 NIV)

The philosophy of humanism tells us that the world and what we are to do with what we know about it is to be centered around us. It is up to us to decide what is right, what is best for us, what things are valuable, and, thus, what we should give ourselves to.

“Life has no meaning a priori… It is up to you to give it a meaning, and value is nothing but the meaning that you choose.” ― Jean-Paul Sartre

However, Jesus said, “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son." (Matthew 22:2 NIV)

In that day, two invitations were sent out to parties - one with an RSVP for the host to make preparations, and one letting you know that it is time to come because everything is ready. The people in your life who have been making invitations to you (whether family members, co-workers, neighbors, or friends) to grow in your relationship with Jesus are the servants of the King represented in this story.

There are two responses to the King's invitation that exist in the world:

1) Those who vehemently reject the King's authority and invitation in vitriolic rebellion

“…I want atheism to be true and am made uneasy by the fact that some of the most intelligent and well-informed people I know are religious believers. It isn't just that I don't believe in God and, naturally, hope that I'm right in my belief. It's that I hope there is no God! I don't want there to be a God; I don't want the universe to be like that.

"My guess is that this cosmic authority problem is not a rare condition and it is responsible for much of the scientism and reductionism of our time. One of the tendencies it supports is the ludicrous overuse of evolutionary biology to explain everything about life, including everything about the human mind. Darwin enabled modern secular culture to heave a great collective sigh of relief, by apparently providing a way to eliminate purpose, meaning and design as fundamental features of the world. -Thomas Nagel, 1997, The Last Word, Oxford University Press, October 2001

2) Those who are preoccupied with other legitimate things, but have their priorities out of order

The term "paid no attention" - (Greek word amalea) meant to ignore or neglect.

The king still says that they do not deserve to come because, in their excuses, they did not put him first. This is the challenge in the city when you are trying to achieve. Please do not find yourself there.

Many of us have gotten stuck in the realm of the first invitation, merely making a decision to attend the banquet by saying a prayer, or having some moment of intellectually accepting Jesus. It's one thing to an accept an invitation, it's another to do what it takes and put forth the effort to make your way to the occasion. Paul exhorted the Philippian church to "Work out your salvation with fear and trembling" (Philippians 2:12), speaking of the sanctification that followed a profession of faith. In biblical times, the term "faith" and "belief" were not reduced to a mental assent, but a trust through which you committed your whole life trajectory to following and obeying your instructor - in this case, Jesus. This is the essence of being a disciple, which is the only thing that Jesus is looking for. You don't want to spend the rest of your life making excuses as to why you are not making your way to the party through a life of devotion to God.

“This is the most dangerous trial of all, when there is no trial and every thing goes well; for then a man is tempted to forget God, to become too bold and to misuse times of prosperity.” ― Martin Luther, A Treatise on Good Works

Are you saying I have to choose between my responsibilities and my pursuit of God?

No. As we'll see in a moment, Jesus said to give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's. What God requires is the first and best of all of your time, talent, and resources in worship of Him as a continued acknowledgement of His provision for you. This leads you into a contextualized pursuit of His purposes (Prov. 3:5-10; Matthew 6:25-34; Romans 11:16). With this type of heart, you strive to become the best worker, student, spouse, parent, and citizen that you can be. The difference when giving Jesus your first and your best is that you are fueled by God, not merely your own efforts, and you are able to walk in His grace.

The good news is that everyone is a candidate for this banquet - "the bad as well as the good" (v. 10); those who seem to have it all together and those whose lives are falling apart. The key to entry to the banquet is the right clothing.

It will not be by your own good works or efforts through which you come through the door, but only through Jesus and what He has done on the cross for you (Romans 13:11-14). The one who tries to earn their way in will have the same fate as the rebellious, as both have a root of self-sufficiency and pride. At the same time, once you realize this, then you live out a real faith, understanding that faith without works is dead (James 2:14-26).

You make your way to an important banquet through:

1) A study of the etiquette and decorum

This is done through a study of the Word of God.

2) A readiness in your heart to interact with the other guests. This is also helpful to get an objective spot check on how you are dressed from others.

This is done through a participation in the community of God.

3) A prepared gift for the wedding couple

This is done through our giving.

4) Ongoing communication with the bride and groom to ensure that you've RSVP'd and there is a seat saved for you.

This is done through a life of prayer to God.

5) As you find yourself part of the family and close friends of the groom, providing service throwing showers, helping with the invitations, and the like.

This is done as service in and through the church. Find your place today.

Giving God What Is God's

If life is all about the Son, then you prioritize your life in such a way that reflects this realization. God does not expect to get your leftovers in any part of your life whether it be your finances, your time, your emotions, or your thoughts (as is spoken of in Malachi). He expects your first and your best. This is worship. Anything less is an offense to the cosmic King.

Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are. Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?” But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?” “Caesar’s,” they replied. Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away. (Matthew 22:15-22 NIV)

Taxes are clear in our land, and you know exactly how much you owe. A tithe is what you owe God. The tithe is used to extend Jesus' Kingdom through the local church.

The Old Testament concept of giving God what is God's was a precept with which Jesus was intimately acquainted. In the New Testament, Jesus repeated this theme, reinforcing it as a generosity principle that the church is to live by rather than a dispensational law that has become obsolete. You do this, within each pay period, by giving a tenth of the gross of all that you receive from God through your work, industry, and gifts as a part of your worship of Jesus. This is how you acknowledge His provision in your life. The leaders of the church, including the pastor's family, follow the same pattern.

In the New Covenant, the tithe is a baseline standard for giving in the church. It is to be the floor, not the ceiling to our generosity. An offering and almsgiving go above your tithe and is a matter of being generous. In addition to the needs of the local church, it can also be about extending Jesus' Kingdom borders beyond the local house. With offerings, you can designate gifts to special projects, etc.

If you have ever been host to a party, and not just the participant who comes and eats all of the chips, drinks all of the soda, eats all of the cake, and leaves a big mess for everyone else to clean up, you know that it comes with an expense to make it great. Birthday parties when you have kids will show you this.

Once you've accepted the invitation, you mature into being one of those who are making the invitation, helping to host.

Once again, I can say, "thank you so much for your giving, Second City!" You are those who not only show up at the party, but help to put it on. More and more, I believe that we are learning to put Jesus first, and are seeing the type of heart reflected in The Auction.

The Auction

Years ago, there was a very wealthy man who, with his devoted young son, shared a passion for collecting art. Together they traveled around the world, buying only the finest art treasures. Priceless works by Picasso, Van Gogh, Monet and many others adorned the walls of the family estate. The widowed elder man looked on with satisfaction as his only child became an experienced art collector. The son's trained eye and sharp business mind caused his father to beam with pride as they dealt with art collectors around the world. As winter approached, war engulfed the nation, and the young man left to serve his country. After only a few short weeks, his father received a telegram. His beloved son was missing in action. The art collector anxiously awaited more news, fearing he would never see his son again. Within days, his fears were confirmed, the young man had died while rushing a fellow soldier to a medic. Distraught and lonely, the old man viewed the upcoming Christmas holidays with anguish and sadness. The joy of the season, that he and his son had so looked forward to, would visit his house no longer.

On Christmas morning a knock on the door awakened the depressed, old man. As he walked to the door, the expensive masterpieces of art on the walls only reminded him that his son was not coming home. As he opened the door, he was greeted by a soldier with a large package in his hands. He introduced himself to the man by saying, "I was a friend of your son. I was the one he was rescuing when he died. May I come in for a few moments? I have something to show you." As the old man began unwrapping the package, the paper gave way to reveal a portrait of his deceased son. Though the world would never consider it the work of a genius, the painting featured the young man's face in striking detail. Overcome with emotion, he thanked the soldier, promising to hang the picture above the fireplace. A few hours later, after the soldier had departed, the old man set about his task. True to his word, the painting went above the fireplace, pushing aside thousands of dollars worth of art. His task completed, the old man sat in his chair and spent Christmas gazing at the gift he had been given.

During the days and weeks that followed, the man realized that even though his son was no longer with him, the boy's life would live on because of those he had touched. He would soon learn that his son had rescued dozens of wounded soldiers before a bullet stilled his caring heart. As the stories of his son's gallantry continued to reach him, and fatherly pride and satisfaction began to ease his grief, the painting of his son became his most prized possession, far eclipsing any interest in the expensive pieces for which museums around the world clamored. He told his neighbors his son's painting was the greatest gift he had ever received.

The following spring, the old man became ill and passed away. The art world was in anticipation that with the collector's passing, and his only son dead, those paintings would be sold at auction. According to the will of the old man, all of the art works would be auctioned on Christmas Day, because on this day he had received his greatest gift.

The day soon arrived and art collectors from around the world gathered to bid on some of the world's most spectacular paintings. Dreams would be fulfilled this day - greatness would be achieved as many would be able to claim, "I have the greatest collection." The auction began with a painting that was not on any museum's list. It was the painting of the man's son. The auctioneer asked for an opening bid, but the room was silent. "Who will open the bidding with $100?" he asked.

Minutes passed and no one spoke. Finally, from the back of the room came a voice, "Who cares about that painting? It's just a picture of his son. Let's forget about it and move on to the good stuff." Many voices echoed in agreement.

"No, we have to sell this one first," replied the auctioneer. "Now who will take the son?" Finally, a neighbor of the old man spoke. "Will you take $10 for the painting? That's really all I have - and since I knew the boy, I'd like to have the painting."

After more silence, the auctioneer said, "I have ten dollars, will anyone go higher?" Then the auctioneer said, "Going once, Going twice, Gone." The gavel fell. Cheers filled the room and someone exclaimed, "Now we can get on with it and we can bid on the real treasures!" The auctioneer looked at the audience and announced that the auction was over.

Stunned disbelief quieted the room. Then someone spoke up and asked, "What do you mean, it's over? We didn't come here to bid on a picture of some old guy's son. What about all of these other paintings? There are millions of dollars worth of art here! I demand that you explain what is going on!" Other voices raised in agreement.

The auctioneer raised his hand and the room quieted. He then replied, "It's very simple. The attorney for this estate has indicated that according to the father's will, whoever takes the son, gets everything."

Life is an auction. We are the buyers. There are material things to acquire and spiritual things to acquire. How often do we, as these art dealers, quest after great material things which appear to have great value, while spurning those spiritual things which seem inconsequential but will later govern our eternal life? It doesn't seem like much of a price to pay when we accept the love of Jesus Christ into our hearts. It is free, and our expression of loyalty and obedience in return, almost seems negligible. Perhaps we too need to discover once again, as these art dealers, that when you have the Son, you have everything!

-Author Unknown

Second City Church- Before I Leave...Sermon Series 2014

How It Changed Me

The Voice of Worship: How It Changed Me

[powerpress] The exciting thing about engaging God on an ongoing basis in worship is that He is kind enough to show Himself to you, shower you with His love, and change you for the better through it.  Because you become what you behold, engaging Jesus in worship is one of the primary mechanisms through which He transforms you into His image.   Today we will discuss how times of devotion transform the worshiper by describing what we find in the presence of God and, as a result, what happens in the heart of the worshiper.

In God's Presence

Prior to the Jewish temple being built, the tabernacle was the place of worship for the Israelites.  It was for this place that God, through Moses, gave instructions about how to build a sanctuary, a place of meeting with God, that was to be a copy and shadow of what is in Heaven (Hebrews 8:5).  Included in this tabernacle were articles used in worship that give us a picture of what God does in our hearts as we come into His presence.

Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary. A tabernacle was set up. In its first room were the lampstand and the table with its consecrated bread; this was called the Holy Place. Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place, which had the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. This ark contained the gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant. Above the ark were the cherubim of the Glory, overshadowing the atonement cover. But we cannot discuss these things in detail now. (Hebrews 9:1-5 NIV)

God shows His practical nature.  Though the temple would later be built using sturdy cedar wood, the tabernacle was made using acacia wood - the only wood available in the Sinai desert.  How appropriate that is for the beginning days of a church plant.  God allows us to begin where we are, but it is not where we are to remain as we are changed in worship.  There is an expectation of maturation and progress.

The Holy Place

The lampstand (Revelation 1:19, 20)

In the book of Revelation, Jesus gives the metaphor of seven lampstands representing seven different churches that He was instructing in a life of devotion to God.  The church is a constant light to the nations as to how to enter into relationship with God through Jesus.  It is the only institution in the world that will teach you to do this properly through the preaching of God's truth.  Once you come to Jesus, the first thing that you find in God's presence is a love for His people, His church, which He describes as His bride.  Devote yourself to her now.

The table with the consecrated bread

Meeting with Jesus in worship means that you are led to His Word and through it are consecrated, literally set apart to Him, as you meditate on His nature, work, commands, and ways.  Through study of the Scripture you are literally "dining" with Jesus, being prepared for transformation by acquiring the knowledge of God.

The Most Holy Place

From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” ). When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.” Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.” And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people. (Matthew 27:45-53 NIV)

The powerful thing is that on the cross, Jesus became sin and took the wrath of God upon Himself that caused a separation between humanity and God.  Because of His propitiatory death, the curtain that once kept men and women out of the most holy place where God met with His people was torn in two, forever declaring a new access to all believers through the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ.  His cross where His substitutionary sacrifice was made has become our atonement cover.

It is in the Most Holy Place that we move from a place of information to transformation.

The golden altar of incense (Revelation 5:6-10)  (used to overpower the smell of flesh burning from the sacrifices) It was linked to the prayers of the saints in Revelation.  Prayer, the two-way communication with God, is where the transformation begins.  We encourage you to give God the quality time that you need to see the transformation take place.

The golden covered ark of the covenant This represented the literal presence, being before the face of God.

Inside were the:

Gold jar of manna (John 6:27-35) The manna that the Israelites ate during their wanderings in the desert was God's supernatural provision for their most fundamental needs.  As Jesus was walking the earth, He described Himself as the bread of life.  Through perpetual relationship with Jesus, He promised that you will never go hungry or thirsty.  God literally feeds and refreshes your soul through your encounters with Him so that you are not wasting your life pursuing things that will not satisfy the deepest needs of your psyche and emotions.  This means that your every relationship, whether platonic or romantic, career ambition, and sense of identity find themselves fulfilled as you contextualize your life through Jesus and His leadership.

Aaron’s staff that had budded As the Israelites were coming out of Egypt, they found themselves rebelling against the leadership that God had given them in Moses and Aaron.  Aaron's staff that had budded was God's supernatural sign of authority given to Aaron as priest. In the same way, you find grace in the presence of God to submit to Jesus' authority in your life as you come to Him in worship.  Fear and intimidation are broken in the presence of God.  You leave times with Jesus with an ability to walk in His authority (Mark 3:13-19), ministering by the power of the Holy Spirit.

“I cannot imagine how religious persons can live satisfied without the practice of the presence of GOD. For my part I keep myself retired with Him in the depth of centre of my soul as much as I can; and while I am so with Him I fear nothing; but the least turning from Him is insupportable.” ― Brother Lawrence, The Practice of the Presence of God

The stone tablets of the covenant In God's presence, His law is written on your heart as it was originally written on the tablets that He gave Moses for the people.  You encounter the grace of God so that you want to obey, rather than feeling merely outwardly compelled to do so.  Your heart is literally transformed with a love for Jesus.

Above the ark were the cherubim of the Glory, overshadowing the atonement cover Through worship, you are able to see God in His splendor and marvel at the mercy of God reflected in the gift of Jesus Christ.  The atonement cover was a constant representation of the sin that brought the judgment of God that has now been satisfied in Jesus.

The difference between God's temple and the pagan temples of the day is that on the cherubim, you would expect to see an image of the deity.  However, in the Hebrew context, there was no image that could adequately reflect or represent the glory of God, thus no image was to be found.  In the same way, because He was not an idol, there was no representation of Him to be dressed, "fed," and entertained on a daily basis.  The placement of the expensive materials, such as the pure gold used as utensils and dyes nearest the ark in the Most Holy Place, reflected the reverence and awe with which you are to approach God.

In the Heart of the Worshiper

The result of continually being in God's presence is that a change continually takes place in your heart.  This is sanctification and is Jesus setting you apart for noble, rather than ignoble, holy, rather than common, purposes.  He does this by changing your appetites and perspectives.  You are allowed to see clearly for the first time with a bird's eye view over your circumstances and culture.

“How happy we would be if we could find the treasure of which the Gospel speaks; all else would be as nothing. As it is boundless, the more you search for it the greater the riches you will find; let us search unceasingly and let us not stop until we have found it.” ― Brother Lawrence, The Practice of the Presence of God

A Psalm of the Sons of Korah

How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young— a place near your altar, Lord Almighty, my King and my God. Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you. Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baka, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools. They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion. Hear my prayer, Lord God Almighty; listen to me, God of Jacob. Look on our shield, O God; look with favor on your anointed one. Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. Lord Almighty, blessed is the one who trusts in you. (Psalm 84:1-12 NIV)

A History of the Sons of Korah (Numbers 16)

Though the authors of a beautiful Psalm that reflected deep relationship with God, the sons of Korah had a sordid heritage.  Korah was the cousin of Moses and Aaron who was noted for leading a rebellion against their leadership following the Exodus from Egypt.  God dealt with this.

In the midst of God's judgment, He has redemptive purposes.  The Korahites were among the chief Levitical families (Numbers 26:58).  Under King David's rule, they were assigned as "gatekeepers" (I Chronicles 26:1) and participated in giving praise to the Lord (II Chronicles 20:19).  Because the temple represented the place of God's dwelling, the gatekeepers had the high honor of defending the meeting place of God from defilement since it was the center of worship of Yahweh, the one true God.  These people had the privilege of constantly dwelling in proximity to God's presence.

Though the heritage of the sons of Korah was that they were striving and rebellious, God took his descendants and made them those who found their place as worshipers before the Lord.  In the same way, no matter where you began today, you can come to a place of repentance and faith through Jesus.  You can become a true worshiper who turns the valley of Baca ("weeping") into a place of springs, because you know the secret of meeting with the living God.

Second City Church- The Voice of Worship Sermon Series 2014

Don't Sweat the Technique

The Voice of Worship: Don't Sweat the Technique

[powerpress] Last week we spoke about the priority of moving from a place of simply knowing about Jesus to engaging God on a consistent basis.  This week we will speak about the dynamics through which we glorify Jesus in the midst of life's battles and victories, developing a practice of worship with which God said He is pleased.

The Battle Rounds (II Chron. 20:1-30)

Life as we know it is a fight of faith.  It can be a battle to maintain your peace and your joy - to walk in right relationship with Jesus and others.  It is also a battle to be able to excel in the workplace, in school, or in your pursuits while maintaining God's kingdom priorities.  God has given us weapons with which we can win these battles, and the one with which we need to begin is worship.  Worship magnifies God in life's battles - over your circumstances, struggles, and fears.  It invites God to intervene in your situation.

Why do we begin each celebration service with music and song?

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. (Psalm 100:1-5 NIV)

The manner in which we approach God is important as it honors Him for who He is as much as what He's done.  It postures our hearts in humility, thankfulness, and faith when we remember not only his grandeur, but also His great love for us expressed in Jesus.

It is natural that we give God thank offerings when He has done something for us.  However, it can be difficult at times with the weight of life to come to Jesus with that type of attitude.  God knows this and has instructed us how to deal with moments like these.

This is a segment from a psalm of Asaph.  He and Heman were appointed by King David from the Levitical (priestly) tribe to be musicians who led the people in worship at the temple of the Lord (I Chronicles 6:31-53).

“Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High, and call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.” But to the wicked person, God says: “What right have you to recite my laws or take my covenant on your lips? You hate my instruction and cast my words behind you. When you see a thief, you join with him; you throw in your lot with adulterers. You use your mouth for evil and harness your tongue to deceit. You sit and testify against your brother and slander your own mother’s son. When you did these things and I kept silent, you thought I was exactly like you. But I now arraign you and set my accusations before you. “Consider this, you who forget God, or I will tear you to pieces, with no one to rescue you: Those who sacrifice thank offerings honor me, and to the blameless I will show my salvation.” (Psalm 50:14-23 NIV)

The victory begins in silent meditation as we reflect and stand on the truth of God's word.

“Many Spirit-filled authors have exhausted the thesaurus in order to describe God with the glory He deserves. His perfect holiness, by definition, assures us that our words can't contain Him. Isn't it a comfort to worship a God we cannot exaggerate?” ― Francis Chan, Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God

Silent Meditation is put into effect as we give God a sacrifice of praise for: 1) the unchanging nature of who He is, and 2) as an act of faith, because we know that His trustworthiness in the past gives us every indication of His character in the future.  Jesus is not formulaic.  It may not be the same way that He brings about the necessary (not always desired) provision or miracle each time, but He will do it.  We have no right to think otherwise.

Religion is passive regarding the affairs of life; relationship is aggressive pursuing the promises of God (I Thess. 5:18) Religion can be cold and isolating; relationship is both personal and communal.

Praise the Lord. Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise in the assembly of his faithful people. Let Israel rejoice in their Maker; let the people of Zion be glad in their King. Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with timbrel and harp. For the Lord takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with victory. Let his faithful people rejoice in this honor and sing for joy on their beds. May the praise of God be in their mouths and a double-edged sword in their hands, to inflict vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples, to bind their kings with fetters, their nobles with shackles of iron, to carry out the sentence written against them— this is the glory of all his faithful people. Praise the Lord. (Psalm 149:1-9 NIV)

When you praise God individually, you are making moves to deepen your intimacy with Jesus.  When you worship corporately, you are obeying God's instructions and receiving the benefit of being encouraged by - literally feeding off the strength of - other people's faith.

Through the writers of Scripture, the Holy Spirit has also given instruction revealing the importance of how you worship.  We call these the live rounds.

The Live Rounds (Technique, How)

Worship is not just a frame of mind or a condition of the heart.  It is also something that is to be expressed.  The manner in which you worship can be both attractive to God and freeing to your soul.

Religion is merely academic; relationship is employing that knowledge. Worship involves an all-encompassing adoration of Jesus. There are several postures of worship which the Bible describes which are important in your relating to God.

How low can you go? Standing (Solomon dedicating the temple in I Kings 8:22)

Sitting (David in II Samuel 7:18)

Kneeling - stilling our souls and orienting ourselves in submission to Jesus For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. (Ephesians 3:14, 15 NIV)

Bowing (Matthew 2:11) - humbling ourselves in reverence and honor before Jesus

Laying Prostrate (Deuteronomy 9:25; I Kings 18:36-39; Matthew 5:3) - acknowledging the glory of God and our complete dependency on Him.  It is saying, "We are undone and desperate before you."

"At the very least, they can be persuaded to that the bodily position makes no difference to their prayers; for they constantly forget, what you must always remember, that they are animals and that whatever their bodies do affects their souls." -CS Lewis, The Screwtape Letters - Letter 4

Though the worldview constructed by Darwinian evolution absent of the acknowledgment of God would suggest that we are merely animals and beasts of instinct, the Bible reveals that we are so much more.  Out of all of God's creation, humanity is the unique image-bearer of God, full of intellect, reasoning ability, an eternal soul, and, through the Holy Spirit, self-control.  God has also designed us to have our hearts and minds intimately connected with the movements and expressions that proceed from our bodies.  Worship brings this into clear view, being an outward expression of the inward condition of the heart.  It is the visible demonstration of the Holy Spirit's secret work within the soul of a man, woman, or child.

Just as surely as postures position our hearts properly before God, actions communicate the same reverence, rejoicing and delight, with liberating effects for the worshiper.  People often make judgments about how someone else is worshiping before the Lord.  You need not do this.  We need to play to an audience of one.  It is about the heart. But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7 NIV)

Psalm 95 has traditionally been called the veniti (which in Latin means "O Come!" because of the Psalm's opening call to worship) and explains outward expressions that coincide with biblical worship.  Throughout the history of the Christian Church, it has been utilized as a standard to tell us what worship is:

Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care. Today, if only you would hear his voice, “Do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah, as you did that day at Massah in the wilderness, where your ancestors tested me; they tried me, though they had seen what I did. For forty years I was angry with that generation; I said, ‘They are a people whose hearts go astray, and they have not known my ways.’ So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.’ ” (Psalm 95:1-11 NIV)

Singing - practical adoration

Shouting - can be cathartic and magnifying

Playing Instruments - for the delight of God's heart

"I wish to see all arts, principally music, in the service of Him who gave and created them.  Music is a fair and glorious gift of God.  I would not for the world forego my humble share of music.  Singers are never sorrowful, but are merry, and smile through their troubles in song.  Music makes people kinder, gentler, more staid and reasonable.  I am strongly persuaded that after theology there is no art than can be placed on a level with music; for besides theology, music is the only gift capable of affording peace and joy of the heart…the devil flees before the sound of music almost as much as before the Word of God." -Martin Luther

Several people express concern over people falling into emotionalism in worship experiences.  A question would be, "Does not the God who made your emotions not want you to emote to Him?"  Another concern that people have is the idea of worship turning into a performance.  People seem to have no trouble at a sporting event, concert, or other party where they are expressing their joy or sorrow over the subject or object of focus.  This is to be our celebration service, where we are rejoicing in who Jesus is and all that He has done for us.  Your adoration should begin privately and continue with friends, as in a wedding or other celebration.  We will continue this discussion in a couple of weeks.

Clapping - gives a means of celebration You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. (Isaiah 55:12 NIV)

God has designed things in such a way as to receive glory from all of His creation.  Sin is simply the momentary marring and muffling of that exaltation.  All of creation is meant to give God praise.  If the trees, etc., are clapping and bursting forth in song, how much more should we be!

Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it. Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy. Let all creation rejoice before the Lord, for he comes, he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his faithfulness. (Psalm 96:11-13 NIV)

This is why nature so enraptured romantics like Thoreau, Emerson, John Keats, and Walt Whitman.  Though described as an agnostic pragmatist committed to metaphysical naturalism, even Harvard educated professor George Santayana, known for his quote, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it," also said:

“The earth has music for those who listen.” ― George Santayana

All of creation is meant to give honor to God, and it is why Jesus said: When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” (Luke 19:37-40 NIV)

It is also why contemporary songwriters have penned songs with lyrics such as "Ain't gonna let no rock out praise me!" These are things that God encourages privately, but also when we are together.

Praise the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness. Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with timbrel and dancing, praise him with the strings and pipe, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. (Psalm 150:1-6 NIV)

Dancing - liberates your soul

Leaping - allows you to emote with joy to God (II Samuel 6:16 discussed last week)

You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you. On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. I cling to you; your right hand upholds me. Those who want to kill me will be destroyed; they will go down to the depths of the earth. They will be given over to the sword and become food for jackals. But the king will rejoice in God; all who swear by God will glory in him, while the mouths of liars will be silenced. (Psalm 63:1-11 NIV)

Prophesying - coming into a place of faith and agreement with God's Word.  It is here that we are often empowered and commissioned for the work of God (I Samuel 10:1-9; Acts 13:1-3).

Lifting Hands - a sign of surrender and an appeal for aid (like a child crying out for its parent - Exodus 178-16; I Timothy 2:8)

The fruit of true biblical worship is an increasing submission to the Lordship, the leadership, of Jesus in your life.

While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, “What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?” “The son of David,” they replied. He said to them, “How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him ‘Lord’? For he says, “ ‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.” ’ If then David calls him ‘Lord,’ how can he be his son?” No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions. (Matthew 22:41-46 NIV)

The writer of Hebrews goes on to say: Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. (Hebrews 13:15 NIV)

All true biblical worship must begin and end with the worship of the Father through the person and work of His Son, Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit.  This is what it means to worship the Father in Spirit and in truth.

“Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.” (John 4:21-26 NIV)

It is only true worship when through it, your mind, body, heart, and soul are being transformed to lift Jesus to the foremost pursuit of your life.   Worship is only fully realized in a community where the many varied attributes of God are manifest and shared through a corporate, ideally multicultural experience.   The cross of Jesus makes a way for us to leave our sin, preferences, and presuppositions behind, allowing the rightful King to be exalted on His throne.  Let's enter into fully devoted worship to see Jesus glorified and our lives and those in this city transformed.

Second City Church- The Voice of Worship Sermon Series 2014

The Heart of Worship

The Voice of Worship: The Heart of Worship

[powerpress] It is one thing to talk about Jesus.  It is another thing to relate to and interact with the living God.  It is important in our walks with God that we make the transition from knowing about Jesus to actually relating with Jesus.  We will learn how to do the latter as we look at the priority of approaching Jesus in worship and study biblical coaches who exemplified pleasing worship to God.

Turning the Chair

We were made for relationship with God.  All of the pursuits of life that have become idols are an effort to fill that ontological void.

God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. (1 Corinthians 1:9 NIV)

Jesus unapologetically says, before you do anything else, make it a priority to relate to Him that He might contextualize and be a barometer for the rest of your life's affairs.

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:38-42 NIV)

If you have to choose between first working for God or sitting at His feet, always choose sitting at His feet.  Jesus will fight to protect His time with you.  It will propel any of the work that He has called you to do in school, in the workplace, with your family, amongst your friends, in the community or the church.  Choose time with Jesus over sleep, a movie, other entertainment, a hangout with friends, or work, knowing that when you've given Him your first and best, He will multiply your time, efforts, and quality of interaction in all of these other things.

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Hebrews 4:14-16 NIV)

As opposed to the conditions on the competition The Voice, there is nothing that you need to do to turn God's chair.  You do not need to perform for Him.  You already have His attention.  He is the one waiting for you to come and meet with Him.  Because of what Jesus has done for you on the cross, you can approach God with confidence.

The good news is that when we think of worship, it is about real relationship with Jesus. Religion keeps you at a distance, but relationship draws you in. Empty religion is an obligation, but relationship becomes a delight.

This truth is ironically reflected in Steve Martin's comic piece, Atheists Don't Have No Songs: http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QJS5UOyHyQE

Steve Martin's parody actually shows the deep resources from which the Christian pulls their thankfulness bursting over in song because of God's goodness.

“I can safely say, on the authority of all that is revealed in the Word of God, that any man or woman on this earth who is bored and turned off by worship is not ready for heaven.” ― A.W. Tozer

The Coaches

God has given us pictures in the Scripture of examples of worship that are pleasing to Him.  They act as our coaches in relationship to Jesus.

We shall never want to serve God in our real and secret hearts if He looms in our subconscious mind as an arbitrary Dictator or a Spoil-sport, or as one who takes advantage of His position to make us poor mortals feel guilty and afraid. We have not only to be impressed by the "size" and unlimited power of God, we have to be moved to genuine admiration, respect, and affection, if we are ever to worship Him. - J. B. Phillips, Your God Is Too Small

Religion can condemn; relationship can liberate (Romans 8). Religion makes everything about the rules; relationship makes everything about the love for God that has you obey His commands out of deep seated affection and gratitude. You want to please Him.

Now King David was told, “The Lord has blessed the household of Obed-Edom and everything he has, because of the ark of God.” So David went to bring up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with rejoicing. When those who were carrying the ark of the Lord had taken six steps, he sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf. Wearing a linen ephod, David was dancing before the Lord with all his might, while he and all Israel were bringing up the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of trumpets. As the ark of the Lord was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she despised him in her heart. They brought the ark of the Lord and set it in its place inside the tent that David had pitched for it, and David sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings before the Lord. After he had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord Almighty. Then he gave a loaf of bread, a cake of dates and a cake of raisins to each person in the whole crowd of Israelites, both men and women. And all the people went to their homes. When David returned home to bless his household, Michal daughter of Saul came out to meet him and said, “How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, going around half-naked in full view of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!” David said to Michal, “It was before the Lord, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed me ruler over the Lord ’s people Israel—I will celebrate before the Lord. I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor.” And Michal daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death. (2 Samuel 6:12-23 NIV)

The ark of the Lord represented the presence of God that the Israelites would carry with them on their journey to the promised land, in their battles, and rest finally at their place of worship.  It was the physical sign of God being with them, as He is with the Christian today.  When we engage God in worship, it is the difference between being in the same house as your parent, and sitting down with them face to face in quality interaction.  God wants and calls us to the latter type of relationship, and King David celebrated that reality with exuberant praise.

There can be obstacles as to why you don't come before God:

David again brought together all the able young men of Israel—thirty thousand. He and all his men went to Baalah in Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the Name, the name of the Lord Almighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim on the ark. They set the ark of God on a new cart and brought it from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, sons of Abinadab, were guiding the new cart with the ark of God on it, and Ahio was walking in front of it. David and all Israel were celebrating with all their might before the Lord, with castanets, harps, lyres, timbrels, sistrums and cymbals. When they came to the threshing floor of Nakon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen stumbled. The Lord ’s anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act; therefore God struck him down, and he died there beside the ark of God. Then David was angry because the Lord ’s wrath had broken out against Uzzah, and to this day that place is called Perez Uzzah. David was afraid of the Lord that day and said, “How can the ark of the Lord ever come to me?” He was not willing to take the ark of the Lord to be with him in the City of David. Instead, he took it to the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. The ark of the Lord remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite for three months, and the Lord blessed him and his entire household. (2 Samuel 6:1-11 NIV)

Before that moment of exuberant praise, King David had an encounter where he mishandled and misunderstood the presence of God.  You may have experienced the same thing, but there is hope for a safe, fresh, and real encounter with God.

There are other reasons that people exclude relating to God as a part of their lives:

1) Because He is invisible, and we can feel like we are talking to the wall.  We feel like we are wasting our time, or that it won't produce much that we desire.

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. (Hebrews 11:6 NIV)

The good news is that as we approach God with trust and expectation, He promises to draw near to meet with us.

Moses, who spoke to God face to face as a man speaks with a friend, encouraged us: Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations, who will hear about all these decrees and say, “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.” What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the Lord our God is near us whenever we pray to him? And what other nation is so great as to have such righteous decrees and laws as this body of laws I am setting before you today? (Deuteronomy 4:6-8 NIV)

James, Jesus' natural born little brother, exhorted in the same manner: But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. (James 4:6-8 NIV)

2) Like the contestants on The Voice, we don't have the confidence.  We can feel unworthy, ill-equipped, dirty, or simply scared.  Many times our perception of God can be shaped by our relationship with our own father.  We can have misconceptions about who God is.

This is where we find the cross of Jesus Christ.  As a Christian, you begin there and end there.  Every day, you are living by the grace given you because of Jesus' sacrifice and blood spilled upon it.

I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome. For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” (Romans 1:14-17 NIV)

His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. (Ephesians 3:10-12 NIV)

The good news is that to the Christian and the one who has not yet begun to follow Jesus, God says come.  At the cross, Jesus took the punishment for the sins that separate you from God, and He rose from the dead to act as a bridge to your living relationship with the living God.  Now we only need to repent (turn away from our rebellion), believe the good news, and come.

Second City Church- The Voice of Worship Sermon Series 2014

Christ's Community Shaping Culture

Christ. Community. Culture. - "Christ's Community Shaping Culture"

[powerpress]

Transforming Truth: Jesus' church is meant to shape culture as it acts to reflect God's heavenly rule on earth.

We have been going through a three week series defining the vision of Second City Church. We began with the preeminence of Jesus, the Messiah, and last week spoke about how He cares for and develops His people within His community, the church. This week we will see how Jesus has shaped civilization, and how Jesus' community now has a mandate to shape culture (Matthew 5:13-15).

How Jesus Has Shaped Civilization

Religious suffering is, at one and the same time, the expression of real suffering and a protest against real suffering. Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the people. The abolition of religion as the illusory happiness of the people is the demand for their real happiness. To call on them to give up their illusions about their condition is to call on them to give up a condition that requires illusions. The criticism of religion is, therefore, in embryo, the criticism of that vale of tears of which religion is the halo”

- Karl Marx, from Critique of Hegel's Philosophy of Right

Jesus revealed God to be a righteous, fully engaged, benevolent King who is wholly participatory with His creation. We would wholeheartedly disagree with Marx's assessment of Christ-centered religion, because Jesus has said and history has recorded the veracity of the following:

Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.” (Mark 4:30-32 NIV)

Those who have done some of the most to alleviate the suffering of the world and put systems and values that are awry into the right order have been those who have known and loved Jesus. It was because of His transforming work in their lives and His revealed design for creation that these followers of Jesus worked so tirelessly, at much cost to themselves, to serve societies with the love and truth of God, thereby actively shaping culture.

How Christianity Changed the World is an excellent tome chronicling this.

The book categorizes where Jesus used the Church to change culture and gives examples of those who put into practice His principles in each of these following areas:

1) The Sanctification of Human Life Infanticide, child abandonment, human sacrifices and suicide were diminished through Christian influence.

2) The Elevation of Sexual Morality

3) Women's Rights - Freedom and Dignity

4) The Origin of Much of Western Charity and Compassion was derived from Christian ethics and teachings.

5) The Development of Hospitals and Modern Health Care

6) Education for the Masses - (i.e. Martin Luther and the catechism schools)

7) The Dignity of Labor, Economic Freedom and the Judeo-Christian work ethic (i.e. Tom's founder motivated by Christian convictions)

God will give you ideas that will be both profitable to your bank account and the community and nations.

8) The Development of Scientific Inquiry was based on the idea of God being an orderly Creator with discoverable laws that govern the physical universe.

9) The Equanimity of Liberty and Justice - Democracy and Civil Liberties had their inspiration from the throne of God whose foundation is justice and righteousness (Psalm 89:14).

10) The Abolition of Slavery, as well as the Civil Rights movements, had their catalyst within the Church.

As opposed to Karl Marx's opinion, we remember that William Wilberforce, whose mentor was John Newton, a former slave trader and author of the hymn Amazing Grace, was one who fought tirelessly against the injustice of his time.

11) Christianity's influence on Art and Architecture

12) Music - (i.e. Bono and the RED campaign)

13) Literature and Western themes

14) Holidays, Words, Symbols and Expressions

We are not saying that these people are Jesus or even fully represent the convictions by which Jesus will ultimately judge. However, they are examples of undeniable manners in which Jesus, His gospel, life, and teachings are causing people to work for the betterment of society.

These cultural transformations are concepts and categories which people in Western cultures take for granted today. However, before we assume that these values were always our own, it would be good to remember their roots and history. This is where the gospel and the cross of Jesus Christ come in, because man has not proven to be inherently good, but bent towards evil when given the opportunity. There are at least two reasons for any of the good that has been done:

1) People are made in the image of God and have a remnant of His law in their hearts, despite suppressing the truth (Romans 1 and 2). 2) The prevailing influence of the gospel in society has transformed cultures.

Humanity's disconnection from God has led to the massive greed, tyranny, poverty, selfish living, destruction of the family, and death that mark our world. On the cross, Jesus paid for our rebellion against God and His ways. Jesus died as your substitute, was buried, and restored to life as a picture of the restoration that God wants to bring to the earth through our repentance. He became a curse to break the curse handed down to us (Galatians 3:10-14) and will one day bring the rejuvenation of all things (Isaiah 65).

Jesus wants to transform culture for the better by first transforming your heart and mind (Romans 12:1-3) by reconnecting you to God today.

Today's Cultural Mandate

Why we must reach our culture for Jesus:

The Muppets spoof commentary: http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wXfLrt90CHM. This is what society is focused on today.

What drove men and women like Wilberforce was prevailing prayer.

Jesus said: “This, then, is how you should pray: “ ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. ’ (Matthew 6:9-13 NIV)

When Jesus spoke about prayer, it began with the worship of God who is above all and greater than all. As Creator, our Father in Heaven, he has the master plan for the world as we know it. The term "hallowed be your name" had the meaning of making His name and treating His name as holy. It was to understand God as the reference point for all things. Because of His holiness, you are to be holy (I Peter 1:15,16), striving for your life to be separate from ordinary or common usage, turned instead to devotion to divine service. It is having your life centered around God and lived for His glory. Worship begets Christ-centered ambition, motivating faithful action which results in transformed cultures.

What was Matthew's, a Jewish writer's, understanding of the kingdom of Heaven for which Jesus' followers were to pray?

They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations. Strangers will shepherd your flocks; foreigners will work your fields and vineyards. And you will be called priests of the Lord, you will be named ministers of our God. You will feed on the wealth of nations, and in their riches you will boast. Instead of your shame you will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace you will rejoice in your inheritance. And so you will inherit a double portion in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours. “For I, the Lord, love justice; I hate robbery and wrongdoing. In my faithfulness I will reward my people and make an everlasting covenant with them. Their descendants will be known among the nations and their offspring among the peoples. All who see them will acknowledge that they are a people the Lord has blessed.” I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations. (Isaiah 61:4-11 NIV)

This speaks of the cultural mandate that we have as the church to serve the world for the flourishing of all people in all cities in all nations.

The question is: "What was God's intended design for each aspect of culture, industry, and influence?" The mission then becomes: "To bring God's kingdom on earth in each of these areas as it is in Heaven." This must be the governing thought for your work day and where the majority of your life is spent. We are able to do this as we remain faithful to God's Word and prayer. As we do so, we are able to walk in the footsteps of Jesus.

And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. (Luke 2:52 NIV) We pray this continually for you.

Different than the lightweight character that defines our culture (Pastor Rollan referenced the Russian police choir singing Get Lucky at the opening ceremonies of the Olympics), by following Jesus as a part of His community, we hope to be bring the gravitas of such reproducible, concentrated involvement in the nations:

Orphanages and Recovery Centers for victims of human trafficking

James 1 model of widows caring for orphans

Marketplace ministry training center

Transform culture with things like urban farming

Entrepreneur Center linked to the gospel for church planting in this nation and for closed nation entry

Job Training and creation all with biblical principles

This can all begin now, like the mustard seed. We encourage college students to stay for the summer months and participate in the first freshman outreach, first Second City Church sports camp, the hosting of a youth mission trip to the city, the work with the Jessie White Tumblers, etc. If you have a God-given vision to shape an arena of culture with the kingdom of God, begin to prayerfully make plans, baby-step action points, with those in our community of faith. Never forget that these love revolutions began as a seed (John 12:24).

“Jesus's resurrection is the beginning of God's new project not to snatch people away from earth to heaven but to colonize earth with the life of heaven. That, after all, is what the Lord's Prayer is about.” ― N.T. Wright, Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church

This is another reason why Christ's community is important. As we come together as the church, the greater the number of committed disciples are on mission with Jesus, the greater our service to the city, its people and its issues, and the greater the ability to see God's kingdom come on earth as it is in Heaven, here and in the nation and in the nations.

Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but from the strength of an ox come abundant harvests. (Proverbs 14:4 NIV)

When the oxen don't gather in the manger, their efforts are scattered, diminished, and there is no tangible direction. We must remain in the community of Jesus, the church, if we are together to achieve Jesus' cultural initiatives.

In the following quote, you have this designation of characters:

The speaker: Screwtape, a devil The recipient: Wormwood, another devil "He": God The man: a Christian

"I know we have won many a soul through pleasure. All the same, it is His invention not ours. He made pleasures: all our research so far has not enabled us to produce one. All we can do is to encourage the humans to take the pleasures with which our Enemy has produced, at times, or in ways, or in degrees, which He has forbidden. Hence we always try to work away from the natural condition of any pleasure to that in which it is least natural, least redolent of its Maker, and least pleasurable. An ever increasing craving for an ever diminishing pleasure is the formula. ...

You have only to keep him (the Christian) out of the way of experienced Christians (an easy task now-adays), to direct his attention to the appropriate passages in scripture, and then to set him to work on the desperate design of recovering his old feelings by sheer will-power, and the game is ours. If he is of the more hopeful type your job is to make him acquiece in the present low temperature of his spirit and gradually become content with it, persuading himself that it is not so low after all. In a week or two you will be making him doubt whether the first days of his Christianity were not, perhaps, a little excessive. Talk to him about 'moderation in all things'. If you can once get him to the point of thinking that 'religion is all very well up to a point', you can feel quite happy about his soul. A moderated religion is as good for us as no religion at all - and more amusing." -C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters - Letter 9

This is what drives us at Second City and is what paints the picture for the vision God has given us for the church: Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20 NIV)

This is how the biography of Jesus Christ, the gospel written by the apostle Matthew, ended. You can tell a lot about what is important to a person based on the final words that they speak. These words are what summarize the heart, motivation, and drive behind Second City Church. In a nutshell: "We exist to love Jesus and fulfill His Great Commission."

The question is, "how do we practically plan to do it, and what will it look like when we do?" God willing, it will include the things that follow and so much more.

At Second City Church:

We envision being a house of prayer for all the nations to the glory of God.

We envision sharing the Good News of Christ's death and resurrection with thousands of unchurched friends and people in the greater Chicagoland area, many of whom will accept Him as Lord and Savior.

We envision developing people - new believers as well as established believers - into fully functioning followers of Christ through Bible study, worship services, community groups, special events, and leadership training.

We envision being a church that lives and models biblical community: a safe place where we are accepted, loved, shepherded, encouraged, forgiven, and are built into disciples of Jesus Christ.

We envision helping all our people - youth as well as adults - to discover their divine designs so that they are equipped to serve Christ effectively in some ministry within and outside our church.

We envision welcoming numerous members into our body who are excited about Christ, experience healing in their family, relationships, and marriages, and grow together in love.

We envision being a people who care for the orphan, the widow, the victim, and the poor through practical means that help to rebuild lives.

We envision training and sending out missionaries, church planters, and church workers all over the world. We also see a number of our people pursuing short-term missions service domestically and abroad. We see our people ministering to unreached people groups and serving the least Christianized cities of the world.

We envision training marketplace Christians to be fully devoted followers of Christ who help transform culture by bringing the kingdom of God to every sphere of industry and influence.

We envision being a generous people. We see the people of God giving radically to the advance of the gospel in the city and the nations because of the love of God in their hearts.

We envision being a beacon of God's truth and hope to the people of Chicago and to the nations of the earth.

To say all of this in three memorable words, we are about Christ. Community. and Culture. Come be a part of God's unveiling story!

Second City Church- Christ. Community. Culture. Sermon Series 2014

Christ's Community

Christ. Community. Culture. - "Christ's Community"

[powerpress] In our three week series defining the vision of Second City Church, we began by focusing on the preeminence of Jesus Christ.  We now turn to the importance of community which can not be overstated.  The Jewish context from which Jesus taught understood that life in God is to be carried out in community, not individually.  Historically, the inheritance that God gave to His people was for whole tribes and not for singular Israelites.  Our Western mentality has reduced Christianity to individualized perspectives and goals, whereas the gospel that Jesus preached was not one solely of personal salvation, but the gospel of the kingdom (Matthew 24:10-14).  No one man or woman makes a kingdom, just as no one is truly a leader unless they have followers (otherwise they are just taking a walk).  It is deception to believe that you can live the fully obedient Christian life outside of Christ's family, the church.   To recapture God's design for His church, we are committed to God's community that shapes us and empowers us.

Community that Shapes You

“God hath thus ordered it, that we may learn to bear one another’s burdens; for no man is without fault, no man without his burden, no man sufficient of himself, no man wise enough of himself; but we ought to bear with one another, comfort one another, help, instruct, and admonish one another.” ― Thomas à Kempis, The Imitation of Christ

The church is a family that helps to shape your identity in Christ.

While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.” He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” (Matthew 12:46-50 NIV)

Then Peter spoke up, “We have left everything to follow you!” “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. (Mark 10:28-30 NIV)

The thoughts found in these and other Scriptures have governed the historic church which has been steered by such summarized doctrine as The Apostle's Creed:

I believe in God, the Father Almighty,    maker of heaven and earth;

And in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord;    who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,       born of the Virgin Mary,       suffered under Pontius Pilate,       was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell;

   the third day he rose from the dead;    he ascended into heaven,    and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;    from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,    the holy catholic church,    the communion of saints,    the forgiveness of sins,    the resurrection of the body,    and the life everlasting. Amen.

Intrinsic to what it meant to be a follower of Christ in the orthodox context, was to have a devotion to His catholic (which literally means "universal") church.  This devotion is then played out in local communities that both shape you and send you with the purposes of Jesus into the world.

“Friendship is the source of the greatest pleasures, and without friends even the most agreeable pursuits become tedious.” ― St. Thomas Aquinas

The church is to be a community where the family provides stability, security, and companionship as it helps to form your character.

Ultimately, the family that you belong to shapes who you are as an individual.  We belong to the family of God.  Healthy families have regular, consistent moments where they gather together to share life.  God's design for this begins with the Sabbath.

The importance of the Sabbath:

“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. (Exodus 20:8-11 NIV)

God's commands given to the Jewish community were setting a principle precedent for how He intended the church to function in Jesus-centered community living.

The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings. “If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the Lord ’s holy day honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words, then you will find your joy in the Lord, and I will cause you to ride in triumph on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob.” The mouth of the Lord has spoken. (Isaiah 58:11-14 NIV)

The Sabbath was and is without fail not a "personal day," as some suppose, where you do whatever you want in isolation.  How often have you been in front of the television on a day off, swept away in an 8+ hour Netflix marathon, only to realize that you are more fatigued, mentally drained, and have no more spiritual vitality than when you began your "down" time?  The Sabbath is meant to be a time of worship, instruction, and recalibration for the week ahead.  Through it, you are once again able to move forward God-centered and full of His grace.   This is made possible as the community of believers come into fellowship with one another, providing and receiving encouragement.

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:24, 25 NIV)

This encouragement, as modeled on that Sabbath day, is to continue on a daily basis, in the midst of the daily challenges of work, parenting, marriage, and aspiration to personal holiness.

See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end. (Hebrews 3:12-14 NIV)

When you are not in Christian community, your world becomes very small, and all of your concerns become simply about myopic issues, ambitions, and problems that seem to have no end, refreshing themselves without your help.  The Sabbath lifts your eyes to Christ and His victorious kingdom.  You're once again given a much grander perspective.  The result is that you have the vision, focus, and strength to impact the world.

But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God’s unfailing love for ever and ever. (Psalm 52:8 NIV)

You must make sure that your priorities align with God's design for your flourishing.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vYsVmSh4648

God said that it is not good for people to be alone (Genesis 2).  If that is the case by His design, He also provides the solution.  This city is big and can be isolating. However, your need for both platonic and romantic relationships are meant to flourish within the church, through all the seasons of life.

The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, “The Lord is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.” (Psalm 92:12-15 NIV)

Every time that we come together as a family of believers is important.  In the church, there is a two-way revolving door which will help you grow in your relationship with Jesus and others.  The first is our celebration services Sunday mornings where we worship the Lord together, observe the sacraments, like communion, give our hearts to the Lord through our tithes and offerings, and unify around a vision to serve the city with the gospel.  This is where our Christ-centered relationships are formed, reaffirmed, and many people can meet Jesus for the first time.  From this place, we encourage people to enter into community groups where relationships can be deepened and strengthened.  It is here that we continue to open our lives to one another, committing to the process of mutual accountability as we strive to become more like Jesus.  We have a growing number of stories about people who said that they are not yet ready for church, but are coming into relationship with Christians that will hopefully help lead them into relationship with Jesus.  These are our on-ramps where you can meet Jesus and His people.  Come to church and get involved in a community group.  Come through the door of the community group and get involved in the church.  By doing so, you become a part of a community that empowers you.

Community that Empowers You

“. . . the Twelve Apostles are the most evident sign of Jesus' will regarding the existence and mission of his Church, the guarantee that between Christ and the Church there is no opposition: despite the sins of the people who make up the Church, they are inseparable. Therefore, a slogan that was popular some years back, 'Jesus yes, Church no,' is totally inconceivable with the intention of Christ. This individualistically chosen Jesus is an imaginary Jesus.” ― Benedict XVI, The Apostles: The Origin of the Church and Their Co-Workers

The church is the community with whom you are empowered to serve the city with the gospel.

We are committed to gathering together in community, because it is a command.  No individual outside of Jesus has all of the gifts of God operating in them without need of others.   We are able to do more in the mission of Jesus as a church, than any one person can do on their own.

Central to our doctrine and the gospel of the kingdom is the primacy of Christ lived out through church community.  Where there is no church involvement, there is no ability to say you are fully following Christ.

You are loved and cared about here.  Your presence and contribution are invaluable.

In Christ-centered community there are: 1) Fathers and Mothers Many of you are struggling and wander much of your lives, because you never identify and submit yourself to godly counsel in your life.  If Jesus and the apostles did so, how much more do you and I need it, despite what "calling" that we feel like we have?  If you feel called to be a pastor, future church planter, missionary, or to make marketplace impact for the kingdom, you need authority in your life.  B and I have served in ministry under authority for over a decade and been trained under seasoned pastors.  We have older men and women who have done exactly what we're doing who we call and look to for advice, prayer support, and accountability.  Those who teach the Word should have a mechanism for vetting.

2) Brothers and sisters

You mutually strengthen one another in the Word and grace of God.

I myself am convinced, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with knowledge and competent to instruct one another. Yet I have written you quite boldly on some points to remind you of them again, because of the grace God gave me to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles. He gave me the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:14-16 NIV)

Community groups are a great place to engage in this.  We are all equals at the foot of the cross and are to submit to one another, under the Word of God unto the honor of Jesus.

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17 NIV)

As we commit to one another in this manner, we sharpen one another in Jesus and life.  Iron rubbing against against iron can at times cause friction and irritation.  However, the purpose is that it would be part of the process of your sanctification, so that you might become more like Jesus, knowing Him more fully.

3) Spiritual Children

Biblical discipleship and disciple making take place in community.

You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. (2 Timothy 2:1, 2 NIV)

The Roots class will equip you for this.  If you have not been through the Purple Book, have only partially completed it, or have not done it in a while, we invite you to go through it with us Sundays at 2:30 pm - 4 pm at the Church of the Ascension.

These eternally purposed relationships are where the joy that you know should come from Jesus is stirred.  You find that joy chiefly in God's presence and additionally when you find yourself involved fully in the community of Jesus through which we experience His love.

Second City Church- Christ. Community. Culture. Sermon Series 2014

Jesus of First Importance

Christ. Community. Culture. - "Jesus of First Importance"

We are in a three week series, "Christ. Community. Culture.," defining who we are as a church and the subsequent vision that we believe God has entrusted to us.  Christ is the first and most important distinctive from which all of the others flow.

At Second City Church, everything begins and ends with Jesus Christ of Nazareth.  He is to be the centerpiece for all of our lives, around which everything revolves.  Christ-centered living is a challenge in our day as faith has become for most an additive rather than a focus.  As we seek to define the vision of Second City Church, we will look through the gospels to see why the greatest man and the greatest command speak of Jesus as of first importance.

The greatest man is Jesus, the incarnate Son of God.

As I was preparing for the message, I thought of the names I most associated with Jesus and realized that the majority of them were represented in the Gospel of John.  John was one of Jesus' twelve apostles and the "one whom Jesus loved" or had a special affinity for (John 13:23; 19:26; 21:7; 21:20).  This list is a summary of declarations that Jesus made about Himself in that memoir, or assertions that were made about Him that revealed His identity.

He is God. He is the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end to all of history. He is the Word (the Greek word: Logos), our reason for living. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1:1-5 NIV)

This means He is the Creator. The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:9-14 NIV)

Jesus is the Lamb of God foreshadowed in the Jewish Passover. He is the only one who can make atonement (reparation, making amends through payment for a wrong or injury) for your sins. The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! (John 1:29 NIV)

He is the chosen one who baptizes us with the Holy Spirit who empowers us for God-centered living. And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.” (John 1:33, 34 NIV)

Jesus is our good teacher and rabbi. He is to be your leader. The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?” They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?” “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon. (John 1:35-39 NIV)

He is the anointed one of God coming to break chains, burdens, and yokes. He is the long-awaited Jewish Messiah who came to be our deliverer. Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ).  (John 1:40, 41 NIV)

He is the one who gives us identity, purpose, and mission in the midst of life's mundanity. And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter ). (John 1:42 NIV)

He is the one whom all of the Jewish prophets, the world's stories, and the whole Bible ultimately points. He is our prophet who knows and details our future. The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.” Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” (John 1:43-45 NIV)

Jesus is the bringer of grace and truth.  He gives you kindness that you don't deserve, while turning you to the truth that will set you free in your work, life, family life, and relationships. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. (John 1:17 NIV)

Jesus is the one who makes God known. No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known. (John 1:18 NIV)

Jesus is zealous for His Father's house. He is the builder of His church. To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.” (John 2:16, 17 NIV)

His favorite self-designation was as the Son of Man to be worshiped by the nations. No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” (John 3:13-15 NIV)

“In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed. (Daniel 7:13, 14 NIV)

Thus, He is our focus of worship. Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. (Hebrews 13:15 NIV)

Jesus is the Son of God sent as God's expression of love to the world. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. (John 3:16-18 NIV)

He is our commanding officer who makes all our places of meeting with Him holy. Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?” “Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, “What message does my Lord have for his servant?” The commander of the Lord ’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so. (Joshua 5:13-15 NIV)

He is the one who sees us, knows us and calls us anyway despite our doubts and failings. “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip. When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.” “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.” (John 1:46-48 NIV)

He is the only mediator between humanity and God. Jesus is the ransom paying the price for our rebellion that we might go free. For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time. (1 Timothy 2:5, 6 NIV)

He is Jacob's ladder connecting heaven to earth. Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.” He then added, “Very truly I tell you, you will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on’ the Son of Man.” (John 1:50, 51 NIV)

The one sent to finish His heavenly Father's work “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. (John 4:34 NIV)

He is the savior of the world who rescues us from the destructive force our sins. They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.” (John 4:42 NIV)

He is our healer. One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?” “Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked. The day on which this took place was a Sabbath, (John 5:5-9 NIV)

He is our righteous judge, the final judge, the one whose opinion actually counts in the midst of a fickle world. Because of this, we call him our everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, Wonderful Counselor and Mighty God For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him. (John 5:21-23 NIV)

Jesus is the one about whom all of the Scripture is about. You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life. (John 5:39, 40 NIV)

Jesus is the bread of life and the true water for your soul. Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. (John 6:35 NIV)

He is the light of the world. When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12 NIV)

Who then tells us to be the same? “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16 NIV)

He is our sinless example of a perfect life. He is our wisdom. Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? (John 8:46 NIV)

Jesus boldly declared himself the "I am," the one who has always existed. “You are not yet fifty years old,” they said to him, “and you have seen Abraham!” “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds. (John 8:57-59 NIV)

Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?” God said to Moses, “ I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘ I am has sent me to you.’ ” God also said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’ “This is my name forever, the name you shall call me from generation to generation. (Exodus 3:13-15 NIV)

We call him the Good Shepherd. He is our chief shepherd and senior pastor. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. (John 10:11 NIV)

Jesus is the gate through which people pass from death to life. Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. (John 10:7-9 NIV)

He is the giver of the full life for which everyone is looking. He is our animating presence and power for life. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (John 10:10 NIV)

Jesus is the resurrection and the life. Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25, 26 NIV)

He resurrects broken hearts, marriages, families and dreams. Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. “Take away the stone,” he said. “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.” Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.” (John 11:38-44 NIV)

He is our evangelist proclaiming good news to the world. He is the one who, through the cross, draws all people to Himself. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” (John 12:32 NIV)

He is our humble, benevolent master. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. (John 13:13-17 NIV)

He is our model for love. “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. (John 13:34 NIV)

He is our comforter. He is the one who prepares an eternal home for us. “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” (John 14:1-4 NIV)

Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He is the only way to God. Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” (John 14:5-7 NIV)

He is the one who answers prayers. Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. (John 14:12-14 NIV)

He is Immanuel, God with us. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. (John 14:18, 19 NIV)

He is the giver of commands to be obeyed. Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” (John 14:21 NIV)

He is the giver of peace. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14:27 NIV)

Your example of one who perfectly submits to the Father He is the giver of joy. He is our big brother as we come to the Father through Him. “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. (John 15:9-11 NIV)

Jesus is your friend as you do what He commands. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. (John 15:15 NIV)

He is the one who chooses you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. (John 15:16 NIV)

He is our protector and great unifier of His church. He is the one who came to destroy the works of the devil. He is our high priest and great intercessor. I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled. (John 17:11, 12 NIV)

He is our great apostle. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. (John 17:18 NIV)

Jesus is the promised King of the Jews. He is God's suffering servant. He is our perfect sacrifice. He is the substitute for the death that you deserve. He is the propitiation (appeasement) for the wrath of God that you should have taken. He is your source of forgiveness. Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews. (John 19:19 NIV)

He is the virgin born Son of Mary, crucified, who with His last breath said, "It is finished," so you never have to work your way to God. He is the one buried in a guarded tomb and three days later rose from death because of His innocence.

He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there. (John 19:39-42 NIV)

He is your resurrected king. He is the author and perfecter of your faith. He is the one at whose name every tongue will confess and every knee will bow proclaiming that He is Lord. A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” (John 20:26, 27 NIV)

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LkNa6tLWrqk

The greatest command is to love Him. 34Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” 41While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42“What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?” “The son of David,” they replied. 43He said to them, “How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him ‘Lord’? For he says, 44 “ ‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.” ’ 45 If then David calls him ‘Lord,’ how can he be his son?” 46No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions. (Matthew 22:34-46, NIV) He is the only true God. One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” “Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions. (Mark 12:28-34 NIV)

Heart (Greek word: Kardia) - The seat of the desires, feelings, affections and passions. The goal of this is to relate to Jesus.  It directs your worship.

Mind (Greek word: Dianoia) -  Understanding, intellect, intellectual capacity.  Especially the thought process, the operation of reason, manner of thought.  The product of reason, a thought, something imagined. The goal of this is to know Christ and interpret all of the world through the lens of Jesus.  It shapes your theology.

Soul (Greek word: Psyche) - life, person.  The breath and animating seat of the senses.  The will and the seat of the appetites.  A person's spiritual and immortal nature with its rational and natural faculties. The goal of this is to be transformed by Jesus.  It is the process of your sanctification.

Strength (Greek word: Ischys) - Physical and mental power as an endowment. The goal of this is to serve Jesus.  It results in your ministry to the church and world.

The greatest command is to love God.  The second places a priority on loving others and is played out in community.  It is central to the gospel, and without it, there is no following Christ. We will elaborate on this more next week.

Second City Church- Christ. Community. Culture. Sermon Series 2014

An Interdependent Life

Built To Last - "An Interdependent Life"

[powerpress] Transforming Truth:  Your Christ-centered relationships are to be built to last for the purposes of God.

Becoming an effective community of faith is a challenge in our times as it was in the apostle Paul's.  As in our day, Paul was ministering to a culture that was largely unfamiliar with God's biblical manners of operation.  The people of Corinth had heard stories about God, but were unfamiliar with His ways.  Paul had to teach the Corinthians how God established the church to function for the kingdom of Christ to advance.  In this next segment of his letter to the Corinthian church plant, Paul demonstrates how interdependent giving, building, and sending of people is the key to effective ministry in order that Jesus might bring transformation to cities and nations.

Interdependence through Giving

Jesus wants to biblically reorient the way that you handle your resources.

Now about the collection for the Lord’s people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. Then, when I arrive, I will give letters of introduction to the men you approve and send them with your gift to Jerusalem. If it seems advisable for me to go also, they will accompany me. (1 Corinthians 16:1-4 NIV)

Things that we can notice from Paul's instructions to the Corinthians are: 1) Frequency - There was a weekly frequency in the giving.  Just as we gather together weekly for worship in our celebration service to recalibrate our life's direction, so does giving do the same for our hearts.  It is the act of worship that tangibly says, "God your word and your gospel are of preeminence in my life.  Please use this offering and me as I leave this place for the advance of your kingdom."

2) Proportionate - Both tithing and offerings are proportionate to your income.  Obviously, the 10% plus that comes from a student is not going to equal the contribution of that which is from the CEO of a company.  However, what matters is that all tithing and subsequent offerings made regularly are pleasing to the Lord as they are done cheerfully.  When we are determined to live with the same generosity that Jesus has shown us in giving His life, we become useful in helping to change other lives as He multiplies our contributions.

3) Useful to continue gospel ministry - There was a regular custom among the Jewish people of the time to send gifts to the people of God in Jerusalem.  Paul was encouraging the Corinthian church, made of many new Gentile converts, to think in the same interconnected manner (Romans 15:25-28).  Paul was receiving not just the tithe, but offerings from the Corinthians to help their brothers and sisters in Jerusalem who were in need.  Because of their faithful, weekly giving, the love of Jesus was able to spread, continually impacting lives with the gospel in the city of Corinth and abroad.

The same is already true for Second City Church.

We were excited to plant the church to be able to mobilize people to be a blessing to others.

Two examples:

Many of our people from Second City participated in the Box of Love Thanksgiving Outreach (http://www.hlicchicago.org/boxoflove#sthash.5temT88x.dpbs).  As we worked to put together Thanksgiving boxes for needy families in Chicago, teams were mobilized to deliver not only food, but the gospel of Jesus Christ. Each box contained whole Thanksgiving meals, fed around a family of 8, and included a very nice Bible from Tyndale for the families.  This year alone, over 2250 families in Chicago were able to receive these boxes, and many of the recipients committed their lives to Jesus for the first time as a result of your generosity!

We were also able to deliver Christmas meals as a part of an outreach to needy families at KIPP Create College Prep Middle School.  We took an offering for this Dec. 20 and received several hundred dollars that went entirely to feeding another 5 at-risk families identified by the school.  Two of the larger families are homeless.  The director was literally brought to tears as 39 people were going to be the recipients of the love of Christ, along with Bibles, Bible Studies, and invitations to become a part of the community.  The charter school is now looking for ways that we can collaborate and serve them on an ongoing basis.

All of this is pleasing in the sight of the Lord!  Thank you, Second City!

"If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed just one." -Mother Teresa

This Easter, we will continue this with an outreach catalyzed by Oscar, Kartika, and their amazingly delicious restaurant, Rickshaw Republic.  Isn't it just better to live an unselfish life?

Interdependence through Building Enduringly

Jesus wants to biblically reorient the way that you think about your impact on a city.  You should build your life in such a way that you can stand firmly in the gospel with other believers and that your impact is felt in a location for generations to come.

After I go through Macedonia, I will come to you—for I will be going through Macedonia. Perhaps I will stay with you for a while, or even spend the winter, so that you can help me on my journey, wherever I go. For I do not want to see you now and make only a passing visit; I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits. But I will stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost, because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me. (1 Corinthians 16:5-9 NIV)

In the Old Testament, two things were given to the people as an inheritance - land and children.  In the same way, God gives His people today a charge to impact cities for the gospel through their vested efforts.  In doing so, they have spiritual sons and daughters as people are brought to Christ through their efforts.  With the mobility offered us through globalization, we need to pause to resist a transient mentality.  Instead, we need to see the place we live and the lives of the people there as a part of the inheritance of God to be transformed by our ministry.  Before we make school, career or geographic moves, we should take the time to ask God if we have fully vested what He wants us to in our present locale.  Most people don't even bother to ask.

As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work—which is by faith. (1 Timothy 1:3, 4 NIV)

The reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you. (Titus 1:5 NIV)

Both Macedonia and Crete were cities where Paul instructed Timothy and Titus to plant roots so that the Kingdom might be built in that place.  The influence of Christendom throughout the world are a product of these efforts and focus.

This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” (Jeremiah 29:4-7 NIV)

During the 70 year captivity in Babylon, God gave an example to the Israelites about how to establish roots in a place to transform a city.   He was planting the Israelites knowing that it takes time to make a difference in a culture.  They were instructed even in their exile to build homes and settle down, to plant gardens that take time to receive a harvest from, to marry and have children so that the work becomes multi-generational.  The underbelly of globalization, the reverse benefit if you will, is that individuals in the U.S. don't have a people or a sense of home.   You must stay in a place to make it home in your heart and affect it.  If you don't feel at home here yet, give it time.  It is worth it.  It is the difference between an oak and a maple.  The root system of the oak is strong, enduring, while the maple can be pulled up easily.  We are called to be oaks of righteousness for the display of God's splendor.

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord ’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor. (Isaiah 61:1-3 NIV)

Whole cities and the people that are in them are important to God.  We see that he began by placing Adam and Eve in a garden and told them to cultivate it (Genesis 1-3).  However as they did so, we see that everything ends in a city, the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21), as a culmination of all that God designed.  Jesus cares about cities and wants to transform them by the consistent ministry of His people within it.

Interdependence through Sending Strategically

Jesus wants to biblically reorient the way that you serve God through the relationships that He's given you in the church.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=eJRyXdScpeg

Many Americans today are determined to live an independent life, where they are accountable to no one but themselves, and they ignore the impact that their decisions have on anyone else.  God has called us to live an interdependent church life.  It is the difference between the maverick and the sent-one.  Jesus was sent by the Father to serve the world.  We are to be sent by and with the backing of our churches as we move in the same fashion.

When Timothy comes, see to it that he has nothing to fear while he is with you, for he is carrying on the work of the Lord, just as I am. No one, then, should treat him with contempt. Send him on his way in peace so that he may return to me. I am expecting him along with the brothers. Now about our brother Apollos: I strongly urged him to go to you with the brothers. He was quite unwilling to go now, but he will go when he has the opportunity. (1 Corinthians 16:10-12 NIV)

You are being sent into your sphere of influence for the glory of God, but you are not to do it alone.  Take someone from the church with you, even if they are not normally in the same circle. When Jesus sends us into our jobs, schools, and neighborhoods, He utilizes the relationships that He built for His purposes.  There is chemistry, safety, and strength in these relationships built through the history of going through the fires of life together.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34, 35 NIV)

The question is, "How did Jesus love and relate to His disciples?"  Was it casual and flippant, or full of heartfelt commitment and strategy?  When you spend time with a co-worker, neighbor, or classmate you want to reach, bring one of your friends from the church.

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love. You know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the Lord’s people. I urge you, brothers and sisters, to submit to such people and to everyone who joins in the work and labors at it. I was glad when Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus arrived, because they have supplied what was lacking from you. For they refreshed my spirit and yours also. Such men deserve recognition. The churches in the province of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Priscilla greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the church that meets at their house. All the brothers and sisters here send you greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss. I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand. If anyone does not love the Lord, let that person be cursed! Come, Lord ! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. My love to all of you in Christ Jesus. Amen. (1 Corinthians 16:13-24 NIV)

As we continue to grow, we want to see more done for the kingdom of God as all of the gifts of God are brought into unity to accomplish Christ's goals.  There are many professing Christians, but many are not unified toward a common goal. Therefore, our efforts are diminished.  Paul taught how this could function differently.  The promise of God is that we would have a multiplication of efforts as we work in a committed and unified fashion to serve our cities.

You will pursue your enemies, and they will fall by the sword before you. Five of you will chase a hundred, and a hundred of you will chase ten thousand, and your enemies will fall by the sword before you. (Leviticus 26:7, 8 NIV)

Let's be the people of God who function in the interdependence of community and pull in the great harvest that Jesus has for this city!

We invite you as we begin our vision setting the Christ. Community. Culture. series for the church to join us the next three Fridays for a time of prayer and fasting for the city of Chicago.  You can fast during the day, come to the prayer meeting at 8 pm (or at 9 pm on Feb. 7th), and break fast as a part of the Anti-Hibernation Campaign over a meal out in the city.

Second City Church- Built to Last Sermon Series 2014

Beginning with the Resurrection

Built To Last - "Beginning with the Resurrection"

[powerpress] Transforming Truth: Jesus and His resurrection are of first importance and must drive everything that we do.

To embrace why Jesus and His resurrection must drive everything that we do, we must look to understand the importance of the resurrection, the expectation of the resurrection, and their implication for our lives. It is the first part in understanding why we do what we do as a church.

The Importance of the Resurrection

The gospel establishes a worldview for you. Your worldview is the manner in which you interpret all of the affairs of life, determining their value and importance. The Bible introduces Jesus and explains the gospel. It is meant to give context to all of life.

Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.

Whether, then, it is I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed. (1 Corinthians 15:1-11 NIV)

Some people have doubted the reality of the resurrection. It is central to the good news about Jesus and must be considered.

“When anyone tells me that he saw a dead man restored to life, I immediately consider with myself whether it be more probable that this person should either deceive or be deceived or that the fact which he relates should really have happened. I weigh the one miracle against the other and according to the superiority which I discover, I pronounce my decision. Always I reject the greater miracle. If the falsehood of his testimony would be more miraculous than the event which he relates, then and not till then, can he pretend to command my belief or opinion.” ― David Hume

As a thinking person, the apostle Paul gives reason as to why the greater miracle is not believing the testimony of the resurrection. I will expand and go into greater detail on these points as a part of our Easter celebration, yet what follows is an introduction.

Consider these things about Paul's claims of Jesus' resurrection:

Written in approximately AD 55, Paul's first letter to the Corinthians was written within about 20 years of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus and was reciting a well known homily of the early church that had been ratified and passed down to Paul. This is typically not enough time within the lifespan of Christ's contemporaries for the development of myth and lore.

1) Prophecies - Paul sites the many Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah fulfilled in detail through the life, times, miracles, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. For all of them to be fulfilled in one person by chance was a statistical impossibility. (Luke 24:25-27)

2) No one will die for a lie. - After Judas Iscariot's suicide, all of the remaining eleven apostles, minus John, were martyred for their eyewitness testimony of Jesus' resurrection. There was no monetary incentive, political power, or prestige to gain from their testimony. What the early Christians earned for their witness was persecution and death. (i.e. - Acts 12:1-4)

3) The 500 witnesses - Paul makes an appeal to the 500 people who also saw Jesus' bodily resurrection at the same time, many of whom were still living at the time of Paul's writing. Psychologically, there is no such thing as an identical mass hallucination. He essentially said, "go and talk to them to verify the claims." (Acts 26)

4) The conversion of Christ's family - Jesus' own siblings and mother became followers of Jesus, where previously they went to "take charge of him" as being insane because of His claims. (Mark 3:20,21)

5) Paul's conversion - Paul's conversion to being a follower of Christ would make no sense after being a zealous Pharisee who persecuted the church. (Acts 9)

He would also lose his life in 64 AD under the Emperor Nero for the same testimony of having been a witness to the bodily resurrection of Jesus.

“The Old Testament records the preparation for the coming of the Messiah. The Gospels record the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ our Lord. The book of Acts records the propagation of the gospel (the good news) concerning Jesus Christ. The Epistles (letters) explain the gospel and its implications for our lives. The book of Revelation anticipates and describes the second coming of Jesus Christ and the establishment of His eternal kingdom. From beginning to end, the Bible glorifies Jesus Christ and centers on Him. Its Christ-centeredness is one of its wonderful features.” ― Josh McDowell

The gospel also tells us why the resurrection is supremely important in the Christians life:

But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. (1 Corinthians 15:12-19 NIV)

A preacher once said that if Jesus did not rise from the dead, life as we know it is as good as it gets. This is true for the non-Christian. Because Jesus did, factually and historically rise from the dead, life as we know it for the Christian is as bad as it gets.

We have the ability to transform our world now because of resurrection faith and resurrection power from God. Things once dead including marriages, relationships, careers, financial states, and hope can be brought back to life and redeemed by the power of God. This happens as all things are submitted at the cross of Jesus.

But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For he “has put everything under his feet.” Now when it says that “everything” has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ. When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all. Now if there is no resurrection, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized for them? And as for us, why do we endanger ourselves every hour? I face death every day—yes, just as surely as I boast about you in Christ Jesus our Lord. If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus with no more than human hopes, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame. (1 Corinthians 15:20-34 NIV)

It was because of the conviction of Jesus' bodily resurrection from the dead and His Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) that the disciples began sharing the gospel with fervency. Following Easter this year, we will study the habits of the early church and the moves of God that they experienced as represented in the Book of Acts, the earliest recorded history of the church. Because Jesus was of first importance, we see the following results in Acts. It is why we prioritize our efforts with the goal of seeing more and more people coming to know Jesus and His good news:

The result of Peter speaking to the non-Christian crowd at Pentecost:

With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. (Acts 2:40, 41 NIV)

The results of the early church's devotion:

And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. (Acts 2:47b NIV)

The result of Peter and John speaking to the crowds after the healing of a cripple:

But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand. (Acts 4:4 NIV)

The result of the regular gathering and daily-life ministry of the church:

Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. (Acts 5:14 NIV

The gospel creating disciples:

In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. (Acts 6:1 NIV)

The result of the apostles being able to be devoted to prayer and the ministry of the Word:

So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith. (Acts 6:7 NIV)

The result of the church being strengthened and encouraged:

Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers. (Acts 9:31 NIV)

The result of the healing of the cripple Aeneas:

All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord. (Acts 9:35 NIV)

The result of Dorcas being raised from the dead:

This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord. (Acts 9:42 NIV)

The result of the church members preaching wherever they went:

The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord. (Acts 11:21 NIV)

The result of godly teaching and leadership:

He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord. Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. (Acts 11:24-26 NIV)

The result of effective speaking:

At Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue. There they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Greeks believed. (Acts 14:1 NIV)

The result of preaching in new territories:

They preached the gospel in that city and won a large number of disciples. (Acts 14:21a NIV)

The result of multiplying leaders:

So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers. (Acts 16:5 NIV)

The result of focused times of ministry (A mission trip to Thessalonica - 3 weeks of teaching the Scriptures):

Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few prominent women. (Acts 17:4 NIV)

The result of preaching in intellectual centers:

As a result, many of them believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men. (Acts 17:12 NIV)

One of the results of Paul's year and a half ministry in Corinth:

Crispus, the synagogue leader, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard Paul believed and were baptized. (Acts 18:8 NIV)

This resulted in cities being transformed and the world being changed to the glory of God:

And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia. He says that gods made by human hands are no gods at all. (Acts 19:26 NIV)

Because Jesus is of ultimate importance, the gospel was not just something that the church believed, but it went out from the church to transform people, cities, and nations.

The Expectation of the Resurrection

The resurrection establishes an eternal hope and focus for you. As a human being, you are motivated by the incentives that are in front of you. God made promises to give you joy in the expectation of looking forward to His reward for obedience.

The resurrection is a part of the end goal, reminding you of the glories to come.

But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?” How foolish! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else. But God gives it a body as he has determined, and to each kind of seed he gives its own body. Not all flesh is the same: People have one kind of flesh, animals have another, birds another and fish another. There are also heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies; but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the splendor of the earthly bodies is another. The sun has one kind of splendor, the moon another and the stars another; and star differs from star in splendor. So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. The first man was of the dust of the earth; the second man is of heaven. As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the heavenly man, so also are those who are of heaven. And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man. I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” (1 Corinthians 15:35-55 NIV)

It does not matter how much you work out, how healthy you eat, or how many supplements you pop. Though these things can help to prolong your life, your inevitable destination is the grave as your body wears out like a rag and expires. It is after this that you will face the judgment of God (Hebrews 9:22,27,28; II Corinthians 5:9,10). The good news of the gospel is that this isn't the end of the story, but that there is a life to come.

In the previous set of verses, what are some important things that Paul mentions about the resurrection?

1) The bodies that we have in the resurrection will be different in quality than the bodies that we have now.

2) The weakness of our earthly bodies will be traded for the imperishable strength of our spiritual bodies.

3) Upon Jesus' return, those who belong to Him will be changed in an instant.

4) We will be immortal with Jesus.

“Optimism hopes for the best without any guarantee of its arriving and is often no more than whistling in the dark. Christian hope, by contrast, is faith looking ahead to the fulfillment of the promises of God, as when the Anglican burial service inters the corpse 'in sure and certain hope of the Resurrection to eternal life, through our Lord Jesus Christ.' Optimism is a wish without warrant; Christian hope is a certainty, guaranteed by God himself. Optimism reflects ignorance as to whether good things will ever actually come. Christian hope expresses knowledge that every day of his life, and every moment beyond it, the believer can say with truth, on the basis of God's own commitment, that the best is yet to come.” ― J.I. Packer

Because of the information and sensory overload in our culture, it is easy to breeze past things that are important to God. You have a virtually infiniteseeimal source of distraction with the internet that you carry around in your pocket. You need to slow down to evaluate, think, and pray about your decisions and trajectories. You should ask these questions:

Is your heart set on eternal things? (Colossians 3)

When the Bible refers to "the world" in I John 2:15-17, it is a mindset, not a person or group of people. It is camped in secularism. Worldliness is thinking that the here and now, that the "concrete" and all that you see right now, is all that matters. The word secular means "nowise," now, or the present.

(Timothy Keller "Peace - Overcoming Anxiety" message from 3/31/13 29:15-30:05)

Are you wasting your time?

Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. (Psalm 90:12 NIV)

The Implications for Our Lives

The gospel and the impending resurrection establishes a daily motivation for you.

This orders your days, because you know that you will be rewarded according to what you do with your life before God. If He values what you do, there will be reward; if He deems it rebellious or a waste in selfish living, you will be repaid accordingly.

People sense the reality of a greater purpose to their lives, though they don't always know how to identify what it is. I would say that you have at some point in your life hoped for the same thing as well.

Tom Brady "Is this all there is video"

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4HeLYQaZQW0

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:56-58 NIV)

When you choose to live with Jesus with Him having first importance in your life and His gospel at the center of all your daily pursuits, then the "something more" that you're looking for will finally be realized. You are meant to live for someone and something bigger than yourself - the eternal God and His everlasting kingdom.

Second City Church- Built to Last Sermon Series 2014 

Jesus and A Fresh Start

Once and Future Kings - "Jesus and A Fresh Start"

[powerpress] To begin the year, we'd like to have an exhortation from one of our congregants that can encourage us going into the new year:

Esther King grew up in the ministry with her parents being missionaries to Mexico. From 2 years old, ministry has been clearly seen as a part of her calling. As a family, the Kings started Christian schools and helped establish churches through evangelism and humanitarian outreaches. Esther would speak to crowds of over 5000 people about the gospel from the time she was 10. She is a graduate of ORU, having enjoyed chapel 5 days a week along with her academic studies. She is a graduate of Northwestern Law, where there is an expectation of excellence, and she is here to speak to you about that subject today. I've seen both godliness and this type of character reflected in Esther's life, which is why I've asked her to share with you as we begin the new year together.

From Esther Joy King:

Today, I’m speaking from my passion, who I am, and that means, I have to be really vulnerable with you. I wish I could tell you I have arrived, but I’m here sharing with you from the middle of my journey; and despite my failures, I am making a conscious choice for excellence. But I’m going to show up as I talk, and I’m going to ask all of you, to make it personal. There will be moments where we’re going to stop and reflect on God’s word to you, and I’m going to ask you guys to engage, to be here. I’m asking that you would make this time we share together a sacred space to open your heart to what God is saying, and to open up to how the concepts of excellence apply in your life. As we do this together, I think we will be creating a sacred space for God to show up right here in this room and change us.

Together we will:

1. Open hearts

2. Participate

3. Commit to taking what we learn here together out into 2014.

You might want to get out an old fashioned pen and paper to jot down your thoughts, what reflections you have. The words I speak are neither hear nor there, but what is important are the concepts and ideas I’m communicating and how you’re responding to them.

Do I have an agreement from you that you’re going to make this morning a sacred space in your life and allow God to move?

Christmas is the traditional birth of Jesus, and we’ve been following the story through the Once and Future Kings series. Today, we’re going to do this by following along on the journey Mary and Joseph took with Jesus from His birth to Egypt.

They obeyed God, and He worked through their action.

How many of you really want 2014 to be a year of growth? Do you really believe our God takes us to a new level? I’m going to be talking about breakthrough concepts of what excellence can look like for you.

Then we’re playing tag, and Pastor Rollan’s going to pick up the story of Mary and Joseph. We will continue on their journey with them about the real side of things. Why do we not always live up to everything God has for us? What if we fail? Do we have hope? And what can we learn about God and our relationship with God through this whole thing.

Let’s jump into Mary and Joseph’s story. Let’s look at what God is saying to Joseph:

Matthew 2:13

This is God talking. We see His character revealed in His words. We can learn Him by listening to Him. This is who our God is. God is speaking, and He’s saying, “Get up!”

This is the same God that spoke to Abraham, and said get up, stand up, and go into the Land of Promise.

Four hundred years later, the same God said to Joshua, get up, stand up, be strong and courageous, and go into the Land of Promise.

The same God that said to David, get up, stand up, because you are called to be king.

The same God that said to Esther, get up, stand up, and go before the king.

This is who God is; this is His character. Our God is a God of action. He is not limited. He does not have a limited mindset. He does not speak negative things. He believes all things are possible. Life and life more abundantly. A God of more than enough. That can do abundantly above all we can ask or think.

Because this is who He is, this is who we are called to be. It’s our destiny. God is saying to you, get up, stand up and go, and move into something greater in your life.

In contrast, we’ve all been through seasons that were mediocre, where we just fit in, just get by, settle, compromise, just except what life is handing out, but we are turning a corner and living with a spirit of excellence in 2014. We are living life with excellence in 2014. Our task is to find our greatness.

God is saying to you, get up and start relentlessly pursuing excellence.

STOP. EXERCISE: What really matters to you in 2014? What does it look like to live fully alive, to live every moment, engaged, obeying God’s instructions?

Relationship, finances, health, career, family, habits, routines, commitments, values, legacy. Peace. Favor.

What is excellence? It is multi-dimensional. Let us wrap our minds around this idea:

Excellence is an internal commitment to get up, stand up, and go. Playing life all in. Being better than you were yesterday. Fully engaged. Above and beyond. Leaning in. Abundantly above all that you could possibly ask or think. Standing out. Finding your greatness. Uncommon. Leaving it all on the field. Taking big risks. Relentlessly pursing your destiny. Limitless. Excellence is representing God’s greatness to the world.  Stand up and stand out. 

This is what we’re a part of; this is the God we serve! We belong to Him, and He belongs to us. Our God is a God of, “Get up, and Go!”

...whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31)

We are representing a King, our Father, the Creator of the universe- how are we going to be anything less than the best?

We’ve talked about the why, but the big question now is how. How do we become excellent? We’re going to go through three steps to becoming excellent.

Mathew 2:13-14

“Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you...” So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night, and left for Egypt.

Verse two: Joseph did it!

When we obey God, do it right away, with urgency.

Step 1: Obey God

What do I mean?  I mean a commitment in your heart to obeying him, a general commitment to His principals, and a specific commitment to pursue His plans for your life. Make it a disposition.

Oral Roberts was a man of God who did huge crusades in the 1950s and 1960s. My family got to meet him, and Oral Roberts gave me this advice, “Obey God.”

There are two sides to the will of God: 1. The general will of God (how to be in fellowship, what He’s up to on the earth, and how we fit in). 2. The specific will of God (His purpose and will for your life as an individual).

(Esther shared the story of her experience about reading a book about spiritual discipline and how God can speak through imagination.)

Idea: God has a specific way to connect with you!

Step 2: Build Habits

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. (Colossians 3:23-24)

General Principal: Thoughts->Action->Habits->Destiny

We all wrote out our goals earlier. I recently read an article called, The Science of Building Good Habits and How to Make Them Stick.

We make "micro quotas” to reach “macro goals.”

Quotas make each day approachable, and your goals become achievable because of this. The author told his own story:

For me, cracking the code on flossing was to put the floss right by the toothbrush, and to commit to myself that I would floss one tooth — only one tooth — every time after I brushed.

I could floss them all if I wanted to, but the commitment was just one tooth.

[This works] because I was training the behavior. Maybe once every few weeks, I’d only actually floss one tooth, but a majority of the time I’d end up flossing them all.

STOP. EXERCISE: Small things: What is a small action you can take today toward reaching your goal?

Here is a lesson from Warren Buffet: “Just imagine you could be given 10% of the future earnings of one person you know,” Buffet says. Would you pick the smartest person? The most talented person? No. Buffet says, “You’re going to pick the person that has the right habits.”

It can still be hard to commit day in and day out, so what do we do?

Step 3: Do it together

COMMUNITY: We do it together.

“Take the woman and child with you.”

We do this together. It’s part of our mandate as Christians.

(Esther shared her story of Lindsey and her going to workout together.)

There’s a second side to the coin. As we grow and become more mature, we also have the responsibility to bring people up with us.

We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. 3 For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: "The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me." For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus (Romans 15:1-5)

Fully engaged with the tension of destiny. Life, living in the fullness, clear about what it is you are called to do, and you’re passionate about what it is, step into God’s plan for you. One-hundred percent fully engaged with life, with the people around you. Life living in the fullness of the purpose of God, and experiencing the overlap of what God intended to happen.

You are called to live a life of more- of greater, abundantly above all that you could ask or think. This is living excellence.

In the Common Era B.C., there lived a man named Daniel. Daniel was taken captive from his homeland of Israel, and taken to Babylon. When he went there, Daniel was chosen to attend the king's school, to learn the ways of Babylon. At this school, all the men were wined and dined. But they were served food that had been offered to idols. Daniel said no. He stood up and stood out and said give me vegetables and water. He refused to be like the others.

At the end of their schooling, the Bible says, Daniel was found to be ten times superior. The king noticed, and, long story short, Daniel became one of the king's most trusted advisors. Daniel influenced King Nebuchadnezzar. And Daniel influenced the nation.

Daniel was 10 times superior. The demand for greatness is higher now than ever before. Our culture, the world, is hungry for what we are called to be. We are to influence culture through excellence, and live in our destiny.

The world will be attracted to the reflection of God’s nature that it sees in us. The world will know:

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. (1 Peter 2:9)

From Pastor Rollan Fisher:

If excellence is the standard and this is part of our identity in Christ, what is it that can keep us from living in such a manner? It is many times the discouragement of the trials that we face. However, as we enter into a new year, the transforming truth is that: the King comes to bring new hope.

As we look again at the Epiphany, we are in the time immediately following the visit of the Magi. It is interesting that what was subsequent to a major milestone in the history of the church was a major trial. Be encouraged, God has hope for you despite the trials that you have or will face.

When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.” When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: “A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.” (Matthew 2:13-18 NIV)

King Herod was on a rampage to protect his right to rule. Though parents to the most important life ever to grace the planet, Mary and Joseph were undoubtedly challenged by these events. However, God had left the seeds of hope in His Word.

There were two distinct prophecies that Matthew referenced in regard to the infanticide that Herod ordered precipitating Jesus' family's flight to Egypt. The first prophecy is from Hosea 11:1. This reference was a constant reminder to the Israelites of the Passover, God's deliverance of His people from their oppression and slavery in Egypt. It was a foreshadowing of the hope to be found in Jesus, the deliverer who would also make His way out of Egypt, to save His people from their sins. He will deliver you as you choose to turn away from self-sufficient living. He will deliver family, co-workers, neighbors, and friends as you reach out to them with the good news of Jesus.

The other prophecy is from Jeremiah where centuries earlier King Nebuchadnezzar gathered the Israelites preparing for the Babylonian exile in the city of Ramah. Rachel, the beloved wife of Jacob, was personified as the mother of Israel's children who would be carried away to a foreign land because of their sin, but who would also have the hope of restoration after their disciplinary service was over (Jeremiah 31:31-34). This again would be a foreshadowing of the new covenant that Jesus would establish with His people after their difficulties.

After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.” So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene. (Matthew 2:19-23 NIV)

Here are some takeaways we can learn about God and our relationship with Him from this scenario:

1) God wastes nothing. The size of the trial can be an indicator of the size of the redemptive purposes of God on the other side.

There were two major instances where a deliverance was at hand, and the spiritual forces of darkness employed rulers to try to stamp them out. The first was in the account of Moses who would deliver his people out of slavery in Egypt as a foreshadowing of the work of the Messiah. The second was now Jesus, the Messiah. Both had their lives threatened at birth.

What has Satan tried to steal from you? Your testimony of God's rescue will be part of what glorifies Jesus. We need to look for the excellencies of God in the midst of our trials.

2) God is involved. In the midst of world affairs and the trials of your life, God speaks with specific detail.

Do you regularly seek God to hear His voice? The people of God who walk in excellence will listen for the voice of God.

“Wealth does not bring about excellence, but excellence makes wealth and everything else good for men, both individually and collectively.” ― Socrates, The Apology

3) God is timely. As Esther said, it is important to obey God when He speaks. Immediate obedience can mean the difference between God's protection of your heart, career, and relationships or, resultant mistakes that can take months or years to restore. In the case of Herod, it was the difference between life and death for the young Jesus. As we obey, nothing can thwart the plans of God. We need to remember that when it seems like we've been displaced, as Christ's family was in Egypt, God is still in control and, in His foreknowledge, working all things out for His gospel ends.

Do you obey God's instructions quickly or pay the price for procrastination? A life of excellence is the result of quick obedience to the voice of God.

“Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren't used to an environment where excellence is expected.” ― Steve Jobs

4) God is wise. He gives precedent for how to handle life. Many times, a year of trial can be the very thing that God uses to set you in the place He desires for your true calling and His redemptive purposes (i.e. - Joseph in Genesis 37-50, the scattered church in Acts 7 and 8).

Have you asked God what He wants to do with your present placement? There is a pattern in God's Word for both encouragement and a direction for living (Romans 15:4).

Do you have a discipline of studying the Word of God? Excellence is a result of being a student of God's word.

5) God is merciful and works things out that seem detrimental to fulfill His Word and gospel purposes. There is an eventual reprieve from trials, though it does not come as quickly as we would like. It is estimated that King Herod died within a year of the assassination attempt on Jesus' life, showing that God does not give us more than we can bear.

Will you persevere until God turns your darkness into light? Excellence can be the product of how we respond to life's circumstances, learning God's unchanging character and purpose in the midst of them.

“We don’t get a chance to do that many things, and every one should be really excellent. Because this is our life.” ― Steve Jobs

6) God is consistently choosing to be with His people in obscurity, as well as in prosperity and the public ministry to thousands that Jesus would enjoy. You can be just as pleasing to and secure in God in trials as you are in times of blessing. Trials are not a measure of God's blessing, though they are always a good time to evaluate whether there is sin with which to reckon. Jesus was sinless and grew excellent in the midst of His trials. In taking on flesh, Jesus was our example for living and the most excellent of men. It was said of Him that He did all things well (Mark 7:37).

Do you practice in secret or obscurity what you would want to be displayed publicly (Proverbs 22:29)? Excellence begins in the secret place and obscurity.

“Excellence is an art won by training and habituation. We do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence, but we rather have those because we have acted rightly. We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.” ― Aristotle

7) God is sovereign and sees the big picture.

The key is consistency that He uses to prepare the way for everything to come. If you do not strive for obedience and excellence now, do not expect His blessing later.

During this time Nazareth was a small, agricultural town of around 500 people. Though it was not significant politically, religiously, or militarily, from a height on a ridge within a ten minute's walk, the people of the city could see the major trade routes and Herod Antipas' capital city of Sepphoris, which were the seats of influence.

How do you respond to humble beginnings?

“If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way” ― Martin Luther King, Jr.

Those who are massively effective use the same fervency for excellence in their small beginnings as they would when they've achieved their lofty goals.

We need to be excellent in our small beginnings so that Jesus will entrust us with the fruit of His gospel, making us ruler over much.

All of history, including your life, is a part of God's redemption story in Jesus Christ. Because this is who God is and we are to be for the display of God's splendor (Isaiah 60:21-61:3), let's approach this year with a new hope that Jesus will receive glory from the excellence of our lives. As we commit to Christ-centered living, excellence will be the result as we do all things for the sake of the gospel that will transform the city and the lives of the people therein.

“When you do the common things in an uncommon way, you'll command the attention of the world.” ― George Washington Carver

Second City Church- Once and Future Kings Sermon Series 2014