September 27, 2006 - When The Preacher Steps On Your Toes

Audio Version Available

By Rev. Steve BassSeptember 27, 2006

INTRODUCTION

• Sometimes I get the impression that some of you think you should wear safety shoes to church
• I can't tell you how many times people have come up to me after a service and said: "Steve- you really stepped on my toes this morning!"
• Folks, I know I've got some pretty big feet-
• But come on!
• They're not THAT big!
• Of course I know you don't mean I've literally stepped on your toes during a sermon
• you're using a metaphor to say...
• The sermon spoke to you
• That you felt the conviction of the Holy Spirit during the message
• And if that happens- I'm THRILLED!
• My hope is that EVERY sermon will have that kind of impact on your life
• My prayer is that God will ALWAYS use me as His messenger- revealing His Truth for His people!
• But even if it meets my expectation it isn't pleasant to feel like your toes have been stomped on
• So short of wearing steel-toed safety shoes to church
• What should you do when you feel like God has spoken directly to you?
• That’s what I want us to think about this evening

LISTEN TO GOD

• I want you to turn with me to Exodus 33:7-11
• How many of you have ever had that kind of ‘face to face’ conversation with God?
• What? you've NEVER had a verbal conversation with God?
• Well...join the club. Neither have I!
• Let me ask you another question: Do you think God is still speaking to His people today?
• You're right!
• The Bible makes it clear that God is speaking to His people EVERY SINGLE DAY!
• For instance, sometimes God speaks to His people
• Through the...
• Ebb and flow of daily life or the beauty of Creation
• Great, soul-stirring music or the simple wisdom and guidance offered by fellow Christians
• Reading of His perfect Word and the gentile impulse of the Holy Spirit
• And sometimes God uses preaching to speak to His people
• Illustration: "Results Of Sermon"
• A few years ago I preached the Homecoming sermon at NSCBC in Henderson
• I remember preaching about the sin of worry and anxiety
• And the peace God wants to place in your life
• After the service Helen Wright- one of the sweetest ladies God ever made- came up to me and said: "Steve- I felt like you were talking directly to me...You know me- I worry about EVERYTHING"
• Folks- in nearly 25 years of preaching I've NEVER directed a sermon at a particular person
• The fact is that I do sermon planning about 4-6 months in advance
• Trust me- there’s no way I could know what’s going to be happening in your life on say...the third Sunday in March 2007
• ...But God does!
• God already knows the challenges you'll be facing- and the burdens you'll be carrying- on that Sunday
• And He’s busy- right now- preparing the message you need to hear that morning!
• So what SHOULD you do when you I've stepped on your toes?
• Do what Eli told Samuel to do when he kept hearing God’s voice
• Tell God: Speak to ME Lord! For your servant is listening!
• The next thing you need to do is to...

EVALUATE THE MESSAGE IN THE LIGHT OF GOD’S WORD

• One of the dangers of a long-term pastorate is that a church can reach a point where they put their pastor up on a pedestal
• Sometimes...
• This happens because people love and respect their pastor so much they think he can walk on water
• And sometimes churches put their pastor up on a pedestal because- to be honest- that’s where the pastor expects to be
• But here’s the problem with putting ANY pastor up on a pedestal. If you're not careful...
• You can wind up confusing the fallible words of a human being
• With the infallible word of God!
• This is what happened with the members of the Branch Davidian cult in Waco, Texas
• No matter what David Koresh said-
• Those people believed it
• They took it as the absolute Gospel truth
• No one ever...
• Challenged Koresh when he said: If the Bible is true- then I am the Messiah!
• Stood up and said: Wait just a cotton pickin’ minute here! What does the WORD OF GOD have to say about this thing?
• Folks- when I stand in this pulpit I sincerely try to rightly divide the truth of God’s Word
• Each week...
• I spend hours and hours in prayer and meditation and Bible study
• I labor and struggle over every word that goes into the message- trying to make sure that what I'm saying is what God wants me to say
• But you know what?
• I still make mistakes!
• Sometimes in the heat of the moment
• My mouth will get ahead of my brain-
• And I'll say something that’s wrong
• Now that’s not a problem...
• If we're talking about the details of an illustration or story I'm telling
• BUT when you feel like God is using that message to reveal His truth for your life- you'd better make SURE I'm right!
• That’s why I encourage you to critically evaluate everything you hear from this pulpit in the light of God’s Word!
• Trust me- you're not insulting me!
• You're doing what God’s Word tells you to do!

Acts 17:11

• Folks-
• The Berean people loved Paul-
• They respected him-
• They listened to everything he had to say
• But then they carefully studied God’s Word- to see for themselves if Paul was proclaiming the truth of God!
• Here’s the bottom line...
• God gave you a brain- He expects you to use it
• God gave you His Word- He wants you to search it carefully and prayerfully and diligently
• God gave you His Holy Spirit- He requires you let Him lead you into all righteousness
• So when you feel like I've stepped on your toes- evaluate the message in the light of God’s Word
• The third thing you need to do is to...

LET THE HOLY SPIRIT CONVICT YOU OF YOUR SIN

• You know a lot of people come to church because they want to be entertained
• They come with an expectation that says...
• The worship service should be upbeat and lively and filled with energy
• That the music should be contemporary and ex-citing and only performed by talented people who genuinely love the Lord
• That the preaching should be interesting and engaging and inspiring
• That’s why a lot people hop around from church to church- they're looking for the "best show in town"
• Here’s the thing: If you come to church to be entertained you've missed the boat
• Worship is not about entertainment
• Worship is about have your heart transformed by an encounter with the one true and living God!
• Isaiah had that kind of encounter with God in Isaiah 6:1-8
• Isaiah’s experience of worship was many things-
• But it was not pleasant or entertaining
• Read what he says in verse 5
• Folks...
• This isn't a round of applause
• This is the response of a man who’s afraid for his life:
• "I'm crushed! I'm destroyed! I'm a dead man! Because I now realize that I am a helpless sinner standing in the presence of an awesome and holy God!"
• Any preaching worth its salt brings you to throne of God and BOLDLY confronts you with...
• The sin and rebellion that’s in your life
• And the glory and majesty of God’s holiness!
• Look...
• I don't ENJOY standing in this pulpit and telling you that...
• You've failed God
• Unconfessed sin is damaging your relation-ship with God
• But I have to do it because that’s what God says in His Word!
• But here’s the Good News-
• Once God convicts you of your sin- once God steps on your toes
• Then- and only then- He’s free to pour out His grace in your life
• This is what God did for Isaiah
• The Bible says an angel took a live coal off the altar and touched it to Isaiah’s lips
• And then the angel said: "See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for."
• Folks- even when you feel like I'm stepping on your toes don't miss the message of God’s grace!
• God loves you so much that He sent His only begotten Son into this world to die on the Cross for you
• Jesus laid down His life so that your sins could be forgiven- and God could give you the gift of eternal life!

RESPOND TO GOD’S CALL IN YOUR LIFE

• On September 11, 2001 hundreds of New York police officers, firefighters and EMT’s responded to the disaster at the WTC
• A lot of them were killed when the Trade Center buildings collapsed. What they did was incredibly heroic
• But you know what’s really amazing about their sacrifice? Many of them didn't have to be there
• Their work shifts had ended just before the jetliners slammed into the Towers
• They could have gone home- crawled into bed and been perfectly safe
• But they didn't do that. Instead...
• The instant they heard the 9-1-1 call
• They RUSHED to the scene to do whatever they could
• Folks...
• When you feel like God has used a sermon to speak directly to you
• You need to respond to God’s Call in your life!
• Not next week- next month- next year
• You need to say "Yes" to God
• Right then- right there
• Without ANY delay!
• This is what Isaiah did after his experience of worship with God. Listen to what the Bible says in Isaiah 6:8
• Folks- there’s no way I could know what God wants you to do- but I do know that He wants you to say Yes to Him
• Not for that moment
• But for the rest of your life
• Let us pray

September 24, 2006 - We've Gotta Purpose

Audio Version Available

By: Rev. Steve BassSeptember 24, 2006

Scripture Meditation: Colossians 1:15-18

INTRODUCTION

• How do you determine if a church is a success?
• Is it having lots of members? Maybe.
• Although a lot of factors go into making a big church
• Including the size of the parking lot!
• I know it sounds crazy
• But a lot of people list had a good parking lot as one of their reasons for trying a new church
• Can success be measured in the amount of money that comes into the church coffers?
• That’s certainly a possibility
• Of course- if you have one super wealthy tither in the church
• You can have a lot of money
• But not a lot of stewardship going on
• How about having a lot of programs?
• Do programs make a church successful? Probably
• Although having programs just for the sake of having programs doesn't accomplish much of anything
• Staff members! That has to be it- having staff members!
• After all- the vision and leadership of the professional staff help create the qualities people look for in a church
• ...At least that’s what those of us who are church staff members want to believe
• BAPTISMS! That sounds right!
• Everybody knows that churches that have a lot of baptisms are growing, dynamic success stories
• ...Unless you have a large number of children who are roughly the same age and join the church at more or less the same time
• So how DO you measure success in a church?
• It’s really very simple
• A church is successful if it’s doing what Jesus says it ought to be doing
• You know- a lot of times we forget that as Christians
• We get all these ideas about what WE think ought to be happening in our church
• But somehow we forget that the church doesn't belong to us
• The church belongs to Jesus
• He established it
• He died for it
• And the Bible says that He- and He alone- is the HEAD of the church!
• Read Colossians 1:15-18
• So what does Jesus- the head of the church- think we ought to be doing?
• Essentially there are 5 things- we've talked about them before
• We call them the 5 purposes of the church
• Most of you know what they are-
• Let’s say them together
• The five purposes of the church are:
• Worship
• Evangelism
• Ministry
• Discipleship
• And fellowship
• For a few minutes- let’s think about each of these purposes of the church

WORSHIP

• Some Pharisees once asked Jesus to identify the most important commandment in the Bible
• He responded by giving the Cliff Notes summary of the law of God as revealed in the Old Testament
• Matthew 22:37-38
• So how do we 'Love...God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind?
• We worship Him!
• We let God know how much we love Him by proclaiming His greatness and glory through worship!
• Folks- worshiping God is the church’s first priority
• You might even say the church exists to worship God
• Worship is so important it has to come before anything else- including evangelism and ministry
• In fact- you can't do successful evangelism and ministry
• Until you've spent time worshiping and praising God!
• The quickest way to kill a church is to forget the God-given purpose of worship
• In one of his books James Carter tells about visiting The Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth
• Conversation:
• Carter asked one of the guides: Does a congregation meet here to worship?
• The guide looked horrified: Absolutely not! This place is much too important for that!
• Isn't that tragic?
• Here is a church that has forgotten its primary reason for being
• To worship the Living Lord!
• While I'm at it- let me share one of my pet peeves
• I hate it when I hear Christians say: I didn't get anything out of that worship service
• Folks...
• Worship isn't designed for you to GET something out it
• The goal of worship is for you to GIVE something back to God
• The honor and glory due His Name
• Your love- your praise- your adoration- your ALL
• Psalm 34:1-3
• The first purpose of the church is worship

EVANGELISM

• The second purpose of the church is evangelism
• The church exists to share Jesus with a lost and dying world
• Who says so? Jesus says so!
• In the New Testament there are at least five separate occasions where Jesus specifically instructs the church to share God’s plan of salvation with the world
• Matthew 28:19-20
• Mark 16:15
• Luke 24:46-47
• John 20:21
• Acts 1:8
• Any questions?
• Evangelism is a fundamental purpose of the church
• That’s what the Head of the church says
• Now let me make two points about fulfilling the church’s purpose of evangelism
• 1- The church is not responsible for the harvest
• When we arrogantly assume responsibility for the harvest we're trying to become the 4th person of the Trinity
• Not only is that position not open
• It doesn't even exist
• It is the Holy Spirit’s responsibility to lead people to saving faith
• To put it another way: We share
• The Holy Spirit saves
• 2- The church’s responsibility for evangelism doesn't end when a person accepts Jesus as their Savior
• Jesus says we are supposed to make disciples of them
• We'll talk more about that in a few minutes
• Folks-
• Churches that are blessed by God never lose their focus
• The never forget the priority of evangelism
• Joe Collins was the most successful bass fisherman in his hometown
• One day he was sitting around the local Bait Shop when a man came in and offered him $500.00 to reveal his secret of success
• The next morning Joe took the man out to fish. After arriving at his secret location Joe...
• Reached in his tackle box- pulled out a stick of dynamite- lit it- and tossed it in the water
• The subsequent explosion stunned the fish swimming in the lake- they floated up to the surface- Joe took out his net and scooped them up one-by-one
• After a second or two the other man spoke up: Joe- I'm the new game warden in these parts and what you're doing is illegal. I'm going to have to arrest you for possession of an explosive device, illegal fish kills, and...
• Joe just reached in his tackle box- pulled out another stick of dynamite- lit it- and stuck it in the game warden’s hand
• For a moment the man just sat there stunned with a lighted stick of dynamite in his hand
• Finally Joe said: Look buddy- are you gonna keep on talking- or are you gonna start doing some fishing?
• Jesus commanded the church to be fishers of men
• The question is: Are we going to keep on talking about it?
• Or are we going to get busy and start fishing?
• The second purpose of the church is evangelism

MINISTRY

• The next purpose of the church is ministry
• Someone once defined ministry as: The demonstration of God’s love by meeting the needs of others and healing their hurts in the name of Jesus
• Folks- the church is in the ministry business
• That means ministry to people who are in the church
• And people who are outside of the church
• The fact is- every time you reach out to others with the love of Jesus Christ you are doing ministry
• Read Matthew 25:31-40
• If you want to know the reason why churches do ministry- here’s your answer
• Whenever you minister to someone in Jesus’ name
• It’s the same as ministering DIRECTLY to the One who died on the Cross at Calvary for your sin
• I think of this every time the Baptist Men go serve meals at the Homeless Shelter
• Some of the men who come through the line aren't the most pleasant people in the world to be around
• Many of them reek of alcohol- their clothes smell
• Some of them have serious mental and emotional problems
• And a few of them just don't look like the kind of guys you'd want to meet after dark
• But when I'm there- in Jesus’ name- and look at them
• I don't see the face of some nameless, face-less drug addict
• I see the face of my Lord and Savior- Jesus Christ!
• When I was growing up at Hickory Grove Baptist Church there was always a slogan printed on the bulletin: Enter to worship- depart to serve (Repeat)
• That’s a pretty good job description for the work of the church
• When we walk out of these doors it’s time to start ministering to others in Jesus’ name
• Someone once said: The world will never care how much we know- until they know how much we care
• As the church it’s our responsibility to show the world how much we care
• So they will care about the Good News we know concerning Jesus
• Ministry is a vital purpose of the church

DISCIPLESHIP

• The fourth purpose of the church is discipleship
• I want us to go back and take another look at Matthew 28:19-20
• How many commands has Jesus given the church in these two verses of Scripture? Let congregation suggest
• Actually- there’s only one! Jesus says to make disciples of all nations
• Make disciples
• That’s it!
• Everything else
• The going, the teaching, the baptizing-
• Are all by-products of the main thing: MAKE DISCIPLES
• The question is: What is a disciple?
• According to the dictionary a disciple is someone who learns from- is devoted to- or follows the teaching of a Master
• In other words: The church’s responsibility is to help born-again Christians learn from- be devoted to- and follow the teaching of Jesus
• Sometimes I'll hear people say: I don't need to be a part of a Sunday class- I don't need to come to worship. I can study my Bible and worship God on my own!
• Folks- that’s the deluded rantings of a fool
• See God-
• Never intended for discipleship to be a solo act
• Understands that growing in Christ requires the help and encouragement of fellow believers
• Read what the Bible says in Hebrews 12:1-2
• You know- there’s an urban myth out there that says a Christian can obtain spiritual maturity quickly and easily
• There are popular books that promise:
• Four easy steps to spiritual maturity
• Or The secret to instant sainthood
• Some people waste their lives searching for an experience- or a conference- or a revival- or a tape- that will instantly transform them into a mature Christian
(Source- The Purpose-Driven Church- Rick Warren)
• Well the fact is:
• Genuine discipleship- spiritual maturity is a challenging process that takes a lifetime
• And the place God intends for the process to occur is within the church
• It’s something the body of Christ...
• Needs to understand
• And commit itself to fulfilling
• The fourth purpose of the church is discipleship

FELLOWSHIP

• The last purpose of the church we want us to think about is fellowship
• Now many churches believe Christian fellowship means one thing:
• Eating food- lots and LOTS of great food!
• I mean have you ever seen a church fellowship hall without a kitchen?
• And you never will!
• Let me make this very clear - Christian fellowship is not about eating mass quantities of food
• Read John 17:20-21
• Jesus’ dream is that there will be an absolute sense of unity between all the members of the church
• That doesn't mean we're going to dot every "I" and cross every "T" just the same
• Church unity means we recognize that what we share in common is greater than all the things that might pull us apart
• Read what it says in Galatians 3:26-28
• Here’s what holds us together as a church:
• We've all been...
• Covered by the blood of Jesus Christ
• Forgiven by the awesome grace of God
• Baptized into the body of Christ
• As Christians we know...
• We're brothers and sisters who have the same Heavenly Father
• Share an inheritance that will never tarnish or fade away
• We will spend eternity together in the presence of Christ Jesus!
• ONE in Christ Jesus
• And once a congregation of believers knows- and understand these things-
• There WILL be genuine Christian fellowship in the church!
• And it will put the biggest smile you ever saw on the face of God!

CALL TO COMMITMENT

• Folks- those are our purposes as a church family:
• Worship
• Evangelism
• Ministry
• Discipleship
• And fellowship
• You know last week we focused on-
• The gifts of the Holy Spirit-
• And the unique call God has made in your life
• Well here’s where it all comes together
• As a born-again believer you have been gifted by God in order to serve the body of Christ
• There’s something God wants you to do here
• That no one else in this church can do
• As a church we've been given our purpose and our priorities by God
• And here’s the thing:
• When...
• God’s people accept God’s Call to serve the body of Christ
• And when the body of Christ accepts it’s God given-purpose and priorities
• God is glorified- the church is edified- and every member of the body is blessed
• Which is the reason why you've been given the commitment cards that are in your hands today
• Look at what it says on these cards
• Read them out loud
• Are you willing to make a commitment to God- and your family here at Sunset Road Baptist Church? Let us pray

September 17, 2006 - A Gift & A Call

Audio Version Available

September 17, 2006

Scripture Meditation: 1 Corinthians 12

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS

• On most Sundays one of my sermon objectives is to give you something new
• If the Holy Spirit has revealed a unique insight- a different slant- a fresh approach to familiar Scripture
• I get excited- and can't wait to share it with you
• Well...I'm not sure I have any unique insights to share this morning
• But I'm still excited about preaching this message
• And the reason I'm excited is because it has the potential to:
• Change your life
• And the life of our church
• See today we're going to be talking about the gifts of the Holy Spirit- and here's the thing:
• When God's people begin to understand- and exercise- their gifts of the Holy Spirit
• Revival will break out in the church
• It's inevitable- it has to happen
• A Spirit-filled, Spirit-lead, Spirit-gifted church is- by definition- a church that is on FIRE for the Lord!
• So with that exciting thought in mind- let's get started by turning to 1 Corinthians 12:1

EVERY CHRISTIAN HAS A GIFT

1 Corinthians 12:1-3

• Let's stop right there:
• To say that "Jesus is Lord" is more than just a religious affirmation
• The proclamation that Jesus is your Lord means that you've relinquished control of your life over to Him
• That from that point forward He is your Master- and you are His willing servant
• That you are completely, totally, absolutely "sold out" for Jesus
• Now frankly- this is a step of faith many Christians have never taken
• They've asked Jesus to be their Savior- they have their "fire insurance" safely in hand
• But that's about as far as it goes
• They want to keep their hands on the steering wheel
• They've never prayed this prayer: "Jesus- from now on You have all of me there is to have! My life is in Your hands! I want You to use me in any way You see fit!"
• Now here's what you need to understand: It's impossible to take Jesus as your Lord without the help of the Holy Spirit
• Left to your own devices- the old sin nature will assert itself every time!
• The ONLY way to experience this kind of spiritual victory is to depend on the power and presence of the Holy Spirit!
• Read what the Bible says in 1 John 4:1-4
• Let's read on- look at what it says in verses 4-7
• Folks- verse 7 should settle- once and for all- the question of whether or not you have a gift of the Holy Spirit!
• Notice what it says: to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given
• Now "each one" means every person who knows Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord
• "Manifestation" means the realization of the Holy Spirit's power
• In other words:
• EVERY Christian has been given a special realization of the Holy Spirit's power and presence in their life
• This "manifestation" is expressed as a particular gift of the Holy Spirit
• Now- let's notice WHY you've received this gift: ...to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good
• Look- the Holy Spirit didn't give you a spiritual gift so you could sit around and get spiritually obese
• The Spirit gave you a gift to be a blessing to others
• I can't help but think of Brenda Helms
• The thought of standing up and teaching a Sunday School class would have scared Brenda to death because teaching wasn't her gift
• Brenda's gift was hospitality- and she used that gift whenever- and wherever- she had the chance
• Ask any Mission Tour group that ever chowed-down on her chicken-and-dumplings and banana pudding
• They'll tell you her gift in the kitchen enabled them to accomplish their task on the job site
• In Colossians 3:17 the Bible says: "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him..."
• Folks- if you bring that kind of attitude to the table
• You WILL use your spiritual gift for the benefit of others- and the glory of God!

THE SPIRIT'S DIVERSITY OF GIFTS

• Let's read on- look at what it says in verses 8-10
• Now I want you to understand what we've got here:
• This is a list of SOME of the gifts of the Holy Spirit
• But- this is not the ONLY list of the spiritual gifts given in the New Testament.
• Turn with me over to Romans 12:3-8
• Now, let's flip over to Ephesians 4:11-13
• Now I want you to notice a couple of things about these passages of Scripture
• First of all-
• They aren't supposed to be an "all-inclusive" list of the spiritual gifts
• This is a sampling of SOME of the gifts the Holy Spirit gives to individual believers
• Secondly- Even though every Christian will have at least one spiritual gift- some Christians receive multiple gifts of the Spirit
• Notice what it says in Romans 12:6: We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.
• In other words: The Holy Spirit will give you all the gifts you need to accomplish the work God has called you to do!
• And finally- I want you to notice the NATURE of these gifts
• They're not designed for people who want to go sit on a mountaintop and stare at the veins on the back of their hand!
• Above all- these gifts are practical. They enable the church to fulfill its MISSION and MINISTRY in the world!
• Illustration: "Aesop's Fable Of The Crow"
• In one of Aesop's fable the story is told about an old crow who was flying South for the winter
• He hadn't had anything to drink in a long time- and he was VERY thirsty
• When suddenly he notices a jar of water sitting on the ground
• Because he didn't see anyone around- he swooped down out of the sky and prepared to drink to his heart's content
• There was only one problem
• His beak wouldn't QUITE reach the water in the jar
• The old crow tried everything- and nothing worked. Until he got an idea...
• He started picking up little pebbles lying on the ground- and dropping them- one by one- into the bottom of the jar.
• The more pebbles he dropped in the jar- the higher the water in the jar began to rise- until finally he was able to reach the water- and quench his thirst!
• Folks- that's a pretty good illustration of the way God has chosen to work in this world
• Every Christian has been given a gift of the Holy Spirit- it may express itself...
• By teaching a Sunday school class-
• Or serving on a church committee-
• Or being a chaperone for a youth retreat-
• Or visiting a shut-in-
• Or sharing the Gospel with a friend at work
• Individually- these things might not seem all at that important
• But as the pebbles begin to accumulate in the bottom of the jar- and the water starts to rise
• God is able to build His kingdom and bring all of His Plans to fruition!

YOU ARE A PART OF THE BODY OF CHRIST

• With all this in mind- let's read on- look at what it says in verses 12-20
• Let me summarize what the Bible is saying here: You are a vital part of the body of Christ!
• You may not be a pastor- or a Sunday School teacher- or a deacon- or a member of the choir
• But without YOU...
• The body of Christ is severely handicapped-
• The work God has given Sunset Road Baptist Church can not POSSIBLY be accomplished!
• This is the point Paul is making in verses 21-26
• Illustration: Panther Injuries
• Maybe I'm just being an irrational fan- but I have a sneaking suspicion that one injury may destroy the Panthers' Super Bowl dreams for the 2006 season
• And I'm not just talking about the big names like Steve Smith and Dan Morgan
• I'm thinking of a player you may have never heard of: Travelle Wharton- an offensive linesman
• Wharton has been lost for the season due to a severe knee injury he suffered during last week's game
• His absence leaves a big hole on the Offensive line
• And Football 101 says if your O-line is a problem- you've got yourself a whole heap of trouble
• Folks, that's the way it is in the body of Christ
• When just one member of the church drops the ball or is content to drift along in spiritual mediocrity-
• The WHOLE body of Christ is affected!
• In putting this sermon together I struggled with what I'm about to say next
• In fact I tried to avoid having to say it
• But God didn't give me any choice
• I really believe we have a commitment problem in our church
• We have folks in our church who...
• Desperately need a "booster shot" of commitment
• Believe their responsibility to the Lord begins and ends with the Sunday morning worship service
• Now don't get me wrong:
• There are a lot of great things going on around here
• And I rejoice in what God is doing in our midst
• But we've still got a number of jobs that are unfilled and ministries that struggle because no one will step up to the plate. Folks...
• We need Sunday School teachers and missions leaders
• We need people to serve on the Purpose teams
• There are still empty chairs in the choir loft
• We've got committees that are undermanned
• Pam needs volunteers to help with the children and youth ministries
• The list goes on-and-on-and-on
• Some of you may be thinking: There he goes again- trying to put a guilt trip on our heads
• Folks- I don't believe in putting guilt trips on people's heads
• Because I happen to know they don't work
• Actually- they do work
• But they don't last
• As soon as the guilt eases- you loose interest in whatever you were being "guilted" into doing
• What I want to do is inspire you to answer God's Call.
• Folks-
• I don't care what your gift of the Holy Spirit is-
• Or how seemingly insignificant your ministry may seem
• If you say Yes to God He will...
• Bless you
• Empower you
• And give you a sense of joy and purpose and accomplishment you've never known before

CONCLUSION

• I want you to turn with me to John 14:11-13
• Folks- think about what Jesus is saying here!
• Through the in-dwelling power and presence of the Holy Spirit
• The body of Christ- the church- will do even greater things than Jesus did when He was on Earth!
• You see, when Jesus was on the Earth He accepted the physical limitations of time and space
• In other words: If He was in Jerusalem- He couldn't be in the Galilee
• He could minister to the people He came in contact with- but He couldn't minister to someone in say- Rome
• But the church- the empowered people of God- has been scattered throughout the entire world!
• So that whether we're in Charlotte- or Richmond, Kentucky- or New York City- or Alaska- or Honduras- or anyplace God takes us
• We can be a part of the work God is doing in His world today!
• Folks- all we need is for...
• People to get SERIOUS about the things of God
• People to stand up and say: "Here I am Lord- use me!"
• People who are willing to take the spiritual gift the Holy Spirit has given them- and use it for the glory of God
• Let us pray

September 10, 2006 - Why You'd Be Uncomfortable With Jesus- Part 4 (Peacemakers)

Audio Version Available

By: Rev. Steve Bass

September 10, 2006

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS

• Let me try to describe the place where Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount
• First of all- to call it a mountain is a bit misleading
• Granted- it’s surrounded by mountains
• But the place itself is a gently sloping hill overlooking the Sea of Galilee
• There’s no question it’s a/an...
• Stunning place- particularly in the spring when the hillside is ablaze with the colors of wildflowers
• Beautiful place where you can hear birds singing in the trees- and feel a gentle breeze blowing off the lake
• When you’re standing there it’s peaceful and inspiring- and a complete illusion
• The fact is the Mount of Beatitudes is located a few miles from the Golan Heights- an inactive war zone patrolled by U.N. peacekeepers
• And 20-30 miles from the war zone of Southern Lebannon
• Let’s put it this way:
• When you’re standing there- taking it all in
• It’s almost hard to remember you’re well within the range of Syrian artillery and Hezbollah rockets

SCRIPTURE TEXTS

• The reason I bring all this up is because most of us have an idea of the setting of the Sermon on the Mount
• It’s because of all those pictures hung in all those School Sunday classrooms over the years
• You know- the ones with hundreds of happy people sitting there listening to Jesus preach
• They all have big smiles on their faces as they watch Jesus bounce little children on His lap
• It’s a pretty picture- and it’s completely wrong
• The truth is Jesus proclaimed the Sermon on the Mount in the midst of the violence of a foreign military occupation
• So instead of seeing a lush green meadow covered in wildflowers- imagine seeing crosses littered with the corpses of young Jewish men
• Instead of hearing the sounds of birds singing in the trees- imagine hearing the anguished screams of women who’ve been raped by Roman soldiers
• Instead of watching little children sitting on Jesus’ lap- imagine seeing babies who’ve been speared to death by the Romans to teach those Jews a lesson
• And now- with those violent images in your mind- listen to what Jesus had to say:

Matthew 5:38-42

• Puts it in a different light- doesn’t it?
• In a world filled with brutal violence and raw military power
• Jesus is telling His disciples to follow the way of peace-
• To do good to those that harm you
• To LOVE and PRAY for those who are trying to kill you
• But Jesus doesn’t stop there. Look at what He says in Matthew 5:9
• To absorb the impact of these words you have to look at what was going on in the Holy Land at that time
• Most Jews were convinced the answer to military occupation lay in violence- you meet force with force
• Like today’s insurgency in Iraq the Jews resorted to:
• Terrorism
• Armed insurrection
• And violent resistance in an effort to bleed Rome white
• Against this backdrop Jesus says:
• As a Christian the world’s answer of violence and conflict can’t be YOUR answer!
• I expect you to be a maker of peace- someone who...
• Meets the world’s hatred with God’s love and grace
• Seeks to create peace where there is violence and conflict
• Works for God’s reconciliation where there is separation and estrangement between people
• And if you don’t think this peacemaking ministry is important to God- consider this:
• Jesus says it has to come before worship!
• Look at what He says in Matthew 5:23-24
• WOW! I told you Jesus would make you uncomfortable!

IS PACIFISM THE ANSWER?

• Now if you’re taking this seriously- a question should come up: Does this mean Christians are supposed to be pacifists?
• Over the centuries many believers have concluded the answer to that question is YES
• They believe Christians should be opposed to any and all forms of warfare
• They think it’s immoral for a child of God to take up a weapon against another human being
• They believe it’s a choice of evil for one nation to go to war against another nation
• Now in trying to justify their opposition to war pacifists will point to several passages of Scripture
• One of these is the sixth commandment- found in Exodus 20:13
• They say:
• The Bible says ‘You shall not kill’
• Since people kill one another in war- and killing another human being is prohibited in the Ten Commandments- all war is immoral and evil
• The problem with their argument is that’s not what the sixth commandment says
• The Hebrew word used in Exodus 20:13- rasah-
• Doesn’t mean killing in general
• It specifically means premeditated murder
• The idea is that:
• Because all human beings are created by God
• One human being doesn’t have the right to arbitrarily decide if another person lives or dies
• Premeditated murder doesn’t happen on a battlefield
• A soldier knows he may have to kill the enemy as a part of his duty
• But he doesn’t set out with premeditated malice in his heart
• The second passage of Scripture pacifists use to justify their opposition to war is 1 Chronicles 28:2-3
• Pacifists will say:
• Even in the Old Testament God wouldn’t allow a blood-stained warrior like David to build the Temple in Jerusalem
• This PROVES God is morally opposed to war
• Well...here’s one of those places where context is everything
• If you read the Bible carefully you’ll realize:
• David’s career as a combat warrior wasn’t the problem
• In fact- God had sanctioned many of the wars David fought
• The problem in this particular case was the exces-sive violence David used against the Moabites following his victory at Metheg Ammah

2 Samuel 8:2

• Since the Moabite army had already been defeated- this was a war crime against a civil population
• In other words: David had the blood of innocent people on his hands
• That’s why God wouldn’t let him build the Temple
• The bottom line is that the Bible recognizes the difference between:
• A soldier’s duty in uniform
• And cold-blooded murder
• If you’ve been following the news lately you’ve seen an example of this difference:
• A U.S. soldier will never be criminally account-table for killing enemy combatants in battle- that’s a func-tion of the mission they’ve been given
• But a U.S. soldier- PFC Stephen Green- has been charged with premeditated, first-degree murder for:
• Raping a 14 year old Iraqi teenager
• And then killing the girl and her family to cover up the crime
• Look- I can respect the sincerity of the pacifist posit-ion- but here’s the thing:
• You can’t make a case for pacifism in the Bible
• War is a tragic reality in a fallen and sin-sick world
• And there are times when a nation has to answer the call to arms
• Which gets us back to the REAL question: So what did Jesus mean when He said: Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

WHY DO CONFLICT AND VIOLENCE EXIST IN THIS WORLD?

• To answer that question you have to understand why violence and conflict exist in the world
• Read Genesis 1:26-27
• To be made in the image of God means that every human being was created with an absolute need to have a relationship with God
• It’s the foundation upon which everything else rests
• As long as that relationship with God is right-
• Everything else is right too
• Jesus puts it this way in Matthew 6:33: Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
• Think about it this way:
• When your vertical relationship with God is where it needs to be
• All the horizontal relationships with other human beings will be where they need to be
• Tragically however- that vertical relationship isn’t where it needs to be
• Beginning with Adam and Eve- human beings have made a decision to sin against God
• Romans 3:23 says: For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God
• The result of this decision to sin against God has had deadly consequences. Read Romans 1:18-32
• Folks- the clear message of the Bible is that all violence and human conflict has its roots in sin
• Human beings made a decision to rebel against God
• And we’ve been living- and dying- with the consequences ever since
• Look at what it says in James 4:1-2
• Now here’s the thing:
• The Biblical principle that says sin is the root of all violence and human conflict applies to every aspect of human interaction
• It doesn’t matter:
• Whether you’re talking about-
• The broken relationship you have with a next-door neighbor
• Or the great conflicts that exist between different nations
• It ALWAYS goes back to sin!
• Now once you understand this truth you begin to grasp the task of a peacemaker
• The world thinks the answer to violence and human conflict is found in bigger armies and more powerful weapons
• A peacemaker- a child of God- understands the answer to violence and human conflict is...
• Getting people’s relationship with God where it needs to be
• And the only way to do that is through the blood of Jesus Christ!

WHAT JESUS DID

• Read Colossians 1:19-22
• The word reconcile comes from the Greek word katallage
• It means to establish friendly relations between two parties who are at variance with one another- to make peace after a time of war- to be readmitted to the presence and favor of a person after rebellion against that person (Holman Bible Dictonary)
• In other words: By shedding His blood on the Cross Jesus fixed that all-important, vertical relationship with God that had been broken by sin
• Jesus did this by becoming sin on our behalf
• This means Jesus received in Himself the punish-ment for sin- the wages of sin which is death
• So that- in turn- God could pour out His love in your life. With His grace God...
• Forgives you of your sin
• Adopts you into His family
• Makes that vertical relationship with Him with it needs to be
• And provides the power and strength to fix all the other relationships you have in life!
• Read 2 Corinthians 5:17-24
• This is the message of hope Jesus expects peacemakers to share with a lost and dying world
• The love and mercy and grace of God not only has the power to change an individual person’s life
• The love and mercy and grace of God has the power to change the world!

THE HARD-NOSED REALITY OF MAKING PEACE

• At this point some of you may be thinking: This sounds fine, well and good- but Jesus didn’t live under the threat of international terrorism. In the REAL world you have to be strong and tough and powerful. It’s the only language THOSE people understand
• Well- if you’d change the words the threat of inter-national terrorism to Roman occupation
• You’d be saying the same thing Jesus’ original audience might have said
• Jesus- Your message won’t hold up in the real world. All this talk of grace and reconciliation and love doesn’t have the power to overcome the hatred and division and strife in the world today.
• Folks- let me tell you something:
• Jesus wasn’t some dreamy-eyed idealist walking around with His head in the sky
• He was a hard-nosed realist who understood how the world REALLY works
• The truth is that dreamy-eyed idealists are the ones who believe that...
• The way you stop the spread of violence is with the threat of more violence
• You can find safety and security at the end of the barrel of a gun
• You can kill your way to peace
• Only a hard-nosed realist like Jesus understands that...
• The best way to stop violence is by turning the other cheek
• Loving your enemies and praying for those who persecute you is the only way to find genuine safety and security in this life
• You have to reach out to others with the power of God’s redeeming love if you want to find the way to peace
• And to those who might think this all sounds like sweet by-and-by nonsense let me ask you a question:
• Why is the faith Jesus established on a foundation of grace, reconciliation and love still changing the world today
• While the all-mighty, seemingly indestructible armies of Rome have been swept into the dustbin of history?
• It’s because Jesus’ way of peace works!
• Granted- it’s radical- it’s different
• But...
• It’s been working for 2000 years
• And it will continue to work until Jesus- the Prince of Peace- returns to Earth for a second time!
• In the meantime Jesus expects His disciples- He expects you and me...
• To be the voice of one crying in the wilderness
• Announcing the power of God’s redeeming love!

CONCLUSION

• This sermon series started out with a premise:
• If you take the things Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount seriously
• He’ll make you feel uncomfortable- maybe even a little angry
• I’ll end the series with an observation:
• I hope Jesus- and these sermons- have made you feel uncomfortable so you’ll realize a fundamental truth
• Christians have to be different- if we want to make a difference in a lost and dying world
• What kind of difference have you made lately? Let us pray

September 3, 2006 - Why You'd Be Uncomfortable With Jesus- Part 3 (Divorce)

Audio Version Available

By: Rev. Steve Bass
September 3, 2006

Scripture Meditation: Matthew 5:31-32; 19:3-11

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS

• What I'm about to say will probably make you question my masculinity: I always notice an engagement ring
  • What’s worse:
    • Even if I don't know the young woman I'll usually make a comment about it
    • Oh- I see you're wearing an engagement ring. When are you getting married?
  • What can I say? It’s an occupational hazard
• When you've been a pastor as long as I have-
  • you've done LOTS of weddings
  • And you learn a few things about brides and grooms
• For instance: I've learned that no one gets married with the idea of getting a divorce
  • Lawyers might encourage celebrities to sign pre-nuptial agreements in case the marriage ends in divorce
  • But I'm convinced that when people take their weddings vows they say what they mean- and mean what they say
• And yet 1.5 million marriages in the United States will end in divorce this year
  • Think about it. That’s-
    • 3 million adults having to endure the emotional devastation of divorce
    • Some 5 million children who will no longer live in the same home with both of their parents
  • The numbers behind the statistics are numbing...
    • A divorced woman is 3 times more likely to wind up on welfare than a married woman
    • According to a number of studies children who grow up in divorced families-
      • Generally have poorer grades in school
      • Are more inclined to exhibit violent, anti-social behavior
      • And have higher rates of depression, drug abuse and suicide than kids who grow up in loving, stable two-parent homes
• And by the way- don't think that Christians are immune to this epidemic of divorce
  • Recent studies have shown that self-described born-again Christians have a slightly higher divorce rate than the general population
  • I don't know WHY this is true- but it surely breaks God’s heart!
• Divorce raises all kinds of questions for the church
  • Pastors have to decide if they'll conduct weddings for people who've been divorced
  • Congregations have split over the question of divorced persons serving as deacons- or Sunday School teachers- or church staff
• The point I'm trying to make is that:
  • In today’s world Christians need to think seriously about divorce
  • Or more to the point- we seriously need to learn what Jesus said about divorce
• So that’s what we're going to do this morning
  • Granted- this sermon may make you feel uncomfortable
  • But- as we've already seen- Jesus does tend to make you squirm

THE UNCOMFORTABLE THING JESUS SAID

• We'll begin with the Sermon on the Mount. Turn with me to Matthew 5:31-32
• Now turn over to Matthew 19:3-11

UNDERSTANDING GOD’S INTENTION FOR MARRIAGE

• When the Pharisees asked Jesus if it was lawful for a man to get a divorce- they already knew the answer
  • Of course it was lawful for a man to get a divorce
  • Every Jewish male knew the book of Deuteronomy permitted a man to get a divorce
• Read Deuteronomy 24:1-4
• In Jesus’s day there was a raging debate over the meaning of Deuteronomy 24:1
  • Notice what it says: If a man marries a woman who becomes displeasing to him because he finds something indecent about her he can divorce her
  • The question was: What did that mean?
    • Some rabbis focused on the word displeasing and said a man could divorce his wife for virtually any reason at all
    • Other rabbis focused on the phrase indecent about her and said a man could only get a divorce if his wife had been sexually unfaithful
• Here in Matthew 19 the Pharisees were trying to suck Jesus into their debate
  • But He ignores that question
  • Instead-
    • He goes back to the heart of the matter
    • And talks about God’s purpose in creating the institution of marriage
• Turn with me to Genesis 2:18-24
• If this didn't involve God- this passage of Scripture would be pretty comical
  • God looks down and realizes Adam was lonely
    • He needed a companion liked himself
    • A soul-mate- someone with whom he could share his life
  • So God proceeds to bring ANIMALS to Adam
    • Ah- Adam. How ‘bout this horse? Whad-da ya think? Could it be the one?
    • Suffice it to say:
      • Adam isn't impressed with the idea of spending his life with a horse-
      • Or any other creature for that matter
• So God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam- took a rib from his side- and created Eve
  • Let me tell ya: When Adam woke up he LIKED what God had done!
  • Immediately he knew-
    • That this was IT! She was the bomb!
    • The one he could joyfully spend the rest of his life with
• The Bible goes on to tell us something interesting in the 25th verse: The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.
  • This doesn't just mean that Adam and Eve were frolicking around in their birthday suits
  • Instead the Bible is poetically describing the kind of relationship Adam and Eve had before sin entered the picture
    • They enjoyed an intimate relationship characterized by trust, love and absolute joy
    • In other words: Adam and Eve’s marriage was all that God intended it to be
• In Matthew 19 Jesus is proclaiming God’s purpose in marriage
  • God’s intent was for one man and one woman to be joined together- as one- throughout their natural life
  • In God’s plan:
    • No other human relationship would be more vital- more important- more sacred- more intimate than the one that exists between a husband and a wife
    • The only relationship that can take priority over your marriage is the relationship you have with Christ
• Faced with this glimpse into God’s heart the question the Pharisees ask in Matthew 19:7 seems pretty lame: Well...why did Moses say that a man could give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?
• Let me paraphrase Jesus’ answer in verses 8-9
  • Deuteronomy 24:1 is a concession that recognizes that you're sinners- rebelling against God’s Will for your life...
  • But- remember this:
    • Divorce should only be seen as a tragic solution to an extraordinary circumstance
    • Otherwise...
      • You will cause your innocent ex-wife to be seen as an adulterer
      • And you- yourself- will be guilty of the sin of adultery...
• In my library I have a book called: The Hard Sayings Of Jesus
  • Folks, there’s no question Matthew 5:32 and 19:9 are some of the hardest things Jesus ever said
  • In bold, uncompromising, unflinching language Jesus says that divorce is a sin

THE DIFFERENCE GOD’S LOVE CAN MAKE

• Two weeks ago we-
  • Talked about the way Jesus always held up God’s absolute standards of righteousness
  • But- we also saw how Jesus proclaimed God’s absolute grace and mercy and love
• Read what the Bible says about God’s forgiveness:
  • Isaiah 1:18
  • Psalm 103:10-12
  • 1 John 1:8-9
• Folks- here’s the thing:
  • When you come before God and say:
    • Lord- I confess that I'm a sinner- I've...
      • Turned my back on You-
      • ‘Missed the mark’ in my life.
    • And Father- I'm humbly asking You to forgive me and cover the stain of my sin with the blood Jesus shed on the Cross of Calvary
  • Then God forgives you of your sin
    • The past is removed as far as the east is from the west-
    • The Bible says He literally remembers your sin no more
  • Through the power of His grace and mercy
    • You receive the gift of eternal life-
    • And the blessing of a fresh start in this life
• Turn with me to John 8:3-11
• Here was a married woman caught in the act of adultery
  • You might ask where the man was-
    • Typically these things involve a woman and a man
    • But that’s another story
  • The Pharisees had probably dragged her into the streets stark naked
    • They'd shoved her in front of Jesus
    • And said: What about this one Jesus? you've said we're guilty of adultery if we divorce and remarry. What about her? She’s married- and we caught her in the act. She’s as guilty as sin. What are you going to do about her?
• All Jesus did was stoop down- begin to write in the dust and say: If any of you have no sin in your life- you may cast the first stone
  • One-by-one the accusers walked away until it was just Jesus and the woman
  • Conversation:
    • Jesus: Where are all of your accusers?
    • Woman: They've all gone sir
    • Jesus: Well- I'm the only One who could have tossed the first stone and I'm not going to condemn you- instead I'm going to forgive you of the sin of adultery.
• And then- just before the woman dashed home to get some clothes- Jesus said: You may go now- you're free to get on with your life. Now go and sin no more
• Folks- this story is repeated over-and-over again in the Gospels
  • Jesus forgives people of their sin
  • And then gives them a fresh start in life- Now go and sin no more
• How does all this apply to the question of divorce?
  • Through the blood Jesus shed on the Cross God will forgive ANY sin- and EVERY sin- including the sin of divorce
  • And with His forgiveness comes the freedom to get a fresh start in life

A FEW CONCLUSIONS

• Let me wrap up this sermon by drawing a few conclusions about what we've learned

  In God’s eyes divorce is a sin

  • Now I know it’s not polite to point this out-
    • It may make you uncomfortable
    • But that’s what Jesus said
  • God intends for marriages to last
    • It doesn't matter how the marriage started- it doesn't matter what kinds of problems you're facing in the marriage
    • Jesus says that God expects you to do everything in your power- and beyond- to make your marriage last
  • Remember this- When divorce happens the problem isn't the marriage itself
    • The problem is the two people IN the marriage
    • Either individually or collectively they've sinned against God’s Will for their life
  • Now if you've been through a divorce I'm not trying to lump coals of guilt on your head; but here’s the thing:
    • Until you honestly and openly confess your sin to God
    • You can never experience the peace and forgiveness and freedom and reconciliation that He gives

  Because marriage is a holy covenant it should not be entered into lightly or casually

  • You know, it’s incredibly easy to get married in our society
    • You don't have to...
      • Have anyone’s permission
      • Undergo premarital counseling
      • Take any classes on marriage
    • All you have to do is...
      • Pay for the marriage license
      • And then get a preacher- or a judge- or a Justice of the Peace to sign the license and that’s it
  • Let me tell you something: In God’s eyes...
    • Marriage is too important- it’s too sacred- to enter the relationship casually or lightly
    • A marriage should only be created by two people
      • Who are convinced- beyond a shadow of a doubt- that this is God’s Will for their life
      • And are ready to make a public pledge that they'll do everything in their power- with God’s help- to make the marriage work!
  • Read what the Bible says in Ecclesiastes 5:4-5
  • Here’s the thing: When a man and a woman stands before God and pledges themselves to fidelity in Christian marriage
    • God takes those vows- those commitments- quite literally
    • And He expects the couple to FULFILL their vows till death do us part

  Forgiveness has the power to heal a broken marriage

  • In the Sermon on the Mount and in Matthew 19 Jesus acknowledges that marital unfaithfulness is a legitimate grounds for divorce
  • BUT- He doesn't say you HAVE to get a divorce
  • The fact is that even adultery doesn't have to be the death knoll of a marriage
  • Illustration: "The Clintons"
    • When the Monica Lewinsky scandal broke a decade or so ago- lot of people wondered why Hillary Clinton didn't send her husband packing
      • After all- this wasn't the first time Bill Clinton had violated his marriage vows
      • And there was no question he had been unfaithful to his wife- the physical evidence was a matter of public record
    • But for some reason she stuck by him.
      • When one of Mrs. Clinton’s friends was asked Why did she do it?
      • She replied: I don't know- I guess she just loves him.
  • Folks- that’s the right answer
    • But I hope the kind of love Hillary’s friend was talking about was the agape love described in 1 Corinthians 13
    • Because romantic love doesn't have the power to repair a marriage that has been broken by sin
  • Romantic love.../ Agape-love...
    • Is such a fragile thing that it can be here today and gone tomorrow
    • Is tough and powerful- and based on the love and forgiveness you've received from Jesus Christ!
  • 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
  • How strong is agape-love?
    • So strong that even adultery can become an occasion for forgiveness and reconciliation
    • Over the years I've seen marriages saved because God gave a couple the power to offer forgiveness and reconciling love to one another
  • Granted, it’s not easy-
    • The easy way is to separate and file for a divorce
    • But God’s way is to love and forgive- and keep the sacred vows you have made!

  Since God gives divorced people a fresh start in life the church better do the same thing!

  • Illustration:
    • Ruth Graham was once asked if she'd ever thought about divorcing her husband Billy
    • She smiled and said: Divorce? No. Murder? YES!
  • Now you laugh about that- but I'm not exRuth Grahamaggerating when I say that there are churches were-
    • You'd be shown more mercy for murdering your spouse
    • Than for getting a divorce
  • Whoever got the idea that divorce is an unforgivable sin- and divorced people should be shunned by the church-
    • They need to read the Bible
    • And notice that strange, wonderful thing called God’s grace
  • God’s grace means...
    • Forgiveness and reconciliation
    • Fresh starts and new beginnings
    • The stain of your sin has been removed as far as the East is from the West- and is remembered no more
  • And if God- who is the aggrieved party whenever you sin- is willing to do this
    • The church- made up of saved by grace sinners- has no choice in the matter
    • We HAVE to offer...
      • Forgiveness and reconciliation
      • And fresh starts and new beginnings
  • Illustration: A Pastor Who Criticized Me For Marrying A Divorced Person
    • I once had a pastor jump all over me for conducting a wedding ceremony for a couple who'd been divorced
    • My response: Brother- you may be right and I may be wrong- but I'll tell you what: If I'm going to make a mistake in my ministry
      • It will be in preaching and showing too MUCH grace
      • Heaven forbid that I should offer too little!
  • Folks- where divorce- and every other sin- is concerned-
    • That had better be our goal as a church
    • To preach and to teach and to offer and to live out God’s amazing grace!

CONCLUSION

• You know- in Matthew 7:16 Jesus said: By their fruit you will know them
  • In closing this message
  • Let me share a story from my own experience
• When I was pastor at New Sandy Creek Baptist Church- Steve Simmons was nominated to be a deacon
  • Steve had been born and raised in that church
    • Everyone loved and respected him
    • He was one of the featured soloists in the church choir- he'd taught R.A.’s for many years
  • Steve had also been divorced and remarried
    • Everyone knew it
    • And for some people it became a big issue in the deacon election
• I spend a lot of time that fall talking to people about what the Bible says about divorce and the diaconate
  • Eventually the issue quieted down-
  • And Steve was elected and ordained as a deacon
• He became one of the best deacons we had-
  • He-
    • Regularly went visiting with me.
    • Took care of his families
    • Seized opportunities to witness in Jesus’s name
  • And God blessed his efforts- by Steve’s fruit we knew him
• Isn't it amazing how God can pick up the pieces of a shattered life- and make it into something beautiful- something good
  • That’s why Jesus came into this world
  • That’s why Jesus died on the Cross for your sin- and my sin- and the sin of every person on the face of the Earth
• Let us pray