A New Day (Series Conclusion)

Last week I began with the idea of a sunset. The sunset represents the end of the day, and from our life’s perspective, the end of our lives. It is at that time that we truly reflect if we have lived life well or if we have wasted opportunities and wind up in despair.

However, if you recall, I said that one truth about the sunset is that while one story ends a new one awaits tomorrow. Someday tomorrow will not come, but so far it has come every day since the second day of Creation. Some people fear their tomorrows due to grief and anxiety, but others find hope in every tomorrow. It is like the coach of a baseball team that comforts his players by saying, “Don’t worry about it boys, we will get ‘em tomorrow.”

Because of tomorrows, we can endure. Because of who holds tomorrow, we can overcome. But to do so we must consider our future – tomorrow, more than our past – yesterday. And, as we do, we cannot overlook the moment in which we live because now is all we are guaranteed. As Bill Keane is noted for saying, “Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift of God, which is why we call it the present.” – Bill Keane

Although yesterday is history and cannot be changed, we can learn from it. In fact, that is what we must do. And, if you recall, the word disciple means “learner” or “one who learns” so a good disciple will learn from the past in order to be prepared for the future. And the truth is that we all have much our life and experiences have taught us. All of us have fallen far short of where we should be. As I have mentioned several times over the past several months, good intentions mean nothing. It is action that counts.

We see that in our text for today. The story here is not recorded in Mark or we would have seen it earlier this year during that series. But this story occurs in the midst of Jesus being challenged on the Tuesday before His death. Let me briefly discuss these verses and then we will look at how they fit into the scope of this series.

It is only too late to start when the day is done.

Perhaps you can relate to the following. You go to bed one night knowing that tomorrow is a day with many things to accomplish. When you wake up, you fully expect to knock several items off of your list, but one particular task will take hours and you need the light of day to get the job done. But, it is early, and the sun will be up for hours. Later in the day you realize that you have done a few unimportant tasks, but the big one is still before you. You worked through lunch and are hungry so you decide to get a bite to eat before tackling the task. After you eat, you sit down to relax for a minute and fall asleep. And the next thing you know, it is too late to do the task today and you will not have a large enough block of time for another week or more.

The story we have in the Bible is not the same as the one I described here. However, one important part is the same – a certain bit of work must be done today. Notice the father specifically asks the son to go to the vineyard – today. Originally, the first son said no, but later went. The other said yes (maybe because of good intentions), but did not go.

Now, some of you may be thinking, “Andy, you just talked about the significance of tomorrow, and now your first point is that the work must start today.” And, my response, “Yes. You are correct. What seems to be the trouble?”

Ok, I know the trouble, so let me explain, particularly as it relates to making disciples. The work in a vineyard is repetitive. Cutting, pruning, checking for insects, etc. And these things must be done each day. The father likely asks these sons to do work in the vineyard six days per week. And for what? To not taste the fruit for some 180 days. That is a long time of doing the same thing day after day with little to nothing to show for it. But if we do not do the work today, it is more difficult tomorrow. And if we wait until the day after that, we find the work even more difficult.

Thus, we can wait until tomorrow or, perhaps, a little later today, to get started. After all, that is what the first son did. He waited a bit, but then showed his obedience by actually doing what was asked. For some in here, perhaps you have waited to get started on being a disciple or making disciples of others. Perhaps you have said, like the first son, “I will not” but realize that your answer is an affront to God. Well, then this day is not done. What will you do today? Are you willing to do it tomorrow? And the next day? And for six months even if you still think nothing is changing. I assure you, if you commit to obeying Christ at a new, or a next level, changes will happen to you whether you notice them or not.

People recognize truth, but do not act upon it.

Jesus point in this parable are that the first son (the one with all the rights in the ancient world) is not first because of birth order, but because of obedience. The people of Israel who eventually obey – even the tax collectors and prostitutes – will gather the inheritance of God, while the people of Israel who should know better - the scribes, Pharisees, Sadducees – will not receive anything – that is, they are not worthy of God’s Kingdom (Matthew 21.31). The group surrounding Jesus knows the right answer – the obedient son was correct, but they cannot see that their lack of obedience, to a truth that is known, will ultimately be their downfall.

Are we any different? Certainly, we fail when it comes to spiritual truths, but most of us fail at the practical, every day realities as well. How about our health? I am generally careful about caring for my back, but I do not do all that I could. Or what about exercise? Or what I eat? Or drink? Most of you know how much I like Pepsi, and some of you have witnessed how much I can drink. But when the doctor says, “Stop!” will I? I have been given a casual warning, but not an ultimatum – yet. I must admit that health-wise I do better now than I used to, but I still lack in certain areas. Like this group before Jesus, I know the truth, but do not act upon it. And I am sure the same is true for some of you – actually probably for everyone in some manner.

As disciples that should not be the case. Remember, a disciple is one who learns, and in Christian terms, s/he is one who learns to follow Jesus. So, what good does it do to learn to follow if we do not actually follow. Remember, James warned his readers they are deceived if they only hear and do not do (James 1.22) while those who act will be blessed (v. 25).

But not only are we to be a disciple, we are to make disciples. In the second message of this series, I gave five marks of a true disciple. Notice that all of the words are active in nature. That is, we must learn how about each step, but then we must do each step.

Responding to the Call of Jesus, the true disciple must:

• Learn, following the Savior by making a Great Commitment (Matthew 4.19; Mark 1.17).
• Live, knowing the truth of the Great Confession (Matthew 16.16).
• Love, striving to obey the Great Commandment (Mark 12.29-31).
• Lead, seeking to fulfill the Great Commission (Matthew 28.19-20; Acts 1.8).
• Leave, hearing our Master give the Great Commendation (Matthew 25.21, 23).

Of course, these steps represent the steps within our process we call GPS. Let’s take a moment to review our Vision, Mission, Strategy, and Steps one more time as we prepare to complete this series.

VISION
To be A large church in a small town. (Matthew 5.13-16)

MISSION
Exalt the Savior (John 12.32).
Equip the Saint (Ephesians 4.11-13).
Evangelize the Sinner (Acts 1.8).

STRATEGY
Jesus (Matt 16.18-19) – The One worth following.
Observe (Colossians 1.28-29) – Following the commands of Jesus.
Unite (1 Cor 1.10) – Being one in fellowship with other believers.
Revere (John 12.32) – Worshipping God in all aspects of our lives.
Nurture (Eph 4.12-13) – Building up others for the work of ministry.
Engage (Acts 1.8) – Stirring the hearts of all people with the Gospel.
You (Matt. 15.15-16) – The one who decides to follow.

STEPS
Learn With Each Other (Acts 17.10-12)
Live For Each Other (Rom 15.1-2)
Love God and All Others (Matt 22.37-39)
Lead One Another (to Follow Jesus) (2 Tim 2.2)
(Leave) When Called by the One True Other (Acts 13.1-3)

Disciple-Making Church require disciple-making people. Throughout this series, we have looked at the characteristics (and problems) of several New Testament churches (you can find the list here).

Within these challenges faced by the various first century churches, you will find some reason that either prevents you from making disciples or challenges you to do it consistently. Maybe, like the people of Rome you would rather argue about petty matters instead of discussing various topics and potentially learning from someone else. Maybe you prefer to keep much of your life secret rather than exposing it to the light of the gospel as Paul exhorted the church at Ephesus to do. If so, God already knows, you are only fooling yourself. Or maybe like the church at Philippi, you need to be reminded to let the past be the past, and to focus on the future. Remember, Paul said that his focus was on forgetting the past in order to strive for what was before Him.

Paul knew that he had to live for today. And he knew that if tomorrow came, he would live that day as well. We may not be able to change what is in the past, but again, as we learn from it, we can make tomorrow better – for ourselves and for others.

Throughout this series, I have shared reasons why people and churches do not make disciples. Let me merely mention these here, and then I will come back to these in the Next Step(s) below.

We don’t understand Jesus – Making disciples was not just for the 1st Century believers.
We don’t believe God – We will face difficulty, but God is greater than any challenge we will face.
We don’t love Jesus – Simply put, Jesus said, “If you love me, you will obey my commandments.”
We don’t know how – We have not been shown or have not allowed ourselves to be shown.

Again, these four reasons may seem valid, but only when talking between ourselves. What will we do when we stand face-to-face with our Creator and He asks why we didn’t make disciples? We must realize now that whatever excuse we may give will not be valid. Why? Because we are making excuses to not follow Jesus – who had plenty of reasons not to go to the cross for us, but did so anyway. Why? Because He loved us and thus obeyed His Father. Yes, Jesus showed His love for us through obedience to the Father, just as we show our love to others, and to God, through our obedience to Him.

CONCLUSION
Really, our decision to be like the obedient son we discussed earlier boils down to how we view God. To read the words of Jesus and to make them a part of the fabric of our lives means we truly understand our sinful nature and have begun to grasp the “But God” kind of God He is.

On the other hand, if we dismiss the commands of Jesus, we really do not have a high-view of God. In fact maybe our we have made a little “g” god for ourselves. That way we do not have to be held accountable when we say “but god.”

That is the essence of this series. Will we be disciple-making people? Will we be known as a disciple-making church? Will we rise up and celebrate our great God whose grace and mercy have raised us to say “But God?” Or will we complain and make excuses by whining, “but god?”

JOURNEY:  R – Revere

Again, our love for Jesus is known when we are obedient to Him. Obedience requires a sense of reverence. Are you making disciples? Will you make disciples? Do you revere God?

NEXT STEP(S):
Our next steps this week has two parts and multiple options.

First, over the course of this next week, examine the ideas in the related post. Look to see what ideas are listed that may be preventing you from making disciples. As you identify a few of these items, ask God to help you to overcome each challenge and to prepare you to become a disciple maker.

Second, let me return one last time to our four reasons (excuses) for not making disciples. Take time this week to determine which Step you need to take - then take it. Don’t settle for good intentions, let today be a new day and act upon whatever Step you need to do.

Reason 1:  We don’t understand Jesus.  Take time to Learn what a disciple is and what s/he is to do.

Reason 2:  We don’t believe God.  Ask God to increase your faith so you may Live and make disciples as you do.

Reason 3:  We don’t love Jesus.  Prove your Love for Jesus by making disciples for Him.

Reason 4:  We don’t know how.  Find someone to train you as a disciple so you may later Lead others.

What is in the past, is in the past. Maybe you have known what to do, but have not responded yet. While this is true in many area of life, let it be true of making disciples. Let today be that day. It is a new day and disciples are waiting to grow. Start with one today. Then continue tomorrow. Then repeat every day until that disciple is ready to make other disciples. Let us rise to the challenge of being a disciple-making church. Let us put Satan on notice that we are ready to be a “But God” kind of church!

Disciple-Making Churches Series - Sermon Points

The following are the sermon points for each sermon in the Disciple-Making Church series beginning with the third sermon and continuing through the tenth. If you want to review the entire sermon click on sermon title above the set of points and you will be directed to that blog post for the week.

1 Corinthians – In __________ We Trust

• A Disciple-Making Church is United in Christ (1.10-11)
• A Disciple-Making Church Trusts One Another (1.12-16)
• A Disciple-Making Church Emphasizes the Gospel (1.17)

Philippians – Wants vs Wills and Why it Matters

• A Disciple-Making Church Is Focused on Christ (3.1-11)
• A Disciple-Making Church Is Focused on the Future (3.12-14)
• A Disciple-Making Church Is Focused on Setting an Example (3.15-17)

2 Corinthians – A Commendable Initiative

• A Disciple-Making Church Is Equipped for Battle (10.1-6)
• A Disciple-Making Church Embraces God’s Standards (10.7-12)
• A Disciple-Making Church Expands Its Influence (10.15-17)

Ephesians – The Greatest Challenge

• A disciple-making church walks in love (5.1-2).
• A disciple-making church walks in light (5.3-14).
• A disciple-making church walks in wisdom (5.15-21).

Galatians – Mistaken Identity

• Disciple-making churches live freely because of Christ. (5.1-6)
• Disciple-making churches live obediently to Christ. (5.7-12)
• Disciple-making church live in love for Christ. (5.13-15)

Colossians – A Call to Intimacy

• Disciple-making churches become intimate when worldly vices are abolished. (3.5-9a) 
• Disciple-making churches become intimate when heavenly virtues are apparent. (3.9b-14)
• Disciple-making churches become intimate when the living Word becomes our all. (3.15-17)

Romans – Welcome…In Honor of the Lord

• Disciple-making churches welcome others who may disagree with them. (14.1-12)
• Disciple-making churches welcome others to strengthen their faith. (14.13-23)
• Disciple-making churches welcome others because the Lord has welcomed us. (15.1-13)

Antioch (Acts), Sardis (Revelation), and Paul (2 Timothy) – Following the Way?

• Disciple-making churches find integrity when involving others in making disciples. (Acts 11.19-30)
• Disciple-making churches find despair when living in pretense rather than making disciples. (Revelation 3.1-6)
• Disciple-making churches find their ministry complete when focused on making disciples. (2 Timothy 4.6-8)

Following The Way?

My bride really likes Star Trek. I wouldn’t call her a Trekkie, but she definitely likes Star Trek. (She likes Star Wars too.) When time allows, we will often watch an episode or two late in the evening. Recently, we watched an episode of The Next Generation in which three of the main characters played out a scene from the old west in the holodeck. At the conclusion of the episode, the camera showed a view from space of the Enterprise turning and then heading off into the sunset. Now, my wife is not a big fan of westerns, but she appreciated that.

And isn’t that true of many people? My initial guess was that most casual fans would consider they might see three things in any western – a saloon, a gunfight, and the hero riding into the sunset. To test my hypothesis, I conducted a little poll (non-scientific) on Facebook these past few days to see what others thought.  The poll revealed the following:

True Fans:

• John Wayne (11 references) – other actors were mentioned, but none were as prevalent as the “Duke”
• Knowing Good Guys from Bad Guys (7) – whether cowboys and Indians or otherwise – the lines of good and bad were clearly defined
• Gunsmoke/Bonanza (5) – several shows and movies were mentioned, but Gunsmoke was most common

Other thoughts were – saloons, jail cells with large key rings, sharpshooters, etc.

Casual Fans:

• Family – grandfathers, uncles, etc. (5) – other comments included related items like televisions, chairs, noise, etc.
• John Wayne/horses (3) – tie
• Characters over actors; events – Doc Holliday , Wyatt Earp and the OK Corral

The poll did not prove my hypothesis, at least regarding sunsets. However, if we think about the proverbial sunset, two ideas should come to mind.

1. Most stories show that people began to make plans for the night before the sun has fallen. That is, in the wilderness, many dangers are unknown and unseen, so it is best to have a base camp established before nightfall. But the hero in the western forgoes this logic and heads out (often alone).
2. After the sun sets, the sun will rise again. That is, one story may end, but more stories will soon begin. We may be ready to put one part of our life behind us, but in doing so, we must also ask, “What’s next?” And if you are alive today, there is a next. The question is how will you approach whatever is next?

Today, we are going to briefly review three passages of Scripture – from which we can ask of each – “What happened next?” Before we do that, let me remind us of the development theory that has guided this series on various issues churches must address. Again, the theory is a human development theory developed in the 1950s by Erik Erikson, but because the church is addressed as a singular entity in Scripture (e.g. Bride, Body – both of Christ), we can consider how we as a church fit these various stages.

Today, I am discussing the eighth, and final step Erikson’s original. Previously, we:

• have moved through trust by looking at how different groups opposed one another in 1 Corinthians.
• discussed the idea of autonomy and Paul’s life as he shared his ambition in Philippians.
• we observed that we must take the proper initiative to accomplish what God has for us in 2 Corinthians.
• saw our need to be industrious by imitating God from Ephesians.
• saw our need to understand our identity is in Christ because it is He who made us free (Galatians).
• discussed the need for intimacy within the body of Christ as found in Colossians).
• were challenged on whether or not to allow certain matters to keep us from being generative (Romans).

Today, we look back on our lives to see how we have lived. This stage, which reflects senior adults, is called Integrity vs Despair. As people begin to see the sunset of their lives, they begin to reflect on whether they have lived a good life. Of course, the true answer to this depends on whose standards are used, but if we answer that our life has been good and productive then we have lived a life of Integrity – and are ready to die peaceably. If we have many regrets, then we find ourselves in despair wishing we had more chances and are particularly fearful of the end of life.

Throughout this series, I have provided (originally three, now) four overarching reasons people and churches do not make disciples. I have changed the diagram today a bit to show how these reasons would look differently regarding integrity vs despair.

If
We don’t understand Jesus   

• Integrity: we seek to understand, and are eventually glad we did
• Despair: we will do nothing and stand in regret at the end of our lives

We don’t believe God  

• Integrity: we pray for a faith that allow us to trust Him more
• Despair: we live life thinking we are ok until we find out we represent the man with one talent

We don’t love Jesus 

• Integrity: we obey, even when we don’t want to, and over time realize a deeper love for Jesus
• Despair: argue that “I really love Jesus, and I don’t need to listen to this” – only realizing at the end that Scripture doesn’t lie

We don’t know how

• Integrity: we realize the command is for “me” and figure out how even if no one else will
• Despair: we blame others for not showing us only to later realize God gives us all responsibility

Because we are looking at passages from different books of the New Testament today, I am not going to give an outline at this point as I have been. Instead, here is our GPS to review once again.

VISION

• To be A large church in a small town. (Matthew 5.13-16)

MISSION

• Exalt the Savior (John 12.32). 
• Equip the Saint (Ephesians 4.11-13). 
• Evangelize the Sinner (Acts 1.8).

STRATEGY

• Jesus (Matt 16.18-19) – The One worth following.
• Observe (Colossians 1.28-29) – Following the commands of Jesus.
• Unite (1 Cor 1.10) – Being one in fellowship with other believers.
• Revere (John 12.32) – Worshipping God in all aspects of our lives.
• Nurture (Eph 4.12-13) – Building up others for the work of ministry.
• Engage (Acts 1.8) – Stirring the hearts of all people with the Gospel.
• You (Matt. 15.15-16) – The one who decides to follow.

STEPS

• Learn With Each Other (Acts 17.10-12)
• Live For Each Other (Rom 15.1-2)
• Love God and All Others (Matt 22.37-39)
• Lead One Another (to Follow Jesus) (2 Tim 2.2)
• (Leave) When Called by the One True Other (Acts 13.1-3)

Over the last nine weeks now, you have heard a different perspective on each item related to our Strategy, our Mission, and now the Vision. If you missed any of these or almost any other Teaching Moment or Sermon, you can check out the church’s blog. Go to the church’s website and click on the link to the blog. They are (almost) all there.

For now, let us move into our first passage – a passage that relates to a church on the rise.


Disciple-making churches find integrity when involving others in making disciples. (Acts 11.19-30)

By Acts 11, the church has begun to spread to regions well beyond Jerusalem. The first seven chapters take place in Jerusalem. Chapter 8 extends further, and in Chapter 10 Peter is in Caesarea Maritima. In chapter 11, we have an account of the gospel spreading well northward and someone had to go to see if the reports were true. The apostles select Barnabas for the duty.

Barnabas arrived and was able to confirm what had been said. Many others were added to the Lord. (Verse 24). So many were coming to the Lord that Barnabas could not train them all. So, Barnabas went and found Paul who then helped in Antioch to lead others to better know and serve Christ. Barnabas involved Paul which taught Paul how to involve others. Barnabas is only directly linked with a couple of others in Scripture, but Paul is directly linked with over 30. But where did Paul learn? He learned to be a disciple-maker from Barnabas, and a good deal of that was in Antioch.

Were they effective? Verse 26 says it was in Antioch where the disciples of Jesus – known as Followers of the Way – were first called Christians. The people of Antioch knew who the Jews were. They knew who the Gentiles were. But this new group need a way to be identified. And the disciples so resembled the person of Jesus that the town created a new name – Christian – or “little Christ” which was originally meant to be a negative term.

But the people of Antioch had integrity as a church. In chapter 13, it was this church that was called to set aside Barnabas and Paul and commission them for their first missionary journey. It was this church to which Paul returned to give a report of their work (end of Acts 14). But the church was not without conflict, for it was the church at Antioch that was the cause of the Jerusalem Council as covered in Acts 15. Yet, this church, from what we know remained faithful to their calling to make disciples who make disciples.

Fairfax Baptist Church, are we fulfilling our call to make disciples who make disciples? Do we, in general, see making disciples as a task of the preacher or do we take the responsibility to make disciples ourselves? In your mind, do you see it as my job to stand here and preach or to involve others to lead others in becoming better followers of Jesus? I have a long way to go in my goal of making disciples here, but I cannot and should not do it alone (according to the Bible). Will we be a church of integrity knowing each of us is involved somehow in making disciples for our Lord?


Disciple-making churches find despair when living in pretense rather than making disciples. (Revelation 3.1-6)

One of the biggest challenges for any person or any church is to avoid comparisons with others. Many self-righteous Christians believe they are always better than the next person. “Can you believe so-and-so...?” This approach is similar to the mindset of the Pharisees.
On the other hand, many wonderful Christians are too modest and believe that they are not worthy of some responsibility or ministry opportunity. “Well, I just don’t think I am capable of....” despite that everyone else around them knows something to be true. And besides, most of us have heard, “God qualifies the called, He doesn’t necessary call those who are qualified.”

But instead of comparing ourselves to others, what if we listened to God? That is one of the benefits that Revelation 2 and 3 provide – a look into Jesus thoughts on the church. Jesus gave His critique to seven different churches in what is now, primarily, the country of Turkey. Five of the seven churches had serious issues to correct and the church of Sardis was one of those five. Jesus said they were living off of a false reputation. People on the outside thought the church was fine, but on the inside it was nearly dead (v 2). The church needed to repent or die (v 3). Of course, not every individual in the church was responsible for its pending death, but for those that were, their salvation was in question too. That is, were they really saved, or like the church, were they just pretending to be something they were not – maybe having convinced themselves they were ok.

Can you imagine a church getting this message from Jesus? It would be one thing if a pastor said it; he could be fired and the church simply moves on. But if Jesus said it? What would the reaction be? What should it be? The truth is that the church of Sardis was stagnant, and the people would soon be in despair that they did not follow the way that was prescribed for them. The choice was theirs, but how would they respond?

Fairfax Baptist Church, are we pretending to be something we are not? Are we pretending to be better than we are? Are we fooling ourselves that we are a church better than we are and God is smiling as He looks down on all we do? If Jesus was to walk in the door right now, what critique would he have of us – individually and collectively? Specifically, as it relates to His command to make disciples – are we doing our part or do we need to “remember, then, what you have seen and heard” (v. 3)?


Disciple-making churches find their ministry complete when focused on making disciples. (2 Timothy 4.6-8)

This passage is not about a church, it is about Paul. It is an autobiographical statement that many know well. It is one that has been read or preached at many funerals. But the principles that is true for the individual, can be extrapolated here for our purposes related to the church. As I mentioned earlier, Paul had direct involvement with over 30 individuals. He started many churches and encouraged both churches and individuals throughout his ministry, including his letters from which we still benefit today.

This letter is the last letter we have that Paul wrote. If he wrote any after this, they were lost shortly thereafter. But we know this letter was written from Rome and likely very shortly before his death. Paul uses two phrases to indicate he expects death. Being “poured out” is indicative of the blood that will be shed, and the word for departure reflects the idea of going home. Two primary uses in the first century were of soldiers breaking camp to return home or a ship lifting anchor to set sail for home. Paul realizes where that his true home awaits and he is ready to begin the final journey.

But Paul had a choice to make long before this. In Paul’s conversion experience, I want you to notice a subtle difference at the beginning of Acts 9. Please note that Paul was seeking to harm people of “the Way” (verse 2) because he was doing things “his way” (v. 3).

Verse 2 – “...so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.”
Verse 3 – “Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus,...”

Having made this choice years earlier, He is now prepared for his final journey because he knows he has accomplished what has been given unto him. Having fought the fight, finished the race, kept the faith, Paul encourages Timothy to do the same. (In fact, Paul is reminding Timothy of what has been written to him earlier – see 1 Tim 6.12 (fight the good fight), 1 Tim 6.14 (finish the race), and 2 Tim 1.5-6 to keep the faith.)

Having accomplished what he has, Paul knows he will soon face a trial before a human judge who will have him executed. But instead of despairing for his life, Paul has integrity knowing that the righteous judge – Jesus – has a crown of righteousness waiting for him when the Final Judgement takes place. But this crown of righteousness is not just for Paul but for all who forsake their own way in order to follow the Way.

Fairfax Baptist Church, will we focus on our thoughts, understandings, comforts, hopes and dreams or will we follow God’s? In other words, will Fairfax Baptist Church be known for following our way or following The Way? When our lives are through, will we die with dignity and integrity knowing we have successfully finished the tasks we have been given? Will our church continue knowing that the race of those in the future depends on how well we run the race now?

Like Paul, we have a choice to make. Frank Sinatra may have sang about doing it “My Way”, but as believers, we need to be followers of the Way.



CONCLUSION
I began this post with the idea of riding off into the sunset. As I mentioned, being able to ride off meant that one story was done. But what about the next story? That is, what happened next? In the Bible we see the great narrative of over several thousand years which pointed forward to Jesus from the Old Testament, and backwards to His death and resurrection in the New Testament. But what happened next?

For instance, what happened next to the church at Antioch? Did they continue being faithful to the gospel or did they lose their focus and eventually lose their influence as Christians and even close their doors as a church?

What happened next to the church at Sardis? Did they listen to Jesus and repent – turning back towards a healthy and vibrant church? Or did they think that their reputation could carry them through and eventually close their doors?

For Paul, we pretty well know what happened next. Whether days, weeks, or months, Paul’s life ended. It ended, but his message didn’t, because his message was the message of God. Therefore, his life serves as an example for all of us.

Fairfax Baptist Church, what happens to us next? Will we be faithful to God’s call upon us as a church? Will we work to see ourselves and others to become more like Christ – becoming the disciples He wants us to be? Will we keep focused on Jesus like Paul did or will we listen to the world’s advice to “follow your heart.”

None of us knows when we will walk towards our final sunset. But, as a church, we can postpone the final sunset if we heed the command of Jesus to make disciples and follow the Way He has set before us.



JOURNEY: JOURNEY:  This week, the letter is the entire word. We must focus on His Way throughout life’s journey if we are to remain faithful to our call.



NEXT STEP(S): Leave:  I usually don’t include this step, but one day we will all be gone (like Paul). What are you doing right now that will leave the church prepared for that day? That is, who are you not only discipling spiritually, but training practically, to carry on when God calls you home?

“Church Vision”, A Closer Look by Rick Sons

Jambo (Hello!)

Nina maono (I have a vision.)

Kanisa letu lina maono (Our church has a vision.)

Maonoi yako ni nini (What is your vision?)

No organization will survive without vision. Apart from vision, individuals will wander forever without direction. Without vision our children, communities, churches and societies will be lost. Without vision, lost souls will suffer eternal death. Without vision, the sick and the elderly would lose hope and die. Without vision, the incarcerated would see no avenue for freedom. Without vision, we as a people will surely perish.

Let’s take a look at our world today. Our world has gone wild; it is a reflection of a people who are without vision. Someone has said that vision is foresight with insight based on hindsight.

A man named George Barna, the Executive Director of the American Culture & Faith Institute said, “vision for ministry is a reflection of what God wants to accomplish through you to build His Kingdom” (not your kingdom).

John Maxwell defines vision as: the ability to see, (awareness). The ability to believe, (attitude).   The ability to do, (action).  A true vision from God is not self-seeking, but praises God and brings glory to Jesus Christ.

Vision is essential to a church. Unlike the values, mission, and purpose, the vision is more subject to change. It is in constant motion and never stands still. Over time, the vision must be renewed, adapted, and adjusted to the culture of the congregation. The core of the church vision, the Great Commission, does not change. The details of the vision and the words used to convey them will change. The vision provides us with a picture of what the mission will look like as it is realized in the church.

The idea of a vision for the church is not new to the Scriptures. You will find visions sprinkled throughout the Old and New Testaments. For example, God caught Abraham’s attention with his vision for him in Genesis 12:1–3 (the covenant He made with Abraham). God used Moses to communicate His vision for His people, Israel, in Exodus 3:7–8 and Deuteronomy 8:7–10. It is possible that the “joy” that Jesus looked forward to while enduring the cross was the vision of His return to the presence of His Father in heaven (Heb. 12:2).

Let’s look at the meaning of vision. Webster says: 
1. The act or power of seeing the special sense by which the qualities of an object are perceived.
2. Something seen in a dream, trance, or ecstasy, a supernatural appearance that conveys a revelation 
3. The act or power of imagination or insight.

Nothing starts happening until somebody starts dreaming. Every accomplishment begins as an idea in somebody’s mind. It starts as a dream. It starts as a vision or a goal. If you don’t have a goal for your church, your default goal is to remain the same. If you aim at nothing, you’re definitely going to hit nothing.

Not to step on the toes of the pastor or the deacons but a church without a vision is never going to grow and a church’s vision will never be larger than the vision of its pastor or its leaders. So we as leaders and as pastors must have God’s vision for our church.

The vision of Fairfax Baptist Church is to be A large church in a small town.

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. 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 5:13-16

In this passage, Jesus issues two examples to motivate us to fulfill this calling. First, Jesus says that disciples play a valuable role in their culture. He begins by declaring, “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.” To discover the meaning of the salt metaphor, we need to understand the function of salt as it would be understood by Jesus and his audience. Salt had so many uses that it was highly valued. It was used as a seasoning, as a preservative, and as an antiseptic. In fact, salt was so valuable that the Romans sometimes paid their soldiers with it. If a soldier did not carry out his duties others would say, “He is not worth his salt.” That’s where we get the expression, “worth his salt.” The question is, are we here at Fairfax Baptist Church worth our salt? As disciples we are called to season the earth. This requires us to recognize our value and fulfill our calling.

Second, Jesus declares that his followers are called to shine the light of Christ. He begins by stating: “You are the light of the world.” People often get very disturbed because the world is dark. This is because the world and its sin has no light. What else can a sinful place be but dark? The world is lost and without any direction because the world is not light. As I stated in the beginning, we are a world without vision.

But Jesus is the Light and we are to reflect Him. As a disciple of Jesus Christ, it is not enough to have private personal holiness; we must also have public exposure. Which brings us to, “A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.” In Jesus’ day, cities were set on a hill for a number of reasons. It was cooler on a hill. In that arid, middle–eastern land, the only air conditioning they had was a breeze. Cities were also situated on hilltops for protection against attack. A city set on a hill was easier to defend. Jesus concludes this passage with a powerful statement, “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” This verse is a command, not a suggestion. Jesus is saying, “Since you are light, SHINE!” We are not here to get used to the dark but to shine as lights. The light of Christ is to shine in and through us “before men.” In other words, this is a public exhibition of light.

The following are things we need to know to help get our vision out to the world:

1. Understand the vision. If you don’t understand our vision ask the pastor to explain it to you and keep asking until you understand.
2. Who we are. What’s our church about? Every church should fulfill the five biblical purposes of worship, fellowship, discipleship, ministry, and evangelism. But how we fulfill the purposes depends upon the nature of our church. What makes our church unique?
3. Where we are going. Besides communicating our identity, we need to communicate the church’s direction and goals. Leadership is influence and the quickest way to tell if you are a leader is to look over your shoulder. If somebody’s following you, you’re a leader. If nobody’s following you, you’re not the leader. It’s that simple.
4. Why we are going there. Once we’ve communicated where we’re going, we’ve got to tell our congregations why we’re going there.
5. What it feels like to be going there. People want to be in on the fun  and they want to be fulfilled. No one wants to be left out of the excitement. To get people behind our vision, we need to communicate to people how fulfilling it will be to join God in what he’s doing through our church.
6. What people can do in the vision? As a part of vision, we need to help individuals in our church see what they can do. Everybody will need to play his or her part in realizing the vision of the church.
7. How we are going to do it.  We need to share with our congregation how we are going to move forward. As soon as we share our vision for our church, people will want to know how we are going to do it. Let them in on the strategy. (I think we do this very well.)
8. What the rewards will be. As leaders we need to tell our church what the benefits will be for fulfilling the vision that God has for us. What are the spiritual and emotional benefits? What will it be like when Jesus tells you, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” (Matthew 25:23)

So what do we need to do at Fairfax Baptist Church? As Maxwell stated, we have the ability to see, the ability to believe, and the ability to do. Visions have taken men to the stars and to the bottom of the seas. It has led men to be the father of nations and led nations out of bondage. Vision led Jesus to pay a price for us all. Where will our vision take us?

Welcome...in Honor of the Lord

This past April, our church hosted a week’s worth of events between the Sunday we traditionally call Palm Sunday and the one in which we celebrate our Lord’s resurrection. We had a guest speaker, participated in a Seder Meal, and watched four different movies that week – all relating to the life death, and resurrection of Jesus. I know some may oppose movies being shown in the church, but it is the content of what is shown that is important.

Yet, one of the movies we showed was rated R, and, in fact, might have warranted a stronger rating. Is it acceptable to show an R-rated movie in church? Again, what was the content? The movie in question is The Passion of the Christ. Many of you have likely seen the movie since it was first released in 2004. But the issue of whether Christians should see it or not was a topic of much discussion during that time. Some Bible-based colleges and seminaries have strict policies against seeing R-rated movies. If a student or faculty watches one they can be removed from the school.

So, what to do when a movie is made about Jesus and yet receives an R-rating? I am not talking about a movie with heretical viewpoints. I am talking about one which is largely based upon the Bible. Should we prohibit Bible students from seeing a movie about the Bible? And while movies are not explicitly mentioned in the Bible, abstaining from evil and other such commands are certainly biblical, and many R-rated movies are evil. Thus, the conundrum.

But what if the command is more specific? What if a command relates to idolatry or worship? What do we do when Christians, even of the same church, have opposing viewpoints on matters of interpretation? Well, this week’s passage from Romans gets at that very issue.

Today, I am discussing the seventh step of this particular development theory. Previously we:

• have moved through trust by looking at how different groups opposed one another in 1 Corinthians.
• discussed the idea of autonomy and Paul’s life as he shared his ambition in Philippians.
• we observed that we must take the proper initiative to accomplish what God has for us in 2 Corinthians.
• saw our need to be industrious by imitating God from Ephesians.
• saw our need to understand our identity is in Christ because it is He who made us free.
• discussed the need for intimacy within the body of Christ.

Once we achieve intimacy, the next step is to determine whether or not to reproduce. Reproduction in this instance is not only the idea of having children (although that is certainly included in Erikson’s model), rather, it also includes the passing down of information, tradition, and values. To be generative (as the image shows) is to pass on to the next generation what is important to the current generation. To do so means that thoughts, dreams, hopes, purpose, etc. continue. To refuse to do so means a lack of growth, a lack of hope, and eventually a culture that is stagnant.

Relating this thought to our current study, being generative is to heed the call of Jesus to “go, make disciples.” On the other hand, churches that are stagnant, are filled with people who favor comfort over their calling, who prefer a mentality of “ya’ll come” instead of “Yes, Lord, we will go.” A stagnant culture can develop in a church for a variety of reasons and comprise a plethora of excuses. As we have done each week throughout this series, let me remind of us the (now) four overarching reasons people and churches do not make disciples.

• We don’t understand Jesus  (it is our responsibility too, not just 1st Century disciples)
• We don’t believe God   (He is greater than the problems we will face)
• We don’t love Jesus  (If you love me, you will obey my commandments – make disciples)
• We don’t know how  (But it is our responsibility to learn how)

As we look at the letter to the Romans, we could almost add a new reason – churches often fight over petty stuff. But really, this is an extension of some of the above. If making disciples is our first priority, we deal with the petty, but we do not let it get in the way of what is most important.

Last week, our Next Step was Love. In a sermon that focused on the need for intimacy it had to be love. I suggested that each of us should strive to do everything for this past week in love. And, following the words of Paul, I challenged us to do everything – EVERYTHING! – for the Lord. I failed. How about you? But, although I failed, I found myself more focused on that end. My words, which were Paul’s words, which is really God’s Word, kept coming back to me. Letting the Word of God dwell richly within me challenged me to be more focused on doing what He wanted me to do and doing it how He wants me do it. Of course, this is not a one-time or one-week exercise, but this last week I may have failed in various ways, but I did better in my focus on this area than I have in quite some time.

But, and this is important, when we focus on our love for others and working for the Lord, a lot of petty stuff gets pushed aside – and rightfully so. We will see this specifically in a few moments, but for now, before we recite our GPS, let me provide a brief outline of Romans so we have the context for our passage today. I am keeping this very broad because my current plans are to preach through this letter in 2018.

Ch 1-4: No One is Righteous Except Through Faith in God
Ch 5-8: Peace With God Is Not Through the Law, But By the Spirit
Ch 9-11: God is Sovereign and Has a Plan
Ch 12-14: Live According to Your Faith
Ch 15-16: Paul’s Plans and Final Greetings

Now, join with me as we recite our Vision, Mission, Strategy, and Steps.

VISION
To be A large church in a small town. (Matthew 5.13-16)

MISSION
Exalt the Savior (John 12.32). 
Equip the Saint (Ephesians 4.11-13). 
Evangelize the Sinner (Acts 1.8).

STRATEGY
Jesus (Matthew 16.18-19) – The One worth following.
Observe (Colossians 1.28-29) – Following the commands of Jesus.
Unite (1 Corinthians 1.10) – Being one in fellowship with other believers.
Revere (John 12.32) – Worshipping God in all aspects of our lives.
Nurture (Eph 4.12-13) – Building up others for the work of ministry.
Engage (Acts 1.8) – Stirring the hearts of all people with the Gospel.
You (Matt. 15.15-16) – The one who decides to follow.

STEPS
Learn With Each Other (Acts 17.10-12)
Live For Each Other (Rom 15.1-2)
Love God and All Others (Matt 22.37-39)
Lead One Another (to Follow Jesus) (2 Tim 2.2)
(Leave) When Called by the One True Other (Acts 13.1-3)

To Evangelize the Sinner (see Roger’s Teaching Moment here) is to share the good news and even mature Christians need to be reminded of that good news. And evangelism and discipleship go hand in hand. When Jesus said to make disciples, He did not first say, evangelize the people and then make disciples. Rather, He infers that we must evangelize as we make disciples. And then those new disciples will do the same. This is generativity at is finest. But of whom should be make disciples? People who are like us? People who are different? Well, let’s look to Romans 14 for some answers.

Disciple-making churches welcome others who may disagree with them. (vv. 1-12)

Let me begin by teaching you a Greek word – adiaphora (meaningless). That is, things outside the moral law. We argue over matters like this all the time – who is the best…? Which product is the best? Etc. The answers may be important to us, but they truly have no real bearing on the ultimate outcome of our lives.

Paul begins this section by talking about arguing over opinions. This first argument is due to some people eating only vegetables and others who are eating meat. The likely issue is that the meat may have been first sacrificed to idols. We see similar ideas expressed in 1 Corinthians 9. If so, it was considered by the Jews to be an abomination to eat any such meat. Thus, the Jews were likely the ones eating only vegetables. The Gentiles on the other hand did not have the same historical understanding of Scripture and thus ate the meat. We will come back to this thought in the next section, but notice that Paul uses terms weak and strong here – with the weak person being one that only eats vegetables (see v. 2).

The issue at hand, however, is that both groups are claiming the actions of the other prevents fellowship. This is why the concept of intimacy was discussed last week. Certainly, the more we know about people, the more we will discover that they are different from us and that we may not like everything about them. And then we begin to judge them for not being like us. Paul says this is foolish – these matters are insignificant as it relates to the gospel – and therefore to pass judgment is not only unnecessary, but foolish.

Then Paul turns to worship. Verse 5 says that some only worship one day (let’s say Sunday, although we are not told), and others worship all days. Now, it is a fact that if we only worship one day per week, we will miss out on better knowing God and appreciating who He is. But again, we must consider that Paul’s statement refers to “one person” and “another” but these two “individuals” really represent groups of people. Thus, this idea is about when to meet corporately. Is one day each week enough or should we meet together every day (like the early church did)?

The answer to both of these items is found in verses 6-8. Whatever side you choose, be convinced. God is the Master and we will give an account of our lives one day to Him (v. 12). So, as we saw last week – whatever you do – do EVERYTHING to the Lord. Our living and our dying should all be for Him.

Therefore, whether we agree or not, we can welcome others in honor of Jesus. We can listen to others, learn from others, and then have a chance to share our thoughts as well. Specifically, this passage is talking to believers on both sides of the issue – and that is important. We are to guard against false-teaching and false-teachers. But the principles involved here extend to all who need to be made disciples – including you and I.

Fairfax Baptist Church, are we concerned with petty matters or with Godly ones? Are we willing to welcome others in God’s name in order to learn more about them, how they believe, and how live out their beliefs? Or will we be close-minded and think our interpretation of Scripture is the only one? Will we forsake fellowship and the opportunity to grow as a follower of Christ by judging other Christians without really knowing anything about them? Or will we seek opportunities to learn from others who may be different from us in many ways, but share a love for Jesus? Let us be a church known for being faithful to the truth, while also welcoming the opportunity to discuss the gospel to make disciples and be made into a better one.

Disciple-making churches welcome others to strengthen their faith. (vv. 13-23)

While the first point was really about strengthening our own faith, this one is about the faith of others. In verse 13, for instance, Paul talks about our actions being a stumbling block for others. We may not mean to be an issue, and may not even realize when we are causing a challenge to the faith of another. But many of us do it all the time. An issue happened to me this week, that when I learned of a situation that happened later, I wondered if I had any part in the development. I truly do not know, and I did not do anything wrong other than, perhaps, not helping someone enough. I simply do not know, but for me it is an opportunity for me from which to learn whether or not I had any fault.

The scenario Paul wrote about specifically addressed the strong – or the ones who ate the meat and presumably drank something that may have been offensive to others (v. 17). Paul says that true freedom isn’t a matter of doing what we want to do whenever we want to do it. Instead, real freedom is having the choice to not do something because it might not be understood or may even be offensive.

Again, we must remember these are matters of opinion. Paul did not say it was ok not to worship, he said how often public worship was needed was less important. In today’s world, some Christians will not eat at a restaurant on Sunday because that keeps others from honoring the Lord’s Day. But just because someone is working does not mean that they cannot honor the Lord. In fact, that is the connection between last week and this week. What we do – and think – should always be in honor of the Lord. So, as Paul wrote in verse 18, don’t worry yourself about eating and drinking – pursue peace and building of the Kingdom.

The reality is that too many people focus on one issue and use that issue to divide people, communities, and especially churches. Paul wrote that we should not let these types of issues destroy what God is building (v. 20). Before leaving this section, let me make a quick point of clarification on verse 22. READ 14.22. This verse does not mean that we are not to share our faith. In the context of Paul’s argument, he is writing that we should not impose our opinion on one another. We should clarify our hearts and minds by speaking with God on the matter until we are convinced of God’s truth, or else we are being sinful (see 14.5 and 23).

Fairfax Baptist Church, are we a church that is known for what we are against or Who we are for? Are we a people that use words like, “Well I think you should...!” or do we know our own convictions as they relate to the Word of God, causing us to say, “The Bible says...!” When we spout opinions, we are lifting up ourselves which might persuade someone for awhile until a better argument is made. When we proclaim God’s Word, and use our freedoms to NOT do what might cause others to stumble, then we lift up Jesus and show that we welcome others – because He did so first!

Disciple-making churches welcome others because the Lord has welcomed us. (15.1-13)

This last section has two parts, both of which I will cover briefly. First, Paul says the stronger should build up the weak. This is only natural for the weak do not have the strength to uphold others. In verse 2, Paul reminds the reader that it was in our weakness that that true Strong One – Jesus – upheld us. He continues by stating our hope (as weak ones) comes from ancient Scripture (the strong word of God) and is held together by Christ (the Strong One). Therefore we are to welcome others, and uphold them, because that is what He has done for us (v. 7).

Paul then turns his attention to the unreachable in verses 8-13. Paul shows how the mighty Christ humbled Himself for the sake of serving those who the Jews thought unworthy. Paul quotes from four different passages, each representing one part of the Hebrew Scriptures to show that God’s plan all along was to reach the Gentiles. And that plan was to be enacted by the people of Israel. However, the people of Israel chose not to be the light they were called to be. They chose to insulate themselves, and instead found themselves hauled off to foreign lands. Eventually, they found themselves without a homeland and even without a temple – the place where they were to worship God. Why? Because they did not welcome others and make disciples of those who were in their midst.

Fairfax Baptist Church, will we suffer a fate similar to the ancient Israelites? Do we seek to insulate ourselves from those who need to hear the message of God’s love? Are we willing to show our strength and welcome others who are weak or have we forgotten that we are still at the mercy of Jesus – who, as the true Strong One, welcomed us when we were at our weakest? Will we see God’s commands to welcome others and make disciples with the message of God’s love that rings true throughout Scripture? Or will we ignore the full counsel of God, and the exact words of Jesus that we need to make disciples of all those that God intends to welcome into His Kingdom?

Truly, the choices are ours, and the letter to the Romans serves as a staunch reminder to keep the main thing the main thing. The main thing is the gospel message because it is about the main person – Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God.

CONCLUSION

Paul’s letter to the Romans is a truly amazing effort. But the focus of the letter is not so much about sin and justification, or about the sovereignty of God, or about matters of Christian living, per se. Yes, the letter includes all of those aspects, but it does so to remind both the Jews and the Gentiles of Rome of their mission – to live according to the truths of the gospel message and to share that message with others. Thus, we have the great verse near the beginning of the gospel that says, “I am not ashamed of the gospel for it is the power of God for salvation for everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Romans 1.16).

Are we ashamed of the gospel? Are we fearful of what might happen to us if we share the gospel? I know I can be at times. But I also know that the Bible says we need not fear man who can hurt the body, but rather we should revere God who controls the destiny of our soul (Matthew 10.28, paraphrased). Thus we need to be generative. And with that, we need to:

JOURNEY:  E – Engage

NEXT STEP(S):  Lead:  Pray for yourself that God would strengthen you and make you ready to welcome others.

This week, watch for opportunities to engage in discussions about the Bible, and share openly – unashamed! I would urge you to be especially ready to engage in a discussion with someone who needs to feel welcomed – by God and by you.