It’s one of those times when I feel like apologizing for the sermon title before I even begin … and I do! There are many wonderful churches out there who are filled with faithful disciples of Jesus Christ who are getting these things right (what we’re going to be talking about the next two weekends). But that doesn’t take away from the fact that there are still untold thousands of churches who still exist primarily for themselves. In other words, they have no vision outside their doors … and no compassion for anyone knocking on those doors…
Our bishop—Bishop Hee Soo Jung—said at our most recent Annual Conference, “We will be a church of recruitment rather than retention. … We are not a church geared for survival, but a church that reaches out to a world that needs Jesus Christ!” In other words, we need to be about the business Jesus has called us to—to be reaching out to a world that is lost without Christ … but saved with him! And we will do this by learning to love God, love people, and serve God by serving others in all that we do!
If none of the things I talk about these next two weekends fits you or this congregation, give thanks! But, if it does … you are hereby assigned to do your part in reversing the trend to always look inward …and begin to be a church who reaches out to others … for Christ! Listen to what Jesus has to say today about those who either do or do not do the things he tells us to…
“So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say? 47 I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. 48 It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against the house, it stands firm because it is well built. 49 But anyone who hears and doesn’t obey is like a person who builds a house without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins.” – Luke 6:46-49 (NLT)
“So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say?” It’s kind of like when your parents say something like: “Don’t say you love me … when you don’t treat me that way!” In other words, is Jesus really LORD of our lives (we act like it) … or are we just paying him lip service? Let me give you, today, a few of the things Jesus said … that we often tend to forget … and then we’ll probably have the answer to that question: First…
WE KEEP FORGETTING THE SECOND COMMANDMENT … IS A COMMAND! All too often, people tend to want their religion to be private—just a ‘me and the Lord” kind of a thing, but Jesus refuses to play that game, doesn’t he?
In Matthew 22 (37-40), Jesus said this: Jesus replied, “‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”
It’s this second great commandment that I want to emphasize today. ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ If you think about it … we love ourselves pretty good don’t we? Now, think of your neighbors … in your neighborhood. Do you love them at least that much? Do you even know your neighbors?
We have to remember, folks: This is a command—not an option, not a wish, not a Facebook ‘like’ or just a good idea. It is a command from our LORD! To love one’s neighbor is a key component to the kind of witness Jesus envisioned his people extending around the world … including our neighborhoods…
So, why don’t we obey it? Well, truth be told, it’s rather inconvenient, isn’t it? It’s even difficult and demanding. When we love people—truly care for them to the point they know it, they might just come to need us … and that might interfere with our schedule. It’s much easier to love the lovely, to care for the appreciative, and to reach out to those who need little or nothing… WE KEEP FORGETTING THIS SECOND GREAT COMMANDMENT … IS NOTHING SHORT OF A COMMAND! Jesus expects it from us… Here’s another one:
WE KEEP FORGETTING TWO THINGS ABOUT HIS COMMAND TO FEED THE HUNGRY, CLOTHE THE NEEDY, VISIT THE SICK, ETC. In Matthew 25, Jesus teaches about reaching out to those in need through parables (i.e. Parable of the 10 Bridesmaids and Parable of the 3 Servants), then there’s a section on the final judgment … and the end goes like this: In Matthew 25:37-40 (NLT) Jesus continues this teaching when he says,
“Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? 39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’
There’s the crux of it, folks! For Jesus, it’s personal. We are to do good to everyone. As John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement used to say, “Do all the good you can. By all the means you can. In all the ways you can. In all the places you can. At all the times you can. To all the people you can. As long as ever you can.” Man, it’s as if John Wesley knew his Bible!
The 2 things about Jesus’ commands (Matt. 25) that we sometimes forget are these: They are commands—to care for those in need (in our neighborhoods) … and our brothers and sisters in Christ have dibs on our assistance! In Galatians 6:10, Paul says: “Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.” Next…
WE FORGET THAT LOVING PEOPLE AND LOVING THE LORD IS ALL ABOUT ACTION, NOT EMOTION. Luke 6:27-36 is all about action, not emotion! Verses 35-36 read this way, where Jesus says,
“Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. 36 You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.”
It becomes obvious here that Jesus is calling for action, with regard to others (i.e. do good, bless, pray, give, etc.). And Jesus emphasized throughout his Upper Room discourse (John 13-16) that whoever loves him will keep his commands! Love, folks, isn’t merely a feeling (it’s hard to command that); what Jesus is talking about here is ‘love in action’—something that is very doable … if we love Jesus! Loving God and loving people—a part of God’s vision for us as his people—is really about action, not emotion… Then,
WE KEEP FORGETTING THE LORD TOLD US TO EXPECT TO BE TREATED BADLY. I know you don’t want to hear this, but it’s true… The Apostle John records in his Gospel (John 16:2): “For you will be expelled from the synagogues, and the time is coming when those who kill you will think they are doing a holy service for God.”
Let me assure you, folks … that time is here! If you are doing God’s work—being obedient to all that God is asking you to do, there’ll be times when some simply don’t understand … and you’ll be treated less than steller. God’s people keep expecting to be loved and appreciated by those to whom they minister … and often end up being blindsided by opposition…
I read an article recently entitled: “Three Irrational Beliefs … That I Constantly Have to Fight.” In this article, David Slagle identifies 3 irrational core beliefs that get all leaders (especially those who are followers of Christ) into a heap of trouble. Here they are…
“I absolutely MUST, at all times, perform outstandingly well and win the approval of significant others. If I fail in these important—and sacred—respects, that is awful and I am a bad, incompetent, unworthy person, who will probably always fail and deserves to suffer.”
“Other people with whom I relate absolutely MUST, under practically all conditions, treat me nicely, considerately, and fairly. Otherwise, it is terrible and they are rotten, bad, unworthy people who will always treat me badly and should be severely punished for acting so abominably to me.”
“The conditions under which I live absolutely MUST, at practically all times, be favorable, safe, hassle-free, and quickly and easily enjoyable. If they are not, it’s awful and horrible and I can’t ever enjoy myself at all. My life is hardly worth living.”
“Three Irrational Beliefs….” Some of you are rolling your eyes this morning, and so you should! We know in our very capable minds that these statements are very irrational … but all too often, we don’t live like we believe it! We get angry at others because of how we’re treated; we get angry at God because of how we’re treated. We seem to have forgotten Jesus warnings to us from Matthew, Chapter 10 (16-22) and similar passages. He told us we’d be hated … didn’t he? Ministry is messy, yet we are all called to serve others as followers of Christ. Then…
WE KEEP FORGETTING HE TOLD US TO LOVE OUR ENEMIES. This point follows on the heels of the last one and for good reason! Some are going to treat us badly … but how are we supposed to react? We’re to love them!!!! NOT nurse our anger… NOT bear grudges… NOT protect our resentment, as if we have a get-out-of-jail-free card entitling us to despise them…
Anyone who spends even a few minutes on Facebook encounters professing Christians badmouthing other world religions, worldly pleasure lovers, and wayward politicians… But, how are we supposed to react? LOVE THEM; that’s Jesus’ way … and that’s where the power of our faith lies…
So, how important is it to not only hear what Jesus says to us, but to put it into practice and do what he says? It’s really all about the transition from being a church that is inward-focused … to being a church that is outward-focused. Don’t forget our bishop’s encouragement to all of us! “We will be a church of recruitment rather than retention. … We are not a church geared for survival, but a church that reaches out to a world that needs Jesus Christ!”
How are we going to become that kind of Church? By doing what Jesus says to do… I don’t know about you, but I appreciate Jesus’ contrast between those who listen and do what he says … compared with those who hear, but then do nothing. I want my life to be built on something solid, don’t you? I want my life to be built on a faith that will last…
Remember what that late great Zig Ziglar used to say, “Don’t asked God to guide your steps … if you’re not willing to move your feet!”
Folks, won’t you join me in learning to hear and obey God’s word, that we might truly come to know Jesus as Lord of our lives? More next week…