As I begin with some final words today, I just want to remind all of you about the ministry we’ve shared in together for the past 11 years. Some think that these are things that only the pastor does, but in fact they are ministries that all of us—in some way, shape, or form—do together. Let me give you my list from our years together:

• 80 baptisms (and for most of these you, as a congregation, have made promises to support these families too)…
• 35 weddings (and many of these have touched people’s lives that are now connected to our congregation)…
• 155 funerals (and I’m so thankful that I don’t have to do the funeral, make the food, and serve the lunches too! Our UMW has done a wonderful job of ministering to these families going through loss by offering hospitality)…
• 552 sermons (so, if you haven’t grown in your faith, it’s not my fault; it was definitely a choice—to be here or not to be here, to listen or not to listen, but the opportunities for spiritual growth, for God to speak to you through His word, have been there)…

Over the years, we’ve also learned a lot together about being ‘Christ-followers’ and all that means. And one thing I’ve learned myself, in being a Christ-follower for the past 44 years, as well as leading churches for the past 20+ years, is this: the state of our relationship with God is dependent on our obedience—to do what we know God wants us to do…

The other day, I was reading from the [John] Maxwell Leadership Bible and ran into an article entitled “Father Knows Best”. And it refers to Leviticus 26:3, 4, 12 (TEV), which reads:

“If you live according to my laws and obey my commands, 4 I will send you rain at the right time, so that the land will produce crops and the trees will bear fruit. … 12 I will be with you; I will be your God, and you will be my people.”

Then, Maxwell makes this comment. He says, “Have you noticed that rules, regulations, and laws bring out the human tendency to ask, ‘But why?’” What does that sound like? Our kids, doesn’t it? And we’re God’s kids, so go figure…

The truth is many of our problems in life arise from ignoring God’s Word when we don’t think God’s instructions make sense. Moses tells us, in scripture, that God’s commandments not only kept his people holy (set apart for his purposes), but also protected them from discomfort, sickness, and untimely death. So, in some ways, God’s law is like God solving a problem before it even occurs. Our Heavenly Father truly does know best, doesn’t he? And our part of this whole deal … is to obey!

The Apostle John speaks to this in our scripture for today. Listen (from John 15, the Vine & Branches chapter); here are verses 9-17 (NIV)…

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you obey my commands [the obedience connection], you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love.

11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you [always asking ‘What can I do for you?’ instead of ‘What do I get out of this?’]. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends [which is what Jesus did for us]. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command [the obedience connection, again]. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. [Now, this is how the relationship began…]

16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit–fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 17 This is my command: Love each other. – John 15:9-17 (NIV)

So, how are we going to do this? How are we going to be obedient [since that’s what makes our relationship with God tick] to John 15:9-17 that we just shared in together? How are we going to remember to do what Jesus says here? … The truth is, God’s already given you a way to remember and it’s this…

BE A CHURCH WHO PUTS GOD FIRST! Verses 9-10 say, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love.” In other words, LOVE GOD … by obeying his Word; put God first by obeying his Word. Here are a couple of suggestions for you—one from the Old Testament and one from the New Testament…

In the Old Testament book of Exodus, God through Moses gives us these commands—from the 10 Commandments (vv. 3 & 8): “You shall have no other gods before me” and “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.” So, what is God telling us here? BE A WORSHIPING CHURCH! Love God in such a way as to put nothing before him … and never forget to worship together! That would be obedience to God’s Word…

Here’s another suggestion. Through Paul’s letter to the church at Thessalonica (1 Thess. 5:16-18, NIV), God speaks this word: “Be joyful always; 17 pray continually; 18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” So, what is God telling us here? BE A PRAYING CHURCH! Out of an incredible JOY for just having a shot at being in a relationship with God … PRAY! And do that continually—giving thanks always!

This is the kind of church God is calling us to be! Also…

BE A CHURCH WHO TREATS PEOPLE AS GIFTS FROM GOD! Verse 12 finds Jesus telling us, “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” Our witness to the world will be seen in how we handle the gifts God sends our way! So, LOVE PEOPLE … all people … and show it through your actions!

Folks, who is it that you struggle with the most in life? What person absolutely drives you up a tree … or you just don’t want to associate with them? Those may be the very people God is calling you to befriend—not so much for their sake … but for yours! Remember, God is the potter … and we are the clay; God wants to shape us into the kind of loving individuals that can absolutely turn this world upside down for His Kingdom!

Let me give you a practical example… I think one of the most marginalized people in our society today is … waitresses or waiters. I have never had to do that job … and I don’t particularly want to do that job. And because of that, I absolutely appreciate those who do it—especially those who do it well!

A few years back, my brother Stan and I had traveled down to Kentucky to set up a summer mission trip. I drove on that trip. So, I was dropping Stan off in Boscobel on the way home, traveling back via the Quad Cities. We had stopped in at a Cracker Barrel restaurant to eat supper. The waitress that we happened to have that evening was a middle-age woman who was a single mom. Did I know her? No. But I overheard enough of a conversation with a co-worker to know her situation—at least part of it. And she was struggling, particularly on this day. So, what did Stan and I do when we left there? Well, we paid our bill … but then I left this woman a $20 tip. Pretty extravagant, huh? Folks, as I thought to myself about all that God has done for me, as I thought to myself about all that Jesus had given up for me, this was nothing! But it meant a great deal to one life… We tried to sneak out of that Cracker Barrel before anyone could say anything, but that woman caught us just as we were leaving the front door, and simply whispered, “Thank you!” I believe it might have been an answer to her prayer that day. What do you think?

Folks, be a church who treats people as gifts from God! Then let your actions toward others be your witness for Christ! And finally…

BE A CHURCH THAT SERVES THE NEEDY IN YOUR COMMUNITY AS THE HANDS OF GOD! Verse 16 tells us, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit–fruit that will last.” This is what Randy Alcorn was talking about when he taught us about the Treasure Principle: “You can’t take it with you—but you can send it on ahead.” We need to invest in our eternity today—together; the church is not the building, folks, but WE ARE THE CHURCH! We are the hands & feet of Jesus in a world with needs … and so they need us, as God’s representatives! Continue the ministry of ‘Feeding Friends’ and supporting other ministries that this church is about—reaching out to the marginalized and the needy right here in our community … and beyond (which is what’s been happening in Colorado this week)!

Folks, I know that all we hear from the pulpit might seem daunting at times… How in the world can we be this kind of church all the time? Or any of the time? Discipleship—being a Christ-follower—is not for the faint of heart, is it? My answer to the question I just asked is this: You can be this kind of church if you always strive to live out God’s vision for you: LOVE GOD, LOVE PEOPLE, and SERVE GOD BY SERVING OTHERS! You can be this kind of church if you discipline yourself to stay in God’s word regularly—being obedient to the best of your ability to what you read or hear from God’s word, and to have regular prayer times in your life—keeping you connected to God—your source of wisdom and strength. So how do we begin to do this daily? That’s the hard part isn’t it? Consistency…

Well, here’s a suggestion: A few years back, a friend of mine—who I have tremendous respect for, as a Christ-follower—shared with me a prayer that he starts every day with … and since then I’ve done the same. It helps to center myself in the morning—to remind me that God is God and I am not. It reminds me that I need God to help me be who he’s called me to be … and this will be my final gift to you—‘A Morning Prayer from the Orthodox Tradition’. Let’s close this time by praying together (bulletin insert)…

“A MORNING PRAYER FROM THE ORTHODOX TRADITION”

“O Lord, allow me to greet the coming day in peace, help me in all things to rely upon Your holy will. In every hour of the day reveal Your will to me. Bless my dealings with all who surround me. Teach me to treat all that come to me throughout the day with peace of soul and with a firm conviction that Your will governs all. In all my deeds and words, guide my thoughts and feelings. In unforeseen events, let me not forget that all are sent by You. Teach me to act firmly and wisely, without embittering and embarrassing others. Give me strength to bear the fatigue of the coming day with all that it shall bring. Direct my will, teach me to pray. Pray You, Yourself, in me. Amen.”