Wednesday, December 03, 2008
What Jesus Does To You
Rev Bill posted a most outstanding sermon. It's about the parable of the banquet where the guests don't show (Matt, 22-1-14). Some highlights:
I long for the radically different. And I long for someone to walk with me in my efforts to be radically different rather than chastise me for my non-conformity. I am looking for people that in the face of the current "downward economic cycle" and "dismal Christmas shopping season" know that Jesus Christ remains in charge and WILL provide for us. I want to enjoy Christmas even if nothing is under the tree because we celebrate the birth of our Lord.
Too many of us, WAY TOO MANY of us, have come as we are and sat here. We're sitting in the pews with walls erected around us, watching, but not participating - not allowing the glory of the Lord to actually touch us. Like the spectator at the auto accident we watch from the curb, close enough to know what is going on, but not daring to help.
I want the better life, the better church, the better world that is promised by Christ. WE are the only thing standing in the way.
Lord, may we get out of your way!
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You don’t hear about these things much any more.I don't know how else to put this - I grow weary of theology and church, I want to meet Jesus and Christians. I am tired of endless debate about worship or Arminian v Calvinism or charismatic v cessation. I grow exhausted by a body of Christ that looks for all the world like any number of my business clients, just wrapped up in different architecture, decor, and language.
We don’t like to talk about them.
We don’t like to talk about or hear about judgment. It’s a word we shy away from.
We don’t like to talk or hear about God’s judgment on sinners. We’d much rather talk about or hear about God’s love.
But friends — we overlook God’s judgment at our peril.
God may be a God of love — but God is also a God of judgment. We can not take His love — or His gracious invitation — too lightly — like those who made up excuses for not attending the banquet — or we may find that we may have gained the whole world — but lost our souls.
[...]
If we are going to be transformed as a Church, we are going to have to be transformed as individuals.
If we are going to be a Church that serves God and makes a difference for God in the community and the world, we are going to have to be people who serve God and make a difference for God in the community.
The first step is to let God make a difference in your personal life, then share that with the Church – the community – and the world.
[...]
Flannery O’Conner wrote a story entitled A Good Man Is Hard To Find. In this story, one of the characters makes the statement:
“If Jesus really did all He said, then there’s no other response to make
but to throw away everything and follow Him.”
Indeed, that’s the only way to respond to God.
That’s the response to make to the God’s gracious invitation.
Throw away everything — and follow Him.
You can come as you are –
But you can’t stay as you are.
Amen.
I long for the radically different. And I long for someone to walk with me in my efforts to be radically different rather than chastise me for my non-conformity. I am looking for people that in the face of the current "downward economic cycle" and "dismal Christmas shopping season" know that Jesus Christ remains in charge and WILL provide for us. I want to enjoy Christmas even if nothing is under the tree because we celebrate the birth of our Lord.
Too many of us, WAY TOO MANY of us, have come as we are and sat here. We're sitting in the pews with walls erected around us, watching, but not participating - not allowing the glory of the Lord to actually touch us. Like the spectator at the auto accident we watch from the curb, close enough to know what is going on, but not daring to help.
I want the better life, the better church, the better world that is promised by Christ. WE are the only thing standing in the way.
Lord, may we get out of your way!
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