Church Harmonics

Introduction

Illus: Sometimes, we just don’t get it

Small country church needs a new chandelier

Old farmer says “I’m totally against if for three reasons...

1. It’s too expensive

2. Ain’t nobody here knows how to play one

3. What we really need is a new light fixture!

It’s like when Yogi Berra said:

Yogi Berra: “I'm not going to buy my kids an encyclopedia. Let them walk to school like I did.”

It’s funny, we often have opinions - but we don’t always have background

Obviously, the farmer didn’t know what a chandeliers was

And Yogi didn’t know what an encyclopedia was!

Makes me think, we all have opinions on the church...

I wonder how many of us with opinions actually know what the church is...

YouVersion: Church Harmonics

We’re in Romans 15:1-13

Why do we need salvation?

Because we’re sinners, and sin leads to death

How did God provide salvation?

By sending His Son to die that death for us

How can we receive salvation?

By accepting the gift - we don’t earn it at all

What are the results of salvation?

Our relationship with God is restored

We do get to spend eternity with Him

BUT developing us for that begins now, in this life

Today, we’ll see that development is done chiefly through one organism

It’s called “The Church”

Romans 15:1–2 (ESV)

1 We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.

If blessed with strength, use it to help the weak

Illus: Spiderman – With great power comes great responsibility

Goes against the beliefs of our time

“I Wanna Talk About Me!” by Toby Keith

Remember: We are helping the weak to become strong

The Church helps the weak to become strong

Not sacrificing ourselves at the behest of the weak

Therefore, Paul says “to please our neighbor for his good”, not just to please him

Illus: Like raising children to be “happy”: we need to look for their good, not their pleasure

Juston Baldoni from “Jane the Virgin”: There are no perfect parents, but one thing my dad taught me is to not parent based on what anyone else thinks. My dad always let me feel what I needed to feel, even if it was in public and embarrassing. I don't remember him ever saying "You're embarrassing me!" or "Don’t cry!" It wasn't until recently that I realized how paramount that was for my own emotional development. Our children are learning and processing so much information and they don't know what to do with all of these new feelings that come up. I try to remember to make sure my daughter knows it's OK that she feels deeply.

First, he can parent how he wants (you can too), and I’m not saying he’s a bad father

But there is a part of his philosophy he is missing

Discipline is to stop how someone feels, it’s about how controlling how we behave when we feel

If you slap her hand, that doesn’t say “stop feeling”, it says “stop behaving this way”

You can be upset, but you can’t scream hysterically into the floor

What does this look like in the future? She cusses out her boss and flips his desk?

When she gets fired, it won’t be because of what she felt, it’s because of how she handles it

So if discipline were to start in this store, her punishment likely won’t please her

…But it would be for her good

A lot of parents struggle with disciplining their kids

And it’s not because they don’t care about their kids

Honestly, they feel guilty!

Not discipling for guilt isn’t because you love them

It’s because you love yourself! I don’t want to feel guilty

You’re not thinking of their character or what’s best for them

I just don’t want to feel bad...

Philippians 2:3–4 (ESV)

3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

This idea of caring about others applies the Church

We are the “bride” of Christ, not the “brides” - means we are one entity

When we help others become better, the Church that we are a part of becomes better

It’s wrong to view think, “that’s your problem, not mine.”

Illus: Thank God the hole isn’t on our end of the boat

Fortunately, God gave us an example:

Romans 15:3–4 (ESV)

3 For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.” 4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

Christ is our model

The ultimate example of not pleasing Himself, but putting others first

The world wanted Jesus to fail, now they want you to fail

If we do what is right, it stifles the world which cannot accost a child of God!

Philippians 2:7–8 (ESV)

7 (Christ) emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Christ chose to suffer so that we may benefit

That’s the whole gospel right there

He set an example that we follow

By following that, God develops us into what He wants

For Christ, His efforts of sacrifice brought us salvation

For us, our sacrifice doesn’t bring us salvation

Instead, God uses it to develop the results of our salvation

As we’ve been saying, the salvation process doesn’t begin after death

It begins here and now!

Back in Romans 5, Paul laid out some of that process

Romans 5:3–5 (ESV)

3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Scripture lays out the full picture

We know the order is tribulation, perseverance, character and hope

Illus: Coaching basketball

Tribulation (struggles) – Start off slow, confused and uncoordinated

Perseverance – You push yourself through pain, embarrassment and getting chewed out

Character (mental/moral qualities of a person) – You become confident, bold and competent

Hope – (feeling of expectation/desire) – You become a winner, an all-star and a champion

As Christians, when we get to suffering, Scripture reminds us there is a reward at the end

Illus: My 2nd place hockey trophy

I fought and my hope was let down – but victory in Christ is already guaranteed!

God promises this:

Our development starts here and ends in eternity

You don’t work for God an fail

It may look like it in this life at times - but ultimately you will become what God wants

And so, as Christians - the bride - we are all one part building the one and only church

And as individuals, that does cost us

Like I said a few weeks ago, we are not to be passengers or parasites!

Romans 15:5–6 (ESV)

5 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, 6 that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Patience and comfort are key – they don’t promise immediacy

We want God to move quickly, but He doesn’t always

Instead, He gives comfort and patience

Delays are not denials, and all delays have a loving purpose

God doesn’t do it to be cruel (Like when we pray for patience)

Remember we talked about spiritual gifts a few weeks ago?

We all have a common goal in Christ, but conflict comes because we’re different

1 Corinthians 12:4–7 (ESV)

4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

Illus: All the parts of a flight

Ladies and gentlemen this is your Captain speaking. Well, kinda. I used to be guy that loads up the baggage, but the airline felt it would be better if we were all the same. So they fired everyone else and replaced their positions with other baggage handlers. So when your flight attendants (who used to be baggage handlers) come around they’re going to toss your peanuts and drinks at your face. Then I’m going to try to fly this thing away if I can get the spinning thingies on the side to work. But that’s doubtful too since the mechanics are all former baggage handlers also...

Think of all the moving parts!

Pilots, flight attendants, ATCs, mechanics, inspectors, baggage handlers, ticketing agents

The church’s moving parts work the same way

We have pastors, elders, leaders, servers, actors, musicians, technical volunteers, greeters…

And each of us is equipped by God for the tasks we do

God equips us to help each other

And so what do we do with that?

Romans 15:7 (ESV)

7 Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.

Instead of letting our differences divide us, they should unite us

Yeah, but that person is wrong - I need to outcast them

Mmm… sometimes that’s right

If they are Christians, if they are living in sin that is significant, outward and unrepentant, if they’ve been confronted by you alone, if you then take them before two witnesses, if you then take them to the church, if you’ve done all this with the goal to restore them, and if they refuse to listen to all those things...

Then yes, that’s true

But I’ve only seen that a very small number of times

For everyone else who’s wrong, we do what Christ did...

Were you “right” when Christ received you?

Romans 5:8 (ESV)

8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

In other words, follow Christ’s example of grace

Becoming more like Christ is a process

My theology now is not the same as when I was a teenager

Does that mean either then or now, I should be condemned as a heretic?

Excommunicated, damned to hell by the Church?

No, it’s part of a process - I can almost guarantee there are things I have wrong now

I do my best to understand truth, but I’m sure I fall short somewhere

For whatever those things may be, I rely on the grace and patience of God

We should also show grace and patience to others

As individuals and as local churches and para-church ministries

Illus: I started thinking about the way we work with others in this church

Work with the pregnancy resource center

Missionary support for several missionaries for domestic training and overseas work

Our food pantry works with Midwest Food Bank

Each of us pastors has connections with other pastors at other churches

We have students and faculty at Peoria Christian

I’m flying out to California in January to help my brother who just became a pastor

Each of those entities is different, but we still work together

We do a good job of receiving each other, but be careful not to change that

What is the biggest difference the Romans face? Jews vs Gentiles

Romans 15:8–9a (ESV)

8 For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, 9 and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy...

Analogy: Jesus came to Jews first. But they were not buckets, but rather pipes to flow for others

When was the last time your neighbor brought water in a bucket? Pipes are better!

We don’t contain God, He flows through us

Imagine I bought you a Mercedes and you were grateful

Then you found out I bought one for all your friends; now you’re not special

But isn’t a Mercedes for everyone better!

The question is, do you like serving the church because it makes you special...

Or do you serve because you want others to grow and be better?

Then Paul starts quoting the OT to prove his point…

Romans 15:9b–12 (ESV)

...As it is written,

“Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles,

and sing to your name.”

10 And again it is said,

“Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.”

11 And again,

“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles,

and let all the peoples extol him.”

12 And again Isaiah says,

“The root of Jesse will come,

even he who arises to rule the Gentiles;

in him will the Gentiles hope.”

From Psalm 18:49, Deuteronomy 32:43, Psalm 117:1, Isaiah 11:10

Something interest about those passages:

Deuteronomy is a book of the Law

The law is the first 5 books from God written by Moses – where Jewish law is established

Psalms is a book of poetry

Another for psalm is a song – it’s where the emotional/poetic side of our faith is explored

Isaiah is a book of the prophets

The prophets were messengers to Israel from God – It’s how God communicated

Three different types of OT - one universal message:

Christ came to give hope and life to EVERYONE!

So what’s the point? Paul brings it home for us here:

Romans 15:13 (ESV)

13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

The lesson is: Quit arguing and be happy!

Let your belief in Christ fill you with joy and peace

And thus, you find the Holy Spirit brings you hope

Let us never lose that hope that is only found in Christ!

The Church always has what it needs

With Jesus, we are lacking nothing!

But I’m not perfect yet!

No, but you should be progressing at the Lord’s pace, and that is enough

But people need to be saved!

Yes, and you do cooperate in that...

But the HS is the one leading - be content in where He is

Illus: How poor we are

Do you see how poor people live?

1 dog to 4, pool to creek, lighting to stars, fences to horizon, servants to servers, walls to friends

Thanks for showing me how poor we are!

Living in America, we think of ourselves as rich

And we are, we have so much to be thankful for

But nothing America gives is as valuable as what the church has

Salvation, relationship, community, counsel, hope...

D.L. Moody: "Church attendance is as vital to a disciple as a transfusion of rich, healthy blood to a sick man."

To find true spiritual satisfaction, it is true that this is the place for it

But more importantly, these are the people for it!

The Church is made up of people

What a glorious gift the Church is

Not something to complain about, to criticize, to think is separate from us

But something to be relished, appreciated and supported

Prayer