2024.01.07 - Why Am I Here?
Notes
Transcript
1 Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate?
2 Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.
3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.
4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.
[►►►CLICK] Title Slide
Today is the culmination of two pastoral transitions in a very short period. Having an interim is helpful, but it also stretches out the transition. I am honored to directly follow Mark Suter. Mark was one of the most encouraging pastors I ever had when I accepted the call to ministry. He and Becky hold a very special place in my heart and in Annette’s.
But pastoral transition is a nerve-wracking time. The pastor wonders if his or her ministry style will be accepted at the new appointment. The church wonders what's gonna change … what's gonna be different? Invariably, things will change, and one of the changes that is immediately apparent is simply the personality of the person leading the congregation.
So, the question we really want to ask is one that’s hard to put into words … What's "the new guy” all about?
Well, you may have read my bio, and if you did, you know I am originally from Louisville. You may know I graduated from the University of Louisville and Asbury Seminary. You may know that I've been married for over 30 years, and we have 2 kids. You may have met Annette, Hannah and Isaiah, and if you have met them and not me … you’re better off for that. :)
In case you’re wondering: I don’t love or hate The Hoosiers, Boilermakers, Bulldogs, or even the Indy Greyhounds or IUPUI Jags … I’m a Louisville graduate, so I’m a Cards fan … even when their basketball team looks like it couldn’t beat the Avon Orioles. I'm also a Dodgers and a Dolphins fan. Some of you may already know I play guitar and sing. As an extrovert, I am also like the apostle Peter, in that, I stick my foot in my mouth fairly regularly.
But a lot of the personality stuff will come with time.
I hope that today’s message gives you what you need for today.
College – Free meal and talk by someone at the Interfaith Center
Last Lecture series
This could be considered my “Last Lecture” even though it’s technically my first one here.
At every appointment I’ve served, this has been my first and last sermon.
Sometimes we get distracted by all the workings of the church and we lose sight of the mission!
I’d like you to imagine a scene from a tv show:
[►►►CLICK] West Wing
"The West Wing" – [original air date, April 26, 1999] — "Let Bartlet Be Barlet" (I’m not making that up)
President Jed Bartlet has been taking the easy road to try and ensure reelection instead of doing what he believes is right. The staff's morale is plummeting. His poll figures are dropping drastically. He is losing political battles all over Washington because he refuses to take a stand on any issue for fear that he’ll lose the next election.
After a real downer of an episode, in the final scene … we see dejected senior staffers awaiting the Chief of Staff who is in the Oval Office meeting with the President about being true to himself.
The President decides to return to his moral center … his mission! As the Chief of Staff returns to the staff waiting room … he tells them the president’s decision.
Leo: And we’re gonna lose some of these battles, and we might even lose the White House, but we’re not gonna be threatened by issues. We’re gonna put them front and center. We’re gonna raise the level of public debate in this country, and let that be our legacy.
[turns to Josh] That sound all right to you, Josh?
Josh: I serve at the pleasure of the President.
As the camera pans to each staff member, one-by-one each member of the President's inner circle echoes their commitment, "I serve at the pleasure of the President."
As the camera pans back to the Chief of Staff (Leo): Then let’s get in the game!
[►►►CLICK] Title Slide
Why Am I Here?
Why Am I Here?
There is something to be said for serving at someone else's pleasure. There is something honorable about standing up for what's right even in the face of opposition and possible defeat! Similarly, the Church Universal needs to return to her purpose. We’ve made decisions based on our own desires and preferences long enough.
In today's passage of Scripture, Paul gives us a few simple instructions:
[►►►CLICK]
DON’T BE SELFISH
Don't be selfish
Why are you here?
Any number of reasons, but let me make this gut-check moment.
We “Church folk” spend an awful lot of time trying to tell the truth safely. The problem with that is that the truth we have to offer is dangerous. Why would any of us think telling the truth would be safe in this sinful world?
Our Life Together: Russ - “I'd give anything …”
Ron - “No you wouldn't!” [awkward pause]
Russ - “What do you mean?”
Ron - “If you really would give ANYthing to be up there, you would’ve already given it, and you WOULD be up there playing like that.”
We want the result without the work that makes it happen. We want the reward without the sacrifice.
Don’t be selfish.
[►►►CLICK]
DON’T THINK ONLY ABOUT YOUR OWN AFFAIRS
Don't think only about your own affairs
How many times have any of us made a decision by asking, "Well, what do I want?"
If the Church is to thrive, we have to recapture the mission and stop making decisions based on our preferences.
We must ask, "What does God want?" AND WE HAVE TO ASK IT FIRST!
"regard one another as more important than yourselves;" (2:3)
"Don't think only about your own affairs"
Consider what’s best for the mission instead of what’s best for you or what you want!
Everything we do here today is worship of the Father. If any of us receive a blessing, that’s the gravy, not the meat! The meat of today is honoring Yahweh our God with our worship!
He is the center of attention at all times in worship.
And the Father is the audience of our worship, not you … not me … not ever.
I’m sure I will have plenty of times for honor as your pastor. But this moment is not that time. Worship is not my time of honor!
We are here today to respond to God's unconditional love for us and all of humanity.
If you are here serving at your own pleasure, you are in the wrong building.
"Don't think only about your own affairs"
[►►►CLICK]
YOUR ATTITUDE SHOULD BE THE SAME AS JESUS
Your attitude should be the same Christ Jesus had
Jesus accepted humility … even humiliation for our benefit
Are you willing to be humbled for the benefit of others?
How about being humiliated?
Now is the time to do that gut check ...
Is your attitude the same as Jesus?
What does that look like?
Well, in human form, Paul says, Jesus obediently humbled himself
obediently humbled himself? Jesus was obedient?
[►►►CLICK] John 8:28
28 So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man on the cross, then you will understand that I Am he. I do nothing on my own but say only what the Father taught me.
[►►►CLICK] John 12:49
49 I don’t speak on my own authority. The Father who sent me has commanded me what to say and how to say it.
Paul tells us to submit to the authority placed over us in two different places.
As pastor … who is my boss? Two answers ...
In the Global Methodist Church, the pastor's direct boss is the Presiding Elder.
In a very real sense, though. I answer to God the Father.
We didn’t read this far, but Paul concludes this section of his letter with these words:
[►►►CLICK] Philippians 2:10-11
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
… to the glory of God the Father
Today is a joyous day ...
This is a celebration of our time together and God's faithfulness as he’s brought our journeys together.
There is only one reason I would teach a hard teaching on my first Sunday … for the glory of God the Father.
For the glory of God the Father, we show up to:
pray together in fellowship
respond to God's grace and the Truth of His Word
honor God by bowing our hearts to Him in submission to His Holy Spirit's influence
The Holy Spirit can and does work regardless of our submission ...
but why would any of us want to resist Him and make His job harder?
After all you’ve experienced in life, don't you want to work WITH the Holy Spirit to create the atmosphere where everyone experiences God's presence?
You can produce that atmosphere regardless of who occupies this pulpit, and regardless of where you are.
Time, place, circumstance, style, time of day … none of these things are relevant.
Only the condition of our hearts is relevant
[►►►CLICK] List
Paul says:
Don't be selfish
Don't think only about your own affairs
Have the same attitude as Christ Jesus
Be obedient and humble
And do all for the glory of God the Father
God has great plans for Bartlett Chapel! GREAT plans!
THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE WANTS TO WORK IN AND THROUGH THIS CONGREGATION!!!
You (collectively and individually) are worthy of His love, not because of what you have; or who you are; or what you've done. You are worthy of His love and relationship with Him simply BECAUSE HE SAYS SO, and nothing will ever change that!
You deserve the love of Christ because the Father says so! Let’s let THAT be our driving force.
As we get to know each other, and as we work together, “we’re gonna lose [sometimes], but we’re not gonna be threatened by issues. We’re gonna put them front and center. We’re gonna raise [the name of Jesus Christ in this church and in this community], and let that be our legacy.”
So why are YOU here?
In my best moments, my driving force is quite simple ...
[►►►CLICK] I serve at the pleasure...
I serve at the pleasure of the King of Kings!
How 'bout you? [Annette; Kiersten; Jim; Julie]
[►►►CLICK] Let’s get in the game
Let's get in the game!
Let's get in the game!
Let’s pray. [include communion]