Student Weekend 2024
Notes
Transcript
Intro:
Intro:
Good morning Church!
I feel like since I am with you all this morning after being away for a few weeks on paternity leave I owe you all something- so here it is. Look at the screen real quick:
SHOW PHOTO
Now, this isn’t just me trying to get points by showing you a picture of my kids but I mean look at them! No, there is a point, I feel like I have gotten a really fresh reminder of the truth we will be talking about today over the last few years between the birth of our daughter Eden 2 years ago and now, just 2 weeks ago, with the birth of our son Ezra. Each of their stories are unique, powerful testimonies of Jesus’ powerful hand in our life.
For Eden, some of you know that for over a year we were unable to get pregnant. I know many people have much longer struggles in that area, but for us that season felt like an eternity. We eventually got to the place of just praying to God to make it clear what he wanted for us if it wasn’t to get pregnant at that time. In fact, we didn’t just pray that in private, I came here in front of you all after a Sunday service and prayed for that exactly. I surrendered to God’s will and asked him to guide our family to however he wanted to use us. Shortly after that we found out that we were pregnant and doctors listed that Sunday as our conception date! We then prayed for Eden to have a safe and smooth delivery. Eden was born with her umbilical cord wrapped around her neck 3 times- but to the astonishment of the doctors, she had ZERO symptoms or effects from it. They simply unwrapped her and handed her to us in perfect condition! The doctors couldn’t explain it, but we told them we had prayed and God answered us.
Fast forward to this time around with Ezra, our little leap year baby! When Jenna was pregnant with Eden her blood pressure shot up and she had to be put on medication and then induced early. We didn’t want that to happen again, so we prayed for God to keep Jenna’s blood pressure perfect- many of you prayed with us for that. And Jenna’s blood pressure was better than it’s been her whole life. Then, we prayed for Ezra to have a perfect, fast, and safe delivery. Listen church, when we pray specific prayers God answers specifically- We got to the hospital at 1:15 and we were holding a healthy baby boy at 3:18 pm! That is a perfect, fast and safe delivery.
Isn’t it amazing to think that whether it’s Doctors telling you that you won’t ever be able to get pregnant, or an umbilical cord around our baby’s neck 3 times, or blood pressure or even the speed of labor and delivery- JESUS IS LORD over every detail! Big small, and everything in between Jesus is Lord over all of it! Amen?
This morning I am so grateful to be with you to wrap up Student Weekend 2024, and all weekend we have talked about that powerful truth- Jesus is Lord above all!
And I want you all to get a glimpse of what that looked like for us this weekend, so please turn your attention to the screen.
VIDEO
What was that? That was 22 local churches, with almost 700 students declaring together that JESUS IS LORD! Celebrating, praising, and living like Jesus is Lord! That is the next generation, that is the church of today-
We have spent about the last 30 hours together! Praise God we are all still standing! We have spent hours in worship, prayer, and small groups all focused on that truth: Jesus is above all!
We’ve talked about how Jesus has all the answers we are looking for, he provides everything we could ever need, he will guide us and protect us as we follow Him and He wants to use us to bring light to the darkness in the world around us.
Jesus is above all.
This one simple truth is all it takes to change everything!
Now, maybe to some of you those topics I mentioned sound really obvious and elementary, and to others they sound extremely radical. Either way, we must realize, that absolutely none of those things matter if we don’t truly understand and believe that Jesus is lord of all!
It doesn’t matter that Jesus will provide for us, or protect us, or guide us or use us to change the world if we don’t believe He truly is Lord. When we don’t believe that Jesus is Lord, we don’t live like Jesus is Lord. And when we don’t live like Jesus is Lord, we live like we are lord. We try to give ourselves the answers to our questions, we try to meet our own need our own ways, we choose whatever path we think is best, and we don’t care about impacting the world for good as much as we just want to make our own lives good!
And this isn’t just something for the non-religious people, it is completely possible to call yourself a Christian but live as the lord of your own life. It’s not good, or right, or Biblical- but it is possible. In fact, all of us at some point or another have been guilty of it! We make things about ourselves, we elevate our preferences over the will of God, or we let our schedules determine our faithfulness to how God has called us to live.
Listen Church, we’ve heard it said over and over- Either Jesus is Lord of all or he isn’t lord at all!
This morning I want us to realize and reflect on one truth-
When Jesus is Lord, we are not.
Turn to Colossians 1 with me this morning. As you do I need to set up some of the context for this passage. We will be reading a poem written by the apostle Paul. I know, some of you are sharp and are thinking wait I thought we are reading a letter in the New Testament- it is, but in that letter Paul uses a poem to emphasize his main point.
Paul is writing to the church in Colossae. This is a group of Christians that Paul has not met before! He is writing to them from prison because the man who started the Church in Colossae, named Epaphras, visited Paul in prison to tell him about the Colossian Christians. He told Paul that they were doing great and passionately worshiping and following Jesus. Paul actually spends the first few paragraphs of this letter praising and thanking God for the incredible faith of the Colossians! But Epaphras also told Paul about the cultural struggles they were facing. Specifically there were two big problems for the Colossians. There were Jewish people pressuring the Colossian christians to add Jewish laws to their new lives as Christians. Basically saying they needed Jesus PLUS other rules, laws, and ceremonies to save them.
On the other side, you had the Roman culture around them that was prone to mysticism and polytheism- worshiping many gods. They were pressuring these Christians to not limit themselves to ONLY worship Jesus. That they could live their lives and worship the roman gods and simply add Jesus in! You also had some who were promoting false teachings about Jesus like he wasn’t fully divine or fully human.
So, you can see the Colossian church was surrounded by all this pressure to compromise on genuine faith in Jesus and either add on to Jesus’ teachings, or simply add Jesus into all the other beliefs and ideas they liked in the world.
It’s in that context that we find Paul writing this poem and then spending the rest of the letter unpacking the depth of that poem and all of its implications. And just before this passage, as we heard Pastor Robert read earlier, Paul says in verses 9-10 he is praying for their spiritual growth by gaining God’s wisdom and spiritual understanding.
This poem contains what Paul believes they must be focused on in order to be full of that wisdom and spiritual understanding.
So, let’s read this poem and see how he encouraged these believers in the midst of such serious pressure to compromise!
Colossians 1:15–20 (CSB)
He is the image of the invisible God,
the firstborn over all creation.
For everything was created by him,
in heaven and on earth,
the visible and the invisible,
whether thrones or dominions
or rulers or authorities—
all things have been created through him and for him.
He is before all things,
and by him all things hold together.
He is also the head of the body, the church;
he is the beginning,
the firstborn from the dead,
so that he might come to have
first place in everything.
For God was pleased to have
all his fullness dwell in him,
and through him to reconcile
everything to himself,
whether things on earth or things in heaven,
by making peace
through his blood, shed on the cross.
Paul is encouraging the Colossians to remain faithful in the midst of cultural pressure and he gives them this? A poem? I think most of us would want a list of do’s and don’t’s, a rule book, a guide for navigating the culture of the 1 century AD as a new believer. But Paul doesn’t give them that. He simply declares who Jesus is- LORD ABOVE ALL! It’s as though, Paul believes having the proper view of who Jesus really is, is all it takes to remain faithful as His follower in this world.
Let’s unpack this passage together and see why this really is all they needed to live faithfully in the midst of cultural pressure and how it is still all we need today.
Paul gives us a clear picture of Jesus being lord above all. So, what does he say?
First,
Jesus is Lord over Creation.
He starts by saying Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. There are two big things we have to point out here.
First- Jesus is the image of God. That should sound very familiar. This should immediately call to mind Genesis and the creation story. There we learn that Humans are made IN the image of God. Meaning, we are created in the likeness of God. We are set apart and special from the rest of creation as humans because God made us in His image, in His likeness, with ways that we are like God, specifically in how we are able to rule and reign like God over creation.
But here, Jesus isn’t made in the image of God, He IS the image of God. This means we can look at Jesus and learn everything we need to about God. Jesus is the perfect expression and representation of God to Humanity. Because in Him, as John 1:14 teaches us, God put on flesh and came and lived among us.
So, that’s huge- Jesus is the image of God, perfectly and fully representing God to all of creation.
He continues that he is the firstborn over all creation.
Now, we need to stop and define that term firstborn. Most of us hear that and we immediately think firstborn means exactly that- the first one born. We think time and order of children. But this is actually not what this term means here at all.
Remember Paul has been raised in old testament thinking and in the old testament this term first born gets used a lot and not usually to refer to the literal first born child of a family. For just a couple of examples, we see Israel is referred to as God’s firstborn son in Exodus 4:22- and obviously being used for a whole nation doesn’t make sense to refer to as a literal first born son. But even if you wanted to get technical, timeline wise God first chose Abraham and gave Him the miraculous birth of Isaac- either of those would better fit the title of first born if its talking about time or order. So that’s one example. Another is In Psalm 89:27 King David was referred to as firstborn son of God. Again, David wasn’t the firstborn of his family, he wasn’t the first King of God’s people. So clearly, something else is going on.
When God uses the term Firstborn it is referring to status, superiority, and preeminence- the fact of surpassing all others.
So, this passage is NOT saying that Jesus was a created being. He is God and exists eternally as the second person of the trinity. It’s also not about a timeline or literal order of birth.
It’s a statement about the significance and status of someone.
Paul is saying here Jesus is the firstborn of all creation. Meaning, nothing has more authority, status or power than He does in all of creation!
Paul goes on to explain that in verse 16.
He says for- meaning Jesus is firstborn over all creation because-
Colossians 1:16 “For everything was created by him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities— all things have been created through him and for him.”
So, all creation, not just physical- what we can see and touch, but spiritual as well. The physical and spiritual realms are all inferior to Jesus! He is Lord over all of creation.
To be clear- he is Lord of EVERYTHING! Not lord of some things, or most things, or spiritual things- EVERY THING!
Warren Wiersbe comments on this verse saying-
“It is no wonder that the winds and waves obeyed Him, and diseases and death fled from Him, for He is Master over all!”
Why does this matter?
If Jesus is Lord over creation, he has authority, control and power over anything and everything we will ever face or deal with in this life. When we actually believe that, we realize we aren’t lord over anything. This frees us from worrying about things in this life, it frees us from trying to control things in this life, and it frees us from putting our hope in anything or anyone in this life.
I could give a million examples but one big one comes to mind this year. Our hope as Christians for the state of things in our world is not found in the white house. Unfortunately, far too many christians get caught up in worrying and arguing on social media about politics and candidates. Now it’s not wrong to be responsibly involved in voting as christians, but we need to be REALLY clear that no politician however good or bad will destroy or save this world. Jesus is Lord even over our country and it’s politics.
When we recognize Jesus is Lord and we are not, we don’t lose sleep over an election and we definitely don’t cause division and distress fighting with people about it. Our hope is simple as christians in america —just like any other country in the world— our ONLY Hope is Jesus because He is Lord over creation.
Whether it’s politics or our finances, or a natural disaster- Jesus is Lord over Creation, which means we are not- so we are free from worry and control. All things have been created through him, by him and for him. Creation belongs to Jesus- He is lord above all. We can trust him and follow Him through anything we face in this life.
I get that’s easy to say but difficult to live out. Paul is telling the colossians and us today that to be faithful in the midst of this world that is corrupt and falling apart we must constantly dwell on this one truth- Jesus is Lord over creation!
Second, Paul says:
2. Jesus is Lord over the Church.
He is also the head of the body, the church;
he is the beginning,
the firstborn from the dead,
so that he might come to have
first place in everything.
He is the head, the beginning, the firstborn - we see that term again, among the dead and so he has first place in everything in the church!
Our entire identity as the church comes out of what Jesus did. He started all of this, he is the center of all of this, He is the one and only reason why we gather!
The word Head carries with it the definition of source and origin as well as leader or ruler. It’s so important to realize that Friendly Avenue Baptist Church isn’t “THE CHURCH” it’s a local gathering of members of the church. But THE CHURCH is what Jesus started after his life, death and resurrection. The church is what started on the day of pentecost when the holy Spirit filled the followers of Jesus and began the largest, most diverse, and most widespread movement in all of human history.
The church is the multi cultural, multi generational, family of God that is united by the one core believe that JESUS IS LORD ABOVE ALL!
Jesus is Lord of the Church- this means again, we are not! And this local church at Friendly Avenue is meant to be a localized expression of THE Church at large. So The second we make our preferences, desires, plans, designs, personalities the focal point of the church instead of Jesus we have missed it all!
If we are going to spend time and energy arguing about traditional versus contemporary styles, or orders of service, or job titles, or what room we are meeting in- listen- we are trying to be lord of the church instead of Jesus. It’s ok to have preferences, we do need to talk about them and be intentional in the ways we do things.
But the goal should not be to make the church what we want it to be. Rather, our goal is to be the best, most excellent expression of what the FAMILY of God is meant to be-a welcome home to the lost and broken to come and find salvation, community, and new life!
Jesus is Lord of the Church, He is in charge- not a pastor, not a denomination or a convention. Jesus is the head and ruler of His body of believers.
Jesus is Lord of the Church, we are not.
Paul has taken the two main parts of a Christians life and emphasized Jesus’ lordship over them. Our life as members of His Church and our lives in this world as a whole. Meaning, every area of our life is meant to be lived under the authority and power of Jesus!
But Paul doesn’t stop there. He wraps up this whole idea with the one final point:
3. Jesus is Lord over salvation.
Paul ends this poem with a summary of the Gospel in verses19-20
For God was pleased to have
all his fullness dwell in him,
and through him to reconcile
everything to himself,
whether things on earth or things in heaven,
by making peace
through his blood, shed on the cross.
This is the good news about our Lord that unites us. This is what brought us together and this is what keeps us focused on faithfully following Jesus as Lord of our lives.
God, the creator and sustainer of the universe had a plan from the very beginning to save humanity from their sin and brokenness. He sent his one and only Son Jesus into this world to live a perfect life that we could never live, so that he could be the perfect sacrifice that we needed to pay for our sins, and he went to the Cross and died in our place, taking the punishment we deserved for our sin, he was buried and then he rose from from the dead. Through this Jesus conquered sin, death and hell forever and anyone and everyone who calls on the name of Jesus will be saved. This is how Jesus fixed what was broken. That’s the idea of reconcile here- that what Sin had broken and separated- our relationship and access to God- Jesus fixed by offering salvation through the cross.
He is the ONLY way to be saved. There is no other way that sinful humans are reconciled back to a holy and perfect God but through Jesus who was fully God and fully man- living as the perfect sacrifice, taking our punishment on the cross and raising from the dead!
Jesus is lord over creation, over the church and over salvation.
There’s a story about the famous Evangelist, D L Moody back in 1893. The World’s Columbian Exposition was being held in Chicago, and more than 21 million people went through the expo . One exhibit there was called the “World Parliament of Religions,” which had representatives of all of the world’s major religions, meeting to talk about their unique beliefs and even see if there could be some new world religion to come out of this gathering.
Well, D.L. Moody saw this as a great opportunity to share the Gospel. He hosted events all around the area during the expo to draw in as many people as possible to preach the Gospel to. Some so-called friends of Moody, wanted him to spend time attacking the “Parliament of Religions,” refuting the different religions and criticizing the event as a whole. But DL Moody refused to use that strategy. He said: “I am going to make Jesus Christ so attractive that men will turn to Him.” He knew he didn’t need to waste time attacking other religions or cultural events, He just had to tell people about who Jesus really is and what He really did, and that is enough! This became known as the “Chicago Campaign” of 1893 and it was probably the greatest evangelistic endeavor in D.L. Moody’s life, with thousands of people being saved.
It’s not 1893 anymore, a lot has changed. But we still are surrounded by a lost world looking for answers in all the wrong places, and the only effective response that the Church will ever have is preaching the fullness of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. Jesus is Lord! Now and forever! Amen.
If you would bow your heads and close your eyes with me.
God’s word and this Gospel message always demands a response.
This morning we have been reminded of exactly who Jesus is.
He isn’t a good example or good teacher, he isn’t a nice addition to our life. He is LORD. Lord of all creation, Lord of the Church, and Lord of salvation! There is hope and life and forgiveness is no one but Jesus the Lord above all!
This morning a believe there are a few ways to respond:
Maybe you’re here today and you have never turned from your sins and believed in Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior. We’ve said it a lot today. But To be clear, God LOVES YOU and wants a relationship you and He sent Jesus to live and die for you and he rose from the dead and if you will turn away from your sins and follow Jesus as Lord you will be saved. He will forgive you for your sins, bring you back into a relationship with God and give you a brand new life in His kingdom now and forever! In just a moment we will sing a song, I will be up at the front here with other pastors on our staff and I want you to come and talk to one of us and we’d love to help you make that decision to be saved and follow Jesus as lord today.
Second, maybe you’re here today and God is revealing to you an area that you have been holding onto, or you never really surrendered to Jesus to be Lord over. Again, Jesus is Lord of all and when jesus is Lord we are not! God is calling you to come confess some things in your life today. Come and pray with one of us up front and let’s not hold ANYTHING BACK from Jesus as Lord.
Finally, if you’re here and you need a church family to join and commit to or maybe you need to take the step of Following Jesus as Lord into baptism to publically declare that Jesus is YOUR LORD! Come and talk to us, but whatever it is, don’t miss out, come forward and Respond as God leads you to today!
PRAY.
