Agents of Transformation

Matthew 22:35–40 CEB

35 One of them, a legal expert, tested him. 36 “Teacher, what is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 He replied, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your being, and with all your mind. 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: You must love your neighbor as you love yourself. 40 All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.”

2 Corinthians 5:20 CEB

20 So we are ambassadors who represent Christ. God is negotiating with you through us. We beg you as Christ’s representatives, “Be reconciled to God!”

Agents of Transformation

Have you ever had the opportunity to travel to some foreign location or out of the area? How did did that experience feel?

Perhaps the directions weren't clear, or you were too shy or didn't have someone around to ask for help figuring out what to do after you arrived. Attempting to hide your ignorance, you may have only stood there and peered around.

When I was in the Air Force I had the opportunity to travel to a number of military bases as a part of my job. I had one opportunity to travel to Europe. I was traveling with another individual and we went to Germany first.

We landed in Berlin and got off the plain. I was waiting for my traveling companion but there were men there with guns directing us to customs. I had to move and felt very out of my comfort zone. I might have a German name, but I don’t speak German.

I felt very awkward trying to navigate that situation until I was able to meet back up with my traveling companion who had lived in Germany for many years and spoke German.

I vividly recall a time when I attended a service in St Paul’s Cathedral in London England. As I entered the sanctuary, the atmosphere felt both reverent and unfamiliar. The architecture, the arrangement of the pews, and even the way people dressed for worship were different from what I was accustomed to.

As the service began, I found myself trying to follow along with the liturgy, but I quickly realized that this tradition had its own rhythm and order. People around me seemed to know exactly when to stand, sit, or kneel, while I struggled to keep up. It was like trying to join a dance without knowing the steps.

One particular moment stands out in my memory. There was a prayer recited in unison, a beautiful and ancient text that the congregation knew by heart. I felt a sense of awe at the unity of voices, but also a pang of self-consciousness as I stumbled over the words, unable to join in smoothly like the others.

The service continued with moments of communal action—everyone standing for a hymn, bowing their heads in prayer, or sharing in a responsive reading. Each of these moments highlighted the deep connection and shared faith of the community, but for me, they were moments of feeling a bit out of place.

However, as the service progressed, something shifted within me. I began to see beyond the differences in practice and focus on the essence of worship—the praise, the reverence, and the seeking of God's presence. I realized that while the outward expressions may vary, the core of devotion and faith remained the same.

Leaving that service, I carried with me a newfound appreciation for the diversity within the body of Christ. I learned that worship transcends cultural and denominational boundaries, and that even in unfamiliar settings, God's presence is palpable and unifying.

Being new to a setting often stirs up considerable anxiety. The uncertainty of what might be expected or encountered in that unfamiliar place can be quite daunting.

Consider the scenario when a newcomer steps into our church. Contemplate the apprehension this could provoke. If we were to venture into our community and conduct a survey regarding our church's activities, what do you suppose the responses would reveal?

Would they perceive us as a compassionate gathering, uniting weekly to extend love to all? Or perhaps they might misconstrue us as merely a social club, passive listeners to uninspiring monologues?

It's likely that various misconceptions exist about our weekly gatherings. While we may understand our actions and motivations (or perhaps not entirely), what impressions do outsiders hold?

One prevalent outsider perception of many churches is that we are essentially a self-contained "holy huddle"—a congregation striving for ethical living, gathering each week for a motivational talk, akin to a football team rallying together in a huddle.

Some more critical individuals might view us as indoctrinated followers or hypocrites with an air of superiority. They might assume our gatherings are centered around judgment of others and sorrow about the world's state.

I wonder how many of them think of us as a collective gathering to worship God, uplift and guide one another, and brainstorm ways to be good Samaritans to those around us. Do they see us primarily as a community of service, or as a group focused on self-serving interests?

And what about our own perspectives? Do we see ourselves as a community driven by love for our neighbors or as a self-serving assembly of the devout?

These thoughts challenge us to consider who we are.

I believe one of the primary questions that we have to ask and be reminded of from time to time is this:

What is the purpose of the church?

Understanding the purpose of the church is critical for believers. To do so, we must return to the foundational teachings of Jesus and the early church. By doing this, we can clarify the mission of the church and remind ourselves of our roles both inside and outside the physical structure of the church community.

The apostle Paul, a notable leader of the early church, emphasized that we are like ambassadors of Christ. As ambassadors, we have the responsibility to represent Jesus to the world around us. Let us strive to fulfill this duty with diligence and conviction.

Listen again to Paul’s words from The Passion Translation:

2 Corinthians 5:20 TPT

20 We are ambassadors of the Anointed One who carry the message of Christ to the world, as though God were tenderly pleading with them directly through our lips. So we tenderly plead with you on Christ’s behalf, “Turn back to God and be reconciled to him.”

As ambassadors for Christ, we are representing his desire to reconcile the world to God.

As ambassadors for Christ, we are not just given a mission but entrusted with a profound responsibility and honor: to embody and extend His message of reconciliation. This mission is not just a task but a divine calling rooted in Christ's own desire to reconcile humanity with God, bridging the gap caused by sin and restoring the broken relationship between Creator and creation.

To be ambassadors of reconciliation means more than just conveying a message; it requires us to live out the very essence of reconciliation in our attitudes, actions, and interactions with others. We are not just called but compelled to emulate Christ's compassion, grace, and love, reaching out to those who are estranged from God and offering them the hope of redemption and restoration.

This task is both a privilege and a responsibility. It involves engaging with people from all walks of life, regardless of their background, beliefs, or circumstances. It means being agents of healing and peace in a world marred by division and conflict. Our role as ambassadors is not to condemn or judge but to extend the hand of reconciliation, inviting others to experience the profound and life-changing transformative power of God's love.

This is the commission Jesus gave his disciples before he left them and ascended into heaven

Jesus said Matthew 28:19 “19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,”

The Great Commission represents Jesus' final directive to His disciples. In this commission, Jesus charged His followers with the task of making disciples and spreading the message of salvation globally, commencing from Jerusalem.

In simpler terms, likening it to a football strategy, the church is positioned on the offensive rather than the defensive. It is called to action: to "go out" rather than "sit in." While the Great Commission provides clear guidance for the church's mission, it is equally important to consider what is often termed the Greatest Commandments.

The Greatest Commandments give us the heart behind all we do in carrying out the Great Commission

The two Great Commandments hold the title of 'Greatest' not by our human judgment, but by the authority of Jesus himself. As followers of Jesus, it's not just important, but crucial for us to comprehend and diligently adhere to these commandments, given their profound significance in His teachings.

Last week, we delved into Luke 10, where Jesus expounded on the two Greatest Commandments. He used the parable of the Good Samaritan, a story that illustrates the importance of showing love and mercy to our neighbors, to emphasize the paramount importance of the second commandment. Today, we turn our attention to another passage where Jesus discusses these commandments, found in Matthew 22:35-40.

In both instances, Jesus faced similar probing questions from Pharisees who were well-versed in the Mosaic Law, the religious and civil laws given by God to Moses. Their intent was to test Jesus, seeking to catch Him in error to discredit His authority. The Pharisees, suspicious of Jesus' teachings and envious of His popularity, posed these questions to challenge His credibility within the context of the Mosaic Law.

Matthew recounts this interaction in chapter 22 of his Gospel, where a legal expert questioned Jesus about the greatest commandment. Jesus responded, "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

In this exchange, Jesus elucidated the two Great Commandments. The first emphasizes wholehearted love for God, echoing Deuteronomy's directive to love God with every fiber of our being. Jesus elevated this commandment as the foremost priority, emphasizing the need to love God with our entire being. This principle should underpin all our actions and attitudes, both individually and collectively as a church.

Our worship, teaching, programs, and evangelism should all center on loving God supremely. It's the foundation that guides our obedience to the Great Commission, the commandment Jesus gave to His disciples to spread His teachings and make disciples of all nations. This commandment is rooted in the Great Commandments, as it is an expression of our love for God and others.

While prioritizing love for God seems straightforward, we must also consider the significance of the second Great Commandment. It's not just about loving God; it's also about loving others. Jesus likened the second commandment to the first, indicating their equal importance and inseparable nature. 'Loving your neighbor as yourself' means treating others with the same care, respect, and concern that we have for ourselves.

The theologian Leon Morris aptly noted that loving God wholeheartedly leads us to see others as God sees them—worthy of His love and redemption. Therefore, genuine love for God naturally translates into love for others, including a deep desire for their salvation. God's love for humanity is unconditional, sacrificial, and all-encompassing, and we are called to reflect this love in our relationships with others.

The unity and interdependence of these commandments are not just important, but crucial. Loving God empowers us to love others genuinely, reflecting God's love for humanity. They are not separate, but intertwined: Love God, love people. This principle serves as a guiding beacon for the mission and purpose of our church.

Jesus underscored the weightiness of these commandments by stating that all the Law and the Prophets hinge on them. In essence, these two commandments encapsulate God's instructions and teachings. They provide the framework for understanding God's will and guide our conduct as followers of Christ.

Think of it like your closet at home with its sturdy pole running the length. How many of you have a closet filled with clothes hanging on that pole? How many of you are sitting next to someone whose closet pole is also weighed down with clothes? That pole carries the weight of all those clothes. If it were to break, everything would come crashing down! Jesus likens this to the weight of the entire Old Testament laws and Prophets resting on the two Greatest Commandments, which are intricately linked and must be considered together.

The significance of these commandments is mirrored in the structure of the Ten Commandments. The first set relates to "Love God," while the second pertains to "Love people." Loving God supremely naturally leads us to love what He loves, which includes all people!

The apostle John's words in 1 John 4:20 are stark: "Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar." This underscores the inseparable connection between loving God and loving people. If we cannot love those we see, how can we claim to love God whom we have not seen? It's a call for both individuals and the church collectively to wholeheartedly embrace and live out both of the Greatest Commandments if we are to authentically represent Christ as His ambassadors.

Interestingly, it often seems more straightforward to love God than to love people, wouldn't you agree? Loving people comes with complexities and challenges. While God always merits our love, people may not always reciprocate or seem deserving of our love.

The question we are asking in this sermon series is this:

How can we be a neighbor who shows love, as the Second Great Commandment demands?

Jesus, in response to the inquiry, shared the parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10. In our previous discussion, we delved into how Jesus, after narrating this parable, redirected the Pharisee's attention with a thought-provoking question. Instead of directly answering the Pharisee's initial query of 'Who is my neighbor?', Jesus posed a different, more profound question: 'Who acted as a neighbor to the vulnerable man?' This subtle yet significant shift in perspective is a key element that we often fail to fully grasp.

The question "Who is my neighbor?" can easily be manipulated and rationalized to exclude individuals deemed undesirable or inconvenient. This exclusion, however, can lead to a harmful division within our communities. We might limit our definition of neighbors to those residing directly adjacent to our homes, considering only those in our immediate vicinity or community. Others, situated across town or in different counties, may not register as neighbors in our minds. We may also be tempted to confine our idea of neighbors to those who share our appearance, beliefs, or behaviors, thereby excluding anyone who does not fit our predefined criteria. This exclusionary mindset, Jesus warns us, is not the path to righteousness.

Jesus' intentional choice to reframe the question as 'Who was a neighbor to the needy man?' is profound. It compels us to shift our focus from labeling individuals as neighbors to examining our own actions and attitudes toward those in need. Instead of asking, 'Who is our neighbor?', we are challenged to ask, 'Who are we acting as neighbors to?' This change in perspective is crucial as we embark on our 'Blessing our Community' initiative. We need to deeply reflect on who we are extending neighborly love and care to within our community, giving their needs the same priority as our own.

As ambassadors for Christ, we are called to go and reconcile the world to God. That’s our mission. However, as we do our mission, we are to love God and love people. When we bless our community, we are fulfilling our call to be ambassadors for Christ, attempting to reconcile the world to God by showing neighbor love as the second Great Commandment God calls us to do.

In the coming week, we will explore how we can love our neighbors more deeply, just as Jesus taught us.

But for now, let's ask ourselves a critical question: How can we, as ambassadors of Christ, better serve our community?

We can't expect people who aren't part of our church to come through our doors just because they're open.

To be effective ambassadors for Christ, we must step outside of our walls and actively engage with the needs of our community, just like the Good Samaritan did when he helped the victim of robbery.

Let's strive to be more than just Sunday Christians. Let's be the hands and feet of Christ, showing love and compassion to those around us. Our community needs us, and it's our responsibility to answer that call.

Let's go out into the world and reconcile people to God, one loving act at a time.

What needs do you see in your community and world? Who can you help? How will our church respond?