Church Vision
Church Vision • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Friends, if you are able - would you stand for the reading of God’s word: Let’s look at 1 Peter 2:9-12
Christian Standard Bible Chapter 2
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation,, a people for his possession, so that you may proclaim the praises, of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
11 Dear friends, I urge you as strangers and exiles to abstain from sinful desires that wage war against the soul. 12 Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, so that when they slander you as evildoers, they will observe your good works and will glorify God on the day he visits.
Pray with me.
There is a crazy cool story in Scripture - a well known one in John chapter 11. It’s the story where Lazarus dies due to illness. Lazarus was brother to Mary and Martha - who were dear friends of Jesus and his followers. Jesus get’s word that Lazarus is ill, finishes some ministry - but then it is found out that Lazarus had succumbed.
Now, when they arrive in Bethany, John tells us that Lazarus had already been dead and buried for four days.
And Martha grieves when she sees Jesus - that if Jesus had been there - Lazarus wouldn’t have died. She knows that Jesus has the power of the resurrection - and Jesus even affirms this to her - Look at this - John 11:25-26
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me, even if he dies, will live. Everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
Do you believe this? Do you believe that whoever lives and believes in me will never die?
What a profound question! this is one that cuts to the heart of the matter. And Martha Responds:
“Yes, Lord,” she told him, “I believe you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who comes into the world.”
She says she believes - not she doesn’t know how. She has no concept for the resurrection of Jesus, no concept for the resurrection of Lazarus - but she has come to believe that he is the king, the son of God - so she trusts in him!
They then head to the tomb - picking up sister Mary on the way. Jesus approaches and even though Jesus knows his power and authority to raise the dead - still grieves and weeps over the death.
Friends - JEsus Christ - eternal and all powerful - weeps with those who weep. He is no stranger to suffering. He enters into it - and fully displays his holy sorrow.
Jesus gets to the tomb - and tells them to remove the stone. Read how this account ends, verse 41-44
So they removed the stone. Then Jesus raised his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you heard me. I know that you always hear me, but because of the crowd standing here I said this, so that they may believe you sent me.” After he said this, he shouted with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out bound hand and foot with linen strips and with his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unwrap him and let him go.”
Jesus calls Lazarus forth - And he arose and came out of the grave!
Jesus Christ has the power for sin and the grave. Do you believe it? do you know it?
Jesus is our savior, our sanctifier, our healer, and our coming kind.
I love this story. There will come a time where death will be no more - where there will be no more need for weeping - and we will live in the manifest presence of God for ever and ever.
And while this story is profound and has great implications for us in our daily walk - friends, the way a lot of people live this out changes the ending.
Imagine - Jesus still arrives at Bethany - he grieves with Martha - encourages Mary - and heads to the tomb with all the power and majesty and authority to raise Lazarus from the dead.
And imagine he goes to the tomb, and commands the stone be rolled away = and he prays to the father - and then still shouts: “Lazarus come out!”
They hear noise out in the tomb - it seems he’s come back to life - but they wait and wait - and he doesn’t come out. and in our hypothetical situation - imagine Jesus says again: Lazarus comes out!” Maybe he get’s all king james this time and says : “Come forth!”
And again imagine with me, the crowd here’s some shuffling. and then perhaps you hear a quiet muffled voice: “No thank you! I’m okay.”
The crowd is stunned, and the voice says: “I appreciate you bringing me back to life, Lord - but it’s too bright out there, and I’m happy and comfortable down here. So thanks, but no thanks - I’m going to stay here.”
I would suggest to you that a great number of people in our area live in that second ending rather than the Biblical one.
We are content and grateful that Jesus would bring us back from the dead and save us from hell - but we are much less willing to actually change the way we are living - and living the life JEsus tells us to. So we live in the pit, reeking of death - still wrapped in sin and burial clothes.
It’s not supposed to be that way.
Friends, it’s the first Sunday of the month, and our rhythm as a church is to step back from our current series and recenter on who we are as a Church - What we are about, and where we are going.
We believe that every believer and therefore the church should be on mission to Love God, Love others, and make disciples of all nations.
Loving God entails worship, adoration, obedience and delight. Loving others entails service, hospitality, compassion and grace. Making disciples of all nations entails evangelism both across the street in our neighborhoods, and around the world through strategic partnerships.
Love God, Love Others, Make Disciples.
Now if we do that, here at the Seed - we think that will look like, and we are about
partnering with God to increase the spiritual temperature of southeastern South Dakota.
And how we do that is by being
Fully Focused on God and His Word
Fully Formed by The Spirit in Community
and Fully Engaged with Christ on Mission
Each of these matters - and they correlate to our ministries.
Fully Focused on God and His Word, our rhythm here is Sunday Mornings. We come together as a whole local body, and we focus on God, we ascribe him praise - we open his word, we orient out lives around him. And each week we refocus our attention this way. Weekly Worship is so important for us.
AND we want to be Fully Formed by the Spirit in Community. This is where our community groups come in. Sunday mornings are great - but if we can be honest it’s easy to not always be honest on Sunday Mornings. And we know that discipleship, formation, sanctification, seems to happen best in a smaller context where we can know each other, be known, and be honest. It’s truly transformative and deeply important.
AND we then need to engage with Christ on mission. We are called to be agents of reconciliation to the world. We are called as believers to bring the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to everyone. Each of us is called to keep in step with the Spirit and be about the business of the King. This is about seeing our whole lives as an offering and owning the call ourselves. How can I, how can you, live out the call to love God, Love others, and make disciples this week.
Now - all three of these are so important! Like legs on a stool - if one is missing, its a balancing act till you tip over and fall.
And for our Church to be effective in the fulfilment of our mission - if we want to see the spiritual temperature of south eastern south dakota raised - it takes each of us owning it together.
It’s about the people of God, listening to God, and working with God. For the Church is not a 501c3 nonprofit. Sure that is how we are “formed” legally for the sake of the government - but for many churches and people in our culture - Church becomes a place where a few people do the spiritual stuff - do the ministry - and the rest do the governance and attend.
Most Churches celebrate and activate the gifts of a few people - while the rest are often content and satisfied on the sidelines - spectating, support, even cheering, but never getting into the fray themselves.
So many people are so much more concerned with being relevant or significant or to make a name for themselves outside of the church - that we fail to live into our God designed place he has for us.
The world is so intoxicating and comfortable and seductive - that we would much rather give ourselves to that - rather than to the life of Christ.
So many of those who claim to be believers have heard the call of Jesus to Lazarus to come forth - and while we hear the voice, we don’t get out of the grave. We hear the word of God, but don’t actually obey it.
I think of James 1:22
But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
So many think they are alive - while still sleeping in the grave. Friends - Remember, James 2:19b
Even the demons believe—and they shudder.
I can’t help but think about Revelation and the passages we’ve recently been studying. How again and again Christ, through the author John calls us to come out of Babylon - out of the world, to live Holy Lives and to spread the Gospel. To not be conformed to the patterns of this world, but to be trans formed by the renewing of our mind.
It’s interesting, when we talk about about the idea in Revelation 18:4 where the voice of heaven calls out this:
Then I heard another voice from heaven:
Come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins or receive any of her plagues.
There seems to be two big temptations on the believer when it comes to our relationship with the world.
The first, which John is explicitly warning the seven churches against in revelation is the pull to fully embrace the world. To get comfortable. To compromise ones values. To be unrepentant.
Think of 1 John 2:15-17
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride in one’s possessions—is not from the Father, but is from the world. And the world with its lust is passing away, but the one who does the will of God remains forever.
This is like Lazarus staying in the grave. Knowing that the life Christ wants for you is available, but instead hanging out with cobwebs and death.
We ought to flee sin, resist Satan, and not participate in the crooked paths of the world. We should be Holy as our Father is holy That is one pull on a believer - to crash into the world.
The second is not just the abandonment of the world and it’s systems - but also to abandon all the people of the world!
There are many who see how the world is corrupt and causing pain, and instead of compassion on the lost - want people to get what they deserve! They don’t want to evangelize - they don’t want to proclaim and endure - they just want to get our of Town!
This is like the Spirit of Jonah - who heard the word of God to preach to the Ninevites, but he didn’t want to, for he know that God was compassionate! So he ran away! That didn’t go to well, did it?
We are called - BY CHRIST to go into the world, just not be of the world. John 17:14-18
I have given them your word. The world hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I am not praying that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.
We are the sent ones! We are called to love God, love others, and make disciples!
The second pull is abandonment of God’s mission to seek and save the lost.
But we need to flee the immorality - while going in the world to proclaim the gospel of JEsus Christ. We are commissioned by Christ to make disciples of all nations! That’s the great commission.
We are not called to come out of the grave - and then still live with the grave clothes on, or go hide and find a place to fall asleep.
NO we are called to declare the goodness of God, to be agents of reconcilliation! There is no greater mission we can be a part of than Jesus’ great commission.
I think of a quote by Robertson McQuilken who wrote this:
“If the direction of your life is not aligned with Jesus’ Great Commission, then your life is irrelevant to the destiny of history.” Robertson McQuilkin
Those we are in Christ - who have been born again by grace through Faith, are called to life in the Spirit, to come out of the grave, die to sin and the world, and to proclaim to others Jesus as the way the truth and the life.
There is no greater place to be - AND THAT IS the expectation for believers.
Holy Lives - pleading with others to be reconcilled to God.
That’s our identity. Back to 1 Peter, where we started this morning.
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
First - we are a chosen Race. The First Adam came and fell in sin, and all peoples are in Adam - children under wrath, But in Christ, the new Adam, the firstfruits of a new humanity that will live forever, In Christ, - we are grafted in to the true Vine. And we can have life. We are chosen and Christ is our head.
AND we are a royal priesthood.
Priests serve as intercessors. Meaning, in the old testament - priests represented the people of Israel to God. The priest stood in between God and Man to ensure peace.
However - now in Christ, there is no more condemnation for those in Christ - meaning this - you don’t need a priest to intercede for you. YOU HAVE ACCESS TO GOD because of Christ. YOU are a priest to God because of Christ.
Friends come on - how crazy is that? From enemies of God - to in his presence and going before him in peace and love!
We are a holy nation! Our identity is that of the kingdom of God under Jesus - we are set apart. we are NOT to live and act and find ourselves at home in ANY earthly nation. Our allegience is to Christ and his kingdom and his people over ALL things. Set a part, not participating in sin.
We are HIS people. And if we are His we are secure.
My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”
We are HIS so we live like it. And all of those have a so that - looking back at 1 Peter 2:9-10
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
All of that is true SO THAT you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you our of dearkness - OUT OF THE GRAVE and into his marvelous light.
Wea re now God’s people. Living and enjoying his mercy.
We PRAISE GOD demonstrating to others how good and pleasant and great it is to be his people.
And then Peter continues. 11-12
Dear friends, I urge you as strangers and exiles to abstain from sinful desires that wage war against the soul. Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, so that when they slander you as evildoers, they will observe your good works and will glorify God on the day he visits.
We are to live in the world, not of the world. and to Live well SO THAT they will see how we live - and then will be able to glorify God when he comes back.
Holy Lives. And Agents of Reconciliation.
Friends - this is why we are here. We are not here as a church just cause Pastor likes to preach. We are not hear to sip coffee and sing some songs. We are not here to visit and play.
None of that is bad. but that’s not why we are here!
We are here because JEsus Christ is Lord!
We are here because all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God And the wages of sin is death, and people are perishing, and will face the wrath of God.
Friends there are people in our area and around the world who have not heard that there is freedom and life and grace available in the name of JEsus!
We are here because we want to live holy Lives that please God - and we want to tell other people about him.
So What?
If we want to be successful in our mission - it takes the people of God - it takes all of us, leaning in to live Holy Lives - and to proclaim Christ.
We all need to pursue Holiness. This means obedience.
Hear how John writes about in in 1 John 5:1-4
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father also loves the one born of him. This is how we know that we love God’s children: when we love God and obey his commands. For this is what love for God is: to keep his commands. And his commands are not a burden, because everyone who has been born of God conquers the world. This is the victory that has conquered the world: our faith.
How do we love God? keep his commands.
We need to pursue holy lives. Die to sin - flee from sin.
Some of us have been swimming in some poisoned wells.
Some of us hear the good news of God but still choose to dwell in the grave, reeking of Death.
Friend - come out. Come out of the grave. Christ died so you don’t have to live that way anymore.
We need to live Holy Lives.
and
We need to tell other people about Christ.
We get so scared because of Satan of what it looks like to tell others about GOd - so the vast majority of people NEVER do it.
We have our Christian life completely seperate from those who are perishing.
Oh God, have mercy on us for our fear that makes us silent to those whom you love and desire to save!
Friend - What would it look like to have 1 faith filled converstaion this week. I’m not saying you need to make them kneel and read them the 10 commandments and make them cry and feel hated.
But what would it look like to pray for and look for one conversation this week to let someone know that JEsus is King?
What if you asked to pray for 1 person this week? I am willing to bet we would see an outbreak of the kingdom.
Pete Grieg, foiunder of the 24/7 prayer movement recently shared some statistics about the country of Australia. Australia is one of the most secular and athesitic countries on Earth. Less than 1/4 attend a church (and that’s any church)
And yet there was a study done that asked non-Christians about the faith - and it was revealed that 25% of NON CHRISTIANS would like to attend a church, if a friend asked them to.
Our fear holds us back friends - Jesus said the harvest is pletiful but the workers are few. What if we actually invited our friends? Just kindly, and boldly asked.
Statistically speaking - we would see dynamic growth and oppurtunity to preach the Gospel.
If we want to increase the Spiritual temperature of South easter sd - it will require all of us living holy lives, and telling other people about JEsus.
Here’s how I want us to respond:
1 - Perhaps you want to live a holy life - but you are tired, weak, fearful, maybe you’ve been living in sin.
I want to invite you to come over here, and we will pray for you - annoint you with Oil, and ask for the Spirit to fill you.
2- we move to the table of communion.
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me, even if he dies, will live. Everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
“Yes, Lord,” she told him, “I believe you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who comes into the world.”
