I Love My Church - Part 2

Introduction:

Fences - they come in all shapes and sizes.

Their basic function is to either keep things out or keep things in. (HAVE FENCE SECTION)

During Thanksgiving we visited my brother’s home in Dunwoody. Everyone in their neighborhood have such beautifully manicured lawns. At least that is what it looked like from the front. The back yard is normally not visible because it is separated by a fence. If you were to enter into that back yard you might find a different picture. There would probably be a bunch of toys, a couple of old grills, a rut from where the dog(s) run back and forth and maybe even a pile of pooh or two.

The fence is the separation of the two spaces. One side, the front yard where everyone people are allowed to see and then theres the back, where life happens and not many are allowed to see.

Today, as we continue with our series “I Love My Church,” this fence concept is going to be key to understanding what God wants to see with His church. His plan is for us to live connected lives. We are to be connected to Him and connected to each other.

He wants us to experience true community.

What do fences have to do with that?

Lets look at our verse today:

Hebrews 10:19–25 NLT

And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

Before we can unpack this, lets take another look at our fence.

Lets picture our lives as a yard.

Most of us might admit we kind of like a fence.

We may be comfortable showing people our front yard.

The front yard is what is presentable.

Its nice and tidy

It is the part of our lives that we show others.

Its kind of like Facebook or any other social media. It is the picture we want others to see.

The backyard, however, is off limits.

This is the part of our lives that isn’t so pretty.

The backyard is the real us.

We may think that fences make good neighbors, but I would venture to say God doesn’t care much for fences.

If we are going to love our church, we must rethink what we believe about fences.

If we are going to love our church the way God wants us to, then we have to:

1. Know that Jesus tore down the fence

We cannot even talk about the fences we put up between us and others until we face the massive barrier between us and God.

The first part of the passage tells us: we can boldly enter into God’s presence. Lets read that part of the verse again.

Hebrews 10:19–22 “And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.”

Hebrews 10:19–22 KJV 1900

Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

Because of Jesus, we have a way back to God.

Tell them about the Old Testament High Priest

Jesus is our High Priest

He tore down the fence !!!! Praise the Lord!!!!

The letter to the Romans has a great explanation to this fence tearing down process. It is called by many the Romans Road:

Romans 3:23 “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.” (There is a huge fence)

Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” (That fence keeps us from God)

Romans 5:8 “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” (God knew we would have a fence in advance)

Romans 10:9–10 “If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.” (If we admit we have a fence and need it gone, Jesus tears it down)

Romans 10:13 “For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”” (He never denies someone needing a fence removed)

We are born in the fence building business whether we like it or not. (Born into sin)

But if we will admit there is a fence separating us from God, He is faithful to break it down for us.

Ask Him to tear the fence down, draw close to God and recognize what it is that Jesus has done for you

Even though Jesus tore down that fence, we still try to build fences between us and others

If we are going to love our church the way God wants us to, then we have to:

2. Allow others into your yard

We come to church, sing songs, have Sunday School, children's classes, eat dinner together but we often do that from behind a fence.

Even though God destroyed the fence, we take those pieces and start building a fence between us and everyone else. (This is on us, not on God)

we don’t want people to see all of us.

We build fences to keep others out! (HAND OUT FENCE PIECES)

If we are going to love our church like God wants us to, (LAST WEEK) we must do it intentionally/on purpose.

What do we do with our self-built fences?

Hebrews 10:25 NLT

And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

He is not just talking about coming on Sunday - yes church attendance on Sunday is important

He is talking about something more powerful - Doing Life Together

Its about living in community

Community means we don’t build fences

Its means we are authentic with people - not the fake presentation that some people show on social media (happy faces but miserable)

It means sharing ourselves with others

It means having deeper relationships not just empty phrases

Community means standing in someone’s yard and letting them stand in yours

Fences hinder community!!!

Are you allowing people in your yard?

Are you standing in other people’s yard?

I realize not everyone can be in your yard and some people have a hard time with that but we can do better

We must be intentional in loving our church and standing in other people’s yards!

If we are going to love our church the way God wants us to, then we have to:

3. Enjoy the company

When people come and go unceremoniously like we talked about in Craig Groeschell’s first visit to church we really miss out.

When we don’t interact with others and sit at a distance from everyone else we miss out

Hebrews 10:24 NLT

Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.

The passage encourages us to think of ways to motivate each other - consider ways, come us with ideas, create strategies! Do you get the picture?

Community is about finding ways to love each other and to do good for others

It goes for in the church and outside the church

It means helping out when we can - don’t wait for someone to ask, don’t let someone else do what you can do

If I may, I would like to offer a few words of advice

Have healthy expectations - we can’t be best friends with everyone but we can start

Baby steps - everyone is not your friend, don’t overexpose

Take ownership - it is everyone’s job, not everyone else’s job

Love your church - Jesus tore down the fence, allow others in your yard, enjoy the company, think of ways to love one another.

Altar/Call to Action

I am going to ask you to take a step of faith today. You each have a piece of fence. Lets bring our hindrances and throw them down at these altars today. Let us love our church the way God wants us to.