Philadelphia Brother & Sisterhood 1 Thessalonians 3:11-4:12
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A Philadelphia-Brother & Sisterhood!
We found him lying on the pavement in the heart of downtown Philadelphia.
We found him lying on the pavement in the heart of downtown Philadelphia.
Philadelphia – the city of what? Literally, Brotherly-Love.
Philadelphia – the city of what? Literally, Brotherly-Love.
And feeling both brotherly and loving, my friend James and I, began speaking to this street person. “My name is Carl,” he said. “How long have you lived in Philadelphia?”
And feeling both brotherly and loving, my friend James and I, began speaking to this street person. “My name is Carl,” he said. “How long have you lived in Philadelphia?”
“I am Mr. Philadelphia,” he said again and again.
“I am Mr. Philadelphia,” he said again and again.
As we walked the inner-city with him, bits and pieces of his story came out.
As we walked the inner-city with him, bits and pieces of his story came out.
“Can we buy you some lunch, Carl?” He didn’t seem to care, one way or the other.
“Can we buy you some lunch, Carl?” He didn’t seem to care, one way or the other.
So he kept on walking with us –right into the restaurant.
So he kept on walking with us –right into the restaurant.
He took a seat across from us. I can still see his tattered clothes. Smell his awful stench!
He took a seat across from us. I can still see his tattered clothes. Smell his awful stench!
Carl and I were worlds apart .
Carl and I were worlds apart .
Judging from all those staring at him, Carl and most of Philadelphia, were worlds apart.
Judging from all those staring at him, Carl and most of Philadelphia, were worlds apart.
The waitress came. Carl hadn’t a clue as to what we wanted. We ordered for him.
The waitress came. Carl hadn’t a clue as to what we wanted. We ordered for him.
The food came. He stared at it, strangely. He tried a bite. He ran out to an alley and was sick. Probably more hung over, than drunk, he slid back into his seat.
The food came. He stared at it, strangely. He tried a bite. He ran out to an alley and was sick. Probably more hung over, than drunk, he slid back into his seat.
Though we spent the rest of that afternoon with Carl, it ended very sadly.
Though we spent the rest of that afternoon with Carl, it ended very sadly.
He told us to drive him to a park. When he realized weren’t going to use him. We parted ways. Caring for a street person was way more complex, than I ever could have imagined.
He told us to drive him to a park. When he realized weren’t going to use him. We parted ways. Caring for a street person was way more complex, than I ever could have imagined.
Philadelphia – brotherly love? Yah right. It’s not that easy, is it?
Philadelphia – brotherly love? Yah right. It’s not that easy, is it?
Sure with those people we already like, with the occasional needy person, sure we’ll help!
Sure with those people we already like, with the occasional needy person, sure we’ll help!
But in this fallen world, we’ve largely made life into a “do-it-yourself” project.
But in this fallen world, we’ve largely made life into a “do-it-yourself” project.
Real brotherly love is a rarity.
Real brotherly love is a rarity.
B Graham is right: “Our world has become a neighborhood WITHOUT BECOMING a brotherhood.”
Billy Graham is right: “Our world has become a neighborhood without becoming a brotherhood.”
Its easy to go on rubbing shoulders with those around us
Its easy to go on rubbing shoulders with those around us
- without really loving one another, isn’t it?
- without really loving one another, isn’t it?
That day almost 10 y ago, I saw how Philadelphia didn’t live up to its name!
That day almost 10 y ago, I saw how Philadelphia didn’t live up to its name!
But I wondered: Do I live up to my name? Have we as Christian’s lived up to our name?
But I wondered: Do I live up to my name? Have we as Christian’s lived up to our name?
Do we really enter into the world of the person two pews ahead of us?
Do we really enter into the world of the person two pews ahead of us?
Have we lived out the love of Christ, with others in our congregation, in say the past month?
Have we lived out the love of Christ, with others in our congregation, in say the past month?
When the NT talks about the community of believers, more than any other term, the word it uses is brotherhood, brethren. When Jesus’ mother and his brothers were standing outside, Jesus asks “Who are my brothers? Jesus stretches out his hand toward his disciples answer: For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” His point is simple:
When the NT talks about the community of believers, more than any other term, the word it uses is brotherhood, brethren. When Jesus’ mother and his brothers were standing outside, Jesus asks “Who are my brothers? Jesus stretches out his hand toward his disciples answer: For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” Matthew 12:50 His point is simple:
For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”
When you get the new life from God in you,
When you get the new life from God in you,
those who share that life with you, become the truest family you’ve got. If you’re a Christian, you have more in common with other believers,
those who share that life with you, become the truest family you’ve got. If you’re a Christian, you have more in common with other believers,
the ones beside you, the ones half way across the world, than with anyone else on earth!
the ones beside you, the ones half way across the world, than with anyone else on earth!
There is a bond that’s deeper than friendship, deeper than family! It’s the family of God!
There is a bond that’s deeper than friendship, deeper than family! It’s the family of God!
JI Packer put it this way: When you are now a live to God, through God’s grace, when he loves you, chose you to be his eternal companions, his son & d, heirs, sent His divine Son to die for your sins… securing new status, reconciliation, for\giveness, acceptance – bring you life - He also bonded us with each other in and through Christ as well ()
JI Packer put it this way: When you are now a live to God, through God’s grace, when he loves you, chose you to be his eternal companions, his son & d, heirs, sent His divine Son to die for your sins… securing new status, reconciliation, for\giveness, acceptance – bring you life - He also bonded us with each other in and through Christ as well (Eph 1-2)
We are saved individually, one by one, but not for a life of solitary and still self-centered individualism. God had welded us into a single entity by viture of uniting us all to Christ!
We are saved individually, one by one, but not for a life of solitary and still self-centered individualism. God had welded us into a single entity by viture of uniting us all to Christ!
So the question is simple: Can we here at Covenant CRC be a Philadelphia Brotherhood?
So the question is simple: Can we here at Covenant CRC be a Philadelphia Brotherhood?
A church-family knit, even welded together by the love of God?
A church-family knit, even welded together by the love of God?
Or will we live worlds apart from each other, like Carl and I did?
Or will we live worlds apart from each other, like Carl and I did?
Will we just sail through these doors as a fleet of ships each week?
Will we just sail through these doors as a fleet of ships each week?
In tidy formations, but never touching?
In tidy formations, but never touching?
Or will we draw our ships alongside each other! And rendezvous? Like two canoes!
Or will we draw our ships alongside each other! And rendezvous? Like two canoes!
Kind of like, a little interested, but not together turning to Christ, together transformed, together serving Him!
Kind of like, a little interested, but not together turning to Christ, together transformed, together serving Him!
That’s the question: Will we really help, really fellowship, really love each other?
That’s the question: Will we really help, really fellowship, really love each other?
Key Truth: Gospel-People live in a brotherhood!
Key Truth: Gospel-People live in a brotherhood!
We’ll look at 2 ways Paul says our Xn brotherhood works.
We’ll look at 2 ways Paul says our Xn brotherhood works.
Gospel-People live in a brotherhood because
Gospel-People live in a brotherhood because
1. We have a love that’s Holy Spirit empowered.
1. We have a love that’s Holy Spirit empowered.
Now its true that every single one of us longs for brotherhood.
Now its true that every single one of us longs for brotherhood.
Think of your warmest family memories, for instance.
Think of your warmest family memories, for instance.
Think of the struggle for friendship at school. We all want to belong!
Think of the struggle for friendship at school. We all want to belong!
In the ancient city of Thessalonica they wanted it too.
In the ancient city of Thessalonica they wanted it too.
Philadelphia was a word found often in Greek and Hebrew writing.
Philadelphia was a word found often in Greek and Hebrew writing.
But it was only used for the love that existed between blood-relatives, in families.
But it was only used for the love that existed between blood-relatives, in families.
And then as now, families fail us, marriages go sour, brother and sisters fall out.
And then as now, families fail us, marriages go sour, brother and sisters fall out.
And so people longed for a connection, beyond the walls of their homes.
And so people longed for a connection, beyond the walls of their homes.
They looked for this brotherhood, in army squadrons, in philosophical clubs, in new Eastern religions. But they never found what they were looking for! Why not?
They looked for this brotherhood, in army squadrons, in philosophical clubs, in new Eastern religions. But they never found what they were looking for! Why not?
The PROBLEM is:As fallen human beings, though we still get along with those we like.
The PROBLEM is:As fallen human beings, though we still get along with those we like.
The fact, is our love isn’t strong enough!
The fact, is our love isn’t strong enough!
The bad boy of American literature, Henry Miller, saw the reason all too clearly.
The bad boy of American literature, Henry Miller, saw the reason all too clearly.
He heard a lot of people saying with their lives: I love humanity: its people I can’t stand! And so Miller remarked: “It's silly to go on pretending that under the skin we are all brothers. The truth is more likely that under the skin we are all cannibals, assassins, traitors, liars, hypocrites, poltroons.”
He heard a lot of people saying with their lives: I love humanity: its people I can’t stand! And so Miller remarked: “It's silly to go on pretending that under the skin we are all brothers. The truth is more likely that under the skin we are all cannibals, assassins, traitors, liars, hypocrites, poltroons.”
Miller didn’t know, however, that God can change us under our skin. Do you believe that?
Miller didn’t know, however, that God can change us under our skin. Do you believe that?
Paul writes to these very young Christians: Now concerning Philadelphia.
Paul writes to these very young Christians: Now concerning Philadelphia.
And all these Greek ears perk up. But then Paul adds something surprising.
And all these Greek ears perk up. But then Paul adds something surprising.
Now concerning brotherly love (phila-delphia), you have no need for anyone to write to you. Well, why not?
Now concerning brotherly love (phila-delphia), you have no need for anyone to write to you. Well, why not?
for you yourselves have been taught by God to love (agape) one another
for you yourselves have been taught by God to love (agape) one another1Thessalonians 4:9
Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another,
Did you hear that? If you’re a Xn, you’ve been God-taught to love each other.
Did you hear that? If you’re a Xn, you’ve been God-taught to love each other.
No longer are we dominated by self-desire, by sin. We don’t just have normal human love philos.
No longer are we dominated by self-desire, by sin. We don’t just have normal human love philos.
We’re not just self-taught, or world-taught, or parent-taught to try to love other people.
We’re not just self-taught, or world-taught, or parent-taught to try to love other people.
No! Christ lives in us! God is teaching us His new love, agape love, from within!
No! Christ lives in us! God is teaching us His new love, agape love, from within!
100% pure gift-love. A self-giving love.
100% pure gift-love. A self-giving love.
This is the strongest love in the world!
This is the strongest love in the world!
The love of Christ streaming from the cross, to undeserving, broken sinners like you and me!
The love of Christ streaming from the cross, to undeserving, broken sinners like you and me!
GEMS theme verse: May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, 1 Thessalonians 3:12
GEMS theme verse: May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you,
and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you,
This agape love is what made the Good Samaritan’s stop.
This agape love is what made the Good Samaritan’s stop.
To help the helpless, the outcast. Everyone else passes by, with 101 good excuses.
To help the helpless, the outcast. Everyone else passes by, with 101 good excuses.
It’s true isn’t it. Normally we love, when it’s convenient!
It’s true isn’t it. Normally we love, when it’s convenient!
But as Christians the love of Christ moves us to a patient, self-sacrificing love!
But as Christians the love of Christ moves us to a patient, self-sacrificing love!
So here Paul pulls out all the stops on his theological organ.
So here Paul pulls out all the stops on his theological organ.
This rare word, God-taught, theodidacti, is a fulfillment of a great and ancient OT prophesy! Isaiah prophesied of the New Age of the Saviour saying:
This rare word, God-taught, theodidacti, is a fulfillment of a great and ancient OT prophesy! Isaiah prophesied of the New Age of the Saviour saying:
All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great will be the peace of your children.
All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great will be the peace of your children.
In righteousness you will be established (Is 54:13).
In righteousness you will be established ().
All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children.
Paul saying, “The Age of the Messiah, has arrived!
Paul saying, “The Age of the Messiah, has arrived!
And we, the church, even this church here this morning, are the new brotherhood of the Messiah!
And we, the church, even this church here this morning, are the new brotherhood of the Messiah!
We are the God-taught ones!
We are the God-taught ones!
Paul, later wrote God’s love (agape) has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who he has been given to us. Source is our being loved by God, works love back to us, then
Paul, later wrote God’s love (agape) has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who he has been given to us. Romans 5:5 Source is our being loved by God, works love back to us, then
and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
Christian living is about learning to live by this agape love of God, day in and day out!
Christian living is about learning to live by this agape love of God, day in and day out!
It’s kind of like, learning to float in the water. We can know what to do with our arms, how to kick our feet, how to hold our heads. But until we’re actually in the water, letting the air in our bodies buoy us up.
It’s kind of like, learning to float in the water. We can know what to do with our arms, how to kick our feet, how to hold our heads. But until we’re actually in the water, letting the air in our bodies buoy us up.
Until that magical moment when you trust yourself to the water.
Until that magical moment when you trust yourself to the water.
All your really doing is concentrating on your arms, legs, head! And you never float!
All your really doing is concentrating on your arms, legs, head! And you never float!
All the flailing of our arms and legs, leave us sputtering with a mouthful of water.
All the flailing of our arms and legs, leave us sputtering with a mouthful of water.
That’s how it is with real Christian loving too! Most people are concerned to help others a little. We want to walk with children and young people. We want to help the less fortunate.
That’s how it is with real Christian loving too! Most people are concerned to help others a little. We want to walk with children and young people. We want to help the less fortunate.
We’re concerned to work for good causes in our community, and in the world.
We’re concerned to work for good causes in our community, and in the world.
But if all we’re focusing on is the good deeds, on the programs, on our projects.
But if all we’re focusing on is the good deeds, on the programs, on our projects.
We’re not yet living by agape love!
We’re not yet living by agape love!
Like that swimmer what we need to do, is let the love of God completely buoy up our lives!
Like that swimmer what we need to do, is let the love of God completely buoy up our lives!
Listen to what the Apostle John says!
Listen to what the Apostle John says!
Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another … if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.
1 John 4 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another … if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. 1 John 4:11–12
So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.
So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.
By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world.
By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. 1 John 4:16–17
You see, the NT is a whole lot more concerned about the quality of our relationships,
You see, the NT is a whole lot more concerned about the quality of our relationships,
than about the programs we’re involved in, no matter how necessary they may be!
than about the programs we’re involved in, no matter how necessary they may be!
The late Henri Nouwen, a former Harvard Professor and a catholic priest,
The late Henri Nouwen, a former Harvard Professor and a catholic priest,
gave up everything to work in a home for the handicapped just outside of Toronto.
gave up everything to work in a home for the handicapped just outside of Toronto.
Speaking to a gathering of Baptist ministers, he put it this way:
Speaking to a gathering of Baptist ministers, he put it this way:
“You can’t minister if you’re not in communion with God and if you’re not living in community.
“You can’t minister if you’re not in communion with God and if you’re not living in community.
He says all the programs and ministries are ultimately non-issues.
He says all the programs and ministries are ultimately non-issues.
But if you are burning with the love of Jesus, don’t worry.
But if you are burning with the love of Jesus, don’t worry.
Everyone will know. They’ll say, I want to get close to this person who is so full of God!
Everyone will know. They’ll say, I want to get close to this person who is so full of God!
This is the key to Xn living: living out the character of the Holy Spirit, who is in us.
This is the key to Xn living: living out the character of the Holy Spirit, who is in us.
I used to think that the Holy Spirit was just some kind of force.
I used to think that the Holy Spirit was just some kind of force.
Kind of the spiritual equivalent of Gatorade. Some juice that God injects into us.
Kind of the spiritual equivalent of Gatorade. Some juice that God injects into us.
The spiritual electricity that Christians tap into.
The spiritual electricity that Christians tap into.
But that’s not really Biblical! The Holy Spirit is a Person.
But that’s not really Biblical! The Holy Spirit is a Person.
A Divine Person within our Triune God.
A Divine Person within our Triune God.
And when God puts His Spirit into your soul, it’s like you’re engaged with God.
And when God puts His Spirit into your soul, it’s like you’re engaged with God.
When a man and a woman get engaged. They start to say the same things, to do the same things.
When a man and a woman get engaged. They start to say the same things, to do the same things.
It’s even said that after 40 or 50y together, they even begin to look like each other. Interesting last two houses we’ve bought, family or friend – could say: Oh that’s a Harry and Marianne house”
It’s even said that after 40 or 50y together, they even begin to look like each other. Interesting last two houses we’ve bought, family or friend – could say: Oh that’s a Harry and Marianne house”
Congregation, how long has the Spirit of God been living with and in you. Some of you regernerate born again from as longas you can remember, others definite moment – but as you have been sharing our life with God. Say oh that way of doing friendship – John and Holy Sprit’s way?
Congregation, how long has the Spirit of God been living with and in you. Some of you regernerate born again from as longas you can remember, others definite moment – but as you have been sharing our life with God. Say oh that way of doing friendship – John and Holy Sprit’s way?
We must begin doing what God does. We begin loving, as God loves!
We must begin doing what God does. We begin loving, as God loves!
Ie. So this is where our Philadelphia brotherhood must start. Seeking the love of God!
Ie. So this is where our Philadelphia brotherhood must start. Seeking the love of God!
But, once we’ve been God-taught this agape love, however, we can’t just stay there!
But, once we’ve been God-taught this agape love, however, we can’t just stay there!
If we only receive love from God, we have a big problem.
If we only receive love from God, we have a big problem.
What happens to a body of water that receives fresh water, but nothing flows out of it?
What happens to a body of water that receives fresh water, but nothing flows out of it?
It becomes a stinking swamp. And so it is with our own spiritual lives. With our church.
It becomes a stinking swamp. And so it is with our own spiritual lives. With our church.
If all we do is soak in God’s love, without it flowing through us to one another;
If all we do is soak in God’s love, without it flowing through us to one another;
Then our church might be nice, friendly,
Then our church might be nice, friendly,
but it will lack the transforming power of a Spirit-filled community of grace!
but it will lack the transforming power of a Spirit-filled community of grace!
Paul says, Hey, you’ve been taught by God. You’ve started loving one another!
Paul says, Hey, you’ve been taught by God. You’ve started loving one another!
But what’s Paul’s plea? Do so more and more.
But what’s Paul’s plea? Do so more and more.
Why? Because there’s still much that stands in the way of our loving one another!
Why? Because there’s still much that stands in the way of our loving one another!
Elsewhere in the letter Paul says one brother exploited, cheated another in business.
Elsewhere in the letter Paul says one brother exploited, cheated another in business.
Paul had to write Be at peace among yourselves. See to it that none of you repays evil for evil!
Paul had to write Be at peace among yourselves. See to it that none of you repays evil for evil!
In every congregation, family, friendship – eclipse ; There is some gossip, and grudges, greed and coldness! … how do you hangle that? All of this clogs up the channels of love! But God’s love has to flow in the nitty gritty of our interactions with each other here! Greatest thing of gospel relationships… To your mom, or your child. To the kid in Gems or inYouth Group whom you can’t stand. To the person in this church your avoiding. Whom you don’t agree with.
In every congregation, family, friendship – eclipse ; There is some gossip, and grudges, greed and coldness! … how do you hangle that? All of this clogs up the channels of love! But God’s love has to flow in the nitty gritty of our interactions with each other here! Greatest thing of gospel relationships… To your mom, or your child. To the kid in Gems or inYouth Group whom you can’t stand. To the person in this church your avoiding. Whom you don’t agree with.
If we want a Philadelphia-brotherhood here, we must pray like Paul: “May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you,
If we want a Philadelphia-brotherhood here, we must pray like Paul: “May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, 1 Thessalonians 3:12
and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you,
And this is the other half of how Xn brotherhood works.
And this is the other half of how Xn brotherhood works.
Gospel-People live in a brotherhood because
Gospel-People live in a brotherhood because
1. We have a love that’s Holy Spirit empowered.
1. We have a love that’s Holy Spirit empowered.
2. We have a love that’s practically applied.
2. We have a love that’s practically applied.
Xn love isn’t a feeling, or some philosophical ideal! It’s a daily way of life!
Xn love isn’t a feeling, or some philosophical ideal! It’s a daily way of life!
Look at the 3 commands Paul gives in v.11. Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life,
Look at the 3 commands Paul gives in v.11. Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life,
Aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, Here proverbial rubber meets the road.
Aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, 1 Thessalonians 4:11 Here proverbial rubber meets the road.
and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you,
It’s said that if you want to know someone’s priorities, take a look at her check book!
It’s said that if you want to know someone’s priorities, take a look at her check book!
But Paul’s saying, if you want to know where a Xns priorities are,
But Paul’s saying, if you want to know where a Xns priorities are,
Look at their day planner. Look at how they spend their time!
Look at their day planner. Look at how they spend their time!
Each one of us here, is given 24 hours each day. Every day we decide how we’ll use that time. Choices about how we use our leisure time. If we volunteer?
Each one of us here, is given 24 hours each day. Every day we decide how we’ll use that time. Choices about how we use our leisure time. If we volunteer?
How we use our time with those at work and home!
How we use our time with those at work and home!
All these choices determine whether our relationships overflow with the love of Christ?
All these choices determine whether our relationships overflow with the love of Christ?
Picture a big bucket. And your going to fill that bucket up with rocks.
Picture a big bucket. And your going to fill that bucket up with rocks.
These rocks are all the different parts of your life.
These rocks are all the different parts of your life.
Now if you first fill up your days and weeks and years with small stones,
Now if you first fill up your days and weeks and years with small stones,
let’s say like sports, movies, televesion, hobbies.
let’s say like sports, movies, televesion, hobbies.
What’s going to happen when you want to put a big stone in?
What’s going to happen when you want to put a big stone in?
Like family, worship, Christian fellowship, community service?
Like family, worship, Christian fellowship, community service?
Well there’s not going to be any room for the big stones.
Well there’s not going to be any room for the big stones.
You’ve got to put the big stones in first, and then the little ones can fit around them.
You’ve got to put the big stones in first, and then the little ones can fit around them.
Going to university, coming home – time of making changes,… be deliberate; But those who are in the settled times of life – take stock, do a time inventory – how much TV, how much programs, how much left for time with family, neighbours, a Christain friend…
Going to university, coming home – time of making changes,… be deliberate; But those who are in the settled times of life – take stock, do a time inventory – how much TV, how much programs, how much left for time with family, neighbours, a Christain friend…
The problem in Thessalonica was that some Christians were spending there time as busy-bodies. The term live a “quiet life” was used by the philosophers of the day
The problem in Thessalonica was that some Christians were spending there time as busy-bodies. The term live a “quiet life” was used by the philosophers of the day
to describe a well-adjusted, fruitful member of society.
to describe a well-adjusted, fruitful member of society.
The Jewish writer Philo contrasts him with the vulgar man. He spends his day meddling, running around in public, in theaters, tribunals, councils, and assemblies, meetings consultations of all sorts.
The Jewish writer Philo contrasts him with the vulgar man. He spends his day meddling, running around in public, in theaters, tribunals, councils, and assemblies, meetings consultations of all sorts.
He prattles on without moderation, fruitless to no end.
He prattles on without moderation, fruitless to no end.
He confuses and stirs up everything, the sacred with the profane, the serious with the ridiculous.
He confuses and stirs up everything, the sacred with the profane, the serious with the ridiculous.
Not learning to remain quiet ..he pricks up his ears in an excess of bustling business.
Not learning to remain quiet ..he pricks up his ears in an excess of bustling business.
Have to say it that Facebook, snap chat, cyber busy bodies, with little time for real relationship!
Have to say it that Facebook, snap chat, cyber busy bodies, with little time for real relationship!
People of God, what is it you spend the hustle and bustle of your daily life on?
People of God, what is it you spend the hustle and bustle of your daily life on?
Philo could have been writing about 21st century?
Philo could have been writing about 21st century?
What a temptation to bounce from our God-given work, into endless distraction.
What a temptation to bounce from our God-given work, into endless distraction.
Neil Postman wrote a book called: Entertaining ourselves to Death.
Neil Postman wrote a book called: Entertaining ourselves to Death.
We can move from the newspaper, to the news , to a movie, to fretting about everyone else’s business, without really engaging in people’s lives. But what are our lives producing?
We can move from the newspaper, to the news , to a movie, to fretting about everyone else’s business, without really engaging in people’s lives. But what are our lives producing?
Paul says we must free ourselves from the busy-body racket, and make space in our lives for each other! He says our life’s ambition has got to be living out the love of God, in daily life!
Paul says we must free ourselves from the busy-body racket, and make space in our lives for each other! He says our life’s ambition has got to be living out the love of God, in daily life!
And that takes making real quality time with the people that God has placed around us!
And that takes making real quality time with the people that God has placed around us!
Long term member of a church – so many never said sorry, need reconciliation… yet …
Long term member of a church – so many never said sorry, need reconciliation… yet …
Fellowship, real deep friendship, doesn’t just happen. In fact it’s rare!
Fellowship, real deep friendship, doesn’t just happen. In fact it’s rare!
What an oppronuity when God brings someon you don’t know into circle of this church – easy a seat – or phone call – don’t be opintng fingers – look what God’s calling yout to!
What an oppronuity when God brings someon you don’t know into circle of this church – easy a seat – or phone call – don’t be opintng fingers – look what God’s calling yout to!
Way you give up your rights to serve. Someone elses name, Way you here have my spot, I care for your welfare…
Way you give up your rights to serve. Someone elses name, Way you here have my spot, I care for your welfare…
But that’s what Paul expects to find among brothers and sisters in a church!
But that’s what Paul expects to find among brothers and sisters in a church!
Do you create space on your weekly calendar, for this Philadelphia brotherhood?
Do you create space on your weekly calendar, for this Philadelphia brotherhood?
How are we going beyond the surface of niceness with each other?
How are we going beyond the surface of niceness with each other?
Do new members in our midst, find us friendly? Or do they find true friends here?
Do new members in our midst, find us friendly? Or do they find true friends here?
Do we invite each other into our homes? Could we join a small group?
Do we invite each other into our homes? Could we join a small group?
Do our conversations with each other bear any real fruit? Or is it always small talk?
Do our conversations with each other bear any real fruit? Or is it always small talk?
Do we visit those who are sick, or going through a hard time? Offer to bring a meal?
Do we visit those who are sick, or going through a hard time? Offer to bring a meal?
Give a Saturday morning, to help with household chores?
Give a Saturday morning, to help with household chores?
How about starting around your dinner table.
How about starting around your dinner table.
In this busy time in our family’s life, I can become pre-occupied.
In this busy time in our family’s life, I can become pre-occupied.
But asking thoughtful questions around a dinner table, has transformed my selfishness.. Opportunities to really enter the lives of those around me, open up.
But asking thoughtful questions around a dinner table, has transformed my selfishness.. Opportunities to really enter the lives of those around me, open up.
To see their needs, their joys. And then meet them in love of Christ.
To see their needs, their joys. And then meet them in love of Christ.
And bring us to the most important application.
And bring us to the most important application.
In Thessalonica, Paul commands them: “work with your own hands.”
In Thessalonica, Paul commands them: “work with your own hands.”
Some had quit their jobs in Thessalonica and were just waiting around for Christ’s 2nd Coming. They were abusing the generosity of the church!
Some had quit their jobs in Thessalonica and were just waiting around for Christ’s 2nd Coming. They were abusing the generosity of the church!
Now of course there are legitimate cases were the church gives relief.
Now of course there are legitimate cases were the church gives relief.
But basically Paul is saying, Xn love always flows 2 ways.
But basically Paul is saying, Xn love always flows 2 ways.
On the one hand, we receive it from God, we receive from others here.
On the one hand, we receive it from God, we receive from others here.
But the expectation is that each one of us will contribute to a Philadelphia brotherhood!
But the expectation is that each one of us will contribute to a Philadelphia brotherhood!
Each of us needs to busy with our hands. In some very practical ways we are helping others here!
Each of us needs to busy with our hands. In some very practical ways we are helping others here!
The bottom line is that we can’t experience a Philadelphia brotherhood here,
The bottom line is that we can’t experience a Philadelphia brotherhood here,
if we only come to church to receive.
if we only come to church to receive.
And that gets to the core of who we are!
And that gets to the core of who we are!
We’re not a religious super-store – doling out
We’re not a religious super-store – doling out
some nice worship here, and some bible study in that corner, and kids programs over there!
some nice worship here, and some bible study in that corner, and kids programs over there!
We are a people being knit together in love! We do receive from the LORD – grace, love…
We are a people being knit together in love! We do receive from the LORD – grace, love…
We are the body of Christ, the family of God!
We are the body of Christ, the family of God!
We are a community, that shows the world, the agape love of God!
We are a community, that shows the world, the agape love of God!
We can’t do that as passing ships in the night.
We can’t do that as passing ships in the night.
MLK Jr said: We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.
MLK Jr said: We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.
Congregation, let us each find some brother or sister,
Congregation, let us each find some brother or sister,
Even this week, and love them in the name of Christ! . Amen. A Philadelphia-Brother & Sisterhood!
Even this week, and love them in the name of Christ! . Amen.
We found him lying on the pavement in the heart of downtown Philadelphia.
Philadelphia – the city of what? Literally, Brotherly-Love.
And feeling both brotherly and loving, my friend James and I, began speaking to this street person. “My name is Carl,” he said. “How long have you lived in Philadelphia?”
“I am Mr. Philadelphia,” he said again and again.
As we walked the inner-city with him, bits and pieces of his story came out.
“Can we buy you some lunch, Carl?” He didn’t seem to care, one way or the other.
So he kept on walking with us –right into the restaurant. He took a seat across from us. I can still see his tattered clothes. Smell his awful stench!
He took a seat across from us. I can still see his tattered clothes. Smell his awful stench!
Carl and I were worlds apart .
Judging from all those staring at him, Carl and most of Philadelphia, were worlds apart.
The waitress came. Carl hadn’t a clue as to what we wanted. We ordered for him.
The food came. He stared at it, strangely. He tried a bite. He ran out to an alley and was sick. Probably more hung over, than drunk, he slid back into his seat.
Though we spent the rest of that afternoon with Carl, it ended very sadly.
He told us to drive him to a park. When he realized weren’t going to use him. We parted ways. Caring for a street person was way more complex, than I ever could have imagined.
Philadelphia – brotherly love? Yah right. It’s not that easy, is it?
Sure with those people we already like, with the occasional needy person, sure we’ll help!
But in this fallen world, we’ve largely made life into a “do-it-yourself” project.
Real brotherly love is a rarity.
Billy Graham is right: “Our world has become a neighborhood without becoming a brotherhood.”
Its easy to go on rubbing shoulders with those around us
- without really loving one another, isn’t it?
That day almost 10 y ago, I saw how Philadelphia didn’t live up to its name!
But I wondered: Do I live up to my name? Have we as Christian’s lived up to our name?
Do we really enter into the world of the person two pews ahead of us?
Have we lived out the love of Christ, with others in our congregation, in say the past month?
When the NT talks about the community of believers, more than any other term, the word it uses is brotherhood, brethren. When Jesus’ mother and his brothers were standing outside, Jesus asks “Who are my brothers? Jesus stretches out his hand toward his disciples answer: For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” Matthew 12:50 His point is simple:
When you get the new life from God in you,
those who share that life with you, become the truest family you’ve got. If you’re a Christian, you have more in common with other believers,
the ones beside you, the ones half way across the world, than with anyone else on earth!
There is a bond that’s deeper than friendship, deeper than family! It’s the family of God!
JI Packer put it this way: When you are now a live to God, through God’s grace, when he loves you, chose you to be his eternal companions, his son & d, heirs, sent His divine Son to die for your sins… securing new status, reconciliation, for\giveness, acceptance – bring you life - He also bonded us with each other in and through Christ as well (Eph 1-2)
We are saved individually, one by one, but not for a life of solitary and still self-centered individualism. God had welded us into a single entity by viture of uniting us all to Christ!
So the question is simple: Can we here at Covenant CRC be a Philadelphia Brotherhood?
A church-family knit, even welded together by the love of God?
Or will we live worlds apart from each other, like Carl and I did?
Will we just sail through these doors as a fleet of ships each week?
In tidy formations, but never touching?
Or will we draw our ships alongside each other! And rendezvous? Like two canoes!
Kind of like, a little interested, but not together turning to Christ, together transformed, together serving Him!
That’s the question: Will we really help, really fellowship, really love each other?
Key Truth: Gospel-People live in a brotherhood!
We’ll look at 2 ways Paul says our Xn brotherhood works.
Gospel-People live in a brotherhood because
1. We have a love that’s Holy Spirit empowered.
Now its true that every single one of us longs for brotherhood.
Think of your warmest family memories, for instance.
Think of the struggle for friendship at school. We all want to belong!
In the ancient city of Thessalonica they wanted it too.
Philadelphia was a word found often in Greek and Hebrew writing.
But it was only used for the love that existed between blood-relatives, in families.
And then as now, families fail us, marriages go sour, brother and sisters fall out.
And so people longed for a connection, beyond the walls of their homes.
They looked for this brotherhood, in army squadrons, in philosophical clubs, in new Eastern religions. But they never found what they were looking for! Why not?
The PROBLEM is:As fallen human beings, though we still get along with those we like.
The fact, is our love isn’t strong enough!
The bad boy of American literature, Henry Miller, saw the reason all too clearly.
He heard a lot of people saying with their lives: I love humanity: its people I can’t stand! And so Miller remarked: “It's silly to go on pretending that under the skin we are all brothers. The truth is more likely that under the skin we are all cannibals, assassins, traitors, liars, hypocrites, poltroons.”
Miller didn’t know, however, that God can change us under our skin. Do you believe that?
Paul writes to these very young Christians: Now concerning Philadelphia.
And all these Greek ears perk up. But then Paul adds something surprising.
Now concerning brotherly love (phila-delphia), you have no need for anyone to write to you. Well, why not?
for you yourselves have been taught by God to love (agape) one another1Thessalonians 4:9
Did you hear that? If you’re a Xn, you’ve been God-taught to love each other.
No longer are we dominated by self-desire, by sin. We don’t just have normal human love philos.
We’re not just self-taught, or world-taught, or parent-taught to try to love other people.
No! Christ lives in us! God is teaching us His new love, agape love, from within!
100% pure gift-love. A self-giving love.
This is the strongest love in the world!
The love of Christ streaming from the cross, to undeserving, broken sinners like you and me!
GEMS theme verse: May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, 1 Thessalonians 3:12
This agape love is what made the Good Samaritan’s stop.
To help the helpless, the outcast. Everyone else passes by, with 101 good excuses.
It’s true isn’t it. Normally we love, when it’s convenient!
But as Christians the love of Christ moves us to a patient, self-sacrificing love!
So here Paul pulls out all the stops on his theological organ.
This rare word, God-taught, theodidacti, is a fulfillment of a great and ancient OT prophesy! Isaiah prophesied of the New Age of the Saviour saying:
All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great will be the peace of your children.
In righteousness you will be established (Is 54:13).
Paul saying, “The Age of the Messiah, has arrived!
And we, the church, even this church here this morning, are the new brotherhood of the Messiah!
We are the God-taught ones!
Paul, later wrote God’s love (agape) has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who he has been given to us. Romans 5:5 Source is our being loved by God, works love back to us, then
Christian living is about learning to live by this agape love of God, day in and day out!
It’s kind of like, learning to float in the water. We can know what to do with our arms, how to kick our feet, how to hold our heads. But until we’re actually in the water, letting the air in our bodies buoy us up.
Until that magical moment when you trust yourself to the water.
All your really doing is concentrating on your arms, legs, head! And you never float!
All the flailing of our arms and legs, leave us sputtering with a mouthful of water.
That’s how it is with real Christian loving too! Most people are concerned to help others a little. We want to walk with children and young people. We want to help the less fortunate.
We’re concerned to work for good causes in our community, and in the world.
But if all we’re focusing on is the good deeds, on the programs, on our projects.
We’re not yet living by agape love!
Like that swimmer what we need to do, is let the love of God completely buoy up our lives!
Listen to what the Apostle John says!
1 John 4 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another … if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. 1 John 4:11–12
So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.
By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. 1 John 4:16–17
You see, the NT is a whole lot more concerned about the quality of our relationships,
than about the programs we’re involved in, no matter how necessary they may be!
The late Henri Nouwen, a former Harvard Professor and a catholic priest,
gave up everything to work in a home for the handicapped just outside of Toronto.
Speaking to a gathering of Baptist ministers, he put it this way:
“You can’t minister if you’re not in communion with God and if you’re not living in community.
He says all the programs and ministries are ultimately non-issues.
But if you are burning with the love of Jesus, don’t worry.
Everyone will know. They’ll say, I want to get close to this person who is so full of God!
This is the key to Xn living: living out the character of the Holy Spirit, who is in us.
I used to think that the Holy Spirit was just some kind of force.
Kind of the spiritual equivalent of Gatorade. Some juice that God injects into us.
The spiritual electricity that Christians tap into.
But that’s not really Biblical! The Holy Spirit is a Person.
A Divine Person within our Triune God.
And when God puts His Spirit into your soul, it’s like you’re engaged with God.
When a man and a woman get engaged. They start to say the same things, to do the same things.
It’s even said that after 40 or 50y together, they even begin to look like each other. Interesting last two houses we’ve bought, family or friend – could say: Oh that’s a Harry and Marianne house”
Congregation, how long has the Spirit of God been living with and in you. Some of you regernerate born again from as longas you can remember, others definite moment – but as you have been sharing our life with God. Say oh that way of doing friendship – John and Holy Sprit’s way?
We must begin doing what God does. We begin loving, as God loves!
Ie. So this is where our Philadelphia brotherhood must start. Seeking the love of God!
But, once we’ve been God-taught this agape love, however, we can’t just stay there!
If we only receive love from God, we have a big problem.
What happens to a body of water that receives fresh water, but nothing flows out of it?
It becomes a stinking swamp. And so it is with our own spiritual lives. With our church.
If all we do is soak in God’s love, without it flowing through us to one another;
Then our church might be nice, friendly,
but it will lack the transforming power of a Spirit-filled community of grace!
Paul says, Hey, you’ve been taught by God. You’ve started loving one another!
But what’s Paul’s plea? Do so more and more.
Why? Because there’s still much that stands in the way of our loving one another!
Elsewhere in the letter Paul says one brother exploited, cheated another in business.
Paul had to write Be at peace among yourselves. See to it that none of you repays evil for evil!
In every congregation, family, friendship – eclipse ; There is some gossip, and grudges, greed and coldness! … how do you hangle that? All of this clogs up the channels of love! But God’s love has to flow in the nitty gritty of our interactions with each other here! Greatest thing of gospel relationships… To your mom, or your child. To the kid in Gems or inYouth Group whom you can’t stand. To the person in this church your avoiding. Whom you don’t agree with.
If we want a Philadelphia-brotherhood here, we must pray like Paul: “May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, 1 Thessalonians 3:12
And this is the other half of how Xn brotherhood works.
Gospel-People live in a brotherhood because
1. We have a love that’s Holy Spirit empowered.
2. We have a love that’s practically applied.
Xn love isn’t a feeling, or some philosophical ideal! It’s a daily way of life!
Look at the 3 commands Paul gives in v.11. Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life,
Aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, 1 Thessalonians 4:11 Here proverbial rubber meets the road.
It’s said that if you want to know someone’s priorities, take a look at her check book!
But Paul’s saying, if you want to know where a Xns priorities are,
Look at their day planner. Look at how they spend their time!
Each one of us here, is given 24 hours each day. Every day we decide how we’ll use that time. Choices about how we use our leisure time. If we volunteer?
How we use our time with those at work and home!
All these choices determine whether our relationships overflow with the love of Christ?
Picture a big bucket. And your going to fill that bucket up with rocks.
These rocks are all the different parts of your life.
Now if you first fill up your days and weeks and years with small stones,
let’s say like sports, movies, televesion, hobbies.
What’s going to happen when you want to put a big stone in?
Like family, worship, Christian fellowship, community service?
Well there’s not going to be any room for the big stones.
You’ve got to put the big stones in first, and then the little ones can fit around them.
Going to university, coming home – time of making changes,… be deliberate; But those who are in the settled times of life – take stock, do a time inventory – how much TV, how much programs, how much left for time with family, neighbours, a Christain friend…
The problem in Thessalonica was that some Christians were spending there time as busy-bodies. The term live a “quiet life” was used by the philosophers of the day
to describe a well-adjusted, fruitful member of society.
The Jewish writer Philo contrasts him with the vulgar man. He spends his day meddling, running around in public, in theaters, tribunals, councils, and assemblies, meetings consultations of all sorts.
He prattles on without moderation, fruitless to no end.
He confuses and stirs up everything, the sacred with the profane, the serious with the ridiculous.
Not learning to remain quiet ..he pricks up his ears in an excess of bustling business.
Have to say it that Facebook, snap chat, cyber busy bodies, with little time for real relationship!
People of God, what is it you spend the hustle and bustle of your daily life on?
Philo could have been writing about 21st century?
What a temptation to bounce from our God-given work, into endless distraction.
Neil Postman wrote a book called: Entertaining ourselves to Death.
We can move from the newspaper, to the news , to a movie, to fretting about everyone else’s business, without really engaging in people’s lives. But what are our lives producing?
Paul says we must free ourselves from the busy-body racket, and make space in our lives for each other! He says our life’s ambition has got to be living out the love of God, in daily life!
And that takes making real quality time with the people that God has placed around us!
Long term member of a church – so many never said sorry, need reconciliation… yet …
Fellowship, real deep friendship, doesn’t just happen. In fact it’s rare!
What an oppronuity when God brings someon you don’t know into circle of this church – easy a seat – or phone call – don’t be opintng fingers – look what God’s calling yout to!
Way you give up your rights to serve. Someone elses name, Way you here have my spot, I care for your welfare…
But that’s what Paul expects to find among brothers and sisters in a church!
Do you create space on your weekly calendar, for this Philadelphia brotherhood?
How are we going beyond the surface of niceness with each other?
Do new members in our midst, find us friendly? Or do they find true friends here?
Do we invite each other into our homes? Could we join a small group?
Do our conversations with each other bear any real fruit? Or is it always small talk?
Do we visit those who are sick, or going through a hard time? Offer to bring a meal?
Give a Saturday morning, to help with household chores?
How about starting around your dinner table.
In this busy time in our family’s life, I can become pre-occupied.
But asking thoughtful questions around a dinner table, has transformed my selfishness.. Opportunities to really enter the lives of those around me, open up.
To see their needs, their joys. And then meet them in love of Christ.
And bring us to the most important application.
In Thessalonica, Paul commands them: “work with your own hands.”
Some had quit their jobs in Thessalonica and were just waiting around for Christ’s 2nd Coming. They were abusing the generosity of the church!
Now of course there are legitimate cases were the church gives relief.
But basically Paul is saying, Xn love always flows 2 ways.
On the one hand, we receive it from God, we receive from others here.
But the expectation is that each one of us will contribute to a Philadelphia brotherhood!
Each of us needs to busy with our hands. In some very practical ways we are helping others here!
The bottom line is that we can’t experience a Philadelphia brotherhood here,
if we only come to church to receive.
And that gets to the core of who we are!
We’re not a religious super-store – doling out
some nice worship here, and some bible study in that corner, and kids programs over there!
We are a people being knit together in love! We do receive from the LORD – grace, love…
We are the body of Christ, the family of God!
We are a community, that shows the world, the agape love of God!
We can’t do that as passing ships in the night.
MLK Jr said: We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.
Congregation, let us each find some brother or sister,
Even this week, and love them in the name of Christ! . Amen.