Untitled Sermon

Let me give you an example. A couple of years ago, we updated our membership rolls and our membership policy. In it, we state that if a person has not participated in the life of the church family for six months, they will, after a final attempt by the elders, be removed from membership. Of course, we try during those six months to check up on people but that is in place so we have an accurate reflection of who are members are. And, as a quick aside, if you are not a member and you consider this your church home, we should talk.

I remember during those conversations, we talked about someone who is bed ridden or perhaps away at college or in the military. We agreed that we would add a point saying we may, if the elders choose, not take someone off the rolls if they have a legitimate reason for not being here. So, we have a couple of folks who have not been here for awhile but they are not in any danger because we know their situation and we are still praying for them.

But I remember during those conversations, we talked about someone who is bed ridden or perhaps away at college or in the military. We agreed that we would add a point saying we may, if the elders choose, not take someone off the rolls if they have a legitimate reason for not being here. If you are in away defending our freedom, for example, we aren’t going to kick you out of the church. Our motive wasn’t to kick people out of the church, but instead to keep membership

The point is that there would be a way to use that policy legalistically and a way to use it for its intended purpose. Legalistically, we are looking to adhere to a standard. But, when we walk by faith, we end up evaluating

The point is that there would be a way to use that policy legalistically and a way to use it for its intended purpose. Legalistically, we are looking to adhere to a standard. But, when we walk by faith, we end up evaluating

I read this past week in one of the commentaries I consult about the idea that the old life of legalism like driving on the interstate. It is a well paved road with good markers, speed limits, rules and guard rails to keep you on the right road. And it’s easy to drive. And that makes sense. The only problem is that in order to actually get anywhere, you need to leave the interstate. The interstate is a road that is a dead end.

On the other hand, the new life in Christ isn’t afraid to get off the interstate if that’s what it takes to get

We are free, then, to not obey the law, the ceremonial law in order that we might bridge the divide and help others to walk with Christ. We no longer have to live up to a man-made standard in order that we might appear holy BECAUSE WE ARE HOLY! Jesus is IN US! We have the resurrected, new life Christ in us making us new life creatures of God. Thus, we talk different, sound different, spend different, walk different, behave different … all of these not in order to please God but because GOD IS IN US!

Jesus said, in , that we are to enter in by the narrow gate. Wide and easy is the gate that leads to destruction but narrow and hard is the way that leads to life. A commentary I read this week picked up on this and said that legalism is like an interstate highway. Wide, multiple lanes, lots of signs warning you of danger or with instructions. And it’s easy to drive on the interstate. Driving to Newton every day wasn’t hard. It was easy. I knew the way, I didn’t have to think. But it is a dead end. I couldn’t get to my destination on the interstate. The way of life is like a narrow, winding road up the side of a mountain with no guardrail to keep you from falling. That road is slow and difficult to traverse, but it is the road worth going on because it is the road that leads to life.

, that we are to enter in by the narrow gate. Wide and easy is the gate that leads to destruction but narrow and hard is the way that leads to life. A commentary I read this week picked up on this and said that legalism is like an interstate highway. Wide, multiple lanes, lots of signs warning you of danger or with instructions. And it’s easy to drive on the interstate. Driving to Newton every day wasn’t hard. It was easy. I knew the way, I didn’t have to think. But it is a dead end. I couldn’t get to my destination on the interstate. The way of life is like a narrow, winding road up the side of a mountain with no guardrail to keep you from falling. That road is slow and difficult to traverse, but it is the road worth going on because it is the road that leads to life.