Love One Another
Learning to "One Another"...Following His Plan to Build A Spiritual House • Sermon • Submitted
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· 12 viewsJesus is working at building the church and employs the believer as "construction workers" who contribute to the growth of the body by the way the learn to "one another".
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“I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.
Life In the Real World
Life In the Real World
Show video Real World Magic Kingdom
(If video works)...Life this side of heaven can be pretty complicated…when you throw a bunch of Princesses into one house and force them to live together, all sorts of chaos happens that tends to reveal the not so princess like heart…have you ever felt like life in the church can be like this? (if video doesn’t work start below)
What happens when you throw a bunch of redeemed selfish people into one huge family unit, give them all the same purpose, uniquely equip them to carry out that purpose and charge them with the responsibility of positively impacting each other...YOU GET THE CHURCH…but life inside the church is not always a bed of roses...
YOU GET THE CHURCH....
The church is the wonderful creation of God that Jesus declared He would build…(if video worked) but sometimes life in the church can seem like that video!
Exactly how does Jesus build His church?…He lays the foundation through us being faithful to make disciples through our efforts to be ambassadors for Him pleading with people to be reconciled to God…(GOSPEL)
“I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.
(if video works)…even when the church is filled with a bunch of prima dona princesses…they shall not prevail either...
Exactly how does Jesus build His church?…He starts by reconciling us to God through His death, burial and resurrection…GOSPEL…
Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation,
namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
Exactly how does Jesus build His church?…He lays the foundation through us being faithful to make disciples through our efforts to be ambassadors for Him pleading with people to be reconciled to God…(GOSPEL)
2 Cor 5
GOSPEL)
One of the delightful aspects of becoming a follower of Jesus Christ is that you are immediately invited to become part of a life-changing building project…
Exactly how does Jesus build His church?…He lays the foundation through us being faithful to make disciples through our efforts to be ambassadors for Him pleading with people to be reconciled to God…(GOSPEL)
Through us being ambassadors for Him pleading with people to be reconciled to God…(GOSPEL)
Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
By coming to Christ in faith, we then become united together into one body…the church…and we all have been given a responsibility to be His ambassadors to preach the message of reconciliation...
Once people are reconciled to God...With Himself being the chief cornerstone He chooses to further build by using you and me as living stones...
With Himself being the chief cornerstone He chooses to build by using you and me as living stones...
Once people are reconciled to God...With Himself being the chief cornerstone He chooses to further build by using you and me as living stones...
And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God,
you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household,
having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone,
in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord,
in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.
This building project is a both/and endeavor...He builds us and then we are to be actively involved in His construction project by building up each other...
He builds us and then we are to be actively involved in His construction project by building up each other...
He builds us and then we are to be actively involved in His construction project by building up each other...
but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,
from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.
So one of the delightful aspects of becoming a follower of Jesus Christ is that He immediately invites you and even expects you to become part of a life-changing building project…
One of the delightful aspects of becoming a follower of Jesus Christ is that you are immediately invited to become part of a life-changing building project…
What will this building project look like when we are done?...
in coming to Christ, you are immediately invited to become part of a family where you are simultaneously being built and building others…
that process is an essential aspect of the gospel…where through the power and efficacy of His shed blood…Jesus restores what is broken… He redeems what is lost…He refashions what is marred…He’s the ultimate restorer and builder of life…He even told His disciples…
- where through the power and efficacy of His shed blood…Jesus restores what is broken…
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
What will this building project look like when we are done?...
We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ.
- He redeems what is lost…He refashions what is marred…He’s the ultimate restorer and builder of life…He even told His disciples…
the corollary to that is that God has designed you to fulfill a unique role in the building project…others in our church family and in our community can be built up, and need to be built up, specifically by what you bring to the table…
- that’s what the end of the construction project looks like…
- that’s why… - We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ.
- that’s what the end of the construction project looks like…
- the corollary to that is that God has designed you to fulfill a unique role in the building project…others in our church family and in our community can be built up, and need to be built up, specifically by what you bring to the table…
so if Jesus is building His church…and He purposely draws a diverse group of people together to accomplish that plan…then the way we impact one another matters…it matters a lot…
For the body is not one member, but many.
If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body.
And if the ear says, “Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body.
1
And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; or again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”
On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary;
so if Jesus is building His church…and He purposely draws a diverse group of people together to accomplish that plan…then the way we impact one another matters…it matters a lot…
- so if Jesus is building His church…and He purposely draws a diverse group of people together to accomplish that plan…then the way we impact one another matters…it matters a lot…
with that in mind, please open your Bible to the book of 1 John 3…
- there’s great hope and there’s great security in that powerful truth…
- but Paul also affirms… - …But each man must be careful how he builds on it.
- that’s what we’re talking about this year…
- which is why we started with Building on the Foundation of the Gospel…and we studied Tim Keller’s book – Center Churchf…
- by the way, for those of you who have joined us along the way, or if you didn’t quite finish back in January and February—I can’t think of a more enjoyable read on the beach than Tim Keller’s Center Church…
- you’ll probably also want to pack several extra copies…because what will happen is – others around you will undoubtedly say – I couldn’t help but notice that textbook you’re reading…do you have another copy because that looks a whole lot better than this trashy romance novel I’m reading…
- then we turned to the teaching of Jesus – Building Stories from the Master Teacher…some of His most enduring sermons recorded in the Bible used this metaphor to help us understand what it meant to live for Him…
- next we worked through the book of Nehemiah – Becoming a Godly Leader…and it really is amazing how many important, practical principles are contained in that marvelous book…
well, this am we’re launching another series entitled Following His Plans to Build a Spiritual House..this is a study of the “one-another’s” of Scripture…it’s amazing how often that phrase appears in the NT…
- this is a study of the “one-another’s” of Scripture…it’s amazing how often that phrase appears in the NT…
God’s Word instructs us to have an impact on each other and through the transformational work of Christ and the empowerment of His Spirit we are to accomplish this...we’re to encourage one another, we’re to serve one another, we’re to pray for one another, and forgive one another…
God’s Word instructs us to have an impact on each other and through the transformational work of Christ and the empowerment of His Spirit we are to accomplish this...we’re to encourage one another, we’re to serve one another, we’re to pray for one another, and forgive one another…
it’s a rather long and certainly delightful list, (I took the opportunity to put them all in a handy chart for you to keep in your Bible)…but it’s also very challenging because many of these characteristics don’t come naturally…and that’s probably more true in this self-centered, individualistic, “I don’t need you because I have an app on my phone” culture than ever before…
but it also becomes a marvelous way for a body of believers, the church of Jesus Christ, to stand out because of the unique way we try to impact one another…and in many ways that starts with the emphasis we have before us this morning…our calling to Love One Another…
let’s read about that in
Build Up One Another by Loving One Another
Build Up One Another by Loving One Another
So this whole series will seek to answer the broad question of “How are we to be involved in Jesus’ building project?
Today we want to consider three principles to help us build one another in love.
- first of all, understand that…
Loving One Another is a Proof of Our Salvation – 3:14-15
Loving One Another is a Proof of Our Salvation – 3:14-15
please think carefully about the flow of thought here…
- We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
that’s an unbelievably powerful statement – because it gets at the very issue of how you and I can have assurance of our salvation…
as a pastor, I’m asked about that a lot…how can I know for sure I’m saved…“Gaining assurance of our salvation” is one of the purposes of the book of 1 John
“Gaining assurance of our salvation” is one of the purposes of the book of 1 John
- These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.
in part because John, like any good writer, tells us exactly why he wrote the book…let’s see if we can find the three reasons together…
- what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.
so that’s one purpose of this book – that we would have greater fellowship with God and others…
- These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete.
there’s a second purpose – that our joy would be complete…
- These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.
that we would have greater assurance of our salvation…if you want to know whether your salvation is genuine, then look no further than the question of whether you are building our church family and building our community by loving one another…
well, of those three, which one does the passage we have before us especially address…the issue of our assurance…
Loving one another is possible because you live in a different sphere than you used to live.
Loving one another is possible because you live in a different sphere than you used to live.
if you want to know whether…you know that you know that you know…Christ as Savior and Lord…look no further than the question of whether you are building our church family and building our community by loving one another…
Loving one another is possible because you live in different sphere than you used to live.
Loving one another is possible because you live in different sphere than you used to live.
now did you notice how this is…
Described powerfully in this passage
Described powerfully in this passage
Passed out of death into life – v. 14a
Passed out of death into life – v. 14a
1. Passed out of death into life – v. 14a
what does that mean?...
well, death in the Bible is always separation of some kind…and it is discussed in at least three ways Scripturally…let’s think through which one is in focus here…
physical death – the separation of the soul from the body…
spiritual death – the separation of a person from God…
the second death – the separation of a person from God forever…
well, let’s plug that back into what we’re studying here…
- We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren.
is that talking about passing out of physical death, or spiritual death, or the second death?...
is a person who doesn’t love physically dead?...no, or the funeral homes would be much fuller…are we talking about the second death – no, because once that is a person’s eternal condition, there is no way to pass out of that (just ask the rich man and Lazarus in )…
this is talking about the kind of love for others that is evidence of passing out of spiritual death into spiritual life…
the way this person treats someone else is an evidence of the Spirit of God working in and through them…
Let’s do a little survey here this morning… based on your anniversary this year, if you have been married for 2 years or more please stand and stay standing until your number is reached…5 years…10…20…30…40…50…
- that’s not to suggest that a person who doesn’t know the Lord can’t/won’t do that…but for those in our church family…it ought to be celebrated and honored…but every Christian who reaches one of those milestones would be quick to say – it’s not because marriage is always easy or because I just did what I felt like doing every day, or what came natural everyday…but it’s because of the power of Jesus Christ working in and through me…
Thank you…to reach such marvelous milestones in our culture today doesn’t mean that unbelievers can’t make it that long, but for believers it should be a wonderful time of celebration and have a place of honor among us because we know that marriage is not always easy, nor is it a commitment to stay together just for the kids…
but when two equal sinners unite their lives together in Christ there is a remarkable power that works in them to accept the imperfections of one another and grow in their love for one another that they are willing to stay committed to God and each other until death do us part...
Being passed out of the realm of spiritual death means that regardless of the amount and degree of imperfections in someone, we can still be committed to loving them because we are no longer living in a realm where the supernatural power to overcome all things is missing.
Being passed out of the realm of spiritual death means that regardless of the amount and degree of imperfections in someone, we can still be committed to loving them because we are no longer living in a realm where the supernatural power to overcome all things is missing.
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
- I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.
- Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.
the corollary to that in our passage is…
the corollary to that in our passage is…
No longer “abiding in death” – v. 14b
No longer “abiding in death” – v. 14b
- …He who does not love abides in death.
that too is an incredibly powerful metaphor…abiding in death…
Is there anybody here who likes to abide in that?...I like going to funeral homes…I enjoy caskets…graveyards are delightful places…
we do those things because we should…but nobody would want to abide there…who here wants to build a home in a cemetery? (If you say yes, we need to talk…)
Where should we want to abide?...in Christ…
“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.
“I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.
Think about this in consideration of the celebration of wedding anniversaries...as married people learn to abide in Christ…and find our ultimate satisfaction and joy in Him, we’re not trying to gain from them something that is impossible for them to provide…
- Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.
what is the relationship between that and what we mentioned a moment ago – the celebration of wedding anniversaries?...
An abundant spiritual life is so eternally free and completely satisfying that you’re freed up to love and serve others!
An abundant spiritual life is so eternally free and completely satisfying that you’re freed up to love and serve others!
one answer is – as married people learn to abide in Christ…and find our ultimate satisfaction and joy in Him, we’re not trying to gain from an imperfect person commodities that are impossible for a human to provide…
spiritual life is so eternally free and completely satisfying that you’re freed up to love and serve others…
as if it couldn’t get any stronger, John says by loving the brethren…
You’re choosing not to be a murderer
You’re choosing not to be a murderer
- Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
if you know this book, you know that John has already discussed that by raising the issue of what two brothers?...Cain and Abel…
- For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another; not as Cain, who was of the evil one and slew his brother. And for what reason did he slay him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother’s were righteous.
Sadly, the frequency with which that happens among the so-called Christians in communities like ours all around this country is shocking...
the frequency with which that happens among the so-called Christians in communities like ours all around this country is shocking and sad…
In people who should know better…mature believers will not hate one another with their words…mature believers will not seek to tear down and destroy...
- and instead of building what God is seeking to do in a community through the church’s collective witness…they tear down and destroy…
Mature believers will not gossip, because gossip seeks to rob others of their reputation and murders the person with their words.
Mature believers will not gossip, because gossip seeks to rob others of their reputation and murders the person with their words.
- that’s what gossip does…it seeks to rob others of their reputation and murders the person with their words…when you choose not to be that kind of person…loving one another becomes a proof of your salvation…
When you choose not to murder someone with your words, when you choose to love one another regardless of the imperfections and regardless of what they say about you or do to you…Remember that loving one another becomes a proof of your salvation…
Loving Others Involves Sacrifice – 3:16
Loving Others Involves Sacrifice – 3:16
Demonstrated perfectly at the cross.
Demonstrated perfectly at the cross.
of course these chapter and verse divisions were added to our Bibles later, but isn’t it interesting that in the providence of God – both the gospel of , and the epistle of – speak so clearly and simply of the gospel…
- For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
- We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
biblically this helps us define love from God’s perspective…it is not fundamentally a feeling…instead it is a choice to give and sacrifice and meet needs…
that’s not to say that feelings are not involved in some way – where your treasure is, there your heart will also be…but...
Fundamentally what we’re being commanded to do here is making a choice to sacrifice with no expectation of return.
Fundamentally what we’re being commanded to do here is making a choice to sacrifice with no expectation of return.
the model and standard is the cross-work of Christ…
love that only lasts as long as you think you’re getting what you want/need is not biblical love…sometimes when a person says…I love you…what they really mean is, I love me and I want you…or I love me, and I want you around as long as I think you can make me happy, or meet my needs, or make my life better…
but wise young couples are spending concentrated time considering whether they really intend to fulfill their promise to biblically love one another, to sacrifice to meet the needs of one another, till death do them part…
sometimes the focus becomes so tilted to everything that goes with the ceremony – that there’s very little bandwidth left to consider and plan for the quality of the marriage…
love that only lasts as long as you think you’re getting what you want/need is not biblical love…sometimes when a person says…I love you…what they really mean is, I love me and I want you…or I love me, and I want you around as long as I think you can make me happy, or meet my needs, or make my life better…
- sometimes when a person says…I love you…what they really mean is, I love me and I want you…
- or I love me, and I want you around as long as I think you can make me happy, or meet my needs, or make my life better…
God calls us, and empowers us to something far, far, better…
- We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
- if you follow national news, you may know that the president of the largest seminary in the largest protestant denomination was recently relieved of his duties…
- now, we are an independent church…we’re not part of the Southern Baptist Convention…but we have many friends and acquaintances there…and I and other staff members often speak in such settings…
- but Southwestern Seminary in Ft. Worth, Texas is the largest of their seminaries…and their president until recently was Dr. Paige Patterson…
- the Lord used him in some marvelous ways throughout his career – he’s a 75 year old gentleman…
- but he also made some comments in sermons years ago and private counseling sessions that suggested that Christian wives should continue to live in a home where there is physical abuse…
- now, I’m summarizing for sake of time because our concern isn’t to discuss what’s happening at Southwestern or even in the Southern Baptist Convention although it is a firestorm and somewhat ironically – the host site for the annual conference of the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors this October is…anyone want to guess…the campus of Southwestern Seminary in Ft. Worth…and you want to know what our already advertised topic was?...Light in the Darkness – Biblical Counseling and Abuse…
- all of this has hit places like the Washington Post and it’s not going away soon so we’ve changed the location of our conference – same city, different venue...with the same topics and speakers…
- the reason I raise it this morning is to ensure that we have said what we have taught here for the last 40 years…although the Scripture is clear that husbands are to love their wives…and wives are to love their husbands…
- that should never be construed to suggest that a Christian spouse has to endure any form of physical abuse…
- our consistent message has been…call the police…and in some cases, take your children and leave and then call the police…
- and then when it is practical and assuming your spouse is a church member – contact your pastors…
- our former pastor, Pastor Goode used to say – God has not given any human ultimate authority…
- so it is not unsubmissive for a Christian wife to contact the police if necessary…(or, vice-versa by the way)…
- this church will not tolerate members who are physically abusive…there is never a reason or excuse for that…
- we have even disciplined church leaders on a few occasions throughout our history for this very reason…and what is important to know is…in a few cases, that was even after a person repeatedly said he was repentant…
- but that’s the pattern with abusive people…extreme so-called remorse after the episode followed by a superficial change in behavior…until the next episode…churches must not tolerate that…there’s nothing loving in that…
- also, I recognize that the topic of abuse is broad and wide, especially in our present culture…
- that is why it is important to get your pastors and deacons involved to help determine the proper course of action when other non-physical forms of abuse are involved…
- these kinds of decisions have to be made on a case by case basis – and this is one of the many times where there is wisdom in a multitude of counselors…
- now, let’s come back to the main point… - We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
His love for us ought to motivate what we do.
His love for us ought to motivate what we do.
there are several important theological ideas coming together here…
one is the relationship between God working in us, and you and me working out our own salvation in fear and trembling…
So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling;
for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
Phil 2:12-13(quoting directly from )
so God is the source of our love for the brethren and yet we ought to, and we have to choose to act in a loving way…
- so God is the source of our love for the brethren and yet we ought to, and we have to choose to act in a loving way…
also this is clearly an obligation for followers of Jesus Christ…living life together is not always easy because we all have a natural tendency to be pretty selfish…and sometimes that selfishness can come out in some very hard and hurtful ways…but if we remember our offense to Christ and the sacrifice He made on our behalf…then we can grow in our love for one another...
Believers who are maturing recognize that when other’s actions towards us come from a selfish heart, our response to them is part of what it means to take up our cross and follow Christ daily.
Believers who are maturing recognize that when other’s actions towards us come from a selfish heart, our response to them is part of what it means to take up our cross and follow Christ daily.
- so when that young parent is exhausted and their little baby is crying in the middle of the night…there’s all sorts of principles and truths that should lead to that parent getting up and providing whatever care is needed…but the one at the bottom of the barrel if needed is still powerful…this is what I ought to do…
C.S. Lewis said, “It is easier to be enthusiastic about Humanity with a capital `H’ than it is to love individual men and women, especially those who are uninteresting, exasperating, depraved, or otherwise unattractive. Loving everybody in general may be an excuse for loving nobody in particular.”
- that’s part of what it means to take up ones cross and follow Christ daily…in specific and practical ways…
- C.S. Lewis said, “It is easier to be enthusiastic about Humanity with a capital `H’ than it is to love individual men and women, especially those who are uninteresting, exasperating, depraved, or otherwise unattractive. Loving everybody in general may be an excuse for loving nobody in particular.”
now what do verses 17-18 add to our understanding of all of this?...
- But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.
perhaps we could say it like this…
Loving Others is a Choice to Act, Especially on Behalf of Those in Need
Loving Others is a Choice to Act, Especially on Behalf of Those in Need
this is part and parcel of what it means to participate in Jesus’ Construction Project...building the body of Christ by choosing to love the brothers…
Be on the lookout for those who are weak and/or hurting.
Be on the lookout for those who are weak and/or hurting.
I would encourage you to allow this passage to help you evaluate yourself in this matter…and determine whether some corrections need to be made…
for example, I appreciate the way so many men and women lovingly sacrifice to serve the children and teens of our church and community…to work in the food bank, etc.
everyone would say that we want to be a place that loves children and love people…John will say in his third epistle… - I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.
- John will say in his third epistle… - I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.
Well, how does that happen?...by people willing to sacrifice some time, willing to invest some energy, willing to love so that children can see and hear the truth of God’s Word, so that teens can understand how to face this world with the strength of God in their lives, to provide some relief to their physical hunger so they could find answers to their spiritual hunger
our nursery workers do that, our children’s SS workers do that, our teen ministry workers do that, our food bank workers do that...often those responsibilities are challenging and inconvenient…why do they serve there?...because they have been eternally impacted by the love that Christ showed to them on the cross, they want to love one another…
- often those responsibilities are challenging and inconvenient…and yet we have some people in this church who have been doing that for decades…
- why?...because they are being careful how they build…
- because they have been eternally impacted by the love that Christ showed to them on the cross, they want to love one another…
With a focus on actions not just words.
With a focus on actions not just words.
well, there’s a strong commitment around here…to loving one another…and it’s a beautiful thing to experience…a beautiful thing to behold…
- this is very easy place to serve the Lord…and one of the reasons is because of the number of people here who take this very, very seriously…
- Kris and Bethany and I came here in December of 1987…I had just finished up the residency phase of my doctoral work in Philadelphia…and we were tired, and since I had been in school non-stop since kindergarten, we didn’t have a lot of material possessions…we had just tried to stay one step ahead of the tuition man…
- and we arrived Christmas week with our loaded truck…and we were going to live over at Ashley Oaks apartments…they were brand new at the time…no Lowes, not even the first Wal Mart much less the second and on and on…
- but even during Christmas week…there was a small army of people to help us unload and get everything set up and cleaned up…
- then someone had prepared a meal for all the workers in what we used to call the fireplace room…and I remember standing in line when I felt someone slip something in my pocket…
- In Gary where I grew up, that’s because someone was taking something out…in this case I turned around and realized Pastor Goode was behind me, putting something in…
- and it was a check…and I said what’s this – and he said – that’s your first paycheck….
- and I said – well, aren’t you supposed to work first?...and he said – we know moving is expensive and we just want to lighten the load…
- that illustrates the way my family and I have been treated the entire time we’ve been here…
- and I could tell about how we eventually bought out first home…
- and then how it was made possible for us to purchase a building lot…
- and eventually construct the home where we live now…and all the amazingly generous people who made that possible, with no expectation on our part at all…
- and there were two things very few people knew…
- when we were out on the east coast going through school…housing was so expensive we assumed that if we were going to be in the ministry, we’d never have a house – and that was perfectly OK with us…
- coupled with the fact that my father was concerned about me becoming a pastor [and that’s putting it mildly]…because in his words, I’d always have “bald tires and shiny suits”…in other words, there was no financial stability in it…
- well, there’s a strong commitment around here…to loving one another…and it’s a beautiful thing to experience…a beautiful thing to behold…
- it demonstrates what Jesus is able to do in and through His people…
- and isn’t that exactly what we’re trying to do on these platforms of ministry that God has given us?...find somebody to love…
- [as time allows, could go through various life phases, or specific opportunities even now – taking someone with you to a ball game, hosting a child from the orphanage, preparing to amp up your service at the NCC, etc.