Sermon Tone Analysis

Britains got talent.

Television is full of shows like master chef, the X Factor, the voice or Britains got talent where people put them self in front of millions of people to prove that they have what it takes, to prove that they are worth something.

To show the world that they are good enough.

People go onto these shows seeking approval and for some they get it.

For others, often bolstered by unrealistic encouragement, they don’t receive the acceptance and fame they desire.

At best the receive constructive criticism at worst ridicule.

I have to admit I can’t watch some of the early stages of the X-factor as I cringe and genuinely feel sorry for those who sought three minutes of fame but have been exposed to three minutes of shame for the TV watching publics entertainment.

I struggle with watching kids hopes and dreams dashed in front of millions.

If you want to see kids made to cry, go and stand outside Claires and watch them get their ears pierced.

Why do they put the ear piercing chair in the window?

Some of the contestants on these shows are incredibly talented and the shows are good to watch but I do fear the impact of some of them as their quest to prove they are good enough, ultimately proves they are not.

Or at least they are not as good as the next person or not good enough in the way the latest fad, trend or zeitgeist defines good enough.

Appraisal time.

I had my appraisal this week.

It was an informal thing with no preparation - mainly because I had forgotten it was my appraisal.

It followed the normal pattern: lets’ discuss the things that have gone well this year and the things that have not gone so well.

I reeled off a couple of positives

my move to 4 days a week.

Getting board approval for something

I then listed all the things that had not gone so well

Things that were moving too slowly

Things that we had abandoned

Things put on hold

Both Items out of my control that were causing me pain and where I had dropped the ball.

Projects and actions I just had not had time to do since I dropped to 4 days.

The list was incredibly long but after a while I finished, I looked at my Director and said, “go on then your turn”

His response - “everything is good, the 4 days are working - you have achieved more in twelve months that we could have imagined”

I wish he had gone first.

I could have saved beating myself up.

Why do I tell you this?

Well I think it points to a truth.

You and I will never be good enough.

You will never be good enough

Whatever we do we will never be good enough in our own eyes, or we will never be good enough in someone else’s view.

It does not matter what we do, how good we are at doing it, how often we do it or how much effort we put in.

We will never be good enough according to someone, often ourselves.

Our worth cannot be and should not be based on our efforts, abilities, or out achievements.

All of which are subject to comparison and all of which will fade away.

For the first-century believers in Colossae, one of the major things on their list was spiritual union with God.

They wanted to be right with God, and there was no shortage of people willing to tell them exactly how they could do that.

Some argued for religious observances like circumcision, holy days and rules about food.

Others suggested angel worship and secret rituals, plus other mystical practices.

These might sound ridiculous to us today, no one would think that religious observance would keep us close to God - I don’t know maybe having a quiet time everyday or reading a two-thousand year old text daily.

I am not saying these things are not helpful or that we should not do them - In fact I encourage you all to do them but it’s tempting to hold on to a checklist of things to do — especially when it comes to our relationship with God —as a measure of our worth.

We run into the danger of comparison: I am clearly a better Christian than you because I....

Or I must be a good Christian because I have read this cover to cover four times this month.

Or conversely, they’ve been a Christian for over 40 years and they can quote scripture in their sleep, I am not as good as them

We get trapped into believing being good enough is about what my current bible app streak is - 62 days and 9 perfect weeks if you are wondering.

For the observant you will know that there have been 96 days this year and fourteen weeks - so clearly I am failing.

That is the problem with this tick box theology - we can’t do it.

We can’t keep it up

It doesn’t serve to prove we are good enough.

And it certainly doesn’t make us good enough.

What is does do though, and why it is so attractive is it gives us the illusion of being in control.

My salvation is in my hands, my worth is earned I just need to work hard enough.

- Well guess what?

your salvation is not in your hands, and you can never work hard enough to be worthy in God’s sight.

You will never be good enough without God stepping in.

Paul speaks firmly against these checklist teachings, explaining that those who promote such ideas are not holding on to Jesus.

It’s Jesus alone, Paul says, and He is enough.

Watch out for anyone who tries to tell you otherwise

Colossians 2:9-10

Paul states that all the fullness of the deity (of God) dwells in Jesus in bodily form … and we have been brought to that fullness through Jesus - We are made good enough.

United with Him, we are complete, and that recognising thata reality leads to a thriving life both here and now and also in the age to come.

You and the world may not think you are good enough but Jesus is more than good enough for you and Him

We are made good enough by Christ - that is what is meant by being a new creation,

We need to start every day with this as our truth.

<name> you are a new creation

<name> the old has gone

<name> the new has come.,

<name> you are fearfully and wonderfully made and you are made complete in Christ, a new creation.

This is the starting point from which we measure ourselves.

It makes the the measuring very easy - am I good enough?

Yes.

But I forgot to read my Bible - You’re still good enough, But I shouted at the cat- you’re still good enough.

I been far away from God can I come back - sure You’re still good enough.

I don’t know God - then come and meet him, accept him be transformed, made whole you will be enough.

Using the correct measure

Even though Jesus makes us good enough we still live in a world where our actions speak volumes about us.

Life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it.

John Maxwell.

We can’t not engage with the world, where we are judged by what we do rather than who we are and who we are in Christ, but we can change the rules of the game in terms of how we see ourselves.

Starting from the stance of we are good enough because Christ has made us good enough we can change the way we measure ourselves.

We can move from the measures of our peers, our culture even the critical assessment of Simon Cowl.

We can address the Who, when, what, where and How of how we judge the worth of our actions.

Who

Who’s judgement counts.

It’s great to receive praise.

I have to admit I was buoyed by the comments in my appraisal.

But in the end I didn’t drop to 4 days a week to improve the companies efficiency or reduce their wage bills, I did it because above all I want to hear some very special praise.

I want want to hear - Well, done my good and faithful servant.

Aiming for that eternal statement of you are good enough, from the king of the universe changes your perspective on the feedback of today.

When - Over what time

We measure success on the wrong timescales

When you are made whole in Christ that is eternal

We live in thin sliver of time.

Where is the importance of things that fade away - when Jesus is stood there making us good enough to meet face-2-face with the living God.

I’ll put up with a few years of not living in the largest house that I could buy if I stopped giving first to God - because you know I am going to spend my eternity in my Father’s Mansion - with many rooms.

I don’t mind being the one who shows compassion in the work place and appears less driven - my eternity is secure because someone showed compassion to me.

What impact