Sermon Tone Analysis

Being a Christian is 2019 is hard.

Now, don’t get me wrong, being a follower of Christ has always been hard.

A read through the Bible and a course in church history will show you that there has never been a time when being a Christian was comfortable or easy.

But I do believe that being a Christian in 2019 in America comes with a new set of challenges that really require some thoughtful and prayerful work.

For example, church attendance- generally speaking- is at the lowest level in recorded history.

Many churches are struggling to grow and retain members.

Going hand in hand with that is giving is at an all time low- many churches are struggling to pay their bills and keep their doors open.

The church is more political than it has ever been- there has been deep divide in every denomination over issues such as sanctity of human life, sexual ethics, immigration, and Biblical authority.

As one friend of mine said “it seems as though the glory days of the church may be in the rear view mirror.”

I find myself reciting quite often these days “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it”

Today I want to examine a passage that may shine some light on our current situation.

In some ways we are a people living in exile.

Now, we may not have a firm grasp on what it means to live in exile physically like some people in the world, but I would argue that we certainly live in an exile of sorts Spiritually.

So, today I want to see what we might be able to glean from a letter that the prophet Jeremiah once wrote to the people of Israel when they were exiles in Babylon.

First, let’s remember some context here.

Jeremiah is writing a letter confirming that for 70 years the people will be in exile- that is a long time!

The content of this letter is not positive.

The people were probably hoping that Jeremiah would say “hang tight, God is going to quickly deliver us” but that is not the case.

The people are to buckle down for a multi-generational exile.

So, let’s see what the are called to do in the midst of this reality.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), .

Verses 5-6 “Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce.

6 Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease” The first exaltation for Jeremiah can be summed up with simply saying LIVE YOUR LIFE!

Perhaps you have heard the old saying “some people are so focused on heaven they are worthless on Earth.”

Some of the Israelites had developed the plan to do nothing while they were in exile because they were convinced it was not going to last that long.

Why would they bother building a home, or getting married, or having kids as exiles if they would be back in their homeland soon?

Some Christians and churches live their lives this way, they have checked out.

This what part of what Paul saw in Thessolinica when he wrote 1 Thess, people stopped living their lives because they thought Jesus was coming back so quickly.

Friends, God has given us life so that we can live.

Jesus wants us to live good and pleasing lives.

He wants us to find spouses, have children, go to that football game, take time to go shopping, or fishing- live a good life!

Even though we live as an exiled people we are still called to live.

v7- 7 But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.

This is probably my favorite verse in this section.

Jeremiah’s encouragement to the people is to not place themselves in a bubble, but seek the welfare of the place they are.

As the people of God made their way throughout Babylon they were surrounded by false idols, interacting with people who did not serve the same God like they did, and people who were unquestionably opposed to their faith, and what is Jeremiah’s charge to them?

Seek the welfare of that city!

Do good for them, love them, pray for them.

One of the challenges that we face as the people of God is to resist the temptation to become insular.

Many a church has perished and met the end of their ministry because they become so internally focused.

Some call this naval gazing.

Jesus is not a naval gazing God- he was and always is focused on the people situated around him.

One of the tensions that we must live in in church culture is the tension between those inside the church and those outside the church.

It can be tempting to be focused on self-preservation when times get tough in church.

When finances get tough at the church, what is one of the first things to be cut?

Outreach

If attendance drops and volunteers get harder to find, what are the first kind of programs that usually suffer?

Outreach.

Instead, Jesus says, outreach should be part of our DNA.

Do you believe that this church is placed on the top of this hill on Mt Zion Rd be coincidence?

Was our place here randomly decided by chance?

Or, do you believe that God ordained this church to be here at this exact spot for this exact community?

I believe the second.

Could it be that God saw this community of people and said I need someone to be my ambassador to those people, and he placed us here.

He then brought you, and me, and all of us who call this place home to this church for a purpose?

Because that is what I believe.

I believe that you are not just here by your own choices, I believe God has drawn every one of us to this particular church for a reason.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), .