Welcome to a New Year
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Intro:
Intro:
Good morning. Welcome to TRC. I hope everyone had a Happy New Year!
I like to start each year off spending time discussing our vision for the year - where we (as a church) are going in 2020. Hence, the little Lego man picture with 2020 (and glasses for vision)!
Exegesis:
Exegesis:
Legos are awesome toys. If you will, they are the building blocks of our children’s development. They teach kids foundational things, from sharing to creativity to learning how to think systematically - all things we use later in life when we’ve grown up.
But also Legos make a great example for teaching spiritual principles. Therefore, we will be using Legos as a theme throughout the year to help us focus on one important theme in 2020: Growing in Christ.
And that’s important to us at The River Church. If you read our vision:
Building communities who love Jesus and bring joy to others.
You will notice the theme of “growth” is built into that statement:
Growing as a church family (building communities).
Growing in our love for Jesus.
Growing the Kingdom of God (bringing joy to others).
Even our mission (which is 3 simple words) involves growth: Know, GROW, go.
And this year we are focusing on GROWING as a church, specifically growing in spiritual maturity. That’s what’s in store for 2020. And Legos are going to help with that!
So, if you have your Bible/app, open to 1 Peter chapter 2. FYI - this is our FOUNDATIONAL passage for the year ; therefore, we are going to spend a couple of weeks on this verse. And before we read our passage, let’s get a little context, so we can better understand what Peter is talking as we start chapter 2.
Peter wrote this letter to Christians living in the Roman Empire when Nero was emperor. And Nero was little bit crazy. One tradition says, one time Nero purposefully burned Rome (so he could rebuild it the way he liked), and blamed it on the Christians. Afterwards, as punishment, he fed Christians to lions and burned their bodies on poles as night lights.
It’s likely why Peter wrote...
In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
And it’s these Christians - ones going through extreme trials - that are Peter’s audience.
And in chapter one, Peter reminds them of three things:
God has given us a new life. We have been born again into life that has a living hope! That’s our identity in Christ!
But we still live in a fallen world, where bad things happen, even to Christians. And trials can impact our faith, especially when they cause us to take our eyes off Jesus.
Therefore, he encourages them to remember who they are in Christ. And to live in that new life. To HOLD onto that because trials can’t take away the new life God has given us in Jesus.
And while that is encouraging news, it’s easier said (or heard) than done. And Peter knows this. So, he begins chapter 2 teaching us how to keep live with biblical hope, no matter the circumstances of our lives. And it involves a crucial step: GROWING IN CHRIST.
And that’s what Peter talks about in chapter 2. That’s what we’re going to talk about in 2020. And that’s what Legos are going to help us understand!
This past year, my son Kade has been really into Legos, specifically Lego Star Wars. But my youngest son, Nole, has started to play with Legos too. Most of you know Nole is autistic. I mention that because I think it’s influences the way he plays with Legos.
Nole is super creative with them. And he will build crazy things that are color-coordinated. And he is very detail-orientated. So much so that he will freak out if a piece breaks off or goes missing. It might be something we overlook, but Nole notices it! In his mind, without the piece, it’s incomplete.
You know who’s also detail-oriented? God. Just look at creation. Look at the details that go into the human eye. Jesus said, “even the hairs on your head are all numbered!” God cares about details!
And one of the details He cares about are our lives. How we live matters. It’s part of God’s details because God has a plan for us. And that plan involves us GROWING. The apostle Paul taught the Ephesians to...
Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.
And with the same growth principle in mind, Peter writes...
So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.
Now, there’s something interesting here in the original language. The phrase “so put away” isn’t written in command form. Actually, it’s put in away that suggests “You need to make this CHOICE for yourself!” And over the next year, this is an important concept we’ll talk about… that part of GROWING in Christ involves CHOOSING to live in your identity in Christ. It involves the realization that, “I am a new person in Christ. Therefore, I’m going to live that way! The old person is gone!”
And honestly, it’s a choice most of us, even the most mature Christians, have to make daily. Until Jesus comes back or we go to heaven, we will need to daily choose Jesus over our sinful desires. And that’s why Peter starts off this way...
And here’s why that’s applicable to us today: Because right now some of us keep choosing to live as the “old you.” We don’t apply the freedom Jesus has given us. We don’t live the life Jesus has given us. And we get stuck! And it is my desire that our church would not let SIN keep us from SEEING God’s purpose for our lives in 2020.
And since it’s the first week of the New Year, commit to getting rid of the old stuff and living your new life in Christ. If you do, you will GROW!
Exegesis:
Exegesis:
How do we grow? The first step involves getting rid of all the old “habits” that used to define you when you weren’t following Christ. The things go against God’s ways.
This verse summarizes the “old you.” At least it should summarize the “old you.” But the reality is... sometimes it still defines the “new you!” It’s not supposed to be that way. So, Peter says, if that’s happening, “Put it away!” or “Throw it off!”
Now, there’s something interesting here in the original language. The phrase “so put away” isn’t written in command form. Actually, it’s put in away that suggests “You need to make this CHOICE for yourself!” And over the next year, this is an important concept we’ll talk about… that part of GROWING in Christ involves CHOOSING to live in your identity in Christ. It involves the realization that, “I am a new person in Christ. Therefore, I’m going to live that way! The old person is gone!”
Now, there’s something interesting in the original language. The phrase “so put away” isn’t written in command form. Actually, it’s written in away that suggests “YOU need to make this CHOICE for YOURSELF!” And over the next year, this will be an important concept for us to learn… that GROWING in Christ involves CHOOSING to live in your NEW life. It involves realizing, “I am a new person in Christ. Therefore, I’m going to live that way! The old me is gone!”
And you know what, it’s a choice even the most mature Christians have to make daily. We ALL need to take up our cross daily! In this life, we need to DAILY CHOOSE Jesus over our sinful desires (the old ways).
And here’s the application for us today: Right now, some of us keep choosing to live in the old life. We don’t live in the freedom Jesus has given us. We don’t live in the new life. And so we’re stuck! And it is my HOPE that our church chooses to GROW into our new life. That we would not let SIN keep us from SEEING CLEARLY God’s purpose for our us in 2020.
And since it’s the first week of the New Year, now’s a great time to commit to getting rid of the old stuff and living your new life in Christ. To choose to GROW!
Peter goes on to say...
Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.
1 Pet 2:2
If we want to GROW, first we get rid of “old” stuff, THEN we add “new” stuff. And to teach us this, Peter uses an example that still makes a lot of sense to us 2000 years later.
When we have a baby, how do we ensure they grow? One extremely important way is to feed them milk! Milk is what they need! We get this, right?
Well, the same thing is true spiritually for us. How do we GROW in the Christ? We eat “pure spiritual milk,” which is the Word of God. God wants us to grow. And the way He designed babies to grow is similar to how we spiritually grow: By drinking milk. If you want to GROW, you got to get the MILK - you got to get the WORD in you!
Just real quick... I don’t believe verse 3 is meant to cast doubt on whether we belong to Jesus; in fact, just the opposite. I believe when Peter is saying, “if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good,” he’s really just saying, “You guys belong to Jesus, right? Good. Then you get this!”
So we grow by:
Getting rid of the old stuff.
Getting God’s word into us.
And next, understand JESUS is both our direction and destination.
Look at verses 4 & 5...
As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious,
Don’t miss that first phrase, “As you come to him...” It’s a key part of GROWING. First, in this passage, it’s synonymous with feeding on the Word of God; but also, if we are to grow as men and women of God, we have to go to Jesus. Jesus has to be the direction of our lives. Meaning, we focus on Jesus, then move in His direction.
When it comes to GROWing, this is a super important spiritual lesson. Actually, it’s one of my favorite definitions of discipleship.
Discipleship isn’t a destination, it’s a direction. In this current life, we never “arrive” as a disciple. It’s not a class or book we complete. It is a direction of life. Discipleship is constantly moving towards Christ!
However, while discipleship isn’t a destination, Jesus is. Meaning, Jesus our standard and we don’t stop growing until we are like Him. Jesus is THE “living stone” and we are to be “living stones.” And we don’t stop moving towards Jesus until that happens - until we arrive at THAT destination. And let me assure you, no one in this room has arrived yet!
GROWING in Christ involves a process of continually coming to Jesus and becoming like Jesus.
And so, GROWING in Christ involves a process of continually COMING to Jesus and BECOMING like Jesus. As Christians, we should always be growing. Go back to the baby-example. If babies stay babies, something is wrong! Babies are supposed to grow. If you’re 50 years old and you’re still a baby, there’s a problem (except if you’re baby Yoda)!
But sometimes we have people who have been Christians for 20 years, but are STILL babies. They should be teaching, but they haven’t grown. Those aren’t REALLY 20 year old Christians. They are Christians who are 2 years old, 10 times. That’s not right! Something is wrong with that. We need to GROW!
God wants us to grow. It’s part of His design.
Don’t get me wrong. It’s not like God won’t use us until we grow to a certain stage. God uses us AS we grow. God does RADICAL things through new Christians (baby Christians).
But the MORE we GROW, the MORE USEFUL we become in the Kingdom. The MORE EQUIPPED we are for His calling on our life. God can trust us with bigger things.
Take my friend years ago, when we started TRC, I probably wouldn’t trust Jude with running the livestream. He wasn’t ready. But this young man has GROWN both physically and spiritually in the past 3 years. Now, he does an EXCELLENT job. He’s become MORE USEFUL as he’s matured, as he’s GROWN.
God’s got a plan and purpose for our lives, but it requires us to grow. When we don’t, we can’t live the way God intended. And as a church, we shouldn’t be okay with that!
As we look toward 2020, I want us to resolve to do the very opposite. Instead of being content or stuck, I want us to PASSIONATELY “grow up into [our] salvation.”
[Pass out Duplo]
Because look at what God has for us. It’s amazing.... Verse 5...
you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
It’s just a glimpse, but do you see what God is planning? What we get to be a part of as we grow in Christ? If you got room, write these down...
When we’re growing in Christ, we’re becoming something beautiful. God takes our life and forms it into a “spiritual house.” A house that God Himself dwells in! We think the White House is special because Presidents live in it. How special is the house God lives in?!?
When we’re growing in Christ, we’re becoming someone beautiful. As Christians, our new life involves being part of His holy priesthood. You are ridiculously special! You have an extremely important role in His Kingdom!
Finally, when we’re growing in Christ, we accomplish something beautiful. A person growing in Christ, worships God! That’s the most important and meaningful thing we could ever do - GLORIFY God! As the church of old stated, “The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.”
Response:
Response:
As we close, I want you to look at the Lego (or rather Duplo) piece you have in your hand. There’s a reason it’s Duplo, but you’ll find that out later.
I would like for you to hold onto that piece for two weeks. Whatever piece it is, let it remind you that you are part of something much bigger than yourself. You’re part of a set. You have a purpose and a place in something that God is building. So, keep it in a visible place. And keep it in a place where you won’t lose it.
And let me tell you why it’ll be important to guard this piece. Because in two weeks, I’m going to have you bring your piece back to service and during the sermon, I’m going to have Kade build the set. My hope is that every piece will be present and we’ll have a complete set.
Because here’s the thing: If you’ve ever worked with Legos, you know that sometimes the insignificant pieces are the important pieces needed to finish the set - finish that house you’re building. Without it, the set is incomplete.
That’s like the church - the spiritual house of God. When we don’t grow or are missing, the set is incomplete. There are no insignificant people in the church. Everyone is needed. We need everyone to GROW so God can do something beautiful here in Glastonbury. So, let this piece also remind you of your need to GROW in Christ.
But growing in Christ isn’t just about holding onto a Duplo piece for two weeks, so let me give you a two steps for spiritual GROWTH in 2020:
First, make sure you practice “coming to Jesus.” Meaning, make sure you spend time in God’s Word - that you read/listen (listening counts!) to the Bible. Some of you guessed I would say this because I ALWAYS say this. Which is true, I do ALWAYS say this. That’s because it’s IMPORTANT!
What did we read earlier? God’s word is spiritual milk to us. If we want our baby to be healthy, we feed the baby milk! So, if the Word of God is how we grow spiritually healthy, why do we starve ourselves? That’s not good!
Read the Bible. Give yourself the ability to GROW! If you don’t have a Bible, we can give you one. If you have a smartphone, you can download YouVersion Bible app!
Again, it counts when you listen to the Bible. I was just talking to my buddy about that. Hearing the Word of God is still feeding on the Word of God. It’s still getting God’s Word into your life! You will still GROW!
And if you’re intimidated because the Bible is hard to understand, that’s okay! It was hard for me when I first started (it still is). That’s because we’re ALL growing. But we need to eat! And let me also suggest the New Living Translation on YouVersion. It is a very easy-to-read, but still accurate translation of the Bible.
Additionally, if you have YouVersion, friend me on it! If you need to know how to do that, see me after service. The reason why is starting Monday, I’m inviting people to join me in reading a 7-day devotional plan that’s about “How to read the Bible” on YouVersion. We can read the plan together and also ask questions on the discussion board.
And why THAT is important is our second step for GROWTH: Be in COMMUNITY! Check it out, you don’t grow in insolation. God didn’t designed it that way. We are designed to be in relationship with God and each other - in COMMUNITY!
Remember, God loves details. And one of the details he’s concerned about is you being part of your local church - part of His body. Because without you, it’s incomplete.
Additionally, it’s a little bit gross, but think about the body. If we cut off (or isolate) a part, it doesn’t grow - it dies. If you want to grow, prioritize being at church with your church family. AND--- Get plugged into a Life Group! If you need help with that, come see me or any person with a green lanyard on. Or turn in a Connect Card and check the box on “Tell me about my next steps.” We will help you with that!
I’m going to call the worship team forward.
As we move into 2020, I envision, I want our church to grow into a strong healthy church that impacts Glastonbury and beyond with the gospel. And that starts with all of us being committed to GROWING in Christ in 2020.
Let’s pray.
Hold onto the Duplo. Value it. Let it remind you of how precious your life is. That it’s worth guarding and keeping because it’s part of something bigger that is incomplete when missing.