Making Wise Decisions: The Right Discipleship

Intro

Wow, we’ve been through quite a bit and there is much more ahead.

I’ve been talking with a lot of other pastors this week and there is some encouraging signs. Most of us have never gone online with services before. But those who have just made the switch are discovering that many times more people are checking it out online than ever attended in person. This represents a huge opportunity for us.

Some of you first took notice that things would not be normal on that fateful week when the stock market plunged and you began to worry about your future. Then, the virus spread from other nations to our own, and you began to worry not about your future, but your present. Some of you (like me) have shown symptoms. It’s probably not Covid-19 but you don’t really know. And so, you’ve taken the social distancing a step further already.

And now, we’ve been told to stay at home.

I always felt that I was able to find peace in turbulent times. Those are times when things go so fast and it’s impossible to catch a breath. Well, this week has taught me that I struggle on the other side. When confined and unable to get out, my mind races to the next activity.

Bear that in mind as I preach today’s message. This message is for us today - in the midst of a pandemic and stay at home orders. It is a message for us who follow Christ as a reminder to ensure that we really are who we say we are.

I don’t feel as though we need a catchy introduction today. We are on the edge of the unknown and there is a lot of fear and anxiety about what will happen in the next few months. The virus that we heard about in January has now made its way to us in our state.

Our governor said on Wednesday that if we did nothing, thousands of Minnesotans would die from this. Our strategy is to elongate the season of infection so that our medical systems can keep pace with the infections. That means a radical change of lifestyle so that others may live.

Hmmm, that sounds familiar to me somehow. Maybe we’ve forgotten our reason for existing as followers of Christ. Aren’t we the ones who have been called to live a radically different life so that others may live?

The Sermon on the Mount is a call to citizens of the kingdom to live a radical life so that the kingdom of God might thrive as people embrace Christ and his ways.

Radical?

God blesses the poor, the hungry, the meek, and the persecuted.

We must think and act towards others as if they too were created in the image of God and are worthy of honor.

We must stop doing acts of righteousness to show others how good we are and start living as if only God sees us.

We are not to strive to make our own lives comfortable and predicable, but to share our wealth generously, especially to those less fortunate, and God will take care of our essential needs.

Rather than taking care of our own reputation and disputes with one another, we should place ourselves in his hands. We should forgive when we want revenge. We should be more concerned with our own sins than the sins of others.

We must act towards others as we would have them act towards us.

So, we have choices to make. Will we choose the right path? Will we listen to the right voices?

The previous section dealt with those who are deceivers in the Kingdom. Don’t listen to their voice.

The previous section dealt with those who are deceivers in the Kingdom.

Today’s sections deals with those in the Kingdom who have themselves been deceived. They believe that they are following Christ but are actually following something else. Rather than saying “Thy kingdom come” the way they live as though it’s their kingdom that really matters.

As we enter into a time of great uncertainty about life as we know it. And uncertainty about your own life as you know it. Wouldn’t it be comforting to know that you haven’t been deceived about what the Christian life is all about?

Big Idea: What is the kingdom of God all about? And who gets to be part of it?

I hope that you are wearing steel-toed slippers at home this morning, because Jesus will be stepping on some toes.

I hope that you are wearing steel-toed slippers at home this morning, because Jesus will be stepping on some toes.

Let’s dive in...

Matthew 7:21–23 NIV

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

1. Calling yourself a Christian doesn’t make you one.

look at how many times the word “Lord” is used.

Wearing a Kirk Cousins jersey on Sundays doesn’t make you Kirk Cousins.

Myth: knowing God is all that it takes.

Helmut Thielicke, A Little Exercise for Young Theologians. (1962)

I remember this short little book that I first read in seminary. I pulled it back out this week. I re-read about the dangers of theology without love. About knowing about God and truly knowing God.

IL: I remember when I got my first ipad. I had downloaded an app that showed the stars and constellations and gave them a name. It knew the date, time, and location and showed the skies above me. But as I gazed on the app I wasn’t overwhelmed with the vastness of space and the breadth of God’s creation. Somehow, in my desire to know it I had lost my sense of wonder.

Because I am constantly curious I often find myself in my time in the word heading off on rabbit trails (Good thing I’ve disciplined myself in my preaching. wink wink). It’s as if I’m having breakfast with Jesus himself. Only I’m not really getting to know him. I’m too busy reading interesting things about him. In my minds eye, I see him reach out, lower my tablet, and direct my attention to him alone. Just to talk.

It is entirely possible to know all about Christ - even to call him “Lord”. So, there needs to be a genuine relationship with Christ.

In my life, I find that relationship mostly in prayer and meditation. But I’ve stuggled in that over the last few weeks. I’m asking God to show up in a different way now. How do you find your relationship with God most alive?

I asked this question of a new mentoring relationship in my life. For him, the Lord shows up most naturally in face-to-face relationships with others. This time will be a crucible of faith for him. Will God still show up when he’s not surrounded by people?

For others it is in worship. But what happens when we can’t worship together? Will God reveal himself to you differently in this time? Yes. God shows up in a different way.

Perhaps it will be in solitude. Perhaps it will be in desperation. Perhaps it will be in study. Or a resurgence of written communication. Or you’ll learn to use technology.

It’s a funny thing, this growing in Christ. I believe that my own efforts at Christ-likeness are only a small portion of my growth. The greater part is the circumstances, events, and people that God brings into my life.

Q: How will God show up in your own life during this time? I believe that God will be doing some incredible relationship building with people during this time.

Trans: there is a danger in only knowing about Christ.

But there is another subtle danger for us (and the church) that is activity without relationship.

2. Doing Christian things doesn’t make you one.

in your name, in your name, in your name.

Matthew 7:22 NIV

22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’

mt 7

Acts 19:13–16 NIV

13 Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.” 14 Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. 15 One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?” 16 Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.

As I read that I obviously see the repetition of the name. But even more so I see the emphasis on the “we”. Did we not prophesy. Didn’t “we” drive out demons? Didn’t “we” perform miracles. I’m not sure why the NIV didn’t include all three “we’s”, but they are there in the original language.

Look, It is even possible to drive out demons but not know Christ.

Acts 19:13–16 NIV

13 Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.” 14 Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. 15 One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?” 16 Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.

What do the demons know?

here: they know who’s real and who’s phony.

I once heard a message with the title, “Do the demons know your name?”

They know Christ. They know Paul. Are you making headlines in the demon’s news feeds?

What else do demons know?

In James we read that they are masters of doctrine, but they are still under a curse.

James 2:18–19 NIV

18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

Q: So then, it’s really about doing rather than knowing?

How many things that we do in the name of Christ are really about us?

The hypocrites give to the poor

The hypocrites fast

The hypocrites pray (all from Matt 6)

but it is all for show. It is so that people will notice them and applaud them for their good deeds.

this pandemic will be areal proving ground for our faith.

Proverbs for a Pandemic

The fool says, “how much money do I have left?” the wise person says, “How big is my God who is able to supply everything I need!”

The fool says, “I’d better hoard more than what I might need.” and the wise person says, “How can I love my neighbor by being generous with what I have?”

The fool says, “I’d better hoard what I might need.” and the wise person says, “How can I love my neighbor?”

the fool says, “I’m strong and healthy, I don’t have to be cautious.” The wise person says, “Even though I’m not at great risk, I don’t want to transmit something to those who are.” (this last week I worked from home for this very reason. I don’t believe that I have the virus, but I’ve experienced symptoms since Monday afternoon.)

“Even though I’m not at great risk, I don’t want to transmit something to those who are.” (this last week I worked from home for this very reason.)

The fool says, “Somebody had better take care of this for me.” The wise person says, “I will be the somebody that takes care of someone else.”

The fool says, “I hope that I survive.” the wise person says, “I hope that my community survives.” (this boils down to the essential question. Do I believe that Christ is mainly interested in me? Or is he interested in me to share his love for others?)

The fool says, “I hope that Bethel Baptist Church survives.” The wise person says, “I will work to see that my community survives.” “And we will make a difference.”

I will tell you here. In the near future, our community will be in great need. And after it has passed is going to ask, how did those who claimed to know Christ respond to the greatest need we’ve ever faced?

Where would Jesus be today?

What will our legacy be?

Transition:

Doing good things doesn’t make you good.

Knowing about God doesn’t make you know God personally.

What does it take?

3. Knowing God and Doing God’s will makes one a true follower of Christ.

We need to make sure that our relationship with Christ is thriving.

Spend time in the word of God. Rather than using your time at home binge-watching that show you’ve wanted to follow, spend time binge-reading the word of God. You still have the same 24 hours.

We need to make sure that we are doing God’s will right now.

What is the mission of the Church? To love God and love our neighbor. to make disciples.

Right now, our state government is reimagining how our places of entertainment, (stadiums and public places) can be made into hospitals.)

What are we doing to get ready for the next phase of this pandemic. If I heard the governor correctly, if we kept doing life as usual, thousands of people will die. But if we change our behavior, thousands more will survive.

Let’s take that same principle and apply it to the call of the church. I’m wondering about the big picture of Mankato, If the numbers reveal anything, about 80% of people here are not followers of Christ. But what if Bethel woke up and asked, “how can we make a difference in that number?”

Dear Bethel, if we want to keep things the same way and one day return to the same old normal… people will not make it to heaven.

Is God waking us up at such a time as this to move us out of an inward, survival focus. And move us toward an external focus on lost people?

Matthew 7:21 NIV

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

matt 7

Many will say to me on that day, Lord, Lord, did we not have traditional and contemporary worship in your name so that each one could have what they want? Did we not have programming for our church people in your name? Did we not meet often in the ravine and in our homes with our Christian friends name so that we would remain unstained by the world? Didn’t we even give to missions in your name so that others might know you?

Matthew 7:23 NIV

23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

Dear church. This is the time to dig deep into our relationship with Christ. And it is the time to step into our faith with works that match our love for Christ. How much we love our Lord will be reflected in how much we love our neighbors.