Closing Thoughts

If you have a Bible, you can open up to 1st Corinthians chapter 16.

It only took us. A year in a few months to get through 16 chapters. All right. Yeah and 1st Corinthians has not been controversial at all. Has it now it's just a pleasant book letter that we're going to go through time and time again, I actually spent fantastic. I think it's been hugely important and gives us some theological footing some understanding and some practices for our church. I'm not going to lie. I greatly looking forward to getting into Matthew will start that in December with the beginning of Advent those first three weeks of the next 3 weeks. We're going to have just kind of short series coming up that I'm excited about and I'm going to talk in about next week discovering church. And so we'll look at that right about discovering discipleship and Discovery worship. So with all that said 1st Corinthians 16, let me pray father. Thank you for the joy. It is to be your child. Reality used to sit before you and to know that you are good, but you are kind that you are merciful. Did you have patience? And that you have transformed and changed our lives and so we give you thanks for that. And now as we study your word may you continue to pour into us and may we really cherish this time that we have to sit at your feet in the name of Jesus. We ask this. Amen. Amen soap. We're finishing out the letter of First Corinthians and as we do so, we're going to find Paul giving some instruction for this church and also just some information concerning his travel plans and what he desires when he shows up at the church it including he's going to reminder this church in Corinth that though. This was a very difficult letter to write them. He genuinely loves and cares for them. He is concerned for their well-being. And that they shouldn't necessarily take too much of reach you much into the fact that he was hard on them. And so as we go through this closing words of Paul, we're going to find that they're informed instructive and they're going to be that way for our lives as well. And when you're concluding a letter one of the things that you're trying not to do is give new information that you have to explain away and so he is coming through and he's doing up some cleanup work in order for them to understand what he really desires for their church and for us this morning, we're going to get into a little bit of this in terms of our DNA as a church what we been about what we are about and what we're going to continue to be about and I'm going to have Britain flash up this slide right here, and I'm going to read this text to you this morning. It says now concerning the collection for the Saints. As I direct the churches of galatia. So you also are to do on the first day of every week each of you is to put something aside and stored up as you may Prosper there be no collecting when I come and when I arrive I will send those whom you accredited by letter to carry your gift to Jerusalem if it seems advisable that I should go also they will accompany me if I will visit you after passing through Macedonia friend tend to pass through Macedonia and perhaps I'll stay with you or even spend the winter so that you may help me on my journey wherever I go or do you not want to see you now just in passing I hope to spend time with you if the Lord permits I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost for a wide door for Effective work as open to me. There are many adversaries when Timothy comes see that you put him at ease among you freeze doing the work of the Lord as I am. So no one despise him help him on his way in peace that he never returned to me for Expecting him with the brothers now concerning our brother Apollo's. I strongly urged him to visit you with the other brothers. What does not all is well to come now, he will come when his opportunity Be watchful stand firm in the faith ESV. It says act like men or be brave be strong. Let all that you have to be done in love the urge you Brothers, you know that the household estafanous for the conversation and that they have devoted themselves to the service of the Saints be subject to such as labor. I Rejoice to coming Stefano's unfortunate because they have made up for your absence for they refreshed my spirit as well as yours give recognition to such people the Church of Asia send you greetings Aquila and Priscilla together with the church in their house and you hardly greeting in the Lord all the brother send you greetings greet one another with a holy Kiss by Paul write this treating my And if anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed our Lord come the grace of our Lord be with you. My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen. So what we're going to do this morning and we're going to take this. I'm going to look at it and five sections verses 1 through 4. We're going to talk about generosity and generosity really being a core Foundation of who we are as Believers and who we are as a church then in the next section of 5 through 11, we're going to see hospitality is kind of radical Hospitality that Christians are to exude because I'm very old Lord and Savior has shown it to us number three going to look in verse 13 and see that we are to be a watchful people taking watch over our own Doctrine and our own lives. We are to be strong that is to be courageous and how we live in this culture as followers of Jesus. We're going to mop it all up with the loving and I get 5 minutes on each points does not sound fun and doable this morning or I'd is not totally within my wheelhouse to conquer all of that. So was first idea is generosity and what we want to say when it comes to the idea of being generous is this as God has been generous with me in every way I desire to be generous with all that God has graciously given me now. I knew when you showed up this morning you were like cheesy. I hope this pastor talks about money. That is so comfortable for the friends. I invited this morning. That is so not typical of what happens on a typical Sunday morning. Well, you're welcome. Because you came on 1st Corinthians 16 and not last week when Carson talked about proverbs 3 5 and 6 having faith in the Lord. So here we are the morning with Paul's words to this church and he's actually responding to a question that they had and what it taken place and that day and age was the other Saints in Jerusalem. We're in need and Paul makes note of this and he says look there is famine. There is trouble there is problem and because of that I want you guys on the beginning of each week the first day of the week, when you gather to store beside whatever you can generously give in order for us to be an aid and a help and a benefit to the church in Jerusalem in this we cannot Escape pause language. He is being absolutely specific. He is totally clear that Christians ought to be generous with what God has given to him. But Christians ought to be generous with their finances. I need to cling to them what that looks like in their church. But as you knows we talk about generosity in our church, we look at it in three ways time talent and treasure Time talent and treasure so whatever you think about generosity. It's just three legged stool or a tripod that it all rests upon it when we talk about generosity this morning for a brief five or six minutes. I want you to have it in your mind. Not just oh great. They're going to pass the plate. We don't do that. Don't worry. We're not going to embarrass you in that way. But when you look at generosity, absolutely the scripture talks about it in terms of your finances, but it also talks about it in a holistic sense of are you generous with all that? God has given you why generosity the premise for generosity time talent and treasure Sims from the reality that God has radically reformed reshape your entire life. So upon becoming a follower of Jesus. You don't do anything in the way that you used. Uhms same lens anymore. Not your money, not your sexuality. Not your power. Not your strength, not your business, but in all ways of life upon receiving Jesus Christ. There's this new lens in which we are to look at the world the people around us because the gospel has radically reshaped Us in more ways than one God has redeemed us. He has reconciled us got a rescued us his Sanctified us who Justified us. He has made us. Holy all of these things out to make us look at with Jesus is dead or alive and go thank you so much. I'm feeling great about that. And he absolutely hate you and giving you this new lands in which you re-envision life. A Christian has a completely different attitude toward their possession. Because they know it all comes from God. Now parents with your children. We're always a little irked about this aren't we there was a lot of candy given out yesterday right? Lots of and I might go to my children and be like, hey, can you share that with me? And what am I going to say? No, that's mine. I'll go. Okay Benjamin. Let's talk about what yours and let's talk about what's mine because the very bucket that you filled all that junk with was a very bucket that I paid 400 and that cute little Batman get up you're wearing. Yeah, we ordered that not you I made this possible for you. So everything you have child is it actually mine and when you looked at me and you get dripped on something I kind of go. There's example everything that you have. I'm just reshape something. Everything you have your car your home your job your friendship your dog your spouse. Everything has been graciously given to you by the Lord and when we understand that we loosen the grip that we have on it. We begin to say, how can I use this for you. What would it look like for a small group of people who gather to re-envision life in a way that says Lord. This is at your disposal the time you've given me two talents you giving me the treasure but you have given me I want to use it to further your kingdom. God doesn't give up ownership of something when he gives it to you. But you act as a steward and what the stuff that is. It begins to build a relationship between us and the Lord and what she's doing. Will you trust me? Will you use for me the very things that I have given you to further the kingdom of God are one of the areas that I can't you gripped tightly on its time is very limited in the Anderson household why for kids puppy busyness church and so Saturday afternoon, I'm watching some college football and the disruptive text comes in or something that needs to get done or my wife gets up and starts cleaning but claims in a way. I feel guilty that I'm not cleaning. You would never do that hun. How dare you infringe on my time? How dare you make me feel bad that there's a pile of dishes in the sink that I'm waiting for you to get done. All right, and so we can in this is an area. I'm just being frank and honest as write a check and send it into the church or head out a gift card to the 15 transient that walk by our house every single day. This is an area in which I got my time doing is that your time or is that my time at have graciously granted to you? I want us to have the shift in our thinking when we look at our time or town or treasure. Would you say Lord? This has been given to us and you asked of us and what it ends up doing is it frees us from greed. It freezes from selfishness. It freezes from being consumed with ourselves. Not before this church gets extremely squirmish and goes where else is he going to go with this this morning to extremes painted in the scriptures particularly in the New Testament would Jesus there are the Pharisees who are hiding out of their spice racks. They're just getting down to the very tenth of everything that they own their also a greedy group of people that decree this word Corbin which means their aging parents to need their tender love and care. They actually can get out from having to support them in that Culture by saying we are actually dedicating this. Well these things to God, do you have these religious Elites who wanted to have the appearance of generosity but we're doing the exact bare minimum in finding the loopholes in God's law and order to continue to be greedy and get what is there when you have this other picture that's painted with the Rich Young Ruler and he comes in Jesus says if you want to take me serious get rid of everything and come and follow me. Intend to land on either a poverty gospel or a legalistic gospel. And the reality that Paul is painting here at the same with what God has given you what does generosity look like? Redeemers with what God has given you time. How it's a treasure what does generosity look like? It has been extremely generous these floors didn't put themselves in these walls didn't hate themselves things. Don't get set up week in and week out of people dedicate time. They didn't get Khaled Connecticut Treasurer to this church to see the furtherance of the Gospel in addition to that Michael and I were talking about this this week. We as a church went to Steward which you give generously incredibly well and I don't know if you are all aware of what we do in terms of stewardship, but I just want to let loose on a few things. Did you know that we support Curtis Burnham who's a missionary and what he does is he actually trains youth Pastors in Central and South America in order for them to take the gospel into their contact. He also lead missions trips. He was here last year and spoke we have to bring it out again we support And catchy in which were helping restore a camps for kids in Costa. Rica can come and hear and know about Jesus. We met need that arrived in this body and even outside of it. Will there be bills that need to be paid or somebody who needs a meal this church in many ways has been generous and things that you have no idea or clue that go on weekend and week out when a hurricane hit Houston a few years ago. We generously gave to a church down there and the relief and support efforts. Finance can help with the while you're waiting. Retreats for parents who lost children we stewarded your time with Stewart at this building and Waze for the gospel to go forward and we anticipate on doing more of that in light of what Paul is teaching here. for us to be a vibrant functioning healthy Church We me at leadership. We need to pee a generous people number one number to a hospitable people. Hospitality real briefly. Don't just do hospitality. A mindset that says all right. I got these people coming over in a hangout hospitalities going to be excellent. It's going to be great. I'm going to do it. Be hospitable very different. It's a mindset. The way of living is taking something completely on yourself and exhibiting it to the people around if we going to get flashed up here. This is my working definition of it. You won't find it anywhere else Hospitality the Christian way of life that welcomed strangers in their midst by demonstrating intentional hospitality. And I know that he rewarded a little bit for me in a good way dentistry in intentional Hospitality to our neighbors. We as a people need to be incredibly hospitable as a way to show forth the good news of Jesus in our culture. I went to a church in Portland when I first moved up there as a young 20 year old in my children's Pastor, it started this church and thrown it was massive huge. I even had an in he invited me to serve with you to attend college group and I went to the church about 6-7 weeks and then my friend at that time job Mark was play. Tina church and he calls me up and says you need to meet me in downtown Portland. We're planting a church actually our good friend and co-pastor hear Michael. He was leading worship and having a Bible study called the way in your living room. Do you remember this and they invited me to this little bible study of six guys in this room and I go I guess I guess I'll go by checked out this church. I had that one and this one over here and when I begin to go to at that time was called Solid Rock as I showed up. It was the most hospitable group of people I've ever met in my life. I don't remember what Bill Comer Todd on that Sunday or what John Mark was preaching on but I remember the amount of invitations. I had to go to Thanksgiving dinner a different people's homes in a 20 year old living in the city for the first time. I remember being invited to spend time in these friend groups and friends circle. Where do you think I ended up going to church and fellowship e Church didn't just say here's some opportunities to jump in but said come on. As a church, we need to be a hospitable group of people but not only on Sundays but in all areas of our lives. This is one of the ways in which we can show our love and care for people in the community and not just shove Doctrine. And what we declare is truth down their throats. Sure the several times Rosaria Butterfield his familiar with her work. You're not going to know your size yourself with it. You need to be sure of the Gospel comes with house keys. She says this practicing radical ordinary hospitality. Is your street credibility to your post Christian Neighbors. I'm a neighbors. They just don't want to hear from me. I go over there every day with a Bible and tell him Jesus is the way the truth and the life. Uh-uh. Of course, they don't when was the last time you invited them in you break bread and share a meal and spend time to actually get to know them. She goes on to say counterfeit Hospitality comes with strings Christian Hospitality comes with strangers becoming neighbors becoming family of God. That's the truth. We will confront an approach and be willing to engage the culture that's before us. It's going to come with house keys meaning come on into my house and let's get to know one another. Let me show you what this Christian Life is actually all about. It is book on community Brad house said hospitality is as easy as throwing a party Christians really need to repent of their inability to party.

Christian be either look like Ned Flanders okily dokily and over-the-top are there just straight lace straight face and never having fun because God be tempted you had fun. Hi. That character is actually a real one in which the world sees and Views us outs. Back it up Pardi. We're not talking about this frat party ask we look at the scriptures Jesus party, but we don't get drunk Jesus Jesus heading on the Single Ladies. We don't see Jesus participating in life in that way. Hey what Jesus was the life of the party and Ramey followers of Jesus? We better learn how to be a hospitable people. A lot of practical points. We can make it here. But if you're inviting a non-Christian friend over, please put away michael-w-smith. That's just awkward. Please have music going and invite them in. Ask them what they want to drink provide that for them. If they have children set out toys. If you don't have any go get some call me up. We got extras or high. Hope there's some real practical things that we can do as we practice what it looks like to be housed in this world as a church every fifth Sunday. We want to practice radical Hospitality. I want you to invite neighbors and friends and I want them to see the gospel on display at we just right thread on Sunday mornings and share a meal with each other on 5th Sundays. We intentionally do not to develop rhythms of hospitality within our own church. We went that you can transfer over into your lives as well. I wish you were home and people can walk into and it's comfortable welcoming. It's inviting. I'm ready to Simply share life with them in hopes of being able to share honestly the gospel and the good news of Jesus with them. This is the reputation of the early Church in Acts, 2:47. They went away praising God having favor with all people has that been the testimony of the church or your own life. Radical Hospitality does not close itself off and get into its own little group and never invite welcome. Anybody else in radical hospitality is looking for the marginalized the outcast. Even on a Sunday morning the person who walks in here and it's kind of like this is this is weird last Sunday. I had the opportunity as I was in Moline to be a guest at another church. You're a guest. I understand what you're probably feeling right now. That's a little different than maybe how I've seen it done I've been too or I had no idea what I was even getting myself into this weekend with opportunity as a people to show Hospitality by welcoming and inviting them in at a church. That's what we desire to be third one. He says Be watchful and it's to stand fast in the face. What we will camp on here is as a church methods not message or allowed to change. When we were a mobile Church in the first five years we change locations five types. So if you were here from the beginning you were very used to change my favorite location. We ended up at the Catholic church just there on 12th Street in Ravenna. For a year. And as I read of this from this guy named Robert Nichols is great musician the old man. Love them to death. There is this huge ugly piano organ kind of thing in that church and he goes you guys want to keep this, right? Rodger no, man, no, man, we don't want to keep this pipe organ in this place. I know it looks cool and looks awesome. Now, could you imagine saying that if the family or families that were still in that place put forth all of their money just to buy it. So in the 50s or 40s, they could have a pipe organ which was cutting edge in Revolutionary. Absolutely not. But those organs at least here and Oregon and on the west coast are not something that we see in our gathering all too often methods. I changed contextualisation that's happened. I look out there and you guys all look like Redmond Heights. When I was in the Pulpit last weekend, I think I was the first guy in that church to ever wear jeans. I'm not even kidding, right contextualisation ones not better than the other. I rid of a church planter in Baltimore, and he wanted to reach his culture protected wearing Ray Lewis jerseys in other guys from the Baltimore Ravens, and the people finally came to the said. What are you doing wheel of dressing up on Sundays? That's the culture kit with it, buddy. Understand that methods they can change but the message that we have concerning our Doctrine and our life is essential. Why is that what we believe about God is going to influence how we live our lives Dallas Willard wrote when State and came to even to Adam to punch them. He did not come with a stick or a baseball bat and hit him over the head and drag them away to go sin against God. He implanted and idea in their mind is God good. I'm in that influence their decision and influence their direction to what does that mean for you? And I taking careful watch over our Doctrine is incredibly important and as a church, we are Orthodox in our beliefs. Apostles Creed Weezy and Covenants the idea that Trinity and Cheese's got a father God the son God the holy spirit in creation the foundational truths that shape our lives that shape our church that do not change. But other than that, you can expect things to change and that's okay. That's okay names of groups might change floors might change walls might change would like to change things. I'm a millennial but I do we change things but who we are as a people and our mission and vision for this church is what it was. When were the same thing now as a state thing going forward. We want people to know Jesus, we believe Jesus changes lies and we are going to stand firm on that truth. And in reality Styles might change in those methods might change, but who we are as followers of Jesus. It's not going to change. Well almost finally Pastor finally point for I got a v point after that. Be strong. What is this mean learning how to live in the margins as a contrast culture rejecting both synchronism and isolationism. What in the world does that even mean? Since the mid-90s the popularity of Christianity has declined write an article with Ben Roethlisberger. He became a follower of Jesus a few years ago and This Was I Thinkin 2017 and he said being a Christian is actually pretty cool. I understand his sentiment and I truly believe in what he's saying. They're what he meant there but is being a Christian actually cool. Cuz right now when I tell somebody I'm a Christian, like I'm a Christian and I was going to say to me because I got things like he's a real cool your Christian. You're a big at your these things and in our culture right now only going to say this is what I Believe In following Jesus and what it means to be a follower of Jesus. There's a lot of assumption that the world comes hurling throwing at us. They believe that they have this character sure of what it means to be a Christian and they hold that up and they assume But anybody who identifies as a follower of Jesus has to fit into that box the bear with me. We are Orthodox in our belief. We believe the scriptures are authoritative. We believe they're inspired. We believe they're the inerrant word of God and it actually have weight Creek is speak into our lives and tell us how to live today that is essential and important. But if we're going to be the kind of people that follow me, the scripture has two mentalities one is to Simply recluse High disengage from culture. The other is to try to highly influenced and change culture through synchronism joining in politics everything else and thinking that in those ways. We can join the powers-that-be and we can usher in bring in our idea of what the kingdom is. They tried that 313 a d with Constantine. How did it go? Very good not very good super call to live in the margins in this third creative way in which we can stand strong and be both as we talked about a few weeks ago culture tells us everything about ourselves what we eat what we drink what Fork to use with spoon to use it tells us everything how to operate how to dress. Jesus comes and he says I've made you a new people a holding Haitian and I want to give you strength and power to live boldly in the face of a culture that's going to disagree with you, but you must engage with it. Think it's real personal for a lot of us get some of the things that scripture calls us to stand for our not very popular today easier to go to weigh. The pope just went to correct these here to go the way of a Jen hatmaker and be popular and accepted and not stand for things of scriptures discusses teaches talks about declares to be true and right now in our culture we live in Redmond. Remnants fairly conservative and we don't feel a lot of the pressure is right now, but I can tell you there's a Time Coming. as a follower of Jesus that we will have to stand firm and make bold claims that are unpopular and that the world will hate us for Paul is preparing this church just for that in court. I want you to be strong, but don't be a jerk. Listen, we can accept and love someone without having to a firm and agree. I'm talking about power structures sexuality gender just as whole big mess of this cultural time that we live in we can accept and love someone without having to a firm and agree with them. Rosario wrote is a core difference between sharing the gospel with the lost and imposing a specific moral standard on the unconverted. She has a way to approach love and care for the loss. But how many have done it in the past? It's not cracked. How do we go about this? We remember Jesus he lived in the margins. Didn't he loved by some hated by many persecuted Out cast filled with the Holy Spirit the same. Holy spirit that filled him tells you feels me to strengthen and power to allow for us to stand up in the face of evil and Justice wrongdoing also to stand for truth. Maria's declared Be strong redeemers number 5. I'll close out here at this be loving. We spent an entire Sunday on this 1st Corinthians, 13:11. That look like go read Paul's letter go read chapter 13 to listen to the text. But I'll give you a quick short definition knowing you are first and foremost loved and accepted by God which Powers you to love others without any expectation in return. What this means is because you're loved by God you go forth and love others and I envisioned this this morning. I saw this is sort of building a table generosity is a leg of the table hospitalities a leg of the table Doctrine standing firm on truth and leg of the table being bold in the face of culture and then love is the top that gets laid in which we invite people to come and dine out with us. I want to be loving I want us to be loving and in order to do so, we need to have a foundation that can actually put forth love and kindness and generosity and Hospitality being able to speak the truth in love and boldness so we can welcome people in and we can love one another. Wow, because Jesus and what he has done this is possible with prayer and thank you Lord for your love and your kindness and your generosity towards us. You are the example And the one who is the way in all of these things?

If we learn from you and sit at your feet because you have changed us you called us you made us your own and we go forth and live this down in our community and see your kingdom move forward inviting many people in in Jesus name.