Values

Framing a New Vision Sermon Series

Last Sunday we began to frame new vision for PCC

Idea was to lay out an image of what PCC could be (where are we going?) - vision that would stir our hearts, what Will Mancini calls “redemptive passion”, get excited about being part of what God is doing

We began to lay out vision with idea of picture frame (think of puzzle, we want to begin with borders as a way to set our focus

Overview, over the four Sundays of this series, we’re going to build the frame, talk about each of the four sides of the frame

Last Sunday we began with mission, question, what are we going to do? And our mission is to lead others into the abundant life that is available through Jesus Christ.

Today we’re going to talk about the values, those core convictions that underlie everything we do. Answers the question Why are we doing this?

Next Sunday, third side will be our strategy, how are we going to do this?

And then on November 22, we’ll look at the fourth edge, which is the Measures, how do we know when we’re successful?

Caveat on all of this, what I’m presenting is rough draft, work in progress - plan is to work through a process as a church where we fine tune all of this. What I’m laying out here is a starting point, to get us moving toward new vision.

if you remember from last Sunday, we talked about George Bullard’s work on the life cycle of churches, recognizing that we are in declining stages of life cycle.

And what always moves a church into a renewed life cycle is Vision. We have to get a clear, compelling sense of where we’re going, how we will be a part of God’s great redemptive work in our community.

Prayer / Scripture - Matthew 10:32-39

Clash of Values

This passage is part of a longer bit of teaching, some instructions that Jesus is giving his disciples as he is sending them out to neighboring towns and villages.

And this is amazing, if you were one of the twelve, this would be mind-boggling - it says in verse 1 that Jesus gives them the authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.

I mean, can you imagine - if God gave us the power and responsibility to do just that! Someone stricken with cancer…no more chemo treatments, no more stomach-churning nausea and debilitating weakness, every cell healed. Or a family member burdened by depression, no energy, sleeping way too much…that sadness and hopelessness lifted away. Coronavirus pandemic…not anymore! Open everything up! Ditch those masks! Hug everyone!

You would think each town disciples visit would be rolling out the red carpet, come in, please! Folks would be lining up. Who wouldn’t welcome people with that power given to them?!

And yet, in midst of his instructions, Jesus gives some very somber warnings…he tells them flat out that in some places they will be welcomed, but in other places, not so much (tells them to leave that town and shake dust off your feet!).

Jesus tells them, “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.”

Question is why? Why would Jesus include in his instructions to them these warnings?!

It has everything to do with the other part of their mission, their preaching: They are to proclaim exactly what Jesus has been proclaiming…The kingdom of heaven (or God) has come near. God’s kingdom is right here among you, available to you right now!

In other words, God is coming to take his rightful reign over all things, that’s happening right here and now - and you can either come be part of it…or stay in rebellion against it. You can’t both be kings.

That’s why, whenever Jesus proclaims the good news of the Kingdom of God coming right among them, there’s always invitation to respond - proper response is to repent (to rethink how you’re living your life in light of this news) and to believe. To entrust yourself to Jesus, the King.

This is why many of people and many of towns did not welcome disciples or Jesus - because now very way that they are living their lives is being challenged. They’ll take healings, but no thank you to God’s rule (problem is, they can’t be separated).

What if you like the way you’re living your life - or at least like it more than idea of living in way of Jesus? Or you just like idea of being your own boss?

Then this isn’t very good news. And it’s why disciples weren’t always welcomed. In end, it’s why Jesus wasn’t either - put to death on cross, executed, is about as unwelcoming as you can get!).

Here’s the thing: Life is alway about choosing among competing values. What’s most important to us? What are the things or people or beliefs that we hold most dearly? Because those are things that motivate us, move us, drive our actions.

I recently read a story about a young man that got involved in white supremacist group. That sort of racism isn’t what he valued growing up - at all. But one of the members of group showed him great kindness and was a friend to him, and slowly brought into group. Got to point where he valued sense of belonging and being part of something more than conviction that being racist was wrong…so he choose the group.

I’m going to visit my family in Texas in a few weeks and that’s going to take negotiating through competing values - which has been true for all of us during this time of Coronavirus pandemic.

Value of safety and protecting life - yours as well as others, value of family and friendship, being able to be together, need for social connection

This Tuesday is of course Election Day, one that feels very weighty. I know folks within this congregation are going to be voting differently when it comes to Presidential election.

So much of that comes to question of values, what are the things that we take into consideration when we vote…personal character - which traits? policy decisions - which policies? A lot to weigh and consider. The values you hold will determine how you vote.

Here’s my fervent hope in all this…that in midst of this divisive election, that we would greatly value what Jesus values (and models), genuine love for all others. No judgment or condemnation. None.

And that we would value Sovereignty of God, that Jesus is King, that our hope and faith are in him and his kingdom…no matter who sits in White House (danger for us as Jesus followers is we value political power too much). That’s what it means to pray, thine is power and glory and kingdom forever. Jesus, we want you to have it, because we trust you.

Those two examples immediately begin to show how values of Kingdom of God challenge our values, why we often find ourselves resisting good news of Kingdom of God.

Value Above All Else - Jesus

Jesus comes to us unabashedly, he’s so plain and clear about this…value me above everything else

Last week, parable of hidden treasure…this treasure, coming to be part of my kingdom is worth everything you have and all that you are

Matthew 6:33: Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.

First and greatest commandment is this: Love the Lord your God with all of your heart and with all of your mind and with all of your soul and with all of your strength.

This is what Jesus is referring to when he says that he comes not to bring peace to the earth, but a sword.

It’s not that Jesus wants to start a war. In fact, throughout Gospels we see Jesus bringing peace…He’s often telling his disciples, My peace I bring you. Don’t be afraid.

it’s not that Jesus likes to stir pot, like guy who brings up political conversation among friends who hold polar opposite views just because they like to see sparks fly

That’s not what he’s talking about when he says he has come to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother and so on.

Idea here is that simply by coming as he is - Messiah, true King, Lord…that is divisive.

Because some will recognize Jesus for who he is and willingly bow their knee before him. They will value him above everything else.

And others will not. And that can cause divisions among friends and among families.

Sword that Jesus brings is sword of the Word, of truth. God’s Word is reality itself. Hebrews 4:12 - For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

The Word of God, what God speaks to us, Truth - has a way of cutting right through us, getting right down to deepest parts of who we are.

We can’t hide who we are. The thoughts and attitudes of our hearts are revealed and judged. Our motives are exposed. When Jesus comes to us, our values, what we truly treasure, is revealed.

Because Jesus comes very plainly saying to us, if you are going to follow me, that means I am to be your greatest treasure. That which you value above everything else in life.

He doesn’t say if manipulatively or shamefully, he just plain truth.

To follow Jesus is decision that challenges everything that we value.

Above every other relationship…anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

Above even our own lives…Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.

Consider for moment some of things we tend to value in life…safety & security…personal happiness & comfort…personal autonomy, freedom to choose what I want…privacy…feeling of success & significance…value belonging (want to be part - family, friends, groups)…sense of being loved, being attractive to others, liked by others

Jesus cuts right through that, reveals my motives and what I value

How much I value money - Jesus knows that it’s more blessed to give than to receive, treasures of earth are so uncertain. That’s going to reveal how much I value financial security or having money for my own personal happiness or comfort.

How much I value being accepted by others…seek their approval or admiration versus living for Audience of One

One of spiritual disciplines I’ve been engaging in is fasting - because I realize I highly value my personal comforts in life

When I so value my personal autonomy or perhaps being one in charge…that makes it very hard to have heart of servant, willingness to give of ourselves for sake of others

I hope you’re getting a sense of why following Jesus is both easiest thing (open to anyone, simply decide) - and at the same time absolute hardest thing. Why he warned disciples about rejection.

Choosing to follow Jesus is to choose him above anyone and everything.

That what is most important to him will become what is most important to us.

In this last part of sermon, I want to lay out what I see as Values of PCC, second edge of our Vision frame

Tricky part here is that we have to be careful about values we say we espouse and values we really do hold

I may say that I deeply value being person of integrity, telling truth - but if I lie when confronted on something - that shows value I really hold is avoiding negative consequences - I don’t want you angry with me or I don’t want to look bad in your eyes.

We want to make sure that these values are not simply aspirational - we aspire to have them as our most deeply held convictions, but that they are values we hold in reality, they really to motivate us.

Aubrey Malphurs says, “You won’t do ministry that really matters until you define what matters.” That’s what we want to do here. Define what matters - and particularly what matters to us, every church is unique, we want to express these Biblical ways in way that helps shape our Vision.

Four Values

Heart Transformation, demonstrated by our seeking inner change that leads to outward witness.

Change, becoming like Jesus, having heartfelt love for all others, happens from inside out.

There has to be a genuine change here…in our hearts - that’s what produces genuine acts of love, our behaviour will naturally change. We will naturally do good because we are good - it’s good tree that produces good fruit.

In order to live this value out, that means we seek inner change. We pay attention to our hearts…is there anger, malice, lust, greed there? Or compassion, kindness, generosity?

Because we want to be people who show forth love of Jesus, those who lead others into abundant life that is available through Jesus Christ.

Lived Obedience to Jesus, demonstrated by our mutual commitment to engage in spiritual training.

What do I mean by that? This is core conviction that to follow Jesus means that we must hear his words and put them into practice.

We are going to be intentional engaging in spiritual exercises, disciplines - that will help us do exactly that. Spiritual exercises can include so many different things: daily meditative reading of Scripture, times of silence and solitude, intentional acts of kindness, fasting, worship (personal or communal), study

To live this value out means that we train to become like Jesus. If you want to learn to play piano, you have to train, to practice. Or someone trying to quit smoking. Or someone trying to be a black belt in martial arts.

Third value is Shared Life Together, demonstrated by nurturing friendships rooted in sharing our journeys with Jesus together.

The people most effective in training (to play piano, quit smoking, martial arts), do that with other people.

We need others who are further along to teach us. We need encouragement and accountability of others, especially when it’s going slow, not seeing progress, don’t feel like it. And we need to be those who teach others. All of that requires a community - relationships, genuine friendships.

On Wednesday, at our PCCLife Group, we took a week to do some group evaluation. How was group going? What did we need to change? Was being part of group helping us grow as followers of Jesus? There were a couple of consistent themes…several talked about fact that this was most they’d ever talked about their life as follower of Jesus. Several expressed gratitude for lack of judgment…several of us expressed gratitude for encouragement and accountability - knowing that we were going to be gathering to talk about what we were learning about God and about ourselves as we engaged in spiritual exercises. That’s what this value is all about.

Finally, the value of Kingdom First, demonstrated by single minded focus of seeking first Kingdom of God and his righteousness.

One of keys in effective living is simplicity (it is, in fact, one of the spiritual disciplines). It’s the one thing. Our lives can be so harried, so scattered - but when you know what the one thing is, life gains clarity and purpose.

Our one thing is seeking God’s Kingdom first. We value Jesus above everything else. We value things he values…and Jesus values people. Everyone. He died for them, because he wants them to know his peace, his joy, his goodness, his healing - life. Abundant life.

That means we share in his mission, proclaiming good news, inviting others into Kingdom, to entrust their lives to Jesus as King. We want them to know that abundant life.

That’s what disciples were doing when Jesus bestowed on them power and authority to heal and drive out demons, and warning them that they were going out like sheep among wolves.

They were going out to proclaim the good news of Kingdom of God, that Jesus is here, and he’s king. And abundant life, best life, can only be found when we willingly give him leadership over our lives, when we value him above anything and everything else. That’s still mission of Jesus’ disciples. That’s still our mission.