A Farewell to a Strange Hybrid Community

How do you preach your last sermon to a congregation that you have been a part of for 21 years? I have never done this before. Paul was in Ephesus for 3 years and upon him leaving it was huge cry fest. Back in the day Winterfest was a huge cry fest. Youth group time got real…you realized that it was March and you only had a few months left with the people that you had grown close to over the years and emotions would naturally come to the surface. These were your people and you had been through a lot together.

John 3:16 ESV

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

We have been through a lot. We have been through a lot. I am certain there have been times over the years you have thought, what in the world is Pastor Shawn thinking (upside down mouth man, preaching a sermon that lasted 57 minutes, Pizza with the Pastors videos, - how unprofessional, is this guy qualified to be a youth pastor? Is this guy qualified to be a worship pastor? Some funny and light hearted, some more weighty and serious.

There have been times over the 21 years I have been perplexed about some of you. Why is that parent choosing to idolized the athletic potential or achievements of their kids instead of letting them come to a youth group night?

Why after reading an exhortation from Scripture to “Come before the Lord with loud singing..” the only movement I see is a folding of the arms across the chest and a sealing of the lips accompanied by a look on the face that says… “when will this be over.”

After 21 years…how do I feel about you? How do I sum up my feelings? As emotionally filled Paul’s farewell was to the Ephesians…his heart is on display as you read Galatians. On the one hand, he is “astonished at the Galatians that they would follow after another Gospel which is really no gospel at all” and on the other hand he is appeals to them as his “little children, with whom I am in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in them.” He is like a Father. He has a Fatherly love for them.

When I look out at you after 21 years…some of you look more like Christ…and God has done great things in your life even if they were hard and because of God’s work of refinement in your life, I look out and I see the image of Christ…and I think Psalm 126:3 things, “The Lord has done great things and we are filled with joy.”

I look out at some of you and I take a long hard look and I see some good things popping out of the soil of your hearts on occasion. A little good deed here a little joy filled singing there (at least when it is a song that you like – whether a hymn or a Hillsong song). The truth is, is that I am not qualified to see thoughts and intentions, God’s word says, “All a man’s ways seem pure but motives are weighed by the Lord.” (Prov. 21:2). I can’t see past your skin and into your heart and know why you do what you do…but what I can see sometimes seems God exalting. And for you I am filled with joy.

And I look out at some of you and it is clear from your lack of love, your lack of joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, or self-control and I am in anguish. Like childbirth…it hurts…there is a tearing and bleeding and pain in my heart when I realize that after all these years there is no greater love for Christ than before. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. (Matt. 24:12). That is horrible.

So, what do I do with my final message? What do I say to a Strange Hybrid Community of People?

Have you ever had to say a farewell to a person, place or thing? What emotions did you experience?

Paul was closing his letter to the Romans and was leaving the church with some concluding thoughts. If you were to leave BCC what would your final words of encouragement be for the people you were leaving behind? Constructive thoughts only please!!!

Strange?

You are all strange.

By strange I mean all of you in the room are unique. You are all distinct and different from each other…you all have...

Different backgrounds – Some grew up Catholic, some grew up protestant, some have come out of Jehovah’s witness, some have no church affiliation at all. Some have come from a Romanian church.

Some are from Chicago. Some are from the near suburbs. Some are from the far suburbs. Some have come here from Kansas for school and have never left. One of you have come from Alaska and met the boy of your dreams here. Some have immigrated from other countries. Some have immigrated from one of the mega churches in the area or from one the churches in the area that had to close its doors because of low attendance.

Different church involvement - Some of you are new to the church over the last few months and all you have ever known of BCC is such the much-scaled back Covid-19 version of BCC. Some of you have been here under Brad Belcher’s leadership. Some under Pastor Rob’s leadership, or Paul’s leadership or Brad Bacon’s leadership, or Bob Murphin’s leadership, or z Man’s leadership, some of you can say…I built part of that stage or I framed in the closets in the hallway downstairs or I helped assemble the annual report back in the day. Or my name is on the list of piano players dating back to 1912. My markings are in a choir folder, or ark book somewhere.

Different Convictions: masks, politics, church government (congregational or elder led?)

Differnent Life experiences –

Some are moms. Some wish to be mom’s but are unable because they biologically unable to or because they have not found Mr. Right yet and he might not even be on the horizon.

Some are dads. Some wish to be dad’s. Some are dads who have experienced the joy of seeing their kids walking in truth…and some have seen their kids “enter the path of the wicked and have walked in the way of evil and have not listened to the voice of their instructors and are in the brink of utter ruin and are held fast in the cords of sin.”

I am talking to a strange community (meaning varied) group of people. Not only are you strange community but you are a hybrid community.

Hybrid?

Hybrid – two or more different things are brought together. (PRIUS) Some here are men…some here are women. Some here are old, some are young. Some have kids. Some don’t. Some are divorced or widowed, or never married by choice, or never married not by choice…but you have all assembled here. In our text today, we will see people who have different backgrounds and origins. Some are Jew. Some of Gentile. Some are strong and some are weak. In this text Paul is addressing a strange hybrid community of people.

God’s Word addresses all of us…not matter where we are at. It is going to be coming at you in a minute and I pray it is received and applied and acted on so that it accomplishes all that it was sent out to do in one way or another.

Before I attempt to speak on behalf of God to you through His word today…there is one final word that I used to describe you. Strange, Hybrid and Community.

Community?

We have been having staff meetings in the connect center in order to allow for appropriate social distancing. We are creatures of habit and I typically sit in the same seat. That has probably been hard for some of you these days (someone is sitting in my pew) or I can’t even get to my pew it is taped off!

Anyway, from my vantage point I look at the Bethel Community Church sign that is in the dead center of the room. (Did you know that that sign used to be out front on the awning?) It was stored in the garage with a thousand other things of yester-year and I dug it out and said…this needs to be repurposed and placed in a prominent place. Dead center of the room and dead center of the three-word phrase is the word Community. I was sitting in staff and so often my mind is wandering…and I just look at that word. Stare at it. I start to break it down in my mind…what is the etymology of the word. Sometimes you just have random data in your mind. I knew (for some reason) that “Com” in Latin means “with or together.” And then I looked at the rest of the letters and I saw the word “unity.” The base of word unity is UNIT – ONE. There is a oneness in “Community.” Bethel “with oneness” Church.

What do you say to a strange hybrid group of people after 21 years that will accomplish “oneness” in the future even when I will not be present?

I think that is what Paul is getting at in the text today. I think as Paul begins to close his letter he is saying…What can I say? What can I write to these people in order to unify them in the future, even if I won’t be a part of it? And under the the inspiration of the Holy Spirit this is what he has come up with.

When you think of the word community what comes to mind. Can you think on something that illustrates your thoughts?

Romans 15:7–13 ESV

7 Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. 8 For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, 9 and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name.” 10 And again it is said, “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.” 11 And again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples extol him.” 12 And again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope.” 13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

Welcome one another for the glory of God.

A WORD ON WELCOME –

· Before we talk about what welcome means…let’s notice the force behind the word.

· NOTICE - IMPERATIVE – commanded (not just if you get around to it)

What does Paul mean by “welcome” – proslambano (receive to)

· Written to Philemon about a runaway bondservant Onesimus

· Philemon 17 (ESV) - 17 So if you consider me your partner, receive him as you would receive me.

· Paul was shipwrecked on the island of Malta and the natives – welcomed Paul and his companions

· Acts 28:2 (ESV) - 2 The native people showed us unusual kindness, for they kindled a fire and welcomed us all, because it had begun to rain and was cold.

· Variation of the word (apolambano) (receive from) - is used in the story of the Lost Son in Luke 15 – the elder brother had to find out from the hired hand that his brother had come back and that his father has killed the fattened calf, and has “received him back safe and sound.”

· The Father held nothing back…

· God has taken every member of the Church into fellowship with Himself, so we must incorporate each other into our Christian circle with no reservations.

· Let me get up in your business before I even exegete this text.

· APPLICATION BEFORE THE MESSAGE BEGINS

· There should not be have’s and have not’s here.

· There should not be in crowds and out crowds here.

· There should not be the cool kids and uncool kids here.

· There should not be power families and then everyone else.

· There should not be elders verses pastors. Or elders’ verses people. Or people verse elders.

· Or my ministry verses another ministry here.

What do you think it takes to be a “Bethelite?” Do you feel like there is an “in crowd” and an “out crowd” at BCC? If so…what part can you play in changing that?

· May it never be…put all that aside and like Christ in His unmatched condescension…welcome one another by humbling yourself and exalting others and start considering others more important than yourselves.

Q. How does welcoming one another glorify God? A. When put aside our differences and highlight the one thing we all have in common, the common denominator that we all have between us is magnified.

A. When we willfully set aside our preferences and personal agendas and instead consider other people more important than ourselves because we recognize that all of us are all drinking from the same fountain of living water…the magnificence of the fountain is amplified.

Q. What is at stake if the Romans don’t welcome one another? (7601 West Foster)

A. God will not receive glory in Rome. (7601 West Foster)

So, we see that we need to be diligent and vigilant to war against that potential outcome.

SO…here are a few things that we must hear and put into practice from this passage.

Do you care more about God being glorified at BCC through the unity of believers here or do you care more about your personal preaching, music or ministry preferences?

Romans 15:7 ESV

7 Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.

Philemon 17 ESV

17 So if you consider me your partner, receive him as you would receive me.

Acts 28:2 ESV

2 The native people showed us unusual kindness, for they kindled a fire and welcomed us all, because it had begun to rain and was cold.

Welcome one another for the glory of God.

If God is going to be glorified at 7601 West Foster we must SERVE one another (7-9a).

Romans 15:7–9 ESV

7 Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. 8 For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, 9 and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name.”

1. If God is going to be glorified at 7601 we must serve one another (vr. 7-9a)

· Consider what we are called to here.

· 7Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. 8For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, 9 and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy.

· Look at VERSE 7

· We are to be like Christ in the way welcomed us. (we are to welcome the way Christ welcomed)

· How did he welcome us?

· LOOk at verse 8 - Well he came as a “SERVANT”

· In his coming to bring salvation Christ did not appear in might or in glory, as we might have been expected, but he came as a servant… (advent – lowly shepherds)

· Servant to the circumcised – He was the Jewish promised Messiah. His appearing showed God’s truthfulness.

· All the OT prophecies DID come true. God kept His word and it wasn’t just for the benefit of the Jewish people…those who had the sign of the covenant…physical circumcision…but also those who were circumcised in their hearts (Rom 2:28-29).

· We see Earlier in the book of Romans (chapter 4) that Abraham’s faith was counted as “righteousness” before he was even given the command of circumcision and that Abraham is the Father of all” (Romans 4:17) – ILLUSTRATION – Father Abraham…

· VERSE 9 - and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy.

· The work of the Jewish Messiah, His obedience, death, burial and resurrection were not only for God’s covenantal chosen people, but also to those he was under no obligation to bless.

· He HAD to come through on the promises given to the patriarchs and their descendants, but not to the Gentiles…and yet they were included as well. We were included as well even though we were underserving.

· That is called “Mercy” and God should be glorified for it.

· SO - WE SERVE ONE ANOTHER BY BEING LIKE CHRIST. WE LAY DOWN OUR LIVES SO THAT OTHERS MIGHT BENEFIT FROM OUR SACRIFICE.

· BCC is not about you. It doesn’t matter if you have been here for 100 years or if this is your first Sunday. It shouldn’t matter and hopefully it doesn’t matter if you serve in an official capacity on the board or you come on Friday’s to stuff bulletins. What does matter is that fact that you have been awakened by grace to see how beautiful Jesus is…and that should be, ought to be, must be the ONE, PRIMARY, PREEMINENT thing on your heart whenever you step in to any room in this building or in any room in any building anywhere…not matter who is present.

· I have been chosen before the foundation of the world to be holy and blames before my Creator because of what Jesus has done for me. PERIOD.

· This should be the overriding prevailing wondrous joy of your heart. This is more important than any other thing you could possibly dream up.

· Thank you, Father, for choosing me.

· Thank you, Jesus, for accomplishing a work that I could never, ever do…not in a thousand years…and not even for 1 millisecond!

· Thank you, Holy Spirit, for applying the work of Jesus to me through your work of regeneration!

· Stop making your time here about you and your ministry preferences, music preferences, preaching preferences! STOP – look at other’s when you come here and WELCOME THEM.

· VERY practical – (I am the first to admit this and hid behind the excuse of “I have a lot going on Sunday’s to pull off the worship service”) but here goes. NEVER get comfortable with the fact that you don’t know people’s names here! Welcome them. Move towards them. Paul in the next chapter is going to list 27 names of people that had never met (he had never been to Rome yet) and he knew their names. Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice and I call them by Name”. if we are to be like Jesus…we have to know people’s names.

If there is someone at BCC that you have seen 1 time or a thousand times and don’t know their name…will you, the next time you see them, ask them their name?

· If God is going to be glorified at 7601 we must serve one another (vr. 7-9a)

If God is going to be glorified at 7601 West Foster we must SING together (9b-11).

2. If God is going to be glorified at 7601 we must SING TOGETHER (9b-11)

· In this section Paul is going to demonstrate through 5 OT citations how the Gentiles (most of us in this room) are also able to participate in the unfolding promises of God found in Jesus Christ.

· In the previous section in Romans 15:1-7 – Paul talks about receiving endurance and encouragement from the Scriptures…that assumes you know them!

· Paul knew them…Let’s see what he says…

· They all center around the idea of verbally expressing our affections for God…primarily through singing.

· VERSE 9b - As it is written, “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name.”

· This is David from (2 Sam. 22:50 and Psalm 18:49) when he was delivered from Saul and his enemies.

· When God provides us with salvation we “express our praise” by singing.

· VERSE 10 - And again it is said, “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.”

· This is a quote from a song that Moses wrote in Duet. 32.

· It was sung in “the ears of all the assembly of Israel” but in the song he includes, “the Gentiles.”

VS. 43 - Rejoice with him, O Gentiles.”

· Then when he finishes composing the song he teaches it to the people...

· Deuteronomy 32:44–47 (ESV) - 44 Moses came and recited all the words of this song in the hearing of the people…46 he said to them, “Take to heart all the words by which I am warning you today, that you may command them to your children, that they may be careful to do all the words of this law. 47 For it is no empty word for you, but your very life, and by this word you shall live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to possess.”

THESE ARE YOUR LIFE

· To Rejoice means to = “express your happiness” – ILLUSTRATION: What is the difference between “I am so happy” and “I’m SOOOO HAPPY” – it’s my expression.

The word for “rejoice” means “an expression of happiness.” Is your happiness in the Lord expressed in the way you sing on Sundays? Take a moment right now…yes right now…in your Life Group or with your family members and practice saying something or singing something with emphasis. Yes I really mean it. Do it! If you don’t know what to say or sing…try pronouncing the word “emphasis” in various ways. EX. (EM-pha-sis), or (em-PHA-sis), or (em-pha-SIS). Practice raising your eyebrows up and down on each stressed syllable. Have fun laughing together!!!

· Gestures give weight to our words – choir directing (convince me)

· VERSE 11 - and again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples extol him.”

· This is a direct quote from one of the Hallel Psalms (117).

· Hallel – way to express communal happiness / collective gratitude for God.

· What did the children of Israel do when they saw the waters of judgment crush their Egyptian oppressors? They broke out in song.

· What do you think the children of God who have been saved from the oppression of slavery to sin should do? – SING

· What should be the most unifying thing in an assembled body of believers? One bread, One Cup…one voice glorifying. (It’s what we sing).

· It is so sad that there are worship wars in the church.

· By God’s grace BCC has been pretty good with that on the surface…I pray that underneath the surface there hasn’t been a strong undertow pulling us away from each other because of music preferences.

· APPLICATION - Sing God exalting songs that get our eyes and attentions off of ourselves and focus on the grand scheme of God’s ultimate redemption to unite all things under one head (CHRIST) (Col. 3:1-4) maybe the best way to set your eyes on things above is to sing good songs together)

What is one of your all time favorite worships song? Hymn? Chorus? Modern Hymn? Christmas song?

If God is going to be glorified at 7601 West Foster we must BELIEVE with each other (12-13).

· Paul is going to quote his favorite OT prophet, the prophet Isaiah and build a bridge to how Jews and Gentiles alike can experience joy, peace and hope together because of Jesus.

· 12 And again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope.”

· Jewish Messiah will rule the Gentiles (not only Jews but also Gentiles can hope in Him – they are unified under ONE RULER.

This strange, hybrid group of people will form a community under His leadership…they will corporately and universally make up His Body and He will be the Head.

THIS IS ASTOUNDING

· THEN A FINAL BLESSING: VERSE 13 – it holds the key to how we can experience Joy and Peace and Hope (almost sounds like Christmas message!!!)

· What we see here is a two-sided coin – God’s work / Our work

· 13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

· May the God of hope fill you…(he does it…) (the work of FILLING is HIS)

· What does he fill us with? (joy and peace). – don’t you want joy and peace?

· How does he fill us? (as we believe) (PRESENT ACTIVE) – you got to be believing (over what you feel) –

Jesus said, My peace I give you…not as the world

Paul said, the peace He gives SURPASSES understanding…I don’t get it man. How in the world can I have joy in 2020, peace in 2020, hope in 2020? BELIEVE!!!

· When you BELIEVE – the power of the Holy Spirit assists you and you will abound in HOPE. And we already know from the beginning of the verse that God Himself is the “God of hope.”

How are we filled with joy and peace? Whose job is it? What is God’s role? What is our role?

A Farewell to a Strange Hybrid Community

If we do these things…if lay down our lives for one another, sing together and if we fight the battle of belief together…I truly believe that God will use those means to fill us with HOPE and PEACE and JOY…and when we are filled with HOPE and PEACE and JOY and we embraced one another and serve one another and set our eyes on things much bigger than ourselves…we will abound in even more hope.

God is glorified among us, when we welcome one another, sing together and believe together.

God will be glorified among you, if you hold tightly to one another, express your theology and doctrine and devotion through verbal expressions of collective praise.

God will be glorified among you when you survey the landscape of a changing culture, or country or church experience and are tempted to succumb to a disparaging joyless, peace less existence…but instead you LINK ARMS, SHOULDER TO SHOULDER and BELIEVE TOGETHER that the God of all hope will fill you with all joy and peace as we believe and that He will soon crush Satan underneath your UNIFIED FEET.

God will be glorified among you as you are filled with strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow…you will see that the blessings of Christ are yours with 10 thousand beside.