The Way Pt. 3, The Way of the Church in the World

What about your life is different because you are a Christian?

Now, I think many of you will answer that your eternal destination has changed. But Scripture points out over and over that there are two ways of life, and those two ways of life are determined by your relationship with God.

Psalm 1 speaks of the way of the wicked and the way of the righteous.

In Romans 6:20-23 Paul illustrates the difference between the two ways of life.

Romans 6:20–23 (CSB) says,

20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free with regard to righteousness., 21 So what fruit was produced then from the things you are now ashamed of? The outcome of those things is death. 22 But now, since you have been set free from sin and have become enslaved to God, you have your fruit, which results in sanctification—and the outcome is eternal life! 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” - Romans 6:20–23 (CSB

Salvation is an undeserved gift that God graciously gives to you through Jesus Christ.

This is the gospel message, Jesus has come to set you free from your sin and the death it deserves, to give you life, eternal life.

In Romans 6:1–2 (CSB) Paul points out that when we are saved, the way we live dramatically changes. He writes, “What should we say then? Should we continue in sin so that grace may multiply? 2 Absolutely not! How can we who died to sin still live in it?”

The way of the Christian life is an ever-increasing holiness and relationship with the Lord.

This is what Paul is saying in verse 22 when he says “you have been set free from sin, and have become enslaved to God, you have your fruit which results in sanctification, and the outcome is eternal life!”

There are two ways of life, and both ways of life are indicative of their eternal destination.

The way you live your life is an indication of your eternal destination.

Jesus speaks about the two different ways of life in Matthew 7.

In Matthew 7:13–14 (CSB) he says,

13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it. 14 How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it.

The way to God is narrow, and according to Jesus it is difficult. It is difficult because the way to God is the way of self denial and sacrifice. But, as we saw last week the way of the Christian life is one of willing surrender, submission, and satisfaction.

Jesus further illustrates the difference between the two ways of life in Matthew 7:24–27 (CSB):

24 “Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain fell, the rivers rose, and the winds blew and pounded that house. Yet it didn’t collapse, because its foundation was on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and doesn’t act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 The rain fell, the rivers rose, the winds blew and pounded that house, and it collapsed. It collapsed with a great crash.”

When we looked at this passage in our sermon series through Matthew one of the observations was that you can build a house that looks the same as the one on the good foundation, but when it rains the foundation will make all the difference.

The Christian life is founded on your relationship with Jesus Christ. Without Christ everything else is meaningless. Your way of life follows the destination of your life. If you are a Christian, then it is by the gracious gift of God and your life will bear the fruit of ever increasing holiness and obedience to the Lord.

You cannot build a life that earns salvation or reward from God.

The only way to escape the outcome of sin is through a relationship with Jesus Christ.

This is the point of the illustration Jesus uses, you can build a house- or build a life- that mimics one of Christianity but if you don’t know Christ then in the end your outcome will be destruction.

The narrow way of faith in Christ results in a distinct way of faithfulness to Christ.

There is a remarkable difference between the daily and weekly lifestyles of those who have God in their lives versus those who don’t. (At least there should be… and ultimately I think we have to acknowledge that if Jesus says there is a life changing difference, then there is a life changing difference.)

According to John 15:4-5 if you know Jesus, then there will be fruit. Why? Because Jesus produces the fruit.

“4 Remain in me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me.”

Like Paul says in Romans 6, you have the fruit, and it leads to sanctification… and sanctification means you are becoming more holy in the way that you lead to life.

In talking about a distinct way of living I want to point out that the difference between the two ways of life is found in the daily rhythms and routines, or habits.

Your daily and weekly habits are actually what make the difference between the Christian life and the life of a nonbeliever. But, why would I say that?

Annie Dillard writes, “How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives. What we do with this hour, and that one, is what we are doing.” - Annie Dillard

This seems simple, but think for a second, When it comes to your daily habits, routines, and way of life what is different from your life and the life of a non-believer?

Do you live the narrow Christian way of life that Jesus calls us to?

Do you live according to the outcome of your life? Meaning do you live moving in an ever increasing holiness that matches the gift of eternal life you have received in Christ?

Your habits and routines are connected to the direction of your life.

“Habits are the gears by which to direct life toward the purpose of love” - Justin W. Early, The Common Rule

Habits and routines are not restrictive, they are reflective. What I mean by that is everyone has habits and routines, and your habits and routines are all working together to accomplish a preferred outcome.

Whether or not you realize it, you have adapted your life to a way, to a direction, to a love.

You have relationship habits and routines with your spouse, kids, grandkids, friends, co-workers, etc. These habits and routines are the space where you build relationships and grow.

You have other habits and routines that help you accomplish your goals or be successful work, and make sure that the important things get done every day.

Your daily routine is made up of a series of moments that grow your relationships, get things done, and accomplish your goals.

What kind of relationship do you have without meals together, walks together, dates together, time, etc? You don’t have a relationship for 50 years with someone because you had a moment when you were 7. You have a relationship because of the time, moments, and conversations that exist through your routine and rhythms of life.

The goal of the Christian life is know and love God, love others, and make disciples.

But, if your daily habits and routines are not moving in love toward God and others, or in your habits and routines are not growing you in obedience to the Word and in resistance to sin then you won’t be a person who loves God, neighbor and makes disciples.

“Only when your habits are constructed to match your worldview do you become someone who doesn’t just know about God and neighbor, but someone who actually loves God and neighbor.” - Justin W. Early, The Common Rules

Scripture is full of habits that make up a life of faithfulness to God.

Encouraging one another as Christians and worshipping with church

Hebrews 10:24–25 (CSB)

24 And let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works, 25 not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.

Guarding your heart and life by following the Word

Proverbs 4:20–27 (CSB)

20 My son, pay attention to my words; listen closely to my sayings. 21 Don’t lose sight of them; keep them within your heart. 22 For they are life to those who find them, and health to one’s whole body. 23 Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life. 24 Don’t let your mouth speak dishonestly, and don’t let your lips talk deviously. 25 Let your eyes look forward; fix your gaze straight ahead. 26 Carefully consider the path for your feet, and all your ways will be established. 27 Don’t turn to the right or to the left; keep your feet away from evil.

Fleeing from sin and resisting the ways of the world

1 Corinthians 10:14 (CSB)

14 So then, my dear friends, flee from idolatry.

Romans 12:2 (CSB)

2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

Seek the things of God and set your minds on things above

Colossians 3:1–2 (CSB)

So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

Abide in Christ and bear fruit

John 15:4–5 (CSB)

4 Remain in me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me.

Every daily habit is focused on a routine and reward…

The way of the world is to focus on a routine that accomplishes your goals and gives you the rewards that you desire.

The way of a Christian is to focus on the reward of Christ and aim to love God, love others, and make disciples.

Practically… We are going to look at daily and weekly keystone habits that focus on building a life on the foundation of faith in Jesus Christ.

Keystone habits are those that impact the rest of your life.

We are really talking about growing and cultivating the keystone relationship, your relationship with Jesus. And the impact that Jesus makes on the goal and direction of your life, and His impact on all other relationships you have.

These habits focus on two relationships and two responses.

The two relationships are loving God and loving others The two responses are embracing God and resisting the world

The purpose of these habits and responses is relational, it’s necessary that we always keep our relationship with God at the forefront of this conversation. Like we said earlier, the Christian life is lived in the direction of our outcome. We have been saved and given the gift of eternal life, therefore the habits and routines of life are reflective of the difference Jesus has made. These habits will not earn or gain God’s grace, they are because of God’s grace.

I want to point before we walk through these that embracing and resisting are both steps in God’s direction. Embracing makes immediate sense, it is the picture of wrapping your arms or your life around God. It is the act of putting on what is good and giving yourself to the grace and righteousness of God. This is what Paul is getting at when He says that we are now slaves to righteousness. But, resisting may be hard to see as an act toward God… But,

resisting the world is an act of moving in God’s direction in the same way the repentance is act of turning toward God.

Resistance is what you do before you sin, repentance is what you do after you sin. Learning to resist will result in less repentance… which is what it means to be sanctified. You can and will grow in an ever increasing way in your holiness and faithfulness to God. But, you will not grow if you do not take intentional steps to love God and love others with your day to day and week to week life.

Daily Keystone Habits

Loving God through daily prayer, fellowship, and putting His Word before the world.

Embrace God through daily prayer and fellowship

Prayer is relational. Relationship requires timeFrame your day at the beginning, in the middle, and the end with prayer.change your posture and consider kneelingPray ScriptureThis is not a duty, it is a delight to spend time with the Father!

Resist the world daily by putting the Word before the world (Bible before phone)

Spend time in the Word hearing from God before you begin to hear from the world

before you turn the tv onBefore you pick up your phone and begin reading texts, scrolling through social media, or reading the newsPutting God’s Word first provides the guard and the filter for the rest of your day rather than the opposite. Read back through at the end of the day, write down how God worked and how the Word was useful during the day.

Love Others daily through intentional time together and disconnecting from the outside world.

Embrace others daily through planning intentional time together. (Aim for at least an hour)

Start with making sure your family is together each day, and make it a meal as often as possible. Why a meal? Because a meal is something we are all going to have, and it requires effort and prep to get schedules aligned for a meal. You can extend this to others outside your family. (Including the meal part)Jesus spent a great deal of time eating, the Israelites gathered around the good news of God’s deliverance in a meal, and Jesus told us to celebrate His victory over death and sin with a meal.Meals require conversation, its an event where we are all facing one another and not watching or distracted by something else. In marriage I think we should aim for face to face time daily as well… this habit can serve as a keystone or jumpstart to face to face time with one another in a myriad of ways… but if we can’t sit down together for a meal, it only means we don’t have time for the rest.

Resist for the sake of others by disconnecting from the outside world for at least an hour. (turn the phone off)

Primarily this means turning off the phone, watch, iPad, etc. The phone is a connection to others. Spend time with your family or friends without the phone. This doesn’t mean you can’t watch tv, movies, etc… but it does mean that whatever you are doing together, you should be doing completely together. If you wouldn’t invite the person on the text or social media into the moment you are having, then don’t bring them there through the phone. You cannot be present to love one another if you are distracted by people not in the room.

Weekly Keystone Habits

Love God through a day of weekly worship & rest, and a day of denial and self control

Embrace God through weekly congregational Worship & rest

We are called to gather weekly with the same congregation for the purpose of stirring one another up to love and good works, praising the name of God, and hearing from the Word.

We are also called to rest in the Lord. I think that Romans 14 gives us some insight. In Romans 14 Paul acknowledges that some declare one day to be more important that others, and others say that every day is important. Paul says that how you Sabbath is a matter of conscience. If you are led to dedicate one full day as different than the rest, then let it be different than the rest for the Lord and for your soul. If you make it a point for everyday to be dedicated in that manner than so be it. But, however you observe a day, Paul says that it should be for the Lord.

I don’t think we can get away from the created order of 6 days of work and 1 day of rest. So, in your weekly routines, you need a day that isn’t work that is focused on rest and refreshment in the Lord and as a family. But, in our world of today that is increasingly difficult to do. 30 years ago almost everyone had a full 2 day weekend and many businesses and restaurants were closed on Sunday. But, today is much more like the world of the 1st century in that we have longer work weeks for many occupations, and everything is open all the time. So, we must be intentional to make worshipping with our church family a priority, and we must prioritize a day of rest where we give more time to the Lord than normal… and our goal is to grow in our relationship with God and our holiness. We cannot pass judgment on one another, but we must encourage one another to rest and reflect on the grace and goodness of God. We must encourage one another to take a break and acknowledge our dependence on the Lord.

Resist the world with a day of denial and self-control

This is a habit that I think most of us will struggle with. But, it is based on fasting, and it broadens it to include more than food. Denying yourself is practice for saying no to temptation. The Christian life is one of ever increasing holiness and we are called to resist sin and temptation.

Consider having one day a week where you go without something that is important to you. If you don’t like tv, then don’t take a day off from tv. If you don’t care about social media, then don’t take a day off from social media.

I encourage you to fast from food regularly. It is a discipline God has given us to bring our bodies under control and to grow in our dependence on Him.

But, we need to exercise self-control in other ways. So, take a day once a week off from something that you need to keep under control.

Love Others by fellowshipping in the gospel and limiting what and how much comes into your hearts, minds, and homes.

Embrace others by fellowship in the Gospel for at least an hour

Resist for the sake of others by limiting what and how much comes into your hearts, minds, and homes

The goal of the Christian life is know and love God, love others, and make disciples.

The way of the Christian life is an ever-increasing holiness and relationship with the Lord.

The narrow way of faith in Christ results in a distinct way of faithfulness to Christ.

Do you know Christ? Give your life to Christ

Are you committed to an ever increasing life of holiness and relationship with God and others?

Is your life distinctly Christian in foundation, habits, and relationships?