“A NEW WAY OF THINKING”

Call to Worship #1:

L: There are some journeys for which we long. P: But the journey to the cross looks as though it will be difficult. L: The way of discipleship and faith is difficult. P: We would prefer something easier. We are not ready for this trip. L: Put your hearts at ease. You are not traveling alone. P: Perhaps we can accomplish this trip. At least we will try the first step.

Opening Prayer The season of Lent is here again and, as with so many times before, we find that we are not really ready for this journey of discipleship. So many things claim our lives and prevent us from being ready to take the steps in faith. As we look at our barrier of readiness, help us to remember that Christ is with us, every step of the way. We are not alone. Christ will help lift our hearts and spirits and direct our paths. Enable us, loving Savior, to take this journey of faith to new life with you. AMEN.

Offertory:STEWARDSHIP…WHO CONTROLS WHAT? “While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God.” Acts 5:4 In Acts chapter five, the story of Ananias and Saphira can say some pretty sobering things to us about giving. If any story in Scripture can “put the fear of God” in us about giving, it would be the doings and fate of this couple. Proper understanding of Acts 5:4 tells us that all we have is entrusted to us as stewards. The sin of Ananias and Saphira isn’t in that they didn’t give the whole sales proceeds to God. It is that they gave begrudgingly, and dishonestly. God does not dictate to us what we must do with our possessions. He freely gives us them to us and places personal responsibility on us for what choices we make and priorities we pursue with what we have. Unlike Ananias and Saphira…who gave begrudgingly, demonstrate healthy control over your possessions. Be a faithful steward of what God has given you, as the offering is received today.

Prayer  Loving, Creating God, you are in covenant with your people. You have pledged to be our God and ask us to be your people, trusting in you in all our ways. But we find many excuses to prevent us from really trusting you. We erect barriers before our faith journey even begins. Our time, obligations, energy, all become part of the bricks and mortar which fashion this barrier. We can give lip service to the journey; we can daydream about what it would be like to truly place our hands in yours and follow you. But when it comes to actually making the journey, our time constraints and weak commitments loom largely before us. Help us to tear down this barrier. Make us ready for the journey by replacing the fear in our hearts with a sense of joy and challenge of self-discovery and discipleship. Remind us that in service to you, helping others, we will also find our selves made more fully whole. As we have spoken the names of our friends, and family members, and others situations in which healing and comfort are needed, let us remember that we, too, stand in need of prayer and healing. Make us ready to receive your good news and then to be witnesses to your love to all your people. AMEN.

Philippians 2:3-8 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in very nature[a] God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature[b] of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!

“A New Way of Thinking”

note: This morning – we present week three of our six-week sermon series on the significance of being a biblically functioning – unifying church member – based on the book “I Am a Church Member” by Thom S. Rainer!

Rainer asserts that > “Congregations across America are weak because many of us church members have lost the biblical understanding of what it means to be a part of the body of Christ.”

The truth of the matter, every member is vital to the body of Christ and unity is critical to the biblical functioning of the church in order to fulfill its’ mission of reaching a lost world.

As we continue with our series, I want to talk about the significance of not letting the church be about our preferences and desires.

Illustration > This morning I want Monroe to take an “I” test.

Not an e-y-e test, but a capital letter “I” test.

You see “I” troubles have plagued many a church for years, keeping them from experiencing the fullest blessings of God and from affecting a lost world spiritually.

This “I” trouble is not a modern ailment. There was “I” trouble in Heaven.

In Isaiah 14 – Lucifer, who is now Satan, had “I” trouble >

12 How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! 13 You said in your heart, “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon.[a] 14 I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.”

In Genesis 3 – Adam had “I” trouble >9 But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”

10 He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.”

This “I” trouble is still prevalent within the church. So listen closely to these diagnostic questions which will help us determine if we have “I” troubles in our church.

If you have ever said > “I know that the Bible says this, but ...,” – you might have “I” trouble.

If you have ever said > “Excuse me sir/madam, but I usually sit there” – you might have “I” trouble.

If you have ever said > “I did not get anything out of that sermon” – you might have “I” trouble.

If you have ever said > “I wish they would sing more of the songs I like” – you might have “I” trouble.

Or – If you have ever said > “I wish they wouldn’t pray so long” – you might have “I” trouble.

If you have ever said > “I hope this isn’t another long service” – you might have “I” trouble.

The problem with “I” trouble is that it is often contagious and leads to other troubles.

Troubles such as the historical site is a “sacred cow” syndrome or the “missing ministry meeting” disease.

When there is more concern about “resisting the change” than about “converting the lost” then it is clear that there is a full infection.

Rainer conducted a survey of churches and found that many were “inwardly focused”or were largely “self-serving.”

Rainer emphasizes that > “The strange thing about church membership is that you actually give up your preferences when you join. Don’t get me wrong; there may be much about your church that you like a lot. But you are there to meet the needs of others. You are there to serve others. You are there to give. You are there to sacrifice.”

Someone once said > “I've learned that if you give a pig and a child everything they want, you will get a good pig and a bad child.”

One thing we need to recognize about church membership – is that it is not about us; our preferences and desires but about keeping the unity and fulfilling the Will of God.

Thank God, Monroe is open to learning the importance of embracing “a new way of thinking” and biblically functioning as a unified church member.

– in our text –

The Bible teaches that the new mind of the believer is about serving others and not being served.

In fact, scriptures instruct us that the first shall be last and the greatest shall be servant to all.

There is a cure for “I” trouble.

The Word of God makes plain that the cure is to renewed our thinking with a transformed mind.

That is, to change our way of thinking by thinking anew with the mind of Jesus Christ.

“What new way should a church member think?”

1 – sacrificial thinking

Here, in Philippians, Paul urges believers that we ought to think the way Jesus thought which is definitely contrary to our natural way of thinking.

Due to sin, our fallen nature causes us to think selfishly most of the time.

Illustration> People have said > “Only God can judge me?” Translation = “I live life my way – not God’s way.”

The bible reminds us that selfish thinking is one of the major causes of division within the body of Christ.

Many folks have a Burger King mentality thinking they have a right to have it their way.

Instead, we ought to adopt a new sacrificial way of thinking that says > “Not my will, but thy will be done.”

That statement might seem strange but church members are to think sacrificially.

In Mark 9, Jesus deals with the petty and worldly thinking of His disciples concerning who will be first or the greatest. [v33-35]

In Matthew 20, Jesus deals with a mother who wants her two sons to sit on Jesus’ right and left hands in the Kingdom – telling her that whoever would be first must become the slave to all. [v20-28]

Thinking the way Jesus thought, with love and humility, is about being unified with our fellow believers and being fully functioning in church ministry.

Notice in v3 – Paul affirms that – with a new sacrificial thinking – we should > 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.

In other words, sacrificial thinking is about esteeming, respecting and regarding others better or more important than ourselves.

In v4 – Paul declares > 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

Here, Paul proclaims that sacrificial thinking is about focusing on the interests of others our fellow church members.

“What new way should a church member think?”

1 – Sacrificial Thinking

2 – selfless thinking

In v5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:, Paul offers us the divine and selfless obedient nature of Christ by admonishing us to embrace the “mind” of Christ.

Our attitude and thinking toward one another must become the same as that of Jesus selfless.

Consider that attitude counts more than achievement.

The mind of Christ is a mind that places others ahead of the self.

When we think selflessly, we do not think any less of ourselves, we simply think or esteem others higher than ourselves.

Look at v6 > Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;

When Jesus came to this earth, He did not give up His personal equality with God. Jesus did give up his positional equality with God to become a man.

Jesus selflessly surrendered His divinity to become humanity.

A new way of thinking starts with a changed heart that transforms the old mind.

A new way of thinking requires a change in how we view our own church membership.

A new way of thinking is about surrendering our wants, wishes, preferences, and desires through obedience.

“What new way should a church member think?”

1 – Sacrificial Thinking

2 – Selfless Thinking

3 – Servanthood thinking

In v7 – Paul states that Jesus > rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

Jesus “emptied” himself selflessly ignoring his own will in favor of the Will of God.

That is, Jesus looked beyond His own preferences and desires focusing on serving the Father.

When redemption was needed, Jesus forsook the comforts and the joys of glory for you and me.

Jesus was willing to endure the contradiction of sinners against himself to be spat upon, to be beaten and ridiculed, to be crucified at the hands of the very ones He had created so that you and I could be forgiven.

That’s the essence of servanthood.

This work “servant” in Greek is the same word that literally means “slave” in English.

In v8 – Paul emphasizes that > “And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!”

With the mind of Christ, a new way of thinking will always take the form of a “slave.”

Slaves are obedient, even to the point of death.

That is, Jesus became one of us in order to die for us on a cross.

In other words, Christ’s servanthood cost Him his lifeblood.

In conclusion Remember – Christ did not grow old and die.

Remember – Christ did not get sick and die.

Remember – Christ did not die of natural causes.

Remember – Christ did not die a martyr but He died the death of a criminal, one of shameful cruelty and pain.

Thanks be to God – service and sacrifice goes hand-in-hand to produce authentic church membership.

Those who think like servants and sacrifice their preferences and desires for the cause of Christ truly honor their Savior.

Jesus’ sacrificial, selfless, servanthood” example is also the stewardship example of every church member.

Benediction, Blessing, Commission

The first step on the journey, that of readiness, is one of the hardest. We keep thinking that we have forgotten something. God has called you by name, to this journey. You will have all that you need. (May) the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.Go in peace, and know that God is going with you. AMEN.