BEYOND SUPERFICIAL CHRISTIANITY Meet the Jesus Who DEEPENS

The last several weeks we have been in this sermon series entitled "Jesus Called." --- This mornings sermons title is Beyond Superficial Christianity... we are talking about BUILDING SPIRITUAL DEPTH into our lives.

In 1889, American journalist and humorist Edgar Nye introduced the phrase

"A mile wide and an inch deep."

He was referring to a river found in the Midwestern, called the Platte River.

The Platte is a muddy, wide, shallow, meandering stream with a swampy bottom, these characteristics made it too difficult to ever be used as a major navigation route.

Nye wrote that the river

"had a very large circulation, but very little influence. It covers a good deal of ground, but it is not deep. In some places it is a mile wide and three-quarters of an inch deep."

Jesus invites us to is a life and a relationship with him that is DEEP and rich...

If our walk with Jesus is a mile wide and only an inch deep ... what we are left with is something is kind of superficial ... it doesn't feel authentic because it promises something but at the end of the day it doesn't deliver ----

Paul warned Timothy, he tells him to watch out for the trappings of having religion. In the last days there will be those who have the appearance of godliness, but they deny the power.... avoid those kinds of people. (2 tim 3:5)

If you are going to have Depth you have to build your life on the right foundation... I was reading that in some places in the middle east you can go down as far as 30 Feet before hitting...bed Rock... Here is the thing about going deep... anything above the Bed rock is going to be Sand... go down 5 feet... keep on drilling... 10 feet.... still nothing..

What are we looking for??

I. ONE SOLID FOUNDATION

The sermon on the mount basically five speeches delivered by Jesus and is recorded in Matt 5-7. it provides for us a description of how a we ought to live --- attitudes and actions as believers.

Jesus concludes his sermon with a parable of the Wise and foolish man... this is where ware picking up this morning..

Matthew 7:24–28 ESV

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching,

What is this parable about?

Firstly, It is easy to think that the subject in this parable is wise man and the foolish man... They made Good Choices and therefore Avoided being destroyed... by a tornado.

But main topic in these verses is neither the wise man or the foolish man ..

The subject is ... "Everyone who hears the words and does the words of Jesus." OR THE ANTITHESES would be "Everyone who does not hear and do the words of Jesus."

Depending on how we respond to the words of Jesus determines (the result) whether one is consider to be wise or foolish.

The one who hears and does the word of God has the characterization of the wise man who... (like the wise-man) "built his house on the rock.. or the one who hears the words of Christ and does not do them are "like" a foolish man...

Why is this important? Jesus is talking about DEPENDENCY ON HIS WORD... and obeying the word...

Jesus was teaching us far more than an architectural lesson. He was asking the most important question will ever asked.. WHAT IS HOLDING YOUR LIFE TOGETHER?

The two men in this story had much in common. Both had desires to build a house. Both built houses that looked good and sturdy. But when the storm, one of the houses collapsed. What was the difference? One man life was founded on the word..

T/S If you don't have the Word what do you propose to replace them with an thing else going to be able to hold you up for a life time? What Jesus is conveying to us is this: Your ultimate worldview matters..

II. SEVEN COMPETING WORLDVIEWS

WORLDVIEW 1 – MATERIALISM

Billy Graham tells this story of a little boy was playing one day with a very valuable vase. He put his hand into it and could not withdraw it. His father too, tried his best, but all in vain. They were thinking of breaking the vase when the father said, “Now, my son, make one more try. Open your hand and hold your fingers out straight as you see me doing, and then pull.”

To their astonishment of everyone the little fellow said, “O no, father. I couldn’t put my fingers out like that, because if I did I would drop my penny.”

What is materialism?

Mark Twain once defined “civilization” as “a limitless multiplication of unnecessary necessities” --- is that a great phrase "unnecessary necessities" don't really need it but I have got to have it...

The GOAL of materialism is – SIMPLE: get more money- so I can buy more things - so I can have more places to store them. Then buy storage bins to store what I can’t keep on shelves,rent storage places because I don’t want to let go of anything. Storage is a Big business in this country, generating more than $24 billion in revenues in 2014.

The United States is home to reportedly 48,500 to 52,000 self-storage units. That's about 2.3 billion square feet of storage. It is a business that has been called recession resistant by the Wall Street Journal.

The theme of materialist is,"The one with the most toys wins."

It is a world view that is constantly bombarding us. Thousands of TV and internet adds try and convince us that happiness and contentment are just one purchase away.

Materialists have bought into the illusion that having more will make you happier and more secure. I will be worth more when I own more.

"People with a materialistic worldview confuse their value with their valuables."

How affective is materialism as a world view?

If materialism were an effective worldview choice, the richest people would be the happiest people in the world.

J. Paul Getty, who was the wealthiest man in the world in 1966 said , "I would gladly give all m millions for just one lasting marital success.

JESUS challenged conventional wisdom of the materialist when He said..

Luke 12:15 ESV

And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

JESUS IS BASICALLY SAYING THAT IF YOU THINK THAT LIFE IS ABOUT MASSING POSSESSIONS.. YOU HAVE MISSED THE POINT.

The context of this verse is a man in the crowd who calls out to Jesus and says, "could you tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me..". Jesus responds who made me judge over you... That is not my role..

The YOUNGER brother thought he had a case where he could justify his brother giving him a fare share of his inheritance....

Instead of agreeing with the younger brother... Listen I feel your pain.... you should get your fair share.... INSTEAD OF DOING THAT...

Jesus goes into this TEACHING about guarding against covetousness... Jesus commands his followers to take care of and God and against covetousness... Two imperatives in one verse "take care." "Guard against this" -----

WHY? because

....Covetousness is an unquenchable thirst for getting more and more of something we think we need in order to be truly satisfied. It may be a thirst for money or the things that money can buy, or even a thirst for position and power.

The cure to materialism is Generosity...

The Bible promises that when we have a world view of Generosity that we make room for God's provision. In Luke 6 Jesus has just been talking about the importance of forgiveness... it s the principle of sowing and reaping..

Luke 6:38 ESV

give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

Jesus gives the principle of the good measure... When we live out of generosity --- we putting other s first -- we are living out the great commandment... love others... When we give in tithes and offerings we are making room...

WORLDVIEW 2 – INDIVIDUALISM

The worldview of individualism can be summed up in two words “Me first!”

Our society is geared to serve our needs first... The way that we interact with our world is totally different. We can download the news on demand... we like not having to wait..

slogans often appeal to our individualism , "Obey your thirst." "Have it your way."

Individualism is a me first , my way, I have to think of my own happiness thought pattern. This self centered way of life ignores what is best for the community, for other people, for the family or for the church, because of the attitude that says, "I only do what's best for me."

JESUS taught a totally different world

Matthew 16:24 ESV

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

One of the things that was so evident in the early church is that they served one another... they looked after each other... it was community... they sold a field -- took care of widows and orphans...

We have this SIGNIFICANCE think upside down... when we live for ourselves... we are constantly looking for the the approval of others...

Mark 10:43

.. whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

If the me -first world view worked well, the happiest people in the world would be the most selfish.

Significance does not come from status, salary, success, or serving yourself. It comes from serving God and others. Jesus taught that you will begin to live only when your begin to give yourself away.

That is the example that Jesus gave us.... Jesus came to server others and to give his life for others.

WORLDVIEW 3 – HEDONISM

The catch phrase for Hedonism is this...

"If it feels good – do it!"

Hedonism states that the most important thing in life is how you feel.

If you feel good, then what you are doing is good. If you feel bad, then what your're doing is bad In HEDONISM, everything is ruled by feelings. A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO THE NEW YORK TIMES came out with this article... "Happiness 101"

What they found was if you try to do things in life that give you pleasure, it leads to what they called in the article the “hedonic treadmill,” which is from the word hedonism, obviously.

The professor who was being interviewed in the article said when you basically choose things to do because they bring you pleasure, that makes you addicted to pleasure. You have to do more, and you have to do more. The need happens, and you’re really not that happy.

But scientific studies have shown, according to the article, that the best way to be happy is to do selfless acts of kindness, to pour yourself out for needy people.

There are only three options in life... I can live to please my self... I can lie to please others.... and I can live to please God.... Now, each of these has an outcome... two of the outcomes leave us feeling disappointed....Have you ever tried to live your life to please others ... You live up and down... Jesus taught the EXACT opposite of hedonism.

Mark 8:36 ESV

For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?

This verse has a special meaning for me. It was the verse that I walked past everyday when I was in Bible College.. it was engraved on a rock on the way to our classes... Can you imagine if we had this verse engraved on our hearts.... everyday.... you kind of set your priorities... IF I AM LIVING FOR MYSELF... I'M ACTUALLY LOOSING life... When I live for others..

WORLDVIEW 4 PRAGMATISM

The most common phrase embracing pragmatism says, "whatever works. Pragmatism says, , It might not be my thing, but "Whatever works for you is great!"

Here is the problem with this view.. that if you have the nerve to suggest that something is actually wrong, then you are being an intolerant "hater" .. but when there is evil, a stand has to be taken and warning has to be issued. The second thing that pragmatism does - It makes truth relative and correction impossible... when we say truth is relative.

Under pragmatism, Christianity and truth lose their power and are just another option in the market place of ideas.

Let me say this, Theology is important... what you believe about God and the world is important... we live out of IDEAS... What your believe... determines how you behave..... what determines what you become..... You can say that we are the sum of our IDEAS...

We all live at the mercy of our ideas about how things are.

JESUS challenged this world view, but saying.....

Mark 7:8 ESV

You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.”

Here is the problem with Pragmatism

Proverbs 14:12 ESV

There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.

if say to u, I don’t believe in the law of gravity. Well, whatever works for u. New York City, top Empire State bldg & top &

“u go down floor 50 & I’m gonna meet u on way down! I’m going to jump off.” So I jump off Empire State Building bec I believe there’s no such thing as law of gravity.

I jump - coming down u stick yr head window, How’s it going?” I say, “So far so good.” There’s a way that seems right (in the middle of the fall) but in the end it leads to death.

I meet whatever works for u peop all time. Peo who say “So far so good all the time.

“U cheating on yr wife?” Yeah. “How’s it going?” So far so good.

“You being unethical? Stealing fr yr business?” Yeah. “How’s going?” So far so good. “R u getting strung out on drugs or alcohol?” Yeah. “How’s it going?” So far so good.

I meet peop all the time. Their marriage is headed for crack up. Their business, pers life, their rels, health – all headed for a crack up. & they’re saying, “So far so good!”

“There’s a way that seems right unto man but it ends in death.”

WORLDVIEW 5 – HUMANISM

In humanism, people are their own ultimate authority, and they with their own truths.

It is the wold view that states, I am the master of my fate. "You are your own truth."

Ray Johnson tells this story where he was preaching on a sermon entitled, "The New Age Rage<" and a woman in the congregation got up and started to yell out "Don't listen to this man>" She threw here message notes in the air and stormed out of the room... can you just imagine...

Ray says there wasn't a single person asleep in the room..

The point of the sermon was this, "If you are going to call yourself a Christian, you can only have one God and you are not him."

the Bible tells us that there is a way that seems right to a man ... but he end is death.

Isn't this the call of Jesus, that we are not to seek our own way

JESUS said when we pray.

Matthew 6:9–10 ESV

Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

WORLDVIEW 6 – FATALISM

The world view of fatalism can be summarized in four words that crush dreams. They replace hope with discouragement. They replace confidence with cynicism. What are these four our words

"Things will never change!"

A fatalistic worldview is cancer of the spirit. With this worldview dreams are squelched . fatalistic people do not have hope or faith. Rather than living with a bibrant fiath in an unlimited God, they live totally dominated by their prior experiences with discouragement. fatalism, stoaicism and cynicism -- are all related.

JESUS teaching flew in the face of fatalism... he said...

Mark 10:27 ESV

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”

WORLDVIEW 7 – THEISM

“God made me for His purposes!”

Theism comes from Theo, which is the Greek word for God. Theology is the study of God. The Bible says that God created us for a purpose.

Judaism and Christianity both are theistic worldviews that God made us for a purpose.

JESUS:

John 10:10 ESV

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

Alot of peop like to pick & choose.

I’m at church I’ll have Theist worldview. “When I date, I’ll have ‘Hedonist worldview.

Then work & I’m closing that deal I’m going to have ‘Pragmatist worldview. With my money I apply a Materialist

All that does is create confusion & stress & all kinds of negative emotions in yr life.

LIFE APPLICATION

3 Ways to Strengthen Your Foundation.

1. SATURATE YOUR LIFE WITH GOD’S TRUTH

A pilot can fly into the side of a mountain if he becomes disorientate and believes the planes altitude is greater than it really is.. No matter how much higher the pilot believes he is higher ... it doesnt change... and the mountain is not going to move.... The TRUTH NEVER CHANGES... the Bible tellls us...

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation …

“The old has gone, the new has come!" 2 CORINTHIANS 5:17

With that NEW IDENTITY comes a NEW WORLDVIEW

" Buy the truth and do not sell it; get wisdom, discipline and understanding. " PROVERBS 23:23

2. LEARN TO SPOT COUNTERFEIT TRUTH

Those who handle a lot of money such as retailers who learn to identify counterfeit money.. Counterfeit money has a different texture to the real thing...

The reason they become experts at discovering the counterfeit is by handling the truth. We need to know that not everyone who quotes the Bible is necessary speaking truth... one of the reason we have been given the Holy Spirit to help us decern truth from error. As you read through the Bible, your realize that much of the NT deals with false teaching and corrections..

John tells us .

1 John 4:1 ESV

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Circle test the spirits’ 1 of ways to test---results of their worldview.

If u go & study some great philosophers, many of em committed suicide or went insane.

I don’t want a philosophy that that’s the end result.

• NIETZSCHE who was guy who said, God is dead, Nietzsche went insane.

• SIGMUND FREUD committed suicide.

EX) Paul Vitz, Ph.D. motivation psychology, Stanford U --- Professor of Psych, NYU

In1999 wrote book called Faith and the Fatherless. Studied 100 most famous atheists in hist to see if there anything in common. U know what 100 famous atheists in hist had in common? All hated their fathers. They were either abandoned by their father, ridiculed, rejected by their father died at early age – they hated their father. Makes sense. If we are to pray “Our

Father who art in heaven...” if God’s like my father, no thanks God.

3. COMMIT YOURSELF TO LIVING TRUTH

JESUS:

"But seek His kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well." LUKE 12:31

“People who believe in the virgin birth do not get points for believing in the virgin birth. They live in a different world. A world where virgin births occur is a different world from one in which they don't. A world where Jesus Christ rises from the dead, a world where we have a reliable word from God in the scriptures...this is different from a world where these things aren't true. And when we believe in the true world, we gain the riches and realities that God has provided. When we don't believe we live in that world, we are simply restricted to what we can work on our own.” - DALLAS WILLARD PHD, PROFESSOR OF PHILOSOPHY, UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA