From a House to a Home

Intro

Rights…

Main Point

What are we willing to do for the sake of the gospel

Why does it matter

If we don’t…

Scripture

1 Corinthians 10:23–33 NIV

“I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive. No one should seek their own good, but the good of others. Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, for, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.” If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience. But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, both for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience. I am referring to the other person’s conscience, not yours. For why is my freedom being judged by another’s conscience? If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for? So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God—even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.

23 - Christian liberty is important but there are some things that are not wise. It is more important to promote healthy growth than to assert our "rights"

24 - We shouldn't think about what is only but what is good for other people.

25 - Don't get bogged down inf ussy questions; Jewish people would have thought this was crazy. Paul was being revolutionary with this. He recognized that idols are nothing to God. So why stress over such things

26 - Whatever the unbeliever does with the meat before the idol doesn't matter because the gift of the meat came from God.

27 - Go eat with unbelievers don't question what they are feeding you

28 - If they are tempting you with something you know you shouldn't eat then don't eat it.

29 - This is for the other person - As a Christian I know the idol is nothing and the meat is fine BUT the person who sacrificed the meat may take the Christian eating the meat to mean they are okay with the sacrifice.

30 - If what we do will cause people to speak poorly of us or God then even though we CAN eat it and be fine spiritually it is better if we don't. Just because we CAN doesn't mean we SHOULD

31 - Let's not be concerned with our rights but with the Glory of God

32 - Let's be concerned for the lost; speak the truth in love

33 - Not personal advantage but the needs of the many; specifically, their salvation. Imitate Paul because he is imitating Jesus.

Main point: Make this “house of God” a “Home in Christ”.

What traditions, worship choices, decorations, feeling, culture do we present to those who are outside?

Would people with no background in “Church” feel comfortable coming here regularly? Is that our problem?

Is singing hymns and playing the piano and organ wrong? No. Should we still use those things? Yes.

Are we willing to lay down SOME of our preferences to make things more comfortable for people who are not used to Church the way it has been done for the last hundred or so years?

We have to do as our ancestors have done. Use the culture around us to share the gospel.

Jesus used parables about things people understood

Paul used the statue of the “unknown god” to teach about YHWH.

The Church created what we know today as Halloween. The same way the Church created Christmas. Jesus was likely born in April or September. But because of Samhain and winter solstice the Church took aspects of those pagan celebrations and made their own new holidays. Halloween and Christmas. Why do you think we have Christmas trees and feasts and gifts? All part of the winter solstice celebrations. Trick or treating is a CHURCH idea. To help the pagans get to know the Gospel and find Jesus.

Application

We are in that space once again. We need to embrace the culture around us and find a way to use that culture to share the gospel.

Not to indoctrinate anyone but the share the truth of Heaven Hell and God’s grace. The way we have always done “Church” is not a Biblical mandate it is a tradition that we have enjoyed for years and years but given the climate around us, we need to find new ways to engage our culture with the TRUTH!

Closing

We need to find new ways to make this House of God a home for those who need to know Him.