2022.04.17 The End of the World As We Know It: Don’t Give Up … Don’t Ever Give Up

The End of the World As We Know It: Don’t Give Up … Don’t Ever Give Up

Isaiah 40:28-31 • Galatians 6:2-10

Christ is risen!

HE IS RISEN INDEED!

Welcome to the highest holy day on the Christian calendar! This day is larger than any other in our faith. The secular world may be shocked to hear this, but Easter Sunday is bigger than Christmas. It’s such a big deal, early Christians moved the Sabbath so we could celebrate “a little Easter” every Sunday!

For any guests here this morning, thank you for being here. We’re honored to have you worshiping here today.

Some of you may be nervous. Many pastors spend their Easter message complaining about people who only show up on Christmas and Easter. That’s not really my style. I’m just happy you’re here for whatever your motive.

There aren’t usually many unchurched people on Easter. Easter is usually the time DEchurched people come. Perhaps you grew up in the church and walked away for whatever reason. If that reason is that you were hurt by the church in some way, let me say your experience sadly is not that uncommon. But a single person harmed is sufficient for an apology and repentance. So, on behalf of the Church, I’m sorry you were harmed, and I repent of that sin.

If you weren’t here the last couple of weeks, we’re finishing up a sermon series today. We’ve been talking about helping people outside the church discover God’s love for them.

The first week, we commited to Begin with prayer for those people. We listed their names, and even placed the names on slips of paper that we have in collection plate on the Communion Table today. Perhaps your name may be on one of these slips of paper. If it is, I’m especially glad you’re here today.

The second week, we were supposed to start a conversation with these people and listen to their faith experience. This wasn’t about us spouting our experience, but listening to theirs. This would help us understand them better, but also it may help us feel compassion if they’ve been pushed away by churchy people.

The third week, we we to start planning or offering a meal for this person so we could eat together. Again, this wasn’t a “get saved or you’re going to Hell” meal. It’s a “get-to-know-you-better” meal.

Last week, we talked about Church people staying in their lane … and that our lane is serving people.

This is all very simple, if only we’d let it stay simple.

I love the title of a book I bought a few weeks back: “Love God, Love People, Don’t Do Dumb Crap”. I would’ve used the phrase “Stupid Crap” but Pastor Shane didn’t ask me. :)

The End of the World As We Know It: Don’t Give Up … Don’t Ever Give Up

So, this week, we bring it home. It’s really tiring to plow the field. It takes a lot of energy to plant seeds in the ground. It’s easy to forget about making sure the seed gets plenty of water. It’s exhausting keeping weeds away. But harvest time! We LOVE harvest time, right?

Praying is plowing the field to prepare for growth.

Listening with care is pushing seeds in the ground

Eating together is making sure the seed is watered

Serving the person helps keep weeds at bay so growth isn’t hindered by “dumb crap”

Harvest comes when we take the opportunity to Share our Story

In case you haven’t noticed, the first letter of each of these steps spell the word BLESS!

The Church has historically complicated faith in Christ. We’ve loved God and loved people, but we do dumb crap instead of just BLESSING people. We’ve historically tried to fill the role of the Holy Spirit in convicting and converting people, when we should’ve just been telling our story!

We too often believe we have to do something heroic in trying to convince our friends that Jesus is real and he really loves them. But let’s look at how our enemy is ultimately vanquished:

Revelation 12:7–11 NASB 2020

7 And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. The dragon and his angels waged war, 8 and they did not prevail, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. 10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down, the one who accuses them before our God day and night. 11 And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.

That sounds awfully heroic, doesn’t it?

But look again at how they defeated Satan!

They overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb … and the WORD OF THEIR TESTIMONY!!!

It wasn’t their great doctrine.

It wasn’t their lifestyle.

It wasn’t their political party.

It wasn’t wagging fingers of conviction in faces.

It wasn’t in feelings of superiority.

IT WAS THE WORD OF THEIR TESTIMONY!

The End of the World As We Know It: Don’t Give Up … Don’t Ever Give Up

I began this message with an apology to those who’ve been hurt by church folks. I hope that at least won your attention for a bit. Now, let me tell you the only powerful thing I have to offer:

I was a self-righteous turd! I could clean that up for a Sunday sermon, but my prior life does not bear cleaning up. I was a turd, and I think that’s the best way to say that.

As difficult as I was to love — God loved me!

He loved me enough to reach through all of the garbage I’d built around me. He loved me enough to reach from his realm down to mine, and tell me about his love. When I finally realized I couldn’t measure up, he was ready to receive my surrender and start changing me into the person he wanted me to be in the beginning.

He restored my value by valuing me even when I didn’t value myself. He loved me when I wanted to end my life. He loved me when I was running away from him. He loved me when I was in an unholy relationship and surrounded myself with unholy people.

I was anything but clean when he offered me a bath. I was anything but holy … when he offered me salvation.

I was anything but ready, when his Son died and came back to life for me.

I can’t explain why … but I can tell you with great definity, He loved me then … and he loves me now.

And I can tell you with great definity … He loves you, too.

When I’m at my lowest, my version of never giving up is rehearsing my story again ~ remembering the love I’ve experienced with the God of the Bible ~ and sharing that testimony with others.

For believers here today:

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! And my life experiencing the resurrected Christ is the most powerful words I can say to another human being - and so is yours.

For non-believers or former believers here today:

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! And he wants your life experience with the resurrected Christ to help others find him, too.

If you’re struggling today: Cling to Jesus! And don’t give up - don’t ever give up! Heard?

Let’s pray together!

[include Communion]