Untitled Sermon

How to True Your Wheel

1. WARNING: progressive Christianity

1.1. From Decision Magazine read Erwin Lutzer comment on page 20

1.2. Read page 8 Paivi Rasanen vindicated and cleared of all charges

1.3. The point is that these are the realities of our culture and our nation

2. Call to Action

2.1. Models

2.1.1. All are wrong, but some are useful

2.1.2. Reverend Billy Kim: model is imitation of real thing

2.2. Metaphor: the bicycle wheel to represent

2.2.1. Hub: the center that holds it all together

2.2.2. Rim: where the rubber hits the road

2.2.3. Spokes: tension that connects the rim to the hub

3. The Challenge

3.1. John 14:15 (NASB95) “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

3.2. John 14:21 (NASB95) “He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.”

3.3. Commandments (not called the 10 Suggestions)

3.3.1. 805 Hebrew + 145 Greek = 950 Predominantly: commandment, orders, instructions, requirements

3.3.2. OBSERVATION: commands are relevant if they come from someone with the authority to give that command

3.4. Obedience (the more difficult word)

3.4.1. 7 Hebrew + 23 Greek = 30 times

3.4.2. OBEDIENCE. As a branch of Christian ethics, obedience is to be viewed not only with respect to the relations existing between God and man and between man and society but also with respect to the example of Christ and man’s relation to Him. 1. Perfect obedience to the commandments of God must be the object of our constant endeavor. The imperfect results of even our most strenuous efforts, however, reveal the necessity of God’s grace in Christ. Nothing less than entire self-surrender to God and reverent trust can make this grace available (see 1 John 1:6–10; 2:1–6; Rom. 3:20; 5:1; 6:1–2; etc.)[1]

3.5. From the Expositors Bible Commentarty: 21 In v. 15 love was presented as the motivating cause of obedience; now in v. 21 obedience becomes the test of love. The one who has the commands of Jesus (has received them and made them his own) and obeys them (puts them into daily practice) is the one who loves Jesus. The instructions of our Lord were given not to make us better theologians but better people. It would be better to remain uninstructed than to hear a command and fail to obey it. Ryle, 4:311, correctly says that “passive impressions which do not lead to action, gradually deaden and paralyze the heart.” To know carries the obligation to obey. Obedience is the proof of love.

3.5.1. Jesus promises a special reward to the one who “loves” him. (That agapōn, GK 26, in v. 21 is present tense suggests a continuing relationship of love.) Not only will such a person be loved by both the Father and the Son, but Jesus will “show [himself]” to him or her as well. Emphanizō (“to make visible,” GK 1872) is used here in the figurative sense of self-revelation through the Spirit. It is the high privilege of the one who loves the Son to experience in a unique way the reality of his presence and gain a fuller understanding of who he is. God reveals himself in the context of love. Apathy or disobedience makes it impossible to encounter God in any meaningful way. It was to Mary Magdalene, whose love expressed itself in service and sorrow, that the risen Jesus first appeared (20:10–18). It has always been true that apart from love, the things most worth knowing can never be learned.[2]

4. The Holy Spirit

4.1. John 14:16–17 (NASB95) 16 “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; 17 that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, butyou know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.

5. Is it even possible?

5.1. 1 John 5:3 (NASB95) For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.

6. Introduce the Navigator wheel and provide the handout

6.1. Note: criticism that Holy Spirit is not called out, but actually He is part of each aspect of the wheel

6.2. Walk through the verses with those in attendance

Christ the Center

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NASB95) Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

Galatians 2:20 (NASB95) “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

Obedience to Christ

Romans 12:1 (NASB95) Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

John 14:21 (NASB95) “He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.”

The Word

2 Timothy 3:16 (NASB95) All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;

17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. (my addition)

Joshua 1:8 (NASB95) “This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.

Prayer

John 15:7 (NASB95) “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

Philippians 4:6–7 (NASB95) Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Fellowship

Matthew 18:20 (NASB95) “For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.”

Hebrews 10:24–25 (NASB95) and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

Witnessing

Matthew 4:19 (NASB95) And He *said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

Romans 1:16 (NASB95) For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

7. Lessons

7.1. Work Space

7.1.1. Find a quiet place where you won’t be interrupted

7.1.2. Set aside and SCHEDULE your time

7.1.3. Start small 7 minutes: ½ minute prayer to prepare your heart; 4 minutes listening to God (Scripture Reading); 2 ½ minutes Talking to God (prayer) ACTS Adoration Confession Thanksgiving Supplication (from Robert Foster “7 Minutes with God”)

7.2. Tools

7.2.1. Bible

7.2.2. Notebook

7.2.3. Pen

7.3. Identify the Buckle and where it needs adjustment

7.3.1. WHAM: what does it say, how do I measure up, application (specific and realistic), measure (not judging measure progress)

7.3.2. The question from Pastor Michael Easley to himself: am I more like Jesus than last year at this time?

[1]Unger, M. F., Harrison, R. K., Vos, H. F., Barber, C. J., & Unger, M. F. (1988). In The new Unger’s Bible dictionary (Rev. and updated ed.). Moody Press. [2]Mounce, R. H. (2007). John. In T. Longman III & D. E. Garland (Eds.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Luke–Acts (Revised Edition) (Vol. 10, p. 567). Zondervan.