Christmas Services BN - December 23, 2015

I was unable to audio-record the message from last week, but here are the key notes to our talk. Hope this is helpful to those of you who wanted them. Merry Christmas!

Open

Reason for the season… birth… live nativity… away in a manger… Xmas pageants… Talladega Nights – silly thing to see someone praying to baby Jesus – you can even get a t-shirt online that says “Oh dear Lord Baby Jesus.”

Dilemma

Everyone wants to celebrate the baby Jesus… nothing wrong with that, but it’s incomplete.

Most Christians want to celebrate Emmanuel – God with us…  do we know what that really mean?

The only reason Christians get excited for the birth is that they think it leads to Easter.

Most of us haven’t fully grasped yet why the infant birth was so crucial.

Why did Jesus have to become a man for 30 years.

Why didn’t he just appear out of thin air as a grown man? Minister and heal for a few years and then die? He still would’ve been a perfect, spotless sacrifice for our sins right. Why did he have to live a “normal” life for so long before the crucifixion?

Why, oh why, is the human BIRTH important to our faith??

Word

Briefly, I want to unpack a few things that I think the physical birth of Jesus reveals for you and me:

The birth reveals God isn’t afraid of sin, He goes right to where sin exists.

   ·      The culture of Jesus’ day was about sin avoidance… is it that different today?

   ·      Religion teaches that sin can taint you (not the other way around).

   ·      God and His Spirit CAN exist where sin is – Hebrews 1 à Jesus is the exact imprint of the nature of the Father.

   ·      Hebrews 1 (ESV) - Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high…

   ·      God was showing the world that He not only COULD be where sin was, but that He WANTED to be where we are no matter what…

   ·      and further that HE would change sin à not the other way around.

   ·      BUT, he did all of this in humanities skin…

The birth reveals that humanity is not an obstacle; it’s God’s plan.

   ·      The birth reveals the ability of God to put on human skin (babies, diapers, pains, hurts, emotions, temptations, etc.)… He experienced everything that we did…  including temptation, and yet “was without sin.”

   ·      Jesus was not only the full revelation of the Father… He wanted to show us the full revelation of what we were intended to live like…

   ·      Romans 8 (NLT) - 29 For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, He gave them his glory.

   ·      Jesus’ humanity actually reveals our adoption into the family… not just some contract or exchange made at the cross (although true), but actually the ability to show us (in love) exactly the way we were intended to live.

   ·      John actually understood this better than most… he understood he was the “loved one” of God… and that we actually have the ability to live as Jesus did… humanity is not an obstacle!

a.     NLT 4:13-17 à 13 And God has given us his Spirit as proof that we live in him and he in us. 14 Furthermore, we have seen with our own eyes and now testify that the Father sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 All who declare that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. 16 We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. 17 And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world.

b.     MSG - our standing in the world is identical with Christ’s.

c.      NASB - because as He is, so also are we in this world.

   ·      When we receive the life of Christ… the empowerment of the Holy Spirit… we become like Jesus in this world.

   ·      Think about this parallel that the birth of Jesus reveals.

o   Jesus was born of his mother Mary.

o   Jesus was conceived of the Holy Spirit (Matt 1:20)

o   We are born of our mothers.

o   When we place our faith in Jesus, we become born of the Spirit of God.

o   As He is, so are we in this world

   ·      If Jesus did not come as a baby… did not come and life a full human life… then it would have only revealed God’s plan WITHOUT us… it would not have revealed God’s plan through us.

Action

Which leads us into more revelation…

The birth reveals that God no longer looks at us as sinner, but as saints.

   ·      Jesus’ birth shows what it means for us to walk in our identity again

   ·      Jesus’ birth shows what it means to walk in our authority again

   ·      It reveals our ability to “do what Jesus did.”

   ·      What can one man full of the Holy Spirit accomplish?

   ·      When we take on Christ’s righteousness…  2 Corinthians 5 (ESV) 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God… when we become the righteousness of God… when our minds become accustomed to this reality, we no longer ask “What would Jesus do” but we begin to “do what Jesus did.”

Tonight we are going to end our service in two ways…

   ·      Ministry here… practicing internally as a church

   ·      Ministry outside these walls… donut outreach… living externally towards our community.

Main Ideas…

   ·      KEY TEXT: 1 John 4:13-17

   ·      DOMINANT THOUGHT: Bringing Xmas and Easter together

   ·      MAIN DILEMMA: The only reason Christians get excited for the birth is that they think it leads to Easter.

Revealing the Vineyard Family - October 18, 2015

Here's a brief outline from yesterday's message. I went "off script" a few times but the heart of the talk is all here. Enjoy.

DOMINANT THOUGHT: An authentic community is real because first it is righteous.

Story

   ·      Summer of 2004

   ·      People I trusted… did life with… shared my concerns, dreams, prayers with

   ·      And not just every once in awhile, but weekly we poured out our hearts to each other.

   ·      One day I expressed my concern over an issue I saw in this group’s life.

   ·      Within days, almost all of our friendships were over…

   ·      Tears, frustration, attacks on my family

   ·      It was among the hardest things we’ve ever gone through in our lives.

   ·      We left that situation wondering if we could ever be real with people again… wondering if we could ever trust a group on that level again.

Dilemma – we all want a family… we all want a place to belong… we all want a cause to fight for and people to fight alongside… but many of us are not ready for the transparency, vulnerability and honesty that comes from really being known intimately… we’re scared because our “experience” has taught us to be wary… and even sometimes to be cynical.

Recap Series – We are REVEALING the VINEYARD FAMILY

   ·      Hap/Di – story and foundation

   ·      Putty – 4 pillars of who we are (slide)

   ·      Clay – talked our global tribe

   ·      Today, we talk a little more intimately about our day-to-day “tribe” experience. Those sitting in the rows next to you.

   ·      Before I pray, pass out nametags (silly thing just to break down some barriers).

PRAYER

Word

Today, we are going to unpack some of Paul’s ideas of how the church should interact with each other. Now, this is not a set of rules… rather it’s a way of thinking that comes from being transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit.

(A) To be an authentic community, we need to give up our old thinking.

   ·      We need stop looking to the world for our model on relationships & realize that with Jesus we have the power to create a new normal in the power of Holy Spirit.

   ·      Ephesians 4:17 Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. 18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. 19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity.

   ·      Giving up our orphan mentality

   ·      Putting aside the old man

   ·      Leaving our flesh behind to walk in the Spirit

   ·      Discarding our offense and picking up love.

 (B) To be an authentic community, we need to begin to think like Jesus.

   ·      Good opportunity to share the gospel in this section

   ·      Ephesians 4:20 But that is not the way you learned Christ!— 21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

   ·      Christ died both as us and as an example for us.

   ·      Understand your place in the kingdom (sons and daughters)

   ·      You have been reborn… you ARE a new person.

   ·      The Father has counted you holy, royal, sanctified in Him.

   ·      You are free (from everything that used to bind you up)… begin to live like it!

   ·      Think like you are born of heaven and not of this earth.

  ·      When we begin to do this, we will interact with our family, our church and our world in a completely different way.

   ·      SOFIA THE FIRST – finding out what being “royal” is all about

   ·      But, it’s not just a ME thing… it’s bigger than that.

(C) To be an authentic community, we need to think of the other person’s identity.

   ·      We can’t stay wrapped in our own journey… in our own change… when we do, we replace one lie (about ourselves) for the lie of not caring about the lif-change of the people around us.

   ·      Ephesians 4:25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, (the lie is gone!)

   ·      let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. 26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the devil. 28 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. 29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

   ·      God not only has given you a new identity, but to everyone who says YES to Him.

   ·      When we see the other person’s value…

o   We will always speak the truth… no masks

o   We will always be patient and seek reconciliation… no delays

o   We will always act with honor and find our place on the team… no leeches.

o   We will always let our speech reflect the heart of the Father… no exceptions.

   ·      ONLY IN JESUS is their freedom to live this way… we can’t force it on our own strength… the transforming power of the Spirit alone has the ability to give you grace to live without

o   Gossip

o   Slander

o   Bitter thoughts

o   And toxic language

As we pursue these ideas… who am I? Plus, who are the people around me? In the Father’s eyes… in the Father’s family… we will begin to think of the greater good, of the greater community… and think less about ourselves:

(D) To be an authentic community, we need to think unity above precision.

   ·      (Julie pastor at Urbana) – we will begin to move from being a taker… and move into the grace of being a giver to those around us/community.

   ·      Ephesians 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

   ·      Ephesians 4:1-3 has value here also

   ·      We will remain humble to avoid pride.

   ·      We will remain gentle to avoid more fuel on fires.

   ·      We will strive to understand someone’s pain to avoid talking behind his or her back.

   ·      We will keep short accounts to avoid bitterness.

   ·      We will focus on loving others to avoid having to always be “right/correct.”

STORY

   ·      Fred Johnson – love her more a year from now

   ·      No decisions are ever made on our own

   ·      We began to create dreams together

   ·      First child… 5^th child

   ·      Creating new dreams together

   ·      Ephesians 5 – Give up your lives out of reverence for Jesus

   ·      He gave up everything for us.

   ·      Forgiveness is a choice, an action step, a verb

Mission

What should we do with all of this?

• Begin to understand that we cannot be real with one another until we understand our righteousness in Christ.
• From there is birthed an understanding of how the Father sees all of His followers as righteous.
• From there is birthed authenticity with one another…
• For we begin to see each other as Jesus sees us.
• For we begin to see each other’s destiny and purpose, rather than our hurts, pains, offenses…. Or even just our quirkiness 

WHAT HAPPENS when the church begins to live this way?!

   1.     First, the culture of our churches change.

   2.     Second, the world begins to take notice of the way we do life.

   3.     Finally, the way we “do relationships” outside the church walls begins to change too…

   4.     And in turn, we begin to change the atmosphere…

So, lets go on this mission together.

• Value and importance of Small Groups - practice & training ground for authenticity
• Value and importance of serving on teams – practice and training ground for the right way to do conflict.
• Value of our Tribe – no longer a “country club” of believers meeting for karaoke on Sundays, but a “Grace Filled Family” on mission to bring about the Kingdom in the way we relate to each other… to change the atmosphere of our cities by our love… and the demonstration of that love.

Story Matters...

After a great weekend with Alan Scott, I was super encouraged about how much STORY matters in the life of the church. Alan is constantly trying to get his people out into the community to change the story of their city with the gospel. YOU have a story and it really matters. If you want to explore this idea a little further, check out this talk I gave a couple of years ago (May 2013) called "SHARE YOUR STORY"

http://urbana.thevineyardchurch.us/sermon/share-your-story/

**for some reason, I'm beardless... can't imagine why I shaved, lol... enjoy the message anyway!