Shine Like Stars (a recent sermon)

We just finished the season when most people probably had a little “nativity set” in their house.

You know the normal cast of characters:

Mary & Joseph
Some random farm animals
An angel
Of course, baby Jesus
Maybe some shepherds
…And then, the “three wise men”

Here is their story:

Matthew 2:1–12

2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:
6 “ ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’”
7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”
9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

It may not have played out exactly the way our nativity set has it, but I’d like us to look at this story from a slightly different perspective today and perhaps hear God speak to us.

These “magi” are coming from East of Jerusalem. There are some legends, but the Bible doesn’t give us too much detail about them. All we know is that:

-coming from the East (so they are most likely not Jewish, but Gentile)
-they saw “his star” (that is the start belonging to the “king of the Jews”)
-they have come to “worship him”

Next we meet King “Herod the Great”….

Basically he’s crazy. You can read about him and history and discover that he’s known best for being a suspicious, ruthless, lunatic of a leader. He even killed his own wife because of his suspicions….

And we get a little glimpse of that in his interaction with the Magi.

But, as we follow along with the story of the Magi in search of the “one born King of the Jews” we find that their search was led by something….

A star.

We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.
they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.
When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.

They weren’t just trying to find this baby on their own, they were being led and guided.

Yes, they certainly used their wisdom and had to make a choice to follow. But, when it comes down to it, they were following something, a star, which led them to their desired destination.

When they finally got there, they were overjoyed for they had found what they had been looking for. All of the miles and time they traveled had led them to this place, this child, this King.

And they worship…

People today, still need a star to shine that leads them to Jesus.

Whether they are far off and have many spiritual miles to travel, or they are right around the corner from Jesus, they need something, someone to shine the way to the King their soul is looking for.

The Apostle Paul puts it this way:

Phil 2:14-16
Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life.

And of course, this connects with what Jesus said:

Matthew 5:14
You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Everyone is on a journey, searching, looking for something to worship – something or someone to give their all to, something or someone that is bigger and greater than they are.

It is built into human life to worship.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 says, “He has also set eternity in the human heart.”

And yet, we aimlessly chase after other things, hoping they will satisfy that longing inside.

People need a star shining in the sky of their life that will point the way to Jesus. The star that guided the Magi was constant, it never faded until the job was done. So, must we shine in people’s lives and never give up.

The star that guided the Magi moved with them until it finally came to Jesus. So, must we move with people wherever they are on their journey to Jesus, patiently guiding them all the way to Him.

How to shine:

1. Good deeds

Matthew 5:16
let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

In your neighborhood, workplace, home, become known as that person who is always doing “good deeds” for others. You don’t have get others attention when you do (don’t be that person – the one who does good and then makes sure everyone knows it…). People will notice without you bringing attention to yourself.

2. Conversations

Colossians 4:5-6
Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

In your neighborhood, workplace, family, become known as the person that is a good listener, someone who doesn’t gossip or discourage. Develop a reputation for being an encourager with your words, a trusted confidant, a wise listener who knows when to speak and when to listen. Season your conversation appropriately with grace, just like you would season your dinner with salt. Too much and it’s inedible. Too little and it’s undetectable. Be a wise “chef” who knows the right amount for the occasion.

God has called us to shine like stars, pointing those in the dark to the light of the world – Jesus Christ.

God with us – December 1 sermon

I had the privilege to preach yesterday at Calvary Assembly of God.

Here’s the audio of my sermon:

image credit for featured image

My sermon about Sabbath rest

Here’s the recording of the sermon I gave yesterday (7/14/13) on the importance of Sabbath rest
(click to open media player) A Deep Breath

The Royal Law of Jesus’ Kingdom

This week I led a small group discussion and later gave a short sermon on James 2:1-13. Here’s the text:

My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. ² Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. ³ If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” ⁴ have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

⁵ Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? ⁶ But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? ⁷ Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?

⁸ If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. ⁹ But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. ¹⁰ For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. ¹¹ For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,^“ also said, “You shall not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.

¹² Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, ¹³ because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

As I’ve studied and soaked in the simple yet powerful message of this passage. As children of God, “believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ”, we live by a different standard of how to interact with people. The culture and world lives by the basic standard of judgement based on external things (fashion, status, color, affinity, etc.), but Jesus’ followers are called to a different way of being and relating. Jesus brought with him the Kingdom of God and with that kingdom comes a law (the “perfect law that gives freedom” as James calls it earlier). At the center of this law is what we read in verse 8: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” It’s expressed elsewhere by the Apostle Paul as well:

• Romans 13:9 – The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.^“
• Galatians 5:14 – For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

And of course this is rooted in Jesus’ own teaching of what the Greatest Commandment is:

• Matthew 22:37-40 – Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ ³⁸ This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’⁴⁰ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
• Mark 12:29-31 – Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. ³⁰ Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ ³¹ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’^[c] There is no commandment greater than these.”
• Luke 10:26-28 – “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” ²⁷ He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”²⁸ “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”

It is clear that this is foundational to Kingdom Living. Yet, because we still battle against the surrounding culture and our own internal pull toward the old way, it is something that does always not come naturally or easy. The Holy Spirit is at work within Christians to conform them and transform them into more loving persons, but it is a process and it also requires our active participation. We have a choice as to how we treat our neighbor (and that includes, according to Jesus, our enemies) and each time we choose to love them in words and actions, we cooperate with the Spirit to become more like Jesus.

To love our neighbor, we must constantly remember the unceasing, unfailing love of God the Father toward us. Even while we were enemies of God, Paul writes in Romans 5 and Colossians 1, God loved us and offered us peace through his Son. If that is how God the Father loves, then he expects his children to love in the same way to others. This is the way of Jesus’ Kingdom – it is in fact the “royal law”.

December 30th Sermon

Opening Prayer:

Lord, as we open the Scriptures today

Open our eyes that we may see

Open our ears that we may hear

Open our hearts and minds that we may understand

And turn to you and be transformed.

 

I have three children. Each of their births arrived unexpectedly (as in before their due dates) and each moment was a flood of joy and excitement.

This was the day we had been waiting for; everything was building up to this.

9 months of patient waiting as you see right before your eyes something beyond your imagination is taking shape.

It’s like the scene in a movie, the chapter in a book, the part of the song when everything comes together and explodes with such excitement that you are on the edge of your seat – or even up on your feet.

 

In the same way, for 9 months, Mary and Joseph waiting expectantly for the fruit of this supernatural miracle to be before their eyes.

And then it happened. The day finally came.

Christmas Day!  

JESUS IS BORN!

 

And as we remember every year, it was even more amazing than they anticipated.

                  – Angels bursting on to the scene and singing praise songs

– A surprise visit from shepherds

Something absolutely amazing just happened.

Obviously this was no ordinary birth; no ordinary child.

 

But, on the other hand, Jesus was like an ordinary child.

For all the heavenly celebration at his arrival, this newborn baby Jesus was also completely human.

And as in the life of every human baby and its parents, the nitty gritty reality of everyday life knocks on the door shortly after the exceeding joy of experiencing a miracle.

– the sleepless nights

– the diaper changes

– the feeling of confusion at trying to figure out this thing called parenthood

 

Because Jesus was completely human, Mary & Joseph experienced those things with the newborn Son of God.

 

After the Christmas story, we don’t hear too much else about the growing up life of Jesus.

Which in some ways can leave us with some questions, or (if we aren’t careful) we tend to forget the human side of the baby Jesus – only looking at the miraculous birth story.

We have just 2 brief stories. Both found in Luke 2

Story 1:

• He gets circumcised
• We see him having a kind of “baby dedication”  – an ordinary thing for a devout family to do (and it is met with an extra-ordinary response from two deeply spiritual people Simeon and Anna)
• Then they simply go home (Luke 2:39-40)

“When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.”

So we get the impression at this point, that Joseph & Mary just go home to their little town and do what every other family does. They knew their child was special, but he still needed to grow up and be raised, so that’s what they did. Just like every other family.

 

Story 2:

• Fast forward 12 years, Jesus and his parents are again doing what a simple, devout Jewish family would do – travel to Jerusalem for the annual Festival of Passover.
• After a little debacle of LOSING THEIR CHILD (anyone ever look down at a store and realize that in a matter of a few seconds your child is 50 yards away!?…well, Mary & Joseph had been traveling for a DAY) again they go back to their little town to live and grow as a family

 

Then we are left with this line:

Luke 2:51

Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.

 

This is the last we hear about Jesus until he is around 30 years old…so we have about 18 years of silence on the growing up life of Jesus.

 

In the early years of Christianity, imaginary reports started showing up with all kinds of extraordinary and outlandish tales of Jesus’ boyhood.

People had a hard time accepting that the Son of God lived a seemingly normal life as a child living and growing with his family.

But, the Christian leaders of the day wisely rejected these stories and stuck to the Gospel report

– a report that simply does not have specific details about Jesus’ childhood, teenage, and young adult years.

 

Except for this (which we just read):

He went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them…And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.

 

Jesus’ birth was spectacular and you would expect that everything about his growing up years would be just as filled with amazing events.

But, it seems that they weren’t.

 

Mary, Joseph, and Jesus return to normal life.

Just like us.

The experience of welcoming a child into this world is full of amazement, joy, and excitement.

(I’ve had the joy twice – 3 kids, 2 births, twins!)

Soon though, everyday life returns.

 

So…

Since we don’t have Biblical stories describing Jesus’ growing up years, does it mean that they didn’t matter?

Since, we only read about only 10% of Jesus’ life, was the other 90% simply wasted time?                 

 

After all, why didn’t Jesus just become a child-prodigy and immediately start his ministry life?

He was obviously off to a good start since we see him at age 12 joining in the discussion with teachers and “Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.”

 

If the years between birth-30 didn’t matter, than Luke (the author here) would not have given us these simple descriptive phrases found in both v. 40 and v. 52:

And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.

And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man

 

Here we discover that those hidden, quiet years spent living a simple life of obedience in a seemingly normal family were not wasted.

God used those years to grow and form Jesus so that when his time had come for public ministry he would be ready.

It was during these years that:

Jesus grew in wisdom = spiritual knowledge, Scripture study

Jesus grew in stature = he grew physically from a child to a boy to a man

Jesus grew in favor with God and man = he grew in integrity and character

 

All of this happened after the event of Christmas and in the nitty gritty of everyday life.

These were not wasted years.

 

We as humans tend to gravitate to the spectacular and at the same time ignore the potential of the ordinary right in front of our eyes.

 

We love the Christmas story (as we should!)

But, we skip right over the ordinary years that followed

 

Jesus didn’t get sent of to a special school for potential Messiahs where he was cut off from everyone and just studied about himself all day long!

He grew in a little town with his imperfect family.

He grew in the context of childhood friends (and perhaps even bullies).

He grew in the midst of chores, homework, siblings, parents, and learning his father’s craft of carpentry.

In all of this, the ordinary stuff of life,Jesus grew in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and men.

 

If we are to grow, as God desires us to grow, don’t you think it’s going to look the same?

 

Those 18 or so years of seemingly normal, mundane life were not wasted years for Jesus.

Neither is the seemingly normal reality of our everyday life.

God uses our simple, humble, everyday circumstances as opportunities for us to grow in wisdom and in favor with God and man – to grow spiritually, to grow in character, to grow in integrity.

 

The Apostle Paul tells us that

“Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

 

Whatever…word or deed…do it all = He covers it all!

In the name of the Lord Jesus. What does that mean?

It means that whatever we are doing, we ask, “How would Jesus do this?” and then we, with the empowerment of the Holy Spirit within us, we do it.

This truth applies to every aspect of our ordinary life. And if we think that it doesn’t then we are not only ignoring the very way that Jesus grew, but we are going to miss out on a plethora of opportunities to grow in God’s grace working in our life.

 

We must come to see that things like diapers and dishes, cooking and cleaning, working at whatever job you have, interacting with neighbors, friends, and family are opportunities to follow the lead of how Jesus lived the hidden years of his life.

In doing so, we open the door to be transformed by God and become more like him.

And we are increasingly empowered to do the things he did. The more we do it, the more are empowered to do it.

 

This is also what Paul is describing in Romans 6 & 12

6:13 – rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness.

12:1 – offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

 

Closing – Practical Advice

2 Things to Help You Awaken to the Ordinary

 

1. Begin each day thinking through what is ahead and ask God how he would like for you to do whatever it is you have to do “in the name of Jesus”.

2. End each day with a prayerful “review of the day”. Ask God to show you the times when you were awake to his presence and living as Jesus, and ask him to graciously show you the opportunities you missed. Thanking God for the good times and asking forgiveness for the missed times – then resolving to get at it again the next day!

 

See these as simple “bookends” for your every day life with God.

 

Benediction

As the energy of Christmas begins to fade, and we return to “normal life”…

May we keep our eyes on this Jesus who grew up and lived in humble obedience, in humble surroundings, all the while knowing that these where not wasted years, but the very formative years he needed to become the man God sent him to be.

And in seeing Jesus, may we look at our humble surroundings and give ourselves to God in humble obedience in the daily life in which we live…knowing that the offering of our bodies, our ordinary daily lives, is worship to God.

Knowing that God seeks to use the life you are in to transform you into the person he intended you to be.