Are You In Tune?

5 March 2006

Dakota Community Church

Are You In Tune?

The name NOOMA comes from the pronunciation of the Greek word pneuma meaning ’wind,’ ’spirit,’ or ’God’s movement or agency.’

This morning we are going to begin by watching the Nooma video “Rhythm”. In this video Rob Bell looks at what it means to have a relationship with God and he uses an allegory comparing it to playing a song.

Exodus 15:2

The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him.

Psalm 42:8

By day the LORD directs his love, at night his song is with me— a prayer to the God of my life.

Isaiah 55:12

You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.

Roll the DVD.

Now thinking about your relationship with God and comparing it to the playing of “the song”

Are you in tune?

If Jesus is the example of the song played to perfection, how are you doing in the areas Rob Bell mentioned?

1. Are you in tune with His truth?

I think that many of us now substitute expedience for truth. We say and do what is most practical for our own gain rather than standing up for what is true.

That is not what Jesus did. That’s not how the song goes.

Matthew 22:8-10

"Then he said to his servants, ’The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. Go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.’ So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, both good and bad, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.

Matthew 22:15-22

Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. "Teacher," they said, "we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are. Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?"

But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, "You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin used for paying the tax." They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, "Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?"

"Caesar’s," they replied.

Then he said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s."

When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.

You may know a great deal of truth, like the members of the band Rob mentioned, but are you in tune with that truth?

If not make the appropriate adjustments.

2. Are you in tune with His love?

Sometimes those of us who are in the Church for a long time lose sight of this priority. Instead of loving others we slip into comparisons of lifestyle and that leads to judging instead of loving.

That is not what Jesus did. That’s not how the song goes.

Mark 1:40-41

A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, "If you are willing, you can make me clean."

Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured.

How well do play the song where the unlovely are involved. Does love rule or do make judgments? - “He’s a loser.”

John 9:1-3

Walking down the street, Jesus saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked, "Rabbi, who sinned: this man or his parents, causing him to be born blind?"

Jesus said, "You’re asking the wrong question. You’re looking for someone to blame. There is no such cause-effect here. Look instead for what God can do.

3. Are you in tune with His sacrifice?

In stead of looking for ways to serve, instead of laying down our lives many of us have elevated success and personal rights above sacrifice.

That is not what Jesus did. That’s not how the song goes.

John 15:12-13

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: that he lay down his life for his friends.

Matthew 23:11-12

The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Matthew 20:26-28

Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."