Text: Galatians 6:3-6, Title: Personal Responsibility, Date/Place: NRBC, 7/15/07, PM
A. Opening illustration: “It’s not my responsibility,” said the nurse’s aide, “because it’s a large puddle.” The housekeeper did not agree. “Well, it’s not mine,” she said, “the puddle is too small.” What a sharp contrast with a scene that occurred on a New York street nearly two decades before. Kitty Genovese was slowly and brutally stabbed to death. At least thirty-eight of her neighbors witnessed the attack and heard her screams. In the course of the 90-minute episode, her attacker was actually frightened away, then he returned to finish her off. Yet not once during that period did any neighbor assist her, or even telephone the police. The more people present in an emergency situation, the less likely it is that any one of them will offer help. This is popularly called the “bystander effect.”(In the actual experiment, when one bystander was present, 85 percent offered help. When two were present, 62 percent offered help. When five were present, then it decreased to 31 percent.)
B. Background to passage: These verses in the sixth chapter cover a multitude of topics in rather stiletto fashion. And so its really hard to make a good preaching outline, but that is the way Paul writes at the end of many of his letters, kinda tying of loose ends and hitting on things that Christians need reminding of. After instructing believers to be their brother’s keepers and restore the erring brethren, he tells them to help them bear the heavy burden of temptation or tribulation. So these verses tonight continue Paul’s thoughts about what Christians are responsible for to themselves and to the church. It sounds a little like a covenant.
C. Main thought: In our text, we will see that we are responsible for:
A. An accurate self-perception (v. 3)
1. Christians are instructed to think accurately about themselves. Probably in the Galatian church there were a few among the genuine believers that were quite proud of their status in the church as leaders, or founding members, or having some position of seniority. And these individuals allowed this thought not only to swell their heads, but to harm the rest of the body. They felt at ease in Zion. They felt entitled to preferential treatment because of who they were in this church. They may have had a lot of money or power within the community or the church, but for whatever reason, they loved the popularity, notoriety, and influence. And yet, in the eyes of God, who looks upon the heart, they weren’t all that they thought.
2. Luke 18:11, Rom 12:3, 1 Cor 3:18, Rev 3:17,
3. Illustration: tell about the segment that was going to come on TODAY about the stresses of being a wife an mother of young children, and how their bottom-line advice was to have more “me-time,” in Maine they were so concerned about the self-esteem of some of their kids in one of the towns, the recreation department declared that no scores would be kept at baseball and softball games, so nobody loses,
4. This shows us that we are responsible for our thought life. We live in a culture that thinks way too much of self. Constantly we are bombarded with commercials and infomercials telling us how we are the greatest; telling us how important and special we are. The gospel of self esteem is very prevalent. What problems arise with self-deception? God promises to resist the proud. Revival will be withheld because almost all revivals begin with a sense of brokenness and discomfort over sin. Blindness to certain sins and inadequacies is prolonged. And without proper diagnosis of sickness, proper medicines cannot be given. Relationships and kingdom agendas can be soured by haughtiness. In fact, the bible says that pride goes before destruction and a haughty heart before a fall; and that all those who are proud in hear are an abomination to the Lord. How do we have an accurate self-perception? By constantly renewing our mind to scripture. And thinking and believing what the bible says about us. Think what the bible says about our hearts, about or nature, about our corruption, about our value, and about His value. And this doesn’t only concern individuals, but is also applies to churches as a whole who think too much of themselves. Churches will never experience the power of God who think more of themselves than they ought. We must know how we fit into the kingdom, what our role is, and why to be effective.
B. A thorough SELF-examination (v. 4)
1. In the Galatian church, there was much examination of other people works and lives for pride and status sake, but very little genuine concern about the value of those works to the kingdom agenda. But we are to each one examine his own work, and see if it is valuable to the kingdom and worthy of reward. There is a connotation of eschatology with this verse, reminding the believers that all the works done will one day be tried by the Master at the judgment seat of Christ. And that if we practice self-examination thoroughly we will stand a better chance at having more gold, silver and precious stones on that day.
2. 1 Cor 3:13, 11:31,
3. Illustration: talking to the Major at the Sheriff’s Office and he spoke of the whole organization taking a long hard look at itself, and how painful that really was, but crucial to the achievement of the true goal, the self-confrontation manual, the preparation for personal revival sheet that I pass out just before Fall Challenge Week,
4. The beginnings of revival always come with a proper self-assessment. When you look at your life or your church and see that you are lacking, that is the proper motivation for renewal. But until one admits that there is a problem, no solution will be sought. But this is hope not only for great reward on the Day of Judgment, but for the presence of God upon our lives on a daily basis. Self-examination doesn’t only take place on Sundays and Wednesdays, but everyday. However, it does best take place under the word of God. It could be during a song, or sermon on the radio. It could be as you read a Christian book. It could be as you hear testimony or see another brother or sister in Christ who is truly living out a passion for Christ in their lives. We must be willing to go further than the surface level, and ask the difficult questions. We must be honest with ourselves, and allow our eyes to be opened to a whole new level of Christian commitment. We must do violence to ourselves against the sin and the business as usual attitude that infects our minds and hearts. Find a quiet place and really seek God through His Word. Make this a regular habit, or at least a planned for event periodically.
C. A caring provision (v. 6)
1. Most commentators and translators make this verse a new paragraph, but it really doesn’t go with what’s after it any better than what’s before it. So all I know to do is preach it. Christians are to provide for them that minister in teaching and preaching. This is the vital means of salvation of men in the nations, in the church, and in the community. And remember that blessings in the bible are not simply meant to make life better and more comfortable, but to be shared.
2. 1 Tim 4:16, 5:18, Rom 15:27,
3. Illustration: I was going to start out the service the other night by letting you know that I was out of cantaloupes, because you have been sharing with me those good things, as a finance committee member, I felt like it was my responsibility to ask Les if he was doing OK financially…
4. This is not simply saying “pay the preacher” although that is taught in scripture. This is saying to take care of the needs of those that minister the word. This is why the church should be run less like a business and more like a family. Businesses have unions that demand things for employees and bosses and boards that simply set salaries. Families go and seek out individuals and ask them if they have needs. When deciding a staff person’s salary, you go to them and ask them what their needs are. You may not be able to meet all their desires, but the point again is not to pay the preacher so that he becomes like the medieval bishops, but the point is to be concerned enough about their welfare to ask them, and try to accommodate their needs. And this doesn’t only apply to those in pastoral ministry and on a church staff; this includes anyone who teaches you the Word. Does your SS teacher have needs that you can meet?
A. Closing illustration: In my network, I have a responsibility to pass on to others all that I have learnt in the Lord. There is mentoring work that you and I have in both the local church and translocally, e.g. in other parts of your city, country or in other nations. Just recently during our visit to a particular nation, myself and a colleague sensed a great need for teaching in the area of Family and Marriage Enrichment and sexual morality. By the grace of God we hope to go back there soon and run some Family Life workshops. I have a personal responsibility to teach, train and pass on that which I have learnt and experienced in the Lord!! In so doing, I am trusting God to raise up other Family Life ministers also. I must ensure that I leave a spiritual inheritance in the lives of sons and daughters in the Lord. -Abrams
