Title: Follow-Service Wear
Place: BLCC
Date: 4/2/17
Text: Luke 12.37; Colossians 3.12-14; 1 Corinthians 11.2-12.
CT: As followers of Jesus we are to be dressed to serve.
[Screen 1]
FAS: Does what we wear tell us about who we follow? How about these guys?
(show pic of UK fan tricked out) Or how about these folks? [Screen 2]
(show pic of Louisville fan tricked out) [Screen 3]
(Show pic of Muslim women) [Screen 4]
(Show pic of Buddhist monks)
We can recognize whom these people follow by what they are wearing.
How should we as Followers of Christ dress? [Screen 5]
(pic dressed up suit) [Screen 6]
(pic of “Jesus freak”) ]Screen 7]
(pic of hate filled “Christians”)
Our outer-wear will reflect who we follow. We as followers ask these kind of questions. That’s OK. The people of the early church did as well. The church of Corinth sent some questions to the Apostle Paul about how they should dress in worship. He answered them in a letter to the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians chapter 11. Here is what he told them about covering their head and hair. [Screen 8]
3 But I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. 4 Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. 5 But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is the same as having her head shaved. 6 For if a woman does not cover her head, she might as well have her hair cut off; but if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, then she should cover her head.
7 A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. 8 For man did not come from woman, but woman from man; 9 neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. 10 It is for this reason that a woman ought to have authority over her own head, because of the angels. 11 Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God.
These people were concerned with what they wore. They wanted rules to follow. That is what all religions want. [Screen 9]
Religion gives us rules to follow to be right with God. [Screen 10]
Following Jesus brings us into relationships. It builds relationships that lead us to do what Jesus leads us to do.
At first glance these rules seem a bit outdated to us and even a little silly. But at that time the covering of the head had a sexual and religious connotation for the people of that culture. It was a big deal.
Christians were to be separate from the other religions. There were many who still worshipped other little “g” gods and paganism was all around. Paul was concerned about how they would appear to others outside the church in their witness to them.
Behavior, mannerisms, clothing or hairstyles that suggested a person was unfaithful to their spouse, promiscuous, homosexual or the devotee to some non-Christian occult would have not been appropriate in the church then or today.
Basically men should not disgrace their wives and wives should not disgrace their husbands. That is what all that woman and man language says to me.
Clearly head coverings send virtually no sexual or religious messages in the contemporary Western society. Yes there are some very fundamental churches that take this literally. Doubt they are reaching many people for Christ. They missed what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 9.19-23 where we are to be to all people to reach as many as possible.
In other cultures even today head coverings do have a great significance. Muslims who are Christian may still feel the head covering necessary to not disgrace one another. Cultures view things differently. Bare shouldered women to a Muslim Christian would be as inappropriate as a women walking in church here topless.
Paul was not trying to give these people a checklist to go by. He was concerned about how they dressed would effect their relationships with one another. This included their fellow brothers and sisters as well as those on the outside looking in. [Screen 11]
Is what we wear important in church?
Here at Blue Licks we wear a lot of different styles and outfits. We feel there is a lot of freedom in what we wear. The only time I believe there would be a problem is when what we wear on the outside reflects something that makes it appear we are moving away from God’s ideal on the inside in our heart. If we wear something that would make someone else stumble we should use wisdom in deciding if it is appropriate. We should all dress to honor God as we come to worship Him. We should not dress to glorify ourselves or bring attention to our selves or something contrary to God’s ideal.
When we are seen by others will our clothes reveal whom we follow? Will it reveal Jesus Christ?
Ideally our outer appearance should reflect the love we have for one another.
I strongly believe Jesus would not worry about how fancy or not fancy our clothes are. Jesus is not worried about how we wear our hair and adorn our selves.
Jesus did have a very strong opinion on what would designate us as his follower though. It wasn’t clothes. He doesn’t want us to all wear Jesus Loves Me t-shirts, although I’m sure he agrees with that.
Jesus made it very clear to his disciples and us that to truly follow him we are required to do one specific thing. [Screen 12]
He said in John 13.34-35, “A new command I give you: Love one another.”
You may say we know Jim, you tell us this all the time. I guess I do. And I probably will again. It’s that important. The point is if you just hear the first part and skip past the second part you will miss the main point Jesus is making. Jesus continues by saying, [Screen 13]
“As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” [Screen 14]
“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, so you must love one another.”
Jesus loved unconditionally. He loved even those who were against Him. He loved the sinners and the tax collectors. He loved the sick in spirit. His love surpassed all other love. That is the kind of love we are called to. A surpassing and ridiculous love for one another.
If we really did this can you imagine how our marriages would be. How our communities would be and yes how our church would be and how it would look to those outside. Our love for one another is our best witness to a world that is hurting and struggling. Are we dressed in love?
We are to dress in love but how does this show?
Jesus was talking to his disciples telling them the Father has been pleased to give them the kingdom. Then he says this.
Luke 12.33-36, 33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. [Screen 15]
35 “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, 36 like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him.
We are to be dressed for service.
(1) People who are ready for their Lord’s return are not hypocritical, but sincere
(2) not fearful, but ready to witness
(3) not worried, but trusting
(4) not greedy, but generous
(5) not lazy, but diligent
May your life be more like Christ’s so that when he comes, you will be ready to greet him joyfully.
So are you ready to plan your wardrobe as a follower of Jesus?
The Apostle Paul gives us an actual outline of what the well-dressed follower of Jesus would wear. He recorded it in [Screen 16] Colossians 3.12,
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, CLOTHE yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
What a fashion statement Paul is calling us to. He lists five garments we should wear. [Screen 17]
-1 Compassion-Compassion means to have such an overwhelming love for others that you feel it in your bowel. Try saying that to someone you love.
“I love you from the bottom of my bowel.” Oh maybe not.
That is how it translated. We might rather say our gut, but you get the point. That is a lot more than studying harder, working harder or even praying harder. Jesus wants his followers hearts to break for the same things that break His. We are to feel compassion for those who may even be the reason for their own struggle.
[Screen 18]
-2 Kindness-Kindness is when you loan your strength to someone else. It is when someone can’t do something for themselves and you do it for them. You put yourself out. We go the extra mile. Jesus said to do that.
Kindness is rare because seldom do people do something for someone else unless they are required to. Jesus calls us to be kind without being forced to be.
[Screen 19]
-3 Humility-Humility is seeing others as on level ground with us in our relationship with God. Class, wealth, education, talent or education are not seen as making anyone more valuable. We are all equal in God’s eyes. [Screen 20]
-4 Gentleness. Gentleness is not being weak. Gentleness is being strong and using your strength to help others. We meet people on their level. All we do as gentle people is to communicate with the other person, not be in any way condescending. [Screen 21]
-5 Patience. This one is pretty tough for a lot of us.
Good thing God has patience with our lack of patience.
Patience is deciding to operate at the speed of other people. This can be hard to do but very necessary to reach someone struggling to keep up with the world around them. Don’t be the one who pushes someone away from following Jesus along with you.
Is all this really possible? Paul seemed to think so. Paul was pretty smart. Think about it a sec. He wrote this some two thousand plus years ago and we are still reading it. Must have some lasting value for us today. He calls us to do this and explains why in the next verse: [Screen 22]
13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
We do it because the Lord did all this for us.
To sum it all up Paul ends with this: [Screen 23]
14 And over all these virtues put on LOVE, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Last but most certainly the garment that should cover everything else is love.
This is all good and nice and you expect me to preach about such things.
That is what us preachers preach about. But if we don’t act on it… it does nothing.
This is not natural though. Is it? It goes against our all about me self-importance. It takes effort to clothe you with these garments.
You have to think about it and make it part of who you are. Not saying it’s easy.
Andy Stanley had his congregation look at it like this. We did this in class a while back.
Take a quiet moment and actually put these on. Let’s say them together
[Screen 24]
Compassion-Humility-Kindness-Forgiveness-Love-Patience-Gentleness
[Screen 25]
When you get up tomorrow think CHK FLK PG. Chick Flick PG
Then put it on.
Filter every struggle and decision you face this week through this.
Let people see what you have clothed yourself as a follower of Christ. Let people see in you what following Jesus means.
Wearing a Jesus Shirt or flashing signs about what you are against won’t do it.
They just make a point. Not always a good point either.
We clothe our selves to make a difference in the people around us.
The reason a lot of people leave the church is because they met one too many undressed Christians or half dressed Christians.
Maybe these Christians thought they had all the right words and right rituals to be right with God…but they were clothed in the wrong attire. They had forgot their compassion, their humility, their kindness, their forgiveness, their love, their patience, their gentleness.
If that is true I am sorry. But I hope you still decide to follow when you see and experience what a true follower of Jesus truly wears.
So tomorrow when you leave to go and do whatever you do, clothe yourself with CHK FLK PG. [Screen 26]
[Compassion Humility Kindness] [Forgiveness Love Kindness] [Patience Gentleness]
You will be glad you did and so will those around you. [Screen 27]
Dress to serve as our Lord has shown us to.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Blomberg, Craig. 1 Corinthians: the NIV application commentary: from biblical text--to contemporay life. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1994. Print.
NIV Study Bible; Zondervan
Stanley, Andy, Follow, Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2014. Session 4, Print
